Item 1. Business
Viveve designs, develops, manufactures and markets a platform medical technology, which we refer to as Cryogen-cooled Monopolar Radiofrequency, or CMRF. Our proprietary CMRF technology is delivered through a radiofrequency generator, handpiece and treatment tip, that collectively, we refer to as the Viveve® System. The Viveve System is currently being marketed around the world (outside of the United States) for the non-invasive treatment of vaginal introital laxity, sexual function, vaginal rejuvenation, and stress urinary incontinence depending on the relevant country-specific clearance or approval, that we refer to as the Viveve treatment.
At this time, the Viveve System is indicated for use and being marketed for use in general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis in the United States; the device has not been cleared or approved for use for the treatment of vaginal laxity, to improve sexual function, for vaginal rejuvenation, or for stress urinary incontinence in the United States. Accordingly, the Company is prohibited under current U.S. regulations from promoting it to physicians or consumers for these unapproved uses. We believe the Viveve System and Viveve treatment provide a number of benefits for physicians and patients, including:
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a safe, minimally-invasive, non-ablative procedure;
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requiring only a single treatment;
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compelling physician economics; and
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ease of use.
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In the U.S., the Viveve System is sold through a direct sales force. In other regions, we market and sell primarily through a network of distribution partners.
Currently, the Viveve System is cleared for marketing in 51 countries throughout the world under the following indications for use:
Indication for Use:
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No. of
Countries:
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General surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis
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4
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(including the U.S.)
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General surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis of vaginal tissue and the treatment of vaginal laxity
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30
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For treatment of vaginal laxity
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5
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For treatment of the vaginal introitus, after vaginal childbirth, to improve sexual function
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9
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General surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis as well as for the treatment of vaginal laxity
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1
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For vaginal rejuvenation
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1
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For treatment of vaginal laxity and to improve mild urinary incontinence and sexual function
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1
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As of December 31, 2020, we have a global installed base of 857 Viveve Systems and we have sold approximately 50,100 single-use treatment tips worldwide.
On December 1, 2020, the Company effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of all outstanding common stock and preferred stock of the Company. All share numbers, exercise prices for options and warrants and other capitalization information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is represented on a post-split basis, unless as otherwise indicated.
On September 23, 2014, Viveve Medical, Inc. (formerly PLC Systems, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (“Viveve Medical”, “Viveve”, “we”, “us” or “our”) completed a reverse acquisition and recapitalization pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among PLC Systems Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of PLC Systems Inc., with and into Viveve, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Merger”). Viveve, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that was incorporated in 2005 by Jonathan Parmer, MD, an OBGYN physician, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viveve Medical, Inc. In conjunction with the Merger, we changed our name from PLC Systems Inc. to Viveve Medical, Inc. to better reflect our new business. Viveve Medical competes in the women’s health industry by marketing the Viveve System and the Viveve treatment as a way to improve the overall well-being and quality of life of women suffering from urinary incontinence and/or vaginal laxity, depending on the relevant country-specific clearance or approval. We are currently located at 345 Inverness Drive South, Building B, Suite 250, Englewood, Colorado 80112 and our telephone number is (720) 696-8100. Our website can be accessed at www.viveve.com. The information contained on or that may be obtained from our website is not a part of this report. Viveve, Inc. operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viveve Medical and was incorporated in 2005.
Our Products
The Viveve System
The Viveve System consists of three main components: a radiofrequency (“RF”) generator housed in a table-top console, a reusable handpiece and a single-use treatment tip. Included with the system are single-use accessories (e.g. return pad, coupling fluid), as well as a cryogen canister that can be used for approximately two to five procedures, and a foot pedal. Physicians or medical practitioners attach the single-use treatment tip to the handpiece, which is connected to the console. The generator authenticates the treatment tip and programs the system for the desired Viveve treatment without further intervention. The treatment is performed in a physician’s office and does not require the use of anesthesia. The tissue remodeling effect resulting from the Viveve treatment has been demonstrated by our pre-clinical and clinical research.
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Radiofrequency Generator. The generator produces a six-megahertz signal and is simple and efficient to operate. Controls are within easy reach, and important user information is clearly displayed on the console’s built-in display, including energy delivered, tissue impedance, duration and feedback on procedure technique. Cooling is achieved, in conjunction with the generator, through the delivery of a coolant that helps to cool and protect the mucosa during a procedure.
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Handpiece. The reusable handpiece holds the treatment tip in place and processes information about temperature, contact, cooling system function and other important data. A precision control valve within the handpiece meters the delivery of coolant, which protects the mucosal surface tissue.
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Treatment Tip. The single-use treatment tip is available in two sizes and comes pre-sterilized. Each treatment tip contains a proprietary internal EEPROM or Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory chip, which stores treatment parameters and safety limits in order to optimize performance and safety. To enhance procedural safety, we have programmed the EEPROM for single-use treatments. Using the same treatment tip to perform multiple procedures could result in injury, therefore, the EEPROM disables the treatment tip after a pre-programmed number of pulses to ensure that the treatment tip is not reused.
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The Viveve System also includes other consumable components. The console houses a canister of coolant that can be used for approximately two to five procedures (depending on the procedure type and pulses used). Each procedure requires a new return pad, which is typically adhered to the patient’s thigh or buttocks to allow a path of travel for the RF current through the body and back to the generator. We also sell proprietary single-use bottles of coupling fluid, a viscous liquid that helps ensure electrical and thermal contact with the treatment tip.
Technology Platform - Cryogen-cooled Monopolar Radiofrequency (CMRF)
The Viveve System uses a patented and proprietary method of delivering monopolar RF energy for treating tissue:
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Monopolar Radiofrequency Energy. Monopolar RF delivery uses an active electrode applied to the target tissue and a passive return electrode adhered to the patient’s thigh or buttocks. RF current is concentrated where the active electrode touches the body and expands as it is drawn through progressively deeper layers of tissue toward the return electrode. Providing both precise placement and deep energy penetration, the monopolar arrangement draws higher levels of therapeutic energy into deeper tissue layers than competing bipolar arrangements that rely on passive dispersion of current passing between two closely spaced electrodes on the tissue surface.
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Capacitive Coupling Mechanism of Action for Collagen Heating. Our single-use Viveve treatment tip contains patented technology that uses monopolar RF energy as a controlled tissue heating source through the use of a non-conducting material, known as a dielectric. Capacitive coupling is the use of the dielectric to create an electric field in the area where the treatment tip touches the body. The electric field induces a current within the surrounding tissue, resulting in volumetric heating of the tissue due to the tissue’s natural resistance to electrical current flow. Collagen is an efficient conductor of electricity and therefore acts as a pathway for the electric current. This process results in heating of the fibrous septae, the strands of collagen fibers that permeate tissues and connect the outer mucosal layer to the underlying muscle. Delivery of heat to the fibrous septae located in deeper layers of the tissue shrinks and shortens them, resulting in tightening of the mucosal tissue. Over one to three months, as part of the body’s natural response to the activation of fibroblasts that results from the application of low-energy hyperthermic RF energy, aging collagen is reorganized into stronger, tighter bundles and can be supplemented with new collagen. This renewal of the tissue support matrix leads to improved tissue integrity and function.
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The Viveve System also uses a proprietary, controlled cryogen surface cooling that enables deep volumetric heating of vaginal tissue:
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Reverse Thermal Gradient. With RF delivery, it is typical to expect higher temperatures closest to the surface electrode and a comparatively lower temperature distal to the electrode. However, with the Viveve System the opposite is true, hence a “reverse” thermal gradient. Maintaining a well-cooled, protected surface allows our treatment tips to safely remain on the tissue longer, allowing an optimal amount of RF energy penetration into the deeper tissue layers, while helping to ensure a comfortable patient experience.
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Algorithmically-controlled Cryogen Delivery. The Viveve System software actively monitors the temperature of the surface tissue and delivers the appropriate amount of cryogen necessary to keep the surface near normal body temperature. It does so consistently, automatically and completely independently of the actions of the operator, providing an important built-in safety mechanism to protect the delicate surface of vaginal tissue.
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Market Overview
Overview of Stress Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the uncontrolled leakage of urine due to the loss of bladder control. Many people live in silence, either because they are embarrassed or because they mistakenly believe that UI is a normal consequence of aging or having children. Only half of these individuals who consider their UI symptoms to be problematic or bothersome will seek consultation or speak to their doctor. The reported prevalence for urinary incontinence in adult women is varied. Based on several published studies, we estimate that approximately 40 million women in the U.S. alone suffer from some form of urinary incontinence. There are four main types of UI: Continuous Incontinence (CI), Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI), and Mixed Incontinence, which is a combination of SUI and UUI.
SUI is defined as the uncontrolled leakage of urine due to sudden or increased intraabdominal pressure caused by activities such as exercising, sneezing, laughing, or coughing. There are two main causes of SUI; urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD). Urethral hypermobility is the predominant cause of SUI and is due to weakness in the pelvic floor musculature and soft tissues that cannot stabilize the urethra causing the sphincter muscles to open briefly and leak urine. Based on certain published studies, we estimate that pure SUI is common in approximately 8 million women in the U.S. alone and that UUI or “Urge Urinary Incontinence,” is common in approximately 5 million women in the U.S. and is defined as the sudden urge to urinate with a frequency greater than eight times per 24 hours. We believe approximately 27 million women have a combination of SUI and UUI referred to as mixed incontinence.
Current Treatments for Stress Urinary Incontinence and Their Limitations
The first-line treatment options for SUI and UUI begin with lifestyle changes, continence pessaries, and behavioral and physical therapies. However, based on our survey results, conservative treatment options result in low efficacy rates ranging from 40 to 50% in the United States. UUI patients currently have a wide range of pharmacological options to manage the condition, as well as sacral nerve stimulation devices. SUI, however, lacks sufficient pharmacologic and non-invasive treatments prior to patients seeking highly invasive procedures such as urethral bulking agents, pelvic floor sling surgery or colposuspension. Based on a 2017 patient insurance claims data set for UI, 575,000 patients had documented conservative therapies and 205,000 patients progress to invasive procedures. We believe a large unmet need remains for SUI patients seeking an effective, non-invasive treatment option. According to the published studies, approximately 80% of women with UI are “bothered” and receive no treatment option, equating to approximately 11 million women with predominant SUI who could be candidates for the Viveve treatment.
Overview of Vaginal Laxity and Sexual Function
Vaginal laxity and tissue architecture have often been overlooked as contributing etiological factors to female sexual function. Vaginal laxity can lead to diminished physical sensation during intercourse. This reduction in sensation is often coupled with a reduction in sexual satisfaction, all of which can also impact a woman’s sense of sexual self-esteem and her relationship with her sexual partner.
Vaginal laxity is infrequently discussed in a clinical situation, yet most surveyed OB/GYNs and urogynecologists recognize that it is an underreported, yet bothersome, medical condition that impacts relationship happiness and sexual function. Another survey of OB/GYNs found that vaginal laxity is the most frequent physical change seen or discussed post-vaginal delivery. Additionally, in a survey of women ranging from 25-45 years of age, who had experienced at least one vaginal delivery, approximately half expressed some degree of concern over “looseness” of the vaginal introitus.
Women can develop vaginal laxity for a number of reasons, including aging, genetic predisposition, lifestyle, and/or trauma. As women age, slower cellular renewal coupled with reduced vascular and glandular networks contributes to loss of underlying supportive fibrous tissue. Some women may have underlying pathophysiological issues with collagen formation, remodeling and repair; and their lifestyle choices (e.g., alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and excessive food consumption) also play a role in the integrity of vaginal tissue. Vaginal trauma (e.g., childbirth, surgery, self-stimulation, or coitus) can also contribute to vaginal laxity.
All women who have given birth vaginally undergo stretching of the tissues of the vaginal opening to accommodate the fetal head. Often the effects are permanent, and many women have long-term physical and psychological consequences, including sexual dissatisfaction. One significant issue is the loosening of the introitus ─ the vaginal opening. This may happen with the first vaginal delivery and can be made worse with subsequent vaginal deliveries. Vaginal laxity can result in decreased sexual pleasure for both women and their partners during intercourse. We believe that this condition is not frequently discussed because women are embarrassed, fear that their concerns will be dismissed or fear that their physicians will not understand. Physicians hesitate to discuss the situation with their patients because historically there has been no safe and effective treatment options. Physicians frequently recommend Kegel exercises. However, these exercises only strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and do not address the underlying cause of vaginal laxity – loss of tissue elasticity. While surgery can be performed to tighten the vaginal canal, the formation of scar tissue from the surgery may lead to painful intercourse and permanent side effects.
As a consequence of the physical tissue damage that can result from childbirth, a significant decrease in sexual satisfaction has been reported in women who underwent vaginal delivery, when assessed two years after delivery, in comparison with those who underwent elective caesarian section. In the past several years there has been a marked increase in the number of women requesting delivery by caesarian section with the intention of preventing damage to the pelvic floor and introitus. Caesarian sections are not without risk to both the baby and mother. Whether or not to agree to a woman’s request for an elective caesarian section has generated considerable controversy among obstetricians. If a procedure were available to address the concerns of women about vaginal laxity, we believe the perceived need to have a caesarian section to prevent vaginal tissue damage may decrease significantly.
Market for a Proven Solution for Vaginal Laxity & Sexual Function
In 2009, we sponsored several on-line marketing surveys in the U.S. with both OB/GYNs and women, ages 25-55, to assess attitudes of physicians and women about vaginal laxity and towards a safe, non-invasive solution to treat this condition.
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Physician Survey: An OB/GYN marketing survey was conducted by OB/GYN Alliance with nearly 525 practicing OB/GYNs from across the U.S. The objectives of the study were to: obtain insights from physicians on physical changes resulting from childbirth and the corresponding sexual health implications for patients; understand the perceptions and opinions of OB/GYN physicians on a procedure that could be offered to address vaginal laxity following childbirth; and gain an understanding of whom the early adopters may be of the Viveve treatment.
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Consumer Survey: In a consumer marketing survey conducted by Q&A Research, 421 women were screened for vaginal delivery, age (25-55), income, education and other factors. The objectives of the survey were to assess the need for the Viveve treatment and better understand the complexity of emotions and the psychological profile of women who experience, but do not discuss, vaginal changes post childbirth.
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Results from these surveys suggested that vaginal laxity is a significant unmet medical need, and that patients and physicians would benefit significantly from a safe and effective non-invasive treatment that would also increase physical sensation and sexual satisfaction following vaginal childbirth. Of the 421 patient respondents, up to 48% felt that vaginal laxity was a concern post-childbirth. Furthermore, it is evident that patients and their OB/GYNs are not discussing vaginal laxity on a regular basis; in fact, we believe such conversations occur quite infrequently due to many factors, including patient embarrassment and fear of being ridiculed, lack of time and lack of solutions for physicians. Of the nearly 525 OB/GYNs surveyed, 84% indicated that vaginal laxity is the number one post-delivery physical change for women, being more prevalent than weight gain, urinary incontinence and stretch marks, and believe that it is under-reported by their patients. Additionally, in a separate international survey of urogynecologists, 84% of the 563 respondents described vaginal laxity as underreported by their patients and the majority considered it a bothersome condition that impacts sexual function and relationships.
Applying U.S. census data, CDC Vital Statistics data and our projections from these studies, we estimate there are approximately 9 million post-partum women who are potential candidates for this procedure in the U.S. alone, approximately 4.5 million of whom could be candidates for the Viveve treatment for vaginal laxity or sexual function.
In 2012, we conducted a similar consumer study in Japan and Canada in order to understand cultural differences that may exist towards vaginal laxity and the Viveve treatment. The results corroborated our U.S. survey conclusions. Applying World Health Organization census data as well as data from individual countries, we estimate there are 25-30 million women outside the U.S. that could be candidates for the Viveve treatment for vaginal laxity or sexual function.
In January 2018, we sponsored a survey of 1,500 women in Great Britain having had a vaginal delivery, and nearly half (48%) worried before having a child about physical changes in their body from childbirth affecting their sex life; this increased to 67% of women in the age range of 25-34. Approximately 4 in 10 (38% overall, 44% ages 25-34) have experienced vaginal tissue changes impacting their physical sensation during sex, with the most common impacts consisting of feeling less confident overall, feeling embarrassed and self-conscious, and feeling less enjoyment or intimacy with their partner.
In a 2019 article in the Journal of Women’s Health, the authors concluded that the social stigma for women from Western culture regarding sexuality remains and creates barriers of communication with their health care professionals. The women in the study were typically unaware or had misconceptions of conditions that could adversely affect their sexual life. Additionally, these women lacked awareness of safe and effective treatments. Despite the lack of awareness and communication regarding this issue, we believe there is a strong interest among patients and doctors to advance the conversation of women’s sexual wellness and evolving options a treatment that are clinically proven and safe.
Current Treatments for Vaginal Laxity/Sexual Function and Their Limitations
Currently, few clinically proven medical treatments are available to effectively treat vaginal laxity or sexual function. The most widely prescribed treatments include pelvic floor muscle exercises, or Kegel exercises, and invasive surgical procedures, known as laser vaginal rejuvenation (“LVR”) or vaginoplasty.
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Kegel Exercises: Kegels are an exercise that was developed by Dr. Arnold Kegel designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor - the pubococcygeal (“PC”) muscles - to increase vaginal muscle tone, improve sexual response, and limit involuntary urine release due to stress urinary incontinence. These exercises are often prescribed following childbirth or during and after menopause. However, we are not aware of any validated evidence indicating that Kegels improve vaginal laxity or sexual function due to introital laxity.
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Surgical Procedures: Of the various alternatives for treating vaginal laxity, invasive surgical procedures, such as LVR, are the only modalities with any proven efficacy outcomes. Typically, they are performed by plastic surgeons with patients under general anesthesia. According to The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (“ISAPS”), 206,846 LVR surgeries were performed world-wide in 2017. However, these invasive surgical procedures are expensive, costing thousands of dollars, and can involve weeks of post-surgical recovery time for the patient. They also carry the risk of scarring, which can lead to uncomfortable or painful intercourse, long-term or permanent loss of sensation, serious infection, tissue necrosis, hematomas (fluid collection under the tissue that may require removal), and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
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The Viveve Solution
RF energy has a long history of use in epithelial/mucosal tissue in the pharynx, skin, cornea, and vagina. Additionally, RF devices have been used to treat a variety of health-related concerns, including SUI. We believe our CMRF technology may offer an alternative to existing SUI treatment options. By regenerating collagen around the urethra's bladder neck, our treatment may help stabilize the underlying hypermobility of the urethra. Our innovative and proprietary CRMF procedure may also offer potential benefits and competitive advantages that do not currently exist in the non-invasive treatment market for SUI. Our endovaginal approach to regenerating collagen does not require anesthesia or numbing creams. The cryogen cooling feature protects the vaginal mucosa (surface tissue) while allowing the radiofrequency to heat deeper layers of the tissue (lamina propria) and stimulate collagen regrowth. The procedure typically takes approximately 45 minutes. To perform the procedure, a practitioner attaches the single-use treatment tip to the handpiece. As described above, the return pad is then adhered to the patient’s upper leg to allow a path of travel for the RF current back to the generator. Prior to treatment, the treatment area is bathed in coupling fluid, which is used for conduction and lubrication.
Benefits of the Viveve Treatment
The Viveve treatment provides a number of benefits for physicians and patients:
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Minimally-Invasive, Non-Ablative Treatment with a Demonstrated History of Safety. The Viveve System has been tested in pre-clinical tissue studies and has been used to treat over 500 clinical study patients. To date, we estimate that physicians have treated over 25,000 patients. The procedure is non-invasive and offers a treatment option with little or no downtime from the patient’s normal routine. It is also not a surgical procedure and does not damage either the mucosal, sub-mucosal tissue, or any extra vaginal tissues or require any form of anesthesia.
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Single Treatment. The Viveve treatment is normally performed in a medical office setting as a single treatment that takes approximately 45 minutes to complete depending on the indication being treated. Our studies have shown that the clinical effect from our procedure occurs within one to three months and patients continue to report improvement over a period of six months following treatment. In addition, the Viveve treatment maintains its effect for at least 12 months, based upon currently available data from our clinical studies.
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Compelling Physician Economics. We believe that in an era of declining government and insurance reimbursement, many physicians are seeking to add effective and safe, self-pay procedures to their practices. The Viveve treatment can be easily adapted into many physician practices and offers compelling per-procedure economics for the physician.
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Ease of Use. The Viveve System offers an easy-to-use, straightforward user interface that allows a trained physician or nurse (where permitted by law) to perform the treatment in approximately 45 minutes depending on the indication being treated. It provides real-time feedback, and the patient can be monitored during the treatment. The handpiece and single-use treatment tip are designed with a small profile for accurate placement during treatment, comfort, and ease of use.
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Business Strategy
Our goal is to become the leading provider of non-invasive solutions to treat certain women’s intimate health conditions by:
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Broadening the Conditions we Treat through Robust Clinical Trials and Regulatory Label Expansion. In addition to clearances/approvals in many international countries for improvement of vaginal laxity and/or sexual function, we are conducting a pivotal U.S. clinical trial in SUI. If successful, we intend to submit for regulatory clearance/approval in the U.S. and abroad for the improvement of stress urinary incontinence. (See discussion under the heading “Clinical Studies”)
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Increasing the Number of Installed Base of Viveve Systems. In our existing markets, we plan to (i) expand the number of Viveve Systems by leveraging our new business model, current and future clinical study results and through innovative marketing programs directed at both physicians and patients, where permissible by law, and (ii) expand our efforts and obtain regulatory approvals in additional markets, although there are no assurances that we will ever receive such approvals.
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Driving Increased Treatment Tip Usage. We work collaboratively with our physician customer base to increase treatment tip usage by enhancing customer awareness and facilitating the marketing efforts of our physician customers to their patients, where permitted by law. We intend to launch innovative marketing programs with physician customers, where permitted by law, to develop a high volume Viveve practice.
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Developing New Treatment Tips and System Enhancements. We intend to continue to expand our line of treatment tips that, in the future, may allow for shorter procedure times to benefit both physicians and patients. We also plan to pursue potential system modifications and next generation enhancements that will further increase the ease-of-use of the Viveve System.
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Investing in Intellectual Property and Patent Protection. We will continue to defend and invest in expanding our intellectual property portfolio, and we intend to file for additional patents to strengthen our intellectual property rights. Areas in which we may pursue additional patent protection include, but are not limited to, redesign of certain system components, disposable components and software algorithms. We believe that our intellectual property rights protect our position as the exclusive provider of a vaginal laxity treatment using monopolar RF technology in the U.S. and in many other countries. (See discussion under the heading “Patents and Proprietary Technology”)
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Our Customers
To date, we have focused our commercial efforts in markets where we have received regulatory clearances/approvals. Within each market, we target thought leaders across multiple specialties in order to increase awareness of the conditions we treat and accelerate patient acceptance of Viveve’s treatments. Currently we target a broad number of physician specialties, with a primary focus on OBGYNs, Urogynecologists, and Urologists with a secondary focus on aesthetic and functional medicine practices.
Through our direct sales employees, and distributors, we currently target physicians who have a demonstrated commitment to building a high-volume, non-invasive treatment business within their practice. As sales of our product continue to expand globally, we intend to continue to utilize distribution partners in most countries.
Sales and Marketing
United States
In October 2016, we received clearance from the FDA to sell the Viveve System for use in general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis. From January 2017 through May 2019, the Company relied on a traditional capital sales model, including selling the Viveve Systems and disposable treatment tips. In June of 2019, the Company transitioned to a recurring revenue rental model, where we lease the Viveve System to customers instead of selling it to them. The Company believes that the change in business model lowers the barrier to entry for physicians to adopt the procedures, shortens the sales cycle and improves the cost effectiveness of each sale. At the end of 2020, we had 2 direct sales representatives and 2 contracted representatives covering the United States. In 2021, we plan to continue to expand our direct sales efforts under the new business model to achieve broader reach throughout the United States.
International
We currently market and sell the Viveve System, including the single-use treatment tips, in several countries internationally. At the present time, trained direct sales employees and distribution partners represent Viveve and its products mainly in Canada and the Asia Pacific region.
By using a consultative sales process, we form strong relationships with our customers through frequent interactions. Beyond performing initial system installation and on-site training, which can occur within two weeks of a physician’s purchase decision, our sales consultants provide ongoing consultation to physicians on how to integrate the Viveve treatments into their practices and market procedures to their patients, to the extent permitted by law.
We, or our distribution partner, also provide comprehensive training and education to each physician upon delivery of the Viveve System. We are not required to provide training but do so to support our physician customers in safely and effectively performing the Viveve treatments.
Further, we intend to actively engage in promotional opportunities through participation in industry tradeshows and clinical workshops, as permitted by law, as well as through trade journals, brochures, and our website. We intend to also actively engage in direct-to-consumer marketing of the Viveve treatments where permitted by law, including extensive use of social media, in many cases on a cooperative basis with our distribution partners.
Clinical Studies
We have completed several pre-clinical and human clinical studies in vaginal tissue to assess the safety and efficacy of the Viveve treatment in vaginal laxity/female sexual function (FSD) and SUI. These include an FSD trial under IDE in the U.S. (VIVEVE II) and, an international trial in Canada for SUI (LIBERATE-International). Currently, we are conducting an IDE clinical study in the U.S. for SUI (PURSUIT). While we believe that our pre-clinical and human clinical studies have, and will, show that the Viveve System and the Viveve treatment have a strong safety profile and are effective, there is risk that the FDA will not agree with this assessment. Notwithstanding the safety in trials to date of the Viveve System, patients may experience undesirable side effects such as temporary swelling or reddening of the treated tissue.
Clinical trials are time-consuming and expensive, and may produce results that do not result in FDA clearance or approval of our FDA marketing application in the U.S. for SUI. In the event that we do not obtain FDA clearance or approval of the Viveve System for the treatment of SUI, we will be unable to promote it in the U.S. for that indication, and the ability to grow our revenues may be adversely affected. Additionally, we have not conducted any head-to-head clinical studies that compare results from treatment with the Viveve System to surgery or treatment with other therapies. Without head-to-head studies against competing alternative treatments, which we have no current plans to conduct, potential customers may not find clinical studies of our technology sufficiently compelling to purchase the Viveve System. If we decide to pursue additional studies in the future, such studies could be expensive and time consuming, and the data collected may not produce favorable or compelling results. If the results of such studies do not meet physicians’ expectations, the Viveve procedure may not become widely adopted, physicians may recommend alternative treatments for their patients, and our business may be harmed.
Pre-clinical Studies
In 2010, in collaboration with West Virginia University, we conducted an animal study in sheep to assess the safety, and further understand the mechanism of action, of the Viveve treatment. The vaginal introitus of five parous sheep were treated once with the Viveve System using a variety of energy levels (75−90 Joules/cm2). Each sheep then underwent serial vaginal biopsies immediately after treatment, at approximately one week, and at one, three and six months (4-5 samples per occurrence). Control biopsies were also obtained from three untreated parous sheep. We examined the vaginal mucosa and underlying connective tissue for thermal changes and subsequent tissue responses over a six-month period through light microscopic examination of hematoxylin and eosin (“H&E”) stained slides that were reviewed by pathologists who were blinded as to the treated and untreated sheep.
The results of the study indicated that the optimal level of RF energy delivered was 90 J/cm2 and the biopsies supported the hypothesis that the mechanism of action of our technology involves connective tissue remodeling with fibroblast activation and new collagen production. Given the post-treatment absence of ulcerations, regional necrosis or diffuse fibrosis, throughout the six-month follow-up period, we believe the studies help support the safety profile of the Viveve System.
As part of our clinical studies, we have studied and continue to study, the interaction of RF energy and tissue to further understand the mechanism of action of the Viveve procedure. We have used transmission electron microscopy on ovine biopsied tissue samples to corroborate that our product induces subtle collagen modification and the deposition of new collagen that leads to tissue tightening and restoration of tissue elasticity. We have developed histology techniques to investigate the depth of heat in tissue, fibroblast activation and collagen deposition that we believe is responsible for long-term improvement and tightening of tissue. We have also created three-dimensional computer models to study tissue heating with our product. Determining the effectiveness of this type of treatment is inherently a subjective evaluation, and the FDA could disagree. When performing our clinical studies, we attempt to utilize the most compelling measures we can in order to provide convincing evidence of efficacy.
In November 2019, we conducted a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) study in six ewes to evaluate the in vivo temperature-time profile and histopathology of vaginal and surrounding tissues in the ovine model after Viveve treatment. Five ewes were utilized for the in vivo energy application procedures while the remaining ewe was utilized as a control. During anesthesia, eight fluoroptic temperature probes were placed at different locations near the vaginal wall, rectum and bladder. After probe placement, five of the ewes received the Viveve SUI protocol (220 pulses of 90 J/cm2 of RF energy) and temperatures recorded. The control ewe did not receive energy application, but temperatures were recorded. In February 2020, study results showed temperature increases only at tissue locations where expected. Histopathology results showed normal histopathology of vaginal and surrounding tissues, and no adverse or other associated treatment-related responses, as evaluated histologically via H&E stain (in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded samples) and LDH/NBT vital stain (in frozen, OCT embedded samples). There were no macroscopic findings in either fresh or formalin-fixed tissues submitted for pathologic evaluation.
In response to the inconclusive results reported in July 2019 from the Company’s LIBERATE-International SUI trial conducted in Canada (aimed at supporting SUI indications in Canada, the European Union and several other international countries), Viveve conducted an in-vivo preclinical temperature and immunohistochemistry study to evaluate a new inert sham treatment tip. The GLP study was initiated in June 2020 following several months of engineering, validation, and development work. The study assessed both in-vivo tissue temperature changes during treatment, and histopathology at 30 days post-treatment compared to baseline, in three parous ewes using Viveve’s CMRF treatment tip (Active), cryogen-cooling only tip (“Old” sham treatment used in previous LIBERATE-International SUI study), and a new inert sham treatment tip. Histopathology of vaginal biopsies were performed and included use of α-smooth muscle actin, or α-SMA, staining for fibroblast activation and formation. All tissue samples were evaluated by an independent and blinded pathologist.
The positive preclinical findings demonstrated, as reported in August 2020, that both temperature and immunohistochemistry results support the validity of the new inert sham tip to provide a true inert or placebo treatment. Only minor tissue temperature change (less than 2 degrees centigrade) was generated by the new inert sham tip and no fibroblast activation was shown through elevated a-SMA staining. In contrast, both the Active and cryogen-cooling sham tips demonstrated meaningful tissue temperature changes during treatment and increased fibroblast activation 30 days post-treatment. We believe that the positive in-vivo preclinical study validates our new inert sham tip for use in the U.S. pivotal PURSUIT trial.
Clinical Studies – Stress Urinary Incontinence
Canadian Pilot Study
In 2017, Viveve funded a single-arm investigator sponsored study to assess the effects of our CMRF technology in treating patients with mild-to-moderate SUI. The study was conducted in Calgary, Alberta and included 10 patients who underwent treatment with our CMRF technology under a proprietary treatment protocol. Patients were followed for 12 months with safety and clinical results reported at 4, 6, 9 and 12-months post-treatment. Clinical results included composite scores from the validated ICIQ-UI-SF (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence-Short Form) and UDI-6 (Urogenital Distress Inventory-Short Form) outcome questionnaires.
Results at 12 months (n=9) included an 89% responder rate (percentage of patients showing an improvement from baseline) for the ICIQ-UI-SF and a 100% responder rate on the UDI-6. Additionally, patients showed a 40% mean improvement on the ICIQ-UI-SF and a 51% mean improvement on the UDI-6 at 12 months across both validated endpoints. No device-related safety issues were reported in any of the patients.
Canadian Feasibility Study
In December 2018, we reported the results of a Viveve supported, single-arm, open label feasibility study that was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of our CMRF technology to improve urine leakage and quality of life associated with SUI. The study was conducted in Calgary, Alberta and included 37 patients who underwent treatment with our CMRF technology under a proprietary treatment protocol. Patients with mild to moderate SUI were treated with our proprietary treatment protocol and followed for 12 months with safety and clinical results reported at 3, 6, 9 and 12-months post-treatment. Clinical results included evaluation of the one-hour pad weight test, an FDA acceptable endpoint to assess the severity of and leakage associated with SUI, daily incontinence episodes, as well as composite scores from the validated UDI-6, IIQ-7 (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire), and ICIQ-UI-SF outcome questionnaires.
Results at 12 months (n=25) included a 72% responder rate (percentage of patients showing an improvement from baseline) on the one-hour pad weight test, a clinically meaningful benefit across all patient reported outcome measures, and a 64% reduction in daily incontinence episodes. Additionally, 52% of patients experienced greater than a 50% reduction in the one-hour pad weight test from baseline and 60% of patients had less than 1 gram of leakage at 12 months on the one-hour pad weight test. No device-related safety issues were reported in any of the patients.
This feasibility study showed a significant reduction of SUI symptoms by the 1-month time point and subjects reported durability of results lasting to the 12-month visit. While this study was on a small number of subjects, the Viveve treatment for SUI showed significant promise and as a result Viveve planned two additional trials in SUI.
LIBERATE - International
In January 2019, enrollment was completed for the LIBERATE-International study in SUI. The study was conducted in Canada to support SUI indications in Canada, the European Union and several other international countries. LIBERATE International, a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study in 99 patients with mild-to-moderate SUI was conducted at nine sites in Canada. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either Active treatment (90 J/cm2 RF with cryogen cooling) or Sham treatment (sub-treatment dose of ≤1 J/cm2 with cryogen cooling). Patients were followed for six months post-treatment to assess the primary efficacy and safety of the treatment with data being collected at one, three and six months.
The primary efficacy endpoint was 6-month change from baseline in the one-hour pad weight test. Secondary endpoints included: 24-hour pad weight test, daily incontinence episodes (3-day diary), UDI-6, ICIQ-UI-SF, and FSFI.
Across all endpoints, the efficacy of both the Active and Sham treatments were highly clinically relevant. For the primary endpoint, median percentage decrease from baseline (CFB) to 6 months post-treatment in 1-hr pad weight for the Active group was 77.2% and 81.0% for the Sham group. However, the differences were no significant between the Active and Sham groups. The sham response consistently exceeded the 30 – 55% placebo response rates in the literature for SUI studies, suggesting that cryogen alone may have a therapeutic effect.
From a safety perspective, both Active and Sham treatments were safe and well tolerated. Only one adverse device event was noted, none of the 3 serious adverse events were identified as related to treatment and the percentage of patients with adverse events were comparable with the Viveve I study.
Three-Arm SUI Feasibility Study
In December 2019, the Company received approval of an Investigational Testing Application (ITA) from the Canadian Ministry of Health and in January 2020 initiated a three-arm, three-month feasibility study to compare Viveve’s CMRF treatment and a cryogen-only sham to an inert sham treatment for the improvement of SUI in women. Completion of subject enrollment in the study was reported in March 2020. Study subjects were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to the three arms and were assessed using the 1-hour Pad Weight Test, 3-day Voiding Diary, the 24-hour Pad Weight Test and I-QOL at five months post treatment. Due to patient, provider and medical facility health and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the final subject follow-up visit was changed to 5 months from the initial 3-month design.
Final results were reported in August 2020, and showed the primary efficacy endpoint (i.e., change from baseline in the standardized 1-hour Pad Weight Test at five months post treatment) was positively achieved. The median change from baseline in the active CMRF treatment group (N=13) and the cryogen-only sham treatment group (N=12) was -9.5 grams and -6.8 grams respectively, as compared to -4.4 grams in the inert sham treatment group (N=11). The study also assessed several secondary endpoints but showed no differentiation between groups. No device-related safety issues were reported. The meaningful separation demonstrated between the CMRF treatment arm and the inert sham arm in the feasibility study is believed to help provide confidence in the potential to achieve positive separation between the two treatment arms in the ongoing U.S. pivotal PURSUIT trial.
PURSUIT – U.S. SUI Trial
The Company received FDA approval of its investigational device exemption (IDE) application to conduct its U.S. pivotal, multicenter PURSUIT trial for improvement of SUI in women in July 2020, as well as FDA approval of requested amendments to the IDE protocol in December 2020. Initiation of the PURSUIT trial was announced by the Company on January 21, 2021 and subject enrollment is underway.
PURSUIT is a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial with an intended enrollment of approximately 390 female subjects with moderate SUI at up to 30 study sites in the U.S. Randomized in a 2:1 ratio for active and sham treatments, subjects in the active treatment arm (260 subjects) will receive CMRF treatment, while subjects in the control arm (130 subjects) will receive the Company’s new inert sham treatment.
The primary efficacy endpoint of the PURSUIT trial is a comparison of the proportion of patients who experience greater than 50% reduction in urine leakage compared to baseline on the standardized 1-hour Pad Weight Test at 12 months post-treatment versus the new sham procedure. The study also includes several secondary endpoints, including: proportion of patients who experience greater than 50% reduction in urine leakage on the standardized 1-hour Pad Weight Test at three and six months post-treatment, percentage change from baseline in the 1-hour Pad Weight Test at three, six and 12 months, percent of subjects with no incontinence episodes at three, six and 12 months post treatment as assessed with the three-day bladder voiding diary, and change from baseline in the MESA Questionnaire (Medical, Epidemiologic and Social Aspects of Aging), Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL), Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-1) Questionnaire, and International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF). Subject safety will be monitored throughout the study.
Clinical Studies – Vaginal Laxity and Female Sexual Function
United States Pilot Study
We conducted our first human study beginning in November 2008. The study was a single-arm study conducted in 24 female subjects, ages 25-44 years old, each of whom had experienced at least one full-term vaginal delivery. The study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the Viveve System for the treatment of vaginal laxity at three RF dosing levels. Each woman underwent a single Viveve treatment, three patients received 60 joules/cm2, three patients received 75 joules/cm2, and 18 patients received 90 joules/cm2. Patient outcomes were measured at baseline, one month, three months, six months, and 12 months using several validated patient-reported outcome measures, including a company-designed vaginal laxity/tightness questionnaire (“VSQ”), Female Sexual Function Index (“FSFI”), Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (“FSDS-R”) and the Global Response Assessment.
Within one month after the Viveve treatment, patients reported a statistically significant improvement in vaginal laxity scores, sexual function and sexual satisfaction scores compared to baseline. These results continued throughout the 12-month follow-up period. Additionally, patients reported a statistically significant decrease at one month, and thereafter, in their personal distress scores from sexual activity.
The Viveve treatment also demonstrated a strong safety profile throughout the study. The treatment was well tolerated and there were no procedure-related adverse events or serious adverse events through the 12-month follow-up period.
Japan Pilot Study
Our second human clinical study began in March 2010. This study was an open-label study conducted in 30 female subjects, ages 21-55 years old, each of whom had experienced at least one full-term vaginal delivery and experiencing vaginal laxity. The study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the Viveve System for the treatment of vaginal laxity. Each woman was treated once with the Viveve System, using 90 joules/cm2 of RF energy as the therapeutic dose.
Patient reported outcomes were measured at baseline, one month, three months, six months, and 12 months using several validated patient-reported outcome measures, including VSQ, FSFI, FSDS-R and the Global Response Assessment.
Within one month after the Viveve procedure, patients reported a statistically significant improvement in vaginal laxity scores, sexual function and sexual satisfaction scores compared to baseline. These results continued throughout the 12-month follow-up period. Additionally, patients reported a statistically significant decrease at one month, and thereafter, in their personal distress scores from sexual activity.
The Viveve procedure continued to demonstrate a strong safety profile. The treatment was well tolerated and there were no procedure-related adverse events or serious adverse events through the 12-month follow-up period.
VIVEVE I Clinical Study
In the fourth quarter of 2014, we began the VIVEVE I clinical study (VIveve Treatment of the Vaginal Introitus to EValuate Effectiveness), sometimes referred to in this report as the “OUS Clinical Trial,” a randomized, blinded and sham-controlled trial designed to further demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the Viveve System versus a sham procedure for the treatment of vaginal laxity. Nine clinical sites in four countries (Canada, Italy, Spain and Japan) enrolled 174 patients, which included pre-menopausal females 18 years of age or older who experienced at least one full term vaginal delivery at least 12 months prior to enrollment date, randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either an active treatment group or sham-control group. Patients were followed for six months post-treatment to assess the primary effectiveness and safety endpoints of the study with data being collected at one, three and six-months. The study also included a prospective interim data analysis at the three-month endpoint of 50% of the patients enrolled. Patients randomized to the sham arm were offered the opportunity to receive a Viveve treatment once they had completed the six-month evaluation following the sham intervention.
The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of subjects in the active arm as compared to the proportion of subjects in the sham arm reporting no vaginal laxity at six months post-intervention. “No vaginal laxity” was operationally defined as a score > 4 on the VSQ, a patient reported global assessment of vaginal laxity based on a 7-point scale. Additionally, the primary safety endpoint was the proportion of subjects in the active arm experiencing an adverse event (“AE”) by six months post-treatment as compared to the proportion of the subjects in the sham arm experiencing an AE by six months post-intervention. Secondary endpoints included the adjusted change in mean score on the FSFI, FSDS-R and the Vaginal Laxity Inventory (“VALI”). The VALI was created specifically for the assessment of vaginal laxity by external medical experts.
In April 2016, we completed the VIVEVE I study and reported the following results:
At six months (n=155), the proportion of patients reporting “no vaginal laxity” in the active arm, as measured by the VSQ, was 41.7%, while the proportion of patients reporting “no vaginal laxity” in the sham arm on the VSQ was 19.2% (p=0.005). Moreover, the likelihood of having “no vaginal laxity” following treatment in the active arm was more than three times greater than for the sham arm (p=0.006). Further, nearly 80% of the subjects in the active arm experienced a positive change in VSQ score versus baseline.
At six months, for those patients who scored less than a 26.5 total score on the FSFI at baseline (n=103), the adjusted mean change from baseline score between the active arm and the sham arm was 3.2 (p=0.009). Moreover, for each of the six individual domains of the FSFI, subjects in the active group reported a greater increase in score than in the sham group. Change in scores from baseline for both the sexual arousal and orgasm domains were statistically significant and nearly 93% of subjects in the active arm experienced an increase in score versus baseline.
At six months, FSDS-R and VALI were also assessed as part of the secondary end-point analysis. While subjects in the active arm reported a greater increase in scores than the sham arm, the results for the FSDS-R and VALI were not statistically significant.
Safety for the study was assessed on the entire study population (n=174). Subjects reported the same level of unrelated (32.5% active versus 35.1% sham), related (11.1% active versus 12.3% sham) and serious (0.0% active versus 1.8% sham) adverse events in both the active and sham arm, further demonstrating that the Viveve treatment is well tolerated with no safety concerns.
VIVEVE II U.S. Sexual Function Trial
In 2020, we completed the VIVEVE II (VIveve treatment of the Vaginal Introitus to EValuate Effectiveness) clinical study, which was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Company’s cryogen-cooled monopolar radiofrequency (CMRF) technology for the improvement of sexual function in women following vaginal childbirth. Topline results indicated that the study did not meet its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in the mean change from baseline in the total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) at 12 months. Although there was substantial improvement in the total FSFI score from baseline to the final 12-month follow-up in the active and sham groups indicating a significant treatment effect, there was not sufficient separation from the sham treatment group to achieve statistical significance.
The study included 220 subjects that successfully completed 12-month follow-up. Subjects were randomized in a 1:1 ratio for the active (N=114) and the sham (N=106) treatments at 17 clinical sites in the United States. Mean change in the total FSFI score at 12 months for the active group was 10.0 (12-month score of 27.9) and the mean change for the sham group was 9 (12-month score of 27.3), a difference of 0.6 (p=0.5). A total of 65.8% active and 63.2% sham achieved an FSFI > 26.5 at 12 months. There were no serious device-related adverse events reported. The treatment groups were well balanced, and the number of subjects lost to follow-up was as expected. No subjects dropped out due to an adverse event.
The Company has completed its final study report in December 2020, and due to the trial’s outcome, we do not currently intend to pursue a female sexual function or vaginal laxity label in the U.S. at this time.
Research and Development
We intend to focus on various research and development efforts, including but not limited to:
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conducting additional human clinical trials, in order to support marketing applications for additional indications in the U.S. and internationally, including but not limited to SUI and vulvovaginal atrophy;
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implementing cost improvement programs to further increase gross margins and our gross profit opportunity;
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designing new treatment tips and system enhancements to further optimize ease-of-use and reduce procedure times for patients and physicians; and
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continuing to enhance the security within the Viveve System to prevent counterfeiting and refurbishment.
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We have formed strategic relationships with outside contractors for assistance on research and development projects, and we work closely with experts in the medical community to supplement our research and development resources. Research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $5,125,000 and $8,590,000, respectively. In the future, we expect to pursue further research and development initiatives to improve and extend our technological capabilities and to foster an environment of innovation and quality.
Manufacturing
Our manufacturing strategy involves the combined utilization of contract manufacturers, approved suppliers and internal manufacturing resources and expertise. We outsource the manufacture of components, subassemblies and finished products that are produced to our specifications and shipped to our Englewood, Colorado facility for inspection, testing and distribution. Our internal manufacturing activities include the testing of Viveve treatment tips and handpieces, as well as the final integration and system testing of the Viveve System. Our finished products are stored at and distributed from our Englewood, Colorado facility or from our contract manufacturer’s location in Fredrick, Colorado, which is expected to move to Watertown, South Dakota during the second quarter of 2021.
We have arrangements with our suppliers that allow us to adjust the delivery quantities of components, subassemblies and finished products, as well as delivery schedules, to match our changing requirements. The forecasts we use are based on historical trends, current utilization patterns and sales forecasts of future demand. Lead times for components, subassemblies and finished products may vary significantly depending on the size of the order, specific supplier requirements and current market demand for the components and subassemblies. Most of our suppliers have no contractual obligations to supply us with, and we are not contractually obligated to purchase from them, the components used in our devices.
Our first generation Viveve system which consists of a generator, handpiece and disposable tip was designed and is currently manufactured by Stellartech Research Corporation (“Stellartech”). Stellartech is the sole source supplier for this version of the Viveve system. We have manufacturing, quality and regulatory agreements with Stellartech that define the relationship and responsibilities of both parties in these areas. We also have technology licenses with Stellartech that are discussed in the Patents and Proprietary Technology section of this document.
Our second generation Viveve system consists of a generator and handpiece designed and manufactured by Spartronics Corporation (“Spartronics” formerly known as “Sparton”), and a disposable treatment tip designed and manufactured by Cirtec Corporation (“Cirtec”). Both Spartronics and Cirtec are sole source suppliers for their respective components. We have a Professional Services Agreement with Spartronics that governs the design and development relationship and a Manufacturing and Supply Agreement that defines our manufacturing, shipping and servicing relationship. We manage our relationship with Cirtec with long range (12 month) forecasts and purchase orders. As of December 2020, Cirtec was cleared to serve as a second source supplier for the first generation treatment tips.
In addition to our primary system suppliers, we also have critical suppliers at the component level. We obtain proprietary flexible electronic circuits for our treatment tips and the coolant valve for the handpiece from single suppliers (AllFlex and Lee Valve Co.), for which we attempt to mitigate risks through inventory management and either long term supply agreements or 12 to 18-month purchase orders. We currently have two sterilization vendors to mitigate risks. Other products and components come from single suppliers, but alternate suppliers have been qualified or, we believe, can be readily identified and qualified. Our suppliers periodically complete reviews of electronic components for any that are near end of life. If any are found to be near end of life, we initiate a last time buy to purchase enough of the components to complete the anticipated builds that require the component. To date, shipments of finished products to our customers have not been significantly delayed due to material delays in obtaining any of our components, subassemblies or finished products.
We are required to manufacture our product in compliance with Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 820 (“21 CFR 820”) enacted by the FDA (known as the Quality System Regulation or QSR). 21 CFR 820 regulates the methods and documentation relating to the design, testing, control, manufacturing, labeling, quality assurance, packaging, storage and shipping of our product. We maintain quality assurance and quality management certifications to enable us to market our product in the member states of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and countries which have entered into Mutual Recognition Agreements with the European Union. These certifications include EN ISO 9001:2015 and CAN/CSA ISO 13485:2016. We are also required to maintain our product registration in a number of other foreign markets such as Canada.
We use small quantities of common cleaning products in our manufacturing operations, which are lawfully disposed of through a routine waste management program. Except for costs that may be incurred in the future in connection with environmental regulations requiring the phase out of R134a, a hydrofluorocarbon, or HFC, upon which our cooling module relies, we do not anticipate any material costs due to compliance with environmental laws or regulations. In 2007, the European Union enacted directives aimed at the automotive industry for the removal of HFC's from air conditioning. As a result of these directives, we anticipate that similar directives may be imposed on the medical device industry over the next decade. In anticipation of future restrictions, we have qualified a more environmentally friendly HFC (1234ZE) for use in our generators. We do not anticipate that we will have to incur costs in the near future to develop an alternative cooling module for our device which is not dependent on HFCs. If and when we are required to do so, and if we do not do so in a timely or cost-effective manner, the Viveve System may not be in compliance with environmental regulations, which could result in fines, civil penalties and the inability to sell our products in certain major international markets.
We generally offer a one-year warranty providing for the repair, rework or replacement (at the Company’s option) of products that fail to perform within stated specifications. To the extent that any of our components have performance related or technical issues in the field, we typically replace those components as necessary. We also sell a small number of extended service agreements on certain products for the period subsequent to the normal one-year warranty provided with the original product sale. Warranties are assessed for proper revenue recognition. Most warranties are classified as assurance type warranties thereby allowing immediate recognition of revenue with accrual for estimated future warranty expenses. Revenue from sale of such extended service agreements was immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Patents and Proprietary Technology
We rely on patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark laws and confidentiality agreements to protect our technology and the Viveve System. We have an exclusive license (with a field of use limitation) to one issued U.S. patent and own 5 issued U.S. patents directed to our technology and the Viveve System. Additionally, as of March 12, 2021, we have 8 pending U.S. patent applications, 75 issued foreign patents, including patents that may have lapsed, and 12 pending foreign patent applications, some of which foreign applications preserve an opportunity to pursue patent rights in multiple countries.
U.S. Patents
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Foreign Patents
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Issued
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Pending
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Issued
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Pending
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5
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8
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75
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12
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All our employees and consultants are required to execute confidentiality agreements in connection with their employment and consulting relationships with us. We also require them to agree to disclose and assign to us all inventions conceived or made in connection with the employment or consulting relationship. We cannot provide any assurance that our employees and consultants will abide by the confidentiality or invention assignment terms of their agreements. All our manufacturing suppliers are required to execute confidentiality agreements and contracts for our approved suppliers include confidentiality provisions. Despite measures taken to protect our intellectual property, unauthorized parties may copy aspects of our product or obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary.
“Viveve,” is a registered trademark in the U.S. and several foreign countries. As of the date of this report, we have various foreign registrations protecting the various marks in numerous countries outside of the U.S. We may file for additional trademarks to strengthen our trademark rights, but we cannot be certain that our trademark applications will issue or that our trademarks will be enforceable.
Edward Knowlton Licensed Patents
On February 10, 2006, Viveve, Inc. entered into an Intellectual Property Assignment and License Agreement with Edward W. Knowlton (“Knowlton”), as amended on May 22, 2006 and July 20, 2007 (collectively, the “Knowlton IP Agreement”), pursuant to which Knowlton granted to Viveve, Inc. an exclusive, royalty-free and perpetual worldwide sublicense to certain intellectual property and technology licensed to Knowlton from a third party, including rights to several patents and patent applications owned by Thermage, Inc. outside the field of contraction, remodeling and ablation of the skin through and including (but not beyond) the subcutaneous fat layer below the skin (collectively, the “Knowlton Licensed IP”). The sublicense under the Knowlton Licensed IP is fully-paid, transferable, sublicensable and permits us to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale and import any product or technology solely for use in the field of transmucosal treatment of the vagina or vulva (the “Field”) and to practice any process, method, or procedure solely in the Field. The Knowlton IP Agreement also assigns to us all technology and related intellectual property rights owned by Knowlton for the development and commercialization of devices, including any improvements, in the Field (the “Knowlton Assigned IP”). We are obligated to file and reasonably prosecute any patent applications that include a description of the Knowlton Assigned IP as prior art and maintain all patents included in the Knowlton Assigned IP, at our expense. In consideration of the sale, assignment, transfer, release and conveyance and other obligations of Knowlton under the Knowlton IP Agreement, Viveve, Inc. issued 20,000 shares of our common stock to Knowlton and agreed to engage the consulting services of Knowlton.
Also, on February 10, 2006, Viveve, Inc. entered into a Consulting Agreement with Knowlton (“Knowlton Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which Knowlton assigned all rights to any inventions and intellectual property developed during the course of providing consulting services in the Field during the term of the agreement. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions described therein, the term of the Knowlton Consulting Agreement continued until the earlier to occur of (i) the date that is six months after the closing of an initial public offering of Viveve, Inc.’s stock; or (ii) the acquisition by a third party of all or substantially all of the business or assets of Viveve, Inc., whether by asset or stock acquisition, merger, consolidation or otherwise. The agreement could be renewed only upon the mutual written agreement of the parties prior to its expiration. The Knowlton Consulting Agreement expired by its terms on September 23, 2014. The assignment of the intellectual property developed during the term of the Knowlton Consulting Agreement survives termination.
Agreement with Stellartech Research Corporation
On June 12, 2006, Viveve, Inc. entered into the Stellartech Agreement, as amended and restated on October 4, 2007, with Stellartech for an initial term of three years in connection with the performance of development and manufacturing services by Stellartech and the license of certain technology and intellectual property rights to each party. Under the Stellartech Agreement, we agreed to purchase 300 units of generators manufactured by Stellartech. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has purchased 855 units. In conjunction with the Agreement, Stellartech purchased 38 shares of Viveve, Inc.’s common stock Under the Stellartech Agreement, we paid Stellartech $1,051,000 and $4,889,000 for goods and services during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In addition, Stellartech granted to us a non-exclusive, nontransferable, worldwide, royalty-free license in the Field (defined above in the discussions titled “Edward Knowlton Licensed Patents”) to use Stellartech’s technology incorporated into deliverables or products developed, manufactured or sold by Stellartech to us pursuant to the Stellartech Agreement (the “Stellartech Products”) to use, sell, offer for sale, import and distribute the Stellartech Products within the Field, including the use of software object code incorporated into the Stellartech Products. The Stellartech technology consists of know-how applicable to the manufacturing and repair of the Viveve System, including any other intellectual property which Stellartech developed or acquired separate and apart from the Stellartech Agreement and all related derivative works. In addition, once we purchase a minimum commitment of 300 units of the RF generator component (the “Minimum Commitment”) and the Stellartech Agreement expires, Stellartech is to grant us a nonexclusive, nontransferable, worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid license to use the Stellartech technology incorporated into the Stellartech Products to make and have made Stellartech Products in the Field.
Stellartech also granted (i) an exclusive (even as to Stellartech), nontransferable, worldwide, royalty-free license within the Field under those certain intellectual property rights licensed to Stellartech pursuant to a development and supply agreement between Stellartech and Thermage, dated October 1, 1997 (the “Thermage Technology”), to use any elements of the Thermage Technology incorporated into the Stellartech Products, solely for the use, sale, offer for sale, importation and distribution within the Field; (ii) upon our satisfaction of the Minimum Commitment and the expiration of the Stellartech Agreement, an exclusive, nontransferable, worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid license within the Field under Stellartech’s license rights in the Thermage Technology to use any elements of the Thermage Technology which are incorporated into the Stellartech Products to make and have made Stellartech Products in the Field; and (iii) the exclusive right within the Field to prosecute infringers of the portion of Stellartech’s Thermage Technology rights exclusively licensed to us. Our license rights in Thermage Technology also include the use of software object code for Thermage Technology used in the Stellartech Products. As of the date of this report, the Stellartech Agreement has expired by its terms, however, the parties still continue to operate under the terms of the agreement. In addition, we have met the Minimum Commitment requirement, and therefore we are permitted to use the Stellartech technology with any other manufacturer. If Stellartech refuses or is unable to meet our delivery requirements for the Viveve System, our business could be materially adversely affected.
In March 2012, Viveve, Inc. entered into a Quality and Regulatory Agreement with Stellartech, pursuant to which the parties clarified their respective quality and regulatory responsibilities under the Stellartech Agreement. The Quality and Regulatory Agreement provides that we will serve as the legal manufacturer for all Stellartech Products developed and sold to us thereunder and that we are obligated to maintain all relevant quality assurance and regulatory processes and requirements required by any regulatory authority and to comply with the processes and requirements set forth in the schedule of responsibilities provided in the agreement.
Government Regulation
The Viveve System is a medical device subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by international regulatory bodies as well as the FDA. These regulations govern the following activities that we perform, or that are performed on our behalf, to ensure that medical products exported internationally or distributed domestically are safe and effective for their intended uses:
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product design, development and manufacture;
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product safety, testing, labeling and storage;
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record keeping procedures;
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product marketing, sales and distribution;
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pre-clinical and clinical experiences; and
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post-marketing surveillance, complaint handling, medical device reporting, reporting of deaths, serious injuries or device malfunctions and repair or recall of products.
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In addition to the regulatory approvals already received in connection with the sale of the Viveve System in the foreign jurisdictions described below and the approvals/clearances already received and being sought in the U.S., we are currently seeking regulatory approval or clearance for the sale of our product in many other countries around the world.
International
Sales of our product outside the U.S. are subject to foreign regulatory requirements that vary widely from country to country. In addition, exports of medical devices from the U.S. are regulated by the FDA. Complying with international regulatory requirements can be an expensive and time-consuming process and approval is not certain. The time required to obtain registrations or approvals, as required by other countries, may be longer than that required for FDA clearance, and requirements for such registrations or approvals may significantly differ from FDA requirements. We may be unable to obtain or maintain registrations or approvals in other countries. We may also incur significant costs in attempting to obtain and in maintaining foreign regulatory approvals. If we experience delays in receiving necessary registrations or approvals to market our product outside the U.S., or if we fail to receive those registrations or approvals, we may be unable to market our product or enhancements in international markets effectively, or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and growth strategy.
An entity that seeks to export a medical device that is legally marketed in the U.S. (e.g., an FDA cleared Class II medical device) may do so without prior FDA notification or approval.
Because the Viveve System has been cleared by the FDA for “use in general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis,” Viveve does not obtain approval from the FDA prior to exporting the device to foreign countries. Additionally, products exported from the U.S. and those with certain levels of U.S. content are subject to the U.S. export control and sanctions laws and regulations, which may restrict proposed transactions to certain countries, end-users and end-uses. Certain products may be controlled for export and reexport and may require licensing or other authorization from the U.S. government prior to engaging in the export or reexport transaction. Changes to these regulations may impact the ability to pursue potential opportunities to export and reexport the products overseas.
Moreover, entities legally exporting products from the U.S. are often asked by foreign customers or foreign governments to supply an export certificate issued by the FDA to accompany a device. An export certificate is a document prepared by the FDA containing information about a product’s regulatory or marketing status in the U.S. We have requested the issuance of export certificates to allow exports into many countries around the world, and the FDA has issued those export certificates to us. Accordingly, we provide export certificates to many of our foreign customers.
Currently, the Viveve System is cleared for marketing in 51 countries throughout the world under the following indications for use:
Indication for Use:
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No. of
Countries:
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General surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis
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4
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(including the U.S.)
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General surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis of vaginal tissue and the treatment of vaginal laxity
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30
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For treatment of vaginal laxity
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5
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For treatment of the vaginal introitus, after vaginal childbirth, to improve sexual function
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9
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General surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis as well as for the treatment of vaginal laxity
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1
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For vaginal rejuvenation
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1
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For treatment of vaginal laxity and to improve mild urinary incontinence and sexual function
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1
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Outside the U.S., we market and sell through an extensive network of distribution partners. In the U.S., the Viveve System is indicated for use in general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis and we market and sell primarily through a direct sales force.
United States
FDA’s Premarket Clearance and Approval Requirements
Unless an exemption applies, any medical device we wish to commercially distribute in the U.S. will require premarket clearance from the FDA. The FDA classifies medical devices into one of three classes. The classification system is risk based, with devices deemed to pose the lowest risk being Class I, and devices posing the most risk being Class III. Most Class I devices are exempt from the requirement to obtain FDA premarket clearance or approval. For most Class II devices (and a small number of Class I devices), a company must submit to the FDA a premarket notification (known as 510(k) submission) requesting clearance to commercially distribute the device. Devices deemed by the FDA to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting or implantable devices, or devices deemed not substantially equivalent to a previously cleared 510(k) devices, are placed in Class III, requiring either FDA premarket approval via a Premarket Approval (“PMA”) application or a De Novo petition requesting that the FDA reclassify the device into a lower class (i.e., Class II or Class I). The FDA has issued regulations identifying the Class into which different types of devices fall and identifying whether the device type is exempt from the 510(k) process or if a 510(k) is needed.
510(k) Clearance Pathway
When a 510(k) clearance is required, we must submit a premarket notification to the FDA demonstrating that our device is substantially equivalent to a previously cleared and legally marketed device or a device that was in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976 for which the FDA has not yet called for the submission of PMAs (known as a predicate device). The FDA strives to make a determination that the device is substantially equivalent (SE) (i.e., clear the device) or not substantially equivalent (NSE) within 90 days of submission of the notification. As a practical matter, clearance often takes significantly longer. The FDA may require further information, including clinical data, to make a determination regarding substantial equivalence. If the FDA determines that the device is not substantially equivalent to a previously cleared device, the FDA will issue an NSE letter and place the device into Class III. If the device is placed into Class III automatically based only on the lack of a predicate device and the device is lower risk, a De Novo submission may be submitted petitioning the FDA to reclassify the device into Class II or Class I, as appropriate.
Any modification to a 510(k)-cleared device that would constitute a major change in its intended use, or any change that could significantly affect the safety or effectiveness of the device, requires a new 510(k) clearance and may even, in some circumstances, require a PMA, if the change raises complex or novel scientific issues or the product has a new intended use. The FDA requires every manufacturer to make the determination regarding the need for a new 510(k) submission in the first instance, but the FDA may review any manufacturer’s decision. If the FDA were to disagree with a manufacturer’s determination that changes did not require a new 510(k), the FDA could require the manufacturer to cease marketing and distribution and/or recall the modified device until 510(k) clearance or PMA clearance is obtained and the manufacturer could be subject to significant regulatory fines or penalties.
In December 2008, a predecessor company to Viveve received 510(k) clearance for a previous version of the Viveve System. Since then, we have made design modifications to the original 510(k)-cleared device. In March 2015, we submitted a Special 510(k) to the FDA seeking clearance for the updated Viveve System to take into account the design modifications to the original 510(k)-cleared device, which included improved user interface capabilities and enhanced manufacturability. In October 2016, we received clearance from the FDA to sell the updated device for use in general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis. In 2017 we received clearance to add an 8 cm tip to the product family. The second generation Viveve 2.0 System was cleared by FDA under 510(k) on June 12, 2019 with no change to the intended use or indication from the original first generation Viveve System.
De Novo Process
If FDA has not issued a regulation classifying a particular type of device as Class I, and if there is no known predicate for a device (i.e., a legally-marketed device that is not subject to premarket approval with comparable indications for use and technological characteristics), the device is automatically Class III, regardless of the risk the device poses. If a device is automatically/statutorily classified into Class III in this manner, a company can petition FDA to reclassify the category of devices into Class II or Class I via a process known as “Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation,” which is typically referred to as the “de novo process.” The direct de novo process allows a company to request that a new product classification be established without the company first submitting a 510(k) notification for the device. The reclassification petition should include a risk-benefit analysis demonstrating that, when subject to general controls or general and special controls, the probable benefits to health from use of the device outweigh any probable injury or illness from such use. The submitter also must describe why general controls or general and special controls are adequate to provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness and for proposed Class II devices, provide proposed special controls. If a product is classified as Class II through the de novo review process, then that device may serve as a predicate device for subsequent 510(k) premarket notifications, including by competitors.
We intend to seek FDA authorization to market the Viveve System for the treatment of vaginal tissue to improve SUI by utilizing the direct de novo process. However, we cannot predict when or if approval of such a petition will be obtained. In addition, if FDA fails to grant a de novo petition, we will be required to seek FDA premarket approval (via the more stringent PMA process). Delays in receipt of FDA clearance or failure to receive FDA clearance or approval for expanded indication could reduce our sales, profitability and future growth prospects.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are almost always required to support an FDA de novo reclassification and are sometimes required for 510(k) clearance. With respect to the Viveve System, the FDA has asked us to conduct a clinical study under an IDE, to support a future product submission (e.g., a 510(k) or a de novo petition) for the sexual function indication. In the U.S., clinical trials on medical devices generally require submission of an application for an IDE to the FDA if the device is a “significant risk” device. The IDE application must be supported by appropriate data, such as animal and laboratory testing results, showing that it is safe to test the device in humans and that the testing protocol is scientifically sound. The IDE must be approved in advance by the FDA for a specific number of patients. Clinical trials for significant risk devices may not begin until the IDE application is approved by both the FDA and the appropriate institutional review boards (“IRBs”) at the clinical trial sites. Our clinical trials must be conducted under the oversight of an IRB at the relevant clinical trial sites and in accordance with FDA regulations, including, but not limited to, those relating to good clinical practices. We are also required to obtain the patients’ informed consent, in compliance with both FDA requirements and state and federal privacy regulations. We, the FDA, or the IRB at each site at which a clinical trial is being performed may suspend a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the risks to study subjects outweigh the benefits. Even if a trial is completed, the results of clinical testing may not demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the device, may be equivocal or may otherwise not be sufficient to obtain clearance or approval of the product. Similarly, in Europe and other regions, clinical study protocols must be approved by the local ethics committee and in some cases, including studies with high-risk devices, by the Ministry of Health in the applicable country.
The Company received FDA approval of its investigational device exemption (IDE) application to conduct its U.S. pivotal, multicenter PURSUIT trial for improvement of SUI in women in July 2020, as well as FDA approval of requested amendments to the IDE protocol in December 2020. Initiation of the PURSUIT trial was announced by the Company on January 21, 2021 and subject enrollment is underway. PURSUIT is a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial with an intended enrollment of approximately 390 female subjects with moderate SUI at up to 30 study sites in the U.S. Randomized in a 2:1 ratio for active and sham treatments, subjects in the active treatment arm (260 subjects) will receive CMRF treatment, while subjects in the control arm (130 subjects) will receive the Company’s new inert sham treatment.
The primary efficacy endpoint of the PURSUIT trial is a comparison of the proportion of patients who experience greater than 50% reduction in urine leakage compared to baseline on the standardized 1-hour Pad Weight Test at 12 months post-treatment versus the new sham procedure.
In 2020, we completed the VIVEVE II (VIveve treatment of the Vaginal Introitus to EValuate Effectiveness) clinical study, which was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the company’s cryogen-cooled monopolar radiofrequency (CMRF) technology for the improvement of sexual function in women following vaginal childbirth. Topline results indicated that the study did not meet its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in the mean change from baseline in the total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) at 12 months.
The Company has completed its final study report in December 2020, and due to the trial’s outcome, we do not currently intend to pursue a female sexual dysfunction or vaginal laxity label in the U.S. at this time.
Continuing Regulation
After a device is placed on the market, numerous regulatory requirements continue to apply. These include:
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product listing and establishment registration, which helps facilitate regulatory inspections and other regulatory action;
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submission of Unique Device Identifiers (UDIs) or the equivalent to regulatory authorities;
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Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Quality System Regulations (QSRs), which require those who design, manufacture, package, label, store, install, and service devices to follow stringent design, testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures during all aspects of these processes;
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labeling regulations and FDA prohibitions against the promotion of products for uncleared, unapproved or “off-label” uses to both physician and consumers;
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regulations governing our interactions with healthcare practitioners;
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U.S. export control and sanctions regulations associated with the export and reexport of the products;
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complaint handling and adverse event reporting requirements, such as the Medical Device Reporting (MDR), regulations in the U.S., which require that a manufacturer report to the FDA if its device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur;
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post-market surveillance regulations, which apply when necessary to protect the public health or to provide additional safety and effectiveness data for the device;
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regulations pertaining to recalls and notices of corrections or removals; and
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any other post-market requirements that the FDA or foreign regulatory bodies might impose as part of the device approval or clearance process.
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The FDA has broad post-market and regulatory enforcement powers. We and our third-party manufacturers are subject to announced and unannounced inspections by the FDA and foreign governments or designated representatives to determine compliance with the quality system requirements and other regulations. In the past, our Sunnyvale, California facility (now closed) was inspected, and observations were noted, including an April 2012 California Department of Public Health (CDPH) inspection that cited deficiencies related to signature authority of inspection documentation, incomplete corrective action responses, and labeling indicating that our product contained no latex without proper objective evidence. The FDA and CDRH have accepted our responses to these observations, and we believe that we and our third-party manufacturer are in substantial compliance with the QSR.
Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in enforcement action by the FDA, states, or foreign governments, which may include any of the following actions:
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warning letters, untitled letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;
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repair, replacement, refunds, recall, market withdrawal or seizure of our products;
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operating restrictions, partial suspension or total shutdown of production;
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refusing our requests for 510(k) clearance, de novo reclassification, or premarket approval of new products or new intended uses;
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refusing to grant export certificates for our product;
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reclassifying a device that previously received a 510(k) clearance or withdrawing premarket approvals that are already granted; and
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criminal prosecution.
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If any of these events were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are also subject to a wide range of federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those related to distribution of medical devices, the environment, health and safety, fraud and abuse, land use, advertising, and quality assurance. We believe that compliance with these laws and regulations as currently in effect will not have a material adverse effect on our capital expenditures, earnings and competitive and financial position.
Competition
The medical device industry is characterized by intense competition and rapid innovation. While we believe that our solutions are unique and offer a more effective treatment options from that which is on the market currently, we also believe that the market for the treatment of SUI remains a tremendous, under-developed opportunity. Therefore, competition is expected to increase, particularly as the market becomes further developed with additional treatment options. Aside from Kegel exercises and invasive surgical procedures, such as LVR, fillers, bulking agents, slings, and mesh there are many companies that may be developing or that have developed energy-based technologies for vaginal use as well as others developing modalities for the treatment of SUI. Further, the overall size and attractiveness of the market may compel larger companies focused in the Urology, OB/GYN, aesthetic or women’s health markets, and with much greater capital and other resources, to pursue development of or acquire technologies that may address these indications. Potential energy-based competitors include, but are not limited to, Innova, Inmode, BTL, Cynosure, Yarlap, Fotona, Syneron, Thermi Aesthetics, Cutera, and others, some of whom have more established products and customer relationships than we have.
Human Capital Resources
As of March 12, 2021, we had 42 full-time employees and we retain the services of several qualified consultants. We believe that our future success will depend in part on our continued ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel. None of our employees is represented by a labor union, and we believe that our employee relations are good.
Our human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating our existing and new employees, advisors and consultants. The principal purposes of our equity and cash incentive plans are to attract, retain and reward personnel through the granting of stock-based and cash-based compensation awards, in order to increase stockholder value and the success of our company by motivating such individuals to perform to the best of their abilities and achieve our objectives.
Continuance into Delaware
On July 22, 2015, at our 2015 Annual and Special Meeting of Stockholders, our stockholders approved a special resolution authorizing a continuance of the Company (the “Continuance”) into the State of Delaware under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and the adoption of charter documents that comply with the DGCL in connection therewith, effective as of a date to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, no more than 12 months from the date of the meeting. On May 9, 2016, the Company filed the necessary Application for Authorization to Continue into Another Jurisdiction and Statutory Declaration with the Yukon registrar. On May 10, 2016, the Company filed a Certificate of Conversion and Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to move its domicile from the Yukon Territory to Delaware.
The Continuance did not involve any change in our business, properties, corporate headquarters or management. The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Continuance continued to serve as our officers following the Continuance, and the current members of the Board of Directors continued to serve as the members of the Board following the Continuance. There was no change in our operations, assets, liabilities or obligations as a result of the Continuance. Other than the approval of our stockholders and the filings with the Yukon Registrar of Corporations and the Secretary of State of Delaware, there were no federal or state regulatory requirements that we were required to comply with or approvals that we were required to obtain in connection with the Continuance.
Upon the effectiveness of the Continuance, each outstanding share of our common stock continued to be an outstanding share of our common stock as incorporated in Delaware and each outstanding option, right or warrant to acquire shares of our common stock continued to be an option, right or warrant to acquire an equal number of shares of common stock under the same terms and conditions. Upon effectiveness of the Continuance, we were governed by the Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware and by bylaws prepared in accordance with the DGCL, which were approved by our stockholders at the 2015 Annual and Special Meeting. Following the Continuance, we were governed by the DGCL instead of the Yukon Business Corporation Act.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Prospective investors should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included or referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, before purchasing shares of our common stock. There are numerous and varied risks that may prevent us from achieving our goals. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations may be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and investors in our common stock could lose all or part of their investment.
Risks Related to Regulatory Matters
We or our distributors may be unable to obtain or maintain international regulatory clearances or approvals for our current or future products, or our distributors may be unable to obtain necessary qualifications, which could harm our business.
Sales of the Viveve System internationally are subject to foreign regulatory requirements that vary widely from country to country. In addition, the FDA regulates exports of medical devices from the U.S. Complying with international regulatory requirements can be an expensive and time-consuming process, and marketing approval or clearance is not certain. The time required to obtain clearances or approvals, if required by other countries, may be longer than that required for FDA clearance or approvals, and requirements for such clearances or approvals may significantly differ from FDA requirements. We may rely on third-party distributors to obtain regulatory clearances and approvals required in other countries, and these distributors may be unable to obtain or maintain such clearances or approvals. Our distributors may also incur significant costs in attempting to obtain and in maintaining foreign regulatory approvals or clearances, which could increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining qualified distributors. If our distributors experience delays in receiving necessary qualifications, clearances or approvals to market our products outside the U.S., or if they fail to receive those qualifications, clearances or approvals, we may be unable to market our products or enhancements in international markets effectively, or at all.
Foreign governmental authorities that regulate the manufacture and sale of medical devices have become increasingly stringent and, to the extent we market and sell our products outside of the U.S., we may be subject to rigorous international regulation in the future. In these circumstances, we would be required to rely on our foreign independent distributors to comply with the varying regulations, and any failures on their part could result in restrictions on the sale of our product in foreign countries.
If we fail to maintain regulatory approvals and clearances, or if we are unable to obtain, or experience significant delays in obtaining, FDA clearances or approvals for the Viveve System or any future products we may develop or acquire, including product enhancements, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Viveve System is, and any future products we may acquire or develop will be, subject to rigorous regulation by the FDA and numerous other federal, state and foreign governmental authorities. The process of obtaining regulatory clearances or approvals to market a medical device can be costly and time consuming, and we may not be able to obtain these clearances or approvals on a timely basis, if at all. In particular, the FDA permits commercial distribution of a new medical device only after the device has received clearance under section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, (unless the device is exempt from the 510(k) requirements), has been classified pursuant to a de novo classification request, or is the subject of an approved premarket approval application, or PMA. The FDA will permit marketing of a lower risk medical device through the 510(k) process if the manufacturer demonstrates that the new product is substantially equivalent to a previously cleared and legally marketed device or a device that was in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976 for which the FDA has not yet called for the submission of PMA, referred to as a predicate device. Devices deemed to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting, or implantable devices, or devices not deemed substantially equivalent to a previously cleared device, require the approval of a PMA, unless a de novo submission is appropriate. The PMA process is more costly, lengthy and uncertain than the 510(k) clearance process. A PMA application must be supported by extensive data, including, but not limited to, technical, preclinical, clinical trial, manufacturing and labeling data, to demonstrate to the FDA a reasonable assurance of the safety and efficacy of the device for its intended use.
If the FDA has not issued a regulation classifying a particular type of device as Class I, and if there is no known predicate for a device and/or its indication, the device is automatically Class III, regardless of the risk the device poses. If a device is automatically/statutorily classified into Class III in this manner, a company can petition FDA to reclassify the category of devices into Class II or Class I via a process known as “Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation,” which is typically referred to as the de novo process. The direct de novo process allows a company to request that a new product classification be established without the company first submitting a 510(k) notification for the device. Our plan is to seek FDA authorization to market the Viveve System for the treatment of SUI by utilizing the direct de novo process. However, we cannot predict when or if such de novo classification will be obtained. If FDA fails to reclassify the device pursuant to the de novo process, we will be required to seek FDA premarket approval (via the more stringent PMA process) for the Viveve System, which will be extremely costly and very time-consuming, often taking as long as several years. Delays in receipt of FDA clearance or approval or failure to receive FDA clearance or approval could adversely affect our business, results of operations and future growth prospects.
Our marketed products may be used by physicians for indications that are not cleared by the FDA. If the FDA finds that we marketed our products in a manner that promoted off-label use, we may be subject to civil or criminal penalties.
Under the FDCA and other laws, we are prohibited from promoting our products for off-label uses. This means that we may not make claims about the use of any of our marketed medical device products outside of their approved or cleared indications, and that our website, advertising promotional materials and training methods may not promote or encourage unapproved uses. The Viveve System is currently indicated for use, and being marketed for use, in general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis in the United States. The device has not been cleared or approved for use for SUI, vaginal laxity, to improve sexual function, or for vaginal rejuvenation in the United States. Therefore, we may not provide information to physicians or patients that promote the Viveve System for SUI, vaginal laxity, to improve sexual function, or for vaginal rejuvenation. Note, however, that the FDA does not generally restrict physicians from prescribing products for off-label uses (or using products in an off-label manner) in their practice of medicine. We are also permitted to engage in non-promotional scientific exchange in response to unsolicited questions by physicians about our products. Should the FDA determine that our activities constitute the promotion of off-label uses, the FDA could bring action to prevent us from distributing our devices for the off-label use and could impose fines and penalties on us and our executives. In addition, failure to follow FDA rules and guidelines relating to promotion and advertising can result in, among other things, the FDA’s refusal to approve or clear other products in our pipeline such as clearance or approval to treat SUI, the withdrawal of an approved product from the market, product recalls, fines, disgorgement of profits, operating restrictions, injunctions or criminal prosecutions. Any of these adverse regulatory actions could result in substantial costs and could significantly and adversely impact our reputation and divert management’s attention and resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
If the Office of Inspector General within the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), or another federal or state agency determines that we have promoted off-label use of our products, we may be subject to various penalties, including civil or criminal penalties, and the off-label use of our products may result in injuries that lead to product liability suits, which could be costly to our business.
In addition to the FDA restrictions on our marketed products, other state and federal healthcare laws have been applied by DOJ and state attorneys general to restrict certain marketing practices in the medical device industry. While physicians may generally prescribe and administer products for off-label uses, if we engage in off-label promotion, we may be subject to civil or criminal penalties including significant fines and could be prohibited from participating in government healthcare programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. Even if we are successful in resolving such matters without incurring penalties, responding to investigations or prosecutions will likely result in substantial costs and could significantly and adversely impact our reputation and divert management’s attention and resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and ability to finance our operations. In addition, the off-label use of our products may increase the risk of injury to patients, and, in turn, the risk of product liability claims. Product liability claims are expensive to defend and could divert our management’s attention and result in substantial damage awards against us.
If we modify an FDA-cleared device, we may need to seek and obtain new clearances, which, if not granted, would prevent the sale of our modified product or require us to redesign the product.
Any modifications to an FDA-cleared device that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness or that would constitute a major change in its intended use would require a new 510(k) clearance or possibly a premarket approval. We may not be able to obtain additional 510(k) clearances or premarket approvals for new products or for modifications to, or additional indications for, our existing product in a timely fashion, or at all. Delays in obtaining future clearances or approvals would adversely affect our ability to introduce new or enhanced products in a timely manner, which in turn could harm our revenue and potential future profitability. We have made modifications to our device in the past and may make additional modifications in the future that we believe do not or will not require additional clearances or approvals. If the FDA disagrees, and requires new clearances or approvals for the modifications, we may be required to recall and to stop marketing the modified device, which could harm our operating results and require us to redesign the product.
Clinical trials necessary to support a 510(k) notification, de novo petition or PMA application will be expensive and will require the enrollment of large numbers of patients. Suitable patients may be difficult to identify and recruit. Delays or failures in our clinical trials may prevent us from commercializing our current product or any modified or new products and will adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.
The FDA has asked us to conduct a clinical study, pursuant to the agency’s investigational device exemption, or IDE, regulations, to support a future product submission for the Viveve System. Initiating and completing clinical trials necessary to support a 510(k) notification, de novo petition, or PMA application for the Viveve System, as well as other possible future product candidates, is time consuming and expensive and the outcome is uncertain. Moreover, the results of early clinical trials are not necessarily predictive of future results, and any product we advance into clinical trials may not have favorable results in later clinical trials.
Conducting successful clinical studies will require the enrollment of patients, and suitable patients may be difficult to identify and recruit. Patient enrollment in clinical trials and completion of patient participation and follow-up depends on many factors, including the size of the patient population, the nature of the trial protocol, the desirability of, or the discomforts and risks associated with, the treatments received by enrolled subjects, the availability of appropriate clinical trial investigators and support staff, the proximity of patients to clinical sites, the ability of patients to comply with the eligibility and exclusion criteria for participation in the clinical trial and patient compliance. For example, patients may be discouraged from enrolling in our clinical trials if the trial protocol requires them to undergo extensive post-treatment procedures or follow-up to assess the safety and effectiveness of our product or if they determine that the treatments received under the trial protocols are not desirable or involve unacceptable risk or discomfort.
Development of sufficient and appropriate clinical protocols to demonstrate safety and efficacy are required and we may not adequately develop such protocols to support clearance or approval. Further, the FDA may require us to submit data on a greater number of patients than we originally anticipated and/or for a longer follow-up period or change the data collection requirements or data analysis applicable to our clinical trials. Delays in patient enrollment or failure of patients to continue to participate in a clinical trial may cause an increase in costs and delays in the approval or clearance and attempted commercialization of our product or result in the failure of the clinical trial. In addition, despite considerable time and expense invested in clinical trials, the FDA may not consider our data adequate to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Such increased costs and delays or failures could adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.
Finally, even if our clinical trials receive IDE approval from FDA, this does not guarantee that FDA will find our clinical trial data sufficient to support an application for FDA clearance or approval. For example, after submitting an application to FDA, the agency may raise questions during the review process regarding the clinical trial data, including those related to clinical trial design considerations. If FDA has questions regarding the clinical study design or clinical trial results, FDA may issue an Additional Information (“AI”) request to Viveve as part of the review process. If FDA issues an AI request, FDA’s review clock is stopped until Viveve provides information responsive to FDA’s requests. An AI request may delay the process for obtaining FDA clearance or approval. Further, if FDA ultimately does not find Viveve’s clinical trial design or clinical data to be sufficient to support the safety and efficacy of the Viveve System for proposed indication, there is a risk that FDA may not grant clearance or approval of our application.
If the third parties on which we rely to conduct our clinical trials and to assist us with preclinical development do not perform as contractually required or expected, we may not be able to obtain the regulatory clearance or approval which would permit us to commercialize our products.
We do not have the ability to independently conduct the preclinical studies and clinical trials for our product, therefore we must rely on third parties, such as contract research organizations, medical institutions, clinical investigators and contract laboratories to conduct the studies and trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or regulatory obligations or meet expected deadlines, if these third parties need to be replaced, or if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our preclinical development activities or clinical trials may be extended, delayed, suspended or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory clearance or approval for, or be able to successfully commercialize, our product on a timely basis, if at all. In that event, our business, operating results and prospects may be adversely affected.
The results of our clinical trials may not support our proposed product claims or may result in the discovery of adverse side effects. Any of these events could have a material adverse impact on our business.
Even if our clinical trials are completed as planned, it cannot be certain that the results of the clinical trials will support our proposed claims for the Viveve System, that the FDA or foreign authorities will agree with our conclusions regarding them or that even if our product receives regulatory approval or clearance, that it will not later result in adverse side effects that limit or prevent its use. Success in preclinical studies and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and we cannot be sure that the later trials will replicate the results of prior trials and preclinical studies. The clinical trial process may fail to demonstrate that our product is safe and effective for the proposed indicated uses. Any delay of our clinical trials or failure by the FDA or other foreign authorities to accept our product claims will delay, or even prevent, our ability to commercialize our product and generate revenues.
For example, in April 2020, we reported the topline results of our VIVEVE II clinical trial consisting of a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the company's proprietary, CMRF technology for the improvement of sexual function in women following vaginal childbirth. The data showed that the VIVEVE II study did not meet its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in the mean change from baseline in total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score at 12 months.
We continue to advance our clinical development program in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and conducted a short-term feasibility study under an Investigational Testing Application approved by the Canadian Ministry of Health. The feasibility study is a single-blind, three-arm, five-month study to compare Viveve's CMRF treatment and a cryogen-only sham to an inert sham treatment in order to capture short-term safety and effectiveness data on use of the Viveve System for the improvement of SUI in women. In August 2020, we reported results from the study in which the primary efficacy endpoint, change from baseline in the standardized 1-hour Pad Weight Test at five months post treatment, was positively achieved.
Even if our product is approved by regulatory authorities, if we or our suppliers fail to comply with ongoing FDA or other foreign regulatory authority requirements, or if we experience unanticipated problems with our product, the product could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.
Any product for which we obtain clearance or approval, and the manufacturing processes, reporting requirements, post-approval clinical data and promotional activities for such product, will be subject to continued regulatory review, oversight and periodic inspections by the FDA and other domestic and foreign regulatory bodies, such as the Food and Drug Branch of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). In particular, we and our suppliers are required to comply with the FDA’s QSR, and International Standards Organization, or ISO, standards for the manufacture of our product and other regulations which cover the methods and documentation of the design, testing, production, control, quality assurance, labeling, packaging, storage and shipping of any product for which we obtain clearance or approval. Regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, enforce the QSR and other regulations through periodic inspections. In the past, our Sunnyvale, California facility has been inspected by the FDA and CDPH, and observations were noted. The FDA and CDPH have accepted our responses to these observations, and we believe that we are in substantial compliance with the QSR. Any future failure by us or one of our suppliers to comply with applicable statutes and regulations administered by the FDA and other regulatory bodies, or the failure to timely and adequately respond to any adverse inspectional observations or product safety issues, could result in, among other things, any of the following enforcement actions and unanticipated expenditures to address or defend such actions:
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untitled letters, warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;
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customer notifications for repair, replacement or refunds;
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recall, detention or seizure of our products;
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operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production;
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refusing or delaying our requests for 510(k) clearance, de novo classification, or premarket approval of new products or modified products;
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operating restrictions;
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reclassifying a device that previously received a 510(k) clearance or withdrawing a PMA approval that was previously granted;
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refusal to grant export approval for our product; or
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criminal prosecution.
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If any of these actions were to occur, it would harm our reputation and cause our product sales to suffer and may prevent us from generating revenue. Furthermore, our third-party manufacturers may not currently be, or may not continue to be, in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements which could result in a failure to produce our product on a timely basis and in the required quantities, if at all.
Even if regulatory clearance or approval of a product is granted for the Viveve System or future products, such clearance or approval may be subject to limitations on the intended uses for which the product may be marketed and reduce our potential to successfully commercialize the product and generate revenue from the product. If the FDA determines that our promotional materials, labeling, training or other marketing or educational activities constitute promotion of an unapproved use, it could request that we cease or modify our training or promotional materials or subject us to regulatory enforcement actions. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they consider our training or other promotional materials to constitute promotion of an unapproved use, which could result in significant fines or penalties under other statutory authorities, such as laws prohibiting false claims for reimbursement.
In addition, we may be required by the FDA or other foreign regulatory bodies to conduct costly post-market testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or effectiveness of our products, and we must comply with medical device reporting requirements, including the reporting of adverse events and malfunctions related to our products. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our products, including unanticipated adverse events or adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, manufacturing problems, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements such as the QSR, may result in changes to labeling, restrictions on such products or manufacturing processes, withdrawal of the products from the market, voluntary or mandatory recalls, a requirement to repair, replace or refund the cost of any medical device we manufacture or distribute, fines, suspension of regulatory approvals, product seizures, injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties which would adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.
The Viveve System may also be subject to state regulations which are, in many instances, in flux. Changes in state regulations may impede sales. For example, federal regulations may allow the device to be sold to, or on the order of, “licensed practitioners,” as determined on a state-by-state basis. As a result, in some states, non-physicians may legally purchase and operate our device. However, a state could change its regulations at any time, disallowing sales to particular types of end users. We cannot predict the impact or effect of future legislation or regulations at the federal or state levels.
If we or our third-party manufacturers fail to comply with the FDA’s QSR, our business would suffer.
We and our third-party manufacturers are required to demonstrate and maintain compliance with the FDA’s QSR. The QSR is a complex regulatory scheme that covers the methods and documentation of the design, testing, control, manufacturing, labeling, quality assurance, packaging, storage and shipping of our product. The FDA enforces the QSR through periodic unannounced inspections. We anticipate that in the future we will be subject to such inspections. Our failure, or the failure of our third-party manufacturers, to take satisfactory corrective action in response to an adverse QSR inspection could result in enforcement actions, including a public warning letter, a shutdown of our manufacturing operations, a recall of our product, civil or criminal penalties or other sanctions, which would cause our reputation, sales and business to suffer.
If our product causes or contributes to a death or a serious injury, or malfunctions in certain ways, we will be subject to medical device reporting regulations, which can result in voluntary corrective actions or agency enforcement actions.
Under the FDA’s medical device reporting regulations, medical device manufacturers are required to report to the FDA information that a device has or may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or has malfunctioned in a way that would be likely to cause or contribute to death or serious injury if the malfunction of the device were to recur. If we fail to report these events to the FDA within the required timeframes, or at all, the FDA could take enforcement action against us. Any such adverse event involving the Viveve System or future products could result in future voluntary corrective actions, such as recalls or customer notifications, or agency action, such as inspection or enforcement action. Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, as well as mounting a defense to a legal action, if one were to be brought, would require the dedication of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business, and may harm our reputation and financial results.
The Viveve System may, in the future, be subject to product corrections, removals, or recalls that could harm our reputation, business and financial results.
The FDA and similar foreign governmental authorities have the authority to require the recall of commercialized products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture. In the case of the FDA, the authority to require a recall must be based on an FDA finding that there is a reasonable probability that the device would cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. Manufacturers may, under their own initiative, recall a product if any material deficiency in a device is found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us or one of our distributors could occur as a result of component failures, manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects or other deficiencies and issues. A recall of our product would divert managerial and financial resources and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. The FDA requires that certain classifications of recalls be reported to the FDA within 10 working days after the recall is initiated. Companies are required to maintain certain records of recalls, even if they are not reportable to the FDA. In the future, we may initiate one or more voluntary correction or removal actions involving our product that we determine do not require notification to the FDA. If the FDA disagrees with our determinations, the FDA could require us to report those actions as recalls. A future recall announcement could harm our reputation with customers and negatively affect our sales. In addition, the FDA could take enforcement action for failing to report the corrections, removals, or recalls when they were conducted.
Federal and state regulatory reforms may adversely affect our ability to sell our product profitably.
From time to time, legislation is drafted and introduced in the U.S. Congress that could significantly change the statutory provisions governing the clearance or approval, manufacture and marketing of a medical device. In addition, FDA regulations and guidance are often revised or reinterpreted by the agency in ways that may significantly affect our business and our product. It is impossible to predict whether legislative changes will be enacted or FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, and what the impact of such changes, if any, may be.
For example, in August 2010, the FDA issued its preliminary recommendations on reform of the 510(k) pre-market notification process for medical devices. On January 19, 2011, the FDA announced its “Plan of Action” for implementing these recommendations. The Plan of Action included 25 action items, most of which have now been implemented by the agency. In August 2016, the FDA released its proposals for reforming long-standing procedures and requirements related to modifications to medical devices already on the market. In December 2016, Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which makes multiple changes to FDA’s rules for medical devices as well as for clinical trials, and Congress (passed the Medical Device User Fee reauthorization package in 2017.
The FDA or Congress may implement other reforms in the future. Future reforms could have the effect of making it more difficult and expensive for us to obtain FDA clearance or approval. Such changes may also be made by legislators or regulators in the foreign jurisdictions in which we do business and could similarly affect our operations and profitability in those markets.
In addition, a state could change its statutes or regulations at any time, disallowing sales to particular types of end users or placing restrictions on certain chemicals, such as those used in our cryogen. We cannot predict the impact or effect of future legislation or regulations at the federal or state levels, or in any foreign jurisdiction in which we do business.
Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws associated with our activities outside the U.S. could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.
A significant portion of our revenues is and will be from jurisdictions outside of the U.S. We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, which generally prohibits U.S. companies and their intermediaries from making payments to foreign officials for the purpose of directing, obtaining or keeping business, and requires companies to maintain reasonable books and records and a system of internal accounting controls. The FCPA applies to companies and individuals alike, including company directors, officers, employees and agents. Under the FCPA, U.S. companies may be held liable for the corrupt actions taken by employees, strategic or local partners or other representatives. In addition, the government may seek to rely on a theory of successor liability and hold us responsible for FCPA violations committed by companies or associated with assets which we acquire. In recent years, the medical device and pharmaceutical industries have been a focus of the U.S. government’s FCPA enforcement priorities, and settlements often include very significant payments potentially consisting of millions of dollars. Other countries have similar laws to which we may be subject, including the United Kingdom Bribery Act.
In many foreign countries where we operate, particularly in countries with developing economies, it may be a local custom for businesses to engage in practices that are prohibited by the FCPA or other similar laws and regulations. In contrast, we have implemented a company policy requiring our employees and consultants to comply with the FCPA and similar laws. At the present time, we have not conducted formal FCPA compliance training for our foreign distributors and partners, but we are in the process of devising a training schedule for certain of our employees, agents and partners. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that our employees, partners and agents, as well as those companies to which we outsource certain of our business operations, will not take actions in violation of the FCPA or our policies for which we may be ultimately held responsible. As a result of our anticipated growth, our development of infrastructure designed to identify FCPA matters and monitor compliance is at an early stage. If we or our intermediaries fail to comply with the requirements of the FCPA or similar legislation, governmental authorities in the U.S. and elsewhere could seek to impose civil and/or criminal fines and penalties which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, operating results and financial conditions. We may also face collateral consequences, such as debarment and the loss of our export privileges.
Viveve’s relationships with customers and healthcare providers and professionals may be subject to applicable anti-kickback, fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations, as well as comparable state and foreign laws, which could expose Viveve to criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.
Healthcare providers and physicians play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of any medical product, including the Viveve System marketed by the Company. Viveve’s future arrangements with customers, healthcare providers and other medical professionals could expose Viveve to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which Viveve markets, sells and distributes its medical device products. There are various federal and state healthcare laws and regulations that impose restrictions that may apply to Viveve, and there may also be comparable foreign laws and regulations that similarly could apply to the Company.
The federal healthcare anti-kickback statute prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good or service, for which payment may be made under federally funded healthcare programs. This statute has been broadly interpreted to apply to manufacturer arrangements with prescribers and purchasers, among others. There are similar laws at the state level in the U.S., and several other countries, including the United Kingdom, have enacted similar anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, and healthcare laws and regulations.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, imposes criminal and civil liability for executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and also imposes obligations, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information. HIPAA also imposes criminal liability for knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services.
The federal Physician Sunshine Act requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, referred to together as the Affordable Care Act, require manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under title XVIII of the Social Security Act [Medicare] or under a State plan under title XIX [Medicaid] or XXI [SCHIP] of the Social Security Act (or a waiver of such a plan) to report to the Department of Health and Human Services information related to payments and other transfers of value made to or at the request of covered recipients, such as physicians and teaching hospitals, and physician ownership and investment interests in such manufacturers. Payments made to physicians and research institutions for clinical trials are included within the scope of this federal disclosure law.
Analogous state laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, may apply to sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by nongovernmental third-party payors, including private insurers. Some state laws also require pharmaceutical and medical device companies to comply with the relevant industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines, in addition to requiring manufacturers to report information related to payments to physicians and other health care providers or marketing expenditures. There may also be comparable foreign laws and regulations that could impact Viveve’s business and operations.
If Viveve’s operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws or any other governmental regulations that may apply to it, the Company may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, or fines. Moreover, if any of the physicians or other providers or entities with whom Viveve expects to do business are found to be not in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, or potentially to other sanctions in foreign jurisdictions.
We will need to raise additional funding, which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed may force us to delay, limit or terminate our product development efforts or other operations.
Developing our products is expensive, and we expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities. We will continue to require substantial funds to support our clinical trials and fund our efforts to expand regulatory clearance or approval for our products, including in the U.S.
As of December 31, 2020, our cash and cash equivalents were $6.5 million. We expect that our cash and cash equivalents, including the Company’s January 2021 Offering for net proceeds of $25.2 million and the remaining equity financing commitment of $9.7 million from LPC, will be sufficient to fund our current operations through at least March 31, 2022. However, our operating plan may change as a result of many factors currently unknown to us, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned, through public or private equity or debt financings, government or other third-party funding, marketing and distribution arrangements and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements or a combination of these approaches. In any event, we will require additional capital to obtain regulatory approval for, and to commercialize, our product candidates. Raising funds in the current economic environment may present additional challenges. Even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans, we may seek additional capital if market conditions are favorable or if we have specific strategic considerations.
Any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates. In addition, we cannot guarantee that future financing will be available in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Moreover, the terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of our stockholders and the issuance of additional securities, whether equity or debt, by us, or the possibility of such issuance, may cause the market price of our shares to decline. The sale of additional equity or convertible securities would dilute all of our stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed payment obligations and we may be required to agree to certain restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. We could also be required to seek funds through arrangements with collaborative partners or otherwise at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable and we may be required to relinquish rights to some of our technologies or product candidate or otherwise agree to terms unfavorable to us, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and prospects.
If we are unable to obtain funding on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue one or more of our research or development programs or the commercialization of any product candidate or be unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our historical operating results indicate substantial doubt exists related to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that our Company will continue as a going concern. We have incurred net losses and used significant cash in operating activities since inception. We have an accumulated deficit of approximately $219.8 million, cash and cash equivalents of $6.5 million and working capital of $8.6 million as of December 31, 2020. Additionally, the Company used $15.2 million in cash for operations in the year ended December 31, 2020. These factors raise substantial doubts about our ability to continue as a going concern and satisfy our estimated liquidity needs 12 months from the issuance of the financial statements.
If we continue to experience operating losses, and we are not able to generate additional liquidity through a capital raise or other cash infusion, we might need to secure additional sources of funds, which may or may not be available to us. Additionally, a failure to generate additional liquidity could negatively impact our ability to operate our business.
Risks Related to Our Business
We are dependent upon the success of the Viveve System, which has a limited commercial history. If the device fails to gain or loses market acceptance, our business will suffer.
In 2012, we began marketing the Viveve System (radiofrequency generator, handpiece and single-use treatment tips) and other ancillary consumables, in Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. Since then, we have expanded our market to a total of 51 countries, including the United States. Our continued success depends on our ability to significantly penetrate current or new markets. If demand for the Viveve System and Viveve treatment does not expand in new markets or does not increase in existing markets as we anticipate, or if demand declines, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be harmed.
We compete against companies that have more established products, longer operating histories and greater resources, which may prevent us from achieving significant market penetration or increased operating results.
The medical device and aesthetics markets are highly competitive and dynamic and are marked by rapid and substantial technological development and product innovations. Demand for the Viveve System could be diminished by equivalent or superior products and technologies developed by competitors. Specifically, Viveve competes against other offerings in these markets, including laser and other light-based medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer products, surgical procedures and exercise therapies.
Competing in these markets could result in price-cutting, reduced profit margins and loss of market share, any of which would harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our ability to compete effectively depends upon our ability to distinguish our company, the Viveve System, and the Viveve treatment from our competitors and their products, on such factors as:
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safety and effectiveness;
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product pricing;
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success of our marketing initiatives;
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compelling clinical data;
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intellectual property protection;
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quality of customer support; and
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development of successful distribution channels, both domestically and internationally.
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Some of our competitors have more established products and customer relationships than we have, which could inhibit our market penetration efforts. For example, we may encounter situations where, due to pre-existing relationships, potential customers decide to purchase additional products from our competitors. Potential customers may need to recoup the cost of expensive products that they have already purchased to perform general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis, laser vaginal rejuvenation, or LVR, surgery or vaginoplasty and thus may decide not to purchase, or to delay the purchase of, the Viveve System. If we are unable to achieve continued market penetration, we will be unable to compete effectively, and our business will be harmed.
In addition, potential competitors could have significantly greater financial, research and development, manufacturing, and sales and marketing resources than we have and could utilize their greater resources to acquire or develop new technologies or products that could effectively compete with our existing product. Given the relatively few competitors currently in the market, any such action could exacerbate existing competitive pressures, which could harm our business.
We have limited data regarding the efficacy of the Viveve procedure. If future data is not positive or consistent with our prior experience, rates of physician adoption will likely be harmed.
Current reported studies of Viveve’s CMRF technology have investigated improvement in vaginal laxity, sexual function and SUI, where all patients enrolled in the trial received the same treatment without comparison to a control group. Clinical studies designed in a randomized, blinded and controlled fashion (e.g., assessing the efficacy of a product or therapy versus a placebo or sham group) represent the gold-standard in clinical trial design. A sham-controlled treatment or procedure refers to a procedure performed as a control and that is similar to the treatment or procedure under investigation without the key therapeutic element being investigated. Future clinical studies, which may be required to drive physician adoption or support regulatory clearance or approval, will likely require randomized, blinded and controlled trial designs. Since 2014, we conducted several randomized, blinded and sham-controlled clinical trials in Europe and Canada designed to demonstrate the efficacy of the Viveve procedure versus a sham-controlled procedure for the treatment of vaginal laxity and sexual function. In 2019, we reported clinical results for a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study conducted in Canada evaluating patients suffering from mild-to-moderate SUI. Statistical significance was not achieved on the primary endpoint of mean change from baseline on the one-hour Pad Weight Test at six months post-treatment compared to the control group, nor was statistical significance achieved for the exploratory endpoints. In April 2020, we reported the topline results of our VIVEVE II clinical trial consisting of a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the company's proprietary, CMRF technology for the improvement of sexual function in women following vaginal childbirth. The data showed that the VIVEVE II study did not meet its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in the mean change from baseline in total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score at 12 months. In July 2020, the Company received FDA approval of its IDE application to conduct its U.S. pivotal, multicenter PURSUIT trial for improvement of SUI in women, as well as FDA approval of requested amendments to the IDE protocol in December 2020. PURSUIT is a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial with an intended enrollment of approximately 390 subjects at up to 30 study sites in the U.S.
Additionally, we have not conducted any head-to-head clinical studies that compare results from treatment with the Viveve System to surgery or treatment with other therapies. Without head-to-head studies against competing alternative treatments, which we have no current plans to conduct, potential customers may not find clinical studies of our technology sufficiently compelling to purchase the Viveve System. If we decide to pursue additional studies in the future, such studies could be expensive and time consuming, and the data collected may not produce favorable or compelling results. If the results of such studies do not meet physicians’ expectations, the Viveve procedure may not become widely adopted, physicians may recommend alternative treatments for their patients, and our business may be harmed.
We currently have clearance to market the Viveve System in the U.S. for use in general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis but not for vaginal laxity, sexual function, or stress urinary incontinence. If we want to sell our device and single-use treatment tips in the U.S. for the treatment of vaginal laxity, sexual function, or stress urinary incontinence, we will need to obtain additional FDA clearance or approval, which may not be granted.
Developing and promoting our CMRF technology in additional countries for additional indications, including the U.S., is a key element of our future growth strategy. We currently do not have FDA clearance or approval to market the Viveve System in the U.S. for the treatment of vaginal laxity, sexual function, or stress urinary incontinence. We intend to seek clearance or approval for stress urinary incontinence from the FDA to expand our marketing efforts and have engaged with the FDA to help improve our likelihood of success. However, because the topline results from our VIVEVE II clinical trial did not meet the primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in the mean change from baseline in total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) at 12 months, we no longer intend to pursue a sexual function or vaginal laxity label in the U.S. We cannot predict whether we will receive clearance or approval for SUI. The FDA has required us to conduct clinical trials to support regulatory clearance or approval, which trials are time-consuming and expensive, and may produce results that do not result in clearance or approval of our FDA marketing application. In the event that we do not obtain FDA clearance or approval of the Viveve System for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, we will be unable to promote it in the U.S. for that indication, and the ability to grow our revenues may be adversely affected.
Our business is not currently profitable, and we may not be able to achieve profitability even if we are able to generate significant revenue.
As of December 31, 2020, we have incurred losses since inception of approximately $219.8 million. In 2020 and 2019, we incurred losses of $21.9 million and $42.5 million, respectively. Even though our revenue may increase, we expect to incur significant additional losses while we grow and expand our business. We cannot predict if and when we will achieve profitability. Our failure to achieve and sustain profitability could negatively impact the market price of our common stock and may require us to seek additional financing for our business. There are no assurances that we will be able to obtain any additional financing or that any such financing will be on terms that are favorable to us.
If there is not sufficient consumer demand for the procedures performed with our products, demand for our products could decline, which would adversely affect our operating results.
The medical device and aesthetic markets in which we operate are particularly vulnerable to economic trends. The procedures performed using the Viveve System are elective procedures that are not currently reimbursable through government or private health insurance. The cost of these elective procedures must be borne by the patient. As a result, the decision to undergo a procedure that uses our products may be influenced by the cost.
Consumer demand, and therefore our business, is sensitive to a number of factors that affect consumer spending, including political and macroeconomic conditions, health of credit markets, disposable consumer income levels, consumer debt levels, interest rates, consumer confidence and other factors. If there is not sufficient consumer demand for the procedures performed with our products, practitioner demand for our products would decline, and our business would suffer.
It is difficult to forecast future performance, which may cause our financial results to fluctuate unpredictably.
Our limited operating history makes it difficult to predict future performance. Additionally, the demand for the Viveve System may vary from quarter to quarter. A number of factors, over which we have limited or no control, may contribute to fluctuations in our financial results, such as:
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delays in receipt of anticipated purchase orders;
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performance of our independent distributors;
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positive or negative media coverage of the Viveve treatment or products of our competitors;
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our ability to obtain further regulatory clearances or approvals;
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delays in, or failure of, product and component deliveries by our subcontractors and suppliers;
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customer response to the introduction of new product offerings; and
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fluctuations in foreign currency.
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Our limited operating history has limited our ability to determine an appropriate sales price for our products.
Our historical operating performance has limited our ability to determine the proper sales or lease prices for the Viveve System and the single-use treatment tips. Establishing appropriate pricing for our capital equipment and components has been challenging because there have not existed directly comparable competitive products. We may experience similar pricing challenges in the future as we enter new markets or introduce new products, which could have an unanticipated negative impact on our financial performance.
If there is not sufficient patient demand for our treatments, practitioner demand for the Viveve System could drop, resulting in lower revenue and unfavorable operating results.
All procedures performed using the Viveve System are elective procedures, the cost of which must be borne by the patient and are not currently reimbursable through government or private health insurance. The decision to undergo a Viveve treatment is thus driven by consumer demand, which may be influenced by a number of factors, such as:
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whether our marketing efforts directed toward increasing consumer awareness of the Viveve treatment, for which we have limited experience and resources and indications, are successful;
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the extent to which physicians recommend the Viveve treatment to their patients;
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the cost, safety and effectiveness of the Viveve procedure versus alternative treatments;
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general consumer sentiment about the benefits and risks of such procedures; and
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consumer confidence, which may be impacted by economic and political conditions.
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Our financial performance could be materially harmed in the event that any of the above factors discourage patients from seeking the Viveve treatment.
The failure of the Viveve treatment to meet patient expectations or the occurrence of unpleasant side effects from a Viveve treatment could impair our financial performance.
Our future success depends upon patients having a positive experience with the Viveve treatment in order to increase physician demand for our products, as a result of positive feedback and word-of-mouth referrals. Patients may be dissatisfied if their expectations of the procedure, side effects and results, among other things, are not met. Despite what we believe to be the safety of the Viveve treatment, patients may experience undesirable side-effects such as temporary swelling or reddening of the treated tissue. Experiencing any of these side effects could discourage a patient from completing a Viveve treatment or discourage a patient from having future procedures or referring the Viveve procedure to others. In order to generate referral business, we believe that patients must be satisfied with the effectiveness of the Viveve treatment. Results obtained from the procedure are subjective and may be subtle. The Viveve treatment may produce results that may not meet patients’ expectations. If patients are not satisfied with the procedure or feel that it is too expensive for the results obtained, our reputation and future sales will suffer.
Our success depends on growing physician adoption of the Viveve System and continued use of treatment tips.
Some of our target physician customers already own self-pay device products. Our ability to grow our business and convince physicians to purchase or rent a Viveve System depends on the success of our sales and marketing efforts. Our business model involves both an equipment rental or purchase and continued purchases by our customers of single-use treatment tips and ancillary consumables. This may be a novel business model for many potential customers who may be used to competing products that are exclusively capital equipment, such as many laser-based systems. We must be able to demonstrate that the cost of the Viveve System and the revenue that the physician can derive from performing procedures using it are compelling when compared to the cost and revenue associated with alternative products or therapies. When marketing to plastic surgeons, we must also, in some cases, overcome a bias against non-invasive procedures. If we are unable to increase physician adoption of our device and use of the treatment tips, our financial performance will be adversely affected.
Our revenue may suffer due to our transition of U.S. sales from a capital equipment sales model to a recurring revenue rental model.
In June 2019, U.S. sales of the Viveve System transitioned from a capital equipment sales model to a recurring revenue rental model. The new U.S. commercial sales model is intended to lower up-front costs for customers and thus lower hurdles to adoption, increase placement rates, and improve profitability by reducing selling time per unit. The transition has resulted in reduced revenue in 2019 per unit placed, which is projected to be offset by higher unit placements and improved revenue performance in the long term. While physician adoption rates have increased since this transition, the unit placements in the long term may not be sufficient to offset the reduced revenue per unit placed.
To successfully market and sell the Viveve System internationally, we must address many issues with which we have limited experience.
Sales outside the U.S. accounted for 54%, 44% and 27% of our revenue during the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. International sales are subject to a number of risks, including:
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difficulties in staffing and managing international operations;
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difficulties in penetrating markets in which our competitors’ products may be more established;
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reduced or no protection for intellectual property rights in some countries;
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export restrictions, trade regulations and foreign tax laws;
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fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates;
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foreign certification and regulatory clearance or approval requirements;
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difficulties in developing effective marketing campaigns for unfamiliar, foreign countries;
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customs clearance and shipping delays;
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compliance with anti-bribery laws such as U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and its foreign counterparts;
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political and economic instability; and
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preference for locally produced products.
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If one or more of these risks were realized, it could require us to dedicate significant resources to remedy the situation, and even if we are able to find a solution, our revenues may still decline.
If we violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or applicable anti-bribery laws in other countries our business could be harmed.
We earn a significant portion of our total revenues from international sales. As a result, we are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which generally prohibits U.S. companies and their intermediaries from making corrupt payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment and requires companies to maintain appropriate record-keeping and internal accounting practices to accurately reflect the transactions of the Company. The FCPA applies to companies, individual directors, officers, employees and agents. Under the FCPA, U.S. companies may be held liable for actions taken by agents or local partners or representatives. In addition, the government may seek to hold us liable for successor liability FCPA violations committed by companies which we acquire. We are also subject to the U.K. Bribery Act and may be subject to certain anti-corruption laws of other countries in which we do business. If we or our intermediaries fail to comply with the requirements of the FCPA or the anti-corruption laws of other countries, governmental authorities in the U.S. or other countries could seek to impose civil and/or criminal penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial conditions and cash flows.
We depend on distributors to market and sell the Viveve System internationally. If they are not successful, our marketing and sales efforts will be harmed.
We currently depend exclusively on third-party distributors to sell and service the Viveve System internationally and to train our international customers, and if these distributors terminate their relationships with us or under-perform, we may be unable to maintain or increase our level of international revenue. We will also need to engage additional international distributors to grow our business and expand the territories in which we sell the Viveve System. Distributors may not commit the necessary resources to market, sell and service our device to the level of our expectations. If current or future distributors do not perform adequately, or if we are unable to engage distributors in particular geographic areas, our revenue from international operations will be adversely affected.
The current pandemic of COVID-19 and the future outbreak of other highly infectious or contagious diseases, could seriously harm our research and development, manufacturing and commercialization efforts, increase our costs and expenses and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Broad-based business or economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect our ongoing or planned research and development activities, our manufacturing operations and our commercialization efforts. COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally. To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to the U.S. and global economies and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets. The global impact of the outbreak is continually evolving and, as additional cases of the virus are identified, many countries, including the U.S., have reacted by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel and mandatory closures of businesses. Certain states and cities, including where we or the third parties with whom we engage operate, have also reacted by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel, “shelter in place” rules, restrictions on types of business that may continue to operate, and/or restrictions on the types of projects that may continue. However, these government policies and directives are subject to change and many companies, including ours, maintain a work-from-home policy for office employees and sales representatives, and have implemented policies for our researchers and manufacturing workers designed to provide for a safe environment while maintaining progress on important laboratory research and commercial product supply.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic, or the future outbreak of any other highly infectious or contagious diseases, impacts our product development, manufacturing capabilities, sales and marketing operations, future nonclinical studies and clinical trials and commercialization efforts will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of such pandemic, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the full adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and it may have the effect of heightening many of the risks described herein, including the below.
● As announced on March 30, 2020, to help slow the spread of COVID-19, most of our employees have been operating under a work from home policy in accordance with guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, the World Health Organization, or WHO, and state and local authorities. As such, our sales representatives are not visiting provider offices, which we believe is a necessary step to help protect patient health and facilitate providers’ attention to direct patient care during this challenging situation. As a result, our commercial operations have been adversely impacted and will continue to be impacted for the duration that our sales representatives are unable to continue their normal operations.
● Effective March 30, 2020, our organization, with the exception of a limited number of essential roles, operated under a reduction in hours or, in certain cases, furlough for approximately six weeks. Although much of the organization has since been brought back to full hours, in the future, it may be necessary to return to work-from-home arrangements for our employees because of restrictions related to COVID-19 and, as a result, we may again determine to reduce hours or, in certain cases, furlough employees. In such a case, our employees could find alternative employment and leave the Company, and we cannot assure that our staff, when it returns from any such reduction in hours, operates at the same level of effectiveness as before the reduction of hours. In addition, adoption of work-from-home requirements could increase our cyber security risk, create data accessibility concerns, and make us more susceptible to communication disruptions, any of which could adversely impact our business operations.
● Given the economic downturn and increased unemployment in the U.S. related to COVID-19, millions of individuals have lost or will be losing their employer-based insurance coverage, which may adversely affect our ability to commercialize our products. In addition, market disruption and rising unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to delays in obtaining insurance coverage and reimbursement of products as well as an increase in the numbers of uninsured patients and patients who may no longer be able to afford their co-insurance or co-pay obligations.
● We are currently evaluating the Viveve System and Viveve treatment in clinical trials. However, the COVID-19 pandemic may have an impact on the timing of conducting these trials, including initiation, opening of clinical trial sites and enrollment of patients. We are aware that some trial sponsors have encountered challenges in conducting clinical activities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including site closures and restrictions on site visits, and we may similarly experience such challenges in our planned clinical trials.
● We currently rely on third parties to, among other things, manufacture and repair of key elements of the Viveve System. If any such third parties in our supply chain for materials are adversely impacted by restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including staffing shortages, production slowdowns and disruptions in delivery systems, our supply chain may be disrupted.
● Health regulatory agencies globally may experience disruptions in their operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA and comparable foreign regulatory agencies may have slower response times or be under-resourced to continue to monitor our clinical trials and, as a result, review, inspection, and other timelines may be materially delayed. For example, in April 2020, the FDA stated that its New Drug Program was continuing to meet program user fee performance goals, but due to many agency staff working on COVID-19 activities, it was possible that the FDA would not be able to sustain that level of performance indefinitely. It is unknown how long these disruptions could continue, were they to occur. Any elongation or de-prioritization of our clinical trials or delay in regulatory review resulting from such disruptions could materially affect the development and study of the Viveve System.
● The trading prices for our common stock and other medical device companies have been highly volatile as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we may face difficulties raising capital through sales of our common stock or such sales may be on unfavorable terms. In addition, a recession, depression or other sustained adverse market event resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic could materially and adversely affect our business and the value of our common stock.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our commercial activities, manufacturing operations and clinical development progress, data and timelines, and general business operations, could be delayed or materially harmed, and our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations would suffer as a result.
We may not be entitled to forgiveness of our recently received Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP Loan, and our application for the PPP Loan could in the future be determined to have been impermissible or could result in damage to our reputation.
In April 2020, we received proceeds of approximately $1.343 million from a loan under the CARES Act PPP, a portion of which may be forgiven, which we intend to use to retain employees, maintain payroll and make lease and utility payments. In October 2020, the Company was notified that the terms of its PPP Loan have been modified. The amount of time that the Company has to spend the proceeds of the PPP Loan, or the covered period, has been extended from 8 weeks to 24 weeks. The date to begin repaying unforgiven portions of the PPP Loan has also been extended from six months after the funding date to up to 10 months after the end of the covered period (approximately 16 months from the funding date) depending on when the Company applies for forgiveness. The SBA will also cover interest on the forgiveness portion of the loan during this period. There has been no change to the maturity date of the loan. All PPP Loans must be repaid or forgiven within two years after the funding date. A portion of the PPP Loan may be forgiven by the Small Business Administration, or SBA, upon our application beginning 60 days but not later than 120 days after loan approval and upon documentation of expenditures in accordance with the SBA requirements. Under the CARES Act and pursuant to the Note Agreement, loan forgiveness is available for the sum of documented payroll costs, covered rent payments, covered mortgage interest and covered utilities during the eight-week period beginning on the date of loan approval. Not more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for non-payroll costs. The amount of the PPP Loan eligible to be forgiven is reduced if our full-time headcount declines or if salaries and wages for employees with salaries of $100,000 or less annually are reduced by more than 25%. Under the CARES Act, we will be required to repay any portion of the outstanding principal that is not forgiven, along with accrued interest, and we cannot provide any assurance that we will be eligible for loan forgiveness or that any amount of the PPP Loan will ultimately be forgiven by the SBA.
In order to apply for the PPP Loan, we were required to certify, among other things, that the current economic uncertainty made the PPP Loan request necessary to support our ongoing operations. We made this certification in good faith after analyzing, among other things, our financial situation and access to alternative forms of capital and believe that we satisfied all eligibility criteria for the PPP Loan, and that our receipt of the PPP Loan was consistent with the broad objectives of the CARES Act PPP. At the time that we had made such certification, we had missed more than one payroll payment for our employees and entered into the Funding Agreement in order to assist us with making such payroll payments, and could not predict with any certainty whether we would be able to raise the necessary financing to support continued operations, including, but not limited to, making such payroll payments. Our situation has subsequently improved, as a result of, among other things, our closing of two registered direct offerings in June 2020, and as a result of the funds that we received from the PPP Loan. The certification described above that we were required to provide in connection with our application for the PPP Loan did not contain any objective criteria and was subject to interpretation. However, on April 23, 2020, the SBA issued guidance stating that it is unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets will be able to make the required certification in good faith. The lack of clarity regarding loan eligibility under the CARES Act PPP has resulted in significant media coverage and controversy with respect to public companies applying for and receiving loans. If, despite our good-faith belief that we satisfied all eligible requirements for the PPP Loan, we are later determined to have violated any of the laws or governmental regulations that apply to us in connection with the PPP Loan, such as the False Claims Act, or it is otherwise determined that we were ineligible to receive the PPP Loan, we may be subject to penalties, including significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, and could be required to repay the PPP Loan in its entirety. In addition, our receipt of the PPP Loan may result in adverse publicity and damage to our reputation, and a review or audit by the SBA or other government entity or claims under the False Claims Act could consume significant financial and management resources.
We currently have limited sales and marketing resources or experience and failure to build and manage a sales force or to market and distribute the Viveve System effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our sales and marketing organization is structured so that we rely on a direct sales force to sell the Viveve System in the United States. However, in the first quarter of 2019, we reorganized and reduced the number of direct sales reps selling our products. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Company implemented a series of significant cost-cutting actions in the second quarter of 2020, including the furlough of 31 full-time employees throughout the entire organization, designed to reduce expenses and reposition resources to support the Company’s current customers and its pivotal clinical development program for our CMRF technology in the treatment of SUI. These corporate actions included an approximate two-thirds reduction of the direct sales organization. We believe our reorganization in 2019 and the operational changes implemented in 2020 related to the COVID-19 crisis will help reduce our operating expenses. We do not currently anticipate making any significant changes to our international distribution network.
Our reorganization and other operational changes may not have the desired effect of reducing our operating expenses and may result in a disruption to our business, adversely affect our sales and marketing organization and make it more difficult to retain qualified personnel. In addition, our management may divert a disproportionate amount of time away from its day-to-day activities to devoting a substantial amount of time to managing the reorganization which may increase our expenses. Our future financial performance and ability to compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage the reorganization and future growth. To that end, we must be able to:
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hire qualified individuals as needed;
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provide adequate training for the effective sale of our device; and
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retain and motivate sales employees.
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We may not be able to accomplish these tasks, which could harm our financial results and have a material adverse effect on our business.
Competition among providers of devices for the medical device and aesthetics markets is characterized by rapid innovation, and we must continuously innovate technology and develop new products, or our revenue may decline.
While we attempt to protect our technology through patents and other intellectual property rights, there are few barriers to entry that would prevent new entrants or existing competitors from developing products that compete directly with our products. For example, while we believe our monopolar RF technology maintains a strong intellectual property position, there may be other companies employing competing technologies which claim to have a similar clinical effect to our technology. Additionally, there are others who may market monopolar RF technology for competing purposes in a direct challenge to our intellectual property position. As we continue to create market demand for a non-surgical, non-invasive way to treat vaginal laxity, sexual function, and SUI competitors may enter the market with other products making similar or superior claims. We expect that any competitive advantage we may enjoy from our current and future innovations may diminish over time, as companies successfully respond to our innovations, or create their own. Consequently, we believe that we will have to continuously innovate and improve our technology or develop new products to compete successfully. If we are unable to develop new products or innovate successfully, the Viveve System could become obsolete and our revenue will decline as our customers purchase competing products.
We outsource the manufacturing and repair of key elements of the Viveve System to manufacturing partners.
We outsource the manufacture and repair of our first generation Viveve System to a single contract manufacturer, Stellartech. If Stellartech’s operations are interrupted or if Stellartech is unable to meet our delivery requirements due to capacity limitations or other constraints, we may be limited in our ability to fulfill new customer orders or to repair equipment at current customer sites, and we may be required to seek new manufacturing partners in the future. Stellartech has limited manufacturing capacity, is itself dependent upon third-party suppliers and is dependent on trained technical labor to effectively repair components making up the Viveve System. In addition, Stellartech is a medical device manufacturer and is required to demonstrate and maintain compliance with the FDA’s Quality System Regulation, or QSR. If Stellartech or any future manufacturing partner fails to comply with the FDA’s QSR, its manufacturing and repair operations could be halted. In addition, both the availability of our product to support the fulfillment of new customer orders as well as our ability to repair those products installed at current customer sites would be impaired. As of the date of this report, the development and manufacturing agreement under which Viveve and Stellartech operate has expired without any subsequent extension or renewal by the parties and the minimum conditions to the licenses granted therein have not been satisfied by us. Viveve and Stellartech are working towards entering into a new Terms and Conditions of Supply and Service Agreement, however our manufacturing operations could be adversely impacted if we are unable to enforce Stellartech’s performance under any agreement, or enter into a new agreement with Stellartech, or a potential new manufacturer, if necessary, upon favorable terms or at all.
We outsource the manufacture and repair of our second generation Viveve System to a single contract manufacturer, Spartronics. If Spartronics’s operations are interrupted or if Spartronics is unable to meet our delivery requirements due to capacity limitations or other constraints, we may be limited in our ability to fulfill new customer orders or to repair equipment at current customer sites, and we may be required to seek new manufacturing partners in the future. Spartronics has limited manufacturing capacity, is itself dependent upon third-party suppliers and is dependent on trained technical labor to effectively repair components making up the Viveve System. In addition, Spartronics is a medical device manufacturer and is required to demonstrate and maintain compliance with the FDA’s Quality System Regulation, or QSR. If Spartronics or any future manufacturing partner fails to comply with the FDA’s QSR, its manufacturing and repair operations could be halted. In addition, both the availability of our product to support the fulfillment of new customer orders as well as our ability to repair those products installed at current customer sites would be impaired. Viveve and Spartronics operate under a manufacturing and supply agreement, however our manufacturing operations could be adversely impacted if we are unable to enforce Spartronics’s performance under this agreement, or enter into a new agreement with Spartronics, or a potential new manufacturer, if necessary, upon favorable terms or at all.
We outsource the manufacture and repair of our single-use treatment tips to Cirtec. If Cirtec’s operations are interrupted or if Cirtect is unable to meet our delivery requirements due to capacity limitations or other constraints, we may be limited in our ability to fulfill new customer orders or to repair equipment at current customer sites, and we may be required to seek new manufacturing partners in the future. Cirtec has limited manufacturing capacity, is itself dependent upon third-party suppliers and is dependent on trained technical labor to effectively repair the single-use treatment tips. In addition, Cirtec is a medical device manufacturer and is required to demonstrate and maintain compliance with the FDA’s Quality System Regulation, or QSR. If Cirtec or any future manufacturing partner fails to comply with the FDA’s QSR, its manufacturing and repair operations could be halted. In addition, both the availability of our product to support the fulfillment of new customer orders as well as our ability to repair those products installed at current customer sites would be impaired. Viveve and Cirtec operate under long term forecasts and purchase orders, however our single-use treatment tip manufacturing operations could be adversely impacted if we are unable to enforce Cirtec’s performance or enter into a new agreement with a potential new manufacturer, if necessary, upon favorable terms or at all.
Our manufacturing operations and those of our key manufacturing subcontractors are dependent upon third-party suppliers, making us vulnerable to supply shortages and price fluctuations, which could harm our business.
The single source supply of each generation of the Viveve System from Stellartech and Spartronics could not be replaced without significant effort and delay in production. Also, several other components and materials that comprise our device are currently manufactured by a single supplier or a limited number of suppliers. In many of these cases, we have not yet qualified alternate suppliers and we rely upon purchase orders, rather than long-term supply agreements. A supply interruption or an increase in demand beyond our current suppliers’ capabilities could harm our ability to manufacture the Viveve System until new sources of supply are identified and qualified. Our reliance on these suppliers subjects us to a number of risks that could harm our business, including:
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interruption of supply resulting from modifications to or discontinuation of a supplier’s operations;
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delays in product shipments resulting from uncorrected defects, reliability issues or a supplier’s variation in a component;
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a lack of long-term supply arrangements for key components with our suppliers;
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inability to obtain adequate supply in a timely manner, or to obtain adequate supply on commercially reasonable terms;
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difficulty locating and qualifying alternative suppliers for our components in a timely manner;
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production delays related to the evaluation and testing of products from alternative suppliers, and corresponding regulatory qualifications;
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delay in delivery due to suppliers prioritizing other customer orders over our orders;
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damage to our brand reputation caused by defective components produced by our suppliers;
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increased cost of our warranty program due to product repair or replacement based upon defects in components produced by our suppliers; and
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fluctuation in delivery by our suppliers due to changes in demand from us or from their other customers.
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Any interruption in the supply of components or materials, or our inability to obtain substitute components or materials from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could impair our ability to meet the demand of our customers, which would have an adverse effect on our business.
If, in the future, we decide to perform additional manufacturing functions internally that we currently outsource, our business could be harmed by our limited manufacturing experience and related capabilities.
In the future, for financial or operational purposes, we may elect to perform component or system manufacturing functions internally. Our limited experience with manufacturing processes could lead to difficulties in producing sufficient quantities of manufactured items that meet our quality standards and that comply with applicable regulatory requirements in a timely and cost-effective manner. In addition, if we experience these types of manufacturing difficulties, it may be expensive and time consuming to engage a new or previous subcontractor or supplier to fulfill our replacement manufacturing needs. The occurrence of any of these events could harm our business.
If the Viveve System malfunctions or if we discover a manufacturing defect that could lead to a malfunction, we may have to initiate a product recall or replace components, which could adversely impact our business.
Problems in our manufacturing processes, or those of our manufacturers or subcontractors, which lead to an actual or possible malfunction in any of the components of our device, may require us to recall product from customers or replace components and could disrupt our operations. Our results of operations, reputation and market acceptance of our products could be harmed if we encounter difficulties in manufacturing that result in a more significant issue or significant patient injury and delays our ability to fill customer orders.
We may not be able to develop an alternative cooling module that will be in compliance with changing environmental regulations in a timely or cost-effective manner.
Our cooling module relies upon a hydrofluorocarbon, or HFC, called R134a, to protect the outer layer of the tissue from over-heating while the device delivers RF energy to the submucosal tissue. New environmental regulations phasing out HFCs over the next decade have been adopted or are under consideration in a number of countries. Since 2007, European Union directives aimed at the automotive industry require the phase-out of HFCs and prohibit the introduction of new products incorporating HFCs and it is currently anticipated that such directives may impact the medical device industry. In anticipation of future restrictions, we have qualified a more environmentally friendly HFC (1234ZE) for use in our generators. We do not anticipate that we will have to incur costs in the near future to develop an alternative cooling module for our device which is not dependent on HFCs. However, the impending restrictions on HFCs have reduced their current availability, as suppliers have less of an incentive to expand production capacity or maintain existing capacity. This change in supply could expose us to supply shortages or increased prices for R134a and 1234ZE, which could impair our ability to manufacture our device and adversely affect our results or operations. HFCs may also be classified by some countries as a hazardous substance and, therefore, subject to significant shipping surcharges that may negatively impact profit margins.
As a result, if we are unable to develop an alternative cooling module for our device which is not dependent on HFCs in a timely or cost-effective manner, the Viveve System may not be in compliance with environmental regulations, which could result in fines, civil penalties and the inability to sell our products in certain major international markets.
We rely on a limited number of suppliers and third-party manufacturers, and if they are unable or unwilling to continue to work with us, our business could be materially adversely affected.
We rely on a limited number of suppliers and third-party manufacturers. Our reliance on them increases our risk since in the event of an interruption from one or more of them, we may not be able to develop alternative resources without incurring additional costs or delays.
We forecast sales to determine requirements for components and materials used in Viveve procedures, and if our forecasts are incorrect, we may experience delays in shipments or increased inventory costs.
We keep limited materials, components and finished product on hand. To manage our manufacturing operations with our suppliers, we forecast anticipated product orders and material requirements to predict our inventory needs up to twelve months in advance and enter into purchase orders on the basis of these requirements. Our limited historical experience may not provide us with enough data to accurately predict future demand. If our business expands, our demand for components and materials would increase and our suppliers may be unable to meet our demand. If we overestimate our component and material requirements, we will have excess inventory, which would increase our expenses. If we underestimate our component and material requirements, we may have inadequate inventory, which could interrupt, delay or prevent delivery of the Viveve System to our customers. Any of these occurrences would negatively affect our financial performance and the level of satisfaction that our customers have with our business.
Even though we require training for users of the Viveve System, and we do not sell it to non-physicians, there exists a potential for misuse, which could harm our reputation and our business.
Outside of the U.S., our independent distributors sell in many jurisdictions that do not require specific qualifications or training for purchasers or operators of the Viveve System. We do not supervise the procedures performed with the device, nor can we be assured that direct physician supervision of our equipment occurs according to our recommendations. We and our distributors require purchasers of our device to undergo an initial training session as a condition of purchase, but do not require ongoing training. In addition, we prohibit the sale of the device to companies that rent it to third parties, but we cannot prevent an otherwise qualified physician from contracting with a rental company in violation of his or her purchase agreement with us.
In the U.S., we only sell the Viveve System to licensed physicians who have met certain training requirements. However, current federal regulations will allow us to sell our device to “licensed practitioners.” The definition of “licensed practitioners” varies from state to state. As a result, the Viveve System may be operated by licensed practitioners with varying levels of training, and in many states by non-physicians, including physician assistants, registered nurses and nurse practitioners. Thus, in some states, the definition of “licensed practitioner” may result in the legal use of the Viveve System by non-physicians.
The use of our device by non-physicians, as well as noncompliance with the operating guidelines set forth in our training programs, may result in product misuse and adverse treatment outcomes, which could harm our reputation and expose us to costly product liability litigation.
Product liability suits could be brought against us due to defective design, labeling, material or workmanship, or misuse of the Viveve System, and could result in expensive and time-consuming litigation, payment of substantial damages and an increase in our insurance rates.
If the Viveve System is defectively designed, manufactured or labeled, contains defective components or is misused, we may become subject to substantial and costly litigation by our customers or their patients. Misusing the device or failing to adhere to operating guidelines could cause serious adverse events. In addition, if our operating guidelines are found to be inadequate, we may be subject to liability. We may, in the future, be involved in litigation related to the use of the device. Product liability claims could divert management’s attention from our business, be expensive to defend and result in sizable damage awards against us. We may not have sufficient insurance coverage for all future claims. We may not be able to obtain insurance in amounts or scope sufficient to provide us with adequate coverage against all potential liabilities. Any product liability claims brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our product liability insurance rates or prevent us from securing continuing coverage, could harm our reputation in the industry and reduce product sales. Product liability claims in excess of our insurance coverage would be paid out of cash reserves, harming our financial condition and adversely affecting our operating results.
After-market modifications to treatment tips by third parties and the development of counterfeit products could reduce our sales, expose us to product liability litigation and dilute our brand quality.
Third parties may introduce adulterated after-market modifications to our treatment tips, which enable re-use of treatment tips in multiple procedures. Because the treatment tips are designed to withstand a finite number of pulses, modifications intended to increase the number of pulses could result in patient injuries caused by the use of worn-out or damaged treatment tips. In addition, third parties may seek to develop counterfeit products that are compatible with the Viveve System and available to practitioners at lower prices. If security features incorporated into the design of the device are unable to prevent after-market modifications to the treatment tips or the introduction of counterfeit products, we could be subject to reduced sales, product liability lawsuits resulting from the use of damaged or defective goods and damage to our reputation.
Third parties may also try to sell the Viveve System and its consumable products on a secondary market, which would remove Viveve’s ability to track the products. If prior to or after being sold on the secondary market, the Viveve System or its consumable products are misused or modified by a third party, Viveve could be subject to liability. If this happens, we could be subject to reduced sales, product liability claims, inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage in the future and damage to our reputation.
A data breach or cyberattack affecting our devices, information technology systems, or protected data could expose us to regulatory liability and litigation and dilute our brand quality.
Our information technology systems and the Viveve System, like other medical devices with software that may be accessible in some manner to users, are vulnerable to security breaches, cyberattacks, malicious intrusion, breakdown, destruction, loss of data privacy, or other significant disruption. We also collect, manage, and process protected personal information, including health information, in connection with our operations. A significant breach, attack, or other disruption could result in adverse consequences, including increased costs and expenses, regulatory inquiries, litigation, problems with product functionality, reputational damage, lost revenue, and fines or penalties. We invest in systems and technology and in the protection of our products and data to reduce the risk of an attack or other significant disruption. However, there can be no assurance that these measures and efforts will prevent future attacks or other significant disruptions to our information technology systems and the Viveve System. Additionally, Viveve products have no WiFi nor do they contain a receiver or transmitter, dramatically reducing the risk of a cyberattack. However, there can be no assurance that these measures and efforts will prevent future attacks or other significant disruptions to our information technology systems and the Viveve System.
We depend on skilled and experienced personnel to operate our business effectively. If we are unable to recruit, hire and retain these employees, our ability to manage and expand our business will be harmed, which would impair our future revenue and profitability.
Our success largely depends on the skills, experience and efforts of our officers and other key employees. While we have employment contracts with our Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer), these officers and other key employees may terminate their employment at any time. The loss of any senior management team members could weaken our management expertise and harm our business.
Our ability to retain our skilled labor force and our success in attracting and hiring new skilled employees will be a critical factor in determining whether we will be successful in the future. We may not be able to meet our future hiring needs or retain existing personnel. We will face particularly significant challenges and risks in hiring, training, managing and retaining engineering and sales and marketing employees, as well as independent distributors, most of whom are geographically dispersed and must be trained in the use of our device and benefits of the Viveve System and treatment. Failure to attract and retain personnel, particularly technical and sales and marketing personnel, would materially harm our ability to compete effectively and grow our business.
Any acquisitions or in-licenses that we make could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition.
We expect to evaluate potential strategic acquisitions of complementary businesses, products or technologies. We may also consider joint ventures and other collaborative projects, including in-license opportunities. We may not be able to identify appropriate acquisition candidates or strategic partners, or successfully negotiate, finance or integrate acquisitions of any businesses, products or technologies, as applicable, on favorable terms or at all. Furthermore, the integration of any acquisition or in-license and management of any collaborative project may divert management’s time and resources from our business and disrupt our operations. We do not have any experience with acquiring companies or products or in-licensing of technologies. If we decide to expand our product offerings, we may spend time and money on projects that do not increase our revenues. Our inability to identify and secure such opportunities may harm our financial condition and our ability to compete and grow our business.
Our ability to use our net operating losses to offset future taxable income may be subject to certain limitations which could affect our ability to realize tax benefits from our net operating losses.
Our ability to use our net operating losses to offset future taxable income may be subject to certain limitations. As of December 31, 2020, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, or “NOLs”, of approximately $95.4 million and $20.2 million, respectively, due to prior period losses. In general, under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the “Code”, a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change” can be subject to limitations on its ability to utilize its NOLs to offset future taxable income. Our existing NOLs may be subject to limitations arising from past ownership changes, including in connection with this offering. Future changes in our stock ownership, some of which are outside of our control, could result in an ownership change under Section 382 of the Code. In addition, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the “Tax Act”, the amount of future NOLs that we are permitted to deduct in any taxable year is limited to 80% of our taxable income in such year, where taxable income is determined without regard to the NOL deduction itself. In addition, the Tax Act generally eliminates the ability to carry back any future NOL to prior taxable years, while allowing unused future NOLs to be carried forward indefinitely. There is a risk that due to changes under the Tax Act, regulatory changes, or other unforeseen reasons, our existing NOLs could expire or otherwise be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities. For these reasons, we may not be able to realize a tax benefit from the use of our NOLs, whether or not we attain profitability.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
Intellectual property rights may not provide adequate protection for the Viveve System, which may permit third parties to compete against us more effectively.
We rely on patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark laws and confidentiality agreements to protect our technology and Viveve treatment. We have an exclusive license (with a field of use limitation) to one issued U.S. patent and own 5 issued U.S. patents. Additionally, as of March 12, 2021, we have 8 pending U.S. patent applications; 75 issued foreign patents, including patents that may have lapsed; and 12 pending foreign patent applications. Some of the Viveve System’s components are not, and in the future may not be, protected by patents. Additionally, our patent applications may not issue as patents or, if issued, may not issue in a form that will be advantageous to us. Any patents we obtain may be challenged, invalidated or legally circumvented by third parties. Consequently, competitors could market products and use manufacturing processes that are substantially similar to, or superior to, ours. We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our technical knowledge or other trade secrets by consultants, vendors, former employees or current employees, despite the existence generally of confidentiality agreements and other contractual restrictions. Monitoring unauthorized uses and disclosures of our intellectual property is difficult, and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property will be effective. Moreover, we do not have patent rights in all foreign countries in which a market may exist, and where we have applied for foreign patent rights, the laws of many foreign countries may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the U.S.
In addition, competitors could purchase the Viveve System and attempt to replicate some or all of the competitive advantages we derive from our development efforts, willfully infringe our intellectual property rights, design around our protected technology or develop their own competitive technologies that fall outside of our intellectual property rights. If our intellectual property is not adequately protected so as to defend our market against competitors’ products and methods, our competitive position and business could be adversely affected.
We have been involved in and may be involved in future costly intellectual property litigation, which could impact our future business and financial performance.
Our industry has been characterized by frequent intellectual property litigation. Our competitors or other patent holders may assert that our device and the methods we employ are covered by their patents. If our device or methods are found to infringe, we could be prevented from marketing the Viveve System. In addition, we do not know whether our competitors or potential competitors have applied for, or will apply for or obtain, patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use, sell, import or export the Viveve System. We may also initiate litigation against third parties to protect our intellectual property that may be expensive, protracted or unsuccessful. In the future there may be companies that market products for competing purposes in direct challenge to our intellectual property position, and we may be required to initiate litigation in order to stop them. For example, in October 2016 we filed a patent infringement lawsuit against ThermiGen, LLC, ThermiAesthetics, LLC and Dr. Red Alinsod alleging unauthorized use of certain of our patented technologies. based on Viveve’s U.S. Patent Number 8,961,511 (the “‘511 patent”). Viveve, Inc. v. ThermiGen, LLC et al., No. 2:16-cv-1189-JRG (E.D. Tx.), filed October 16, 2016. On October 20, 2017, ThermiGen and ThermiAesthetics filed two petitions for inter partes review (IPR) of the ‘511 patent at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) challenging the validity of the ‘511 patent claims. ThermiGen, LLC et al. v. Viveve, Inc., No. IPR2018-00088 (October 20, 2017) and ThermiGen, LLC et al. v. Viveve, Inc., No. IPR2018-00089 (October 20, 2017). On June 4, 2018, we entered into a Settlement and License Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with ThermiGen LLC and ThermiAesthetics LLC (“ThermiGen,” collectively) as well as Red Alinsod, M.D. resolving our patent litigation against ThermiGen and Dr. Alinsod. The Settlement Agreement also resolved ThermiGen’s IPR proceedings against the Viveve.
Litigation related to infringement and other intellectual property claims, with or without merit, is unpredictable, can be expensive and time-consuming and could divert management’s attention from our business. If we lose this kind of litigation, a court could require us to pay substantial damages, and prohibit us from using technologies essential to the Viveve System and Viveve treatment, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In that event, we do not know whether necessary licenses would be available to us on satisfactory terms, or whether we could redesign the Viveve System or processes to avoid infringement.
Competing products may also appear in other countries in which our patent coverage might not exist or be as strong. If we lose a foreign patent lawsuit, we could be prevented from marketing the Viveve System in one or more countries.
In addition, we may hereafter become involved in litigation to protect our trademark rights associated with our device name or treatment name. Names used may be claimed to infringe names held by others or to be ineligible for proprietary protection. If we have to change the name of the Company, device or treatment, we may experience a loss in goodwill associated with our brand name, customer confusion and a loss of sales.
Risks Related to Our Securities
Public company compliance may make it more difficult to attract and retain officers and directors.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission have required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. As a public company, these rules and regulations increase our compliance costs and make certain activities more time consuming and costly. These rules and regulations may also make it more difficult and expensive for us to maintain our director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers, and to maintain insurance at reasonable rates, or at all.
Concentration of ownership of our common stock may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control.
As of March 12, 2021, our officers, directors and principal stockholders, i.e., stockholders who beneficially own greater than 10% of our outstanding common stock, collectively beneficially own approximately 1.8% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, will be able to control the management and affairs of our company and most 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 and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock. This concentration of ownership may not be in the best interests of our other stockholders.
We are a holding company with no business operations of our own and we depend on cash flow from Viveve, Inc. to meet our obligations.
We are a holding company with no business operations of our own or material assets other than the stock we own in Viveve, Inc. All of our operations are conducted by Viveve, Inc. As a holding company, we will require dividends and other payments from our subsidiary to meet cash requirements. The terms of any agreements governing indebtedness that we may enter into may restrict our subsidiary from paying dividends and otherwise transferring cash or other assets to us. If there is an insolvency, liquidation or other reorganization of our subsidiary, our stockholders likely will have no right to proceed against its assets. Creditors of our subsidiary will be entitled to payment in full from the sale or other disposal of the assets of our subsidiary before we, as an equity holder, would be entitled to receive any distribution from that sale or disposal. If Viveve, Inc. is unable to pay dividends or make other payments to us when needed, we will be unable to satisfy our obligations.
Our stock price may be volatile.
The market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile and could fluctuate widely in price in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the following:
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actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial results or the quarterly financial results of companies perceived to be similar to us;
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changes in the market’s expectations about our operating results;
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success of competitors;
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our operating results failing to meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors in a particular period;
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changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts concerning our business, the market for our products, the health services industry, or the healthcare and health insurance industries in general;
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operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;
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our ability to market new and enhanced products on a timely basis;
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changes in laws and regulations affecting our business;
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commencement of, or involvement in, litigation involving us;
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changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of debt;
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the volume of shares of our common stock available for public sale;
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any major change in our board of directors or management;
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sales of substantial amounts of common stock by our directors, executive officers or significant stockholders or the perception that such sales could occur; and
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general economic and political conditions such as recessions, fluctuations in interest rates and international currency fluctuations.
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In addition, the securities markets have from time-to-time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Our shares of common stock are thinly traded, the price may not reflect our value, and there can be no assurance that there will be an active market for our shares of common stock either now or in the future.
Our shares of common stock are thinly traded, our common stock is held by a small number of holders, and the price may not reflect our actual or perceived value. There can be no assurance that there will be an active market for our shares of common stock either now or in the future. The market liquidity will be dependent on the perception of our operating business, among other things. We will take certain steps including utilizing investor awareness campaigns, investor relations firms, press releases, road shows and conferences to increase awareness of our business. Any steps that we might take to bring us to the awareness of investors may require that we compensate consultants with cash and/or stock. There can be no assurance that there will be any awareness generated or the results of any efforts will result in any impact on our trading volume. Consequently, investors may not be able to liquidate their investment or liquidate it at a price that reflects the value of the business, and trading may be at a depressed price relative to the performance of the Company due to, among other things, the availability of sellers of our shares. If an active market should develop, the price may be highly volatile. Because there is currently a relatively low per-share price for our common stock, many brokerage firms or clearing firms are not willing to effect transactions in the securities or accept our shares for deposit in an account. Many lending institutions will not permit the use of low-priced shares of common stock as collateral for any loans.
Offers or availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline.
If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market upon the expiration of any statutory holding period under Rule 144, or shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang” and, in anticipation of which, the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether or not sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make more difficult our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.
In general, under Rule 144, a non-affiliated person who has held restricted shares of our common stock for a period of six months may sell into the market all of their shares, subject to the Company being current in our periodic reports filed with the SEC.
We do not expect to declare or pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and have no plans to do so in the foreseeable future, except the cumulative dividend payable on our Series B Preferred Stock, which could reduce a return in your investment in us. We intend to retain any earnings to develop, carry on, and expand our business. In addition, the terms of the indebtedness of our existing credit facility also restrict us from paying cash dividends to stockholders under some circumstances. The terms of our Series B Preferred Stock also provide that we may not pay dividends on our common stock without concurrently declaring dividends on each. If we do not pay dividends, our stock may be less valuable because a return on your investment will only occur if you sell our common stock after our stock price appreciates.
CRG has the right to acquire a significant percentage of our stock upon conversion of its Series B Preferred Stock and exercise of its warrants and is able to exert significant control over matters pursuant to the protective provisions therein as well as the covenants and other restrictions in the Loan Agreement.
Affiliates of CRG LP, or collectively CRG, has the right to acquire approximately 46% of our outstanding common stock on a fully-diluted basis, subject to stockholder approval to authorize a sufficient number of common stock, Nasdaq stockholder approval requirements and beneficial ownership restrictions contained in the Series B Certificate of Designation and warrants held by CRG. Even though Series B Preferred Stock is non-voting stock, and has beneficial ownership restrictions, the Series B Certificate of Designation has protective provisions that will require CRG’s consent to perform certain significant company events. For example, CRG's consent would be necessary to amend our organizational documents, or approve any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This consent requirement could delay or prevent any acquisition of our company on terms that other stockholders may desire and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. CRG may have interests different than yours. For example, CRG may want us to pursue strategies that deviate from the interests of other stockholders.
The Series B Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference to our common stock.
Series B Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference that gets paid prior to any payment on our common stock (including shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants). As a result, if we were to dissolve, liquidate, merge with another company or sell our assets, the holders of our Series B Preferred Stock would have the right to receive up to approximately $35.82 million plus any unpaid dividend from any such transaction before any amount is paid to the holders of our common stock or pursuant to the redemption rights in the warrants for fundamental transactions. The payment of the liquidation preferences could result in common stockholders and warrant holders not receiving any consideration if we were to liquidate, dissolve or wind up, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
The existence of the liquidation preferences may reduce the value of our common stock, make it harder for us to sell shares of common stock in offerings in the future, or prevent or delay a change of control. Furthermore, any conversion of Series B Preferred Stock into common stock will cause substantial dilution to our common stockholders.
If we fail to comply with ongoing Nasdaq listing standards and corporate governance requirements, we could be subject to delisting. Nasdaq delisting could materially adversely affect the market for our shares.
Our common stock is currently listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to maintain this listing, we are required to comply with various continued listing standards, including corporate governance requirements, set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rules. These standards and requirements include, among other things, (1) an obligation to maintain a Board of Directors, a majority of whom are deemed to be independent and that we maintain an Audit Committee consisting of at least three independent Board Members and (2) an obligation that our listed securities maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share.
On April 21, 2020, we received written notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, notifying us that we are not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirements set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market and granting us time until December 28, 2020 to regain compliance. On December 1, 2020, we effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common stock. The reverse stock split became effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 1, 2020 and our common stock began trading on a split-adjusted basis on The Nasdaq Capital Market on December 2, 2020. Following our reverse stock split described above, on December 16, 2020, we were notified by Nasdaq that as of December 15, 2020, it had maintained a closing bid above $1.00 for a period of 10 consecutive trading days and therefore had regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement.
On May 4, 2020, Karen Zaderej resigned from our board of directors. Ms. Zaderej was an independent director and a member of the audit committee of the board of directors, and as a result of her resignation, we no longer complied with Nasdaq’s majority independent board requirements because a majority of the board of directors was not comprised of independent directors, and Nasdaq's audit committee requirements because our audit committee was not comprised of at least three independent directors. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rules, we notified Nasdaq of Ms. Zaderej's resignation and the resulting non-compliance. On May 6, 2020, we received a notice from Nasdaq acknowledging the fact that we do not meet the requirements of such rules and granting us time until November 2, 2020 to regain compliance. On October 28, 2020, our board of directors appointed Sharon Collins Presnell, Ph.D., to serve as a member of the board of directors and its audit committee. On October 29, 2020, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq noting that, as a result of the appointment of Dr. Presnell to our board of directors and its audit committee, we evidenced compliance with requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq.
There can be no assurance that we will continue to be in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, majority director independence requirements, or comply with Nasdaq’s other continued listing standards in the future.
In the event that our common stock is not eligible for continued listing on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange, trading of our common stock could be conducted in the over-the-counter market or on an electronic bulletin board established for unlisted securities such as the Pink Sheets or the OTC Bulletin Board. In such event, it could become more difficult to dispose of, or obtain accurate price quotations for, our common stock, and there would likely also be a reduction in our coverage by security analysts and the news media, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline further. Also, it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital if we are not listed on a major exchange.