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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
| |
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2025
OR
| |
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ________________ to ________________
Commission File Number: 001-39509
Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| |
Delaware | 36-4883909 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1560 Trapelo Road Waltham, Massachusetts | 02451 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(781) 786-8230
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| | | | |
Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share | | DYN | | Nasdaq Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| | | | | | |
Large accelerated filer | | ☒ | | Accelerated filer | | ☐ |
| | | |
Non-accelerated filer | | ☐ | | Smaller reporting company | | ☐ |
| | | | | | |
| | | | Emerging growth company | | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of July 25, 2025, the registrant had 142,263,740 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding.
Table of Contents
We own or have rights to trademarks, service marks and trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including our corporate name, logos and website names. The service marks and trademarks that we own include the marks Dyne Therapeutics® and FORCE™. Other trademarks, service marks and trade names appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, some of the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are listed without the ® and ™ symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to our trademarks, service marks and trade names.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or this Quarterly Report, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve substantial risk and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact, contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report include, among other things, statements about:
•the initiation, timing, design, progress and results of our research and development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials;
•the anticipated timing of the submission and clearance of investigational new drug applications, or INDs, and comparable foreign applications for any product candidates we may develop;
•the timing of and our ability to submit applications for, obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for any product candidates we may develop;
•our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, need for additional financing and the period over which we believe our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses, debt service obligations and capital expenditure requirements;
•our ability to comply with restrictive covenants under our loan agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc., or Hercules;
•our ability to satisfy interest and principal payments under our loan agreement with Hercules;
•our plans to develop and, if approved, subsequently commercialize any product candidates we may develop;
•the potential advantages of our FORCE platform;
•our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;
•our intellectual property position and our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection;
•our ability to identify additional products, product candidates or technologies with significant commercial potential that are consistent with our commercial objectives;
•the impact of government laws and regulations;
•our competitive position and expectations regarding developments and projections relating to our competitors and any competing therapies that are or become available; and
•our ability to establish and maintain collaborations or obtain additional funding.
We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in this Quarterly Report, particularly in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report, that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Moreover, we operate in a competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, collaborations, joint ventures or investments we may make or enter into.
You should read this Quarterly Report and the documents that we have filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to this Quarterly Report with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report are made as of the date of this Quarterly Report, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
RISK FACTOR SUMMARY
Our business is subject to a number of risks that, if realized, could materially affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. These risks are discussed more fully in the “Risk Factors” section of this Quarterly Report. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
•we will need substantial additional funding. If we are unable to raise capital when needed, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or commercialization efforts;
•our product candidates are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development, and we have not completed clinical development of any product candidate. We do not expect to complete the commercialization of any product candidate at least until 2027, if ever. If we are unable to advance product candidates through preclinical studies and clinical trials, obtain marketing approval and ultimately commercialize them, or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed;
•we may encounter substantial delays in commencement, enrollment or completion of our clinical trials and the data from the clinical trials of our product candidates may fail to demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to warrant further development or satisfy the applicable regulatory authorities, which could prevent us from commercializing any product candidates we determine to develop on a timely basis, if at all;
•our approach to the discovery and development of product candidates based on our FORCE platform is unproven, and we may not be successful in our efforts to develop our product candidates;
•the outcome of preclinical studies and initial data from earlier-stage clinical trials may not be predictive of final results of clinical trials or future clinical trials and data from trials in one indication may not be predictive of results of clinical trials in other indications;
•if our product candidates cause undesirable side effects or have other unexpected adverse properties, such side effects or properties could delay or prevent us from conducting clinical trials or seeking or obtaining regulatory approval, limit the commercial potential of our product candidates or result in significant negative consequences to the extent such effects or adverse properties are observed following any marketing approval;
•our loan agreement with Hercules contains restrictive and financial covenants that may limit our operating flexibility and our failure to comply with the covenants or other terms of the loan agreement, including as a result of events beyond our control, could result in a default under the loan agreement that could materially and adversely affect our business;
•we rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties to conduct some or all aspects of our product manufacturing, research, preclinical and clinical testing, and these third parties may not perform satisfactorily;
•we face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before us or more successfully than we do;
•our rights to develop and commercialize certain of our product candidates are subject or may in the future be subject, in part, to the terms and conditions of licenses granted to us by third parties. If we fail to comply with our obligations under current or future intellectual property license agreements or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our current or any future licensors, we could lose intellectual property rights that are important to our business; and
•if we or our licensors are unable to obtain, maintain and defend patent and other intellectual property protection for any product candidates or technology, or if the scope of the patent or other intellectual property protection obtained is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize products and technology similar or identical to ours, and our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our product candidates or our technology may be adversely affected due to such competition.
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
| | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Assets | | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 485,040 | | | $ | 435,449 | |
Marketable securities | | | 198,885 | | | | 206,819 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | | 14,025 | | | | 17,011 | |
Total current assets | | | 697,950 | | | | 659,279 | |
Property and equipment, net | | | 5,675 | | | | 5,398 | |
Right-of-use assets | | | 22,859 | | | | 24,615 | |
Restricted cash and other assets | | | 2,508 | | | | 1,942 | |
Total assets | | $ | 728,992 | | | $ | 691,234 | |
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | | 14,016 | | | | 6,562 | |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | | | 22,454 | | | | 30,846 | |
Lease liabilities | | | 5,002 | | | | 4,850 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 41,472 | | | | 42,258 | |
Long-term debt, net | | | 98,813 | | | | — | |
Lease liabilities, net of current portion | | | 17,262 | | | | 19,138 | |
Total liabilities | | | 157,547 | | | | 61,396 | |
Stockholders’ equity | | | | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 | | | — | | | | — | |
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024; 114,338,610 and 102,318,629 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively | | | 11 | | | | 10 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 1,747,328 | | | | 1,579,750 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | 252 | | | | 6 | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (1,176,146 | ) | | | (949,928 | ) |
Total stockholders’ equity | | | 571,445 | | | | 629,838 | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 728,992 | | | $ | 691,234 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended June 30, | | | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
| | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | $ | 99,236 | | | $ | 62,263 | | | $ | 205,683 | | | $ | 106,802 | |
General and administrative | | | 16,555 | | | | 9,699 | | | | 32,480 | | | | 34,317 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 115,791 | | | | 71,962 | | | | 238,163 | | | | 141,119 | |
Loss from operations | | | (115,791 | ) | | | (71,962 | ) | | | (238,163 | ) | | | (141,119 | ) |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 6,625 | | | | 7,052 | | | | 13,725 | | | | 10,054 | |
Interest expense | | | (94 | ) | | | — | | | | (94 | ) | | | — | |
Other income (expense), net | | | (1,597 | ) | | | (192 | ) | | | (1,687 | ) | | | 314 | |
Total other income (expense), net | | | 4,934 | | | | 6,860 | | | | 11,944 | | | | 10,368 | |
Net loss | | $ | (110,857 | ) | | $ | (65,102 | ) | | $ | (226,219 | ) | | $ | (130,751 | ) |
Net loss per share—basic and diluted | | $ | (0.97 | ) | | $ | (0.70 | ) | | $ | (2.02 | ) | | $ | (1.51 | ) |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | | | 113,873,126 | | | | 92,507,815 | | | | 111,900,818 | | | | 86,777,150 | |
Comprehensive loss: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (110,857 | ) | | $ | (65,102 | ) | | $ | (226,219 | ) | | $ | (130,751 | ) |
Other comprehensive loss: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net | | | 11 | | | | (108 | ) | | | 246 | | | | (240 | ) |
Comprehensive loss | | $ | (110,846 | ) | | $ | (65,210 | ) | | $ | (225,973 | ) | | $ | (130,991 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data and issuance costs)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Common Stock | | | Additional Paid-In | | | Accumulated Other | | | Accumulated | | | Stockholders’ | |
| | Shares | | | Amount | | | Capital | | | Comprehensive Loss | | | Deficit | | | Equity | |
Balance at January 1, 2025 | | | 102,318,629 | | | $ | 10 | | | $ | 1,579,750 | | | $ | 6 | | | $ | (949,928 | ) | | $ | 629,838 | |
Issuance of common stock in at-the-market offering, net of issuance costs of $4.4 million | | | 10,660,159 | | | | 1 | | | | 140,652 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 140,653 | |
Exercise of stock options | | | 89,835 | | | | — | | | | 588 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 588 | |
Stock-based compensation | | | — | | | | — | | | | 13,020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 13,020 | |
Vesting of restricted stock units | | | 565,159 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Unrealized gains on marketable securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 235 | | | | — | | | | 235 | |
Net loss | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (115,361 | ) | | | (115,361 | ) |
Balance at March 31, 2025 | | | 113,633,782 | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 1,734,010 | | | $ | 241 | | | $ | (1,065,289 | ) | | $ | 668,973 | |
Exercise of stock options | | | 488,457 | | | | — | | | | 2,795 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,795 | |
Stock-based compensation | | | — | | | | — | | | | 10,523 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 10,523 | |
Vesting of restricted stock units | | | 216,371 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Unrealized gains on marketable securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 11 | | | | — | | | | 11 | |
Net loss | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (110,857 | ) | | | (110,857 | ) |
Balance at June 30, 2025 | | | 114,338,610 | | | $ | 11 | | | $ | 1,747,328 | | | $ | 252 | | | $ | (1,176,146 | ) | | $ | 571,445 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Common Stock | | | Additional Paid-In | | | Accumulated Other | | | Accumulated | | | Stockholders’ | |
(in thousands, except per share data) | | Shares | | | Amount | | | Capital | | | Comprehensive Loss | | | Deficit | | | Equity | |
Balance at January 1, 2024 | | | 61,468,743 | | | $ | 6 | | | $ | 723,796 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (632,510 | ) | | $ | 91,292 | |
Issuance of common stock in public offering, net of issuance costs of $21.3 million | | | 19,722,500 | | | | 2 | | | | 323,849 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 323,851 | |
Issuance of common stock in at-the-market offering, net of issuance costs of $3.3 million | | | 3,800,465 | | | | 1 | | | | 97,870 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 97,871 | |
Exercise of stock options | | | 1,858,791 | | | | — | | | | 10,916 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 10,916 | |
Stock-based compensation | | | — | | | | — | | | | 19,906 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 19,906 | |
Vesting of restricted stock units | | | 239,150 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Unrealized losses on marketable securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (132 | ) | | | — | | | | (132 | ) |
Net loss | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (65,649 | ) | | | (65,649 | ) |
Balance at March 31, 2024 | | | 87,089,649 | | | $ | 9 | | | $ | 1,176,337 | | | $ | (132 | ) | | $ | (698,159 | ) | | $ | 478,055 | |
Issuance of common stock in public offering, net of issuance costs of $23.0 million | | | 12,075,000 | | | | 1 | | | | 351,328 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 351,329 | |
Exercise of stock options | | | 564,904 | | | | — | | | | 4,283 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 4,283 | |
Stock-based compensation | | | — | | | | — | | | | 6,736 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 6,736 | |
Vesting of restricted stock units | | | 389,965 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Unrealized losses on marketable securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (108 | ) | | | — | | | | (108 | ) |
Net loss | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (65,102 | ) | | | (65,102 | ) |
Balance at June 30, 2024 | | | 100,119,518 | | | $ | 10 | | | $ | 1,538,684 | | | $ | (240 | ) | | $ | (763,261 | ) | | $ | 775,193 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
| | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (226,219 | ) | | $ | (130,751 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 23,543 | | | | 26,642 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | | | 1,005 | | | | 785 | |
Non-cash lease expense | | | 32 | | | | 298 | |
Non-cash interest expense | | | 2 | | | | — | |
Accretion of premium on marketable securities | | | (1,079 | ) | | | (1,792 | ) |
Loss (gain) on sale of marketable securities | | | (14 | ) | | | — | |
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment | | | 95 | | | | (2 | ) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | | 2,795 | | | | (7,207 | ) |
Accounts payable and other liabilities | | | (756 | ) | | | (21,378 | ) |
Net cash used in operating activities | | | (200,596 | ) | | | (133,405 | ) |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | |
Purchases of property and equipment | | | (1,041 | ) | | | (1,048 | ) |
Purchases of marketable securities | | | (106,903 | ) | | | (207,691 | ) |
Maturities of marketable securities | | | 107,708 | | | | 40,076 | |
Sales of marketable securities | | | 8,468 | | | | — | |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | | | 8,232 | | | | (168,663 | ) |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in public offering, net of issuance costs | | | — | | | | 675,180 | |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in at-the-market offering, net of issuance costs | | | 140,653 | | | | 97,871 | |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | | | 2,560 | | | | 15,199 | |
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs paid | | | 98,802 | | | | — | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | | 242,015 | | | | 788,250 | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | | 49,651 | | | | 486,182 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period | | | 437,391 | | | | 123,941 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | | $ | 487,042 | | | $ | 610,123 | |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | | | | | | |
Purchase of property and equipment in accounts payable | | $ | 364 | | | $ | — | |
Debt issuance costs included in accounts payable or accrued expenses | | $ | 506 | | | $ | — | |
Proceeds from employee stock option exercises in other receivables | | $ | 823 | | | $ | — | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation
Dyne Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage neuromuscular disease company focused on delivering functional improvement for people living with genetically driven neuromuscular diseases. The Company was incorporated in Delaware on December 1, 2017 and has a principal place of business in Waltham, Massachusetts.
The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common to clinical-stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including, but not limited to, development by competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, risks of failure of preclinical studies and clinical trials, the need to obtain marketing approval for its product candidates, fluctuations in operating results, compliance with government regulations, the ability to establish clinical- and commercial-scale manufacturing processes and the ability to secure additional capital to fund operations. Product candidates and programs currently under development require significant research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of capital, adequate personnel and infrastructure and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if the Company’s development efforts are successful and product candidates receive regulatory approval, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize significant revenue from product sales.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business. Since inception, the Company has funded its operations with proceeds from the sales of equity securities, and its initial borrowing under its Loan and Security Agreement (the "Loan Agreement") with Hercules Capital, Inc. ("Hercules"). The Company expects to continue to generate operating losses for the foreseeable future. The Company expects that its cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses, debt service obligations and capital expenditure requirements for at least 12 months from the issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
To continue its development efforts, the Company will need to obtain substantial additional funding through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and/or licensing arrangements in order to fund its research and development and ongoing operating expenses. The Company may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms, when needed or at all, and the Company may not be able to enter into collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements. The terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of the Company’s stockholders. Any collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain funding, the Company could be forced to delay, limit, reduce or eliminate some or all of its research and development programs, pipeline expansion or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates, which could adversely affect its business prospects. Although management will continue to pursue these plans, there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining sufficient funding on terms acceptable to the Company to fund continuing operations when needed or at all.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the operations of the Company and the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Dyne Therapeutics Securities Corporation. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
The financial statements of the Company included herein have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as audited annual financial statements, except certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted from this report, as is permitted by such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information reflects all adjustments, all of which are of a normal and recurring nature, necessary for a fair representation
of the results for the reported periods. Accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2025. The results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2025, any other interim periods, or any future year or period.
Fair value measurements
Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:
•Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities.
•Level 2—Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include the following:
•quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets;
•quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active;
•observable inputs other than quoted prices that are used in the valuation of the asset or liabilities (e.g., interest rate and yield curve quotes at commonly quoted intervals); and
•inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
•Level 3—Unobservable inputs for the assets or liability (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Level 3 inputs include management’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).
Net loss per share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss is computed by adjusting net loss to reallocate undistributed earnings based on the potential impact of dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the diluted net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period, including potential dilutive common shares assuming the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents.
The following potentially dilutive common stock equivalents, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
| | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, | |
| | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Options to purchase common stock | | | 8,642,053 | | | | 8,363,280 | |
Unvested restricted stock units | | | 2,741,350 | | | | 2,828,836 | |
Total | | | 11,383,403 | | | | 11,192,116 | |
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Topic 220-40) ("ASU 2024-03"). The amendments in this update require new disclosures to disaggregate prescribed natural expenses underlying any income statement caption. ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2024-03 applies on a prospective basis for periods beginning after the effective date. However, retrospective application to any or all prior periods presented is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact ASU 2024-03 will have on the condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) ("ASU 2023-09"). The amendments in this update require enhanced annual income tax disclosures for the effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The amendments are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 and for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025 for all other entities. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. ASU 2023-09 applies on a prospective basis to annual financial statements for periods beginning after the effective date. However, retrospective application in all prior periods presented is permitted. The Company is assessing what impact ASU 2023-09 will have on the condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was enacted. The OBBBA makes permanent key elements of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, including 100% bonus depreciation, domestic research cost expensing and the business interest expense limitation, among other tax changes. The new legislation has multiple effective dates, with certain provisions effective in 2025 and others in the future. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of the new law and the potential effects on the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
3. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash includes cash in readily available checking accounts and cash equivalents include money market funds that invest in U.S. treasury securities and all highly liquid investments maturing within 90 days from the date of purchase.
Amounts included in restricted cash represent amounts pledged as collateral for letters of credit required for security deposits on the Company’s leased facilities.
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, | | | December 31, | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 485,040 | | | $ | 435,449 | |
Restricted cash | | | 2,002 | | | | 1,942 | |
Total | | $ | 487,042 | | | $ | 437,391 | |
4. Fair Value Measurements
The following tables set forth marketable securities for the periods presented:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | As of June 30, 2025 | |
(in thousands) | | Amortized Cost | | | Unrealized Gains | | | Unrealized Losses | | | Total | |
Commercial paper | | | 5,682 | | | | 4 | | | | — | | | | 5,686 | |
Corporate debt securities | | | 165,115 | | | | 208 | | | | (29 | ) | | | 165,294 | |
Certificates of deposit | | | 9,221 | | | | 3 | | | | (1 | ) | | | 9,223 | |
U.S. treasury notes | | | 18,615 | | | | 67 | | | | — | | | | 18,682 | |
Total | | $ | 198,633 | | | $ | 282 | | | $ | (30 | ) | | $ | 198,885 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | As of December 31, 2024 | |
(in thousands) | | Amortized Cost | | | Unrealized Gains | | | Unrealized Losses | | | Total | |
Commercial paper | | | 14,203 | | | | 8 | | | | — | | | | 14,211 | |
Corporate debt securities | | | 162,078 | | | | 131 | | | | (114 | ) | | | 162,095 | |
Certificates of deposit | | | 9,369 | | | | 4 | | | | (1 | ) | | | 9,372 | |
U.S. treasury notes | | | 21,163 | | | | 7 | | | | (29 | ) | | | 21,141 | |
Total | | $ | 206,813 | | | $ | 150 | | | $ | (144 | ) | | $ | 206,819 | |
The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy (see Note 2), the assets carried at fair value on a recurring basis for the periods presented:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair Value Measurements as of June 30, 2025 | |
(in thousands) | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash equivalents | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Money market funds | | $ | 194,133 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 194,133 | |
Corporate debt securities | | | — | | | | 400 | | | | — | | | | 400 | |
Marketable securities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial paper | | | — | | | | 5,686 | | | | — | | | | 5,686 | |
Corporate debt securities | | | — | | | | 165,294 | | | | — | | | | 165,294 | |
Certificates of deposit | | | — | | | | 9,223 | | | | — | | | | 9,223 | |
U.S. treasury notes | | | 18,682 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 18,682 | |
Total | | $ | 212,815 | | | $ | 180,603 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 393,418 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2024 | |
(in thousands) | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash equivalents | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Money market funds | | $ | 3,535 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3,535 | |
Marketable securities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial Paper | | | — | | | | 14,211 | | | | — | | | | 14,211 | |
Corporate debt securities | | | — | | | | 162,095 | | | | — | | | | 162,095 | |
Certificates of deposit | | | — | | | | 9,372 | | | | — | | | | 9,372 | |
U.S. treasury notes | | | 21,141 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 21,141 | |
Total | | $ | 24,676 | | | $ | 185,678 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 210,354 | |
The fair value of U.S. government treasury notes and money market funds were determined by the Company based on quoted market prices, which represent a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. Commercial paper, certificates of deposit, and corporate debt securities were valued by the Company using quoted prices in active markets for similar securities, which represent a Level 2 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
There were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 during the periods presented.
The following table summarizes the scheduled maturity for the Company's marketable securities for the periods presented:
| | | | |
(in thousands) | | June 30, 2025 | |
Maturing in one year or less | | $ | 111,828 | |
Maturing after one year through two years | | | 87,057 | |
Maturing after two years | | | — | |
Total | | $ | 198,885 | |
Financial instruments not recorded at fair value
The carrying values of cash, cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued expenses that are reported on the balance sheets approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.
5. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, | | | December 31, | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Laboratory equipment | | $ | 10,897 | | | $ | 9,197 | |
Office and computer equipment | | | 2,456 | | | | 2,355 | |
Construction in process | | | — | | | | 619 | |
Property and equipment—at cost | | | 13,353 | | | | 12,171 | |
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | | | (7,678 | ) | | | (6,773 | ) |
Property and equipment—net | | $ | 5,675 | | | $ | 5,398 | |
Depreciation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 was $0.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Depreciation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
6. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, | | | December 31, | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Payroll and benefits | | $ | 8,513 | | | $ | 13,095 | |
Consulting services | | | 1,224 | | | | 1,608 | |
Legal services | | | 1,409 | | | | 742 | |
Research and development | | | 11,225 | | | | 15,401 | |
Interest | | | 83 | | | | — | |
Total | | $ | 22,454 | | | $ | 30,846 | |
7. Long-Term Debt
On June 27, 2025 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into the Loan Agreement with Hercules, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Agent”) and as a lender, and certain other financial institutions that from time to time become parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders (collectively, the “Lenders”). The Loan Agreement provides for term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $275.0 million under multiple tranches (the “Term Loans”), available as follows: (i) an initial term loan tranche funded on the Closing Date in aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million (the “Initial Tranche”); (ii) subject to the achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, three additional term loan tranches totaling up to $115.0 million; and (iii) subject to approval by the Lenders’ investment committee in their discretion, a final term loan tranche of up to $60.0 million.
All unpaid principal and accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the Term Loans is due and payable in full on July 1, 2030 (the “Maturity Date”). The outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans bears interest at a floating interest rate per annum equal to the Wall Street Journal prime rate, subject to a floor of 7.50%, plus 2.45%. Accrued interest on the outstanding Term Loans is payable monthly. The Company may make payments of interest only until July 1, 2028, which interest only period may be extended until the Maturity Date upon the achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones. At the end of the interest only period, the Company is required to begin repayment of the outstanding principal of the Term Loans in equal monthly installments (or, in a single installment, if the interest-only period has been extended to the Maturity Date).
As collateral for the obligations under the Loan Agreement, the Company has granted to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a first-priority security interest in substantially all of its property, inclusive of intellectual property, subject to customary permitted liens and other exceptions set forth in the Loan Agreement.
The Loan Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, events of default and affirmative and negative covenants, including a minimum cash covenant (the “Minimum Cash Covenant”) requiring the Company to maintain specified levels of cash in accounts subject to a control agreement in favor of the Agent (“Qualified Cash”) during the period commencing on April 1, 2026 (or January 1, 2027 if the Company has raised at least $350.0 million of cumulative net cash proceeds between June 4, 2025 and December 15, 2026 from the issuance of equity or indebtedness or
payments under certain royalty or license transactions). The Minimum Cash Covenant will initially be set at 60% of the then outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans, is subject to adjustment and will not be tested at any time when the Company’s market capitalization is greater than $1.65 billion. The Company is also required to maintain minimum net product revenue from the sale of DYNE-101 and DYNE-251 starting nine months after U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of DYNE-101 or DYNE-251 (the “Minimum Revenue Covenant”) if the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans exceed $100.0 million. The Minimum Revenue Covenant will not be tested for any month to the extent that for each day during such month either (i) Qualified Cash is at least 100% of the Company’s outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement or (ii) the Company’s market capitalization is greater than $1.65 billion and Qualified Cash is at least 50% of the Company’ outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement. Certain negative covenants under the Loan Agreement limit the ability of the Company, among other things, to incur future debt, grant liens, make investments, make acquisitions, distribute dividends and sell assets, subject in each case to certain exceptions.
Upon the occurrence of an event of default, including the failure by the Company to comply with the covenants under the Loan Agreement or the occurrence of a material adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, assets or financial condition of the Company, in each case subject to certain exceptions, and subject to any specified cure periods, all amounts owed by the Company under the Loan Agreement may be declared immediately due and payable by the Agent, and the Agent may foreclose on collateral.
The Loan Agreement requires the Company to pay closing fees, prepayment penalties and an end-of-term charge equal to 5.5% of the amount of Term Loans borrowed, which amount is due at the earlier of prepayment or the Maturity Date. A prepayment penalty applies to any prepayment of the Term Loans prior to the Maturity Date equal to (i) 2.0% of the principal amount prepaid if the prepayment occurs on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) 1.5% of the principal amount prepaid if the prepayment occurs after the first anniversary and on or prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date, and (iii) 0.75% of the principal amount prepaid if the prepayment occurs after the second anniversary through the day before the Maturity Date.
The Company recorded debt discount and debt issuance costs of $1.2 million upon closing of the Loan Agreement. The Company is accruing the end-of-term charge on its condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Unamortized debt discount and issuance costs were recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount on the Term Loans and are amortized as interest expense using the effective-interest method. In addition, debt issuance costs of $0.5 million were recorded in restricted cash and other assets as of June 30, 2025.
As of June 30, 2025, the carrying value of the Term Loans approximates its fair value.
The obligations under the Term Loans as of June 30, 2025 consisted of the following (in thousands):
| | | | |
| | June 30, | |
| | 2025 | |
Principal term loan balance | | $ | 100,000 | |
Unamortized debt discount and issuance costs | | | (1,196 | ) |
Accrued end of term fee | | | 9 | |
Long-term debt, net | | $ | 98,813 | |
The annual principal payments due under the Term Loans as of June 30, 2025 were as follows:
| | | | |
Year ending December 31, | | (in thousands) | |
2025 | | $ | — | |
2026 | | | — | |
2027 | | | — | |
2028 | | | 22,229 | |
2029 | | | 47,863 | |
2030 | | | 29,908 | |
Total | | $ | 100,000 | |
The table of future principal payments excludes the end-of-term charge of 5.5% of the principal amount of the Term Loans borrowed, which is due upon the maturity of the Term Loans.
8. Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock
In November 2021, the Company filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the "2021 Shelf Registration Statement"), to register for sale from time to time up to $400.0 million of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units in one or more offerings. Further, in November 2021, the Company entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement (the "Sales Agreement") with Jefferies LLC ("Jefferies") as the Company's sales agent, and included in the 2021 Shelf Registration Statement a prospectus relating to the Sales Agreement pursuant to which, from time to time, the Company could offer and sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150.0 million in an "at-the-market" offering program. On January 4, 2024, the Company notified Jefferies that it was suspending and terminating the prospectus filed under the 2021 Shelf Registration Statement relating to the Sales Agreement for the Company's "at-the-market" offering program.
On March 5, 2024, the Company filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, (the “2024 Shelf Registration Statement”), and included a prospectus relating to the Sales Agreement. Under the 2024 Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may offer and sell debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, units and/or warrants from time to time at an indeterminate aggregate offering price in one or more offerings. In November 2024, the Company filed a prospectus supplement relating to the Sales Agreement, pursuant to which, in accordance with the Sales Agreement, the Company may offer and sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $300.0 million in an “at-the-market” offering.
During the six months ended June 30, 2025, the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 10,660,159 shares of common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement for aggregate net proceeds of $140.6 million, after deducting commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company sold such shares at a weighted average price of $13.60 per share.
Atlas Venture and related affiliated entities were beneficial owners of approximately 8.0% of the Company's outstanding common stock as of June 30, 2025. The chairman of the Company's board of directors is a partner at Atlas Venture. On January 27, 2025, the Company issued and sold 1,111,111 shares of common stock through its at-the-market offering program that Atlas Venture and related affiliated entities purchased at a purchase price of $13.50 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $15.0 million. The shares were purchased at the prevailing market price.
2020 Stock Incentive Plan
In August 2020 the Company’s board of directors adopted and the Company’s stockholders approved the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan, (the "2020 Plan"), which became effective on September 16, 2020. The 2020 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units ("RSUs") and other stock-based awards to employees, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company. The 2020 Plan is administered by the Company’s board of directors or by a committee appointed by the board of directors. Upon the effectiveness of the 2020 Plan, the Company ceased granting awards under the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan was 4,884,233. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan may automatically increase on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2021 and continuing for each fiscal year until, and including the fiscal year commencing on, January 1, 2030, in an amount equal to the lower of (1) 5% of the shares of common stock outstanding on such date and (2) an amount determined by the Company’s board of directors. On January 1, 2025, 5,115,931 shares were added to the shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan in the fifth of these annual increases.
As of June 30, 2025, 7,262,817 shares remained available for future issuance under the 2020 Plan.
2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In August 2020 the Company’s board of directors adopted and the Company’s stockholders approved the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2020 ESPP”), which became effective September 16, 2020. The 2020 ESPP is administered by the Company’s board of directors or by a committee appointed by the board of directors. The 2020 ESPP initially provides participating employees with the opportunity to purchase up to an aggregate of 488,414 shares of common stock. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2020 ESPP may automatically increase on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2021 and continuing for each fiscal year until, and including the fiscal year commencing on, January 1, 2030, in an amount equal to the least of (1)
1,953,656 shares of common stock, (2) 1% of the shares of common stock outstanding on such date, and (3) an amount determined by the board of directors.
As of June 30, 2025, no offering periods have commenced under the 2020 ESPP and 488,414 shares remained available for issuance.
2024 Inducement Stock Incentive Plan
In March 2024, the Company's board of directors adopted the 2024 Inducement Stock Incentive Plan (the "2024 Inducement Plan"). The 2024 Inducement Plan provides for the grant of nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs and other stock-based awards with respect to an aggregate of 900,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in the 2024 Inducement Plan). Awards under the 2024 Inducement Plan may only be granted to new employees who were not previously an employee or director of the Company or are commencing employment with the Company following a bona fide period of non-employment, in either case, as an inducement material to the individual’s entering into employment with the Company and in accordance with the requirements of Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c)(4). In February 2025, the Company's board of directors approved an additional 1,000,000 shares for issuance under the 2024 Inducement Plan.
During the three months ended June 30, 2025, the Company granted inducement equity awards to three new employees as a material inducement to acceptance of their respective employment consisting of stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 330,200 shares of the Company’s common stock and RSUs with respect to an aggregate of 101,900 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of June 30, 2025, 440,447 shares remained available for future issuance under the 2024 Inducement Plan.
Stock option valuation
The fair value of stock option grants is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value is determined based upon the quoted price of the Company’s common stock. The Company lacks company-specific historical and implied volatility information. Therefore, it estimates its expected stock volatility based on the historical volatility of a publicly traded set of peer companies and expects to continue to do so until such time as it has adequate historical data regarding the volatility of its own traded stock price. For options with service-based vesting conditions, the expected term of the Company’s stock options has been determined utilizing the “simplified” method for awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” options. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. Expected dividend yield is based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
The assumptions that the Company used to determine the grant-date fair value of options granted were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
| | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Expected volatility | | 66% | | | 66% | |
Risk-free interest rate | | 3.91% — 4.52% | | | 3.98% — 4.65% | |
Expected term (in years) | | 6 | | | 6 | |
Expected dividend yield | | | — | | | | — | |
Stock option activity
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the six months ended June 30, 2025 is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands, except share and per share data) | | Options | | | Weighted Average Exercise Price | | | Weighted Average Remaining Life (in years) | | | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |
Outstanding as of January 1, 2025 | | | 8,681,473 | | | $ | 19.47 | | | | 7.3 | | | $ | 61,021 | |
Granted | | | 1,483,400 | | | | 10.88 | | | | | | | |
Exercised | | | (578,292 | ) | | | 5.85 | | | | | | | |
Canceled | | | (944,528 | ) | | | 17.32 | | | | | | | |
Outstanding as of June 30, 2025 | | | 8,642,053 | | | $ | 19.12 | | | | 7.6 | | | $ | 3,910 | |
Options exercisable as of June 30, 2025 | | | 3,507,476 | | | $ | 15.33 | | | | 5.9 | | | $ | 3,052 | |
Options vested or expected to vest as of June 30, 2025 | | | 8,642,053 | | | $ | 19.12 | | | | 7.6 | | | $ | 3,910 | |
The intrinsic value of options exercised for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 totaled $3.8 million and $45.4 million, respectively. The weighted-average grant date fair value of the options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 was $6.85 per share and $17.04 per share, respectively. As of June 30, 2025 there was $63.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years.
Effective January 2025, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with its former chief medical officer resulting in the modification of previously issued stock option awards. The modification resulted in $0.9 million of additional stock-based compensation expense, all of which was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2025. The expense was recorded within research and development expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Based on the terms of the consulting agreement, options to purchase 58,659 shares of common stock were forfeited in January 2025.
Effective April 2025, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with its former senior vice president of finance and administration resulting in the modification of previously issued stock option awards. The modification resulted in $0.1 million of additional stock-based compensation expense, all of which was recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2025. The expense was recorded within general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Based on the terms of the consulting agreement, options to purchase 88,508 shares of common stock were forfeited in April 2025.
Restricted stock units
An RSU represents the right to receive one share of common stock upon vesting of the RSU. The Company grants RSUs with service conditions that vest in four equal annual installments provided that the employee remains employed with the Company, RSUs with service conditions that vest in sixteen equal quarterly installments provided that the employee remains employed with the Company and RSUs with performance-based vesting conditions. As of June 30, 2025, there are no RSUs with performance-based vesting conditions outstanding. The fair value of each RSU is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. A summary of the Company’s RSU activity and related information for the six months ended June 30, 2025 is as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Number of Shares Underlying RSUs | | | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |
Issued and unvested as of January 1, 2025 | | | 3,722,024 | | | $ | 20.49 | |
Granted | | | 392,800 | | | | 10.70 | |
Vested | | | (781,530 | ) | | | 15.12 | |
Forfeited | | | (591,944 | ) | | | 17.49 | |
Issued and unvested as of June 30, 2025 | | | 2,741,350 | | | $ | 21.24 | |
The fair value of RSUs vested during the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 totaled $9.7 million and $17.3 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of RSUs granted during the six months ended June 30, 2024
was $26.84 per share. As of June 30, 2025, there was $52.2 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested RSUs, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years.
Effective January 2025, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with its former chief medical officer resulting in the modification of previously issued RSU awards. The modification resulted in the recognition of $0.3 million of additional stock-based compensation expense, all of which was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2025. The expense was recorded within research and development expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Based on the terms of the consulting agreement, 76,662 RSUs were forfeited in January 2025.
Effective April 2025, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with its former senior vice president of finance and administration resulting in the modification of previously issued RSU awards. The modification resulted in the recognition of $0.2 million of additional stock-based compensation expense, all of which was recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2025. The expense was recorded within general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Based on the terms of the consulting agreement, 65,350 RSUs were forfeited in April 2025.
The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense in the following expense categories of its condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
(in thousands) | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Research and development | $ | 5,646 | | | $ | 3,984 | | | $ | 13,837 | | | $ | 7,802 | |
General and administrative | | 4,877 | | | | 2,752 | | | | 9,706 | | | | 18,840 | |
Total | $ | 10,523 | | | $ | 6,736 | | | $ | 23,543 | | | $ | 26,642 | |
9. Segment Reporting
The Company’s segment determination is based on the financial results that are regularly evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker ("CODM") to determine resource allocation and assess performance. The Company's CODM is its chief executive officer. The Company has one operating and one reportable segment. Net long-lived assets are all physically located in the United States and the total assets of the segment equal the total assets presented on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The primary financial measure by which the CODM evaluates the business is net loss. The CODM uses net loss to monitor budget versus actual results to assess performance of the segment. A summary of the significant segment expenses reported to the CODM are shown below for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended June 30, | | | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Operating Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DYNE-101 (DM1) | | $ | 34,677 | | | $ | 13,708 | | | $ | 80,111 | | | $ | 22,125 | |
DYNE-251 (DMD) | | | 29,525 | | | | 21,673 | | | | 51,238 | | | | 33,656 | |
Platform and external research and development | | | 7,425 | | | | 6,122 | | | | 15,040 | | | | 10,182 | |
Personnel related | | | 19,510 | | | | 13,613 | | | | 40,212 | | | | 29,366 | |
Stock-based compensation | | | 10,523 | | | | 6,736 | | | | 23,543 | | | | 26,642 | |
Facility-related and other | | | 7,418 | | | | 5,616 | | | | 14,330 | | | | 10,511 | |
Professional and consulting fees | | | 6,713 | | | | 4,494 | | | | 13,689 | | | | 8,637 | |
Interest income | | | (6,625 | ) | | | (7,052 | ) | | | (13,725 | ) | | | (10,054 | ) |
Interest expense | | | 94 | | | | — | | | | 94 | | | | — | |
Other expense (income), net | | | 1,597 | | | | 192 | | | | 1,687 | | | | (314 | ) |
Net loss | | $ | 110,857 | | | $ | 65,102 | | | $ | 226,219 | | | $ | 130,751 | |
10. Subsequent Events
In July 2025, the Company completed a follow-on public offering, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold 27,878,788 shares of the Company's common stock. The Company estimates that the net proceeds from the offering were approximately $215.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or this Quarterly Report, and our audited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2024, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on February 27, 2025. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this Quarterly Report, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage company focused on delivering functional improvement for people living with genetically driven neuromuscular diseases. Leveraging the modularity of our FORCE platform, we are developing targeted therapeutics that are designed to overcome limitations in delivery to muscle tissue and the central nervous system, or CNS. Our proprietary FORCE platform therapeutics consist of a payload that we rationally design to target the genetic basis of the disease we are seeking to treat, a linker and an antigen-binding fragment, or Fab, that we attach to the payload using the linker. With our FORCE platform, we have the flexibility to deploy different classes of payloads (such as oligonucleotides and enzymes) with specific mechanisms of action that modify target functions. We leverage this modularity to focus on neuromuscular diseases with high unmet need, with etiologic targets and with clear translational potential from preclinical disease models to well-defined clinical development and regulatory pathways.
Using our FORCE platform, we are assembling a broad portfolio of product candidates, including product candidates being developed for myotonic dystrophy type 1, or DM1, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD, facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, or FSHD, and Pompe disease. In addition, we plan to expand our portfolio through development efforts focused on rare skeletal muscle diseases, as well as cardiac and metabolic muscle diseases, including some with larger patient populations, and diseases involving the CNS. We have identified product candidates for each of our DM1, DMD, FSHD and Pompe programs that are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development.
Our product candidate DYNE-101 is being evaluated in the ACHIEVE trial, a global Phase 1/2 clinical trial consisting of a 24-week multiple ascending dose, or MAD, randomized, placebo-controlled period, a 24-week open-label extension, or OLE, a 96-week long-term extension, and a registrational expansion cohort. The primary endpoints of the MAD portion of the trial were safety and tolerability; with secondary endpoints of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, including change from baseline in splicing as measured by the composite alternative splicing index, or CASI-22, video hand opening time, or vHOT, as well as multiple other measures of muscle strength and function and patient-reported outcomes, including the Myotonic Dystrophy Health Index. In the MAD portion of the ACHIEVE trial, patients were randomized to receive DYNE-101 or placebo intravenously every four weeks or every eight weeks for 24 weeks, depending on cohort. Patient cohorts were dosed from 1.8 mg/kg to 6.8 mg/kg (approximate ASO dose). Following the MAD placebo-controlled period, patients transition to DYNE-101 treatment in the OLE portion of the trial and in the long-term extension. In January 2025, we announced the completion of the MAD portion of the trial.
We participated in a Type C meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in May 2025 and discussed the path to regulatory approval, including U.S. Accelerated Approval, for DYNE-101 in DM1. As a result of the meeting, we submitted a revised protocol for review by the FDA in June 2025 for the registrational expansion cohort of the ACHIEVE trial. The primary endpoint in the revised protocol for the registrational expansion cohort is change from baseline in middle finger myotonia as measured by vHOT at 6 months compared to placebo, which is intended to serve as an intermediate clinical endpoint for U.S. Accelerated Approval. Secondary endpoints include change from baseline in splicing as measured by CASI-22, muscle strength as assessed by Quantitative Muscle Testing, or QMT, performance on both the 10-Meter Walk/Run Test, or 10MWR, and 5 Times Sit to Stand Test, or 5xSTS, and the Myotonic Dystrophy Health Index, or MDHI, patient reported outcome measure, all at 6 months compared to placebo. We intend that the data from the registrational expansion cohort and the already enrolled patients in the MAD and ongoing long-term extension portions of the ACHIEVE trial will support a potential submission for U.S. Accelerated Approval.
The registrational expansion cohort is expected to enroll 60 patients at the 6.8 mg/kg once every eight weeks, or Q8W, dose cohort. The registrational expansion cohort has been initiated and full enrollment is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025, with data from this cohort planned for mid-2026 and potential submission for U.S. Accelerated Approval planned for
late 2026. We continue to advance preparations for a Phase 3 clinical trial of DYNE-101 and plan to initiate the trial in the first quarter of 2026. We continue to pursue approval pathways for DYNE-101 outside of the U.S.
In June 2025, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to DYNE-101 for the treatment of DM1.
Additionally, in June 2025, we reported positive long-term efficacy and safety data from adult DM1 patients enrolled in the MAD portion of the ACHIEVE trial, including data from the 6.8 mg/kg Q8W cohort (n=6) at up to 12 months. At the 6.8 mg/kg Q8W dose, DYNE-101 demonstrated robust and sustained improvement in myotonia as measured by vHOT as well as sustained improvements across multiple other endpoints. We believe these data support improvement in vHOT as an early indicator of clinical benefit with DYNE-101 in DM1 and its potential as an intermediate clinical endpoint for U.S. Accelerated Approval. Treatment with DYNE-101 led to an improvement in vHOT of 3.3 seconds as compared to placebo at 6 months, and new data demonstrated that mean improvements at 6 months were sustained at 12 months for vHOT, 10MWR, 5xSTS, MDHI, and QMT, which demonstrated a 10% improvement in strength at 6 months, increasing to 20% at 12 months relative to baseline.
In June 2025, we also reported updated safety and tolerability data from the 56 patients enrolled through the 6.8 mg/kg Q8W cohort of the ACHIEVE trial. As of the data cutoff date of April 23, 2025, DYNE-101 demonstrated a favorable safety profile. Additionally, the majority of treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate, and no related serious treatment-emergent adverse events were identified. In addition, no participants demonstrated persistent related anemia, and no clinically meaningful changes were observed in kidney or liver parameters. Also, no participants demonstrated kidney injury. Liver enzyme elevations were observed in a minority of participants, with no impact on liver function. Interpretation of the elevated liver enzyme levels was complicated by underlying liver disease and elevated baseline values up to approximately 2.5 times greater than the upper limit of normal.
Our product candidate DYNE-251 is currently being evaluated in the DELIVER trial, a Phase 1/2 global clinical trial consisting of a 24-week MAD randomized, placebo-controlled period, a 24-week OLE, and a 192-week long-term extension, and a registrational expansion cohort. The trial, which is designed to be registrational, enrolled ambulant and non-ambulant males with DMD who are ages 4 to 16 and have mutations amenable to exon 51 skipping. The primary endpoints of the MAD portion were safety, tolerability and change from baseline in dystrophin levels as measured by Western blot. Additional endpoints in the MAD portion of the trial included pharmacokinetics and change from baseline in exon 51 skipping levels, muscle tissue percent dystrophin positive fibers, multiple assessments of muscle function, including North Star Ambulatory Assessment score, Stride Velocity 95th Centile and certain timed functional tests.
In the MAD portion of the DELIVER trial, patients were randomized to receive DYNE-251 or placebo every four or eight weeks intravenously for 24 weeks, depending on cohort. Patients cohorts were dosed from 0.7 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg (approximate phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer, or PMO dose). Following the placebo-controlled period, patients transitioned to DYNE-251 treatment in the open-label portion of the trial and in the long-term extension.
In September 2024, we announced the completion of the MAD portion of the trial, and in November 2024, we announced the initiation of the 20 mg/kg Q4W (approximate PMO dose) registrational expansion cohort to support submission for Accelerated Approval in the U.S.
In March 2025, we reported positive long-term safety and efficacy data from the MAD portion of the DELIVER trial. The efficacy assessment of the DELIVER trial reported in March 2025 was based on 12-month biomarker and functional data from six male patients enrolled in the 20 mg/kg (approximate PMO dose) cohort who were randomized to receive DYNE-251 or placebo once every four weeks, or Q4W, and 18-month functional data from six male patients in the 10 mg/kg (approximate PMO dose) cohort who were randomized to receive DYNE-251 or placebo Q4W. During the open label extension period, all participants in the 10 mg/kg cohort were dose escalated to 20 mg/kg Q4W regimen after month six. DYNE-251 demonstrated dose-dependent exon skipping and dystrophin expression and meaningful and sustained improvements from baseline in multiple functional endpoints in both cohorts. In the 20 mg/kg Q4W cohort, DYNE-251 demonstrated best-in-class levels of dystrophin expression, exon skipping and percent dystrophin.
In March 2025, we also reported updated safety and tolerability data based on 54 participants enrolled in the DELIVER trial. As of the data cutoff date of February 7, 2025, DYNE-251 demonstrated a favorable safety profile and the majority of treatment emergent adverse events were mild or moderate and no related serious treatment emergent adverse events were identified other than in two participants at the 40 mg/kg Q4W dose level which events were potentially related to study drug. One participant experienced symptoms which suggested hemolytic uremic syndrome, potentially caused by
an infection. The second participant had a history of unexplained hemolytic anemia and developed fever and tonsillitis after joining the DELIVER trial. Both participants have recovered.
We completed enrollment of the 20 mg/kg Q4W (approximate PMO dose) registrational expansion cohort of 32 participants as part of the DELIVER trial in the first quarter of 2025 and are planning for data from this cohort in late 2025 and potential submission for U.S. Accelerated Approval in early 2026. We continue to pursue accelerated approval in the U.S. based on dystrophin as a surrogate endpoint. We continue to pursue approval pathways for DYNE-251 outside of the U.S.
In June 2024 and June 2025, we announced new preclinical data for DYNE-302, our product candidate for FSHD, that demonstrated robust and durable DUX4 suppression and functional benefit in a mouse model. We generated these data using an innovative hTfR1/iFLExD mouse model we developed that expresses the human transferrin 1 receptor, or TfR1, and enables tunable DUX4 induction in skeletal muscle. In hTfR1/iFLExD mice, a single intravenous dose of DYNE-302 resulted in dose-dependent and robust reduction of the DUX4 transcriptome that lasted up to three months, with benefit on muscle structure. DYNE-302 also demonstrated prevention as well as reversal of muscle weakness. We are progressing DYNE-302 through IND/CTA-enabling studies.
We are developing a product candidate, DYNE-401, to deliver an enzyme replacement therapy to address the deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, GAA, that causes Pompe disease. We engineered FORCE-GAA by leveraging the FORCE platform and evaluated efficacy in vivo using hTfR1/6Neo mice, that were developed by crossing the well-established 6Neo mouse model of Pompe with mice expressing human transferrin receptor 1. Using this approach, intravenous, or IV, administration cleared glycogen in muscle and the CNS and normalized lysosomal size in hTfR1/6Neo mice. This approach reduced serum neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of axonal injury, providing evidence of benefit in the CNS and displayed superior dose potency compared to GAA alone. Additional data with this approach supported the potential for monthly dosing which is less frequent than approved enzyme replacement therapies for Pompe.
We were incorporated and commenced operations in 2017. Since our incorporation, we have devoted substantially all of our financial resources and efforts to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, conducting research and development activities and filing and prosecuting patent applications. We do not have any products for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales or otherwise. To date, we have principally raised capital through sales of equity securities and our initial borrowing under our Loan and Security Agreement, or the Loan Agreement, with Hercules Capital, Inc., or Hercules.
Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our ability to generate any product revenue or product revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more product candidates. For the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, we reported net losses of $226.2 million and $130.8 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $1.2 billion.
We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future. We expect that our expenses and capital expenditure requirements will increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly if and as we:
•advance our product candidates for DM1, DMD, FSHD and Pompe and conduct research programs in additional indications;
•expand the capabilities of our proprietary FORCE platform;
•seek marketing approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials;
•obtain, expand, maintain, defend and enforce our intellectual property portfolio;
•hire additional clinical, regulatory and scientific personnel;
•establish manufacturing sources for any product candidate we may develop, including the Fab antibody, linkers and therapeutic payload that will comprise the product candidate, and secure supply chain capacity to provide sufficient quantities for preclinical and clinical development and commercial supply;
•ultimately establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval; and
•add operational, legal, compliance, financial and management information systems and personnel to support our research, product development and future commercialization efforts, as well as to support our operations as a public company.
We will not generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete clinical development and obtain regulatory approval for any product candidates we may develop. If we obtain regulatory approval for or otherwise commercialize any product candidates we may develop, we expect to incur significant expenses related to developing our commercialization capabilities to support product sales, marketing and distribution. Further, we expect to continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company.
As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed, on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements or arrangements as and when needed, we may have to significantly delay, reduce or eliminate the development or future commercialization of one or more product candidates we may develop.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to accurately predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when, or if, we will be able to achieve profitability. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to raise capital, maintain our research and development efforts, expand our business or continue our operations at planned levels, and as a result we may be forced to substantially reduce or terminate our operations.
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, which includes the initial term loan tranche of $100.0 million that we borrowed under our Loan Agreement with Hercules in June 2025, as well as the net proceeds from our follow-on public offering completed in July 2025, which we refer to as the July 2025 offering, will enable us to fund our operating expenses, debt service obligations and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2027. Based on our current plans and anticipated timelines and assuming positive data results from the Registrational Expansion Cohorts of our ACHIEVE and DELIVER clinical trials and assuming no additional testing is required by the FDA, we estimate that these cash resources would be sufficient to enable us to obtain data from the Registrational Expansion Cohorts of our ACHIEVE and DELIVER clinical trials, submit applications for marketing approval to the FDA for DYNE-251 in DMD and DYNE-101 in DM1 using the Accelerated Approval pathway and obtain a decision from the FDA with respect to the application for marketing approval for DYNE-251 and, if approved, commercially launch DYNE-251 in the United States.
We have based our estimates as to how long we expect we will be able to fund our operations, debt service obligations and capital expenditure requirements on assumptions that may prove to be wrong. We could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect, in which case we would be required to obtain additional financing, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy. See “—Liquidity and capital resources” below. These estimates do not give effect to any additional funding tranches we may obtain access to under our Loan Agreement with Hercules, subject to the achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, and do not give effect to any revenue we may generate on commercial sales of any products for which we obtain regulatory approval.
Impact of Tariffs
The new U.S. administration has announced or imposed a series of tariffs on U.S. trading partners. In response, several countries have threatened or imposed retaliatory measures. While we have not experienced, and do not currently expect to experience, any significant direct impact from these tariffs and retaliatory measures, the full extent of the future impact of these and other threatened measures remains uncertain. We continue to monitor these tariffs and retaliatory measures and their possible effects on our business.
Components of our results of operations
Revenue
We have not generated any revenue since our inception and do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products at least until 2027, if at all. If our development efforts are successful and we commercialize products, or if we enter into collaboration or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from product sales, as well as upfront, milestone and royalty payments from such collaboration or license agreements, or a combination thereof.
Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research activities and development of our product candidates. These expenses include:
•development and operation of our proprietary FORCE platform;
•employee-related expenses, including salaries, related benefits and stock-based compensation expense, for employees engaged in research and development functions;
•expenses incurred in connection with our research programs and development of our product candidates, including those incurred under agreements with third parties, such as consultants and contract research organizations, or CROs, to conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials;
•the cost of laboratory supplies and acquiring, developing and manufacturing materials for use in our research, preclinical studies and clinical trials, including those incurred under agreements with third parties, such as consultants and contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs;
•facilities, depreciation and other expenses, which include direct or allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and insurance; and
•costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements.
We expense research and development costs as incurred. Advance payments that we make for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. The prepaid amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.
Our direct external research and development expenses consist of costs that include fees, reimbursed materials and other costs paid to consultants, contractors, CMOs and CROs in connection with our development, manufacturing and clinical activities. We have not allocated our direct external research and development costs to specific programs or product candidates that are not in clinical development.
Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. Accordingly, we expect that our research and development expenses will increase substantially as we advance DYNE-101 and DYNE-251 through clinical trials, in connection with our preclinical and clinical development activities of DYNE-302, our FSHD product candidate, and DYNE-401, our Pompe disease product candidate, and if, and as, we advance any other product candidates through preclinical studies and clinical trials. At this time, we cannot accurately estimate or know the nature, timing and costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the preclinical and clinical development of any product candidates we may develop. The successful development of any product candidate is highly uncertain. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, including the following:
•the timing and progress of preclinical and clinical development activities;
•the number and scope of programs we decide to pursue and their regulatory paths to market;
•the need to raise funding to complete preclinical and clinical development of any product candidates we may develop;
•our ability to establish new licensing or collaboration arrangements and the progress of the development efforts of third parties with whom we may enter into such arrangements;
•our ability to maintain our current research and development programs and to establish new programs;
•the successful initiation, enrollment and completion of clinical trials with safety, tolerability and efficacy profiles that are satisfactory to the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority;
•the receipt and related terms of regulatory approvals from applicable regulatory authorities for any product candidates we may develop;
•the availability of specialty raw materials for use in production of any product candidate we may develop;
•establishing agreements with third-party manufacturers for supply of product candidate components for our clinical trials;
•our ability to obtain and maintain patents, trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity, both in the United States and internationally;
•our ability to protect our other rights in our intellectual property portfolio;
•commercializing product candidates, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and
•obtaining and maintaining third-party insurance coverage and adequate reimbursement for any approved products.
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of any product candidate we may develop could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. We may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for any product candidate we may develop.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses, including salaries, related benefits and stock-based compensation, for employees in executive, finance, corporate and business development and administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees relating to patent and corporate matters; professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax and administrative consulting services; insurance costs; administrative travel expenses; and facility-related expenses, which include allocated expenses for rent, depreciation and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs.
We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our headcount to support our growth strategy. In addition, if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate and do not enter into a third-party commercialization collaboration, we expect to incur significant expenses related to building a sales and marketing team to support product sales, marketing and distribution activities.
Interest income
Interest income consists of interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Interest expense
Interest expense consists of amortization of debt issuance costs and discount and interest expense under the Loan Agreement with Hercules.
Other income (expense), net
Other income (expense), net consists of realized gains and losses on sales of marketable securities and foreign currency gains and losses.
Income taxes
Since our inception, we have not recorded any U.S. federal or state income tax benefits for the net losses we have incurred in any year or for our earned research and development tax credits, due to our uncertainty of realizing a benefit from those items.
Results of operations
Comparison of the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended June 30, | | | | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | Change | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | $ | 99,236 | | | $ | 62,263 | | | $ | 36,973 | |
General and administrative | | | 16,555 | | | | 9,699 | | | | 6,856 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 115,791 | | | | 71,962 | | | | 43,829 | |
Loss from operations | | | (115,791 | ) | | | (71,962 | ) | | | (43,829 | ) |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 6,625 | | | | 7,052 | | | | (427 | ) |
Interest expense | | | (94 | ) | | | — | | | | (94 | ) |
Other income (expense), net | | | (1,597 | ) | | | (192 | ) | | | (1,405 | ) |
Total other income (expense), net | | | 4,934 | | | | 6,860 | | | | (1,926 | ) |
Net loss | | $ | (110,857 | ) | | $ | (65,102 | ) | | $ | (45,755 | ) |
Research and development expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended June 30, | | | | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | Change | |
Direct research and development expenses by product candidate: | | | | | | | | | |
DYNE-101 (DM1) | | $ | 34,677 | | | $ | 13,708 | | | $ | 20,969 | |
DYNE-251 (DMD) | | | 29,525 | | | | 21,673 | | | | 7,852 | |
Unallocated research and development expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
Platform and external research and development | | | 7,425 | | | | 6,122 | | | | 1,303 | |
Personnel related (including stock-based compensation) | | | 20,804 | | | | 15,499 | | | | 5,305 | |
Facility-related and other | | | 6,805 | | | | 5,261 | | | | 1,544 | |
Total research and development expenses | | $ | 99,236 | | | $ | 62,263 | | | $ | 36,973 | |
Expenses related to DYNE-101 increased in the three months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024. This was attributable to higher manufacturing activity in the three months ended June 30, 2025 to produce a sufficient clinical supply of drug product for the ongoing ACHIEVE trial and an increase in clinical trial activity for the registrational expansion cohort of the ACHIEVE trial. Expenses related to DYNE-251 increased in the three months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024. This was attributable to higher manufacturing activity in the three months ended June 30, 2025 to produce a sufficient clinical supply of drug product for the ongoing DELIVER trial and an increase in clinical trial activity for the registrational expansion cohort of the DELIVER trial.
The increase in platform and external research and development expenses in the three months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024 was primarily due to increased external research activity associated with our preclinical programs and product candidates. The increase in personnel-related expenses was primarily due to increased headcount in our research and development function. The increase in facility-related and other expenses was primarily due to the increased costs of supporting a larger number of research and development personnel.
General and administrative expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended June 30, | | | | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | Change | |
Personnel-related | | $ | 4,352 | | | $ | 2,098 | | | $ | 2,254 | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 4,877 | | | | 2,752 | | | | 2,125 | |
Professional and consulting fees | | | 5,094 | | | | 3,290 | | | | 1,804 | |
Facility-related and other | | | 2,232 | | | | 1,559 | | | | 673 | |
Total general and administrative expenses | | $ | 16,555 | | | $ | 9,699 | | | $ | 6,856 | |
The increase in personnel-related and stock-based compensation expenses in the three months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024 was due to increased headcount in our general and administrative function. Professional and consulting fees increased due to the higher consulting costs to support the growth of the organization in the three months ended June 30, 2025. Facility-related and other expenses increased due to higher costs of supporting a larger number of general and administrative personnel in the three months ended June 30, 2025.
Interest income
Interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 was $6.6 million and $7.1 million, respectively, due to interest earned on invested cash balances. The decrease in interest income was due to an overall decrease in interest rates in the three months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024.
Interest expense
Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2025 was $0.1 million due to our entry into the Loan Agreement with Hercules in June 2025. No interest expense was incurred in the three months ended June 30, 2024.
Other income (expense), net
Other expense for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 was $1.6 million and $0.2 million, respectively, due to realized foreign currency losses.
Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, | | | | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | Change | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | $ | 205,683 | | | $ | 106,802 | | | $ | 98,881 | |
General and administrative | | | 32,480 | | | | 34,317 | | | | (1,837 | ) |
Total operating expenses | | | 238,163 | | | | 141,119 | | | | 97,044 | |
Loss from operations | | | (238,163 | ) | | | (141,119 | ) | | | (97,044 | ) |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 13,725 | | | | 10,054 | | | | 3,671 | |
Interest expense | | | (94 | ) | | | — | | | | (94 | ) |
Other income (expense), net | | | (1,687 | ) | | | 314 | | | | (2,001 | ) |
Total other income (expense), net | | | 11,944 | | | | 10,368 | | | | 1,576 | |
Net loss | | $ | (226,219 | ) | | $ | (130,751 | ) | | $ | (95,468 | ) |
Research and development expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, | | | | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | Change | |
Direct research and development expenses by product candidate: | | | | | | | | | |
DYNE-101 (DM1) | | $ | 80,111 | | | $ | 22,125 | | | $ | 57,986 | |
DYNE-251 (DMD) | | | 51,238 | | | | 33,656 | | | | 17,582 | |
Unallocated research and development expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
Platform and external research and development | | | 15,040 | | | | 10,182 | | | | 4,858 | |
Personnel related (including stock-based compensation) | | | 45,892 | | | | 31,509 | | | | 14,383 | |
Facility related and other | | | 13,402 | | | | 9,330 | | | | 4,072 | |
Total research and development expenses | | $ | 205,683 | | | $ | 106,802 | | | $ | 98,881 | |
Expenses related to DYNE-101 increased in the six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2024. This was attributable to higher manufacturing activity in the six months ended June 30, 2025 to produce a sufficient clinical supply of drug product for the ongoing ACHIEVE trial and an increase in clinical trial activity for the registrational expansion cohort of the ACHIEVE trial. Expenses related to DYNE-251 increased in the six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2024. This was attributable to higher manufacturing activity in the six months ended June 30, 2025 to produce a sufficient clinical supply of drug product for the ongoing DELIVER trial and an increase in clinical trial activity for the registrational expansion cohort of the DELIVER trial.
The increase in platform and external research and development expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2024 was primarily due to increased external research activity associated with our preclinical programs and product candidates. The increase in personnel-related expenses was primarily due to increased headcount in our research and development function. The increase in facility-related and other expenses was primarily due to the increased costs of supporting a larger number of research and development personnel.
General and administrative expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, | | | | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | | | Change | |
Personnel-related | | $ | 8,157 | | | $ | 5,659 | | | $ | 2,498 | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 9,706 | | | | 18,840 | | | | (9,134 | ) |
Professional and consulting fees | | | 10,757 | | | | 6,948 | | | | 3,809 | |
Facility-related and other | | | 3,860 | | | | 2,870 | | | | 990 | |
Total general and administrative expenses | | $ | 32,480 | | | $ | 34,317 | | | $ | (1,837 | ) |
The increase in personnel-related expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2024 was due to increased headcount in our general and administrative function. The decrease in stock-based compensation expense in the six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2024 was primarily the result of entering into separation and consulting agreements with our former chief executive officer in March 2024, resulting in the acceleration of vesting and modification of previously granted awards. Professional and consulting fees increased due to the higher consulting costs to support the growth of the organization in the six months ended June 30, 2025. Facility-related and other expenses increased due to higher costs of supporting a larger number of general and administrative personnel in the six months ended June 30, 2025.
Interest income
Interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 was $13.7 million and $10.1 million, respectively, due to interest earned on invested cash balances. The increase in interest income was due to an increased cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balance throughout the six months ended June 30, 2025 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Interest expense
Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $0.1 million due to our entry into the Loan Agreement with Hercules in June 2025. No interest expense was incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Other income (expense), net
Other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $1.6 million due to net foreign currency losses. Other income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $0.3 million due to net foreign currency gains.
Liquidity and capital resources
Sources of liquidity
Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we support our continued research activities and development of our product candidates and platform. We have not yet commercialized any product candidates, and we do not expect to generate revenue from sales of any product candidates at least until 2027, if at all. To date, we have funded our operations primarily with proceeds from sales of equity securities and our initial borrowing under the Loan Agreement with Hercules. As of June 30, 2025 we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $683.9 million.
In November 2021, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, or the 2021 Shelf Registration Statement, to register for sale from time to time up to $400.0 million of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units in one or more offerings. Further, in November 2021, we entered into an Open Market Sale AgreementSM, or the Sales Agreement, with Jefferies LLC, or Jefferies, and included in the 2021 Shelf Registration Statement a prospectus relating to the Sales Agreement, pursuant to which, from time to time, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150.0 million, which we refer to as our at-the-market offering program. Sales of common stock under the Sales Agreement through Jefferies may be made by any method that is deemed an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Act. On January 4, 2024, we notified Jefferies that we were suspending and terminating the prospectus filed under our 2021 Shelf Registration Statement relating to the Sales Agreement for our at-the-market offering program.
On March 5, 2024, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, or the 2024 Shelf Registration Statement, and included a prospectus relating to the Sales Agreement. Under the 2024 Shelf Registration Statement, we may offer and sell debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, units and/or warrants from time to time at an indeterminate aggregate offering price in one or more offerings. In November 2024, we filed a prospectus supplement relating to the Sales Agreement, pursuant to which, in accordance with the Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $300.0 million in our at-the-market offering program.
During the six months ended June 30, 2025, we issued and sold an aggregate of 10,660,159 shares of common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement for aggregate net proceeds of $140.6 million, after deducting commissions and offering expenses payable by us. We sold such shares at a weighted average price of $13.60 per share.
In June 2025, we entered into the Loan Agreement with Hercules, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent and as a lender, and certain other financial institutions that from time to time become parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders, which we refer to collectively as the Lenders. The Loan Agreement provides for term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $275.0 million under multiple tranches, available as follows: (i) an initial term loan tranche funded on the closing date of the Loan Agreement in aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million; (ii) subject to the achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, three additional term loan tranches totaling up to $115.0 million; and (iii) subject to approval by the Lenders’ investment committee in their discretion, a final term loan tranche of up to $60.0 million. On June 27, 2025, we received net proceeds of $98.8 million from the initial term loan tranche, after deducting debt issuance costs payable by us. Refer to Note 7, “Long-Term Debt” in the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the Loan Agreement with Hercules.
In July 2025, we completed the July 2025 offering, pursuant to which we issued and sold 27,878,788 shares of our common stock. We estimate that the net proceeds from the offering were approximately $215.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.
Cash flows
The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
(in thousands) | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | $ | (200,596 | ) | | $ | (133,405 | ) |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | | | 8,232 | | | | (168,663 | ) |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | | 242,015 | | | | 788,250 | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | $ | 49,651 | | | $ | 486,182 | |
Operating activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2025, operating activities used $200.6 million of cash, due to our net loss of $226.2 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $23.6 million and changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $2.0 million. Net cash provided by changes in our operating assets and liabilities primarily consisted of a $2.8 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets, partially offset by a $0.8 million decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, operating activities used $133.4 million of cash, due to our net loss of $130.8 million and net cash used by changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $28.6 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $25.9 million. Net cash used by changes in our operating assets and liabilities primarily consisted of a $21.4 million decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities and a $7.2 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets. Changes in our operating assets and liabilities during these periods were generally due to the growth of our business, increased clinical trial activity, increased manufacturing activities, advancement of our product candidates, the timing of vendor invoices and payments and annual bonus payments.
Investing activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2025, net cash provided by investing activities was $8.2 million due to maturities of marketable securities of $107.7 million and sales of marketable securities of $8.5 million, partially offset by purchases of marketable securities of $106.9 and purchases of property and equipment of $1.0 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $168.7 million due to purchases of marketable securities of $207.7 million and purchases of property and equipment of $1.0 million, partially offset by maturities of marketable securities of $40.1 million.
Financing activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2025, net cash provided by financing activities was $242.0 million, consisting of $140.6 million in aggregate net proceeds from sales of common stock under our at-the-market offering program, $98.8 million in net proceeds from the initial term loan tranche under the Loan Agreement with Hercules and $2.6 million in proceeds received from stock option exercises. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $788.3 million, consisting of $675.2 million in aggregate net proceeds from sales in our public offerings in January 2024 and May 2024, $97.9 million in aggregate net proceeds from sales of our common stock under our at-the-market offering program and $15.2 million in net proceeds received from stock option exercises.
Funding requirements
We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance the clinical development of DYNE-101 and DYNE-251, the development of our FSHD and Pompe programs and additional research programs. The timing and amount of our operating expenditures will depend largely on:
•the identification of additional product candidates;
•the scope, progress, costs and results of preclinical and clinical development of any product candidates we may develop;
•the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of any product candidates we may develop;
•our decision to initiate a clinical trial, not to initiate a clinical trial or to terminate an existing clinical trial;
•changes in laws or regulations applicable to any product candidates we may develop, including but not limited to clinical trial requirements for approvals;
•the cost and timing of obtaining materials to produce adequate product supply for any preclinical or clinical development of any product candidate we may develop;
•the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution, for any product candidate we may develop for which we obtain marketing approval;
•the legal costs involved in prosecuting patent applications and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property claims;
•additions or departures of key scientific or management personnel;
•our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all, as well as the costs and timing of any collaboration, license or other arrangement, including the terms and timing of any milestone payments thereunder; and
•the costs of operating as a public company.
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, which includes the initial term loan tranche of $100.0 million that we borrowed under our Loan Agreement with Hercules in June 2025, as well as the net proceeds from the July 2025 offering, will enable us to fund our operating expenses, debt service obligations and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2027. Based on our current plans and anticipated timelines and assuming positive data results from the registrational expansion cohorts of our ACHIEVE and DELIVER clinical trials and assuming no additional testing is required by the FDA, we estimate that these cash resources would be sufficient to enable us to obtain data from the registrational expansion cohorts of our ACHIEVE and DELIVER clinical trials, submit applications for marketing approval to the FDA for DYNE-251 in DMD and DYNE-101 in DM1 using the Accelerated Approval pathway and obtain a decision from the FDA with respect to the application for marketing approval for DYNE-251 and, if approved, commercially launch DYNE-251 in the United States. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could exhaust our available capital resources sooner than we expect.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, and marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders may be materially diluted, and the terms of such securities could include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of holders of our common stock. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take specified actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed, on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements other arrangements as and when needed, we may have to significantly delay, reduce or eliminate the development or future commercialization of one or more of our product candidates we may develop. See Item 1A. “Risk factors” in this Quarterly Report for additional risks associated with our substantial capital requirements.
Contractual and other obligations
We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs, CMOs and other third parties for preclinical research studies, clinical trials and testing and manufacturing services. These contracts typically do not contain minimum purchase commitments and are generally cancelable by us upon written notice. Payments due upon cancellation consist of payments for services provided or expenses incurred, including noncancelable obligations of our service providers, up to the date of cancellation and in the case of certain arrangements with CROs and CMOs may include non-cancelable fees.
We have also entered into a license agreement with the University of Mons under which we are obligated to make specified milestone and royalty payments. The payment obligations under this agreement are contingent upon future events, such as our achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones, or generating product sales. We are unable to estimate the timing or likelihood of achieving these milestones or generating future product sales.
On December 4, 2020, we entered into a lease agreement for office and laboratory space, which was amended in January 2021, March 2021 and June 2021. The lease has a term of 8.5 years that commenced when we gained access to the office and laboratory space in September 2021. Our obligation for the payment of the base rent began in April 2022
and is $0.4 million per month, increasing to $0.5 million per month during the term of the lease. We have two options to extend the term of the lease, each for a period of an additional five years.
On January 15, 2025, we entered into a master manufacturing services agreement with a CMO which secures capacity at the CMO’s manufacturing facilities for certain of our product candidates and components thereof. The agreement obligates us to compensate the CMO at least $60 million for producing certain of our product candidates and components thereof through 2026. In specified termination circumstances, the agreement requires us to pay the CMO for services completed, the cost of the CMO’s raw materials that cannot be repurposed and specified cancellation fees. This agreement formalizes and supersedes a letter agreement that we entered into with the CMO on July 18, 2024.
Critical accounting estimates
Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We define our critical accounting policies as those accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America that require us to make subjective estimates and judgments about matters that are uncertain and are likely to have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations as well as the specific manner in which we apply those principles. Management has determined that our most critical accounting policies are those relating to accrued research and development expenses and stock-based compensation and that these policies have the most significant level of estimation uncertainty and have and are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations. As we advance our product candidates into and through clinical development, we expect research and development expenses and, in particular, our accounting for accrued research and development expenses to be an increasingly important critical accounting policy.
There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies or estimates from those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2025.
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of significant accounting policies. There are no recently issued accounting pronouncements that have not yet been adopted that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as of June 30, 2025.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
During the period ended June 30, 2025, there have been no material changes in our market risk or how our market risk is managed from that described in “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2025.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively), evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2025. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to
the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management recognizes that any disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2025, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2025 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Our business is subject to numerous risks. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or this Quarterly Report, including our condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto in evaluating our company. The risks described below are not the only risks facing our company. The occurrence of any of the following risks, or of additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial, could cause our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition to suffer materially.
Risks related to our financial position and need for additional capital
We have incurred significant losses since our inception, have no products approved for sale and we expect to incur losses for the foreseeable future.
Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our net losses were $226.2 million and $130.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively and $317.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. As of June 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $1.2 billion. To date, we have financed our operations with the proceeds raised from the sale of equity securities and our initial borrowing under the Loan Agreement with Hercules. We have devoted substantially all of our financial resources and efforts to research and development. We are still in the early stages of development of our programs and product candidates. Our product candidates are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development and we have not completed clinical development of any product candidate. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future. Our operating expenses and net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:
•advance our product candidates for DM1, DMD, FSHD and Pompe and any additional product candidates we may develop;
•expand the capabilities of our proprietary FORCE platform;
•seek marketing approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials;
•obtain, expand, maintain, defend and enforce our intellectual property portfolio;
•hire additional clinical, regulatory and scientific personnel;
•establish manufacturing sources for any product candidate we may develop, including the Fab antibody, linker and therapeutic payload that will comprise the product candidate, and secure supply chain capacity to provide sufficient quantities for preclinical and clinical development and commercial supply;
•establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval; and
•add operational, legal, compliance, financial and management information systems and personnel to support our research, product development and future commercialization efforts, as well as to support our operations as a public company.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval of, and are successful in commercializing, one or more of any product candidates we may develop, we will continue to incur substantial research and development and other costs to develop and market additional product candidates. We may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. The size of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of future growth of our expenses and our ability to generate revenue.
We have never generated revenue from product sales and may never achieve or maintain profitability.
Our product candidates are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development. We have not completed clinical development of any product candidate, and we do not expect to have a product candidate ready for commercialization at least until 2027, if ever. To become and remain profitable, we must succeed in developing, obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals for, and eventually commercializing a product or products that generate significant revenue. The ability to achieve this success will require us to be effective in a range of challenging activities, including:
•identifying product candidates and completing preclinical and clinical development of any product candidates we may identify and determine to develop;
•obtaining regulatory approval for any product candidates we may develop;
•manufacturing, marketing and selling any products for which we may obtain regulatory approval;
•achieving market acceptance of any products for which we obtain regulatory approval as a viable treatment option; and
•satisfying any post-marketing requirements.
We are only in the preliminary stages of most of these activities. We may never succeed in these activities and, even if we do, may never generate revenues that are significant enough to achieve profitability. Our product candidates are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development, and we have not completed clinical development of any product candidate. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to accurately estimate or know the nature, timing or costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the preclinical and clinical development and commercialization of any product candidate we may develop or when, or if, we will be able to generate revenues or achieve profitability.
If we are successful in obtaining regulatory approval to market one or more of our products, our revenue will be dependent, in part, upon the size of the markets in the territories for which we gain regulatory approval, the accepted price for the product, the ability to obtain coverage and reimbursement, and whether we own the commercial rights for that territory. If the number of our addressable patients is not as significant as we estimate, the indication approved by regulatory authorities is narrower than we expect, or the treatment population is narrowed by competition, physician choice or treatment guidelines, we may not generate significant revenue from sales of such products, even if approved.
Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our failure to become and remain profitable could impair our ability to raise capital, maintain our research and development efforts, expand our business or even continue our operations. A decline in the value of our company could also cause our stockholders to lose all or part of their investment.
We will need substantial additional funding. If we are unable to raise capital when needed, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development activities or commercialization efforts.
We expect our expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance the clinical development of DYNE-101 and DYNE-251, and the preclinical and clinical development of DYNE-302, our FSHD product candidate, and DYNE-401, our Pompe disease product candidate and any additional product candidates we may develop, and arrange for the manufacturing of, and potentially seek marketing approval for any product candidates we may develop. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any product candidates we may develop, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise
capital when needed, on attractive terms or at all, we may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or future commercialization efforts.
As of June 30, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $683.9 million. In addition, in connection with our July 2025 offering, we estimate we received net proceeds of approximately $215.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, which includes the initial term loan tranche of $100.0 million that we borrowed under our Loan Agreement with Hercules in June 2025, as well as the net proceeds from the July 2025 offering, will enable us to fund our operating expenses, debt service obligations and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2027. Based on our current plans and anticipated timelines and assuming positive data results from the registrational expansion cohorts of our ACHIEVE and DELIVER clinical trials and assuming no additional testing is required by the FDA, we estimate that these cash resources would be sufficient to enable us to obtain data from the registrational expansion cohorts of our ACHIEVE and DELIVER clinical trials, submit applications for marketing approval to the FDA for DYNE-251 in DMD and DYNE-101 in DM1 using the Accelerated Approval pathway and obtain a decision from the FDA with respect to the application for marketing approval for DYNE-251 and, if approved, commercially launch DYNE-251 in the United States. However, we have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and our operating plan may change as a result of many factors currently unknown to us. As a result, we could deplete our capital resources sooner than we currently expect and could be forced to seek additional funding sooner than planned.
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
•the identification of additional product candidates;
•the scope, progress, costs and results of preclinical and clinical development of any product candidates we may develop;
•the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of any product candidates we may develop;
•our decision to initiate a clinical trial, not to initiate a clinical trial or to terminate an existing clinical trial;
•changes in laws or regulations applicable to any product candidates we may develop, including but not limited to clinical trial requirements for approvals;
•the cost and timing of obtaining materials to produce adequate product supply for any preclinical or clinical development of any product candidate we may develop;
•the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution, for any product candidate we may develop for which we obtain marketing approval;
•the legal costs involved in prosecuting patent applications and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property claims;
•additions or departures of key scientific or management personnel;
•our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all, as well as the costs and timing of any collaboration, license or other arrangement, including the terms and timing of any milestone payments thereunder; and
•the costs of operating as a public company.
Identifying product candidates and conducting preclinical testing and clinical trials is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval and achieve product sales. In addition, even if we successfully identify and develop product candidates and those are approved, we may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, may not be sufficient to sustain our operations. Accordingly, we will need to continue to rely on additional financing to achieve our business objectives. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.
Any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our operations. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, when needed or at all. Other than the Loan Agreement with Hercules, we have no committed source of additional capital and, if we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts, when needed or on terms acceptable to us, 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 candidates we may develop, 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. We could be required to seek collaborators for product candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable or on terms that are less favorable than might otherwise be available or relinquish or license on unfavorable terms our rights to product candidates in markets where we otherwise would seek to pursue development or commercialization ourselves. Any of the above events could significantly harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations and cause the price of our common stock to decline.
Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or product candidates.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and/or licensing arrangements. For example, in June 2025, we entered into the Loan Agreement with Hercules providing for term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $275.0 million under multiple tranches, available as follows: (i) an initial term loan tranche funded on the closing date of the Loan Agreement in aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million; (ii) subject to the achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, three additional term loan tranches totaling up to $115.0 million; and (iii) subject to approval by the lenders’ investment committee in their discretion, a final term loan tranche of up to $60.0 million. However, if we do not satisfy the specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones or the lenders do not otherwise approve additional borrowing, we may not have access to the remaining amounts under term loans. Other than the Loan Agreement with Hercules, we do not have any committed external source of funds. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, our stockholders’ ownership interests will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of common stockholders. Any debt financing or preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, selling or licensing our assets, making capital expenditures, declaring dividends or encumbering our assets to secure future indebtedness.
If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or other arrangements when needed or on terms acceptable to us, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or eliminate some or all of our research and development programs, pipeline expansion or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Our limited operating history may make it difficult to evaluate the success of our business to date and to assess our future viability.
We commenced operations in 2017, and our operations to date have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, conducting research and development activities and filing and prosecuting patent applications. Our product candidates are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development, and their risk of failure is high. We have not yet demonstrated our ability to complete the clinical development of any product candidate, obtain marketing approvals, manufacture product on a commercial scale or arrange for a third party to do so on our behalf, or conduct sales, marketing and distribution activities necessary for successful product commercialization. Consequently, any predictions about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a longer operating history or a history of successfully developing and commercializing products.
Our limited operating history may make it difficult to evaluate our technology and industry and predict our future performance. Our limited history as an operating company makes any assessment of our future success or viability subject to significant uncertainty. We will encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by clinical-stage companies in rapidly evolving fields. If we do not address these risks successfully, our business will suffer.
In addition, as our business grows, we may encounter unforeseen expenses, restrictions, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors. We are in the process of transitioning from a company focused on conducting development activities to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. We may not be successful in such a transition.
Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be subject to limitations.
We have a history of cumulative losses and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses in the foreseeable future; thus, we do not know whether or when we will generate taxable income necessary to utilize our net operating losses, or NOLs, or research and development tax credit carryforwards. As of December 31, 2024, we had federal NOL carryforwards of $315.7 million and state NOL carryforwards of $332.2 million.
In general, under Sections 382 and 383 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and corresponding provisions of state law, a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in its equity ownership by certain stockholders over a three-year period, is subject to limitations on its ability to utilize its pre-change NOLs and pre-change research and development tax credit carryforwards to offset post-change taxable income. We completed a Section 382 study of transactions in our stock through January 25, 2021 and concluded that we have experienced ownership changes since inception that we believe under Sections 382 and 383 of the Code will result in limitation on our ability to use certain pre-change NOLs and credits. With additional stock issuances during 2024 and the first and third quarters of 2025, the Company continues to analyze the impacts of Section 382. In the future, we may experience additional ownership changes as a result of equity offerings or other changes in the ownership of our stock, some of which are beyond our control. As a result, if, and to the extent that, we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our NOL carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards to offset such taxable income may be subject to limitations.
There is also a risk that due to regulatory changes, such as suspensions on the use of NOLs, or other unforeseen reasons, our existing NOLs could expire or otherwise become unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities. As described below in “Changes in tax laws or regulations or in their implementation or interpretation may adversely affect our business and financial condition,” legislation enacted in 2017, informally titled the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Tax Act, as amended by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, includes changes to U.S. federal tax rates and the rules governing NOL carryforwards that may significantly impact our ability to utilize our NOLs to offset taxable income in the future. In addition, state NOLs generated in one state cannot be used to offset income generated in another state. For these reasons, even if we attain profitability, we may be unable to use a material portion of our NOLs and other tax attributes.
Risks related to our indebtedness
Our Loan Agreement contains restrictive and financial covenants that may limit our operating flexibility.
On June 27, 2025, we entered into the Loan Agreement with Hercules providing for term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $275.0 million available as follows: (i) an initial term loan tranche funded on June 27, 2025 in aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million; (ii) subject to the achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, three additional term loan tranches totaling up to $115.0 million; and (iii) subject to approval by the lenders’ investment committee in their discretion, a final term loan tranche of up to $60.0 million. Our obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of our property, inclusive of intellectual property, subject to customary permitted liens and other exceptions set forth in the Loan Agreement.
The Loan Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, events of default and affirmative and negative covenants, including a minimum cash covenant, which we refer to as the Minimum Cash Covenant, requiring that we maintain specified levels of cash in accounts subject to a control agreement in favor of Hercules as the agent for the Loan Agreement, or the Qualified Cash, during the period commencing on April 1, 2026 (or January 1, 2027 if we have raised at least $350.0 million of cumulative net cash proceeds between June 4, 2025 and December 15, 2026 from the issuance of equity or indebtedness or payments under certain royalty or license transactions). The Minimum Cash Covenant will initially be set at 60% of the then outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement, is subject to adjustment and will not be tested at any time when our market capitalization is greater than $1.65 billion. We are also required to maintain minimum net product revenue from the sale of DYNE-101 and DYNE-251 starting nine months after FDA approval of DYNE-101 or DYNE-251, which we refer to as the Minimum Revenue Covenant, if the outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement exceeds $100.0 million. The Minimum Revenue Covenant will not be tested for any month to the extent that for each day during such month either (i) Qualified Cash is at least 100% of our outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement or (ii) our market capitalization is greater than $1.65 billion and Qualified Cash is at least 50% of our outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement. Certain negative covenants under the Loan Agreement limit our ability, among other things, to incur future debt, grant liens, make investments, make acquisitions, distribute dividends and sell assets, subject in each case to certain exceptions. Our business may be adversely affected by these restrictions on
our ability to operate our business. If we raise any additional debt financing, as permitted by the Loan Agreement, the terms of such additional indebtedness could further restrict our operating and financial flexibility.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow or sales to meet the Minimum Cash Covenant or the Minimum Revenue Covenant or pay the outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement when due. Furthermore, our future working capital, borrowings or equity financings could be unavailable to repay or refinance the amounts outstanding under the Loan Agreement. In the event of a liquidation of our business, we would be required to repay all outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement prior to the distribution of assets to unsecured creditors, and the holders of our common stock would receive a portion of any liquidation proceeds only if all of our creditors then existing, including the lenders under our Loan Agreement with Hercules, were first repaid in full.
Our failure to comply with the covenants or other terms of the Loan Agreement, including as a result of events beyond our control, could result in a default under the Loan Agreement that could materially and adversely affect our business.
We may be required to repay the outstanding indebtedness under the Loan Agreement if an event of default occurs under the Loan Agreement or, if applicable, any future debt facility. The Loan Agreement includes customary events of default, including payment defaults, breaches of covenants following any applicable cure period, the occurrence of certain events that could reasonably be expected to have a “material adverse effect” as set forth in the Loan Agreement and cross acceleration. We may not have enough available cash or be able to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings to repay such indebtedness at the time any such event of default occurs. In this case, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or commercialization efforts or grant to others rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected as a result of any of these events.
Risks related to discovery and development
Our product candidates are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development and we have not completed clinical development of any product candidate. We do not expect to complete the commercialization of any product candidate at least until 2027, if ever. If we are unable to identify and advance product candidates through preclinical studies and clinical trials, obtain marketing approval and ultimately commercialize them, or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.
We have focused our efforts to date on developing our platform, identifying our programs and conducting the clinical development of our product candidates. Our product candidates are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development, and we have not completed clinical development of any product candidate. Our ability to generate product revenue, which we do not expect will occur until at least 2027, if ever, will depend heavily on the successful development and eventual commercialization of our product candidates, which may never occur. We currently generate no revenue from sales of any product, and we may never be able to develop or commercialize a marketable product.
Commencing clinical trials in the United States is subject to acceptance by the FDA of an IND and finalizing the trial design based on discussions with the FDA and other regulatory authorities. In the event that the FDA requires us to complete additional preclinical studies or we are required to satisfy other FDA requests prior to commencing clinical trials, the start of any future clinical trials may be delayed. Even after we receive and incorporate guidance from the FDA, the FDA could disagree that we have satisfied their requirements to commence any clinical trial or change their position on the acceptability of our trial design or the clinical endpoints selected, which may require us to complete additional preclinical studies or clinical trials or impose stricter approval conditions than we currently expect.
For example, the FDA placed on clinical hold our IND application to initiate a clinical trial of DYNE-251 in patients with DMD amenable to skipping exon 51. We received a clinical hold letter from the FDA in January 2022 requesting additional clinical and non-clinical information for DYNE-251, which we submitted before the FDA ultimately cleared the IND in July 2022.
There are equivalent processes and risks applicable to clinical trial applications in other countries, including countries in the European Union.
Commercialization of any product candidates we may develop will require preclinical and clinical development; regulatory and marketing approval in any jurisdiction where we seek to commercialize such product candidates, such as the FDA and the European Medicines Agency, or EMA; manufacturing supply, capacity and expertise; a commercial organization;
and significant marketing efforts. The success of product candidates we may develop will depend on many factors, including the following:
•timely and successful completion of preclinical studies;
•effective INDs or comparable foreign applications that allow commencement of clinical trials or future clinical trials for any product candidates we may develop;
•successful enrollment and completion of clinical trials, including under the FDA’s current Good Clinical Practices, or cGCPs, current Good Laboratory Practices, or cGLPs, and any additional regulatory requirements from foreign regulatory authorities;
•positive results from our clinical trials or future clinical trials that support a finding of safety and effectiveness and an acceptable risk-benefit profile in the intended populations;
•receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;
•establishment of arrangements through our own facilities or with third-party manufacturers for clinical supply and, where applicable, commercial manufacturing capabilities;
•establishment, maintenance, defense and enforcement of patent, trademark, trade secret and other intellectual property protection or regulatory exclusivity for any product candidates we may develop;
•commercial launch of any product candidates we may develop, if approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others;
•acceptance of the benefits and use of our product candidates we may develop, including method of administration, if and when approved, by patients, the medical community and third-party payers;
•effective competition with other therapies;
•maintenance of a continued acceptable safety, tolerability and efficacy profile of any product candidates we may develop following approval; and
•establishment and maintenance of healthcare coverage and adequate reimbursement by payers.
If we do not succeed in one or more of these factors in a timely manner or at all, we could experience significant delays or an inability to successfully commercialize any product candidates we may develop, which would materially harm our business. If we are unable to advance our product candidates into and through clinical development, obtain regulatory approval and ultimately commercialize our product candidates, or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.
We may encounter substantial delays in commencement, enrollment or completion of our clinical trials and the data from the clinical trials of our product candidates may fail to demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities, which could prevent us from commercializing any product candidates on a timely basis, if at all.
The risk of failure in developing product candidates is high. It is impossible to predict when or if any product candidate would prove effective or safe in humans or will receive regulatory approval. Before obtaining marketing approval from regulatory authorities for the sale of any product candidate, we must complete preclinical development and then conduct extensive clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of product candidates in humans. We have not yet completed clinical development of any product candidate. Clinical trials may fail to demonstrate that our product candidates are safe for humans and effective for indicated uses. Even if the clinical trials are successful, changes in marketing approval policies during the development period, changes in or the enactment or promulgation of additional statutes, regulations or guidance or changes in regulatory review for each submitted product application may cause delays in the approval or rejection of an application.
Before we can commence clinical trials for a product candidate, we must complete extensive preclinical testing and studies that support our INDs and other regulatory filings. We cannot be certain of the timely identification of a product candidate or the completion or outcome of our preclinical testing and studies and cannot predict whether the FDA will accept our proposed clinical programs or whether the outcome of our preclinical testing and studies will ultimately support the further development of any product candidates. Conducting preclinical testing is a lengthy, time-consuming and expensive process. The length of time may vary substantially according to the type, complexity and novelty of the program, and often can be several years or more per program. As a result, we cannot be sure that we will be able to
submit INDs for our preclinical product candidates on the timelines we expect, if at all, and we cannot be sure that submission of INDs will result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to begin in the United States.
Furthermore, product candidates are subject to continued preclinical safety studies, which may be conducted concurrently with our clinical testing. The outcomes of these safety studies may delay the launch of or enrollment in clinical trials and could impact our ability to continue to conduct our clinical trials.
Clinical testing is expensive, is difficult to design and implement, can take many years to complete and is uncertain as to outcome. We cannot guarantee that any clinical trials will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, or at all. A failure of one or more clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing, which may result from a multitude of factors, including, but not limited to, flaws in trial design, dose selection issues, patient enrollment criteria and failure to demonstrate favorable safety or efficacy traits.
Other events that may prevent successful or timely completion of clinical development include:
•delays in reaching a consensus with regulatory authorities on trial design;
•delays in reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organizations, or CROs, and clinical trial sites;
•delays in opening clinical trial sites or obtaining required institutional review board, or IRB, or independent ethics committee approval, or the equivalent review groups for sites outside the United States, at each clinical trial site;
•imposition of a clinical hold by regulatory authorities as a result of a serious adverse event or after an inspection of our clinical trial operations or trial sites;
•negative or inconclusive results observed in clinical trials, including failure to demonstrate statistical significance, which could lead us, or cause regulators to require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon product development programs;
•failure by us, any CROs we engage or any other third parties to adhere to clinical trial requirements;
•failure to perform in accordance with the FDA’s cGCPs;
•failure by physicians to adhere to delivery protocols leading to variable results;
•delays in the testing, validation, manufacturing and delivery of any product candidates we may develop to the clinical sites, including delays by third parties with whom we have contracted to perform certain of those functions;
•failure of our third-party contractors to comply with regulatory requirements or to meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner, or at all;
•delays in having patients complete participation in a trial or return for post-treatment follow-up;
•clinical trial sites or patients dropping out of a trial;
•selection of clinical endpoints that require prolonged periods of clinical observation or analysis of the resulting data;
•occurrence of serious adverse events associated with the product candidate that are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits;
•occurrence of serious adverse events associated with a product candidate in development by another company, which are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits, and which may negatively impact the perception of our product due to a similarity in technology or approach;
•changes in regulatory requirements and guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols;
•changes in the legal or regulatory regimes domestically or internationally related to patient rights and privacy; or
•lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial.
Any inability to successfully complete preclinical studies and clinical trials could result in additional costs to us or impair our ability to generate revenues from product sales, regulatory and commercialization milestones and royalties. In addition, if we make manufacturing or formulation changes to any product candidates, we may need to conduct additional studies or trials to bridge our modified product candidates to earlier versions. Clinical trial delays also could shorten any
periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize any product candidates we may develop or allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do, which could impair our ability to successfully commercialize any product candidates we may develop and may harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Additionally, if the results of our clinical trials are inconclusive or if there are safety concerns or serious adverse events associated with any product candidates we may develop, we may:
•be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for product candidates, if at all;
•obtain approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired;
•obtain approval with labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings;
•be subject to changes in the way the product is administered;
•be required to perform additional clinical trials to support approval or be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements;
•have regulatory authorities withdraw, or suspend, their approval of the product or impose restrictions on its distribution in the form of a modified risk evaluation and mitigation strategy;
•be subject to the addition of labeling statements, such as warnings or contraindications;
•experience damage to our reputation.
In particular, each of the conditions for which we plan to develop product candidates are rare genetic diseases with limited patient pools from which to draw for clinical trials. Further, because it can be difficult to diagnose these diseases in the absence of a genetic screen, we may have difficulty finding patients who are eligible to participate in our studies. The eligibility criteria of our clinical trials will further limit the pool of available study participants. Additionally, the process of finding and diagnosing patients may prove costly. The treating physicians in our clinical trials may also use their medical discretion in advising patients enrolled in our clinical trials to withdraw from our studies to try alternative therapies.
In addition, if we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies governing clinical trials, our development plans may be impacted. For example, in December 2022, with the passage of Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act, or FDORA, Congress required sponsors to develop and submit a Diversity Action Plan, or DAP, for each phase 3 clinical trial or any other “pivotal study” of a new drug or biological product. These plans are meant to encourage the enrollment of more diverse patient populations in late-stage clinical trials of FDA-regulated products. In June 2024, as mandated by FDORA, the FDA issued draft guidance outlining the general requirements for the DAPs. Unlike most guidance documents issued by the FDA, the DAP guidance, when finalized, will have the force of law as FDORA specifically dictates that the form and manner for submission of DAPs are specified in FDA guidance.
On January 27, 2025, in response to an executive order issued by President Trump on January 21, 2025 on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the FDA removed the draft DAP guidance from its website. That action, along with similar actions by the Trump administration to remove many other healthcare webpages, is currently the subject of ongoing litigation. On July 3, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the administration’s actions to remove these webpages, including the draft DAP guidance, is unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act, or APA. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the restoration of many of these webpages. As of July 22, 2025, the draft DAP guidance had not been restored to the FDA’s website. Accordingly, in light of these ongoing actions, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the draft DAP guidance and how the FDA will consider DAPs in connection with its review of marketing applications.
The regulatory landscape related to clinical trials in the EU has also evolved. The EU Clinical Trials Regulation, or CTR, which was adopted in April 2014 and repeals the EU Clinical Trials Directive, became applicable on January 31, 2022. While the Clinical Trials Directive required a separate clinical trial application, or CTA, to be submitted in each member state, to both the competent national health authority and an independent ethics committee, the CTR introduces a centralized process and only requires the submission of a single application to all member states concerned. If we are not able to fulfill these new requirements, our ability to conduct clinical trials may be delayed or halted.
Our approach to the discovery and development of product candidates based on our FORCE platform is unproven, and we may not be successful in our efforts to identify, discover or develop potential product candidates.
The success of our business depends upon our ability to identify, develop and commercialize products based on our proprietary FORCE platform. Our therapeutics are constructed from three components: a proprietary Fab, a linker and a therapeutic payload that we attach to our Fab using the linker. The Fab is engineered to bind to TfR1 to enable targeted delivery of nucleic acids and other molecules to skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle.
All of our product candidates are still in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development, and our approach to treating muscle disease is unproven. Our research programs may fail to identify additional product candidates for clinical development for a number of reasons. Our research methodology may be unsuccessful in identifying additional potential product candidates and our potential product candidates may be shown to have harmful side effects in preclinical in vitro experiments or animal model studies. In addition, our product candidates may not show promising signals of therapeutic effect in such experiments or studies or they may have other characteristics that may make the product candidates impractical to manufacture, unmarketable or unlikely to receive marketing approval. Further, because all of our product candidates and programs are based on our FORCE platform, adverse developments with respect to one of our product candidates and programs may have a significant adverse impact on the actual or perceived likelihood of success and value of our other product candidates and programs.
In addition, we have not completed clinical development of any product candidate or successfully developed any product candidates, and our ability to identify and develop product candidates may never materialize. The process by which we identify and develop product candidates may fail to yield product candidates for clinical development for a number of reasons, including those discussed in these risk factors. In addition:
•we may not be able to assemble sufficient resources to acquire or discover product candidates;
•competitors may develop alternatives that render our product candidates obsolete or less attractive;
•product candidates we develop may nevertheless be covered by third parties’ patents or other intellectual property rights;
•product candidates may, on further study, be shown to have harmful side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that indicate that they are unlikely to be products that will receive marketing approval and achieve market acceptance;
•product candidates may not be effective in treating their targeted diseases or disorders;
•the market for a product candidate may change so that the continued development of that product candidate is no longer reasonable;
•a product candidate may not be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost, or at all; or
•the regulatory pathway for a product candidate may be too complex and difficult to navigate successfully or economically.
If we are unable to identify and discover suitable product candidates for clinical development, this would adversely impact our business strategy and our financial position and share price and could potentially cause us to cease operations.
The outcome of preclinical studies and data from earlier-stage clinical trials may not be predictive of final results or future results of clinical trials or the success of later clinical trials and data from clinical trials in one indication may not be predictive of results of clinical trials in other indications.
We have not completed clinical development of any product candidate. As a result, our belief in the capabilities of our platform, including our belief that we have demonstrated proof of concept of our FORCE platform, is based on early research, preclinical studies and data from clinical trials of our product candidates. However, the results of preclinical studies may not be predictive of the results of later preclinical studies or clinical trials, and the initial results of any clinical trials, such as initial results of ACHIEVE and DELIVER that we have reported, may not be predictive of the final results of those trials or the results of any later clinical trials, and may also not be predictive of results of clinical trials in other indications. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain marketing approval of their products. Further, certain of our hypotheses regarding the
potential benefits of our product candidates compared to alternative therapies and treatments are based on cross-trial comparisons of results that were not derived from head-to-head clinical trials. Such clinical trial data may not be directly comparable due to differences in study protocols, conditions and patient populations. Accordingly, these cross-trial comparisons may not be reliable predictors of the relative efficacy or other benefits of our product candidates compared to other product candidates that may have been approved previously.
Our clinical trials may not ultimately be successful or support further clinical development of any product candidates we may develop. There is a high failure rate for product candidates proceeding through clinical trials. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in clinical development even after achieving encouraging results in earlier studies. Any such setbacks in our clinical development could materially harm our business and results of operations.
If we experience delays or difficulties in the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, our ability to complete clinical trials may be adversely impacted.
Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical trials of any product candidates we may develop is critical to our success. We may not be able to identify, recruit and enroll a sufficient number of patients, or those with required or desired characteristics, to complete our clinical trials in a timely manner. Patient enrollment and trial completion is affected by factors including:
•perceived risks and benefits of novel unproven approaches;
•size of the patient population, in particular for rare diseases such as the diseases on which we are initially focused, and process for identifying patients;
•design of the trial protocol;
•eligibility and exclusion criteria;
•perceived risks and benefits of the product candidate under study;
•availability of competing therapies and clinical trials;
•severity of the disease or disorder under investigation;
•proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients;
•ability to obtain and maintain patient consent;
•risk that enrolled patients will drop out before completion of the trial;
•patient referral practices of physicians; and
•ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment.
Our inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients for clinical trials would result in significant delays and could require us to abandon one or more clinical trials altogether. Enrollment delays in these clinical trials may result in increased development costs for our product candidates, which would cause the value of our company to decline and limit our ability to obtain additional financing. Furthermore, we rely on and expect to continue to rely on CROs and clinical trial sites to ensure the proper and timely conduct of our clinical trials and we will have limited influence over their performance.
Even if we are able to enroll a sufficient number of patients for our clinical trials, we may have difficulty maintaining patients in our clinical trials. Many of the patients who end up receiving placebo may perceive that they are not receiving the product candidate being tested, and they may decide to withdraw from our clinical trials to pursue other alternative therapies rather than continue the trial with the perception that they are receiving placebo. If we have difficulty enrolling or maintaining a sufficient number of patients to conduct our clinical trials, we may need to delay, limit or terminate clinical trials, any of which would harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
If any product candidates we may develop cause undesirable side effects or have other unexpected adverse properties, such side effects or properties could delay or prevent us from conducting clinical trials or seeking or obtaining regulatory approval, limit the commercial potential of our product candidates or result in significant negative consequences to the extent such effects or adverse properties are observed following any marketing approval.
We have not completed clinical development of any product candidate. It is impossible to predict when or if any product candidates we may develop will prove safe in humans. There can be no assurance that our technologies will not cause undesirable side effects.
Although other oligonucleotide therapeutics have received regulatory approval, our approach for our DM1, DMD and FSHD programs, which combine oligonucleotides with a Fab, is a novel approach to oligonucleotide therapy. As a result, there is uncertainty as to the safety profile of product candidates we may develop compared to more well-established classes of therapies, or oligonucleotide therapeutics on their own. Moreover, there have been only a limited number of clinical trials involving the use of conjugated oligonucleotide therapeutics.
If any product candidates we develop are associated with serious adverse events, undesirable side effects or unexpected characteristics, we may need to abandon their development or limit development to certain uses or subpopulations in which the serious adverse events, undesirable side effects or other characteristics are less prevalent, less severe or more acceptable from a risk-benefit perspective, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Many product candidates that initially showed promise in early-stage testing have later been found to cause side effects that prevented further clinical development of the product candidates.
If in the future we are unable to demonstrate that such side effects were caused by factors other than our product candidates, the FDA, the EMA or other regulatory authorities could order us to cease further development of, or deny approval of, any product candidates for any or all targeted indications. Even if we are able to demonstrate that any future serious adverse events are not product-related and regulatory authorities do not order us to cease further development of our product candidates, such occurrences could affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trial. Moreover, if we elect, or are required, to delay, suspend or terminate any clinical trial of any product candidate, the commercial prospects of such product candidates may be harmed and our ability to generate product revenues from any of these product candidates may be delayed or eliminated. Any of these occurrences may harm our ability to develop other product candidates, and may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly.
We may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular program, product candidate or indication and fail to capitalize on programs, product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.
Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we focus on research programs and product candidates that we identify for specific indications among many potential options. As a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or for other indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential, or we may choose to focus our efforts and resources on a potential product candidate that ultimately proves to be unsuccessful. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities. Our spending on current and future research and development programs and product candidates for specific indications may not yield any commercially viable medicines. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate. Any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Clinical trial and product liability lawsuits against us could divert our resources, could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and could limit commercialization of our product candidates.
We will face an inherent risk of clinical trial and product liability exposure related to the testing of our product candidates in clinical trials, and we will face an even greater risk if we commercially sell any products that we may develop. While we currently have no product candidates that have been approved for commercial sale, the use of product candidates by us in clinical trials, and the sale of any approved products in the future, may expose us to liability claims. These claims might be made by patients that use the product, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies or others selling such products. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against claims that our product candidates or products caused injuries, we will incur substantial liabilities. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
•decreased demand for any product candidates we may develop;
•injury to our reputation and significant negative media attention;
•withdrawal of clinical trial participants;
•significant costs to defend any related litigation;
•substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients;
•reduced resources of our management to pursue our business strategy; and
•the inability to commercialize any product candidates we may develop.
We have increased our insurance coverage in countries in which we plan to conduct clinical trials and will need to increase our insurance coverage if we conduct clinical trials in additional countries or of additional product candidates or if we commence commercialization of any product candidates. Insurance coverage is increasingly expensive. We may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in an amount adequate to satisfy any liability that may arise. If a successful clinical trial or product liability claim or series of claims is brought against us for uninsured liabilities or in excess of insured liabilities, our assets may not be sufficient to cover such claims and our business operations could be impaired.
Risks related to our dependence on third parties
We rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties to conduct some or all aspects of our product manufacturing, or our research and preclinical and clinical testing, and these third parties may not perform satisfactorily.
We do not expect to independently conduct all aspects of our product manufacturing, or our research and preclinical and clinical testing. We currently rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties with respect to many of these items, including contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, for the manufacturing of any product candidates we test in preclinical or clinical development, as well as CROs for portions of our animal testing, preclinical research and for the conduct of our clinical trials. Any of these third parties may terminate their engagements with us at any time. If we need to enter into alternative arrangements, it could delay our product development activities.
Our reliance on these third parties for research and development activities will reduce our control over these activities but will not relieve us of our responsibility to ensure compliance with all required regulations and study protocols. For example, for product candidates that we develop and commercialize on our own, we will remain responsible for ensuring that each of our IND/CTA-enabling studies and clinical trials are conducted in accordance with the study plan and protocols. Moreover, the FDA requires us to comply with cGCPs for conducting, recording and reporting the results of clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of trial participants are protected. We also are required to register ongoing clinical trials and post the results of completed clinical trials on a government-sponsored database, ClinicalTrials.gov, within specified timeframes. Failure to do so can result in fines, adverse publicity and civil and criminal sanctions. If we or any of our CROs or other third parties, including trial sites, fail to comply with applicable cGCPs, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional clinical trials before approving our marketing applications. We cannot assure you that upon inspection by a given regulatory authority, such regulatory authority will determine that any of our clinical trials complies with cGCP regulations. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with product produced under conditions that comply with the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices. Our failure to comply with these regulations may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
Although we design the clinical trials for our product candidates, CROs conduct some or all of the clinical trials. As a result, many important aspects of our development programs, including their conduct and timing, will be outside of our direct control. Our reliance on third parties to conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials will also result in less direct control over the management of data developed through preclinical studies and clinical trials than would be the case if we were relying entirely upon our own staff. Communicating with outside parties can also be challenging, potentially leading to mistakes as well as difficulties in coordinating activities. Outside parties may:
•have staffing difficulties;
•fail to comply with contractual obligations;
•experience regulatory compliance issues;
•undergo changes in priorities or become financially distressed; or
•form relationships with other entities, some of which may be our competitors.
These factors may materially adversely affect the willingness or ability of third parties to conduct our preclinical studies and clinical trials and may subject us to unexpected cost increases that are beyond our control. In addition, any third parties conducting our clinical trials will not be our employees, and except for remedies available to us under our agreements with such third parties, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our clinical programs. If the CROs and other third parties do not perform preclinical studies and clinical trials in a satisfactory manner, if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols, or if they breach their obligations to us or fail to comply with regulatory requirements, the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of any product candidates we may develop may be delayed, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval and commercialize our product candidates or our development programs may be materially and irreversibly harmed. If we are unable to rely on preclinical and clinical data collected by our CROs and other third parties, we could be required to repeat, extend the duration of or increase the size of any preclinical studies or clinical trials we conduct and this could significantly delay commercialization and require greater expenditures.
If third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines or conduct our studies in accordance with regulatory requirements or our stated study plans and protocols, we will not be able to complete, or may be delayed in completing, the preclinical studies and clinical trials required to support future IND submissions and approval of any product candidates we may develop.
We currently depend on a small number of third-party suppliers for the manufacture of our Fab, the linkers and payloads. The loss of these or future third-party suppliers, or their inability to provide us with sufficient supply, could harm our business.
We do not own or operate manufacturing facilities and have no current plans to develop our own clinical or commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities. In the future, we may seek to establish our own manufacturing facility for the long-term commercial supply of any product candidates we may develop and which receive regulatory approval. We rely on a small number of third-party suppliers for the manufacture of our Fab, linkers and payloads. We expect to continue to depend on third-party suppliers for the manufacture of any product candidates that we evaluate in preclinical studies and clinical trials, as well as for commercial manufacture if those product candidates receive marketing approval. The facilities used by third-party manufacturers to manufacture our product candidates must be approved by the FDA and any comparable foreign regulatory authority pursuant to inspections that will be conducted after we submit a biologics license application, or BLA, to the FDA or any comparable filing to a foreign regulatory authority. We do not control the manufacturing process of, and are completely dependent on, third-party manufacturers for compliance with cGMP requirements for manufacture of products. If these third-party manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material that conforms to our specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority, they will not be able to secure and/or maintain regulatory approval for their manufacturing facilities.
Our product candidates consist of a proprietary Fab conjugated with a linker to a payload. Our Fab is manufactured by starting with cells which are stored in a cell bank. If we lose multiple cell banks, our manufacturing will be adversely impacted by the need to replace the cell banks.
In addition, we have no control over the ability of third-party manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. If the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority does not approve these facilities for the manufacture of any product candidates we may develop or if it withdraws any such approval in the future, we may need to find alternative manufacturing facilities, which would significantly impact our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for or market any product candidates we may develop, if approved. Our failure, or the failure of our third-party manufacturers, to comply with applicable regulations could result in sanctions being imposed on us, including clinical holds, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, seizures or recalls of product candidates or products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could significantly and adversely affect supplies of our product candidates. In addition, certain Chinese biotechnology companies and CMOs that supply us with drug components may become subject to trade restrictions, sanctions, and other regulatory requirements by the U.S. government, which could restrict or even prohibit our ability to work with such entities, thereby potentially disrupting the supply of material to us. Such disruption could have adverse effects on the development of our product candidates and our business operations.
We may also seek to eventually establish our own manufacturing facility for the long-term commercial supply of any product candidates we may develop and which receive regulatory approval. If we determine to establish our own manufacturing facility and manufacture our products on our own, we will need to obtain the resources and expertise in order to build such manufacturing capabilities and to conduct such manufacturing operations. In addition, our conduct of
such manufacturing operations will be subject to the extensive regulations and operational risks to which our third-party suppliers are subject. If we are not successful in building these capabilities or complying with the regulations or otherwise operating our manufacturing function, our commercial supply could be disrupted and our business could be materially harmed.
Our or a third party’s failure to execute on our manufacturing requirements on commercially reasonable terms and in compliance with cGMP could adversely affect our business in a number of ways, including:
•an inability to initiate preclinical studies or clinical trials of product candidates;
•delays in submitting regulatory applications, or receiving marketing approvals, for product candidates;
•subjecting third-party manufacturing facilities or our manufacturing facilities to additional inspections by regulatory authorities;
•requirements to cease development or to recall batches of product candidates; and
•in the event of approval to market and commercialize any product, an inability to meet commercial demands for the product.
We are party to manufacturing agreements with a number of third-party manufacturers. We may be unable to maintain these agreements or establish any additional agreements with third-party manufacturers or to do so on acceptable terms. Even if we are able to maintain or establish agreements with third-party manufacturers, reliance on third-party manufacturers entails additional risks, including:
•failure of third-party manufacturers to comply with regulatory requirements and maintain quality assurance;
•breach of the manufacturing agreement by the third party;
•failure to manufacture according to our specifications;
•failure to manufacture according to our schedule or at all;
•misappropriation of our proprietary information, including our trade secrets and know-how; and
•termination or nonrenewal of the agreement by the third party at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us.
We may compete with third parties for access to manufacturing facilities. There are a limited number of manufacturers that operate under cGMP regulations and that might be capable of manufacturing for us.
We do not currently have arrangements in place for redundant supply or a second source for all required raw materials. If our existing or future third-party manufacturers cannot perform as agreed, we may be required to replace such manufacturers and we may be unable to replace them on a timely basis or at all.
Additionally, if supply from one approved manufacturer is interrupted, there could be a significant disruption in supply. An alternative manufacturer would need to be qualified through a BLA supplement which could result in further delay. The regulatory agencies may also require additional studies or trials if a new manufacturer is relied upon for commercial production. Switching manufacturers may involve substantial costs and is likely to result in a delay in our desired clinical and commercial timelines.
These factors could cause the delay of clinical trials, regulatory submissions, required approvals or commercialization of our product candidates, cause us to incur higher costs and prevent us from commercializing our products successfully. Furthermore, if our suppliers fail to meet contractual requirements, and we are unable to secure one or more replacement suppliers capable of production at a substantially equivalent cost, our clinical trials may be delayed or we could lose potential revenue.
Our current and anticipated future dependence upon third parties for the manufacture of any product candidates we develop may adversely affect our development programs and our ability to commercialize any products that receive marketing approval on a timely and competitive basis.
We may from time to time be dependent on single-source suppliers for some of the components and materials used in the product candidates we may develop.
We may from time to time depend on single-source suppliers for some of the components and materials used in any product candidate we may develop. For instance, we currently use a single supplier for each of our Fab, linkers and payloads. We cannot ensure that these suppliers or service providers will remain in business, have sufficient capacity or supply to meet our needs or that they will not be purchased by one of our competitors or another company that is not interested in continuing to work with us. Our use of single-source suppliers of raw materials, components, key processes and finished goods could expose us to several risks, including disruptions in supply, price increases or late deliveries. There are, in general, relatively few alternative sources of supply for substitute components. These vendors may be unable or unwilling to meet our future demands for our clinical trials or commercial sale. Establishing additional or replacement suppliers for these components, materials and processes could take a substantial amount of time and it may be difficult to establish replacement suppliers who meet regulatory requirements. Any disruption in supply from any single-source supplier or service provider could lead to supply delays or interruptions which would damage our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
If we have to switch to a replacement supplier, the manufacture and delivery of any product candidates we may develop could be interrupted for an extended period, which could adversely affect our business. Establishing additional or replacement suppliers, if required, may not be accomplished quickly. If we are able to find a replacement supplier, the replacement supplier would need to be qualified and may require additional regulatory authority approval, which could result in further delay. While we seek to maintain adequate inventory of the single source components and materials used in our products, any interruption or delay in the supply of components or materials, or our inability to obtain components or materials from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could impair our ability to meet the demand for our investigational medicines.
We may enter into collaborations with third parties for the research, development and commercialization of certain of the product candidates we may develop. If any such collaborations are not successful, we may not be able to capitalize on the market potential of those product candidates.
We may seek third-party collaborators for the research, development and commercialization of certain of the product candidates we may develop. If we enter into any such arrangements with any third parties, we will likely have limited control over the amount and timing of resources that our collaborators dedicate to the development or commercialization of any product candidates we may seek to develop with them. Our ability to generate revenues from these arrangements will depend on our collaborators’ abilities to successfully perform the functions assigned to them in these arrangements. We cannot predict the success of any collaboration that we enter into.
Collaborations involving our research programs or any product candidates we may develop pose numerous risks to us, including the following:
•collaborators would have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to these collaborations;
•collaborators may not pursue development and commercialization of any product candidates we may develop or may elect not to continue or renew development or commercialization programs based on clinical trial results, changes in the collaborator’s strategic focus or available funding or external factors such as an acquisition that diverts resources or creates competing priorities;
•collaborators may delay programs, preclinical studies or clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for programs, preclinical studies or clinical trials, stop a preclinical study or clinical trial or abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials or require a new formulation of a product candidate for clinical testing;
•collaborators could independently develop, or develop with third parties, products that compete directly or indirectly with any product candidates we may develop if the collaborators believe that competitive products are more likely to be successfully developed or can be commercialized under terms that are more economically attractive than ours;
•collaborators may be acquired by a third party having competitive products or different priorities, causing the emphasis on our product development or commercialization program under such collaboration to be delayed, diminished or terminated;
•collaborators with marketing and distribution rights to one or more products may not commit sufficient resources to the marketing and distribution of such product or products;
•collaborators may not properly obtain, maintain, enforce or defend our intellectual property or proprietary rights or may use our proprietary information in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our proprietary information or expose us to potential litigation;
•disputes may arise between the collaborators and us that result in the delay or termination of the research, development, or commercialization of any product candidates we may develop or that result in costly litigation or arbitration that diverts management attention and resources;
•we may lose certain valuable rights under certain circumstances, including if we undergo a change of control;
•collaborations may be terminated and, if terminated, may result in a need for additional capital to pursue further development or commercialization of the applicable product candidates we may develop; and
•collaboration agreements may not lead to development or commercialization of product candidates in the most efficient manner or at all.
If our collaborations do not result in the successful development and commercialization of product candidates, or if one of our collaborators terminates its agreement with us, we may not receive any future research funding or milestone or royalty payments under the collaboration. If we do not receive the funding we expect under these agreements, our development of product candidates could be delayed, and we may need additional resources to develop product candidates. In addition, if one of our collaborators terminates its agreement with us, we may find it more difficult to find a suitable replacement collaborator or attract new collaborators, and our development programs may be delayed or the perception of us in the business and financial communities could be adversely affected. All of the risks relating to product development, regulatory approval and commercialization described in this “Risk Factors” section apply to the activities of our collaborators.
These relationships, or those like them, may require us to incur non-recurring and other charges, increase our near- and long-term expenditures, issue securities that dilute our existing stockholders, or disrupt our management and business. If we license rights to any product candidates we or our collaborators may develop, we may not be able to realize the benefit of such transactions if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing operations and company culture.
If conflicts arise between us and our potential collaborators, these parties may act in a manner adverse to us and could limit our ability to implement our strategies.
If conflicts arise between us and our potential collaborators, the other party may act in a manner adverse to us and could limit our ability to implement our strategies. Our collaborators may develop, either alone or with others, products in related fields that are competitive with the product candidates we may develop that are the subject of these collaborations with us. Competing products, either developed by the collaborators or to which the collaborators have rights, may result in the withdrawal of support for our product candidates.
Some of our future collaborators could also become our competitors. Our collaborators could develop competing products, preclude us from entering into collaborations with their competitors, fail to obtain timely regulatory approvals, terminate their agreements with us prematurely, fail to devote sufficient resources to the development and commercialization of products, or merge with or be acquired by a third party who may do any of these things. Any of these developments could harm our product development efforts.
If we are not able to establish collaborations on commercially reasonable terms, we may have to alter our development and commercialization plans.
Our research programs and product candidates and the potential commercialization of any product candidates we may develop will require substantial additional cash to fund expenses. For some of the product candidates we may develop, we may decide to collaborate with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for the development and potential commercialization of those product candidates.
We face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators, and the negotiation process is time-consuming and complex. Whether we reach a definitive agreement for a collaboration will depend, among other things, upon our assessment of the collaborator’s resources and expertise, the terms and conditions of the proposed collaboration, and the proposed collaborator’s evaluation of a number of factors. Those factors may include the design or results of clinical trials, the likelihood of approval by the FDA, the EMA or similar regulatory authorities outside the United States, the potential market for the subject product candidate, the costs and complexities of manufacturing and delivering such product
candidate to patients, the potential of competing products, the existence of uncertainty with respect to our ownership of technology, which can exist if there is a challenge to such ownership without regard to the merits of the challenge, and industry and market conditions generally. The collaborator may also consider alternative product candidates or technologies for similar indications that may be available to collaborate on and whether such a collaboration could be more attractive than the one with us.
Collaborations are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. In addition, there have been a significant number of recent business combinations among large pharmaceutical companies that have resulted in a reduced number of potential future collaborators.
We may not be able to negotiate collaborations on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to do so, we may have to curtail the development of the product candidate for which we are seeking to collaborate, reduce or delay its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its potential commercialization, reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our own expenditures on the development of the product candidate.
We are dependent on third-party vendors to provide certain licenses, products and services and our business and operations, including clinical trials, could be disrupted by any problems with our significant third-party vendors.
We engage a number of third-party suppliers and service providers to supply critical goods and services, such as contract research services, contract manufacturing services and IT services. Disruptions to the business, financial stability or operations of these suppliers and service providers, including due to strikes, labor disputes or other disruptions to the workforce or to their willingness and ability to produce or deliver such products or provide such services in a manner that satisfies the requirements put forth by the authorities, or in a manner that satisfies our own requirements, could affect our ability to develop and market our future product candidates on a timely basis. If these suppliers and service providers were unable or unwilling to continue to provide their products or services in the manner expected, or at all, we could encounter difficulty finding alternative suppliers. Even if we are able to secure appropriate alternative suppliers in a timely manner, costs for such products or services could increase significantly. Any of these events could adversely affect our results of operations and our business.
Risks related to commercialization
We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before us or more successfully than we do.
The development and commercialization of new drug products is highly competitive. We face competition with respect to any product candidates that we may develop from major pharmaceutical companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies worldwide. There are a number of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that currently market and sell products or are pursuing the development of products for the treatment of many of the disorders for which we are conducting research and development programs. Some of these competitive products and therapies are based on scientific approaches that are the same as or similar to our approach, and others are based on entirely different approaches. Potential competitors also include academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations that conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for research, development, manufacturing and commercialization.
Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than our product candidates or that would render any product candidates that we may develop obsolete or non-competitive. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market. Additionally, technologies developed by our competitors may render our product candidates uneconomical or obsolete, and we may not be successful in marketing any product candidates we may develop against competitors.
There are currently no approved therapies to treat the underlying cause of DM1. Product candidates currently in clinical development to treat DM1 include: tideglusib, a GSK3-ß inhibitor in late-stage clinical development by AMO Pharma Ltd. for children and adults with DM1; pitolisant, a selective histamine 3 receptor antagonist / inverse agonist being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial for non-muscular symptoms of DM1 by Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc.; delpacibart etedesiran (formerly AOC-1001), an antibody linked siRNA being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial by Avidity Biosciences, Inc., or Avidity; PGN-EDODM1, a peptide-linked PMO currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial by
Pepgen, Inc.; SRP-1003 (ARO-DM1), a peptide-linked siRNA being evaluated in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial in Australia and New Zealand by Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in collaboration with Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., or Sarepta; ATX-01, a lipophilic peptide conjugated anti-miR designed to target microRNA 23b currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial by ARTHEx Biotech S.L.; and VX-670, an endosomal escape vehicle technology with a CUG steric blocker oligonucleotide by Entrada Therapeutics, Inc. in collaboration with Vertex being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia.
Currently, patients with DMD are treated with corticosteroids to manage the inflammatory component of the disease. EMFLAZA (deflazacort) is an FDA-approved corticosteroid marketed by PTC Therapeutics, Inc., or PTC. A novel steroid, AGAMREE (vamorolone) was also recently approved by the FDA for treatment of DMD in patients 2 years of age and older and is marketed by Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Givinostat, an HDAC inhibitor, received FDA approval for treatment of DMD in patients 6 years of age and older and is marketed in the U.S. by ITF Therapeutics, LLC. In addition, there are four FDA-approved exon skipping drugs: EXONDYS 51 (eteplirsen), VYONDYS 53 (golodirsen) and AMONDYS 45 (casimersen), which are naked PMOs approved for the treatment of DMD patients amenable to exon 51, exon 53 and exon 45 skipping, respectively, and are marketed by Sarepta, and VILTEPSO (vitolarsen), a naked PMO approved for the treatment of DMD patients amenable to exon 53 skipping, which is marketed by Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd. Additionally, there is one FDA-approved gene therapy for patients with a confirmed mutation in the dystrophin gene, ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl), which is marketed by Sarepta. Companies focused on developing treatments for DMD that target dystrophin mechanisms, as does our DMD program, include Wave Life Sciences Ltd. with WVE-N531, a stereopure oligonucleotide being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial for patients amenable to exon 53 skipping; Entrada Therapeutics, Inc. with ENTR-601-44, an endosomal escape vehicle technology for the treatment of DMD patients amenable to exon 44 skipping currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial; BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. with BMN 351, an oligonucleotide therapy that targets dystrophin production which is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial and Avidity with AOC 1044, an antibody oligonucleotide conjugate that targets dystrophin production for patients amenable to exon 44 skipping being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. In addition, several companies are developing gene therapies to treat DMD, including Milo Biotechnology (AAV1-FS344), Sarepta (SRP-9001 and Galgt2 gene therapy program), Solid Biosciences Inc. (SGT-003), REGENXBIO Inc. (RGX-202), Genethon (GNT-0004), and Insmed (INS1201). Gene editing treatments that are in preclinical development are also being pursued by Vertex, Sarepta and GenAssist Ltd. We are also aware of several companies targeting non-dystrophin mechanisms for the treatment of DMD.
There are currently no therapies approved to treat FSHD. Products currently in development for FSHD include: ARO-DUX4, an siRNA therapy being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial and licensed by Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Sarepta; delpacibart braxlosiran (formerly AOC-1020), an antibody oligonucleotide conjugate being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial by Avidity and RO7204239, an anti-latent myostatin antibody by Roche Pharmaceuticals that is in a Phase 2 clinical trial. Additionally, satralizumab, an anti-IL-6 antibody, is being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial by the University Hospital of Nice and clenbuterol, a beta (2) agonist, is being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial by Springbok Analytics, Inc. Epicrispr Biotechnologies, Inc. recently announced that the FDA has cleared an IND application for EPI-321, an epigenetic therapy for the treatment of FSHD and plans to initiate a global Phase 1/2 clinical trial in 2025.
There are three currently approved medicines for Pompe disease, all of which are enzyme replacement therapies: Myozyme/Lumizyme (alglucosidase alfa) and Nexviazyme/Nexviadyme (avalglucosidase alfa) by Sanofi, and Pombiliti + Opfolda (cipaglucosidase alfa-atga in combination with miglustat) by Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. Beyond these marketed products, the Pompe clinical pipeline consists of early-stage product candidates that aim to address Pompe disease via alternative strategies. ACTUS-101, a gene therapy delivered to the liver for continuous, endogenous production of GAA currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial by AskBio, Inc. and AT-845, a muscle-targeted gene therapy currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial Astellas Pharma US, Inc. ABX-1100 by ARO Biotherapeutics Co. and MZE-001 by Maze Therapeutics, Inc. are substrate reduction therapies in Phase 1 clinical trials.
We also expect to compete more generally with other companies developing alternative scientific and technological approaches to the treatment of muscle diseases, including other companies working to develop conjugates with oligonucleotides for extra-hepatic delivery, including Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Aro Biotherapeutics, Inc., Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Avidity, Denali Therapeutics, Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S, DTx Pharma, Inc., Gennao Bio, Inc., Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sarepta, as well as gene therapy and gene editing approaches.
Many of the companies against which we compete or against which we may compete in the future have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Accordingly, our competitors may be more successful than us in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials,
obtaining approval for treatments and achieving widespread market acceptance, rendering our treatments obsolete or non-competitive.
Additionally, mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller and other early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.
If we successfully obtain approval for any product candidate, we will face competition based on many different factors, including the safety and effectiveness of our products, the ease with which our products can be administered and the extent to which patients accept relatively new routes of administration, the timing and scope of regulatory approvals for these products, the availability and cost of manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities, price, reimbursement coverage and patent position. Competing products could present superior treatment alternatives, including by being more effective, safer, more convenient, less expensive or marketed and sold more effectively than any products we may develop. Competitive products or technological approaches may make any products we develop, or our FORCE platform, obsolete or noncompetitive before we recover the expense of developing and commercializing our product candidates. If we are unable to compete effectively, our opportunity to generate revenue from the sale of our products we may develop, if approved, could be adversely affected.
Even if any product candidate that we may develop receives marketing approval, it may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payers and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.
If any product candidate we may develop receives marketing approval, it may nonetheless fail to gain sufficient market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payers and others in the medical community. Sales of medical products depend in part on the willingness of physicians to prescribe the treatment, which is likely to be based on a determination by these physicians that the products are safe, therapeutically effective and cost-effective. In addition, the inclusion or exclusion of products from treatment guidelines established by various physician groups and the viewpoints of influential physicians can affect the willingness of other physicians to prescribe the treatment. We cannot predict whether physicians, physicians’ organizations, hospitals, other healthcare providers, government agencies or private insurers will determine that our product is safe, therapeutically effective and cost-effective as compared with competing treatments. Efforts to educate the medical community and third-party payers on the benefits of any product candidates we may develop may require significant resources and may not be successful. If any product candidates we may develop do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate significant product revenues and we may not become profitable. The degree of market acceptance of any product candidates we may develop, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:
•the efficacy and safety of such product candidates as demonstrated in clinical trials;
•the potential advantages and limitations compared to alternative treatments;
•the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts;
•the cost of treatment in relation to alternative treatments;
•the clinical indications for which the product is approved;
•the convenience and ease of administration compared to alternative treatments;
•the willingness of the target patient population to try new therapies and of physicians to prescribe these therapies;
•the strength of marketing and distribution support;
•the timing of market introduction of competitive products;
•the availability of third-party coverage and adequate reimbursement;
•the prevalence and severity of any side effects; and
•any restrictions on the use of our products, if approved, together with other medications.
If the market opportunities for any product candidates we develop are smaller than we believe they are, our revenue may be adversely affected, and our business may suffer. Because the target patient populations of our programs are small, and the addressable patient population even smaller, we must be able to successfully identify patients and capture a significant market share to achieve profitability and growth.
We focus our research and product development on treatments for rare diseases. Given the small number of patients who have the diseases that we are targeting, it is critical to our ability to grow and become profitable that we continue to successfully identify patients with these rare diseases. Our projections of both the number of people who have these diseases, as well as the subset of people with these diseases who have the potential to benefit from treatment with any product candidates we may develop, are based on our beliefs and estimates. These estimates have been derived from a variety of sources, including the scientific literature, surveys of clinics, patient foundations or market research that we conducted, and may prove to be incorrect or contain errors. New studies may change the estimated incidence or prevalence of these diseases. The number of patients may turn out to be lower than expected. The effort to identify patients with diseases we seek to treat is in early stages, and we cannot accurately predict the number of patients for whom treatment might be possible. Additionally, the potentially addressable patient population for each of our product candidates may be limited or may not be amenable to treatment with our product candidates, and new patients may become increasingly difficult to identify or gain access to, which would adversely affect our results of operations and our business. Further, even if we obtain significant market share for our product candidates, because the potential target populations are very small, we may never achieve profitability despite obtaining such significant market share.
Our target patient populations are relatively small, and there is currently no standard of care treatment directed at some of our target indications, such as FSHD. As a result, the pricing and reimbursement of any product candidates we may develop, if approved, is uncertain, but must be adequate to support commercial infrastructure. If we are unable to obtain adequate levels of reimbursement, our ability to successfully market and sell product candidates will be adversely affected.
The pricing, insurance coverage and reimbursement status of newly approved products is uncertain. Failure to obtain or maintain adequate coverage and reimbursement for our future product candidates, if approved, could limit our ability to market those products and decrease our ability to generate product revenue.
The initial target platforms in our pipeline are indications with small patient populations. For product candidates that are designed to treat smaller patient populations to be commercially viable, the reimbursement for such product candidates must be higher, on a relative basis, to account for the lack of volume. Accordingly, we will need to implement a coverage and reimbursement strategy for any approved product candidate that accounts for the smaller potential market size. If we are unable to establish or sustain coverage and adequate reimbursement for any future product candidates from third-party payers, the adoption of those product candidates and sales revenue will be adversely affected, which, in turn, could adversely affect the ability to market or sell those product candidates, if approved.
We expect that coverage and reimbursement by third-party payers will be essential for most patients to be able to afford these treatments. Accordingly, sales of our future product candidates will depend substantially, both domestically and internationally, on the extent to which the costs of our product candidates will be paid by health maintenance, managed care, pharmacy benefit and similar healthcare management organizations, or will be reimbursed by government authorities, private health coverage insurers and other third-party payers. Even if coverage is provided, the approved reimbursement amount may not be high enough to allow us to establish or maintain pricing sufficient to realize a sufficient return on our investment.
There is significant uncertainty related to the insurance coverage and reimbursement of newly approved products. In the United States, the principal decisions about reimbursement by government authorities for new products are typically made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, since CMS decides whether and to what extent a new product will be covered and reimbursed under Medicare. Private payers tend to follow CMS to a substantial degree. However, one payer’s determination to provide coverage for a product does not assure that other payers will also provide coverage for the drug product. Further, a payer’s decision to provide coverage for a drug product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Reimbursement agencies in the European Union may be more conservative than CMS.
Outside the United States, international operations are generally subject to extensive governmental price controls and other market regulations, and we believe the increasing emphasis on cost-containment initiatives in Europe, Canada and other countries has and will continue to put pressure on the pricing and usage of therapeutics such as any product candidates we may develop. In many countries, particularly the countries of the European Union, the prices of medical
products are subject to varying price control mechanisms as part of national health systems. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a product. As a result, we might obtain marketing approval for a product in a particular country, but then be subject to price regulations that delay or might even prevent our commercial launch of the product, possibly for lengthy periods of time. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our product candidate to other available therapies. In general, the prices of products under such systems are substantially lower than in the United States. Other countries allow companies to fix their own prices for products but monitor and control company profits. Additional foreign price controls or other changes in pricing regulation could restrict the amount that we are able to charge for product candidates. Accordingly, in markets outside the United States, the reimbursement for any product candidates we may develop may be reduced compared with the United States and may be insufficient to generate commercially reasonable revenues and profits.
Moreover, increasing efforts by governmental and third-party payers, in the United States and internationally, to cap or reduce healthcare costs may cause such organizations to limit both coverage and level of reimbursement for new products approved and, as a result, they may not cover or provide adequate payment for any product candidates we may develop. We expect to experience pricing pressures in connection with the sale of any product candidates we may develop due to the trend toward managed healthcare, the increasing influence of certain third-party payers, such as health maintenance organizations, and additional legislative changes. The downward pressure on healthcare costs in general, particularly prescription drugs and surgical procedures and other treatments, has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products into the healthcare market. There have been instances in which third-party payers have refused to reimburse treatments for patients for whom the treatment is indicated in the FDA-approved product label. Even if we are successful in obtaining FDA approvals to commercialize our product candidates, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to secure reimbursement for all patients for whom treatment with our product candidates is indicated.
In addition to CMS and private payers, professional organizations such as the American Medical Association, can influence decisions about reimbursement for new products by determining standards for care. In addition, many private payers contract with commercial vendors who sell software that provide guidelines that attempt to limit utilization of, and therefore reimbursement for, certain products deemed to provide limited benefit to existing alternatives. Such organizations may set guidelines that limit reimbursement or utilization of our product candidates. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attained for one or more product candidates for which we or our collaborators receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future.
If we are unable to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities or enter into sales, marketing and distribution agreements with third parties, we may not be successful in commercializing any product candidates we may develop if and when they are approved.
We do not have a sales or marketing infrastructure and have no experience in the sale, marketing or distribution of pharmaceutical products. To achieve commercial success for any product for which we have obtained marketing approval, we will need to establish a sales, marketing and distribution organization, either ourselves or through collaborations or other arrangements with third parties.
In the future, we may build a sales and marketing infrastructure to market some of the product candidates we may develop if and when they are approved. There are risks involved with establishing our own sales, marketing and distribution capabilities. For example, recruiting and training a sales force is expensive and time-consuming and could delay any product launch. If the commercial launch of a product candidate for which we recruit a sales force and establish marketing capabilities is delayed or does not occur for any reason, we would have prematurely or unnecessarily incurred these commercialization expenses. These efforts may be costly, and our investment would be lost if we cannot retain or reposition our sales and marketing personnel.
Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize our products on our own include:
•our inability to recruit, train and retain adequate numbers of effective sales, marketing, coverage or reimbursement, customer service, medical affairs and other support personnel;
•the inability of sales personnel to educate adequate numbers of physicians on the benefits of any future products;
•the inability of reimbursement professionals to negotiate arrangements for formulary access, reimbursement and other acceptance by payers;
•the inability to price our products at a sufficient price point to ensure an adequate and attractive level of profitability;
•restricted or closed distribution channels that make it difficult to distribute our products to segments of the patient population;
•the lack of complementary products to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies with more extensive product lines; and
•unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization.
If we are unable to establish our own sales, marketing and distribution capabilities and we enter into arrangements with third parties to perform these services, our product revenues and our profitability, if any, are likely to be lower than if we were to market, sell and distribute any products that we develop ourselves. In addition, we may not be successful in entering into arrangements with third parties to sell, market and distribute any product candidates we may develop or may be unable to do so on terms that are acceptable to us. We likely will have little control over such third parties, and any of them may fail to devote the necessary resources and attention to sell and market our products effectively. If we do not establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities successfully, either on our own or in collaboration with third parties, we will not be successful in commercializing any product candidates we may develop.
The biologic product candidates for which we intend to seek approval may face competition sooner than anticipated.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Amendment, or the ACA, includes a subtitle called the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, or BPCIA, which created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed reference biological product. In December 2022, Congress clarified through FDORA that the FDA may approve multiple first interchangeable biosimilar biological products so long as the products are all approved on the first day on which such a product is approved as interchangeable with the reference product.
Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product may not be submitted to the FDA until four years following the date that the reference product was first licensed by the FDA. In addition, the approval of a biosimilar product may not be made effective by the FDA until 12 years from the date on which the reference product was first licensed. During this 12-year period of exclusivity, another company may still market a competing version of the reference product if the FDA approves a full BLA for the competing product containing the sponsor’s own preclinical data and data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency of their product.
There is a risk that any product candidates we may develop that are approved as a biological product under a BLA would not qualify for the 12-year period of exclusivity or that this exclusivity could be shortened due to U.S. congressional action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider any product candidates we may develop to be reference products for competing products, potentially creating the opportunity for generic competition sooner than anticipated. Other aspects of the BPCIA, some of which may impact the BPCIA exclusivity provisions, have also been the subject of recent litigation. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar, once approved, will be substituted for any one of our reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for nonbiological products is not yet clear, and will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors that are still developing.
Risks related to our intellectual property
If we or our licensors are unable to obtain, maintain and defend patent and other intellectual property protection for any product candidates or technology, or if the scope of the patent or other intellectual property protection obtained is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize products and technology similar or identical to ours, and our ability to successfully develop and commercialize any product candidates we may develop or our technology may be adversely affected due to such competition.
Our success depends in large part on our and our licensors’ ability to obtain and maintain patent and other intellectual property protection in the United States and other jurisdictions. We currently own and license patents and patent applications relating to our FORCE platform technology, including our Fabs, payloads and Fab-payload conjugates, as well as aspects of our manufacturing and methods of treatment. We and our licensors have sought, and will seek, to protect our proprietary position by filing additional patent applications in the United States and abroad related to certain technologies and our platform that are important to our business. However, while much of our patent portfolio is at an early stage, we own forty-four issued U.S. patents and four granted foreign patents, and exclusively license three issued
U.S. patents and one issued European patent. Moreover, there can be no assurance as to whether or when our patent applications will issue as granted patents. Our ability to stop third parties from making, using, selling, marketing, offering to sell, importing and commercializing any product candidates we may develop and our technology is dependent upon the extent to which we have rights under valid and enforceable patents and other intellectual property that cover our platform and technology. If we are unable to secure, maintain, defend and enforce patents and other intellectual property with respect to any product candidates we may develop and technology, it would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our pending Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, patent applications are not eligible to become issued patents until, among other things, we file a national stage patent application within 30 to 32 months, depending on the jurisdiction, from such application’s priority date in the jurisdictions in which we are seeking patent protection. Similarly, our pending provisional patent applications are not eligible to become issued patents until, among other things, we file a non-provisional patent application within 12 months of such provisional patent application’s filing date. If we do not timely file such national stage patent applications or non-provisional patent applications, we may lose our priority date with respect to such PCT or provisional patent applications, respectively, and any patent protection on the inventions disclosed in such PCT or provisional patent applications, respectively. While we and our licensors intend to timely file selected national stage and non-provisional patent applications relating to our PCT and provisional patent applications, respectively, we cannot predict whether any such patent applications will result in the issuance of patents. If we or our licensors do not successfully obtain issued patents, or, if the scope of any patent protection we or our licensors obtain is not sufficiently broad, we will be unable to prevent others from using any product candidates we may develop or our technology or from developing or commercializing technology and products similar or identical to ours or other competing products and technologies. Any failure to obtain or maintain patent protection with respect to our product candidates or our FORCE platform would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The patent prosecution process is expensive, time-consuming and complex, and we and our licensors may not be able to file, prosecute, maintain, defend, enforce or license all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. We and our licensors may not be able to obtain, maintain or defend patents and patent applications due to the subject matter claimed in such patents and patent applications being in the public domain. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection. Although we enter into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with parties who have access to confidential or patentable aspects of our research and development output, such as our employees, corporate collaborators, outside scientific collaborators, contract manufacturers, consultants, advisors and other third parties, any of these parties may breach these agreements and disclose such output before a patent application is filed, thereby jeopardizing our ability to seek patent protection. Consequently, we would not be able to prevent any third party from using any of our technology that is in the public domain to compete with any product candidates we may develop.
The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies generally is highly uncertain, involves complex legal and factual questions and has, in recent years, been the subject of much litigation. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability and commercial value of patent rights are highly uncertain. Our pending and future owned and licensed patent applications may not result in patents being issued which protect our technology or product candidates, effectively prevent others from commercializing competitive technologies and product or otherwise provide any competitive advantage. In fact, patent applications may not issue as patents at all, and even if such patent applications do issue as patents, they may not issue in a form, or with a scope of claims, that will provide us with any meaningful protection, prevent others from competing with us or otherwise provide us with any competitive advantage. In addition, the scope of claims of an issued patent can be reinterpreted after issuance, and changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other jurisdictions may diminish the value of our patent rights or narrow the scope of our patent protection. Furthermore, our competitors or other third parties may be able to circumvent our patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-infringing manner.
Third parties have developed technologies that may be related or competitive to our own technologies and product candidates and may have filed or may file patent applications, or may have obtained issued patents, claiming inventions that may overlap or conflict with those claimed in our owned or licensed patent applications or issued patents. We may not be aware of all third-party intellectual property rights potentially relating to our current and future product candidates and technology. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing or, in some cases, not at all. Therefore, we cannot know for certain whether the inventors of our owned or licensed patents and patent applications were the first to make the inventions claimed in any owned or licensed patents or pending patent applications, or that we were the first to file for patent protection of such inventions. If a third party can establish that we or our licensors were not
the first to make or the first to file for patent protection of such inventions, our owned or licensed patent applications may not issue as patents and even if issued, may be challenged and invalidated or ruled unenforceable.
The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability, and our owned and licensed patents may be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the United States and other jurisdictions. For example, we may be subject to a third-party submission of prior art to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, challenging the validity of one or more claims of our owned or licensed patents. Such submissions may also be made prior to a patent’s issuance, precluding the granting of a patent based on one of our owned or licensed pending patent applications. We may become involved in opposition, derivation, re-examination, inter partes review, post-grant review or interference proceedings and similar proceedings in foreign jurisdictions (for example, opposition proceedings) challenging our owned or licensed patent rights. In addition, a third party may claim that our owned or licensed patent rights are invalid or unenforceable in a litigation. An adverse result in any litigation or patent office proceeding could put one or more of our owned or licensed patents at risk of being invalidated, ruled unenforceable or interpreted narrowly and could allow third parties to commercialize products identical or similar to any product candidates we may develop and compete directly with us, without payment to us. Moreover, we, or one of our licensors, may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the USPTO to determine priority of invention or in post-grant challenge proceedings, such as oppositions in a foreign patent office, that challenge priority of invention or other features of patentability. Such challenges and proceedings may result in loss of patent rights, exclusivity or in patent claims being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and any product candidates we may develop. Such challenges and proceedings may also result in substantial cost and require significant time from our scientists and management, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to us. Moreover, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments related to such challenges and proceedings. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
Furthermore, patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, the expiration of a patent is generally 20 years from the earliest date of filing of the first non-provisional patent application to which the patent claims priority. Patent term adjustments and extensions may be available; however, the overall term of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting such product candidates might expire before or shortly after such product candidates are commercialized. As a result, our owned and licensed patent and other intellectual property rights may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to our technology and any product candidates we may develop. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our rights to develop and commercialize any product candidates are subject and may in the future be subject, in part, to the terms and conditions of licenses granted to us by third parties. If we fail to comply with our obligations under our current or future intellectual property license agreements or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our current or any future licensors, we could lose intellectual property rights that are important to our business.
We are and expect to continue to be reliant upon third-party licensors for certain patent and other intellectual property rights that are important or necessary to the development of our technology and product candidates. For example, we are party to a license from the University of Mons, or UMONS, to certain patent rights and know-how of UMONS. Our license agreement with UMONS imposes, and we expect that any future license agreement will impose, specified diligence, milestone payment, royalty, commercialization, development and other obligations on us and require us to meet development timelines, or to exercise diligent or commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize licensed products, in order to maintain the licenses.
Furthermore, our licensors have, or may in the future have, the right to terminate a license if we materially breach the agreement and fail to cure such breach within a specified period or in the event we undergo certain bankruptcy events. In spite of our best efforts, our current or any future licensors might conclude that we have materially breached our license agreements and might therefore terminate the license agreements. If our license agreements are terminated, we may lose our rights to develop and commercialize product candidates and technology, lose patent protection, experience significant delays in the development and commercialization of our product candidates and technology, and incur liability for damages. If these in-licenses are terminated, or if the underlying intellectual property fails to provide the intended exclusivity, our competitors or other third parties could have the freedom to seek regulatory approval of, and to market, products and technologies identical or competitive to ours and we may be required to cease our development and
commercialization of certain of our product candidates and technology. In addition, we may seek to obtain additional licenses from our licensors and, in connection with obtaining such licenses, we may agree to amend our existing licenses in a manner that may be more favorable to the licensors, including by agreeing to terms that could enable third parties, including our competitors, to receive licenses to a portion of the intellectual property that is subject to our existing licenses and to compete with any product candidates we may develop and our technology. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a licensing agreement, including:
•the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues;
•our or our licensors’ ability to obtain, maintain and defend intellectual property and to enforce intellectual property rights against third parties;
•the extent to which our technology, product candidates and processes infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the license agreement;
•the sublicensing of patent and other intellectual property rights under our license agreements;
•our diligence, development, regulatory, commercialization, financial or other obligations under the license agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;
•the inventorship and ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our current or future licensors and us and our partners; and
•the priority of invention of patented technology.
In addition, our license agreement with UMONS is, and future license agreements are likely to be, complex, and certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of any contract interpretation disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or increase what we believe to be our diligence, development, regulatory, commercialization, financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement. In addition, if disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed or any other dispute related to our license agreements prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current license agreements on commercially acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected product candidates and technology. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
License agreements we may enter into in the future may be non-exclusive. Accordingly, third parties may also obtain non-exclusive licenses from such licensors with respect to the intellectual property licensed to us under such license agreements. Accordingly, these license agreements may not provide us with exclusive rights to use such licensed patent and other intellectual property rights, or may not provide us with exclusive rights to use such patent and other intellectual property rights in all relevant fields of use and in all territories in which we may wish to develop or commercialize our technology and any product candidates we may develop in the future.
Moreover, some of our in-licensed patent and other intellectual property rights may in the future be subject to third party interests such as co-ownership. If we are unable to obtain an exclusive license to such third-party co-owners’ interest, in such patent and other intellectual property rights, such third-party co-owners may be able to license their rights to other third parties, including our competitors, and our competitors could market competing products and technology. We or our licensors may need the cooperation of any such co-owners of our licensed patent and other intellectual property rights in order to enforce them against third parties, and such cooperation may not be provided to us or our licensors.
Additionally, we may not have complete control over the preparation, filing, prosecution, maintenance, enforcement and defense of patents and patent applications that we license from third parties. It is possible that our licensors’ filing, prosecution and maintenance of the licensed patents and patent applications, enforcement of patents against infringers or defense of such patents against challenges of validity or claims of enforceability may be less vigorous than if we had conducted them ourselves, and accordingly, we cannot be certain that these patents and patent applications will be prepared, filed, prosecuted, maintained, enforced and defended in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business. If our licensors fail to file, prosecute, maintain, enforce and defend such patents and patent applications, or lose rights to those patents or patent applications, the rights we have licensed may be reduced or eliminated, our right to develop and commercialize any of our technology and any product candidates we may develop that are the subject of such licensed rights could be adversely affected and we may not be able to prevent competitors or other third parties from making, using and selling competing products.
Furthermore, our owned and in-licensed patent rights may be subject to a reservation of rights by one or more third parties. When new technologies are developed with government funding, in order to secure ownership of patent rights related to the technologies, the recipient of such funding is required to comply with certain government regulations, including timely disclosing the inventions claimed in such patent rights to the U.S. government and timely electing title to such inventions. A failure to meet these obligations may lead to a loss of rights or the unenforceability of relevant patents or patent applications. In addition, the U.S. government may have certain rights in such patent rights, including a non-exclusive license authorizing the U.S. government to use the invention or to have others use the invention on its behalf. If the U.S. government decides to exercise these rights, it is not required to engage us as its contractor in connection with doing so. The U.S. government’s rights may also permit it to disclose the funded inventions and technology, which may include our confidential information, to third parties and to exercise march-in rights to use or allow third parties to use the technology that was developed using U.S. government funding. The U.S. government may exercise its march-in rights if it determines that action is necessary because we or our licensors failed to achieve practical application of the U.S. government-funded technology, because action is necessary to alleviate health or safety needs, to meet requirements of federal regulations, or to give preference to U.S. industry. In addition, our rights in such U.S. government-funded inventions may be subject to certain requirements to manufacture any product candidates we may develop embodying such inventions in the United States. Any of the foregoing could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects significantly.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
Filing, prosecuting, maintaining, enforcing and defending patents and other intellectual property rights on our technology and any product candidates we may develop in all jurisdictions throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and accordingly, our intellectual property rights in some jurisdictions outside the United States could be less extensive than those in the United States. In some cases, we or our licensors may not be able to obtain patent or other intellectual property protection for certain technology and product candidates outside the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign jurisdictions do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. Consequently, we and our licensors may not be able to obtain issued patents or other intellectual property rights covering any product candidates we may develop and our technology in all jurisdictions outside the United States and, as a result, may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our and our licensors’ inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Third parties may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we and our licensors have not pursued and obtained patent or other intellectual property protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing, misappropriating or violating products to territories where we have patent or other intellectual property protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with any product candidates we may develop and our technology and our or our licensors’ patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Additionally, many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain jurisdictions, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology products, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement, misappropriation or other violation of our patent and other intellectual property rights or marketing of competing products in violation of our intellectual property rights generally. For example, an April 2019 report from the Office of the United States Trade Representative identified a number of countries, including China, Russia, Argentina, Chile and India, where challenges to the procurement and enforcement of patent rights have been reported. Proceedings to enforce our or our licensors’ patent and other intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patent and other intellectual property rights at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We or our licensors may not prevail in any lawsuits that we or our licensors initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.
As another example, the complexity and uncertainty of European patent laws have also increased in recent years. In Europe, a new unitary patent system went into effect on June 1, 2023, which significantly impacts European patents, including those granted before the introduction of such system. Under the unitary patent system, European applications have the option, upon grant of a patent, of becoming a Unitary Patent which will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Unitary Patent Court (UPC). Existing European patents and published applications may be opted out of the jurisdiction of the UPC
at any time before the end of a transitional period (at least seven years from the UPC Agreement which went into effect on June 1, 2023), unless an action has already been brought before the UPC in which case an opt-out request cannot be filed. As the UPC is a new court system, there is no precedent for the court, increasing the uncertainty of any litigation. Patents granted before the implementation of the UPC will have the option of opting out of the jurisdiction of the UPC and remaining as national patents in the UPC countries. Patents that remain under the jurisdiction of the UPC will be potentially vulnerable to a single UPC-based revocation challenge that, if successful, could invalidate the patent in all countries who are signatories to the UPC. We cannot predict with certainty the long-term effects of any potential changes.
Many jurisdictions have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many jurisdictions limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors. In these jurisdictions, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patents. If we or any of our licensors is forced to grant a license to third parties with respect to any patents relevant to our business, our competitive position may be impaired, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be adversely affected.
Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by government patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.
Periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees and various other government fees on patents and/or patent applications will be due to be paid to the USPTO and various government patent agencies outside of the United States over the lifetime of our owned or licensed patent rights. We rely on our outside counsel and other professionals or our licensing partners to pay these fees due to the USPTO and non-U.S. government patent agencies. The USPTO and various non-U.S. government patent agencies also require compliance with several procedural, documentary and other similar provisions during the patent application process. We rely on our outside counsel and other professionals to help us comply and we are also dependent on our licensors to take the necessary action to comply with these requirements with respect to our licensed intellectual property. In many cases, an inadvertent lapse can be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules. There are situations, however, in which non-compliance can result in abandonment, loss of priority or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, potential competitors might be able to enter the market and this circumstance could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We may not be successful in obtaining necessary rights to product candidates we may develop through acquisitions and in-licenses.
We currently have rights to certain intellectual property through licenses from third parties. Because our product candidates may require the use of additional intellectual property rights held by third parties, the growth of our business likely will depend, in part, on our ability to acquire, in-license or use these intellectual property rights. In addition, with respect to any patent or other intellectual property rights that we co-own with third parties, we may require exclusive licenses to such co-owners’ interest in such patent or other intellectual property rights. However, we may be unable to secure such licenses or otherwise acquire or in-license any intellectual property rights related to compositions, methods of use, processes or other components from third parties that we identify as necessary for any product candidates we may develop and our technology on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Even if we are able to in-license any such necessary intellectual property, it could be on non-exclusive terms, thereby giving our competitors and other third parties access to the same intellectual property licensed to us, and the applicable licensors could require us to make substantial licensing and royalty payments. The licensing or acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and several more established companies may pursue strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider attractive or necessary. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, capital resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities. In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. We also may be unable to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our investment.
We sometimes collaborate with non-profit and academic institutions to accelerate our preclinical research or development under written agreements with these institutions. Typically, these institutions provide us with an option to negotiate a license to any of the institution’s rights in technology resulting from the collaboration. Regardless of such option, we may be unable to negotiate a license within the specified timeframe or under terms that are acceptable to us. If we are unable to do so, the institution may offer the intellectual property rights to third parties, potentially blocking our ability to pursue our research program and develop and commercialize our product candidates.
If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to required third-party intellectual property rights or maintain the existing intellectual property rights we have licensed, we may be required to expend significant time and resources to redesign any product candidates we may develop or the methods for manufacturing them or to develop or license replacement technology, all of which may not be feasible on a technical or commercial basis. If we are unable to do so, we may be unable to develop or commercialize the affected product candidates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Issued patents covering any product candidates we may develop could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court or before administrative bodies in the United States or abroad.
Our owned and licensed patent rights may be subject to priority, validity, inventorship and enforceability disputes. If we or our licensors are unsuccessful in any of these proceedings, such patent rights may be narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, we may be required to obtain licenses from third parties, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or we may be required to cease the development, manufacture and commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
If we or one of our licensors initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering any of the product candidates we may develop or our technology, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering the product candidate or technology is invalid or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness, lack of written description or non-enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld information material to patentability from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. Third parties also may raise similar claims before administrative bodies in the United States or abroad, even outside the context of litigation. Such mechanisms include re-examination, interference proceedings, derivation proceedings, post grant review, inter partes review and equivalent proceedings such as opposition, invalidation and revocation proceedings in foreign jurisdictions. Such proceedings could result in the revocation or cancellation of or amendment to our patents in such a way that they no longer cover any product candidates we may develop or our technology or prevent third parties from competing with any product candidates we may develop or our technology. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art, of which the patent examiner and we or our licensing partners were unaware during prosecution. If a third party were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity or unenforceability, we could lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on one or more of our product candidates or technology. Such a loss of patent protection could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.
In addition to the protection afforded by patents, we rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary know-how that is not patentable or that we elect not to patent, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce and any other elements of our product candidate discovery and development processes that involve proprietary know-how, information or technology that is not covered by patents. However, trade secrets can be difficult to protect and some courts inside and outside the United States are less willing or unwilling to protect trade secrets. We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors, contractors and other parties who have access to such technology and processes. However, we may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our technical know-how or other trade secrets by the parties to these agreements. Monitoring unauthorized uses and disclosures is difficult, and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to protect our proprietary technologies will be effective. If any of the collaborators, scientific advisors, employees and consultants who are parties to these agreements breach or violate the terms of any of these agreements, we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach or violation. In such circumstances, third parties could potentially use our trade secrets to compete with any product candidates we may develop and our
technology. Additionally, we cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party that may have or has had access to our trade secrets or proprietary technology and processes.
We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our data and trade secrets by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems; however, such systems and security measures may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach.
In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors or other third parties. Competitors or third parties could purchase any product candidates we may develop or our technology 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 intellectual property rights or develop their own competitive technologies that fall outside the scope of our intellectual property rights. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor or other third party, we would have no right to prevent them, or those to whom they communicate such trade secrets, from using that technology or information to compete with us. If our trade secrets are not adequately protected so as to protect our market against competitors’ products, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.
Third parties may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could harm our business.
Our commercial success depends upon our ability and the ability of our collaborators to develop, manufacture, market and sell our product candidates and use our proprietary technologies without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of third parties. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by extensive and complex litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights. We may become party to, or be threatened with, adversarial proceedings or litigation in which third parties may assert infringement, misappropriation or other violation claims against us, alleging that any product candidates we may develop, manufacturing methods, formulations or administration methods are covered by their patents. Given the vast number of patents and other intellectual property in our field of technology, we cannot be certain or guarantee that we do not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate patents or other intellectual property. Other companies and institutions have filed, and continue to file, patent applications that may be related to our technology and, more broadly, to gene therapy and related manufacturing methods. Some of these patent applications have already been allowed or issued and others may issue in the future. Since this area is competitive and of strong interest to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, there will likely be additional patent applications filed and additional patents granted in the future, as well as additional research and development programs expected in the future. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third parties, exist in the fields in which we are pursuing development candidates. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that we may be subject to claims of infringement of the patent rights of third parties. If a patent holder believes the manufacture, use, sale or importation of any product candidates we may develop or our technology infringes its patent, the patent holder may sue us even if we have licensed other patent rights for our technology.
We are aware of certain patents in the United States and other jurisdictions owned by third parties that claim subject matter that relates to our program candidates and the FORCE platform. Although we believe that these patents are invalid and/or not infringed, such third parties may assert these patents against us in litigation in the United States or other jurisdictions. The outcome of any such litigation is uncertain and, even if we prevail, the costs of such litigation could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, result in disclosure of our trade secrets, distract key personnel from the continued development of our business, and adversely affect our ability to enter or maintain commercial relationships with collaborators, clients or customers. If we are unsuccessful in such litigation, we could be prevented from commercializing products or could be required to take licenses from such third parties which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
It is also possible that we have failed to identify relevant third-party patents or applications. Because patent applications can take many years to issue, may be confidential for 18 months or more after filing and can be revised before issuance, there may be applications now pending which may later result in issued patents that may be infringed by the manufacture, use, sale or importation of any product candidates we may develop or our technology and we may not be aware of such patents. Furthermore, applications filed before November 29, 2000 and certain applications filed after that date that will not be filed outside the United States may remain confidential until a patent issues. Moreover, it is difficult for industry participants, including us, to identify all third-party patent rights that may be relevant to any product candidates we may develop and our technologies because patent searching is imperfect due to differences in terminology among patents,
incomplete databases and the difficulty in assessing the meaning of patent claims. We may fail to identify relevant patents or patent applications or may identify pending patent applications of potential interest but incorrectly predict the likelihood that such patent applications may issue with claims of relevance to our technology. In addition, we may incorrectly conclude that a third-party patent is invalid, unenforceable or not infringed by our activities. Additionally, pending patent applications that have been published can, subject to certain limitations, be later amended in a manner that could cover our technologies, any product candidates we may develop or the use of any product candidates we may develop.
Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future, regardless of their merit. There is a risk that third parties may choose to engage in litigation with us to enforce or to otherwise assert their patent rights against us. Even if we believe such claims are without merit, a court of competent jurisdiction could hold that these third-party patents are valid, enforceable and infringed, which could adversely affect our ability to commercialize any product candidates we may develop or any other of our product candidates or technologies covered by the asserted third-party patents. In order to successfully challenge the validity of any such U.S. patent in federal court, we would need to overcome a presumption of validity. As this burden is a high one requiring us to present clear and convincing evidence as to the invalidity of any such U.S. patent claim, there is no assurance that a court of competent jurisdiction would invalidate the claims of any such U.S. patent. If we are found to infringe a third party’s valid and enforceable intellectual property rights, we could be required to obtain a license from such third party to continue developing, manufacturing and marketing any product candidates we may develop and our technology. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors and other third parties access to the same technologies licensed to us, and it could require us to make substantial licensing and royalty payments. We could be forced, including by court order, to cease developing, manufacturing and commercializing the infringing technology or product candidates. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed a patent or other intellectual property right. A finding of infringement could prevent us from manufacturing and commercializing any product candidates we may develop or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could harm our business. Claims that we have misappropriated the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties could have a similar negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Intellectual property litigation or other proceedings could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities.
Competitors may challenge the validity and enforceability of our patent rights or those of our licensing partners, infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate our or our licensors’ patent and other intellectual property rights, or we may be required to defend against claims of infringement, misappropriation or other violation. Litigation and other proceedings in connection with any of the foregoing claims can be unpredictable, expensive and time consuming. Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses and could distract our scientific, technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities.
We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors or other third parties may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources and more mature and developed intellectual property portfolios. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could adversely affect our ability to compete in the marketplace and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We may be subject to claims asserting that our employees, consultants or advisors have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their current or former employers or claims asserting ownership of what we regard as our own intellectual property.
Many of our employees, consultants or advisors are currently, or were previously, employed at universities or other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants and advisors do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that these individuals or we have used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such individual’s current or former employer. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary
damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or be required to obtain licenses to such intellectual property rights, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. An inability to incorporate such intellectual property rights would harm our business and may prevent us from successfully commercializing any product candidates we may develop or at all. In addition, we may lose personnel as a result of such claims and any such litigation or the threat thereof may adversely affect our ability to hire employees or contract with independent contractors. A loss of key personnel or their work product could hamper or prevent our ability to commercialize any product candidates we may develop and our technology, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to our scientific and management personnel.
In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who, in fact, conceives or develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. Moreover, even when we obtain agreements assigning intellectual property to us, the assignment of intellectual property rights may not be self-executing or the assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property. Furthermore, individuals executing agreements with us may have pre-existing or competing obligations to a third party, such as an academic institution, and thus an agreement with us may be ineffective in perfecting ownership of inventions developed by that individual. Disputes about the ownership of intellectual property that we own may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
In addition, we or our licensors may in the future be subject to claims by former employees, consultants or other third parties asserting an ownership right in our owned or licensed patent rights. An adverse determination in any such submission or proceeding may result in loss of exclusivity or freedom to operate or in patent claims being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, in whole or in part, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar technology and therapeutics, without payment to us, or could limit the duration of the patent protection covering our technology and any product candidates we may develop. Such challenges may also result in our inability to develop, manufacture or commercialize our technology and product candidates without infringing third-party patent rights. In addition, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our owned or licensed patent rights are threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize current or future technology and product candidates. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
If we do not obtain patent term extension and data exclusivity for any product candidates we may develop, our business may be harmed.
Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of any FDA marketing approval of any product candidates we may develop and our technology, one or more of our U.S. patents that we license or may own in the future may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent extension term of up to five years as compensation for patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. A patent term extension cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval, only one patent may be extended and only those claims covering the approved product, a method for using it or a method for manufacturing it may be extended. The application for the extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of the patent for which extension is sought. A patent that covers multiple products for which approval is sought can only be extended in connection with one of the approvals. However, we may not be granted an extension because of, for example, failing to exercise due diligence during the testing phase or regulatory review process, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded could be less than we request. In addition, to the extent we wish to pursue patent term extension based on a patent that we in-license from a third party, we would need the cooperation of that third party. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is less than we request, our competitors may obtain approval of competing products following our patent expiration, and our revenue could be reduced. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship or ownership of our patent and other intellectual property rights.
We or our licensors may be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in our owned or in-licensed patent rights, trade secrets or other intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor. For example, we or our licensors may have inventorship disputes arise from conflicting obligations of employees, consultants or others who are involved in developing our product candidates or technology. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and other claims challenging inventorship or our or our licensors’ ownership of our owned or in-licensed patent rights, trade secrets or other intellectual property. If we or our licensors fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of or right to use intellectual property that is important to any product candidates we may develop or our technology. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected, then we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest and our business may be adversely affected.
We have filed trademark applications with the USPTO for our corporate name, logos and tagline and have filed trademark applications in foreign jurisdictions. Our current and future trademark applications in the United States and other foreign jurisdictions may not be allowed or may be subsequently opposed. Once filed and registered, our trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks. As a means to enforce our trademark rights and prevent infringement, we may be required to file trademark claims against third parties or initiate trademark opposition proceedings. This can be expensive and time-consuming, particularly for a company of our size. We may not be able to protect our rights to these trademarks and trade names, which we need to build name recognition among potential partners or customers in our markets of interest. At times, third parties may adopt trade names or trademarks similar to ours, thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to market confusion. In addition, there could be potential trade name or trademark infringement claims brought by owners of other registered trademarks or trademarks that incorporate variations of our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names. Over the long term, if we are unable to establish name recognition based on our trademarks and trade names, then we may not be able to compete effectively and our business may be adversely affected. Our efforts to enforce or protect our proprietary rights related to trademarks, trade secrets, domain names, copyrights or other intellectual property may be ineffective and could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
Intellectual property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats.
The degree of future protection afforded by our intellectual property rights is uncertain because intellectual property rights have limitations and may not adequately protect our business or permit us to maintain our competitive advantage. For example:
•others may be able to make products that are similar to any product candidates we may develop but that are not covered by the intellectual property, including the claims of the patents, that we own or license currently or in the future;
•we, or our license partners or current or future collaborators, might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the issued patent or pending patent application that we own or license currently or in the future;
•we, or our license partners or current or future collaborators, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our or their inventions;
•others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating our owned or licensed intellectual property rights;
•it is possible that our or our licensors’ current or future pending patent applications will not lead to issued patents;
•issued patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable, including as a result of legal challenges by third parties;
•third parties might conduct research and development activities in jurisdictions where we do not have patent or other intellectual property rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets;
•we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable;
•the patents or other intellectual property rights of others may have an adverse effect on our business; and
•we may choose not to file a patent for certain trade secrets or know-how, and a third party may subsequently file a patent covering such intellectual property.
Should any of these events occur, they could significantly harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our reliance on third parties requires us to share our trade secrets, which increases the possibility that a competitor or other third party will discover our trade secrets or that our trade secrets will be misappropriated or disclosed.
Because we currently rely on certain third parties to manufacture all or part of our drug product and to perform quality testing, and because we collaborate with various organizations and academic institutions for the advancement of our product engine and pipeline, we must, at times, share our proprietary technology and confidential information, including trade secrets, with them. We seek to protect our proprietary technology, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements and, if applicable, material transfer agreements, collaborative research agreements, consulting agreements and other similar agreements with our collaborators, advisors, employees, consultants and contractors prior to beginning research or disclosing any proprietary information. These agreements typically limit the rights of the third parties to use or disclose our confidential information, including our trade secrets. Despite the contractual provisions employed when working with third parties, the need to share trade secrets and other confidential information increases the risk that such trade secrets become known by our competitors or other third parties, are inadvertently incorporated into the technology of others or are disclosed or used in violation of these agreements. Despite our efforts to protect our trade secrets, our competitors may discover our trade secrets, either through breach of these agreements, independent development or publication of information including our trade secrets by third parties. Given that our proprietary position is based, in part, on our know-how and trade secrets, a competitor’s or other third party’s discovery of our proprietary technology and confidential information or other unauthorized use or disclosure would impair our competitive position and may harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Risks related to regulatory approval and other regulatory and legal compliance matters
Even if we complete the necessary preclinical studies and clinical trials, the marketing approval process is expensive, time-consuming and uncertain and may prevent us from obtaining approvals for the commercialization of any product candidates we may develop. If we are not able to obtain, or if there are delays in obtaining, required regulatory approvals, we will not be able to commercialize, or will be delayed in commercializing, product candidates we may develop, and our ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired.
Any product candidates we may develop and the activities associated with their development and commercialization, including their design, testing, manufacture, safety, efficacy, recordkeeping, labeling, storage, approval, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution, are subject to comprehensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States and by comparable authorities in other countries. Failure to obtain marketing approval for a product candidate we may develop will prevent us from commercializing the product candidate in a given jurisdiction. We have not received approval to market any product candidates from regulatory authorities in any jurisdiction. We have no experience as a company in filing and supporting the applications necessary to gain marketing approvals and expect to rely on third-party CROs to assist us in this process. Securing regulatory approval requires the submission of extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to the various regulatory authorities for each therapeutic indication to establish the product candidate’s safety, purity and potency. Securing regulatory approval also requires the submission of information about the product manufacturing process to, and inspection of manufacturing facilities by, the relevant regulatory authority. Any product candidates we may develop may not be effective, may be only moderately effective or may prove to have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities, or other characteristics that may preclude our obtaining marketing approval or prevent or limit commercial use.
The process of obtaining marketing approvals, both in the United States and abroad, is expensive, may take many years if additional clinical trials are required, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon a variety of factors, including the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved. Of the large number of products in development, only a small percentage successfully complete the FDA or foreign regulatory approval processes and are commercialized. Even if any product candidates we may develop demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical trials, the
regulatory agencies may not complete their review processes in a timely manner, or we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval. Additional delays may result if an FDA Advisory Committee or other regulatory authority recommends non-approval or restrictions on approval. Changes in marketing approval policies during the development period, changes in or the enactment of additional statutes or regulations, or changes in regulatory review for each submitted product application, may cause delays in the approval or rejection of an application. The FDA and comparable authorities in other countries have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data is insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical, clinical or other studies. In addition, varying interpretations of the data obtained from preclinical and clinical testing could delay, limit or prevent marketing approval of a product candidate. If we experience delays in obtaining approval or if we fail to obtain approval of any product candidates we may develop, the commercial prospects for those product candidates may be harmed, and our ability to generate revenues will be materially impaired.
Further, under the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, a new drug application, or NDA, a BLA or supplement to an NDA or BLA for certain drugs and biological products must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the drug or biological product in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective, unless the sponsor receives a deferral or waiver from the FDA. A deferral may be granted for several reasons, including a finding that the product or therapeutic candidate is ready for approval for use in adults before pediatric trials are complete or that additional safety or effectiveness data needs to be collected before the pediatric trials begin. The applicable legislation in the EU also requires sponsors to either conduct clinical trials in a pediatric population in accordance with a Pediatric Investigation Plan approved by the Pediatric Committee of the EMA, or to obtain a waiver or deferral from the conduct of these studies by the Pediatric Committee of the EMA. For any of our product candidates for which we seek regulatory approval in the United States or the EU, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain a waiver or alternatively complete any required studies and other requirements in a timely manner, or at all, which could result in associated reputational harm and subject us to enforcement action.
Moreover, principal investigators for our future clinical trials may serve as scientific advisors or consultants to us and receive compensation in connection with such services. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to report some of these relationships to the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities. The FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority may conclude that a financial relationship between us and a principal investigator has created a conflict of interest or otherwise affected interpretation of the study. The FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authority may therefore question the integrity of the data generated at the applicable clinical trial site and the utility of the clinical trial itself may be jeopardized. This could result in a delay in approval, or rejection, of our marketing applications by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authority, as the case may be, and may ultimately lead to the denial of marketing approval of one or more of our product candidates.
Even if we eventually complete clinical testing and receive approval of a BLA or foreign marketing application for any product candidates, the FDA or the comparable foreign regulatory authority may grant approval or other marketing authorization contingent on the performance of costly additional clinical trials, including post-market clinical trials. The FDA or the comparable foreign regulatory authority also may approve or authorize for marketing a product candidate for a more limited indication or patient population that we originally request, and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authority may not approve or authorize the labeling that we believe is necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of a product candidate. Any of these restrictions or commitments could render an approved product not commercially viable, which would materially adversely impact our business and prospects.
In addition, we could be adversely affected by several significant administrative law cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024. In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, for example, the court overruled Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., which for 40 years required federal courts to defer to permissible agency interpretations of statutes that are silent or ambiguous on a particular topic. The U.S. Supreme Court stripped federal agencies of this presumptive deference and held that courts must exercise their independent judgment when deciding whether an agency, such as the FDA, acted within its statutory authority under the APA. Additionally, in Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the U.S. Supreme Court held that actions to challenge a federal regulation under the APA can be initiated within six years of the date of injury to the plaintiff, rather than the date the rule is finalized. The decision appears to give prospective plaintiffs a personal statute of limitations to challenge longstanding agency regulations. Another decision, Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy, overturned regulatory agencies' ability to impose civil penalties in administrative proceedings. These decisions could introduce additional uncertainty into the regulatory process and may result in additional legal challenges to actions taken by federal regulatory agencies, including the FDA and CMS, that we rely on. In addition to potential changes to regulations as a result of legal challenges, these decisions may result in increased regulatory uncertainty and delays and other impacts, any of which could adversely impact our business and operations.
In addition, our ability to develop and market new drug products may be impacted by litigation challenging the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. In April 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas invalidated the approval by the FDA of mifepristone, a drug product which was originally approved in 2000 and whose distribution is governed by various measures adopted under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy.
On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declined to order the removal of mifepristone from the market, finding that a challenge to the FDA’s initial approval in 2000 is barred by the statute of limitations. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit did hold that plaintiffs were likely to prevail in their claim that changes allowing for expanded access of mifepristone that FDA authorized in 2016 and 2021 were arbitrary and capricious and in violation of federal law. In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed and remanded that decision after unanimously finding that the plaintiffs did not have standing to bring this legal action against the FDA. On October 11, 2024, the Attorneys General of three states filed an amended complaint in the district court in Texas challenging the FDA's actions. On January 16, 2025, the district court in Texas agreed to allow these states to file an amended complaint and continue to pursue this challenge. Depending on the outcome of this litigation, if it continues, our ability to develop new drug product candidates and to maintain approval of any then-existing drug products could be at risk and could be delayed, undermined or subject to protracted litigation.
Finally, with the change in presidential administrations in 2025, there is substantial uncertainty as to how the new administration will seek to modify or revise the requirements and policies of the FDA and other regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over our product candidates. This uncertainty could present new challenges or potential opportunities as we navigate the clinical development and approval process for our product candidates.
We, or any future collaborator, may seek approval from the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities to use accelerated development pathways for our product candidates. If we, or any future collaborator, are not able to use such pathways, we, or they, may be required to conduct additional clinical trials beyond those that are contemplated, which would increase the expense of obtaining, and delay the receipt of, necessary marketing approvals, if we, or they, receive them at all. In addition, even if an accelerated approval pathway is available to us, or any future collaborator, it may not lead to expedited approval of our product candidates, or approval at all.
We are currently pursuing accelerated development pathways for our product candidates for DM1 and DMD. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, and implementing regulations, the FDA may grant accelerated approval to a product candidate to treat a serious or life-threatening condition that provides meaningful therapeutic benefit over available therapies, upon a determination that the product candidate has an effect on a surrogate endpoint or intermediate clinical endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. The FDA considers a clinical benefit to be a positive therapeutic effect that is clinically meaningful in the context of a given disease, such as irreversible morbidity or mortality. For the purposes of accelerated approval, a surrogate endpoint is a marker, such as a laboratory measurement, radiographic image, physical sign, or other measure that is thought to predict clinical benefit, but is not itself a measure of clinical benefit. An intermediate clinical endpoint is a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit measurement of a therapeutic effect that is considered reasonably likely to predict the clinical benefit of a drug. The accelerated approval pathway may be used in cases in which the advantage of a new drug over available therapy may not be a direct therapeutic advantage, but is a clinically important improvement from a patient and public
health perspective. Similar risks to those described above are also applicable to any application that we, or any future collaborator, may submit in jurisdictions outside of the United States. Prior to seeking such accelerated approval, we, or any future collaborator, may continue to seek feedback from the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory agencies and otherwise evaluate our, or their, ability to seek and receive such accelerated approval.
There can be no assurance that the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies will agree with our, or any future collaborators’, surrogate endpoints or intermediate clinical endpoints in any of our, or their, clinical trials, or that we, or future collaborator, will decide to pursue or submit any additional BLAs for accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval. Similarly, there can be no assurance that, after feedback from the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory agencies, we, or any future collaborator, will continue to pursue or apply for accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval. Furthermore, for any submission of an application for accelerated approval or application under another expedited regulatory designation, there can be no assurance that such submission or application will be accepted for filing or that any expedited development, review or approval will be granted on a timely basis, or at all.
Finally, there can be no assurance that we will satisfy all FDA requirements, including new provisions, that govern accelerated approval. For example, with passage of the FDORA in December 2022, Congress modified certain provisions governing accelerated approval of drug and biologic products. Specifically, the new legislation authorized the FDA to require a sponsor to have its confirmatory clinical trial underway before accelerated approval is awarded and to submit progress reports on its post-approval studies to FDA every six months until the study is completed. Moreover, FDORA established expedited procedures authorizing FDA to withdraw an accelerated approval if certain conditions are met, including where a required confirmatory study fails to verify and describe the predicted clinical benefit or where evidence demonstrates the product is not shown to be safe or effective under the conditions of use. The FDA may also use such procedures to withdraw an accelerated approval if a sponsor fails to conduct any required post-approval study of the product with due diligence, including with respect to “conditions specified by the Secretary.” The new procedures include the provision of due notice and an explanation for a proposed withdrawal, and opportunities for a meeting with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee and a written appeal, among other things. We will need to fully comply with these and other requirements in connection with the development and approval of any product candidate that qualifies for accelerated approval.
In March 2023, the FDA issued draft guidance that outlines its current thinking and approach to accelerated approval. The FDA indicated that the accelerated approval pathway is commonly used for approval of oncology drugs due to the serious and life-threatening nature of cancer. Although single-arm trials have been commonly used to support accelerated approval, a randomized controlled trial is the preferred approach as it provides a more robust efficacy and safety assessment and allows for direct comparisons to an available therapy. To that end, the FDA outlined considerations for designing, conducting, and analyzing data for trials intended to support accelerated approvals of oncology therapeutics. Subsequently, in December 2024 and January 2025, the FDA issued additional draft guidances relating to accelerated approval. While these guidances are currently only in draft form and will ultimately not be legally binding even when finalized, we will need to observe the FDA’s guidances closely to ensure that our products qualify for accelerated approval.
Accordingly, a failure to obtain and maintain accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval for our product candidates, or withdrawal of a product candidate, would result in a longer time period until commercialization of such product candidate, could increase the cost of development of such product candidate and could harm our competitive position in the marketplace.
Obtaining and maintaining marketing approval or commercialization of our product candidates in the United States does not mean that we will be successful in obtaining marketing approval of our product candidates in other jurisdictions. Failure to obtain marketing approval in foreign jurisdictions would prevent any product candidates we may develop from being marketed in such jurisdictions, which, in turn, would materially impair our ability to generate revenue.
In order to market and sell any product candidates we may develop in the European Union and many other foreign jurisdictions, we or our collaborators must obtain separate marketing approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and can involve additional testing. The time required to obtain approval may differ substantially from that required to obtain FDA approval. The regulatory approval process outside the United States generally includes all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. In addition, in many countries outside the United States, it is required that the product be approved for reimbursement before the product can be approved for sale in that country. We or these third parties may not obtain approvals from regulatory
authorities outside the United States on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one regulatory authority outside the United States does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions or by the FDA. We may not be able to file for marketing approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our medicines in any jurisdiction, which would materially impair our ability to generate revenue.
Further, we could face heightened risks with respect to obtaining marketing authorization in the United Kingdom as a result of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit.
The United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Single Market and EU Customs Union. As of January 1, 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, or the MHRA, is responsible for approving all medicinal products destined for the United Kingdom market (i.e., Great Britain and Northern Ireland). On April 28, 2025, the United Kingdom Parliament adopted amendments to improve and strengthen the United Kingdom’s clinical trials regulatory regime; they will take effect on April 28, 2026. These changes were needed since the current United Kingdom requirements are based upon the now-repealed EU Clinical Trials Directive (2001/20/EC), which has been replaced by the European Clinical Trials Regulation (Regulation EU No 536/2014). Since the United Kingdom left the European Union prior to the date on which the European Clinical Trials Regulation took effect, the United Kingdom’s legal framework did not benefit from the same revisions as occurred in the European Union.
At the same time, a new international recognition procedure, or IRP, will apply, which intends to facilitate approval of pharmaceutical products in the UK. The IRP is open to applicants that have already received an authorization for the same product from one of the MHRA’s specified Reference Regulators, or RRs. The RRs notably include EMA and regulators in the EU/European Economic Area member states for approvals in the EU centralized procedure and mutual recognition procedure as well as the FDA (for product approvals granted in the U.S.). However, the concrete functioning of the IRP is currently unclear. Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any marketing approvals may force us or our collaborators to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the United Kingdom for our product candidates, which could significantly and materially harm our business.
In addition, foreign regulatory authorities may change their approval policies and new regulations may be enacted. For instance, the EU pharmaceutical legislation is currently undergoing a complete review process, in the context of the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe initiative, launched by the European Commission in November 2020. The European Commission’s proposal for revision of several legislative instruments related to medicinal products, which may reduce the duration of regulatory data protection and exclusivity periods for orphan drugs, and revise the eligibility for expedited pathways in addition to other changes, was published in April 2023 and the European Parliament has requested several amendments. In June 2025, after almost two years of negotiations among the European Union Member States, the Council of the European Union adopted its position on the proposed overhaul of the European Union general pharmaceutical legislative framework, which is known as the new Pharma Package. This proposal will now be the subject of additional negotiations and technical meetings, with the objective of reaching agreement on issues such as the regulatory data protection framework and the access and supply obligations. The revisions may have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry and our business in the long term.
Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any marketing approvals, as a result of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement or otherwise, would prevent us from commercializing any product candidates in the United Kingdom and/or the European Union and restrict our ability to generate revenue and achieve and sustain profitability. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the United Kingdom and/or the European Union for any product candidates we may develop, which could significantly and materially harm our business.
We are conducting and intend to conduct certain of our clinical trials globally. However, the FDA and other foreign equivalents may not accept data from such trials, in which case our development plans will be delayed, which could materially harm our business.
We are conducting and intend to continue conducting certain of our clinical trials globally. The acceptance by the FDA or other regulatory authorities of study data from clinical trials conducted outside their jurisdiction may be subject to certain conditions or may not be accepted at all. In cases where data from foreign clinical trials are intended to serve as the sole basis for marketing approval in the United States, the FDA will generally not approve the application on the basis of foreign data alone unless (i) the data are applicable to the U.S. population and U.S. medical practice; (ii) the trials were performed by clinical investigators of recognized competence and pursuant to cGCP regulations; and (iii) the data may be
considered valid without the need for an on-site inspection by the FDA, or if the FDA considers such inspection to be necessary, the FDA is able to validate the data through an on-site inspection or other appropriate means.
In addition, even where the foreign study data are not intended to serve as the sole basis for approval, the FDA will not accept the data as support for an application for marketing approval unless the clinical trial is well-designed and well-conducted in accordance with cGCP requirements and the FDA is able to validate the data from the trial through an onsite inspection if deemed necessary. Many foreign regulatory authorities have similar approval requirements. In addition, such foreign trials would be subject to the applicable local laws of the foreign jurisdictions where the trials are conducted. There can be no assurance that the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority will accept data from trials conducted outside of the United States or the applicable jurisdiction. If the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority does not accept such data, it would result in the need for additional trials, which could be costly and time-consuming, and which may result in current or future product candidates that we may develop not receiving approval for commercialization in the applicable jurisdiction.
Conducting clinical trials outside the United States also exposes us to additional risks, including risks associated with additional foreign regulatory requirements; foreign exchange fluctuations; compliance with foreign manufacturing, customs, shipment and storage requirements; cultural differences in medical practice and clinical research; diminished protection of intellectual property in some countries; and interruptions or delays in our trials resulting from geopolitical events, such as war or terrorism.
Fast Track designation by the FDA may not actually lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process and does not assure FDA approval of any product candidates we may develop.
If any product candidate we may develop is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition and the product candidate demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical need for this condition, we may apply for FDA Fast Track designation. In October 2022, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for DYNE-251, and in January 2025, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for DYNE-101. However, a Fast Track designation does not ensure that the product candidate will receive marketing approval or that approval will be granted within any particular timeframe. As a result, while we may seek and receive Fast Track designation for any product candidates we may develop, we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. In addition, the FDA may withdraw Fast Track designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program. Fast Track designation alone does not guarantee qualification for the FDA’s priority review procedures.
Breakthrough or RMAT therapy designation by the FDA may not lead to a faster regulatory review or approval process and, in any event, does not assure FDA approval of any product candidates we may develop.
If any product candidate we may develop is intended, either alone or in combination with one or more other products, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development, the sponsor may apply for FDA breakthrough designation or a regenerative medicine advanced therapy, or RMAT, designation. In June 2025, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to DYNE-101 for the treatment of DM1. However, neither a breakthrough designation nor an RMAT designation ensures that the product candidate will receive marketing approval or that approval will be granted within any particular timeframe. As a result, while we may seek and receive breakthrough or RMAT designation for any product candidates we may develop, we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. In addition, the FDA may withdraw breakthrough or RMAT designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program. Neither breakthrough nor RMAT designation alone guarantees qualification for the FDA’s priority review procedures.
Priority review designation by the FDA may not lead to a faster regulatory review or approval process and, in any event, does not assure FDA approval of any product candidates we may develop.
If the FDA determines that a product candidate we may develop offers major advances in treatment or provides a treatment where no adequate therapy exists, the FDA may designate the product candidate for priority review. A priority review designation means that the goal for the FDA to review an application is six months, rather than the standard review period of ten months. We may request priority review for any product candidates we may develop. The FDA has broad discretion with respect to whether or not to grant priority review status to a product candidate, so even if we believe a particular product candidate we may develop is eligible for such designation or status, the FDA may decide not to grant it. Moreover, a priority review designation does not necessarily mean a faster regulatory review process or necessarily
confer any advantage with respect to approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. Receiving priority review from the FDA does not guarantee approval within the six-month review cycle or thereafter.
On June 17, 2025, the FDA announced the creation of a new voucher program to expedite the development and approval of new drug products. Vouchers issued under the new program, which is known as the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher, or CNPV, Program, may reportedly be redeemed by sponsors to shorten the review time of a BLA from approximately 10 to 12 months to 1 to 2 months. The FDA has indicated that the new CNPV process will convene experts from the FDA’s offices for a team-based review rather than using the standard review system of a drug application being sent to numerous FDA offices. Clinical information will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians and scientists who will pre-review the submitted information and convene for a 1-day meeting. Vouchers under this program will reportedly be given to companies aligned with U.S. national priorities.
We may not be able to obtain orphan drug exclusivity for product candidates we may develop, and even if we do, that exclusivity may not prevent regulatory authorities from approving other competing products.
In March 2023 and April 2025, respectively, the EMA and FDA granted orphan drug designation to DYNE-251 for the treatment of DMD in patients amenable to exon 51 skipping. In May and September 2023, respectively, the EMA and FDA granted orphan drug designation to DYNE-101 for the treatment of DM1. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a product as an orphan drug if it is a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition. A similar regulatory scheme governs approval of orphan products by the EMA in the European Union. Generally, if a product candidate with an orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first marketing approval for the indication for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to a period of marketing exclusivity, which precludes the FDA or the EMA from approving another marketing application for the same product for the same therapeutic indication for that time period. The applicable period is seven years in the United States and ten years in the European Union. The exclusivity period in the European Union can be reduced to six years if a product no longer meets the criteria for orphan drug designation, in particular if the product is sufficiently profitable so that market exclusivity is no longer justified.
In order for the FDA to grant orphan drug exclusivity to one of our products, the agency must find that the product is indicated for the treatment of a condition or disease with a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals annually in the United States. The FDA may conclude that the condition or disease for which we seek orphan drug exclusivity does not meet this standard. Even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a product, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because different products can be approved for the same condition. In particular, the concept of what constitutes the “same drug” for purposes of orphan drug exclusivity remains in flux in the context of gene therapies, and the FDA has issued recent draft guidance suggesting that it would not consider two genetic medicine products to be different drugs solely based on minor differences in the transgenes or vectors. In addition, even after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve the same product for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later product is clinically superior in that it is shown to be safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care. Orphan drug exclusivity may also be lost if the FDA or EMA determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantity of the product to meet the needs of the patients with the rare disease or condition.
In 2017, the U.S. Congress passed the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, or the FDARA. FDARA, among other things, codified the FDA’s pre-existing regulatory interpretation, to require that a drug sponsor demonstrate the clinical superiority of an orphan drug that is otherwise the same as a previously approved drug for the same rare disease in order to receive orphan drug exclusivity. The new legislation reverses prior precedent holding that the Orphan Drug Act unambiguously requires that the FDA recognize the orphan exclusivity period regardless of a showing of clinical superiority.
The FDA and the U.S. Congress may further reevaluate the Orphan Drug Act and its regulations and policies. This may be particularly true in light of a decision from the Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in September 2021 finding that, for the purpose of determining the scope of exclusivity, the term “same disease or condition” means the designated “rare disease or condition” and could not be interpreted by the FDA to mean the “indication or use.” Thus, the court concluded, orphan drug exclusivity applies to the entire designated disease or condition rather than the “indication or use.” Although there have been legislative proposals to overrule this decision, they have not been enacted into law. More recently however, in February 2025, a federal district court in Washington, D.C. fully embraced the reasoning in this decision in another decision challenging the scope of orphan drug exclusivity. On April 17, 2025, the FDA appealed this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The implications of this decision, and its impact on the FDA’s implementation of the Orphan Drug Act, are unclear at this point.
Even if we, or any collaborators we may have, obtain marketing approvals for any product candidates we may develop, the terms of approvals and ongoing regulation of our products could require the substantial expenditure of resources and may limit how we, or they, manufacture and market our products, which could materially impair our ability to generate revenue.
Any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval, if ever, along with the manufacturing processes, post-approval clinical data, labeling, advertising and promotional activities for such medicine, will be subject to continual requirements of and review by the FDA and other regulatory authorities. These requirements include submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration and listing requirements, cGMP requirements relating to quality control, quality assurance and corresponding maintenance of records and documents, and requirements regarding the distribution of samples to physicians and recordkeeping. For example, the holder of an approved BLA is obligated to monitor and report adverse events and any failure of a product to meet the specifications in the BLA. The FDA typically advises that patients treated with genetic medicine undergo follow-up observations for potential adverse events for a 15-year period. The holder of an approved BLA must also submit new or supplemental applications and obtain FDA approval for certain changes to the approved product, product labeling or manufacturing process. Even if marketing approval of a product candidate is granted, the approval may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which the medicine may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for costly post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of the medicine. Similar restrictions apply to the approval of products in the European Union.
Accordingly, assuming we, or any third parties we may collaborate with, receive marketing approval for one or more product candidates we may develop, we, and such collaborators, and our and their contract manufacturers will continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production, product surveillance and quality control. If we and such collaborators are not able to comply with post-approval regulatory requirements, we and such collaborators could have the marketing approvals for our products withdrawn by regulatory authorities and our, or such collaborators’, ability to market any future products could be limited, which could adversely affect our ability to achieve or sustain profitability. Further, the cost of compliance with post-approval regulations may have a negative effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects.
If we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements following approval of any product candidates we may develop, a regulatory agency may:
•issue a warning letter asserting that we are in violation of the law;
•seek an injunction or impose civil or criminal penalties or monetary fines;
•suspend or withdraw regulatory approval;
•suspend any ongoing clinical trials;
•refuse to approve a pending BLA or supplements to a BLA submitted by us;
•refuse to allow us to enter into supply contracts, including government contracts.
Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response and could generate negative publicity. The occurrence of any event or penalty described above may inhibit our ability to commercialize any product candidates we may develop and generate revenues.
Any product candidate we may develop for which we obtain marketing approval will be subject to restrictions, such as the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, or may need to be withdrawn from the market, and we may be subject to substantial penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or if we experience unanticipated problems with our medicines, when and if any of them are approved.
The FDA and other regulatory agencies closely regulate the post-approval marketing and promotion of medicines to ensure that they are marketed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling. The FDA and other regulatory agencies impose stringent restrictions on manufacturers’ communications regarding off-label use. In particular, a product may not be promoted for uses that are not approved by the FDA or such other regulatory agencies as reflected in the product’s approved labeling. If we do not market our medicines for their approved indications, we may be subject to enforcement action for off-label marketing by the FDA and other federal and state enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice. Violation of the Federal Food, Product, and Cosmetic
Act and other statutes, including the False Claims Act, relating to the promotion and advertising of prescription products may also lead to investigations or allegations of violations of federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and state consumer protection laws. The federal government has levied large civil and criminal fines against companies for alleged improper promotion of off-label use and has enjoined several companies from engaging in off-label promotion. The FDA has also requested that companies enter into consent decrees or permanent injunctions under which specified promotional conduct is changed or curtailed. If we cannot successfully manage the promotion of our product candidates, if approved, we could become subject to significant liability, which would materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Notwithstanding the regulatory restrictions on off-label promotion, the FDA and other regulatory authorities allow companies to engage in truthful, non-misleading, and non-promotional scientific communications concerning their products in certain circumstances. For example, in January 2025, the FDA published final guidance outlining the agency’s non-binding policies governing the distribution of scientific information on unapproved uses to healthcare providers. This final guidance calls for such communications to be truthful, non-misleading, factual, and unbiased and include all information necessary for healthcare providers to interpret the strengths and weaknesses and validity and utility of the information about the unapproved use. If a company engages in such communications consistent with the guidance's recommendations, the FDA indicated that it will not treat such communications as evidence of unlawful promotion of a new intended use for the approved product. In addition, under some recent guidance from the FDA and the Pre-Approval Information Exchange Act, signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, companies may also promote information that is consistent with the prescribing information and proactively speak to formulary committee members of payors regarding data for an unapproved drug or unapproved uses of an approved drug. We may engage in these discussions and communicate with healthcare providers, payors and other constituencies in compliance with all applicable laws, regulatory guidance and industry best practices. We will need to carefully navigate the FDA’s various regulations, guidance and policies, along with recently enacted legislation, to ensure compliance with restrictions governing promotion of our products.
In addition, later discovery of previously unknown problems with our medicines, manufacturers or manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may yield various results, including:
•restrictions on such medicines, manufacturers or manufacturing processes;
•restrictions on the labeling or marketing of a medicine;
•restrictions on the distribution or use of a medicine;
•requirements to conduct post-marketing clinical trials;
•receipt of warning or untitled letters;
•withdrawal of the medicines from the market;
•refusal to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications that we submit;
•fines, restitution or disgorgement of profits or revenue;
•suspension or withdrawal of marketing approvals;
•suspension of any ongoing clinical trials;
•refusal to permit the import or export of our medicines;
•injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response and could generate negative publicity. The occurrence of any event or penalty described above may inhibit our ability to commercialize any product candidates we develop and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Additionally, if any product candidates we may develop receive marketing approval, the FDA could require us to adopt a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy to ensure that the benefits outweigh its risks, which may include, among other
things, a medication guide outlining the risks of the product for distribution to patients and a communication plan to healthcare practitioners. Furthermore, if we or others later identify undesirable side effects caused by our product candidate, several potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:
•regulatory authorities may suspend or withdraw approvals of such product candidate;
•regulatory authorities may require additional warnings on the label;
•we may be required to change the way a product candidate is administered or conduct additional clinical trials;
•we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients; and
•our reputation may suffer.
We and our contract manufacturers are subject to significant regulation. The manufacturing facilities on which we rely may not continue to meet regulatory requirements, which could materially harm our business.
All entities involved in the preparation of product candidates for clinical trials or commercial sale, including any contract manufacturers, are subject to extensive regulation. Components of a finished therapeutic product approved for commercial sale or used in late-stage clinical trials must be manufactured in accordance with cGMP. These regulations govern manufacturing processes and procedures (including record keeping) and the implementation and operation of quality systems to control and assure the quality of investigational products and products approved for sale. Poor control of production processes can lead to the introduction of adventitious agents or other contaminants or to inadvertent changes in the properties or stability of our product candidates that may not be detectable in final product testing. We or our contract manufacturer must supply all necessary documentation in support of a BLA on a timely basis and must adhere to the FDA’s cGLP and cGMP regulations enforced through its facilities inspection program. Our facilities and quality systems and the facilities and quality systems of some or all of our third-party contractors must pass a pre-approval inspection for compliance with the applicable regulations as a condition of regulatory approval of any product candidates we may develop or any of our other potential products. In addition, the regulatory authorities may, at any time, audit or inspect a manufacturing facility involved with the preparation of our product candidates or our other potential products or the associated quality systems for compliance with the regulations applicable to the activities being conducted. If these facilities do not pass a pre-approval plant inspection, FDA approval of the products will not be granted.
The regulatory authorities also may, at any time following approval of a product for sale, audit our manufacturing facilities or those of our third-party contractors. If any such inspection or audit identifies a failure to comply with applicable regulations or if a violation of our product specifications or applicable regulations occurs independent of such an inspection or audit, we or the relevant regulatory authority may require remedial measures that may be costly and/or time-consuming for us or a third party to implement and that may include the temporary or permanent suspension of a clinical trial or commercial sales or the temporary or permanent closure of a facility. Any such remedial measures imposed upon us or third parties with whom we contract could materially harm our business. The PREVENT Pandemics Act, which was enacted in December 2022, clarifies that foreign drug manufacturing establishments are subject to registration and listing requirements even if a drug or biologic undergoes further manufacture, preparation, propagation, compounding, or processing at a separate establishment outside the United States prior to being imported or offered for import into the United States.
If we or any of our third-party manufacturers fail to maintain regulatory compliance, the FDA can impose regulatory sanctions including, among other things, refusal to approve a pending application for a new product, or revocation of a pre-existing approval. Any such consequence would severely harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our relationships with healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payers will be subject to applicable anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, and other healthcare laws and regulations, which could expose us to criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.
Healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payers play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of any product candidates that we develop for which we obtain marketing approval. Our future arrangements with third-party payers and customers may expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we research, market, sell and distribute our medicines for which we obtain marketing approval. Restrictions under applicable federal and state healthcare laws and regulations include the following:
•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 federal and state healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid;
•the federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the federal False Claims Act, and civil monetary penalty laws which can be enforced through civil whistleblower or qui tam actions, imposes civil and criminal penalties against individuals or entities for knowingly presenting or causing to be presented, to the federal government, claims for payment or approval from Medicare, Medicaid or other government payers that are false or fraudulent or making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government, with potential liability including mandatory treble damages and significant per-claim penalties;
•the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme or artifice to defraud any healthcare benefit program or obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any healthcare benefit program, regardless of the payor (e.g., public or private), and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up by any trick or device a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statements in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, healthcare benefits, items or services relating to healthcare matters;
•HIPAA, as further amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, which imposes certain requirements, including mandatory contractual terms, on covered entities subject to the rule, such as health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and certain healthcare providers, as well as their respective business associates and their subcontractors that perform services for them that involve the use, or disclosure of, individually identifiable health information, relating to the privacy, security, and transmission of such individually identifiable health information;
•the federal transparency requirements under the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies to report to the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians, as defined by such law, other healthcare providers and teaching hospitals and ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members and applicable group purchasing organizations; and
•analogous state laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by non-governmental third-party payers, including private insurers, and certain state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government in addition to requiring drug manufacturers to report information related to drug pricing and payments to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures and state and local laws that require the registration of sales representatives.
The provision of benefits or advantages to physicians to induce or encourage the prescription, recommendation, endorsement, purchase, supply, order or use of medicinal products is prohibited in the European Union. The provision of benefits or advantages to physicians is also governed by the national anti-bribery laws of European Union Member States and the United Kingdom, such as the UK Bribery Act 2010. Violation of these laws could result in substantial fines and imprisonment.
Payments made to physicians in certain European Union Member States must be publicly disclosed. Moreover, agreements with physicians often must be the subject of prior notification and approval by the physician’s employer, his or her competent professional organization and/or the regulatory authorities of the individual European Union Member States. These requirements are provided in the national laws, industry codes or professional codes of conduct applicable in the European Union Member States. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in reputational risk, public reprimands, administrative penalties, fines or imprisonment.
Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws or any other governmental regulations that may apply to us, we may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, imprisonment, exclusion from government funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, integrity oversight and reporting obligations, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. If any of the physicians or other providers or entities with whom we expect to do business are found to be not in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to significant criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded healthcare programs. Liabilities they incur pursuant to these laws could result in significant costs or an interruption in operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Legislative and regulatory changes may increase the difficulty and cost for us and any future collaborators to obtain reimbursement for our product candidates, if and when approved.
In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could, among other things, prevent or delay marketing approval of any product candidates we may develop, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability, or the ability of any future collaborators, to profitably sell any products for which we, or they, obtain marketing approval. We expect that current laws, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we, or any future collaborators, may receive for any approved products.
In the United States, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or the Medicare Modernization Act, changed the way Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly and introduced a new reimbursement methodology based on average sales prices for physician administered drugs. In addition, this legislation provided authority for limiting the number of drugs that will be covered in any therapeutic class. Cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of this legislation could decrease the coverage and price that we receive for any approved products. While the Medicare Modernization Act applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payers often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Therefore, any reduction in reimbursement that results from the Medicare Modernization Act may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payers.
The ACA, which became law in 2010, contains provisions of importance to our business. Our ability to commercialize and the prices we may obtain for any product candidates we may develop and that are approved for sale, may be affected by these provisions, including without limitation, the following:
•an annual, non-deductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports specified branded prescription drugs and biologic agents;
•an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program;
•expansion of federal healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute, new government investigative powers and enhanced penalties for noncompliance;
•a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must now agree to offer 70% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices;
•extension of manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability;
•expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs;
•expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service pharmaceutical pricing program;
•new requirements to report financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals;
•a new requirement to annually report drug samples that manufacturers and distributors provide to physicians; and
•a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research.
In addition, other legislative changes have been adopted since the ACA was enacted. These changes include the Budget Control Act of 2011, which, among other things, led to aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year, which will remain in effect through 2031. However, as a result of other legislation, the actual reductions in Medicare payments may vary up to 4%. These laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding and otherwise affect the prices we may obtain for any of our product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval or the frequency with which any such product candidate is prescribed or used.
Since enactment of the ACA, there have been, and continue to be, numerous executive and legal challenges and U.S. congressional actions to repeal and replace provisions of the law. For example, with enactment of the Tax Act, the U.S. Congress effectively repealed the “individual mandate” by reducing the applicable penalty to zero dollars. The modification of this provision, which required most Americans to carry a minimal level of health insurance, became effective in 2019. Litigation and legislation over the ACA are likely to continue, with unpredictable and uncertain results.
We expect that these healthcare reforms, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding, more rigorous coverage criteria, new payment methodologies and additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved product and/or the level of reimbursement physicians receive for administering any approved product we might bring to market. Reductions in reimbursement levels may negatively impact the prices we receive or the frequency with which our potential products are prescribed or administered. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payers.
The prices of prescription pharmaceuticals in the United States and foreign jurisdictions are subject to considerable legislative and executive actions and could impact the prices we obtain for our products, if and when approved.
The prices of prescription pharmaceuticals have been the subject of considerable discussion in the United States. There have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries, as well as proposed and enacted state and federal legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to pharmaceutical pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reduce the costs of pharmaceuticals under Medicare and Medicaid.
In addition, in October 2020, HHS and the FDA published a final rule allowing states and other entities to develop a Section 804 Importation Program to import certain prescription drugs from Canada into the United States. That regulation was challenged in a lawsuit by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, but the case was dismissed by a federal district court in February 2023 after the court found that PhRMA did not have standing to sue HHS. A number of states have submitted Section 804 Importation Program proposals to the FDA with the goal of obtaining authority to import drugs from Canada, subject to conditions. On May 21, 2025, the FDA announced that it would offer individual states the opportunity to submit a draft proposal for pre-review and meet with the FDA to obtain initial feedback from the FDA prior to formally submitting their Section 804 importation program proposal. The intent of these meetings is to assist states in developing their proposals by further clarifying requirements, enhancing the quality of proposals submitted to the FDA and ultimately shortening the review timeline.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act, or the IRA, was signed into law by President Biden. The new legislation has implications for Medicare Part D, which is a program available to individuals who are entitled to Medicare Part A or enrolled in Medicare Part B to give them the option of paying a monthly premium for outpatient prescription drug coverage. Among other things, the IRA requires manufacturers of certain drugs to engage in price negotiations with Medicare (beginning in 2026), with prices that can be negotiated subject to a cap; imposes rebates under Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D to penalize price increases that outpace inflation (first due in 2023); and replaces the Part D coverage gap discount program with a new discounting program (beginning in 2025). The IRA permits the Secretary of the HHS to implement many of these provisions through guidance, as opposed to regulation, for the initial years.
Specifically, with respect to price negotiations, the U.S. Congress authorized Medicare to negotiate lower prices for certain costly single-source drug and biologic products that do not have competing generics or biosimilars and are reimbursed under Medicare Part B and Part D. CMS may negotiate prices for ten high-cost drugs paid for by Medicare Part D starting in 2026, followed by 15 Part D drugs in 2027, 15 Part B or Part D drugs in 2028, and 20 Part B or Part D drugs in 2029 and beyond. This provision applies to drug products that have been approved for at least 9 years and biologics that have been licensed for 13 years, but it did not originally apply to drugs and biologics that have been approved for a single rare disease or condition. With passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or the OBBBA, on July 3, 2025, which was signed into law on July 4, 2025, Congress extended this exemption to drugs and biologics with multiple
orphan drug designations. Nonetheless, since CMS may establish a maximum price for these products in price negotiations, we would be fully at risk of government action if our products are the subject of Medicare price negotiations. Moreover, given the risk that could be the case, these provisions of the IRA may also further heighten the risk that we would not be able to achieve the expected return on our drug products or full value of our patents protecting our products if prices are set after such products have been on the market for nine years. The first cycle of negotiations for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program commenced in the summer of 2023. On August 15, 2024, HHS published the results of the first Medicare drug price negotiations for ten selected drugs that treat a range of conditions, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. The prices of these ten drugs will become effective January 1, 2026. On January 17, 2025, CMS announced its selection of 15 additional drugs covered by Part D for the second cycle of negotiations. While there had been some questions about the Trump administration’s position on this program, CMS issued a public statement on January 29, 2025, declaring that lowering the cost of prescription drugs is a top priority of the new administration and CMS is committed to considering opportunities to bring greater transparency in the negotiation program. This second cycle of negotiations with participating drug companies will occur during 2025, and any negotiated prices for this second set of drugs will be effective starting January 1, 2027.
Further, the legislation subjects drug manufacturers to civil monetary penalties and a potential excise tax for failing to comply with the legislation by offering a price that is not equal to or less than the negotiated “maximum fair price” under the law or for taking price increases that exceed inflation. The legislation also requires manufacturers to pay rebates if they raise prices for certain Part B and Part D drugs faster than the rate of inflation. The new law also caps Medicare out-of-pocket drug costs at an estimated $4,000 a year in 2024 and, thereafter beginning in 2025, at $2,000 a year. In addition, the IRA potentially raises legal risks with respect to individuals participating in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan who may experience a gap in coverage if they required coverage above their initial annual coverage limit before they reached the higher threshold, or “catastrophic period” of the plan. Individuals requiring services exceeding the initial annual coverage limit and below the catastrophic period must pay 100% of the cost of their prescriptions until they reach the catastrophic period. Among other things, the IRA contains many provisions aimed at reducing this financial burden on individuals by reducing the co-insurance and co-payment costs, expanding eligibility for lower income subsidy plans, and price caps on annual out-of-pocket expenses, each of which could have potential pricing and reporting implications.
On June 6, 2023, Merck & Co., Inc., filed a lawsuit against HHS and CMS asserting that, among other things, the IRA’s Drug Price Negotiation Program for Medicare constitutes an uncompensated taking in violation of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Subsequently, other parties, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, or Chamber of Commerce, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, the PhRMA, Astellas Pharma US, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation, AstraZeneca L.P. and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. also filed lawsuits in various courts with similar constitutional claims against HHS and CMS. HHS has generally won the substantive disputes in these cases or succeeded in getting claims dismissed for lack of standing. Most of these cases are now on appeal. On October 30, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit heard oral arguments in three of these cases. In April 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit heard arguments in an additional three cases. On May 8, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected AstraZeneca L.P.’s challenge to the Medicare price negotiation program, finding that the program did not violate the company’s due process rights under the Constitution since there is no protected property interest in selling goods to Medicare beneficiaries at a price higher than what the government is willing to pay in reimbursement.
We expect that litigation involving these and other provisions of the IRA will continue, with unpredictable and uncertain results. Accordingly, while it is currently unclear how the IRA will be effectuated, we cannot predict with certainty what impact any federal or state health reforms will have on us, but such changes could impose new or more stringent regulatory requirements on our activities or result in reduced reimbursement for our products, any of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In April 2025, President Trump issued an executive order which directs HHS to take steps to reduce the prices of pharmaceutical products. The new executive order repeats many of the proposals advanced during the first Trump administration, including directing the FDA to streamline and improve its existing drug importation program so as to make it easier for states to obtain approval without sacrificing the safety or quality of drug products. Other provisions of the executive order relate to the 340B program. Specifically, one provision calls on the Secretary of HHS to determine the hospital acquisition cost for covered outpatient drugs at hospital outpatient departments and to consider and propose any appropriate adjustments for Medicare payment. The other provisions direct HHS to condition grant funding to certain health centers on those centers passing through the 340B discounts they receive on insulin and injectable epinephrine products to patients who meet certain requirements. With respect to the IRA’s Medicare drug pricing program, the executive order, among other things, calls for alignment in “the treatment of small molecule prescription drugs with that of
biological products, ending the distortion that undermines relative investment in small molecule prescription drugs, coupled with other reforms to prevent any increase in overall costs to Medicare and its beneficiaries.”
Further, on May 12, 2025, President Trump issued an additional executive order calling on pharmaceutical manufacturers to voluntarily reduce the prices of medicines in the United States. The executive order directs the Secretary of HHS to communicate most-favored-nation, or MFN, price targets to pharmaceutical manufacturers to bring prices in line with comparably developed nations. The executive order further provides that if such actions do not lower the costs of pharmaceuticals, the Secretary of HHS would pursue other actions, including proposing a rulemaking that imposes MFN pricing in the United States. Subsequently, on May 20, 2025, HHS indicated that the proposed MFN pricing will apply only to brand products without generic or biosimilar competition and the referenced foreign countries will include only those in which the branded product similarly does not have generic or biosimilar competition. Second, HHS indicated that the MFN target price will be the lowest price in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, with a gross domestic product, or GDP, per capita of at least 60% of the U.S. GDP per capita. Based on previous estimates, there are likely at least 22 OECD countries that would satisfy this criterion. The implications of these actions remain unclear and are likely to result in litigation if the administration pursues an MFN regulatory pricing requirement.
At the state level, individual states are increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. In addition, regional healthcare authorities and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription drug and other healthcare programs. These measures could reduce the ultimate demand for our products, once approved, or put pressure on our product pricing. We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for any product candidates we may develop or additional pricing pressures.
In addition, in some countries including those member states of the European Union, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a product. In addition, there can be considerable pressure by governments and other stakeholders on prices and reimbursement levels, including as part of cost containment measures. Political, economic and regulatory developments may further complicate pricing negotiations, and pricing negotiations may continue after reimbursement has been obtained. Reference pricing used by various EU member states and parallel distribution, or arbitrage between low-priced and high-priced member states, can further reduce prices, and in certain instances render commercialization in certain markets infeasible or disadvantageous from a financial perspective. In some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial or other studies that compare the cost-effectiveness of our product and/or our product candidates to other available products in order to obtain or maintain reimbursement or pricing approval. Publication of discounts by third party payors or government authorities may lead to further pressure on the prices or reimbursement levels. If reimbursement of our products, if any, is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, the commercial launch of our product candidates may be delayed, possibly for lengthy periods of time, we or our collaborators may not launch at all in a particular country, we may not be able to recoup our investment in one or more product candidates, and there could be a material adverse effect on our business.
There have been, and likely will continue to be, legislative and regulatory proposals at the foreign, federal and state levels directed at containing or lowering the cost of healthcare. We cannot predict the initiatives that may be adopted in the future. The continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed care organizations and other payors of healthcare services to contain or reduce costs of healthcare and/or impose price controls may adversely affect:
•the demand for product candidates that we may identify, if we obtain regulatory approval;
•our ability to receive or set a price that we believe is fair for our products;
•our ability to generate revenue and achieve or maintain profitability;
•the level of taxes that we are required to pay; and
•the availability of capital.
We are subject to stringent privacy laws, information security laws, regulations, policies and contractual obligations related to data privacy and security and changes in such laws, regulations, policies, and contractual obligations and failure to comply with such requirements could subject us to significant fines and penalties, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
We are subject to data privacy and protection laws, regulations, policies and contractual obligations that apply to the collection, transmission, storage and use of personally-identifying information, which among other things, impose certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of personal information, including comprehensive regulatory systems in the U.S., European Union and United Kingdom. The legislative and regulatory landscape for privacy and data protection continues to evolve in jurisdictions worldwide, and there has been an increasing focus on privacy and data protection issues with the potential to affect our business. Failure to comply with any of these laws and regulations could result in enforcement action against us, including fines, claims for damages by affected individuals, damage to our reputation and loss of goodwill, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
There are numerous U.S. federal and state laws and regulations related to the privacy and security of personal information. In particular, regulations promulgated pursuant to HIPAA establish privacy and security standards that limit the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health information, or protected health information, and require the implementation of administrative, physical and technological safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information. Determining whether protected health information has been handled in compliance with applicable privacy standards and our contractual obligations can be complex and may be subject to changing interpretation. These obligations may be applicable to some or all of our business activities now or in the future.
If we are unable to properly protect the privacy and security of protected health information, we could be found to have violated these privacy and security laws and/or breached certain contracts. Further, if we fail to comply with applicable privacy laws, including applicable HIPAA privacy and security standards, we could face significant civil and criminal penalties. HHS enforcement activity can result in financial liability and reputational harm, and responses to such enforcement activity can consume significant internal resources. In addition, state attorneys general are authorized to bring civil actions seeking either injunctions or damages in response to violations that threaten the privacy of state residents. We cannot be sure how these regulations will be interpreted, enforced or applied to our operations. In addition to the risks associated with enforcement activities and potential contractual liabilities, our ongoing efforts to comply with evolving laws and regulations at the federal and state level may be costly and require ongoing modifications to our policies, procedures and systems.
In addition to potential enforcement by HHS, we are also potentially subject to privacy enforcement from the Federal Trade Commission, or the FTC. The FTC has been particularly focused on the unpermitted processing of health and genetic data through its recent enforcement actions and is expanding the types of privacy violations that it interprets to be “unfair” under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as well as the types of activities it views to trigger the Health Breach Notification Rule, which the FTC also has the authority to enforce. The FTC is also in the process of developing rules related to commercial surveillance and data security that may impact our business. We will need to account for the FTC’s evolving rules and guidance for proper privacy and data security practices in order to mitigate our risk for a potential enforcement action, which may be costly. If we are subject to a potential FTC enforcement action, we may be subject to a settlement order that requires us to adhere to very specific privacy and data security practices, which may impact our business. We may also be required to pay fines as part of a settlement, depending on the nature of the alleged violations. If we violate any consent order that we reach with the FTC, we may be subject to additional fines and compliance requirements.
States are also active in creating specific rules relating to the processing of personal information. In 2018, California passed into law the California Consumer Privacy Act, or the CCPA, which took effect on January 1, 2020 and imposed many requirements on businesses that process the personal information of California residents. Many of the CCPA’s requirements are similar to those found in the General Data Protection Regulation, or the GDPR, which is further described below, including requiring businesses to provide notice to data subjects regarding the information collected about them and how such information is used and shared, and providing data subjects the right to request access to such personal information and, in certain cases, request the erasure of such personal information. The CCPA also affords California residents the right to opt-out of the “sale” of their personal information. The CCPA contains significant penalties for companies that violate its requirements. In November 2020, California voters passed a ballot initiative for the California Privacy Rights Act, or the CPRA, which went into effect on January 1, 2023 and significantly expanded the CCPA to
incorporate additional GDPR-like provisions including requiring that the use, retention and sharing of personal information of California residents be reasonably necessary and proportionate to the purposes of collection or processing, granting additional protections for sensitive personal information, and requiring greater disclosures related to notice to residents regarding retention of information. The CPRA also created a new enforcement agency – the California Privacy Protection Agency – whose sole responsibility is to enforce the CPRA and other California privacy laws, which will further increase compliance risk. The provisions in the CPRA may apply to some of our business activities.
In addition to California, at least eighteen other states have passed comprehensive privacy laws similar to the CCPA and CPRA. These laws are either in effect or will go into effect over the next few years. Like the CCPA and CPRA, these laws create obligations related to the processing of personal information, as well as special obligations for the processing of "sensitive" data, which includes health data in some cases. Some of the provisions of these laws may apply to our business activities. There are also states that passed comprehensive privacy laws during the 2024 legislative sessions that will go into effect in 2025 and beyond. Additional states are expected to consider such legislation in 2025 and beyond. Other states will be considering similar laws in the future, and Congress has also been debating passing a federal privacy law. There are also states that are specifically regulating health information that may affect our business. For example, Washington state passed a health privacy law in 2023 that regulates the collection and sharing of health information, and the law also has a private right of action, which further increases the relevant compliance risk. Connecticut and Nevada have also passed similar laws regulating consumer health data and additional states are considering such legislation. These laws may impact our business activities, including our identification of research subjects, relationships with business partners and ultimately the marketing and distribution of our products.
Similar to the laws in the U.S., there are significant privacy and data security laws that apply in Europe and other countries. The collection, use, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data, including personal health data, regarding individuals who are located in the European Economic Area, or the EEA, and the processing of personal data that takes place in the EEA, is regulated by the GDPR, which went into effect in May 2018 and which imposes obligations on companies that operate in our industry with respect to the processing of personal data and the cross-border transfer of such data. The GDPR imposes onerous accountability obligations requiring data controllers and processors to maintain a record of their data processing and policies. If our or our service providers’ privacy or data security measures fail to comply with the GDPR requirements, we may be subject to litigation, regulatory investigations, enforcement notices requiring us to change the way we use personal data and/or fines of up to 20 million Euros or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher, as well as compensation claims by affected individuals, negative publicity, reputational harm and a potential loss of business and goodwill.
The GDPR places restrictions on the cross-border transfer of personal data from the European Union to countries that have not been found by the European Union to offer adequate data protection legislation, such as the U.S. There are ongoing concerns about the ability of companies to transfer personal data from the European Union to other countries. In July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union, or the CJEU, invalidated the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield, one of the mechanisms used to legitimize the transfer of personal data from the EEA to the U.S. The CJEU decision also drew into question the long-term viability of an alternative means of data transfer, the standard contractual clauses, for transfers of personal data from the EEA to the U.S.
Additionally, in October 2022, President Biden signed an executive order to implement the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, which serves as a replacement to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield. The European Union initiated the process to adopt an adequacy decision for the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework in December 2022, and the European Commission adopted the adequacy decision on July 10, 2023. The adequacy decision permits U.S. companies who self-certify to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework to rely on it as a valid data transfer mechanism for data transfers from the European Union to the United States. However, some privacy advocacy groups have already suggested that they will be challenging the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. If these challenges are successful, they may not only impact the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, but also further limit the viability of the standard contractual clauses and other data transfer mechanisms. The uncertainty around this issue has the potential to impact our business.
Following the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, the UK Data Protection Act 2018 applies to the processing of personal data that takes place in the UK and includes parallel obligations to those set forth by GDPR. In relation to data transfers, both the UK and the European Union have determined, through separate “adequacy” decisions, that data transfers between the two jurisdictions are in compliance with the UK Data Protection Act and the GDPR, respectively. The UK and the U.S. have also agreed to a to develop a U.S.-UK "Data Bridge", which functions similarly to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and provides an additional legal mechanism for companies to transfer data from the UK to the United States. In addition to the UK, Switzerland is also in the process of approving an adequacy decision in relation to
the Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (which would function similarly to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and the U.S.-UK Data Bridge in relation to data transfers from Switzerland to the United States). Any changes or updates to these developments have the potential to impact our business.
Beyond GDPR and similar laws in the United States, there are privacy and data security laws in a growing number of countries around the world. While many loosely follow GDPR as a model, other laws contain different or conflicting provisions. These laws may impact our ability to conduct our business activities.
While we continue to address the implications of the recent changes to data privacy regulations, data privacy remains an evolving landscape at both the domestic and international level, with new regulations coming into effect and continued legal challenges, and our efforts to comply with the evolving data protection rules may be unsuccessful. It is possible that these laws may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our practices, which could adversely affect our business. We must devote significant resources to understanding and complying with this changing landscape. Failure to comply with federal, state and international laws regarding privacy and security of personal information could expose us to fines and penalties under such laws. Any such failure to comply with data protection and privacy laws could result in government-imposed fines, penalties or orders requiring that we change our practices, claims for damages or other liabilities, regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, litigation and significant costs for remediation, reputational harm, diminished profits and earnings, additional reporting requirements and/or oversight, any of which could adversely affect our business, our results of operations or prospects. We also face a threat of consumer class actions related to these laws and the overall protection of personal data. Even if we are not determined to have violated these laws, government investigations into these issues typically require the expenditure of significant resources and generate negative publicity, which could harm our reputation and our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
Our employees, principal investigators, consultants and commercial partners may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards and requirements and insider trading.
We are exposed to the risk of fraud or other misconduct by our employees, consultants, partners and the principal investigators in our clinical trials. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional failures to comply with FDA regulations or the regulations applicable in the European Union and other jurisdictions, provide accurate information to the FDA, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities, comply with healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations in the United States and abroad, report financial information or data accurately, or disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, misconduct, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Such misconduct also could involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials or interactions with the FDA or other regulatory authorities, which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. We have adopted a code of conduct applicable to all of our employees, but it is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from government investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, including the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions.
Laws and regulations governing any international operations we may have may preclude us from developing, manufacturing and selling certain product candidates outside of the United States or adversely impact our ability to operate our business outside the United States. In addition, changes in and uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to numerous laws and regulations in each jurisdiction outside the United States in which we operate. The creation, implementation and maintenance of international business practices compliance programs is costly and such programs are difficult to enforce, particularly where reliance on third parties is required.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, prohibits any U.S. individual or business from paying, offering, or authorizing the provision of money or anything of value, directly or indirectly through third parties, to any foreign official, official of a public international organization, or political party official or candidate for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of the foreign entity in order to assist the individual or business in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are listed in the United States to comply with certain accounting provisions requiring the
company to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflect all transactions of the corporation, including international subsidiaries, and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls for international operations. The anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA are enforced primarily by the Department of Justice. The SEC is involved with enforcement of the books and records provisions of the FCPA.
Compliance with the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws potentially applicable to our business is expensive and difficult, particularly in countries in which corruption is a recognized problem. In addition, compliance with the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws presents particular challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, because, in many countries, hospitals are operated by the government, and doctors and other hospital employees are considered foreign officials.
Various U.S. export and sanctions laws, regulations and executive orders also restrict the use and dissemination outside of the United States, or the sharing with certain non-U.S. nationals, of certain products and technical data relating to those products. Furthermore, such export and sanctions laws include restrictions or prohibitions on the sale or supply of certain products and services to United States embargoed countries or sanctioned countries, governments, persons and entities. Our operations outside of the United States have required, and will continue to require, us to dedicate additional resources to comply with laws governing international business practices, and these laws may preclude us from developing, manufacturing or selling certain drugs and drug candidates outside of the United States, which could limit our growth potential and increase our development costs. The failure to comply with these laws may result in substantial penalties, including suspension or debarment from government contracting. Violation of the FCPA and export and sanctions laws can result in significant civil and criminal penalties, imprisonment, the loss of export or import privileges, debarment, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm, and other consequences. Indictment alone under the FCPA can lead to suspension of the right to do business with the U.S. government until the pending claims are resolved. Conviction of a violation of the FCPA can result in long-term disqualification as a government contractor. The termination of a government contract or relationship as a result of our failure to satisfy any of our obligations under laws governing international business practices would have a negative impact on our operations and harm our reputation and ability to procure government contracts. The SEC also may suspend or bar issuers from trading securities on U.S. exchanges for violations of the FCPA’s accounting provisions.
Changes in and uncertainty surrounding United States trade policy could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
This past spring the Trump administration initiated a series of tariff-related actions against U.S. trading partners. On April 2, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order announcing a “baseline” reciprocal tariff of 10% on all U.S. trading partners effective April 5, 2025, and higher individualized reciprocal tariffs on 57 countries (with certain product exemptions for pharmaceutical-related products, among others). Previously, the administration had imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico for goods not covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, and tariffs equaling 20% on China. In response, several countries threatened retaliatory measures, including Canada and China, which then imposed retaliatory tariffs. Prior to when the country-specific reciprocal tariffs were scheduled to take effect, the administration delayed the effective date of such tariffs for all countries except China. Later, the U.S. and China reached a framework agreement that resulted in the suspension of the higher reciprocal tariffs on China until August 10, 2025. Three other countries, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and Indonesia, have also reached deals with the U.S. that include reduced tariff rates and other measures. The administration has not indicated the effective date for these deals. Recently, the administration announced an extension of the deadline for the effective date of the country-specific tariffs for all remaining countries until August 1, 2025.
Currently, the 10% baseline reciprocal tariff announced in April 2025 remains in effect, in addition to the other tariffs on China (a minimum of an additional 20% as of July 15, 2025) and Canada and Mexico (25% as of July 15, 2025, for goods that are not covered by the USMCA). Sustained uncertainty about, or the further escalation of, trade and political tensions between the United States and China could result in a disadvantageous research and manufacturing environment in China, particularly for U.S. based companies, including retaliatory restrictions that hinder or potentially inhibit our ability to rely on contract development and manufacturing organizations and other service providers that operate in China.
Separately, on April 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 into imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients, including finished drug products, medical countermeasures, critical inputs such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, and key starting materials, and derivative products of those items. The investigation will examine the impact of these imports on U.S. national security culminating in a decision by the President whether to take action to remedy any identified threats, including by imposing additional tariffs. The statute provides that the Commerce Department report must be completed within 270 days of initiation of the investigation and that the President must decide whether to act within 90 days of receiving the report.
As a result of changes in tariffs that have been announced and/or implemented, and the underlying uncertainty currently surrounding international trade, we could experience a negative impact on our costs of materials and production processes, and supply chain disruptions and delays as a result of any new tariff policies or trade restrictions. If we are unable to obtain necessary raw materials or product components in sufficient quantity and in a timely manner due to disruptions in the global supply chain caused by macroeconomic events and conditions, the development, testing and clinical trials of our product candidates may be delayed or infeasible, and regulatory approval or commercial launch of any resulting product may be delayed or not obtained, which could significantly harm our business. We cannot yet predict the effect of the recently imposed U.S. tariffs on imports, or the extent to which other countries will impose quotas, duties, tariffs, taxes or other similar restrictions upon imports or exports in the future, nor can we predict future trade policy or the terms of any renegotiated trade agreements and their impact on our business.
If we or any contract manufacturers and suppliers we engage fail to comply with environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur significant costs.
We and any contract manufacturers and suppliers we engage are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental, health, and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements, including those governing laboratory procedures; the generation, handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous and regulated materials and wastes; the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into the ground, air and water; and employee health and safety. Our operations involve the use of hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals and biological and radioactive materials. Our operations also produce hazardous waste. We generally contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from these materials. In the event of contamination or injury resulting from our use of hazardous materials, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources. Under certain environmental laws, we could be held responsible for costs relating to any contamination at third-party facilities. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties.
Compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations may be expensive, and current or future environmental laws and regulations may impair our research and product development efforts. In addition, we cannot entirely eliminate the risk of accidental injury or contamination from these materials or wastes. Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. We do not carry specific biological or hazardous waste insurance coverage, and our property, casualty and general liability insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for damages and fines arising from biological or hazardous waste exposure or contamination. Accordingly, in the event of contamination or injury, we could be held liable for damages or be penalized with fines in an amount exceeding our resources, and our clinical trials or regulatory approvals could be suspended.
In addition, we may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements. These current or future laws, regulations and permitting requirements may impair our research, development or production efforts. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and permitting requirements also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions or business disruption. Any third-party contract manufacturers and suppliers we engage will also be subject to these and other environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Liabilities they incur pursuant to these laws and regulations could result in significant costs or an interruption in operations, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Risks related to employee matters, managing growth and other operational matters
Our future success depends on our ability to retain key executives and to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel.
We are highly dependent on the research and development, clinical, financial, operational and other business expertise of our executive officers, as well as the other principal members of our management, scientific and clinical teams. Although we have entered into employment offer letters with our executive officers, each of them may terminate their employment with us at any time. For example, in 2024 and 2025, we had several changes in our executive management team. We do not maintain “key person” insurance for any of our executives or other employees. Recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, clinical, manufacturing, accounting, legal and sales and marketing personnel will also be critical to our success.
The loss of the services of our executive officers or other key employees could impede the achievement of our research, development and commercialization objectives and seriously harm our ability to successfully implement our business
strategy. Furthermore, replacing executive officers and key employees may be difficult and may take an extended period of time because of the limited number of individuals in our industry with the breadth of skills and experience required to successfully develop, gain regulatory approval of and commercialize products. Competition to hire from this limited pool is intense, and we may be unable to hire, train, retain or motivate these key personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for similar personnel. We also experience competition for the hiring of scientific and clinical personnel from universities and research institutions. In addition, we rely on consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in formulating our research and development and commercialization strategy. Our consultants and advisors may be employed by employers other than us and may have commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us. Our success as a public company also depends on implementing and maintaining internal controls and the accuracy and timeliness of our financial reporting. If we are unable to continue to attract and retain high quality personnel, our ability to pursue our growth strategy will be limited.
We expect to expand our development and regulatory capabilities and potentially implement sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, and as a result, we may encounter difficulties in managing our growth, which could disrupt our operations.
As of June 30, 2025, we had 206 full-time employees. As our development progresses, we expect to experience significant growth in the number of our employees and the scope of our operations, particularly in the areas of drug development, clinical, regulatory affairs and, if any product candidate we may develop receives marketing approval, sales, marketing, distribution and coverage and reimbursement capabilities. To manage our anticipated future growth, we must continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. Due to our limited financial resources and the limited experience of our management team in managing a company with such anticipated growth, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. The expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert our management and business development resources. Any inability to manage growth could delay the execution of our business plans or disrupt our operations.
As a growing biotechnology company, we are actively pursuing new platforms and product candidates in many therapeutic areas and across a wide range of diseases. Successfully developing product candidates for, and fully understanding the regulatory and manufacturing pathways to, all of these therapeutic areas and disease states requires a significant depth of talent, resources and corporate processes in order to allow simultaneous execution across multiple areas. Due to our limited resources, we may not be able to effectively manage this simultaneous execution and the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. This may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, operational mistakes, legal or regulatory compliance failures, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. The physical expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert financial resources from other projects, such as the development of our product candidates. If our management is unable to effectively manage our expected development and expansion, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate or increase our revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to compete effectively and commercialize our product candidates, if approved, will depend in part on our ability to effectively manage the future development and expansion of our company.
Future acquisitions or strategic alliances could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition and results of operations.
We may acquire additional businesses, technologies or assets, form strategic alliances or create joint ventures with third parties that we believe will complement or augment our existing business. If we acquire businesses with promising markets or technologies, we may not be able to realize the benefit of acquiring such businesses if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing operations and company culture. We may encounter numerous difficulties in developing, manufacturing and marketing any new products or product candidates resulting from a strategic alliance or acquisition that delay or prevent us from realizing their expected benefits or enhancing our business. We cannot assure you that, following any such acquisition, we will achieve the expected synergies to justify the transaction. The risks we face in connection with acquisitions, include:
•diversion of management time and focus from operating our business to addressing acquisition integration challenges;
•coordination of research and development efforts;
•retention of key employees from the acquired company;
•changes in relationships with collaborators as a result of product acquisitions or strategic positioning resulting from the acquisition;
•cultural challenges associated with integrating employees from the acquired company into our organization;
•the need to implement or improve controls, procedures and policies at a business that prior to the acquisition may have lacked sufficiently effective controls, procedures and policies;
•liability for activities of the acquired company before the acquisition, including intellectual property infringement claims, violation of laws, commercial disputes, tax liabilities and other known liabilities;
•unanticipated write-offs or charges; and
•litigation or other claims in connection with the acquired company, including claims from terminated employees, customers, former stockholders or other third parties.
Our failure to address these risks or other problems encountered in connection with any future acquisitions or strategic alliances could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of these transactions, cause us to incur unanticipated liabilities and harm the business generally. There is also a risk that future acquisitions will result in the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities, amortization expenses or incremental operating expenses, any of which could harm our financial condition or results of operations.
Our internal information technology systems, or those of our vendors, collaborators or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, loss or leakage of data and other disruptions or compromise, which could result in a material disruption of our product development programs, compromise sensitive information related to our business or prevent us from accessing critical information, trigger contractual and legal obligations, potentially exposing us to liability, reputational harm or otherwise adversely affecting our business and financial results.
We are increasingly dependent upon information technology systems, infrastructure and data to operate our business. In the ordinary course of business, we collect, store and transmit confidential information (including, but not limited to, intellectual property, proprietary business information and personal information). It is critical that we, and our vendors, collaborators or other contractors or consultants, do so in a secure manner to maintain the availability, security, confidentiality, privacy and integrity of such confidential information.
Despite the implementation of security measures, given the size and complexity of our internal information technology systems and those of our current and any future vendors, collaborators and other contractors and consultants, and the increasing amounts of confidential information that they maintain, such information technology systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from computer viruses, computer hackers, malicious code, employee error, theft or misuse, denial-of-service attacks, sophisticated nation-state and nation-state-supported actors, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war, telecommunication and electrical failures or other compromise. The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. We may not be able to anticipate all types of security threats, and we may not be able to implement preventive measures effective against all such security threats. The techniques used by cyber criminals change frequently, may not be recognized until launched, and can originate from a wide variety of sources, including outside groups such as external service providers, organized crime affiliates, terrorist organizations or hostile foreign governments or agencies.
Although we seek to protect our information technology systems from system failure, accident and security breach, our efforts may not be successful. If such an event were to occur, it could result in a disruption of our development programs and our business operations, whether due to a loss of our trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential information or other disruptions. For example, the loss of clinical trial data could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. If we were to experience a significant cybersecurity breach of our information systems or data, the costs associated with the investigation, remediation and potential notification of the breach to counterparties, data subjects, regulators or others could be material. In addition, our remediation efforts may not be successful. Moreover, if the information technology systems of our vendors, collaborators and other contractors and consultants become subject to disruptions or security breaches, we may have insufficient recourse against such third parties and we may have to expend significant resources to mitigate the impact of such an event, and to develop and implement protections to prevent future events of this nature from occurring. If we do not allocate and effectively manage the resources necessary to build and sustain the proper technology and cybersecurity infrastructure, we could suffer significant business disruption, including transaction errors, supply chain or manufacturing interruptions, processing inefficiencies, data loss or the loss of or damage to intellectual property or other proprietary information.
To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our or our vendors’, collaborators’ or other contractors’ or consultants’ data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability including litigation exposure, penalties and fines, we could become the subject of regulatory action or investigation, our competitive position and reputation could be harmed and the further development and commercialization of our product candidates could be delayed. As a result of such an event, we may be in breach of our contractual obligations. Furthermore, any such event that leads to unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of personal information, including personal information regarding our customers or employees, could harm our reputation, compel us to comply with federal and/or state breach notification laws and foreign law equivalents, subject us to mandatory corrective action, and otherwise subject us to liability under laws and regulations that protect the privacy and security of personal information, which could result in significant legal and financial exposure and reputational damage. Any of the above could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
The financial exposure from the events referenced above could either not be insured against or not be fully covered through any insurance that we maintain and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. In addition, we cannot be sure that our existing insurance coverage will continue to be available on acceptable terms or that our insurers will not deny coverage as to any future claim. There can be no assurance that the limitations of liability in our contracts would be enforceable or adequate or would otherwise protect us from liabilities or damages as a result of the events referenced above.
Our operations or those of the third parties upon whom we depend might be affected by the occurrence of a natural disaster, pandemic or other catastrophic event.
We depend on our employees, consultants, CMOs and CROs, as well as regulatory agencies and other parties, for the continued operation of our business. Although we maintain disaster recovery plans, they might not adequately protect us. Despite any precautions we take for natural disasters or other catastrophic events, these events, including terrorist attack, pandemics, hurricanes, fire, floods and ice and snowstorms, could result in significant disruptions to our research and development, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and, ultimately, commercialization of our products. Long-term disruptions in the infrastructure caused by events, such as natural disasters, the outbreak of war, the escalation of hostilities and acts of terrorism or other ‘‘acts of God,’’ particularly involving cities in which we have offices, manufacturing or clinical trial sites, could adversely affect our businesses. Although we carry business interruption insurance policies and typically have provisions in our contracts that protect us in certain events, our coverage might not respond or be adequate to compensate us for all losses that may occur. Any natural disaster or catastrophic event affecting us, our CMOs or CROs, regulatory agencies or other parties with which we are engaged could have a significant negative impact on our operations and financial performance.
Risks related to ownership of our common stock and our status as a public company
The price of our common stock is volatile and fluctuates substantially, which could result in substantial losses for our stockholders.
Our stock price has been, and is likely to continue to be, volatile. The stock market in general, and the market for smaller biopharmaceutical companies in particular, have experienced extreme price volatility and volume fluctuations that have
often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, our stockholders may not be able to sell their common stock at or above the price they paid for their shares. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by many factors, including:
•timing and results of, or developments in, preclinical studies and clinical trials of any product candidates we may develop or those of our competitors or potential collaborators;
•adverse regulatory decisions, including failure to receive clearance to initiate clinical trials or obtain marketing approvals for any product candidates we may develop;
•our success in commercializing any product candidates that may be approved;
•the success of competitive products or technologies;
•regulatory or legal developments in the United States and other countries;
•developments or disputes concerning patent applications, issued patents or other intellectual property or proprietary rights;
•the recruitment or departure of key personnel;
•the level of expenses related to any product candidates we may develop;
•the results of our efforts to discover, develop, acquire or in-license products, product candidates, technologies or data referencing rights, the costs of commercializing any such products and the costs of development of any such product candidates or technologies;
•actual or anticipated changes in estimates as to our financial results, development timelines or recommendations by securities analysts;
•variations in our financial results or the financial results of companies that are perceived to be similar to us;
•sales of our common stock by us, our executive officers, directors or principal stockholders or others;
•changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems;
•market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors;
•general economic, industry, political and market conditions; and
•the other factors described in this “Risk Factors” section.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class-action litigation has often been instituted against that company. Any lawsuit to which we are a party, with or without merit, may result in an unfavorable judgment. We also may decide to settle lawsuits on unfavorable terms. Any such negative outcome could result in payments of substantial damages or fines, damage to our reputation or adverse changes to our offerings or business practices. Such litigation may also cause us to incur other substantial costs to defend such claims and divert management’s attention and resources.
If securities analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports or publish misleading, inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business or if they publish negative evaluations of our stock, the price and trading volume of our stock could decline.
The trading market for our common stock relies, in part, on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have control over these analysts. There can be no assurance that existing analysts will continue to cover us or that new analysts will begin to cover us. There is also no assurance that any covering analysts will provide favorable coverage. If one or more of the analysts covering our business downgrade their evaluations of our stock or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover our stock, we could lose visibility in the market for our stock, which in turn could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.
Unfavorable global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, stock price and results of operations.
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and in the global financial markets. For example, the 2008 global financial crisis caused extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn resulting from a pandemic, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for any product candidates we may develop. A weak or declining economy could also strain our suppliers, possibly resulting in supply disruption. If the current equity and credit markets deteriorate, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly, and more dilutive. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could impair our ability to achieve our growth strategy, could harm our financial performance and stock price and could require us to delay or abandon clinical development plans. In addition, there is a risk that our current or future service providers, manufacturers or other collaborators may not survive such difficult economic times, which could directly affect our ability to attain our operating goals on schedule and on budget. We cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the current economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.
Our executive officers and directors and their affiliates, if they choose to act together, have the ability to significantly influence all matters submitted to stockholders for approval.
Our executive officers and directors and their affiliates, in the aggregate, beneficially owned shares representing approximately 12.9% of our common stock as of June 30, 2025. As a result, if these stockholders were to choose to act together, they would be able to significantly influence all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, as well as our management and affairs, even though some of these persons or entities may have interests different than yours. For example, these stockholders, if they choose to act together, could significantly influence the election of directors and approval of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
This concentration of ownership may:
•delay, defer or prevent a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets that may be desired by other stockholders;
•delay, defer or prevent a change in control transaction involving us that other stockholders may desire; or
•entrench our management and board of directors.
We have broad discretion in the use of our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and may not use them effectively.
Our management has broad discretion in the application of our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and could use such funds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock or in ways that our stockholders may not agree with. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could cause the price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending their use, we may invest these funds in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.
Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be the sole source of gain for our stockholders.
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. In addition, the terms of our Loan Agreement with Hercules preclude us from paying dividends without the lender's consent or at all. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be the sole source of gain for our stockholders for the foreseeable future.
A significant portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold into the market in the near future, which could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock or impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of equity securities in the future. As of July 25, 2025, we had 142,263,740 shares of common stock outstanding.
All of our outstanding shares of common stock are available for sale in the public market, subject to applicable securities laws.
Moreover, holders of a substantial number of shares of our common stock and shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options have rights, subject to specified conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders. We have also filed registration statements on Form S-8 to register all of the shares of common stock that we are able to issue under our equity compensation plans. Shares registered under these registration statements on Form S-8 can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates, vesting arrangements and exercise of options.
We have incurred and will continue to incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management has devoted and will continue to be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.
As a public company, and particularly as we are no longer an emerging growth company, or EGC, or a smaller reporting company, or SRC, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not previously incur as a private company or as an EGC and SRC. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Global Select Market and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. As a result of no longer being able to take advantage of the exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to EGCs and SRCs, we are required to comply with auditor attestation requirements, increased disclosure obligations and other reporting requirements which will likely increase our costs in the upcoming fiscal year. Our management and other personnel devote and will need to continue to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, particularly as we hire additional financial and accounting employees to meet public company internal control and financial reporting requirements and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly compared to when we were a private company. For example, as a public company it is more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantial costs. The impact of these events could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors.
We cannot predict or estimate the amount of costs we may incur to continue to operate as a public company, nor can we predict the timing of such costs. These rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
Pursuant to Section 404, we are required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting and our independent registered public accounting firm is required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we have an unremediated material weakness, we would receive an adverse opinion regarding our internal control over financial reporting from our independent registered public accounting firm. We are engaged in a continuous process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, including through hiring additional financial and accounting personnel, potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we will not be able to conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404. If we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, it could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, stockholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.
Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, is designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404, or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that
are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could harm our business and have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock.
We are required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis and our management is required to assess the effectiveness of these controls annually. Our independent registered public accounting firm is required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could lead to financial statement restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock.
Provisions in our corporate charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of our company, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current directors and members of management.
Provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of our company that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. These provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock, thereby depressing the market price of our common stock. In addition, because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors. Among other things, these provisions:
•establish a classified board of directors such that only one of three classes of directors is elected each year;
•allow the authorized number of our directors to be changed only by resolution of our board of directors;
•limit the manner in which stockholders can remove directors from our board of directors;
•establish advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals that can be acted on at stockholder meetings and nominations to our board of directors;
•require that stockholder actions must be effected at a duly called stockholder meeting and prohibit actions by our stockholders by written consent;
•limit who may call stockholder meetings;
•authorize our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could be used to institute a “poison pill” that would work to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer, effectively preventing acquisitions that have not been approved by our board of directors; and
•require the approval of the holders of at least 75% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast to amend or repeal specified provisions of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
Moreover, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
Our restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the federal district courts of the United States of America as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers and employees.
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have
jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) will be the sole and exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law:
•any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;
•any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders to our company or our stockholders;
•any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; or
•any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time) or governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
These choice of forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any claims arising under the Securities Act. While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation. This may require significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions and there can be no assurance that the provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.
These exclusive forum provisions may limit the ability of our stockholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum that such stockholders find favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. If a court were to find either exclusive forum provision contained in our restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur further significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, all of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
General Risk Factors
Changes in patent law in the United States or worldwide could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect any product candidates we may develop and our technology.
Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of patent laws in the United States and worldwide, including patent reform legislation such as the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy-Smith Act, could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of any owned or in-licensed patent applications and the maintenance, enforcement or defense of any current in-licensed issued patents and issued patents we may own or in-license in the future. The Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These changes include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art, provide more efficient and cost-effective avenues for competitors to challenge the validity of patents, and enable third-party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent at USPTO-administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review, and derivation proceedings. Assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, prior to March 2013, in the United States, the first to invent the claimed invention was entitled to the patent, while outside the United States, the first to file a patent application was entitled to the patent. After March 2013, under the Leahy-Smith Act, the United States transitioned to a first-to-file system in which, assuming that the other statutory requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application will be entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether a third party was the first to invent the claimed invention. As such, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our in-licensed issued patents and issued patents we may own or in-license in the future, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Because patent applications in the United States and most other countries are confidential for a period of time after filing or until issuance, we cannot be certain that we or our licensors were the first to either (i) file any patent application related to our product candidates or (ii) invent any of the inventions claimed in our or our licensor’s patents or patent applications.
The America Invents Act also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and also may affect patent litigation. These include allowing third party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review, and derivation proceedings. Because of a lower evidentiary standard in USPTO proceedings compared to the evidentiary standard in United States federal courts necessary to invalidate a patent claim, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim unpatentable even though the same evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if first presented in a district court action. Accordingly, a third party may attempt to use the USPTO procedures to review patentability of our patent claims that would not have been invalidated if first challenged by the third party as a defendant in a district court action. Therefore, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our owned or in-licensed patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our owned or in-licensed issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
In addition, the patent positions of companies in the development and commercialization of biologics and pharmaceuticals are particularly uncertain. Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances and weakened the rights of patent owners in certain situations. As one example, in the case Assoc. for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court held that certain claims to DNA molecules are not patentable simply because they have been isolated from surrounding material. Moreover, in 2012, the USPTO issued a guidance memo to patent examiners indicating that process claims directed to a law of nature, a natural phenomenon or a naturally occurring relation or correlation that do not include additional elements or steps that integrate the natural principle into the claimed invention such that the natural principle is practically applied and the claim amounts to significantly more than the natural principle itself should be rejected as directed to patent-ineligible subject matter. Accordingly, in view of the guidance memo, there can be no assurance that claims in our patent rights covering any product candidates we may develop or our technology will be held by the USPTO or equivalent foreign patent offices or by courts in the United States or in foreign jurisdictions to cover patentable subject matter. This combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the validity and enforceability of patents once obtained. Depending on future actions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that could have a material adverse effect on our patent rights and our ability to protect, defend and enforce our patent rights in the future.
Changes in tax laws or regulations or in their implementation or interpretation may adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Income, sales, use or other tax laws, statutes, rules, or regulations could be enacted or amended at any time, which could affect our business or financial condition, including causing potentially adverse impacts to our effective tax rate, tax liabilities and cash tax obligations. For example, the IRA was signed into law in August 2022, and the OBBBA was signed into law in July 2025. The IRA introduced new tax provisions, and in particular imposes a 1% excise tax on certain stock repurchases by publicly traded corporations. The OBBBA contains numerous tax provisions that we are currently in the process of evaluating, and which may significantly affect our business or financial condition. The recent changes under the OBBBA include tax rate extensions and changes to the business interest deduction limitation, the expensing of domestic research and development expenditures (in contrast to the continued capitalization and amortization of foreign research and development expenditures), the bonus depreciation deduction rules and the international tax framework. Regulatory guidance under the IRA, the OBBBA, and additional tax-related legislation is and continues to be forthcoming, and such guidance could ultimately increase or lessen the impact of these laws on our business and financial condition. In addition, it is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to such legislation.
Disruptions at the FDA and other government agencies from funding cuts, personnel losses, regulatory reforms, government shutdowns and other developments could hinder our ability to obtain guidance from the FDA regarding our clinical development programs and develop and secure approval of our product candidates in a timely manner, which would negatively impact our business.
The FDA and comparable regulatory agencies in foreign jurisdictions, such as the EMA and Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, play an important role in the development of our product candidates by providing guidance on our clinical development programs and reviewing our regulatory submissions, including INDs, requests for special designations and marketing applications. If these oversight and review activities are disrupted, then correspondingly our ability to develop and secure timely approval of our product candidates could be impacted in a negative manner.
For example, the recent loss of FDA leadership and personnel could lead to disruptions and delays in FDA guidance, review and approval of our product candidates. Pursuant to President Trump's executive order 14210, “Implementing the
President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” the Secretary of HHS announced on March 27, 2025, a reorganization and Reduction in Force, or RIF, across HHS of approximately 20,000 employees (82,000 to 62,000), with the FDA’s workforce of approximately 20,000 to decrease by 3,500 full-time employees. Subsequently, the FDA indicated that roughly a quarter of those employees who received RIF notices had been reinstated. On July 14, 2025, following litigation reaching the U.S. Supreme Court, the administration began to carry out these layoffs across HHS, including the FDA. There are also ongoing deliberations within the administration and Congress over potentially substantial proposed cuts to the overall budget for HHS and funding of the FDA for the 2026 federal fiscal year.
While the FDA’s review of marketing applications and other activities for new drugs and biologics is largely funded through the user fee program established under the Prescription Drug User Free Act, or PDUFA, it remains unclear how the administration’s RIF and budget cuts will impact this program and the ability of the FDA to provide guidance and review our product candidates in a timely manner. For example, while the FDA’s RIF did not reportedly specifically target FDA reviewers, many operations, administrative and policy staff that help support such reviews were affected and those losses could lead to delays in PDUFA reviews and related activities. As of July 15, 2025, there has been at least one report in which the FDA failed to meet a PDUFA goal date for approval of an NDA due to heavy workload and limited resources. In addition, while currently unclear, there is a risk that the RIF and budget cutbacks could threaten the integrity of the PDUFA program itself. That is because, for the FDA to obligate user fees collected under PDUFA in the first place, a certain amount of non-user fee appropriations must be spent on the process for the review of applications plus certain other costs during the same fiscal year.
There is also substantial uncertainty as to how regulatory reform measures being implemented by the Trump administration across the government will impact the FDA and other federal agencies with jurisdiction over our activities. For example, since taking office, President Trump has issued a number of executive orders that could have a significant impact on the manner in which the FDA conducts its operations and engages in regulatory and oversight activities. These include executive order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” January 31, 2025; executive order 14212, “Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission,” February 13, 2025; and executive order 14219, Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency” Deregulatory Initiative,” February 21, 2025. If these or other orders or executive actions impose constraints on the FDA’s ability to engage in oversight and implementation activities in the normal course, our business may be negatively impacted.
Similarly, actions by the U.S. government have significantly disrupted the operations of U.S. government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FDA, which have traditionally provided funding for basic research, research and development, and clinical testing. These U.S. government actions have included, among other things, suspending, terminating and withholding of disbursements of funds owed under ongoing contracts, grants, and other financial assistance agreements; declining to continue multi-year research projects for additional annual budget periods; canceling or delaying solicitations for new contract, grant and other financial assistance awards; canceling or delaying proposal evaluation processes and issuance of such new awards; substantially reducing federal agency staff responsible for managing contract and financial assistance programs; eliminating agency information and resources for facilitating research activity; delaying or terminating federal agency procedures for authorizing international transactions; initiating aggressive enforcement actions that may disrupt the operations of major research universities that are significant contributors to life sciences research in the U.S., and threatening access to federal agency contracts and other funding awards based on companies’ otherwise lawful corporate policies and choice of counsel. These U.S. government actions could, directly or indirectly, significantly disrupt, delay, prevent, or increase the costs of our research and product commercialization programs, including our ability to develop new product candidates, conduct clinical trials, implement research collaborations with other companies or institutions, and obtain approvals to market and sell new products.
In addition, government funding of the SEC and other government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the SEC, have had to furlough critical employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions and could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
At the same time, disruptions at the FDA and other government agencies may result from public health events similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, during the pandemic, a number of companies announced receipt of complete
response letters due to the FDA’s inability to complete required inspections for their applications. In the event of a similar public health emergency in the future, the FDA may not be able to continue its current pace and review timelines could be extended. Regulatory authorities outside the United States facing similar circumstances may adopt similar restrictions or other policy measures in response to a similar public health emergency and may also experience delays in their regulatory activities.
Accordingly, if any of the foregoing developments or others impact the ability of the FDA to provide us with guidance regarding our clinical development programs or delay the FDA’s review and processing of our regulatory submissions, including INDs and BLAs, our business would be negatively impacted. Further, any future government shutdown could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
Our disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all errors or acts of fraud.
We are subject to certain reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. We believe that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by an unauthorized override of the controls. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in our control system, misstatements or insufficient disclosures due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not Applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
Director and Officer Trading Arrangements
None of our directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or a non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K) during the quarterly period covered by this report.
Item 6. Exhibits.
| | |
Exhibit Number | | Description |
| | |
10.1*+^ | | Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2025, by and among the Company, Hercules Capital, Inc., in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for the lenders, and the lenders party thereto. |
| | |
31.1* | | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | |
31.2* | | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | |
32.1† | | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | |
32.2† | | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | |
101.INS | | Inline XBRL Instance Document |
101.SCH | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.CAL | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
101.DEF | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
101.LAB | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
101.PRE | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
104 | | The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2025, has been formatted in Inline XBRL. |
* Filed herewith.
+ Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K.
^ Corrected version of exhibit previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2025.
† The certifications attached as Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 that accompany this Quarterly Report, are deemed furnished and not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Dyne Therapeutics, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Quarterly Report, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| | | |
| | DYNE THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
| | | |
Date: July 28, 2025 | | By: | /s/ John G. Cox |
| | | John G. Cox |
| | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | (Principal Executive Officer) |
| | | |
Date: July 28, 2025 | | By: | /s/ Erick Lucera |
| | | Erick Lucera |
| | | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| | | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
EX-10.1 Certain identified information has been excluded from the exhibit because it is both (i) not material and (ii) is the type of information that the registrant treats as private or confidential. Double asterisks denote omissions.
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT is made and dated as of June 27, 2025 and is entered into by and among DYNE THERAPEUTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), each other Person that has delivered a Joinder Agreement pursuant to Section 7.13 from time to time party hereto (together with Company, individually or collectively, as the context may require, “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time party hereto (each, a “Lender”, and collectively “Lenders”) and HERCULES CAPITAL, INC., a Maryland corporation, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for itself and Lenders (in such capacity, including any successors or assigns, “Agent”).
RECITALS
A. Borrower has requested Lenders make available to Borrower up to five (5) tranches of term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to Two Hundred Seventy-Five Million Dollars ($275,000,000) (the “Term Loans”); and
B. Lenders are willing to make the Term Loans on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, Borrower, Agent and Lenders agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Unless otherwise defined herein, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
“Account Control Agreement(s)” means any agreement entered into by and among Agent, Borrower and a third-party bank or other institution (including a Securities Intermediary) in which Borrower maintains a Deposit Account or an account holding Investment Property and which perfects Agent’s first priority security interest in the subject account or accounts.
“ACH Authorization” means the ACH Debit Authorization Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit H, which account numbers shall be redacted for security purposes if and when filed publicly by Borrower.
“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, Indebtedness (other than indebtedness for borrowed money) of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person and not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging, amalgamating or consolidating with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person.
“Acquisition” means any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business, line of business or division or other unit of operation of a Person, (b) the acquisition of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Equity Interests of any Person, whether or not involving a merger, consolidation or similar transaction with such other Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary of Borrower, or (c) the acquisition of, or the right to use, develop or sell (in each case, including through licensing (other than “off-the-shelf” licenses or non-exclusive licenses that are granted in connection with services, vendor or similar contracts where the grant of intellectual property rights is ancillary to the services to be rendered or products to be provided under such contract), any product, product line or intellectual property of or from any other Person.
“Acquisition Deferred Payments” means, with respect to an Acquisition, any “earnouts,” holdbacks, performance based-milestones, royalties, purchase price adjustments, profit sharing arrangements, deferred purchase money amounts, indemnifications, non-competition agreements, incentive payments, and other similar payment
obligations, and other contingent obligations and agreements consisting of the adjustment of purchase price or similar adjustments.
“Advance(s)” means a Term Loan Advance.
“Advance Date” means the funding date of any Advance.
“Advance Request” means a request for an Advance submitted by Borrower to Agent in substantially the form of Exhibit A, which account numbers shall be redacted for security purposes if and when filed publicly by Borrower.
“Affiliate” means (a) any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Person in question, (b) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of another Person, (c) any Person ten percent (10%) or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held by another Person with power to vote such securities, or (d) any Person related by blood or marriage to any Person described in subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this definition. As used in the definition of “Affiliate,” the term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” means this Loan and Security Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Borrower or any of its Affiliates from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including without limitation the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar legislation in any other jurisdictions.
“Anti-Terrorism Laws” means any laws, rules, regulations or orders relating to terrorism or money laundering, including without limitation Executive Order No. 13224 (effective September 24, 2001), the USA PATRIOT Act, the laws comprising or implementing the Bank Secrecy Act, and the laws administered by OFAC.
“Bankruptcy Code” means the federal bankruptcy law of the United States as from time to time in effect, currently as Title 11 of the United States Code. Section references to current sections of the Bankruptcy Code shall refer to comparable sections of any revised version thereof if section numbering is changed.
“Biologics License Application” means an application for licensure of a biological product submitted to the FDA under 42 U.S.C. § 262(k) for permission to introduce, or deliver for introduction, a biologic product into interstate commerce.
“Blocked Person” means any Person: (a) listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, Executive Order No. 13224, (b) owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, Executive Order No. 13224, (c) with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law, (d) that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in Executive Order No. 13224, or (e) that is named a “specially designated national” or “blocked person” on the most current list published by OFAC or other similar list.
“Board Approved Forecast” means the Net Product Revenue projections approved by Company’s Board of Directors and delivered in accordance with Section 7.1(i), which projections must be acceptable to Agent in its reasonable discretion.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person that is a corporation, its board of directors, with respect to any Person that is a limited liability company, its board of managers, board of members or similar
governing body, and with respect to any other Person that is another form of a legal entity, such Person’s governing body in accordance with its Organizational Documents.
“Borrower Products” means all products, software, service offerings, technical data or technology currently being designed, manufactured or sold or that are under clinical investigation or development by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries intends to sell, license, or distribute in the future including any products or service offerings under development, collectively, together with all products, software, service offerings, technical data or technology that have been sold, licensed or distributed by Borrower since its incorporation and remain material to its business.
“Borrower’s Books” means Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ books and records including ledgers, federal, state, local and foreign tax returns, records regarding Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ assets or liabilities, the Collateral, business operations or financial condition, and all computer programs or storage or any equipment containing such information.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday and any other day on which banking institutions in the State of California are closed for business.
“Cash” means all cash, cash equivalents and liquid funds, in each case, excluding any Digital Assets.
“Change in Control” means (a) at any time, any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), shall become, or obtain rights (whether by means of warrants, options or otherwise) to become, the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors, partners, managers and members, as applicable, of Company (determined on a fully diluted basis); (b) “change of control”, “fundamental change”, “make-whole fundamental change” or any comparable term under and as defined in any indenture governing any Permitted Convertible Debt Financing has occurred; (c) [reserved]; or (d) at any time, Company shall cease to own and control, of record and beneficially, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100.0%) of each class of outstanding stock, partnership, membership, or other ownership interest or other equity securities of each Subsidiary of Company, except in connection with a joint venture or strategic alliance permitted by Section 7.6 or a transaction permitted by Section 7.9, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens).
“Charter” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s incorporation, formation or equivalent documents, as in effect from time to time.
“Closing Date” means the date of this Agreement.
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral Claim” means any and all present and future “claims” (used in its broadest sense, as contemplated by and defined in Section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code, but without regard to whether such claim would be disallowed under the Bankruptcy Code) of a Lender now or hereafter arising or existing under or relating to this Agreement and related Loan Documents, whether joint, several, or joint and several, whether fixed or indeterminate, due or not yet due, contingent or non-contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, or disputed or undisputed, whether under a guaranty or a letter of credit, and whether arising under contract, in tort, by law, or otherwise, any interest or fees thereon (including interest or fees that accrue after the filing of a petition by or against Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, irrespective of whether allowable under the Bankruptcy Code), any costs of Enforcement Actions, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, and any prepayment or termination premiums.
“Common Stock” means the Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of Company.
“Company IP” means any and all of the following, as they exist in and throughout the United States of America: (a) Current Company IP; (b) improvements, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, provisionals or
any substitute applications, any Patent issued with respect to any of the Current Company IP, any Patent right claiming the composition of matter of, or the method of making or using, the Borrower Products in the United States of America, any reissue, reexamination, renewal or Patent term extension or adjustment (including any supplementary protection certificate) of any such Patent, and any confirmation Patent or registration Patent or patent of addition based on any such Patent; (c) trade secrets or trade secret rights, including any rights to unpatented inventions, know-how, show-how, operating manuals, confidential or proprietary information, research in progress, algorithms, data, databases, data collections, designs, processes, procedures, methods, protocols, materials, formulae, drawings, schematics, blueprints, flow charts, models, strategies, prototypes, techniques, and the results of experimentation and testing, including samples, in each case, as specifically related to any research, development, manufacture, production, use, commercialization, marketing, importing, storage, transport, offer for sale, distribution or sale of the Borrower Products; (d) any and all IP Ancillary Rights specifically relating to any of the foregoing; and (e) regulatory filings, submissions and approvals related to any research, development, manufacture, production, use, commercialization, marketing, importing, storage, transport, offer for sale, distribution or sale of the Products and all data provided in any of the foregoing.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.
“Contingent Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to (i) any Indebtedness of another Person, including any such obligation directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made or discounted or sold with recourse by that Person, or in respect of which that Person is otherwise directly or indirectly liable; (ii) any obligations with respect to undrawn letters of credit, corporate credit cards or merchant services issued for the account of that Person; and (iii) all obligations arising under any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designed to protect a Person against fluctuation in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices; provided, however, that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed, without duplication of the primary obligation, to be an amount equal to the stated or determined amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person in good faith; provided, however, that such amount shall not in any event exceed the maximum amount of the obligations under the guarantee or other support arrangement. For the avoidance of doubt, no Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction will be considered a Contingent Obligation of Borrower.
“Copyright License” means any written agreement granting any right to use any Copyright or Copyright registration, now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower or in which Borrower now holds or hereafter acquires any interest.
“Copyrights” means all copyrights, whether registered or unregistered, held pursuant to the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof, or of any other country.
“Default” means any event, circumstance or condition that has occurred or exists, that would, with the passage of time or the requirement that notice be given or both, become an Event of Default.
“Deposit Accounts” means any “deposit accounts”, as such term is defined in the UCC, and includes any checking account, savings account, or certificate of deposit.
“Digital Assets” means all cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies, coins, tokens and other digital assets.
“Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which they are convertible or for which they are exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) mature or are mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Secured Obligations (other than Surviving Obligations)), (b) are redeemable at the option (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full
of the Secured Obligations (other than Surviving Obligations)) of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provide for scheduled payments of dividends in Cash, or (d) are or become convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Term Loan Maturity Date; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of any employee, officer, director, manager or consultant of a Loan Party, any Subsidiary thereof, or by any such plan to such employee, officer, director, manager or consultant, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by a Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of the termination, death or disability of such employee, officer director, manager or consultant.
“Division” means, in reference to any Person which is an entity, the division of such Person into two (2) or more separate Persons, with the dividing Person either continuing or terminating its existence as part of such division, including, without limitation, as contemplated under Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act for limited liability companies formed under Delaware law, Section 17-220 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act for limited partnerships formed under Delaware law, or any analogous action taken pursuant to any other applicable law with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof, the District of Columbia, or any other jurisdiction within the United States of America.
“Enforcement Action” means, with respect to any Lender and with respect to any Collateral Claim of such Lender or any item of Collateral in which such Lender has or claims a security interest lien or right of offset, any action, whether judicial or nonjudicial, to repossess, collect, accelerate, offset, recoup, give notification to third parties with respect to, sell, dispose of, foreclose upon, give notice of sale, disposition, or foreclosure with respect to, or obtain equitable or injunctive relief with respect to, such Collateral Claim or Collateral. The filing, or the joining in the filing, by any Lender of an involuntary bankruptcy or Insolvency Proceeding against Borrower also is an Enforcement Action.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, the capital stock, partnership or limited liability company interest, or other equity securities or equity ownership interests of such Person.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Accounts” means any of the following Deposit Accounts which are designated as such in writing to Agent as of the Closing Date or, with respect to any Deposit Account opened after the Closing Date, in the next Compliance Certificate delivered after such Deposit Account is opened: (a) Deposit Accounts exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes, and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of Borrower’s employees holding an aggregate amount across all such accounts of not more than amounts needed for the then-next two (2) payroll cycles, (b) any Deposit Account which is a zero-balance disbursement account, (c) any Deposit Account which is solely used for disbursements and payments of withheld income taxes, payroll taxes and/or federal, state or local employee taxes, (d) any Deposit Account which is solely used as a trust account, escrow account, or other fiduciary account, and (e) accounts used exclusively to maintain cash collateral subject to a Permitted Lien.
“Excluded Subsidiaries” means (a) the MSC Subsidiary, and (b) all Foreign Subsidiaries that (i) generate in the aggregate less than 5.00% of the consolidated trailing twelve month revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements of the Company are available, (ii) hold in the aggregate assets that constitute less than 5.00% of consolidated total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, at any time, (iii) hold in the aggregate Cash less than of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) at any time, and (iv) holds no Intellectual Property; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, an Excluded Subsidiary may license Intellectual Property on a non-exclusive basis or own de minimis Intellectual Property such as Trademarks protecting its name or logo; provided further that, if the
aforementioned thresholds are exceeded at any time, then Borrower shall designate in writing to the Agent one or more of such Foreign Subsidiaries to become a Borrower to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess.
“FDA” means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any successor thereto.
“FDA Laws” means all applicable guidelines, policies and Requirements of Law administered, implemented, enforced or issued by FDA or any comparable governmental authority.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary other than any Domestic Subsidiary.
“Funding Account” means the deposit account maintained by [**], bearing account number [**] in which Borrower has an interest (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be the account into which the proceeds of the Loan will be funded into on the Closing Date).
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time.
“Governmental Approval” means any consent, authorization, approval, order, license, franchise, permit, certificate, accreditation, registration, filing or notice, of, issued by, from or to, or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, national or other government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof (including the FDA) or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether associated with a state or locality of the United States, the United States, or a foreign government.
“Guarantor” means any Subsidiary of Borrower that enters into a Guaranty.
“Guaranty” means a guaranty with respect to the Secured Obligations, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent that may be entered into from time to time, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented.
“Hedge Agreement” means any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, fuel or mineral or other commodity hedge or exchange agreement or any other agreement or arrangement entered into for non-speculative purposes designated to protect a Person against fluctuation in interest rates currency exchange rates, commodity or mineral prices other than in connection with a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction.
“Indebtedness” means indebtedness of any kind, including (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding trade credit entered into in the ordinary course of business due within ninety (90) days), including reimbursement and other obligations with respect to surety bonds and letters of credit, (b) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (c) all capital lease obligations, (d) all obligations to purchase, redeem, retire or defease Disqualified Equity Interests, (e) “earnouts”, purchase price adjustments, profit sharing arrangements, deferred purchase money amounts and similar payment obligations or continuing obligations of any nature arising out of purchase and sale contracts but only in each case of the foregoing as and to the extent of the amount required to be reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (f) [reserved], (g) non-contingent obligations to reimburse any bank or Person in respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar instrument, and (h) all Contingent Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, no Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction will be considered Indebtedness of Borrower.
“Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding by or against any Person under the United States Bankruptcy Code, or any other bankruptcy, liquidation, moratorium, receivership, or insolvency law, including assignments for the benefit of creditors, compositions, extensions generally with its creditors, or proceedings
seeking reorganization, administration, arrangement, receivership or other similar relief proceedings in the applicable jurisdiction from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Intellectual Property” means all of Borrower’s Copyrights; Trademarks; Patents; Licenses; trade secrets and inventions; mask works; Borrower’s applications therefor and reissues, extensions, or renewals thereof; and Borrower’s goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, together with Borrower’s rights to sue for past, present and future infringement of Intellectual Property and the goodwill associated therewith.
“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means the Intellectual Property Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date between Loan Parties and Agent, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented.
“Investment” means (a) any beneficial ownership (including stock, shares, partnership interests, limited liability company interests, or other equity securities or ownership interests) of or in any Person, (b) any loan, advance or capital contribution to any Person, (c) any Acquisition, or (d) other transfers on behalf of or in connection with any equity ownership or similar transfers.
“IP Ancillary Rights” means, with respect to any Copyright, Trademark, Patent, software, trade secrets or trade secret rights, including any rights to unpatented inventions, know-how, show-how and operating manuals, all income, royalties, proceeds and liabilities at any time due or payable or asserted under or with respect to any of the foregoing or otherwise with respect thereto, including all rights to sue or recover at law or in equity for any past, present or future infringement, misappropriation, dilution, violation or other impairment thereof, and, in each case, all rights to obtain any other intellectual property right ancillary to any Copyright, Trademark, Patent, software, trade secrets or trade secret rights.
“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“Joinder Agreements” means for each Subsidiary required to join as a Borrower or as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 7.13, a completed and executed Joinder Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.
“License” means any Copyright License, Patent License, Trademark License or other Intellectual Property license of rights or interests.
“Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment for security, security interest, encumbrance, levy, lien or charge of any kind, whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of law or otherwise, against any property, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature of a security interest.
“Loan” means the Advances made under this Agreement.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the promissory notes (if any), the ACH Authorization, the Account Control Agreements, any Joinder Agreement, all UCC Financing Statements, any Guaranty, the Pledge Agreement, the Intellectual Property Security Agreement, and any other documents executed in connection with the Secured Obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated.
“Loan Party” means Borrower or any Guarantor.
“Market Capitalization” means, for any given date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the average of the daily volume weighted average price of Company’s common Equity Interests as reported for each of the five (5) Trading Days preceding such date of determination multiplied by (b) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Company’s common Equity Interests that are issued and outstanding on the date of the determination and listed on the Principal Stock Exchange, subject to appropriate adjustment for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.
“Market Disruption Event” means any of the following events: (a) any suspension of, or limitation imposed on, trading by the Principal Stock Exchange in shares of common Equity Interests during any period or periods aggregating one hour or longer and whether by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the Principal Stock Exchange or otherwise relating to the common Equity Interests; or (b) the failure to open of the exchange or quotation system on which the common Equity Interests are traded or the closure of such exchange or quotation system prior to its respective scheduled closing time for the regular trading session on such day (without regard to after hours or other trading outside the regular trading session hours).
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect upon: (i) the business, operations, properties, assets or financial condition of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (ii) the ability of Borrower to perform or pay the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, or the ability of Agent or Lenders to enforce any of its rights or remedies with respect to the Secured Obligations; or (iii) the Collateral or Agent’s Liens on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens.
“Material Agreement” means any license, agreement or other contractual arrangement the termination of which before the end of its stated term could be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect individually or in the aggregate.
“Material Regulatory Liabilities” means (a) (i) any liabilities arising from the violation of applicable laws, rules or regulations (including FDA Laws), or necessary to remedy any violation of any terms or conditions applicable to any Registrations), including, but not limited to, withdrawal of approval, recall, revocation, suspension, import detention and seizure of any Borrower Product, and (ii) any loss of recurring annual revenues as a result of any loss, suspension or limitation of any Registrations, which, in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
“Milestone” means, individually and collectively, Data Milestone 1, Data Milestone 2, Approval Milestone 1, Approval Milestone 2, Commercial Milestone and Financing Milestone.
“MSC Investment Conditions” means that Borrower maintains Qualified Cash in an amount equal to or greater than the lesser of (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate outstanding Secured Obligations (inclusive of any Prepayment Charge and End of Term Charge that would be due and owing if the outstanding Loans were prepaid at the time of measurement) or (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of the consolidated Cash of Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Cash held in an Excluded Account), unless compliance with the foregoing conditions are waived in writing from time to time by Agent (in its sole discretion) with respect to specified periods.
“MSC Subsidiary” means Dyne Therapeutics Securities Corporation, a wholly-owned Subsidiary incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the purpose of holding Investments as a Massachusetts security corporation under 830 CMR 63.38B.1 of the Massachusetts tax code and applicable regulations (as the same may be amended, modified or replaced from time to time).
“Net Product Revenue” means Borrower’s net product revenue (as determined in accordance with GAAP) solely from the sale of DYNE-101 and DYNE-251, which shall not include any royalty, profit sharing, sales-based milestone revenue, upfront or non-sales-based milestone payments under business development or licensing transactions, measured on as of the date of the most recently delivered monthly or quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 7.1(a) or Section 7.1(b). For the avoidance of doubt, net product revenue shall not include any of the following to the extent not recognizable as revenue in accordance with GAAP: (i) trade, quantity and cash discounts allowed by Borrower, (ii) discounts, refunds, rebates, charge backs, retroactive price adjustment and any other allowances which effectively reduce net selling price, (iii) product returns and allowances, (iv) allowances for shipping or other distribution expenses, (v) set-offs and counterclaims, and (vi) any other similar and customary deductions that are typically deducted from gross revenue and not included in net revenue in accordance with GAAP.
“Non-Disclosure Agreement” means that certain Confidentiality Agreement by and between Company and Agent dated as of [**].
“OFAC” means the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“OFAC Lists” means, collectively, the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by OFAC pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224, 66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (Sept. 25, 2001) and/or any other list of terrorists or other restricted Persons maintained pursuant to any of the rules and regulations of OFAC or pursuant to any other applicable Executive Orders.
“Organizational Documents” means with respect to any Person, such Person’s Charter, and (a) if such Person is a corporation, its bylaws, (b) if such Person is a limited liability company, its limited liability company agreement (or similar agreement), and (c) if such Person is a partnership, its partnership agreement (or similar agreement), each of the foregoing with all current amendments or modifications thereto.
“Paid in Full”, “Pay in Full” or “Payment in Full” shall mean the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all Secured Obligations other than inchoate indemnification obligations which, by their terms, survive termination of this Agreement (such obligations, “Surviving Obligations”) and Lenders have no further commitment or obligation hereunder or under any other Loan Documents to make any further Advances.
“Patent License” means any written agreement granting any right with respect to any invention on which a Patent is in existence or a Patent application is pending, in which agreement Borrower now holds or hereafter acquires any interest.
“Patents” means all letters patent of, or rights corresponding thereto, in the United States of America or in any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent of, or rights corresponding thereto, in the United States of America or any other country.
“Perfection Certificate” means a completed certificate entitled “Perfection Certificate”, dated as of the Closing Date, delivered by Company to Agent and Lenders, signed by Company (as amended or supplemented pursuant to the terms of this Agreement).
“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition which is conducted in accordance with the following requirements:
(i) of a business or Person or product engaged in a line of business related to that of Borrower or its Subsidiaries;
(ii) if such Acquisition is structured as a stock acquisition, then the Person so acquired shall (a) be domiciled in the United States of America, and (b) either (1) become a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Borrower or of a Subsidiary and Borrower shall comply, or cause such Subsidiary to comply, with Section 7.13 or (2) such Person shall be merged with and into Borrower (with Borrower being the surviving entity);
(iii) if such Acquisition is structured as the acquisition or in-licensing of assets, the assets acquired in the case of an acquisition (or, in the case of in-licensing, the rights to use such assets in accordance with the license agreement) shall be (a) except for de-minimis assets or any assets acquired in an in-licensing transaction, located entirely in the United States of America, (b) acquired by Borrower or a newly-organized wholly-owned Subsidiary (in which event such Subsidiary shall comply with Section 7.13 hereof), and (c) free and clear of Liens other than Permitted Liens;
(iv) Borrower shall have delivered to Lenders not less than fifteen (15) (or such shorter period as Agent may agree) nor more than forty five (45) days prior to the closing date of such Acquisition, (a) notice of such Acquisition together with copies of all material documents relating to such Acquisition, and, (b) in the case of a stock acquisition or the acquisition of a division or line of business, pro forma projected financial information and historical financial statements for such acquired entity, division or line of business (in each case, to the extent applicable), in each case in a form reasonably satisfactory to Lenders and demonstrating compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.21 then in effect on a pro forma basis as if the Acquisition occurred on the first day of the most recent measurement period;
(v) both immediately before and after such Acquisition no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(vi) the sum of the purchase price of such proposed new Acquisition, computed on the basis of total acquisition consideration paid or incurred, or to be paid or incurred, by Borrower with respect thereto, including any unpaid Acquisition Deferred Payment that is not required to be reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of Borrower in accordance with GAAP, and including the amount of Permitted Indebtedness assumed or to which such assets, businesses or business or ownership interest or shares, or any Person so acquired, is subject, shall not be greater than (x) until such time as Borrower achieves either Approval Milestone I or the Approval Milestone II (i) [**] Dollars ($[**]) per fiscal year for any single acquisition or group of related acquisitions or (ii) [**] Dollars ($[**]) for all such acquisitions during the term of this Agreement and (y) after Borrower achieves either Approval Milestone I or the Approval Milestone II (i) [**] Dollars ($[**]) per fiscal year for any single acquisition or group of related acquisitions or (ii) [**] Dollars ($[**]) for all such acquisitions during the term of this Agreement; provided that (1) acquisition consideration funded by proceeds from the sale and issuance of Borrower’s Qualified Equity Interests in a transaction not resulting in a Change in Control, which sale and issuance has a primary purpose to fund such Acquisition, and which sale and issuance is consummated substantially contemporaneously with (and in any event, prior to, but no more than thirty (30) days prior to) the consummation of such Acquisition, shall be disregarded in determining compliance with this clause (vi); (2) for any Acquisition in which the consideration consists solely of Qualified Equity Interests of Borrower, the value of such Qualified Equity Interests shall be disregarded in determining compliance with this clause (vi).
“Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to Common Stock (or other securities or property following a merger event or other change of Common Stock) purchased by Borrower in connection with the issuance of any Permitted Convertible Debt Financing.
“Permitted Convertible Debt Financing” means issuance by Company of convertible notes in one or more transactions in an aggregate principal amount of not more than [**] Dollars ($[**]) (“Permitted Convertible Debt”); provided that such convertible notes shall (a) both immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect (including pro forma effect) thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom, (b) have no scheduled amortization or principal payments, mandatory redemptions or other required payments of principal prior to the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Term Loan Maturity Date, other than customary payments upon a “change of control”, “fundamental change”, “make-whole fundamental change” or any comparable term (it being understood that a holder’s option to convert any such Indebtedness into Common Stock (and Cash in lieu of fractional shares) shall not be considered a required mandatory redemption or payment of principal and payments of interest shall be permitted), (c) be unsecured or secured, (d) not be guaranteed by any Subsidiary of Company that is not a Borrower or a guarantor of the Secured Obligations, (e) if secured, contain usual and customary subordination terms for underwritten offerings of senior subordinated convertible notes, (f) shall be Indebtedness of Company and not of any Subsidiary thereof, and (g) if secured, shall specifically designate this Agreement and all Secured Obligations as “designated senior indebtedness” or similar term so that the subordination terms referred to in clause (e) of this definition specifically refer to such notes as being subordinated to the Secured Obligations pursuant to such subordination terms. For the avoidance of doubt, Permitted Convertible Debt Financing shall not constitute Subordinated Indebtedness.
“Permitted Indebtedness” means:
(i) Indebtedness of Borrower in favor of any Lender or Agent arising under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(ii) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date which is disclosed in Schedule 1A;
(iii) Indebtedness of up to [**] Dollars ($[**]) outstanding at any time secured by a Lien described in clause (vii) of the defined term “Permitted Liens,” provided such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost of the Equipment, software or other Intellectual Property financed with such Indebtedness plus customary fees, expenses and taxes;
(iv) Indebtedness to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than trade credit that is past due by more than one hundred twenty (120) days), including such Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business with corporate credit cards in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) at any time;
(v) Indebtedness that also constitutes a Permitted Investment or is secured by a Permitted Lien;
(vi) Subordinated Indebtedness;
(vii) reimbursement obligations in connection with letters of credit or Hedge Agreements (entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate, exchange rate or commodity price risks and not for speculative purposes), that are at any time outstanding and secured by Cash and issued on behalf of Borrower or a Subsidiary in an amount not to exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]);
(viii) other unsecured Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) at any time outstanding;
(ix) intercompany Indebtedness of (A) any Loan Party owing to another Loan Party, or (B) any Foreign Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary resulting from a Permitted Investment in accordance with clause (x) of the defined term “Permitted Investments”;
(x) the Permitted Convertible Debt Financing;
(xi) Indebtedness with respect to a Permitted Royalty Transaction;
(xii) Indebtedness incurred as a result of endorsing negotiable instruments received in the ordinary course of business;
(xiii) Indebtedness consisting of financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business;
(xiv) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protection and similar arrangements in connection with deposit or securities accounts in the ordinary course of business;
(xv) Indebtedness consisting of guarantees with respect to surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, completion guarantees, and similar obligations up to an aggregate amount of [**] Dollars ($[**]) at any one time outstanding;
(xvi) Acquired Indebtedness not to exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) outstanding;
(xvii) Indebtedness in respect of Acquisition Deferred Payments incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions;
(xviii) extensions, refinancings and renewals of any items of Permitted Indebtedness, provided that the principal amount is not increased or the terms modified to impose materially more burdensome (taken as a whole) terms upon Borrower or its Subsidiary, as the case may be.
“Permitted Investment” means:
(i) Investments existing on the Closing Date which are disclosed in Schedule 1B;
(ii) (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency or any State thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof currently having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either Standard & Poor’s Corporation or Moody’s Investors Service, (b) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and currently having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either Standard & Poor’s Corporation or Moody’s Investors Service, (c) certificates of deposit maturing no more than one year from the date of investment therein, which are either (x) issued by any bank with assets of at least Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000), or (y) are fully FDIC-insured, (d) money market accounts, and (e) Investments permitted by Borrower’s investment policy as provided to Agent and Lenders prior to the Closing Date, as amended from time to time; provided that any material amendments thereto have been approved in writing by Agent and the Lenders in their reasonable discretion;
(iii) repurchases of stock of Borrower from former employees, directors, or consultants of Borrower under the terms of applicable repurchase agreements at the original issuance price of such securities in an aggregate amount not to exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) in any fiscal year, provided that no Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would exist after giving effect to the repurchases;
(iv) Investments accepted in connection with Permitted Transfers;
(v) Investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of customers or suppliers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers or suppliers arising in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business;
(vi) Investments consisting of notes receivable of, or prepaid royalties and other credit extensions, to customers and suppliers who are not Affiliates, in the ordinary course of business, provided that this subsection (vi) shall not apply to Investments of any Loan Party in any Subsidiary of a Loan Party;
(vii) Investments consisting of loans not involving the net transfer on a substantially contemporaneous basis of cash proceeds to employees, officers or directors relating to the purchase of capital stock of Company pursuant to employee stock purchase plans or other similar agreements approved by Company’s Board of Directors;
(viii) Investments consisting of: (A) travel advances and employee relocation loans in the ordinary course of business, and (B) loans to employees, officers, managers or directors relating to the purchase of equity securities of Borrower pursuant to employee stock purchase plans or agreements approved by Borrower’s Board of Directors or similar governing body; not to exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) in the aggregate for (A) and (B), collectively, from the Closing Date until Payment in Full;
(ix) Investments in newly-formed Subsidiaries, provided that each such Subsidiary has complied with Section 7.13;
(x) Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries that are Excluded Subsidiaries (including newly-formed Foreign Subsidiaries) not to exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) in the aggregate in any fiscal year, and other amounts approved in advance in writing by Agent;
(xi) Investments in the MSC Subsidiary, so long as an Event of Default does not exist at the time of such Investment and would not exist after giving effect to such Investment and provided that Borrower is, before and after giving effect to such Investment, in compliance with the MSC Investment Conditions;
(xii) joint ventures or strategic alliances in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business consisting of the nonexclusive licensing of technology, the development of technology or the providing of technical support, provided that any cash Investments by Borrower do not exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) in the aggregate in any fiscal year; and provided, further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, any cost-sharing arrangements in connection with collaborative studies with third parties shall not be subject to any such limitation;
(xiii) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions;
(xiv) Investments consisting of Deposit Accounts and securities accounts permitted by this Agreement; and
(xv) additional Investments that do not exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) in the aggregate.
“Permitted Liens” means:
(i) Liens in favor of Agent or Lenders;
(ii) Liens existing on the Closing Date which are disclosed in Schedule 1C;
(iii) Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges or levies, either not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; provided, that Borrower maintains adequate reserves therefor on Borrower’s Books in accordance with GAAP;
(iv) Liens securing claims or demands of materialmen, artisans, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords and other like Persons arising in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business and imposed without action of such parties; provided, that the payment thereof is not yet required;
(v) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in circumstances which do not constitute an Event of Default hereunder;
(vi) the following deposits, to the extent made in the ordinary course of business: deposits under worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security and other similar laws, or to secure the performance of bids, tenders or contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money) or to secure indemnity, performance or other similar bonds for the performance of bids, tenders or contracts (other than for the repayment of
borrowed money) or to secure statutory obligations (other than Liens arising under ERISA or environmental Liens) or surety or appeal bonds, or to secure indemnity, performance or other similar bonds;
(vii) Liens on Equipment or software or other intellectual property constituting purchase money Liens and other Liens in connection with capital leases securing Indebtedness permitted in clause (iii) of “Permitted Indebtedness”;
(viii) Liens incurred in connection with Subordinated Indebtedness;
(ix) leasehold interests in leases or subleases and licenses (other than with respect to Intellectual Property) granted in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the business of the licensor;
(x) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of custom duties that are promptly paid on or before the date they become due;
(xi) Liens on insurance proceeds securing the payment of financed insurance premiums that are promptly paid on or before the date they become due (provided that such Liens extend only to such insurance proceeds and not to any other property or assets);
(xii) statutory and common law rights of set-off and other similar rights as to deposits of cash and securities in favor of banks, other depository institutions and brokerage firms;
(xiii) easements, servitudes, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business so long as they do not materially impair the value or marketability of the related property;
(xiv) (a) Liens on Cash securing obligations permitted under clause (vii) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness and (b) security deposits in connection with real property leases, the combination of (a) and (b) in an aggregate amount not to exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) at any time;
(xv) Licenses that qualify as Permitted Transfers;
(xvi) Liens in connection with a Permitted Royalty Transaction consisting of (i) Liens or back-up Liens solely on the royalty interest purchased pursuant to a true sale Permitted Royalty Transaction and the proceeds thereof, and segregated accounts into which such purchased royalty interests (and only such royalty interests) are paid (such account, a “Permitted Segregated Royalty Account”), or (ii)_Liens on Company IP that comply with clause (b) of the definition of Permitted Royalty Transaction;
(xvii) Liens solely on any Cash earnest money deposits made by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement that constitutes a Permitted Acquisition in an aggregate amount not to exceed [**] percent ([**]%) of the aggregate purchase consideration paid in connection thereto; and
(xviii) Liens incurred in connection with the extension, renewal or refinancing of the Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens; provided, that any extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed or refinanced (as may have been reduced by any payment thereon) does not increase.
“Permitted Out-Licenses” means licenses, sub-licenses and similar arrangements for the use of the Intellectual Property entered into on arms’ length basis, that could not result in a legal transfer of title of the licensed property and which may be exclusive in respects other than territory, and with respect to territory shall be either: (a) non-exclusive; (b) exclusive but only as to discrete geographical areas outside of the United States of America; (c) exclusive as to specific geographic regions or territories including the United States but only as it relates to assets other than DYNE-101 and DYNE-251 for the Duchenne muscular dystrophy or myotonic dystrophy type 1 indications; provided, that, with respect to this clause (c), the same is for a specific disease indication and/or a specific drug target such that it does not limit the use of the Borrower’s technology platform in a manner that would prevent Borrower from continuing to develop DYNE-101 and DYNE-251 in the United States or being able to further develop and transact its technology platform. Agent shall, if reasonably requested by Borrower, enter into customary non-disturbance agreements, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent, in connection with the entry by Borrower or any Subsidiary into any out-license that constitutes a Permitted Out-License.
“Permitted Transfers” means:
(i) sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) Permitted Out-Licenses;
(iii) transfers by and among Borrower and any Subsidiary that has executed a Joinder Agreement;
(iv) transfers constituting the making of Permitted Investments, or the granting of Permitted Liens;
(v) dispositions of worn-out, obsolete or surplus Equipment at fair market value in the ordinary course of business; and
(vi) Transfers consisting of royalty payments in connection with any Permitted Royalty Transaction;
(vii) use of Cash in the ordinary course of business to the extent not prohibited pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents;
(viii) the sale of Qualified Equity Interests to the extent not causing a Change in Control;
(ix) the abandonment, cancellation, allowing to lapse, or other disposition of any Patents, Trademarks or Copyrights that are no longer used or useful to the Loan Parties or, subject to Agent’s approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, are no longer economically practicable to maintain; provided that absence of receipt of Agent’s approval by Borrower within 5 Business Days following Borrower providing notice of such decision shall be deemed to be Agent’s approval; and provided, further, that Agent’s approval shall not be required in relation to routine decisions concerning ex-US and national stage filing strategies occurring in the normal course of prosecution or for any abandonment, cancellation, allowance to lapse, or other disposition that does not result in a complete loss of rights in relation to the Patents, Trademarks, or Copyrights (such as abandoning a patent application in favor of a continuation or divisional application);
(x) subleases of real property or the termination of real property leases in the ordinary course of business;
(xi) transactions permitted under Section 7.9; and
(xii) other Transfers of assets having a fair market value of not more than [**] Dollars ($[**]) in the aggregate in any fiscal year.
“Permitted Royalty Transaction” means either a true royalty or synthetic royalty financing whereby Borrower receives or has rights to receive unencumbered and unrestricted (including, not subject to any redemption, clawback, escrow or similar encumbrance or restriction, but excluding encumbrances and restrictions under the Loan Documents) net cash proceeds of no less than [**] Dollars ($[**]) (or, if a lesser percentage of revenue is sold, no less than a pro-rated amount based on such lesser percentage) in exchange for rights to receive future payments based on net sales, revenue or milestones, as applicable, of DYNE-101 and/or DYNE-251 in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate for all such Permitted Royalty Transactions, [**] percent ([**]%) (or, if a lesser amount of cash proceeds is to be received, no less than a pro-rated percentage based on such lesser amount) of worldwide net sales or revenue, as applicable, of DYNE-101 and/or DYNE-251; provided that such transaction (a) in the case of any synthetic royalty financings (and not royalty purchases or buyouts) with respect to DYNE-101 and/or DYNE-251, shall be subject to an intercreditor agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion, (b) for which any security is granted, shall have such grant of security limited solely to DYNE-101 and/or DYNE-251 and such security is subordinated to Agent’s first priority Lien, and (c) shall not have a guaranteed minimum return payment or “true-up” payment earlier than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Term Loan Maturity Date and/or subject to Payment in Full and if structured as Indebtedness, shall not have a scheduled maturity date earlier than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Term Loan Maturity Date; provided further that Borrower shall not engage in more than one such transaction, for each of DYNE-101 and DYNE-251, at any one time. For the avoidance of doubt, the aforementioned figures shall be scalable (e.g. an amount not less than [**] Dollars ($[**]) for each transaction in exchange for a promise to pay future royalties on net sales of not more than [**]% of total DYNE-101 and/or [**]% of total DYNE-251 net product revenue). Agent shall, if requested by Borrower, release its Lien on purchased revenue streams in connection with a “true sale” of an existing revenue stream that (i) constitutes a Permitted Royalty Transaction, and (ii) is not a synthetic royalty transaction as determined by the Agent in its reasonable business judgment.
“Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to Common Stock (or other securities or property following a merger event or other change of the Common Stock) and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Common Stock) sold by Borrower in connection with any Permitted Convertible Debt Financing and substantially concurrently with any purchase by Borrower of a related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and as may be amended in accordance with its terms; provided that (x) that the terms, conditions and covenants of each such call option transaction are customary for agreements of such type, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Borrower or a committee thereof and (y) such call option transaction would be classified as an equity instrument in accordance with GAAP.
“Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, limited liability company, institution, other entity or government.
“Pledge Agreement” means the Pledge Agreement dated as of the Closing Date between Borrower and Agent, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented.
“Principal Stock Exchange” means the NASDAQ or, if the common Equity Interests are not listed on the NASDAQ, the principal national securities exchange or public quotation system on which the common Equity Interests are then listed for trading or quoted.
“Qualified Cash” means an amount equal to the amount of Borrower’s Cash held in accounts subject to an Account Control Agreement in favor of Agent.
“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Qualified Equity Issuance Net Proceeds” means the cumulative net proceeds in Cash (excluding any conversion of existing notes, share repurchases, or other holdbacks or discounts) received by Company as consideration for any (a) public or private sale or issuance of any Qualified Equity Interests of Company, (b) contribution to the equity capital of Company (other than in exchange for Disqualified Equity Interests), (c) sale or issuance of Indebtedness of Company (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that may be converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests of Company and which constitutes a Permitted Convertible Debt Financing, (d) Permitted Royalty Transaction, (e) sale or issuance of Subordinated Indebtedness, or (f) entry into a Permitted Out-License; provided that the amount of Cash received by Company is, (i) in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, measured at the time made and without adjustment for subsequent changes in value, payable for the fair market value of sale, issuance or contribution and any other property received in connection with such sale, issuance or contribution, and paid by any Person that is not a Loan Party or an Affiliate thereof, and (ii) in the case of clause (c) above, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness sold or issued.
“Receivables” means (i) all of Borrower’s Accounts, Instruments, Documents, Chattel Paper, Supporting Obligations, letters of credit, proceeds of any letter of credit, and Letter of Credit Rights, and (ii) all customer lists, software, and business records related thereto.
“Redemption Conditions” means, with respect to any cash payment in connection with a redemption or prepayment of any Permitted Convertible Debt, satisfaction of each of the following events: (a) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom, and (b) both immediately before and after such redemption, the Borrower’s Qualified Cash shall be no less than [**] percent ([**]%) of the Secured Obligations (inclusive of any Prepayment Charge and End of Term Charge that would be due and owing if the outstanding Term Loan Advances were prepaid at the time of measurement).
“Registration” means any registration, authorization, approval, license, permit, clearance, certificate, and exemption issued or allowed by the FDA or state pharmacy licensing authorities (including, without limitation, new drug applications, Biologics License Applications, abbreviated new drug applications, investigational new drug applications, pricing and reimbursement approvals, labelling approvals or their foreign equivalent, and wholesale distributor permits).
“Required Lenders” means at any time, the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding. “Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions.
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person controlled by any such Person.
“Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.
“SBA Funding Date” means each date on which a Lender which is an SBIC funds any portion of the Term Loans.
“Secured Obligations” means Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement and any Loan Document, including any obligation to pay any amount now owing or later arising.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness subordinated to the Secured Obligations in amounts and on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Agent and subject to a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion.
“Subsidiary” means an entity, whether a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or otherwise, in which Borrower owns or controls, either directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting securities, including each entity listed on Schedule 1.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term Loan” means any Term Loan Advance made under this Agreement.
“Term Loan Advance” means each Tranche 1 Advance, Tranche 2 Advance, Tranche 3 Advance, Tranche 4 Advance, Tranche 5 Advance and any other funds advanced under Section 2.2(a).
“Trademark License” means any written agreement granting any right to use any Trademark or Trademark registration, now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower or in which Borrower now holds or hereafter acquires any interest.
“Trademarks” means all trademarks (registered, common law or otherwise) and any applications in connection therewith, including registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States of America, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof.
“Trading Day” means any day on which (a) there is no Market Disruption Event and (b) the Principal Stock Exchange is open for trading; provided that a “Trading Day” only includes those days that have a scheduled closing time of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) or the then standard closing time for regular trading on the relevant exchange or trading system.
“Tranche” means the Tranche 1 Advance, Tranche 2 Advance, Tranche 3 Advance, Tranche 4 Advance and/or Tranche 5 Advance, as applicable.
“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same is, from time to time, in effect in the State of New York; provided, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Agent’s Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as the same is, from time to time, in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, then the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, from time to time, in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority or remedies and for purposes of definitions related to such provisions.
1.2 The following terms are defined in the Sections or subsections referenced opposite such terms:
| | |
| | |
Defined Term | | Section |
1940 Act | | 5.6(b) |
Act | | 8.1 |
Agent | | Preamble |
Amortization Date | | Exhibit K |
Approval Milestone I | | Exhibit K |
Approval Milestone II | | Exhibit K |
Assignee | | 11.14 |
At-the-Market Offering | | Exhibit K |
| | |
| | |
Borrower | | Preamble |
Claims | | 11.11(a) |
Collateral | | 3.1 |
Commercial Milestone | | Exhibit K |
Company | | Preamble |
Confidential Information | | 11.13 |
Current Company IP | | 5.10(a) |
Data Milestone I | | Exhibit K |
Data Milestone II | | Exhibit K |
Due Diligence Fee | | Exhibit K |
End of Term Charge | | Exhibit K |
End of Term Charge Percentage | | Exhibit K |
Event of Default | | 9 |
Excluded Assets | | 3.2 |
Financial Statements | | 7.1 |
Financing Milestone | | Exhibit K |
First Interest Only Extension Conditions | | Exhibit K |
Indemnified Person | | 6.3 |
Information | | 5.7 |
Initial Facility Charge | | Exhibit K |
Initial Minimum Cash Test Date | | Exhibit K |
Initial Minimum Revenue Test Date | | Exhibit K |
Initial Revenue Trigger Test Date | | Exhibit K |
Lenders | | Preamble |
Liabilities | | 6.3 |
Maximum Rate | | 2.3 |
Maximum Term Loan Amount | | Exhibit K |
Minimum Advance Amount | | Exhibit K |
Participant Register | | 11.8 |
Payment Date | | 2.2(e) |
Permitted Convertible Debt Financing Payments | | 7.24 |
Permitted Segregated Royalty Account | | Clause (xvi) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” |
Prepayment Charge | | Exhibit K |
Prime Rate | | Exhibit K |
Publicity Materials | | 11.19 |
| | |
| | |
Register | | 11.7 |
Second Interest Only Extension Conditions | | Exhibit K |
Subsequent Financing | | Exhibit K |
Subsequent Tranche Facility Charge | | Exhibit K |
Surviving Obligations | | Definition of “Payment in Full” |
Term Commitment | | Exhibit K |
Term Loan Interest Rate | | Exhibit K |
Term Loan Maturity Date | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 1 Advance | | 2.2(a) |
Tranche 1 Commitment | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 2 Advances | | 2.2(a) |
Tranche 2 Commitment | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 2 Commitment Period | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 2 Milestone | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 3 Advances | | 2.2(a) |
Tranche 3 Commitment | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 3 Commitment Period | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 3 Milestone | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 4 Advances | | 2.2(a) |
Tranche 4 Commitment | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 4 Commitment Period | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 4 Milestone | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 5 Commitment | | Exhibit K |
Tranche 5 Commitment Period | | Exhibit K |
Transfer | | 7.8 |
1.3 Unless otherwise specified, all references in this Agreement or any Annex or Schedule hereto to a “Section,” “subsection,” “Exhibit,” “Annex,” or “Schedule” shall refer to the corresponding Section, subsection, Exhibit, Annex, or Schedule in or to this Agreement. Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any accounting term used in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall have the meaning customarily given such term in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date hereof, and all financial computations hereunder shall be computed in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date hereof, consistently applied. Unless otherwise defined herein or in the other Loan Documents, terms that are used herein or in the other Loan Documents and defined in the UCC shall have the meanings given to them in the UCC. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any Division or plan of Division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
1.4 If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, Agent, Lenders and Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP; provided that, until so amended, such requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change.
1.5 Any reference in any Loan Document to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a Division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a Division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any Division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person under the Loan Documents (and each Division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity) on the
first date of its existence. In connection with any Division, if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then such asset shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person.
1.6 Notwithstanding anything in the definition of GAAP to the contrary, any obligations under a lease that is not (or would not be) a capital lease under GAAP as in effect prior to giving effect to FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases, shall not be treated as a capital lease solely as a result of the adoption of changes in GAAP.
SECTION 2. THE LOAN
2.1 [Reserved]
2.2 Term Loan Advances.
(a) Advances.
(i) Tranche 1. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date, Lenders shall severally (and not jointly) make, and Borrower agrees to draw, a Term Loan Advance in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Tranche 1 Commitment (such Term Loan Advance, the “Tranche 1 Advance”).
(ii) Tranche 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Borrower may request, and the Lenders shall severally (and not jointly) make, in each case, at any time during the Tranche 2 Commitment Period, up to three additional Term Loan Advances in minimum increments of the Minimum Advance Amount (or if less, the remaining amount of Term Loan Advances available to be drawn pursuant to this Section 2.2(a)(ii)) in an aggregate principal amount up to the Tranche 2 Commitment (such Term Loan Advances, the “Tranche 2 Advances”).
(iii) Tranche 3. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Borrower may request, and the Lenders shall severally (and not jointly) make, in each case, at any time during the Tranche 3 Commitment Period, up to three additional Term Loan Advances in minimum increments of the Minimum Advance Amount (or if less, the remaining amount of Term Loan Advances available to be drawn pursuant to this Section 2.2(a)(iii)) in an aggregate principal amount up to the Tranche 3 Commitment (such Term Loan Advances, the “Tranche 3 Advances”).
(iv) Tranche 4. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Borrower may request, and the Lenders shall severally (and not jointly) make, in each case, at any time during the Tranche 4 Commitment Period, up to three additional Term Loan Advances in minimum increments of the Minimum Advance Amount (or if less, the remaining amount of Term Loan Advances available to be drawn pursuant to this Section 2.2(a)(iv)) in an aggregate principal amount up to the Tranche 4 Commitment (such Term Loan Advances, the “Tranche 4 Advances”).
(v) Tranche 5. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Borrower may request, and the Lenders shall severally (and not jointly) make, in each case, at any time during the Tranche 5 Commitment Period, and conditioned on approval by Lenders’ investment committee in its sole and unfettered discretion, one or more additional Term Loan Advances in minimum increments of the Minimum Advance Amount (or if less, the remaining amount of Term Loan Advances available to be drawn pursuant to this Section 2.2(a)(v)) in an aggregate principal amount up to the Tranche 5 Commitment (such Term Loan Advances, the “Tranche 5 Advances”).
(b) Maximum Term Loan Amount. The aggregate outstanding Term Loan Advances shall not exceed the Maximum Term Loan Amount. Each Term Loan Advance of each Lender shall not exceed its respective Term Commitment. After repayment, no Term Loan Advance (or any portion thereof) may be reborrowed.
(c) Advance Request. To obtain a Term Loan Advance, Borrower shall complete, sign and deliver an Advance Request (at least one (1) Business Day before the Closing Date and at least five (5) Business Days before each Advance Date other than the Closing Date) to Agent. Lenders shall fund the Term Loan Advance in the manner requested by the Advance Request provided that each of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 and applicable to such Term Loan Advance is satisfied as of the requested Advance Date. The proceeds of any Term Loan Advance shall be deposited into an account that is subject to an Account Control Agreement.
(d) Interest.
(i) Term Loan Interest Rate. The principal balance shall bear interest thereon from such Advance Date at the Term Loan Interest Rate, based on a year consisting of three hundred sixty (360) days, with interest
computed daily based on the actual number of days elapsed. The Term Loan Interest Rate will float and change on the day the Prime Rate changes from time to time.
(e) Payment. Borrower will pay accrued but unpaid interest on each Term Loan Advance on the first Business Day of each month (each such date, a “Payment Date”), beginning the month after the Advance Date. Borrower shall repay the aggregate principal balance of the Term Loan Advances that is outstanding on the day immediately preceding the Amortization Date, in equal monthly installments of principal and interest (mortgage style) beginning on the Amortization Date and continuing on the first Business Day of each month thereafter until Payment in Full. The entire principal balance of the Term Loan Advances and all accrued but unpaid interest hereunder, shall be due and payable on the Term Loan Maturity Date; provided, that if the Term Loan Maturity Date is not a Business Day, the Term Loan Maturity Date shall be the immediately subsequent Business Day. Borrower shall make all payments under this Agreement without setoff, recoupment or deduction and regardless of any counterclaim or defense, other than Taxes, which shall be governed by Addendum 1. If a payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be the immediately subsequent Business Day. Agent or Lenders will initiate debit entries to Borrower’s account as authorized on the ACH Authorization (i) on each Payment Date of all periodic obligations payable to Lenders under each Term Loan Advance outstanding and (ii) reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal fees and costs incurred by Agent or Lenders that is reimbursable by Borrower in accordance with Section 11.12; provided that, with respect to clause (i) above, in the event that Lenders or Agent informs Borrower that Lenders will not initiate a debit entry to Borrower’s account for a certain amount of the periodic obligations due on a specific Payment Date, Borrower shall pay to Lenders, such amount of periodic obligations in full in immediately available funds on such Payment Date; provided, further, that, with respect to clause (i) above, if Lenders or Agent informs Borrower that Lenders will not initiate a debit entry as described above later than the date that is three (3) Business Days prior to such Payment Date, Borrower shall pay to Lenders such amount of periodic obligations in full in immediately available funds on the date that is three (3) Business Days after the date on which Lenders or Agent notifies Borrower of such; provided, further, that, with respect to clause (ii) above, in the event that Lenders or Agent informs Borrower that Lenders will not initiate a debit entry to Borrower’s account for specified reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal fees and costs incurred by Agent or Lenders, Borrower shall pay to Lenders such amount in full in immediately available funds within three (3) Business Days after the date on which Lenders or Agent notifies Borrower of such.
2.3 Maximum Interest. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, it is the parties’ intent not to contract for, charge or receive interest at a rate that is greater than the maximum rate permissible by law that a court of competent jurisdiction shall deem applicable hereto (which under the laws of the State of New York shall be deemed to be the laws relating to permissible rates of interest on commercial loans) (the “Maximum Rate”). If a court of competent jurisdiction shall finally determine that Borrower has actually paid to Lenders an amount of interest in excess of the amount that would have been payable if all of the Secured Obligations had at all times borne interest at the Maximum Rate, then such excess interest actually paid by Borrower shall be applied as follows: first, to the payment of the Secured Obligations consisting of the outstanding principal; second, after all principal is repaid, to the payment of Lenders’ accrued interest, costs, expenses, professional fees and any other Secured Obligations then due and payable hereunder; and third, after all Secured Obligations are repaid (other than inchoate indemnity obligations), the excess (if any) shall be refunded to Borrower.
2.4 Default Interest. In the event any payment is not paid on the scheduled payment date, an amount equal to four percent (4%) of such past due amount shall be payable on demand. In addition, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default hereunder, all outstanding Secured Obligations, including principal, interest, compounded interest, and professional fees, shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate set forth in Section 2.2(d) plus four percent (4%) per annum. In the event any interest is not paid when due hereunder, delinquent interest shall be added to principal and shall bear interest on interest, compounded at the rate set forth in Section 2.2(d) or 2.4, as applicable.
2.5 Prepayment. At its option, Borrower may prepay all or a portion of the outstanding Advances by paying the entire principal balance (or such portion thereof) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all unpaid Lender’s fees and expenses then due and payable hereunder accrued to the date of the repayment (including, without limitation, the portion of the End of Term Charge applicable to the aggregate original principal amount of the Term Loan Advances being prepaid in accordance with Section 2.6(a)), together with a Prepayment Charge with respect to the outstanding principal amount of such Advance amount being so prepaid. Borrower agrees that the Prepayment Charge is a reasonable calculation of Lenders’ lost profits in view of the difficulties and impracticality of determining actual damages resulting from an early repayment of the Advances. Borrower shall prepay the
outstanding amount of all principal and accrued interest through the prepayment date and the Prepayment Charge upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or any other prepayment hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Agent and Lenders agree to waive the Prepayment Charge if Agent and Lenders (in their sole and absolute discretion) agree in writing to refinance the Advances prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date. Any amounts paid under this Section shall be applied by Agent to the then unpaid amount of any outstanding Secured Obligations (including principal and interest) in such order and priority as Agent may choose in its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, if a payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be the immediately subsequent Business Day.
2.6 End of Term Charge.
(a) On any date that Borrower partially prepays the outstanding Secured Obligations pursuant to Section 2.5, Borrower shall pay Lenders a charge equal to the product of the End of Term Charge Percentage multiplied by the principal amount of such Term Loan Advances being prepaid.
(b) On the earliest to occur of (i) the Term Loan Maturity Date, (ii) Payment in Full or (iii) the date that the outstanding Secured Obligations become due and payable, Borrower shall pay Lenders a charge equal to the End of Term Charge.
(c) Notwithstanding the required payment date of such End of Term Charge, the applicable pro rata portion of the End of Term Charge shall be deemed earned by Lenders as of each date that an applicable Term Loan Advance is made. For the avoidance of doubt, if a payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be the immediately subsequent Business Day.
2.7 Pro Rata Treatment. Each payment (including prepayment) on account of any fee and any reduction of the Term Loan Advances shall be made pro rata according to the Term Commitments of the relevant Lender.
2.8 Taxes; Increased Costs. Borrower, Agent and Lenders each hereby agree to the terms and conditions set forth on Addendum 1 attached hereto.
2.9 Treatment of Prepayment Charge and End of Term Charge. Borrower agrees that any Prepayment Charge and any End of Term Charge payable shall be presumed to be the liquidated damages sustained by each Lender as the result of the early termination, and Borrower agrees that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing and existing as of the Closing Date. The Prepayment Charge and the End of Term Charge shall also be payable in the event the Secured Obligations (and/or this Agreement) are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding), deed in lieu of foreclosure, or by any other means. Each Loan Party expressly waives (to the fullest extent it may lawfully do so) the provisions of any present or future statute or law that prohibits or may prohibit the collection of the foregoing Prepayment Charge and End of Term Charge in connection with any such acceleration. Borrower agrees (to the fullest extent that each may lawfully do so): (a) each of the Prepayment Charge and the End of Term Charge is reasonable and is the product of an arm’s length transaction between sophisticated business people, ably represented by counsel; (b) each of the Prepayment Charge and the End of Term Charge shall be payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment is made; (c) there has been a course of conduct between Lenders and Borrower giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the Prepayment Charge and the End of Term Charge as a charge (and not interest) in the event of prepayment or acceleration; and (d) Borrower shall be estopped from claiming differently than as agreed to in this Section. Borrower expressly acknowledges that its agreement to pay each of the Prepayment Charge and the End of Term Charge to Lenders as herein described was on the Closing Date and continues to be a material inducement to Lenders to provide the Term Loan Advances.
2.10 Due Diligence Fee. Borrower agrees that the Due Diligence Fee has been paid to Agent and received by Agent prior to the Closing Date, and shall be deemed fully earned on such date regardless of the early termination of this Agreement. The Agent agrees that the Due Diligence Fee shall be applied in its entirety on the Closing Date to towards the Lenders’ non-legal transaction costs and diligence expenses.
SECTION 3. SECURITY INTEREST
3.1 Grant of Security Interest. As security for the prompt and complete payment when due (whether on the payment dates or otherwise) of all the Secured Obligations, each Borrower grants to Agent a security interest in all of such Borrower’s right, title, and interest in, to and under all of such Borrower’s personal property and other assets including without limitation the following (except as set forth herein) whether now owned or hereafter acquired
(collectively, excluding the Excluded Assets, the “Collateral”): (a) Receivables; (b) Equipment; (c) Fixtures; (d) General Intangibles; (e) Inventory; (f) Investment Property; (g) Deposit Accounts; (h) Cash; (i) Goods; and all other tangible and intangible personal property of such Borrower whether now or hereafter owned or existing, leased, consigned by or to, or acquired by, Borrower and wherever located, and any of such Borrower’s property in the possession or under the control of Agent; and, to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds of each of the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for, and rents, profits and products of each of the foregoing.
3.2 Notwithstanding the broad grant of the security interest set forth in Section 3.1, above, the Collateral shall not include (a) any “intent to use” trademarks at all times prior to the first use thereof, whether by the actual use thereof in commerce, the recording of a statement of use with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or otherwise, provided, that upon submission and acceptance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office of an amendment to allege use of an intent-to-use trademark application pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 1060(a) (or any successor provision) such intent-to-use application shall constitute Collateral, (b) nonassignable licenses or contracts, which by their terms require the consent of the licensor thereof or another party (but only to the extent such prohibition on transfer is enforceable under applicable law, including, without limitation, Sections 9-406, 9-407 and 9-408 of the UCC), (c) any Excluded Account, (d) any assets as to which Agent in its reasonable discretion shall determine that the costs and burdens of obtaining or perfecting a security interest therein substantially outweigh the benefit to the Lenders of the security afforded thereby (including, without limitation, vehicles and other assets subject to a certificate of title), (e) more than 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock which entitle the holder thereof to vote for directors or any other matter of any Foreign Subsidiary, which is an Excluded Subsidiary, formed after the Closing Date, solely to the extent Borrower has provided Agent with evidence satisfactory to Agent that the pledge of more than 65% of such voting stock of such Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse tax consequence to Borrower, and solely for as long as such consequence may result, such portion of such voting stock of such Subsidiary, if excluded from the Collateral, would avoid such material adverse tax consequence (it being understood that in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary whose ownership does not satisfy the holding period requirement set forth in Section 246(c)(5) of the Code, not more than 65% of such Foreign Subsidiary’s stock shall be required to be pledged until the holding period is satisfied), (f) property for which the granting of a security interest therein is contrary to applicable law, rule or regulation, provided that upon the cessation of any such restriction or prohibition, such property shall automatically be included in the Collateral, (g) any cash collateral deposit subject to a Permitted Lien hereunder, provided that upon the termination and release of such cash collateral, such property shall automatically be included in the Collateral, (h) any lease, license or other agreement and any property subject thereto on the Closing Date or on the date of the acquisition of such property (other than any property acquired by a Loan Party subject to any such contract or other agreement to the extent such contract or other agreement was incurred in contemplation of such acquisition) to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein to secure the Secured Obligations would violate or invalidate such lease, license, contract or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than Borrower, any other Loan Party or any Subsidiary) (but (A) only to the extent such prohibition is enforceable under applicable law and (B) other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-408 or 9-409 (or any other Section) of Article 9 of the UCC), (i) Equipment or software or other intellectual property (and the products and proceeds thereof) subject to Permitted Liens of the type described in clause (vii) of the definition of Permitted Liens, but only to the extent and for so long as the agreements under which the equipment is financed prohibit granting a security interest therein to Agent and letter-of-credit rights not constituting supporting obligations of other Collateral and (j) any commercial tort claim (as defined in the UCC that does not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”).
3.3 Notwithstanding any of the foregoing or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, no perfection steps shall be required with respect to any Excluded Assets.
3.4 Upon Payment in Full, all security interest in the Collateral granted under this Agreement shall immediately terminate and all rights on the Collateral shall revert to Borrower with the need for any other action by any Person. Agent shall execute such documents and take such other steps as are reasonably necessary for Borrower to accomplish the foregoing, all at Borrower’s sole cost and expense.
SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOAN
The obligations of Lenders to make the Loan hereunder are subject to the satisfaction by Borrower (or waiver by the Lenders) of the following conditions:
4.1 Initial Advance. On or prior to the Closing Date, Borrower shall have delivered to Agent the following:
(a) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents to be entered into on the Closing Date, and all other documents and instruments reasonably required by Agent to be delivered on or prior to the Closing Date to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby or to create and perfect the Liens of Agent with respect to all Collateral, in all cases in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent;
(b) duly executed Account Control Agreement with respect to the Funding Account;
(c) a legal opinion of Borrower’s counsel in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent;
(d) copy of resolutions of each Borrower’s Board of Directors, certified by an officer of such Borrower, (i) evidencing approval of the Loan and other transactions evidenced by the Loan Documents, (ii) authorizing a specified person or persons to execute the Loan Documents to which it is a party on its behalf, (iii) authorizing a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or dispatch all documents and notices (including, if relevant, any Advance Request or other relevant notice) to be signed and/or dispatched by it under or in connection with the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (iv) acknowledging that the Board of Directors are acting for a proper purpose and that the Loan Documents are in the best interests of that Borrower and for its commercial benefit;
(e) certified copies of the Charter of Borrower, certified by the Secretary of State of the applicable jurisdiction of organization and the other Organizational Documents, as amended through the Closing Date, of Borrower;
(f) a certificate of good standing for Borrower from its jurisdiction of organization and similar certificates from all other jurisdictions in which it does business and where the failure to be qualified could have a Material Adverse Effect;
(g) certified copies, dated as of a recent date, of searches for financing statements filed in the central filing office of the State of Delaware, accompanied by written evidence (including any UCC termination statements) that the Liens on any Collateral indicated in any such financing statements either constitute Permitted Liens or have been or, in connection with the initial Term Loan Advance, will be terminated or released;
(h) payment of the Due Diligence Fee, Initial Facility Charge and reimbursement of Agent’s and Lenders’ current expenses reimbursable pursuant to this Agreement, which amounts may be deducted from the initial Advance;
(i) a duly executed copy of the Perfection Certificate and each exhibit and addendum thereto;
(j) subject to Section 6.2, all certificates of insurance required hereunder;
(k) [reserved];
(l) all reports, declarations and forms required by the SBA, including but not limited to SBA 652, SBA 1031 and SBA 480; and
(m) such other documents as Agent may reasonably request.
4.2 All Advances. On each Advance Date:
(a) Agent shall have received (i) an Advance Request for the relevant Advance as required by Section 2.2(c), duly executed by Borrower’s Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, and (ii) any other documents Agent may reasonably request in its good faith business discretion so long as such request does not result in the intentional delay or denial of the relevant Advance;
(b) The representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the applicable Advance Date with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date;
(c) [reserved];
(d) With respect to any Advance (other than the Tranche 1 Advance) made available on such Advance Date, the Loan Parties shall have paid, or shall concurrently with such Advance pay, the Subsequent Tranche Facility Charge (which amount may be deducted from such Tranche) applicable to such Advance; and
(e) Each Advance Request shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by Borrower on the relevant Advance Date as to the matters specified in Section 4.2(b) and Section 4.4 and as to the matters set forth in the Advance Request.
4.3 [Reserved.]
4.4 No Default. As of the Closing Date and at the time of and immediately after each Advance Date, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) no event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect has occurred and is continuing.
4.5 Post-Closing Conditions Subsequent. Borrower shall satisfy each of the conditions subsequent to the Closing Date specified in this Section 4.5 to the satisfaction of Agent, in each case, by no later than the date specified for such condition below (or such later date as Agent shall agree in its sole discretion):
(a) Within thirty (30) days of the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as agreed to by Agent in writing in its sole discretion), use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Agent duly executed landlord consents for its (i) chief executive office or its principal place of business and (ii) offices or business locations, including warehouses, containing in excess of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) of Borrower’s assets or property (other than offices, business locations or warehouses holding primarily (i) works-in-progress, raw materials or otherwise in the supply chain for commercial manufacturing or sale of Borrower Products, (ii) inventory or other goods in transit, or (iii) assets (other than equipment) in connection with clinical and pre-clinical studies, including contract manufacturing organizations, distribution service firms, contract research organizations, clinical sites, clinical investigators and other institutions);
(b) Within thirty (30) days of the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as agreed to by Agent in writing in its sole discretion), use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Agent duly executed bailee agreements for any bailee location holding a portion of Borrower’s assets or property valued, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) (other than bailees or other third parties in possession of: (i) works-in-progress, raw materials or otherwise in the supply chain for commercial manufacturing or sale of Borrower Products, (ii) inventory or other goods in transit, or (iii) assets (other than equipment) in connection with clinical and pre-clinical studies, including contract manufacturing organizations, distribution service firms, contract research organizations, clinical sites, clinical investigators and other institutions);
(c) Within three (3) days of the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as agreed to by Agent in writing in its sole discretion), deliver to Agent duly executed Account Control Agreement(s) with respect to each Deposit Account and account holding Investment Property (other than the Funding Account and any Excluded Account) maintained by Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than the MSC Subsidiary);
(d) Within thirty (30) days of the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as agreed to by Agent in writing in its sole discretion), (i) evidence of cyber liability insurance coverage and (ii) commercial property insurance certificates and endorsements showing Agent as lender’s loss payable, as required pursuant to Section 6.2 hereunder; and
(e) Within ten (10) days of the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as agreed to by Agent in writing in its sole discretion), Borrower shall cause the shares of common stock of the MSC Subsidiary and that are the subject of the pledged collateral under the Pledge Agreement to be certificated and the original certificate and power (undated and executed in blank) to be delivered to Agent.
SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BORROWER
Borrower represents and warrants that:
5.1 Corporate Status; Execution and Delivery; Binding Effect. Each Borrower is a corporation duly organized, legally existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, in all jurisdictions in which the nature of its business or location of its properties require such qualifications and where the failure to be qualified could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Borrower’s present name, former names (if any), locations, place of formation, tax identification number, organizational identification number and other information are correctly set forth in Exhibit B, as may be updated by Borrower in a written notice (including any Compliance Certificate) provided to Agent after the Closing Date in accordance with this Agreement. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the
Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.
5.2 Collateral. Borrower owns or otherwise has the rights to use the Collateral, free of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens. Borrower has the power and authority to grant to Agent a Lien in the Collateral as security for the Secured Obligations.
5.3 Consents. Borrower’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all other Loan Documents to which it is a party, (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary action of Borrower in accordance with its Organizational Documents and applicable law, (ii) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon the Collateral, other than Permitted Liens, (iii) do not violate any provisions of (A) Borrower’s Organizational Documents or (B) any material law, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree or writ to which Borrower is subject in any material respect and (iv) except as described on Schedule 5.3, do not violate any Material Agreement or require the consent or approval of any other Person or Governmental Authority which has not already been obtained. The individual or individuals executing the Loan Documents are duly authorized to do so.
5.4 Material Adverse Effect. No event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect has occurred and is continuing. Borrower is not aware of any event or circumstance that is likely to occur that is reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the occurrence of the following, individually, shall not, in and of itself, constitute a “Material Adverse Effect” hereunder: (i) the failure to achieve any Milestone, (ii) adverse results or delays with respect to, or the failure to achieve, any clinical or non-clinical trial goals or objectives, (iii) the denial, delay or limitation or qualification of approval of the FDA or other regulatory agency with respect to any proposed drug or other Borrower Products, or (iv) any revisions to or termination of a strategic alliance, joint venture, co-promotion, co-commercialization or co-development agreements or license arrangement maintained by Borrower so long as the same does not affect the ability of Borrower to perform or pay the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.
5.5 Actions Before Governmental Authorities. There are no actions, suits, claims, disputes or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Borrower or its property, that is reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
5.6 Laws.
(a) Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any law, rule or regulation, or in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority to which Borrower or such Subsidiaries are subject, where such violation or default could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Borrower is not in default in any material respect under any provision of any agreement or instrument evidencing material Indebtedness or any other Material Agreement to which it is a party or by which it is bound.
(b) Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company,” a company that would be an “investment company” except for the exclusion from the definition of “investment company” in Section 3(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” under the 1940 Act. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged as one of its important activities in extending credit for margin stock (under Regulations X, T and U of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors). Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “holding company” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company” as each term is defined and used in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005. Neither Borrower’s nor any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets have been used by Borrower or such Subsidiary or, to Borrower’s knowledge, by previous Persons, in disposing, producing, storing, treating, or transporting any hazardous substance other than in material compliance with applicable laws. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has obtained all material consents, approvals and authorizations of, made all material declarations or filings with, and given all material notices to, all Governmental Authorities that are necessary to continue in all material respects their respective businesses as currently conducted.
(c) None of Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, nor (to the knowledge of any Loan Party) any of Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Affiliates or any of their respective agents acting in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement is (i) in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, (ii) engaging in or conspiring to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) is a Blocked Person. None of Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or (to the knowledge of Borrower) any of their Affiliates or agents acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (x) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, or (y) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interest in property blocked pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224, any similar executive order or other Anti-Terrorism Law. None of the funds to be provided under this Agreement will be used, directly or indirectly, (a) for any activities in violation of any applicable anti-money laundering, economic sanctions and anti-bribery laws and regulations or (b) for any payment to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
5.7 Information Correct and Current. No written information, report, Advance Request, financial statement, exhibit or schedule furnished, by or on behalf of Borrower to Agent in connection with any Loan Document or included therein or delivered pursuant thereto (other than forward looking financial or business projections, or information of a general economic or industry nature) (“Information”) contained as of the date such Information was furnished, when taken as a whole with all other Information given or furnished to Agent or any Lender, contains or will contain any material misstatement of fact or, when taken together with all other such information or documents, omitted, omits or will omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were, are or will be made, not materially misleading at the time such statement was made or deemed made. Additionally, any and all financial or business projections or forecasts provided by Borrower to Agent under the Loan Documents, whether prior to or after the Closing Date, shall be (i) provided in good faith and based on assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time prepared (it being understood that such projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of any Loan Party, that no assurance is given that any particular projections will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections and forecasts may differ from the projected or forecasted results by a material amount) and (ii) the most current of such projections provided to and approved by Borrower’s Board of Directors (other than management updates to years beyond the then-current fiscal year).
5.8 Tax Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.8, (a) Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all federal and state income Tax returns and other material Tax returns that they are required to file (taking into account any timely filed extensions), (b) Borrower and its Subsidiaries have duly paid all federal and state income Taxes and other material Taxes or installments thereof that they are required to pay, except Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Borrower and its Subsidiaries maintain adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP and which Taxes, if not paid would exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]), and (c) to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, no proposed or pending Tax assessments, deficiencies, audits or other proceedings with respect to Borrower or any Subsidiary have had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.9 Intellectual Property Claims. Borrower is the sole owner of, or otherwise has the right to use, the Current Company IP. Except as described on Schedule 5.9 (as such schedule may be updated by Borrower in a written notice provided from time to time after the Closing Date) or any Compliance Certificate, (i) each of the material Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents is valid and enforceable (other than with respect to expired or pending applications, including Patent applications), (ii) no material part of the Intellectual Property has been judged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and (iii) except as set forth in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), no claim has been made to Borrower that the ownership of or use of any material part of the Intellectual Property violates the rights of any third party. Exhibit C (which shall be automatically updated after the Closing Date upon Borrower providing the written notices required pursuant to Section 7.22) is a true, correct and complete list of each of Borrower’s Patents, registered Trademarks, registered Copyrights, and Material IP Agreements under which Borrower licenses Intellectual Property from third parties (other than shrink-wrap software licenses, “off-the-shelf” licenses, open-source software), together with application or registration numbers, as applicable, owned by Borrower or any Subsidiary. Borrower is not in material breach of, nor has Borrower failed to perform any material obligations under, any of the foregoing contracts, licenses or agreements and, to Borrower’s knowledge, no third party to any
such contract, license or agreement is in material breach thereof or has failed to perform any material obligations thereunder.
5.10 Intellectual Property.
(a) A true, correct and complete list of each pending, registered or in-licensed Intellectual Property that, individually or taken together with any other such Intellectual Property, is material to the business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relating to the research, development, manufacture, production, use, commercialization, marketing, importing, storage, transport, offer for sale, distribution or sale of the Borrower Products, and is owned or co-owned by or exclusively licensed to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Current Company IP”), including its name/title, current owner or co-owners (including ownership interest), registration, patent or application number, and registration or application date, issued or filed in the United States of America, is set forth on Schedule 5.10(a) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d) (provided that such disclosure made in such Compliance Certificate shall not apply to a period covered by a prior Compliance Certificate and shall not cure any default arising from any false or misleading misrepresentations and warranties when made or when deemed made). Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(a)(i) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), (A) to the knowledge of the Borrower, each item of owned Current Company IP is valid, subsisting and (other than with respect to expired or pending applications, including Patent applications) enforceable and no such item of Current Company IP has lapsed, expired, been cancelled or invalidated or become abandoned or unenforceable other than in the normal course of prosecuting Current Company IP or in connection with a Permitted Transfer, and (B) no written notice has been received challenging the inventorship or ownership, or relating to any lapse, expiration, invalidation, abandonment or unenforceability, of any such item of Current Company IP. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(a)(ii) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), (A) each such item of Current Company IP which is exclusively licensed from another Person is valid, subsisting and (other than with respect to expired or pending applications, including Patent applications) enforceable and no such item of Current Company IP has lapsed, expired, been canceled or invalidated, or become abandoned or unenforceable other than in the normal course of prosecuting Current Company IP, and (B) no written notice has been received challenging the inventorship or ownership, or relating to any lapse, expiration, invalidation, abandonment or unenforceability, of any such item of Current Company IP. To the knowledge of any Loan Party, there are no published valid Patents, Patent applications, articles or prior art references that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the exploitation of the Borrower Products. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(a)(x)-(y) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d) (provided that such disclosure made in such Compliance Certificate shall not apply to a period covered by a prior Compliance Certificate and shall not cure any default arising from any false or misleading misrepresentations and warranties when made or when deemed made), (x) each Person who has or has had any rights in or to owned Current Company IP or any trade secrets owned by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including each inventor named on the Patents within such owned Current Company IP filed by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has executed an agreement assigning directly or indirectly his, her or its entire right, title and interest in and to such owned Current Company IP and such trade secrets, and the inventions, improvements, discoveries, writings, works of authorship, information and other intellectual property embodied, described or claimed therein, to the stated owner thereof (or is expected to execute such agreement in due course), and (y) no such Person has any contractual or other obligation that would preclude or conflict with such assignment or the exploitation of the Borrower Products or entitle such Person to ongoing payments.
(b) (i) Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries possesses valid title to the Current Company IP for which it is listed as the owner or co-owner, as applicable, on Schedule 5.10(a); and (ii) there are no Liens on any Current Company IP (other than Permitted Liens).
(c) There are no material maintenance, annuity or renewal fees that are currently overdue beyond their allotted grace period for any of the Current Company IP which is owned or exclusively licensed to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, nor have any applications or registrations therefore, on account of such overdue fees, lapsed or become abandoned, been cancelled or expired in a manner that is not readily correctable. There are no material maintenance, annuity or renewal fees that are currently overdue beyond their allotted grace period for any of the Current Company IP which is non-exclusively licensed to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, nor have any material applications or registrations therefor lapsed or become abandoned, been canceled or expired.
(d) There are no unpaid fees or royalties under any Material Agreements concerning Current Company IP exclusively licensed to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (“Material IP Agreements”), that have become due, or are expected to become overdue and, each such Material IP Agreement is in full force and effect and is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(d) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, is in breach of or default in any manner that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Borrower Products under any Material Agreement to which it is a party or may otherwise be bound, and to the knowledge of each Loan Party no circumstances or grounds exist that would give rise to a claim of breach or right of rescission, termination, non-renewal, revision or amendment of any of the Material Agreements, including the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(e) To Borrower’s knowledge, no payments by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are due to any other Person in respect of the Current Company IP, other than pursuant to the Material IP Agreements and those fees payable to patent offices in connection with the prosecution and maintenance of the Current Company IP, any applicable taxes and associated attorney fees.
(f) Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has undertaken or omitted to undertake any acts, and to the knowledge of each Loan Party no circumstance or grounds exist that would invalidate or reduce, in whole or in part, the enforceability of (i) the Current Company IP in any manner that could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Borrower Products, or (ii) in the case of Current Company IP owned or co-owned or exclusively licensed by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(f) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s entitlement to own or license and exploit such Current Company IP.
(g) Except as described on Schedule 5.9 or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), with respect to Current Company IP there is no requested, filed pending, decided or settled opposition, interference proceeding, reissue proceeding (other than reissue proceedings in the normal course of prosecuting Current Company IP), reexamination proceeding, inter-partes review proceeding, post-grant review proceeding, cancellation proceeding, injunction, litigation, paragraph IV patent certification or lawsuit under the Hatch-Waxman Act, hearing, investigation, complaint, arbitration, mediation, demand, International Trade Commission investigation, decree or any other dispute, disagreement, or claim, in each case alleged in writing to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively referred to hereinafter as “Specified Disputes”), nor to the knowledge of any Loan Party, has any such Specified Dispute been threatened in writing, in each case challenging the legality, validity, enforceability or ownership of any Current Company IP, in each case that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Borrower Products.
(h) In each case where an issued Patent within the Current Company IP is owned or co-owned by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by assignment, the assignment has been or will be in due course duly recorded with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
(i) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(i) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d) (provided that such disclosure made in such Compliance Certificate shall not apply to a period covered by a prior Compliance Certificate and shall not cure any default arising from any false or misleading misrepresentations and warranties when made or when deemed made), there are no pending or threatened (in writing) claims against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries alleging (i) that any research, development, manufacture, production, use, commercialization, marketing, importing, storage, transport, offer for sale, distribution or sale of the Borrower Products in the United States of America infringes or violates (or in the past infringed or violated) the rights of any third parties in or to any valid intellectual property (“Third Party IP”) or constitutes a misappropriation of (or in the past constituted a misappropriation of) any Third Party IP, or (ii) that any Current Company IP is invalid or unenforceable.
(j) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(j) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), the manufacture, production, use, commercialization, marketing, importing, storage, transport, offer for sale, distribution or sale of the Borrower Products does not, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, infringe or violate any issued or registered Third Party IP (including any issued Patent within the Third Party IP) or constitute a misappropriation of any Third Party IP, in
each case, in a manner that could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the exploitation of the Borrower Products.
(k) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10(k) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), there are no settlements, covenants not to sue, consents, judgments, or orders which: (i) materially restrict the rights of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to use any Intellectual Property relating to the research, development, manufacture, production, use, commercialization, marketing, importing, storage, transport, offer for sale, distribution or sale of the Borrower Products (in order to accommodate any Third Party IP or otherwise), or (ii) permit any third parties to use any Company IP in manner that would impair or hinder development of the Borrower Products.
(l) [Reserved].
(m) Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable measures customary in the biopharmaceutical industry to protect the confidentiality of all trade secrets owned by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or used or held for use by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case relating to the research, development, manufacture, production, use, commercialization, marketing, importing, storage, transport, offer for sale, distribution or sale of the Borrower Products.
(n) [Reserved].
(o) Except as described on Schedule 5.10(o) or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), each Loan Party has all rights with respect to Intellectual Property necessary, other than any rights that would not be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to Current Company IP material in the operation or conduct of such Loan Party’s business as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted by such Loan Party. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and in the case of Licenses, except for restrictions that are unenforceable under Article 9 of the UCC or are customary restrictions in exclusive Permitted Out-Licenses, each Loan Party has the right, to the extent required to operate such Loan Party’s business, to freely transfer, license or assign Intellectual Property owned by such Loan Party and material in the operation or conduct of such Loan Party’s business as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted by such Loan Party, without condition, restriction or payment of any kind (other than license payments in the ordinary course of business) to any third party. To Borrower’s knowledge, each Loan Party owns or has the right to use, pursuant to valid licenses, all software development tools, library functions, compilers and all other third-party software and other items that are material to such Loan Party’s business and used in the design, development, promotion, sale, license, manufacture, import, export, use or distribution of Borrower Products that are material to such Loan Party’s business, in each case, except customary covenants in inbound license agreements and equipment leases where such Loan Party is the licensee or lessee.
(p) To Borrower’s knowledge, no material software or other materials used by any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries (or used in any Borrower Products) are subject to an open-source or similar license (including but not limited to the General Public License, Lesser General Public License, Mozilla Public License, or Affero License) in a manner that would cause such software or other materials to have to be (i) distributed to third parties at no charge or a minimal charge (royalty-free basis); (ii) licensed to third parties to modify, make derivative works based on, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer; or (iii) used in a manner that requires disclosure or distribution in source code form.
5.11 Borrower Products. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11 or in the Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of the most recently ended fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.1(d), no Intellectual Property owned by Borrower and material in its business or Borrower Product has been or is subject to any actual or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened in writing, litigation, third party proceeding (including any third party proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any corresponding foreign office or agency) or outstanding decree, order, judgment, settlement agreement or stipulation that restricts in any manner Borrower’s use, transfer or licensing thereof or that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the validity, use or enforceability thereof. There is no decree, order, judgment, agreement, stipulation, arbitral award or other provision entered into in connection with any litigation or third party proceeding that obligates Borrower to grant licenses or ownership interest in any future Intellectual Property related to the operation or conduct of the business of Borrower or Borrower Products to an extent that could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect such Loan Party’s ability to perform or pay the Secured Obligations in accordance with the Loan Documents. Borrower has not received any written notice or claim, or, to the knowledge of Borrower, oral notice or claim, challenging or
questioning Borrower’s ownership in any material Intellectual Property (or written notice of any claim challenging or questioning the ownership in any licensed Intellectual Property of the owner thereof) or suggesting that any third party has any claim of legal or beneficial ownership with respect thereto nor, to Borrower’s knowledge, is there a reasonable basis for any such claim.
5.12 Financial Accounts. Exhibit D, as may be updated by Borrower in a written notice provided to Agent after the Closing Date, is a true, correct and complete list of (a) all banks and other financial institutions at which Borrower or any Subsidiary maintains Deposit Accounts and (b) all institutions at which Borrower or any Subsidiary maintains an account holding Investment Property, and such exhibit correctly identifies the name, address and telephone number of each bank or other institution, the name in which the account is held, a description of the purpose of the account, and the complete account number therefor. None of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries owns or holds any Digital Assets.
5.13 Employee Loans. Except for loans constituting Permitted Investments or as described on Schedule 5.13, Borrower has no outstanding loans to any employee, officer or director of Borrower nor has Borrower guaranteed the payment of any loan made to an employee, officer or director of Borrower by a third party.
5.14 Capitalization and Subsidiaries. Borrower does not own any stock, partnership interest or other securities of any Person, except for Permitted Investments. Attached as Schedule 5.14, as may be updated by Borrower in a written notice provided after the Closing Date, is a true, correct and complete list of each Subsidiary.
5.15 Solvency. The fair salable value of Borrower’s consolidated assets (including goodwill minus disposition costs) exceeds the fair value of Borrower’s liabilities; Borrower is not left with unreasonably small capital after the transactions in this Agreement; and Borrower, and Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis), are able to pay their debts (including trade debts) as they mature. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.
SECTION 6. INSURANCE; INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 Coverage. Borrower shall cause to be carried and maintained commercial general liability insurance covering Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on an occurrence form, against risks and in such amounts customarily insured against in Borrower’s line of business. Such risks shall include the risks of bodily injury, including death, property damage, personal injury, and contractual liability per the terms of the indemnification agreement found in Section 6.3. Borrower must maintain a minimum of [**] Dollars ($[**]) of commercial general liability insurance for each occurrence. Borrower maintains and shall continue to maintain a minimum of [**] Dollars ($[**]) of directors’ and officers’ insurance for each occurrence and [**] Dollars ($[**]) in the aggregate. Until the Secured Obligations are Paid in Full, Borrower shall also cause to be carried and maintained insurance upon the business and assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, insuring against all risks of physical loss or damage howsoever caused, in an amount not less than the full replacement cost of the Collateral, provided that such insurance may be subject to standard exceptions and deductibles. If Borrower fails to obtain the insurance called for by this Section 6.1 or fails to pay any premium thereon or fails to pay any other amount which Borrower is obligated to pay under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or which may be required to preserve the Collateral, Agent may obtain such insurance or make such payment, and all amounts so paid by Agent are immediately due and payable, bearing interest at the then highest rate applicable to the Secured Obligations, and secured by the Collateral. Agent will make reasonable efforts to provide Borrower with notice of Agent obtaining such insurance at the time it is obtained or within a reasonable time thereafter. No payments by Agent are deemed an agreement to make similar payments in the future or Agent’s waiver of any Event of Default.
6.2 Certificates. Borrower shall deliver to Agent certificates of insurance that evidence Borrower’s compliance with its insurance obligations in Section 6.1 and the obligations contained in this Section 6.2: (i) on the Closing Date, and (ii) thereafter, on the date of delivery of each Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of a fiscal quarter policy renewal or modification after the Closing Date that results in newly issued certificates. Borrower’s insurance certificate shall reflect Agent (shown as “Hercules Capital, Inc., as Agent, and its successors and/or assigns”) is an additional insured for commercial general liability, a lenders loss payable for all risk property damage insurance, subject to the insurer’s approval, and a lenders loss payable for property insurance and additional insured for liability insurance for any future insurance that Borrower may acquire from such insurer. Attached to the certificates of insurance will be additional insured endorsements for liability and lender’s loss payable endorsements for all risk property damage insurance. All certificates of insurance will provide for a minimum of thirty (30) days advance written notice to Agent of cancellation (other than cancellation for non-payment of premiums, for which ten
(10) days’ advance written notice shall be sufficient) or any other change adverse to Agent’s interests. Any failure of Agent to scrutinize such insurance certificates for compliance is not a waiver of any of Agent’s rights, all of which are reserved. At Agent’s request, Borrower shall provide Agent with copies of each insurance policy, and upon entering into or amending any insurance policy required hereunder in any material respect, Borrower shall, on or before the date of the delivery of each Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of a fiscal quarter following such entry or amendment, provide Agent with updated insurance certificates with respect to such policies, and, upon Agent’s request, copies of such policies.
6.3 Indemnity. Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold Agent, Lenders and their officers, directors, employees, agents, in-house attorneys, representatives and shareholders (each, an “Indemnified Person”) harmless from and against any and all third-party claims, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities (including such claims, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities based on liability in tort, including strict liability in tort), including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket disbursements and other costs of investigation or defense (including those incurred upon any appeal) (collectively, “Liabilities”), that may be instituted or asserted against or incurred by such Indemnified Person as the result of credit having been extended, suspended or terminated under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or the administration of such credit, or in connection with or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder, or any actions or failures to act in connection therewith, or arising out of the disposition or utilization of the Collateral, excluding in all cases Liabilities to the extent such Liabilities arise solely out of gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Indemnified Person or changes in income tax rates. This Section 6.3 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim. In no event shall any Indemnified Person be liable on any theory of liability for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (including any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings). This Section 6.3 shall survive the repayment of indebtedness under, and otherwise shall survive the expiration or other termination of, this Agreement, in each case, subject to the applicable statute of limitations.
SECTION 7. COVENANTS OF BORROWER
Borrower agrees as follows:
7.1 Financial Reports. Borrower shall furnish to Agent the financial statements and reports listed hereinafter (the “Financial Statements”):
(a) as soon as practicable (and in any event within thirty (30) days) after the end of each month, unaudited interim and year-to-date financial statements as of the end of such month (prepared on a consolidated), including balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows, all certified by a duly authorized officer of Borrower to the effect that they have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, except (i) for the absence of footnotes, (ii) that they are subject to normal year-end adjustments, and (iii) they do not contain certain non-cash items that are customarily included in quarterly and annual financial statements;
(b) as soon as practicable (and in any event within forty-five (45) days) after the end of each calendar quarter), unaudited interim and year-to-date financial statements as of the end of such calendar quarter (prepared on a consolidated basis), including balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows, certified by a duly authorized officer of Borrower to the effect that they have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, except (i) for the absence of footnotes, and (ii) that they are subject to normal year-end adjustments;
(c) as soon as practicable (and in any event within ninety (90) days) after the end of each fiscal year, audited financial statements as of the end of such year (prepared on a consolidated basis), including balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows, and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding fiscal year, certified without qualification (other than any going concern qualification) by Deloitte & Touche LLP or another firm of independent certified public accountants selected by Borrower and reasonably acceptable to Agent, accompanied by any management report from such accountants;
(d) as soon as practicable (and in any event within thirty (30) days) after the end of each month, a Compliance Certificate;
(e) as soon as practicable (and in any event within thirty (30) days) after the end of each month, a report showing agings of accounts receivable and accounts payable;
(f) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, as the case may be, copies of any proxy statements, financial statements, information or reports that Company has made available to holders of its common stock and copies of any regular, periodic and special reports or registration statements that Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor, or any national securities exchange;
(g) upon Agent’s request, copies of any material Governmental Approvals obtained by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(h) promptly upon the request of Agent or Lender at any time after the achievement of Approval Milestone 1 or Approval Milestone 2, the most recently available materials that the Borrower provides to its directors detailing key metrics relating to Borrower’s commercial performance;
(i) financial and business projections promptly following their approval by Company’s Board of Directors at the end of each fiscal year, and in any event, within sixty (60) days after the end of Borrower’s fiscal year, as well as budgets, operating plans and other financial information reasonably requested by Agent;
(j) on the date of delivery of any Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of a fiscal quarter, insurance renewal statements of insurance policies required to be maintained in accordance with Section 6.1;
(k) prompt notice of any legal process that is reasonably likely to result in damages, expenses or liabilities of Borrower in excess of [**] Dollars ($[**]); and
(l) prompt (but in any event no more than two (2) Business Days’) notice if Borrower or any Subsidiary has knowledge that Borrower, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Borrower, is listed on the OFAC Lists or (a) is convicted on, (b) pleads nolo contendere to, (c) is indicted on, or (d) is arraigned and held over on charges involving money laundering or predicate crimes to money laundering.
Borrower shall not (without the consent of Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), make any change in its (a) accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP or pursuant to applicable securities laws or regulations of the SEC or (b) fiscal years or fiscal quarters. The fiscal year of Borrower shall end on December 31.
The executed Compliance Certificate, and all Financial Statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be sent per instructions (i) specified on Addendum 2 or (ii) otherwise provided by Agent to Borrower via a written notice from time to time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, documents required to be delivered under Sections 7.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (k) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which Borrower makes such documented publicly available.
7.2 Management Rights. Borrower shall permit any representative that Agent or Lenders authorizes, including its attorneys and accountants, to inspect the Collateral and examine and make copies and abstracts of the books of account and records of Borrower at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice during normal business hours; provided, however, that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such examinations shall be limited to no more often than once per fiscal year. In addition, in connection with such inspections, any such representative shall have the right to meet with management and officers of Borrower to discuss such books of account and records at such time. In addition, Agent or Lenders shall be entitled at reasonable times and intervals to consult with and advise the management and officers of Borrower concerning significant business issues affecting Borrower. Such consultations shall not unreasonably interfere with Borrower’s business operations. The parties intend that the rights granted Agent and Lenders shall constitute “management rights” within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101(d)(3)(ii), but that any advice, recommendations or participation by Agent or Lenders with respect to any business issues shall not be deemed to give Agent or Lenders, nor be deemed an exercise by Agent or Lenders of, control over Borrower’s management or policies.
7.3 Further Assurances. Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, from time to time execute, deliver and file, alone or with Agent, any financing statements, security agreements, collateral assignments, notices, control agreements, promissory notes or other documents to perfect, give the highest priority to Agent’s Lien on the Collateral or otherwise evidence Agent’s rights herein. Borrower shall from time to time procure any instruments or
documents as may be reasonably requested by Agent, and take all further action that may be necessary, or that Agent may reasonably request, to perfect and protect the Liens granted hereby or pursuant to applicable Loan Documents. In addition, and for such purposes only, Borrower hereby authorizes Agent to execute and deliver on behalf of Borrower and to file such financing statements (including an indication that the financing statement covers “all assets or all personal property” of Borrower in accordance with Section 9-504 of the UCC), and Borrower hereby authorizes Agent, at any time during the existence of an Event of Default, to execute and deliver on behalf of Borrower any collateral assignments, notices, control agreements, security agreements and other documents without the signature of Borrower either in Agent’s name or in the name of Agent as agent and attorney-in-fact for Borrower. Borrower shall, in good faith and in its reasonable commercial discretion, in each case, subject to the terms of this Agreement, protect and defend Borrower’s title to the Collateral and Agent’s Lien thereon against all Persons claiming any interest adverse to Borrower or Agent other than Permitted Liens.
7.4 Indebtedness. Borrower shall not create, incur, assume, guarantee or be or remain liable with respect to any Indebtedness, or permit any Subsidiary to do so, other than Permitted Indebtedness, or prepay any Indebtedness or take any actions which impose on Borrower an obligation to prepay any Indebtedness, except for (a) the conversion of Indebtedness into equity securities and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection with such conversion, (b) purchase money Indebtedness or Indebtedness in respect of capital leases permitted hereunder pursuant to its then applicable payment schedule, (c) prepayment by any Subsidiary of (i) inter-company Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary to any Borrower, or (ii) if such Subsidiary is not a Borrower, intercompany Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary to another Subsidiary that is not a Borrower, (d) payments made on Subordinated Indebtedness to the extent permitted under the relevant Subordination Agreement, (e) the issuance of and performance of obligations under Permitted Convertible Debt, (f) the conversion, exchange, exercise, repurchase, redemption of Permitted Convertible Debt, or the exercise or early unwind or termination of Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions and Permitted Warrant Transactions, in each case so long as any cash prepayments made by Borrower in connection therewith are Permitted Convertible Debt Financing Payments, (g) Indebtedness owed under corporate credit cards constituting Permitted Indebtedness and prepaid in the ordinary course of business, (h) Permitted Indebtedness with the proceeds of Permitted Indebtedness, (i) prepayment of Indebtedness permitted under clauses (i), (iv), (vii) and (xviii) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, or (j) as otherwise permitted hereunder or approved in writing by Agent.
7.5 Collateral. Borrower shall at all times (a) keep the Collateral and all other property and assets used in Borrower’s business or in which Borrower now or hereafter holds any interest free and clear from any Liens whatsoever (except for Permitted Liens), and (b) shall give Agent prompt written notice of any Liens thereon (other than Permitted Liens). Borrower shall not agree with any Person other than Agent or Lenders not to encumber its property other than in connection with Permitted Liens. Borrower shall not enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of any Borrower to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property (including Intellectual Property), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party other than (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any agreements governing any purchase money Liens or capital lease obligations otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby), (iii) agreements governing cash collateral arrangements constituting Permitted Liens restricting Liens on cash collateral accounts and the Cash therein, and (iv) customary restrictions on the assignment of leases, licenses and other agreements. Borrower shall cause its Subsidiaries to protect and defend such Subsidiary’s title to its assets from and against all Persons claiming any interest adverse to such Subsidiary (other than Permitted Liens), and Borrower shall cause its Subsidiaries at all times to keep such Subsidiary’s property and assets free and clear from any legal process or Liens whatsoever (except for Permitted Liens).
7.6 Investments. Borrower shall not directly or indirectly acquire or own, or make any Investment in or to any Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, other than Permitted Investments. No Loan Party shall directly or indirectly acquire or own, nor make any Investment in Digital Assets, nor permit any of its Subsidiaries so to do. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.6 shall not prohibit Permitted Convertible Debt Financing Payments.
7.7 Distributions. Borrower shall not, and shall not allow any Subsidiary to, (a) repurchase or redeem any class of stock or other Equity Interest other than pursuant to employee, director or consultant repurchase plans or other similar agreements, provided, however, in each case the repurchase or redemption price does not exceed the fair market value for such stock or Equity Interest unless required by the terms of such agreement or plan, or pursuant to a public repurchase of securities in compliance with the requirements of SEC Rule 10b-18, or (b) declare
or pay any cash dividend or make any other cash distribution on any class of stock or other Equity Interest, except that a Subsidiary may pay dividends or make other distributions to Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower, or (c) except for Permitted Investments, lend money to any employees, officers or directors or guarantee the payment of any such loans granted by a third party in excess of [**] Dollars ($[**]) in the aggregate, or (d) convert any of its convertible securities into other securities pursuant to the terms of such convertible securities or otherwise in exchange thereof other than pursuant to the terms thereof so long as such conversion does not result in a Change of Control, or (e) waive, release or forgive any Indebtedness owed by any employees, officers or directors in excess of [**] Dollars ($[**]) in the aggregate other than cancellation of Indebtedness in connection with the repurchase of Equity Interests permitted under clause (a) above or clause (iii) of the definition of Permitted Investments.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.7 shall not prohibit Permitted Convertible Debt Financing in accordance with the terms of the Payments.
7.8 Transfers. Except for Permitted Transfers, Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, voluntarily or involuntarily transfer, sell, lease, license, lend or in any other manner convey (“Transfer”) any equitable, beneficial or legal interest in any material portion of its assets (including, without limitation, pursuant to a Division); provided that licenses of Company IP (to the extent not constituting Permitted Transfers) may be made with the consent of the Required Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.8 shall not prohibit the conversion by holders of any Permitted Convertible Debt Financing in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such Permitted Convertible Debt Financing or Borrower’s delivery of the conversion consideration in connection therewith; provided that the conversion consideration (or exchange or inducement consideration) paid to such holders constitutes a Permitted Convertible Debt Financing Payment.
7.9 Mergers and Consolidations. Except for Permitted Acquisitions, Borrower shall not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person (other than mergers or consolidations of (a) a Subsidiary which is not a Borrower into another Subsidiary or into Borrower or (b) a Borrower into another Borrower).
7.10 Taxes. Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay when due all material Taxes of any nature whatsoever now or hereafter imposed or assessed against Borrower or such Subsidiary or the Collateral or upon Borrower’s (or such Subsidiary’s) ownership, possession, use, operation or disposition thereof or upon Borrower’s (or such Subsidiary’s) rents, receipts or earnings arising therefrom. Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, accurately file on or before the due date therefor (taking into account proper extensions) all federal and state income Tax returns and other material Tax returns required to be filed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrower and its Subsidiaries may contest, in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, Taxes for which Borrower and its Subsidiaries maintain adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.
7.11 Corporate Changes.
(a) Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall change its corporate name, legal form or jurisdiction of formation without twenty (20) days’ prior written notice to Agent.
(b) Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall suffer a Change in Control.
(c) Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall relocate its chief executive office or its principal place of business unless: (i) it has provided prior written notice to Agent; and (ii) such relocation shall be within the continental United States of America.
(d) If Borrower intends to add any new offices or business locations, including warehouses, containing any portion of Borrower’s assets or property valued, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of [**] Dollars ($[**]) (other than offices, business locations or warehouses holding primarily (i) works-in-progress, raw materials or otherwise in the supply chain for commercial manufacturing or sale of Borrower Products, (ii) inventory or other goods in transit, or (iii) assets (other than equipment) in connection with clinical and pre-clinical studies, including contract manufacturing organizations, distribution service firms, contract research organizations, clinical sites, clinical investigators and other institutions), then Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the landlord of any such new offices or business locations, including warehouses, to execute and deliver a landlord consent in form and substance satisfactory to Agent within thirty (30) days.
(e) If Borrower intends to deliver any portion of Borrower’s assets or property valued, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of [**] Dollars ($[**] to a bailee (other than bailees or other third parties in possession of (i) works-in-progress, raw materials or otherwise in the supply chain for commercial manufacturing or sale of Borrower Products, (ii) inventory or other goods in transit, or (iii) assets (other than equipment) in connection with clinical and pre-clinical studies, including contract manufacturing organizations, distribution service firms, contract research organizations, clinical sites, clinical investigators and other institutions), and Agent and such bailee are not already parties to a bailee agreement governing both the Collateral and the location to which Borrower intends to deliver the Collateral, then Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such bailee to execute and deliver a bailee agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent within thirty (30) days.
(f) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage to any material extent in any business other than those businesses conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business reasonably related or incidental thereto or representing a reasonable expansion thereof.
(g) Without the prior written consent of Agent, the Borrower will not make, or agree to make, any modification, amendment or waiver of any of the terms or provisions of Borrower’s Organizational Documents that is adverse to Agent or any of the Lenders.
7.12 Deposit Accounts. No Loan Party shall maintain any Deposit Accounts, any accounts or sub-accounts in connection with an insured cash sweep program, or accounts holding Investment Property, except with respect to which Agent has an Account Control Agreement on terms and conditions satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion, provided that no Account Control Agreement shall be required for (i) any Excluded Account or (ii) any other deposit accounts, so long as the aggregate amount in all such deposit accounts do not exceed [**] Dollars ($[**]) on any day. None of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries shall own or hold any Digital Assets.
7.13 Joinder of Subsidiaries. Borrower shall notify Agent of each Subsidiary formed or acquired subsequent to the Closing Date (including any new Subsidiary formed by Division) and, within thirty (30) days of such formation or acquisition (or such longer period of time as agreed to by Agent in writing in its sole discretion), shall cause any such Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) to execute and deliver to Agent a Joinder Agreement and such other documents and instruments as shall be requested by Agent to effectuate the transactions contemplated by such Joinder Agreement (in each case in form and substance acceptable to Agent), or, if requested by Agent, a Guaranty and appropriate collateral security documents to secure the obligations pursuant to such Guaranty (in each case in form and substance acceptable to Agent); it being agreed that if such new Subsidiary is formed by a Division, the foregoing requirements shall be satisfied substantially concurrently with the formation of such Subsidiary. In the event one or more Subsidiaries that were previously Excluded Subsidiaries no longer qualify as an Excluded Subsidiary, such Subsidiaries shall be subject to the requirements of the immediately preceding sentence.
7.14 Regulatory and Product Notices. The Borrower, on behalf of the Loan Parties, shall promptly (but in any event within ten (10) Business Days) after the receipt or occurrence thereof notify Agent of:
(a) any written notice that the FDA (or international equivalent) is limiting, suspending or revoking any Registration (including, but not limited to, by the issuance of a clinical hold),
(b) any written notice from a Governmental Authority that a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries has become subject to any regulatory action,
(c) any written notice from the FDA indicating the exclusion or debarment from any governmental healthcare program or debarment or disqualification by FDA (or international equivalent) of any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries,
(d) any written notice from a Governmental Authority that a Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or any of their licensees or sublicensees (including licensees or sublicensees under any Material Agreement), is being investigated or is the subject of any allegation of potential or actual violations of any FDA Laws,
(e) any written notice from a Governmental Authority that any Borrower Product has been seized, withdrawn, recalled, detained, or subject to a suspension of manufacturing, or the commencement of any proceedings in the United States or any other jurisdiction seeking the withdrawal, recall, suspension, import detention, or seizure of any Borrower Product are pending or threatened in writing against Borrower or its Subsidiaries, or
(f) any written notice from the FDA narrowing or otherwise limiting the scope of marketing authorization or the labeling of the products of any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries under any Registration;
except, in each case of (a) through (f) above, where such action would not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, any Material Regulatory Liabilities.
7.15 Notification of Event of Default. Borrower shall notify Agent promptly (but in any event within two (2) Business Days after the occurrence) of the occurrence of any Event of Default.
7.16 SBA. One or more affiliates of Agent have received a license from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to extend loans as a small business investment company (“SBIC”) pursuant to the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, and the associated regulations, as amended (collectively, the “SBIC Act”). Portions of the Loan to Borrower may be made by a Lender that is a SBIC. Addendum 3 to this Agreement outlines various responsibilities of Agent, each Lender and Borrower associated with a loan made by a SBIC, and such Addendum 3 is hereby incorporated in this Agreement. Borrower shall immediately notify Agent of any failure to comply with its obligations under Addendum 3 upon acquiring knowledge thereof.
7.17 Use of Proceeds. Borrower agrees that the proceeds of the Loans shall be used solely to pay related fees and expenses in connection with this Agreement and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The proceeds of the Loans will not be used in violation of Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
7.18 MSC Investment Conditions. At any time that the MSC Subsidiary has any assets or liabilities, Borrower shall satisfy the MSC Investment Conditions at all times.
7.19 Material Agreement. Borrower shall give prompt (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) written notice to Agent of entering into a Material Agreement or materially amending or terminating a Material Agreement; provided that to the extent disclosure of any such Material Agreement, material amendment or termination is included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC, such notice shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which Borrower makes such disclosure publicly available.
7.20 Compliance with Laws.
(a) Borrower (i) shall maintain, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to maintain, compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules or regulations (including any law, rule or regulation with respect to the making or brokering of loans or financial accommodations), and (ii) shall, or cause its Subsidiaries to, obtain and maintain all required governmental authorizations, approvals, licenses, franchises, permits or registrations reasonably necessary in connection with the conduct of Borrower’s business. Borrower shall not become an “investment company,” a company that would be an “investment company” except for the exclusion from the definition of “investment company” in Section 3(c) of the 1940 Act, or a company controlled by an “investment company” under the 1940 Act, or undertake as one of its important activities extending credit to purchase or carry margin stock (as defined in Regulation X, T and U of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors).
(b) Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, nor shall Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries permit any controlled Affiliate to, directly or indirectly, knowingly enter into any documents, instruments, agreements or contracts with any Person listed on the OFAC Lists. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, nor shall Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, permit any controlled Affiliate to, directly or indirectly, (i) conduct any business or engage in any transaction or dealing with any Blocked Person, including, without limitation, the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, (ii) deal in, or otherwise engage in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224 or any similar executive order or other Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in Executive Order No. 13224 or other Anti-Terrorism Law.
(c) Borrower has implemented and shall maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and to the knowledge of Borrower its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.
(d) None of Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or to the knowledge of Borrower, any agent for Borrower or its Subsidiaries that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Loan, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
7.21 Financial Covenant.
(a) Minimum Cash. Beginning on the Initial Minimum Cash Test Date and at all times thereafter, Borrower shall maintain Qualified Cash in an amount greater than or equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Secured Obligations, multiplied by (i) prior to Borrower’s achievement of either the Approval Milestone I or the Approval Milestone II, sixty percent (60%), and (ii) from and after Borrower’s achievement of either the Approval Milestone I or the Approval Milestone II (the “Initial Cash Stepdown”), [**] percent ([**]%) (as applicable, the “Minimum Cash Coverage Percentage”); provided, that, upon Borrower’s achievement of the Initial Cash Stepdown and the Commercial Milestone, the Minimum Cash Coverage Percentage shall be reduced to [**] percent ([**]%); provided further that, if Borrower has not achieved either Data Milestone 1 or Data Milestone 2 on or before [**], then beginning on [**] the Minimum Cash Coverage Percentage shall be increased to [**] percent ([**]%) until such time as Borrower achieves either Approval Milestone I or the Approval Milestone II, at which time it shall be decreased to [**] percent ([**]%) and further decreased to [**] percent ([**]%) upon Borrower’s achievement of the Initial Cash Stepdown and the Commercial Milestone. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 7.21(a) shall not be required to be complied with at any time in which Company’s Market Capitalization for such day is greater than One Billion Six Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($1,650,000,000).
If any Loan Party makes a cash payment in respect of Permitted Convertible Debt utilizing the Redemption Conditions, Borrower shall, at all times thereafter, maintain Qualified Cash in an amount equal to no less than [**] percent ([**]%) of the Secured Obligations (inclusive of any Prepayment Charge and End of Term Charge that would be due and owing if the outstanding Term Loan Advances were prepaid at the time of measurement).
(b) Minimum Revenue. Beginning on the Initial Minimum Revenue Test Date and tested monthly thereafter, Borrower shall generate Net Product Revenue, measured on a trailing six (6) month basis, of at least [**] percent ([**]%) of the Net Product Revenue included in the Board Approved Forecast for the trailing six (6) month period ending on the last day of such month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 7.21(b) shall not be required to be complied with for any particular month to the extent that for each day during such month, either (i) Borrower maintains Qualified Cash in an amount greater than or equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Secured Obligations, or (ii) (x) Company’s Market Capitalization for such day is greater than One Billion Six Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($1,650,000,000), and (y) Borrower maintains Qualified Cash in an amount greater than or equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Secured Obligations, multiplied by fifty percent (50%).
7.22 Intellectual Property. Each Borrower shall (i) use commercially reasonable efforts protect, defend and maintain the validity and enforceability of Current Company IP, except in connection with transactions permitted by clause (ix) of Permitted Transfers and (ii) not allow any Intellectual Property material to Borrowers’ business to be abandoned (other than in the normal course of prosecution whereby, for example, an application is abandoned in favor of a continuation or divisional application), forfeited or dedicated to the public without Agent’s written consent, except in connection with transactions permitted by clause (ix) of Permitted Transfers. If a Borrower (a) obtains any Patent, registered Trademark, registered Copyright, registered mask work, or any pending application for any of the foregoing, whether as owner, licensee or otherwise, or (b) applies for any Patent or the registration of any Trademark, then such Borrower shall concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of a fiscal quarter, provide written notice thereof to Agent and shall execute such intellectual property security agreements (unless such application for Patent is a continuing or divisional application of preexisting Current Company IP) and other documents and take such other actions as Agent may request in its good faith business judgment to perfect and maintain a first priority perfected security interest in favor of Agent in such property; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, (a) and (b) shall not require Borrower to record intellectual security agreements with government offices, such as the USPTO, for Patents and Trademarks but rather Agent’s responsibility to record after Borrower execution (if any). If a Borrower decides to register any Copyrights or mask works in the United States Copyright Office, such Borrower shall: (x) provide Agent written notice concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate delivered for the last month of a fiscal quarter of such Borrower’s intent to register such Copyrights or mask works together with a copy of the application it intends to file with the United States Copyright Office (excluding exhibits thereto) and (y) execute an intellectual property security agreement and such other documents and take such other actions as Agent may request in its good faith business judgment to perfect and maintain a first priority perfected security interest in favor of Agent in the Copyrights or mask works intended to be registered with the United States Copyright Office; and (z) record such intellectual property security agreement with the United States Copyright Office contemporaneously with filing the Copyright or mask work application(s) with the United States Copyright Office.
7.23 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as otherwise described on Schedule 7.23, Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of Borrower or such Subsidiary, other than transactions (a) among Loan Parties, (b) on terms that are less favorable to Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that might be obtained in an arm’s length transaction from a Person who is not an Affiliate of Borrower or such Subsidiary, (c) to the extent approved by Borrower’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized officer of Borrower, the payment of reasonable fees to directors of Borrower who are not employees of Borrower or any Subsidiary, and compensation and employee benefit arrangements paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, and severance, separation and consulting agreements or arrangements entered into with, directors, officers or employees of Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (d) the sale and issuance of Borrower’s Qualified Equity Interests to Affiliates in a transaction not resulting in a Change in Control, and (e) intercompany transactions expressly permitted by Section 7.
7.24 Permitted Convertible Debt Financing Payments.
(a) Make or permit any payment on Permitted Convertible Debt Financing except (i) interest payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such Permitted Convertible Debt Financing, (ii) Borrower’s delivery of conversion consideration in connection with the conversion by holders of any Permitted Convertible Debt Financing in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such Permitted Convertible Debt Financing or the delivery of Common Stock and Cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock to induce the conversion of Permitted Convertible Debt Financing; provided that the conversion consideration (or inducement consideration) paid to such holders is limited to (A) Common Stock and (B) Cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, (iii) payments in connection with redemptions or repurchases permitted by Section 7.24(b), or (iv) any other payments if, before and after giving effect to such payments, the Redemption Conditions are satisfied.
(b) Redeem, repurchase or exchange any Permitted Convertible Debt Financing, except (i) the redemption or repurchase of Permitted Convertible Debt Financing in exchange for Common Stock and Cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock; provided that the repurchase consideration paid to the holders of Permitted Convertible Debt Financing is limited to (A) Common Stock, (B) Cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, (ii) redemptions or repurchases with Cash if, before and after giving effect to such payments, the Redemption Conditions are satisfied, (iii) exchanges for a different series of Permitted Convertible Debt Financing, (iv) redemptions or repurchases with Cash in an amount that does not exceed the proceeds received by Borrower from the substantially concurrent issuance of Common Stock and/or Permitted Convertible Debt Financing (or a permitted refinancing thereof) plus the net cash proceeds, if any, received by Borrower pursuant to the related exercise or early unwind or termination of the related Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions and Permitted Warrant Transactions, if any, pursuant to the immediately following proviso); provided that, substantially concurrently with, or a commercially reasonable period of time before or after, the related settlement date for the convertible notes issued in a Permitted Convertible Debt Financing that is so repurchased, exchanged or converted, Borrower shall exercise or unwind or terminate early (whether in cash, shares or any combination thereof) the portion of the Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions and Permitted Warrant Transactions, if any, corresponding to such Permitted Convertible Debt Financing that are so repurchased, exchanged or converted.
(c) In no event shall the foregoing permit Borrower to pay holders of Permitted Convertible Debt Financing any Cash (other than cash in lieu of fractional shares) in connection with mandatory repurchase rights granted to such holders upon the occurrence of a “change of control”, “fundamental change”, “make-whole fundamental change” or any comparable term, unless, before and after giving effect to such payments, the Redemption Conditions are satisfied.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 7.24, and for the avoidance of doubt: (i) Borrower may make any required payment of premium to a counterparty thereunder due in connection with entering into any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction; (ii) Borrower may make any payment in connection with any Permitted Warrant Transaction by (1) delivery of shares of Borrower’s Common Stock (together with cash in lieu of fractional shares) upon net share settlement thereof, (2) set-off, netting and/or payment of an early termination payment or other payment thereunder, in each case, in Borrower’s Common Stock and (3) solely to the extent Borrower does not have the option of satisfying such payment obligations through the delivery of shares of Borrower’s Common Stock or is otherwise required to satisfy such payment obligations in Cash, set-off, netting and/or payment of an early termination payment or other payment thereunder, in each case, in cash (it being understood and agreed that any payment made in Cash in connection with Permitted Warrant Transactions by set-off, netting and/or payment of
an early termination payment or similar payment thereunder, in each case, after using commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy such obligation (or the portion thereof remaining after giving effect to any netting or set-off against termination or similar payments under an applicable Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction) by delivery of shares of Borrower’s Common Stock shall be deemed to be a payment obligation required to be satisfied in Cash); and (iii) Borrower may acquire shares or other Equity Interests or cash or a combination thereof under the terms of any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction.
Each of the payments permitted by the foregoing Section 7.24(a) – (d) shall be referred to herein as “Permitted Convertible Debt Financing Payments”).
SECTION 8. RIGHT TO INVEST
8.1 Borrower shall provide (or in the case of a Subsequent Financing that is a registered offering, Borrower shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to request the managing underwriter(s) of such Subsequent Financing to provide) the Lenders or their permitted assignees or nominees, designated as such in writing to Borrower, the opportunity, in their discretion, to participate in any Subsequent Financing in an aggregate amount of up to the Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) on the same terms, conditions and pricing afforded to others participating in any such Subsequent Financing, subject to compliance with all applicable securities laws and regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a registered offering, to the extent Borrower has used its commercially reasonable efforts as set forth above and the managing underwriter(s) of a Subsequent Financing refuse to allocate securities to Lenders in accordance with the aforementioned request (“Underwriter Refusal”), Borrower shall have no further obligations or liability under this Section 8.1 with respect to such Subsequent Financing. If the Lenders (or their permitted assignees or nominees) elect to participate in any Subsequent Financing, the Lenders (or their permitted assignees or nominees, as applicable) participating in such Subsequent Financing agree to become a party to the agreements executed by the other investors participating in such Subsequent Financing, including with respect to obligations of confidentiality or as may otherwise be required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. Borrower, or an investment bank or underwriter engaged on Borrower’s behalf, shall provide the Lenders or their permitted assignees or nominees at least one (1) Business Day’s notice of any planned Subsequent Financing. This Section 8.1, and all rights and obligations provided for hereunder, shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (a) termination of this Agreement, (b) such time that the Lenders or their assignees or nominees, have purchased Borrower’s Equity Interests in an aggregate amount of at least Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) in one or more Subsequent Financings and (c) Borrower extending (or causing to be extended) two (2) such offers to permit the Lenders or their permitted assignees or nominees the opportunity to participate in Subsequent Financings; provided that any Subsequent Financing resulting in an Underwriter Refusal shall not be included for purposes of achieving two (2) such offers.
SECTION 9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall be an “Event of Default”:
9.1 Payments. A Loan Party fails to pay any amount due under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents on the due date; provided, however, that an Event of Default shall not occur on account of a failure to pay due solely to an administrative or operational error of Agent or Lenders or Borrower’s bank if Borrower had the funds to make the payment when due and makes the payment within three (3) Business Days following Borrower’s knowledge of such failure to pay; or
9.2 Covenants. A Loan Party breaches or defaults in the performance of any covenant or Secured Obligation under this Agreement, or any of the other Loan Documents or any other agreement among Borrower, Agent and Lenders, and (a) with respect to a Default under any covenant under this Agreement (other than under Sections 4.5, 6, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.15, 7.17, 7.18, 7.19, 7.21, 7.22 and 7.24), any other Loan Document, or any other agreement among Borrower, Agent and Lenders, such default continues for more than twenty (20) days after the earlier of the date on which (i) Agent or Lenders has given notice of such default to Borrower and (ii) Borrower has actual knowledge of such default or (b) with respect to a Default under any of Sections 4.5, 6, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.15, 7.17, 7.18, 7.19, 7.21, 7.22 and 7.24), the occurrence of such Default; or
9.3 Material Adverse Effect. A circumstance has occurred that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the occurrence of the following, individually, shall not, in and of itself, constitute a “Material Adverse Effect” hereunder: (i) the failure to achieve any Milestone, (ii) adverse results or
delays with respect to, or the failure to achieve, any clinical or non-clinical trial goals or objectives, (iii) the denial, delay or limitation or qualification of approval of the FDA or other regulatory agency with respect to any proposed drug or other Borrower Products, or (iv) any revisions to or termination of a strategic alliance, joint venture, co-promotion, co-commercialization or co-development agreements or license arrangement maintained by Borrower so long as the same does not affect the ability of Borrower to perform or pay the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents; or
9.4 Representations. Any representation or warranty made by any Loan Party in any Loan Document shall have been false or misleading in any material respect when made or when deemed made; or
9.5 Insolvency. (a) A Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries fails to be solvent as described under Section 5.15 hereof; (b) a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries begins an Insolvency Proceeding; or (c) an Insolvency Proceeding is begun against a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and is not dismissed or stayed within forty-five (45) days (but no Advances shall be made while any of the conditions described in clause (a) exist or until any Insolvency Proceeding is dismissed); or
9.6 Judgments; Penalties. One or more fines, penalties or final judgments, orders or decrees for the payment of money in an amount, individually or in the aggregate, of at least [**] Dollars ($[**]) (not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which liability has been accepted by such insurance carrier) shall be rendered against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority, and the same are not, within twenty (20) days after the entry, assessment or issuance thereof, discharged, or after execution thereof, or stayed pending appeal, or such judgments are not discharged prior to the expiration of any such stay (provided that no Advances shall be made prior to the discharge, or stay of such fine, penalty, judgment, order or decree); or
9.7 Attachment; Levy; Restraint on Business.
(a) (i) The service of process seeking to attach, by trustee or similar process, any funds of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) a notice of lien or levy is filed against any of any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets by any Governmental Authority, and the same under subclauses (i) and (ii) hereof are not, within twenty (20) days after the occurrence thereof, discharged or stayed (whether through the posting of a bond or otherwise); provided, however, no Advances shall be made during any twenty (20) day cure period; or
(b) (i) any material portion of any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets is attached, seized, levied on, or comes into possession of a trustee or receiver, or (ii) any court order enjoins, restrains, or prevents any Loan Party from conducting all or any material part of its business
9.8 Other Obligations. The occurrence of any default in which the Loan Party is the defaulting party under (i) any agreement or obligation of a Loan Party involving any Indebtedness in excess of [**] Dollars ($[**]), or (ii) any Material Agreement to the extent such default results in a right by a third party or parties, whether or not exercised, to terminate such Material Agreement or accelerate payments in excess of [**] Dollars ($[**]) owed thereunder.
SECTION 10. REMEDIES
10.1 General. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any one or more Events of Default, Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, accelerate and demand payment of all or any part of the outstanding Secured Obligations together with a Prepayment Charge and declare them to be immediately due and payable (provided, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default of the type described in Section 9.5, all of the Secured Obligations (including, without limitation, the Prepayment Charge and the End of Term Charge) shall automatically be accelerated and made due and payable, in each case without any further notice or act). Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Agent as its lawful attorney-in-fact to: (a) exercisable following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) sign Borrower’s name on any invoice or bill of lading for any account or drafts against account debtors; (ii) demand, collect, sue, and give releases to any account debtor for monies due, settle and adjust disputes and claims about the accounts directly with account debtors, and compromise, prosecute, or defend any action, claim, case, or proceeding about any Collateral (including filing a claim or voting a claim in any bankruptcy case in Agent’s or Borrower’s name, as Agent may elect); (iii) make, settle, and adjust all claims under Borrower’s insurance policies; (iv) pay, contest or settle any Lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, or other claim in or to the Collateral, or any judgment based thereon, or otherwise take any action to terminate or discharge the same; (v) transfer the Collateral into the name of Agent or a third party as the UCC permits; (vi) receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to Borrower; (vii) endorse Borrower’s name on any checks, payment instruments, or other forms of payment or security; and (viii) notify all account debtors to pay
Agent directly. Borrower hereby appoints Agent as its lawful attorney-in-fact to sign Borrower’s name on any documents necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of Agent’s security interest in the Collateral regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred until Payment in Full. Agent’s foregoing appointment as Borrower’s attorney in fact, and all of Agent’s rights and powers, coupled with an interest, are irrevocable until Payment in Full. Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, exercise all rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral under the Loan Documents or otherwise available to it under the UCC and other applicable law, including the right to release, hold, sell, lease, liquidate, collect, realize upon, or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral and the right to occupy, utilize, process and commingle the Collateral. All Agent’s rights and remedies shall be cumulative and not exclusive.
10.2 Collection; Foreclosure. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, at any time or from time to time, apply, collect, liquidate, sell in one or more sales, lease or otherwise dispose of, any or all of the Collateral, in its then condition or following any commercially reasonable preparation or processing, in such order as Agent may elect. Any such sale may be made either at public or private sale at its place of business or elsewhere. Borrower agrees that any such public or private sale may occur upon ten (10) calendar days’ prior written notice to Borrower. Agent may require Borrower to assemble the Collateral and make it available to Agent at a place designated by Agent that is reasonably convenient to Agent and Borrower. The proceeds of any sale, disposition or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied by Agent in the following order of priorities:
First, to Agent, in an amount equal to the sum of all fees owing to Agent hereunder and under any other Loan Document;
Second, to Agent and Lenders in an amount sufficient to pay in full Agent’s and Lenders’ reasonable costs and professionals’ and advisors’ fees and expenses as described in Section 11.12;
Third, to Lenders, ratably, in an amount equal to the sum of all accrued interest owing to Lenders on the Term Loan Advances hereunder;
Fourth, to Lenders, ratably, in an amount equal to the sum of the outstanding principal and premium, if any owing to Lenders from Borrower on the Term Loan Advances hereunder;
Fifth, to Lenders and Agent, ratably (in proportion to all remaining Secured Obligations owing to each), in an amount equal to the sum of all other outstanding and unpaid Secured Obligations (including principal, interest, and the default rate interest set forth in Section 2.4, if required under this Agreement), in such order and priority as Agent may choose in its sole discretion; and
Finally, after the full and final Payment in Full, to any creditor holding a junior Lien on the Collateral, or to Borrower or its representatives or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
Agent shall be deemed to have acted reasonably in the custody, preservation and disposition of any of the Collateral if it complies with the obligations of a secured party under the UCC.
10.3 No Waiver. Agent shall be under no obligation to marshal any of the Collateral for the benefit of Borrower or any other Person, and Borrower expressly waives all rights, if any, to require Agent to marshal any Collateral.
10.4 Waivers. Borrower waives demand, notice of default or dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, notice of any default, nonpayment at maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension, or renewal of accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper, and guarantees held by Agent on which Borrower is liable.
10.5 Cumulative Remedies. The rights, powers and remedies of Agent hereunder shall be in addition to all rights, powers and remedies given by statute or rule of law and are cumulative. The exercise of any one or more of the rights, powers and remedies provided herein shall not be construed as a waiver of or election of remedies with respect to any other rights, powers and remedies of Agent.
SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or
invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent and duration of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
11.2 Notice. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration, service of process or other communication (including the delivery of Financial Statements) that is required, contemplated, or permitted under the Loan Documents or with respect to the subject matter hereof shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given, delivered, and received upon the earlier of: (i) the day of transmission by electronic mail or hand delivery or delivery by an overnight express service or overnight mail delivery service; or (ii) the third calendar day after deposit in the United States of America mails, with proper first class postage prepaid, in each case addressed to the party to be notified as follows:
(a) If to Agent:
HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
Legal Department
Attention: Chief Legal Officer, [**]
1 North B Street, Suite 2000
San Mateo, CA 94401
email: [**]
Telephone: 650-289-3060
(b) If to Lenders:
HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
Legal Department
Attention: Chief Legal Officer, [**]
1 North B Street, Suite 2000
San Mateo, CA 94401
email: [**]
Telephone: 650-289-3060
(c) If to Borrower:
DYNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Attention: Erick Lucera, Chief Financial Officer
1560 Trapelo Road
Waltham, MA 02451
email: [**]
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
WilmerHale
1225 Seventeenth St., Suite 2600
Denver, CO 80202 USA
Attn: Nathan J. Moore
Email: Nathan.Moore@Wilmerhale.com
Telephone: (720) 598-3462
or to such other address as each party may designate for itself by like notice.
11.3 Entire Agreement; Amendments.
(a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede and replace in their entirety any prior proposals, term sheets, non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements, letters, negotiations or other documents or agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter hereof or thereof (including Agent’s revised proposal letter dated [**] and the Non-Disclosure Agreement).
(b) Neither this Agreement, any other Loan Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.3(b). The Required Lenders and Loan Parties party to the relevant Loan Document may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders,
Agent and Loan Parties party to the relevant Loan Document may, from time to time, (i) enter into written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of Lenders or of Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder or (ii) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall (A) forgive the principal amount or extend the final scheduled date of maturity of any Loan, extend the scheduled date of any amortization payment in respect of any Term Loan Advance, reduce the stated rate of any interest (or fee payable hereunder) or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; (B) eliminate or reduce the voting rights of any Lender under this Section 11.3(b) without the written consent of such Lender; (C) reduce any percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, consent to the assignment or transfer by Loan Parties of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release a Loan Party from its obligations under the Loan Documents, in each case without the written consent of all Lenders; or (D) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 11.18 or Addendum 4 without the written consent of Agent. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each Lender and shall be binding upon the applicable Loan Parties, Lenders, Agent and all future holders of the Loans.
11.4 No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.
11.5 No Waiver. The powers conferred upon Agent and Lenders by this Agreement are solely to protect their rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and their interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon Agent or Lenders to exercise any such powers. No omission or delay by Agent or Lenders at any time to enforce any right or remedy reserved to them, or to require performance of any of the terms, covenants or provisions hereof by Borrower at any time designated, shall be a waiver of any such right or remedy to which Agent or Lenders are entitled, nor shall it in any way affect the right of Agent or Lenders to enforce such provisions thereafter.
11.6 Survival. All agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall be for the benefit of Agent and Lenders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement. Sections 6.3, 11.9, 11.11, 11.14, 11.15, 11.17 and 11.18 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.7 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall inure to the benefit of and be binding on Borrower and its permitted assigns (if any). No Loan Party shall assign its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents without Agent’s express prior written consent, and any such attempted assignment shall be void and of no effect. Agent and Lenders may not assign, transfer, or endorse its rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents without the prior written consent of Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that no such consent shall be required for any such assignment, transfer or endorsement (x) after the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing, or (y) to Agent or a Lender or Affiliate of any Lender or Agent, and all of such rights shall inure to the benefit of Agent’s and Lenders’ successors and assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) in connection with any assignment by a Lender as a result of a forced divestiture at the request of any regulatory agency, the restrictions set forth herein shall not apply and Agent and Lenders may assign, transfer or endorse its rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents to any Person or party and (y) in connection with a Lender’s own financing or securitization transactions, the restrictions set forth herein shall not apply and Agent and Lenders may assign, transfer or endorse its rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents to any Person or party providing such financing or formed to undertake such securitization transaction and any transferee of such Person or party upon the occurrence of a default, event of default or similar occurrence with respect to such financing or securitization transaction; provided that no such sale, transfer, pledge or assignment under this clause (y) shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such Person or party for such Lender as a party hereto until Agent shall have received and accepted an effective assignment agreement from such Person or party in form satisfactory to Agent executed, delivered and fully completed by the applicable parties thereto, and shall have received such other information regarding such assignee as Agent reasonably shall require. Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in the United States a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of Lender(s), and the Term Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and Borrower, Agent and Lender(s) shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
11.8 Participations. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, Agent (in its capacity as Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register. Borrower agrees that each participant shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions in Addendum 1 attached hereto (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 7 of Addendum 1 attached hereto (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 7 of Addendum 1 attached hereto shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.7; provided that (A) such participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Addendum 1 attached hereto, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a change in law that occurs after the participant acquired the applicable participation, (B) each Lender agrees, at Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Addendum 1 with respect to its participant(s), (C) no such participation shall release any Lender from any of its obligations under any Loan Document and (D) if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no participant may be a direct competitor of Borrower (as reasonably determined by Agent).
11.9 Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been negotiated and delivered to Agent and Lenders in the State of New York, and shall have been accepted by Agent and Lenders in the State of New York. Payment to Agent and Lenders by Borrower of the Secured Obligations is due in the State of New York. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, excluding conflict of laws principles that would cause the application of laws of any other jurisdiction.
11.10 Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue. All judicial proceedings (to the extent that the reference requirement of Section 11.11 is not applicable) arising in or under or related to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents may be brought in any state or federal court located in the State of New York. By execution and delivery of this Agreement, each party hereto generally and unconditionally: (a) consents to nonexclusive personal jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; (b) waives any objection as to jurisdiction or venue in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; (c) agrees not to assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue in the aforesaid courts; and (d) irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. Service of process on any party hereto in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be effective if given in accordance with the requirements for notice set forth in Section 11.2, and shall be deemed effective and received as set forth in Section 11.2. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of either party to bring proceedings in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
11.11 Mutual Waiver of Jury Trial. Because disputes arising in connection with complex financial transactions are most quickly and economically resolved by an experienced and expert Person and the parties wish applicable state and federal laws to apply (rather than arbitration rules), the parties desire that their disputes be resolved by a judge applying such applicable laws. EACH OF BORROWER, AGENT AND LENDERS SPECIFICALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CAUSE OF ACTION, CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM, THIRD PARTY CLAIM OR ANY OTHER CLAIM (COLLECTIVELY,
“CLAIMS”) ASSERTED BY BORROWER AGAINST AGENT, LENDERS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE ASSIGNEE OR BY AGENT, LENDERS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE ASSIGNEE AGAINST BORROWER. This waiver extends to all such Claims, including Claims that involve Persons other than Agent, Borrower or any Lenders; Claims that arise out of or are in any way connected to the relationship among Borrower, Agent and Lenders; and any Claims for damages, breach of contract, tort, specific performance, or any equitable or legal relief of any kind, arising out of this Agreement, any other Loan Document.
11.12 Professional Fees. Borrower promises to pay Agent’s and Lenders’ reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses necessary to finalize the Loan Documents, including but not limited to reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, UCC searches, filing costs, and other related expenses. In addition, Borrower promises to pay any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket professionals’ fees (excluding costs of in-house counsel) and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Agent and Lenders after the Closing Date in connection with or related to: (a) the Loan; (b) the administration, collection, or enforcement of the Loan; (c) the amendment or modification of the Loan Documents; (d) any waiver, consent, release, or termination under the Loan Documents; (e) the protection, preservation, audit, field exam, sale, lease, liquidation, or disposition of Collateral or the exercise of remedies with respect to the Collateral; (f) any legal, litigation, administrative, arbitration, or out of court proceeding in connection with or related to Borrower or the Collateral, and any appeal or review thereof; and (g) any bankruptcy, restructuring, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, workout, foreclosure, or other action related to Borrower, the Collateral, the Loan Documents, including representing Agent or Lenders in any adversary proceeding or contested matter commenced or continued by or on behalf of Borrower’s estate, and any appeal or review thereof.
11.13 Confidentiality. Agent and Lenders acknowledge that items of Collateral and information provided to Agent and Lenders by Borrower are confidential and proprietary information of Borrower, if and to the extent such information either (x) is marked as confidential by Borrower at the time of disclosure, or (y) should reasonably be understood to be confidential (the “Confidential Information”). Accordingly, Agent and Lenders agree that any Confidential Information it may obtain in connection with the Loan Documents or in the course of acquiring, administering, or perfecting Agent’s security interest in the Collateral shall not be disclosed to any other Person or entity in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Borrower, except that Agent and Lenders may disclose any such information: (a) to its Affiliates and its partners, investors, lenders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, counsel, accountants, representatives and other professional advisors if Agent or Lenders in their sole discretion determine that any such party should have access to such information in connection with such party’s responsibilities in connection with the Loan or this Agreement and, provided that such recipient of such Confidential Information either (i) agrees to be bound by the confidentiality provisions of this Section or (ii) is otherwise subject to confidentiality restrictions that reasonably protect against the disclosure of Confidential Information and in any case are not materially less restrictive than this Section; (b) if such information is generally available to the public or to the extent such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or becomes available to Agent or any Lender, or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Borrower; (c) if required or appropriate in any report, statement or testimony required by law or order of any Governmental Authority to be submitted to any Governmental Authority having or claiming to have jurisdiction over Agent or Lenders and any rating agency; (d) if required or appropriate in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, to the extent permitted or deemed advisable by Agent’s or Lenders’ counsel; (e) to comply with any legal requirement or law applicable to Agent or Lenders or demanded by any Governmental Authority; (f) to the extent reasonably necessary in connection with the exercise of, or preparing to exercise, or the enforcement of, or preparing to enforce, any right or remedy under any Loan Document (including Agent’s sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default), or any action or proceeding relating to any Loan Document; (g) to any participant or assignee of Agent or Lenders or any bona fide prospective participant or assignee, provided, that such participant or assignee or prospective participant or assignee is subject to confidentiality restrictions that reasonably protect against the disclosure of Confidential Information which are not materially less restrictive than this Section; (h) to any investor or bona fide potential investor (and each of their respective Affiliates or clients) in Agent or Lenders (or each of their respective Affiliates); provided that such investor, potential investor, Affiliate or client is subject to confidentiality obligations with respect to the Confidential Information which are not materially less restrictive than this Section; (i) otherwise to the extent consisting of general portfolio information that does not identify Borrower; or (j) otherwise with the prior written consent of Borrower; provided, that any disclosure made in violation of this Agreement shall not affect the obligations of Borrower or any of its Affiliates or any guarantor
under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. Agent’s and Lenders’ obligations under this Section 11.13 shall supersede all of their respective obligations under the Non-Disclosure Agreement.
11.14 Assignment of Rights. Borrower acknowledges and understands that Agent or Lenders may, subject to Section 11.7, sell and assign all or part of its interest hereunder and under the Loan Documents to any Person or entity (an “Assignee”). After such assignment the term “Agent” or “Lender” as used in the Loan Documents shall mean and include such Assignee, and such Assignee shall be vested with all rights, powers and remedies of Agent and Lenders hereunder with respect to the interest so assigned; but with respect to any such interest not so transferred, Agent and Lenders shall retain all rights, powers and remedies hereby given. No such assignment by Agent or Lenders shall relieve Borrower of any of its obligations hereunder. Lenders agree that in the event of any transfer by it of the promissory note(s) (if any), it will endorse thereon a notation as to the portion of the principal of the promissory note(s), which shall have been paid at the time of such transfer and as to the date to which interest shall have been last paid thereon.
11.15 Revival of Secured Obligations. This Agreement and the Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective if any petition is filed by or against Borrower for liquidation or reorganization, if Borrower becomes insolvent or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, if a receiver or trustee is appointed for all or any significant part of Borrower’s assets, or if any payment or transfer of Collateral is recovered from Agent or Lenders. The Loan Documents and the Secured Obligations and Collateral security shall continue to be effective, or shall be revived or reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations or any transfer of Collateral to Agent, or any part thereof is rescinded, avoided or avoidable, reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by, or is recovered from, Agent, Lenders or by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment, performance, or transfer of Collateral had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, avoided, avoidable, restored, returned, or recovered, the Loan Documents and the Secured Obligations shall be deemed, without any further action or documentation, to have been revived and reinstated except to the extent of the full, final, and indefeasible payment to Agent or Lenders in Cash.
11.16 Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendments, waivers, consents or supplements hereto may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so delivered shall be deemed an original, but all of which counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
11.17 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. No provisions of the Loan Documents are intended, nor will be interpreted, to provide or create any third-party beneficiary rights or any other rights of any kind in any Person other than Agent, Lenders and Borrower unless specifically provided otherwise herein, and, except as otherwise so provided, all provisions of the Loan Documents will be personal and solely among Agent, Lenders and the Loan Parties party thereto.
11.18 Agency. Agent and each Lender hereby agree to the terms and conditions set forth on Addendum 4 attached hereto. Borrower acknowledges and agrees to the terms and conditions set forth on Addendum 4 attached hereto.
11.19 Publicity. None of the parties hereto nor any of its respective member businesses and Affiliates shall, without the other parties’ prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), publicize or use (a) the other party’s name (including a brief description of the relationship among the parties hereto), logo or hyperlink to such other parties’ web site, separately or together, in written and oral presentations, advertising, promotional and marketing materials, client lists, public relations materials or on its web site (together, the “Publicity Materials”); (b) the names of officers of such other parties in the Publicity Materials; and (c) such other parties’ name, trademarks, servicemarks in any news or press release concerning such party; provided however, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no consent shall be required to disclose information (i) to the extent necessary to comply with the requests of any regulators, legal requirements or laws applicable to such party, pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (so long as such party provides prior notice to the other party hereto to the extent reasonably practicable) and (ii) to comply with Section 11.13.
11.20 Multiple Borrowers. Each Borrower hereby agrees to the terms and conditions set forth on Addendum 5 attached hereto.
11.21 Managerial Assistance. Borrower acknowledges that Hercules Capital, Inc. has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the 1940 Act, and as such is required to make available significant managerial assistance to its portfolio companies. Significant managerial assistance may include, but is not limited to, guidance and counsel concerning the portfolio company’s management, operations, business objectives and policies, arrangement of financing, management of relationships with financing sources, recruitment of management personnel and evaluation of acquisition and divestiture opportunities. Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that it may request such assistance at any time from Hercules Capital, Inc. by contacting [**].
11.22 Electronic Execution of Certain Other Documents. The words “execution,” “execute”, “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation assignments, assumptions, amendments, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
(SIGNATURES TO FOLLOW)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower, Agent and Lenders have duly executed and delivered this Loan and Security Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
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BORROWER: |
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DYNE THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
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Signature: | | /s/ Erick Lucera |
Print Name: | | Erick Lucera |
Title: | | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Accepted in San Mateo, California:
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AGENT: |
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HERCULES CAPITAL, INC. |
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Signature: | | /s/ Seth Meyer |
Print Name: | | Seth Meyer |
Title: | | Chief Financial Officer |
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LENDERS: |
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HERCULES CAPITAL, INC. |
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Signature: | | /s/ Seth Meyer |
Print Name: | | Seth Meyer |
Title: | | Chief Financial Officer |
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HERCULES PRIVATE CREDIT FUND 1 L.P. |
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By: Hercules Adviser LLC, its Investment Adviser |
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Signature: | | /s/ Seth Meyer |
Print Name: Seth Meyer |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
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HERCULES PRIVATE GLOBAL VENTURE |
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GROWTH FUND I L.P. |
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By: Hercules Adviser LLC, its Investment Adviser |
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Signature: | | /s/ Seth Meyer |
Print Name: Seth Meyer |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
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HERCULES VENTURE GROWTH CREDIT |
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OPPORTUNITIES FUND I L.P. |
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By: Hercules Adviser LLC, its Investment Adviser |
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Signature: | | /s/ Seth Meyer |
Print Name: Seth Meyer |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
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HERCULES CAPITAL IV, L.P. |
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By: Hercules Technology SBIC |
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Management, LLC, its General Partner |
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By: Hercules Capital, Inc., its Manager |
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Signature: | | /s/ Seth Meyer |
Print Name: Seth Meyer |
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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HERCULES SBIC V, L.P. |
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By: Hercules Technology SBIC |
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Management, LLC, its General Partner |
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By: Hercules Capital, Inc., its Manager |
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Signature: | | /s/ Seth Meyer |
Print Name: Seth Meyer |
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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Table of Addenda, Exhibits and Schedules |
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Addendum 1: Taxes; Increased Costs |
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Addendum 2: Delivery Instructions |
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Addendum 3: | | SBA Provisions |
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Addendum 4: | | Agent and Lender Terms |
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Addendum 5: | | Multiple Borrower Terms |
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Exhibit A: | | Advance Request |
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| | Attachment to Advance Request |
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Exhibit B: | | Name, Locations, and Other Information for Borrower |
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Exhibit C: | | Borrower’s Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses |
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Exhibit D: | | Borrower’s Deposit Accounts and Investment Accounts |
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Exhibit E: | | Compliance Certificate |
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Exhibit F: | | Joinder Agreement |
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Exhibit G: | | [Reserved.] |
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Exhibit H: | | ACH Debit Authorization Agreement |
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Exhibit I: | | [Reserved.] |
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Exhibit J-1: | | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) |
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Exhibit J-2: | | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) |
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Exhibit J-3: | | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) |
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Exhibit J-4: | | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) |
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Exhibit K: | | Certain Economic Terms |
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Schedule 1.1 | | Commitments |
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Schedule 1 | | Subsidiaries |
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Schedule 1A | | Existing Permitted Indebtedness |
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Schedule 1B | | Existing Permitted Investments |
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Schedule 1C | | Existing Permitted Liens |
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Schedule 5.3 | | Consents, Etc. |
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Schedule 5.8 | | Tax Matters |
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Schedule 5.9 | | Intellectual Property Claims |
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Schedule 5.10 | | Intellectual Property |
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Schedule 5.11 | | Borrower Products |
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Schedule 5.13 | | Employee Loans |
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Schedule 5.14 | | Capitalization |
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Schedule 7.23 | | Affiliate Transactions |
ADDENDUM 1 to LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
TAXES; INCREASED COSTS
1. Defined Terms. For purposes of this Addendum 1:
a. “Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
b. “Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (A) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (B) that are Other Connection Taxes, (ii) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Term Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (A) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Term Commitment or (B) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2 or Section 4 of this Addendum 1, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (iii) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 7 of this Addendum 1 and (iv) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
c. “FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.
d. “Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
e. “Indemnified Taxes” means (i) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of Borrower under any Loan Document and (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (i), Other Taxes.
f. “Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
g. “Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment.
h. “Recipient” means Agent or any Lender, as applicable.
i. “Withholding Agent” means Borrower and Agent.
2. Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction
or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2 or Section 4 of this Addendum 1) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
3. Payment of Other Taxes by Borrower. Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
4. Indemnification by Borrower. Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under Section 2 of this Addendum 1 or this Section 4) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate describing the amount of such payment or liability delivered to Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to Agent), or by Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. In addition, Borrower agrees to pay, and to hold Agent and any Lender harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, any and all excise, sales or other similar Taxes (excluding Taxes imposed on or measured by the net income of Agent or such Lender) that may be payable or determined to be payable with respect to any of the Collateral or this Agreement.
5. Indemnification by Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (a) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that Borrower has not already indemnified Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of Borrower to do so), (b) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.8 of the Agreement relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (c) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by Agent to Lenders from any other source against any amount due to Agent under this Section 5.
6. Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to the provisions of this Addendum 1, Borrower shall deliver to Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to Agent.
7. Status of Lenders.
a. Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to Borrower and Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by Borrower or Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by Borrower or Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by Borrower or Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by Borrower or Agent as will enable Borrower or Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii) and 7(b)(iv) of this Addendum 1) shall not be required if in such Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
b. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Borrower is a U.S. Person,
i. any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to Borrower and Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of Borrower or Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
ii. any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to Borrower and Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender
becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of Borrower or Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
A. in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
B. executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
C. in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit J-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or
D. to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit J-2 or Exhibit J-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit J-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
iii. any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to Borrower and Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of Borrower or Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit Borrower or Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
iv. if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to Borrower and Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by Borrower or Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by Borrower or Agent as may be necessary for Borrower and Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (iv), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
c. Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify Borrower and Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
8. Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to the provisions of this Addendum 1 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to the provisions of this Addendum 1), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under the provisions of this Addendum 1 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 8 (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Section 8, in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 8 the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This Section 8 shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
9. Increased Costs. If any change in applicable law shall subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto, and the result shall be to increase the cost to such Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Term Loan Advance or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Recipient (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then, upon the request of such Recipient, Borrower will pay to such Recipient such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Recipient for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
10. Survival. Each party’s obligations under the provisions of this Addendum 1 shall survive the resignation or replacement of Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Term Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
ADDENDUM 2 to LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
Delivery Instructions
The Compliance Certificate shall be uploaded and executed via Lumonic1. All other financial reports required to be furnished to Agent pursuant to Section 7.1 shall be submitted via Lumonic.
The Compliance Certificate and other financial reports required to be furnished to Agent pursuant to Section 7.1 may be sent to [**] with a copy to [**], should access to Lumonic be temporarily unavailable.
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1 | All references to Lumonic shall be interpreted as the Portfolio Management Software currently in use by Agent. Lumonic can be reached at the following URL: https://lumonic.com/ |
ADDENDUM 3 to LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
SBIC
(a) Borrower’s Business. For purposes of this Addendum 3, Borrower shall be deemed to include its “affiliates” as defined in Title 13 Code of Federal Regulations Section 121.103. Borrower (i) represents and warrants to Agent and Lenders, with respect to subsection 1 below, as of the initial SBA Funding Date, and (ii) represents and warrants to Agent and Lenders, as of each SBA Funding Date and covenants to Agent and Lenders for a period of one year after each SBA Funding Date or for such longer period as set forth below with respect to subsections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 below, as follows:
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| 1. | Size Status. Borrower’s primary NAICS code is 541714 and has less than 250 employees in the aggregate (as determined in accordance with Title 13 Code of Federal Regulations Section 121.106); |
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| 2. | No Relender. Borrower’s primary business activity does not involve, directly or indirectly, providing funds to others, purchasing debt obligations, factoring, or long-term leasing of equipment with no provision for maintenance or repair; |
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| 3. | No Passive Business. Borrower is engaged in a regular and continuous business operation (excluding the mere receipt of payments such as dividends, rents, lease payments, or royalties). Borrower’s employees are carrying on the majority of day to day operations. Borrower will not pass through substantially all of the proceeds of the Loan to another entity; |
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| 4. | No Real Estate Business. Borrower is not classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes 531110 (lessors of residential buildings and dwellings), 531120 (lessors of nonresidential buildings except miniwarehouses), 531190 (lessors of other real estate property), 237210 (land subdivision), or 236117 (new housing for-sale builders). Borrower is not classified under NAICS codes 236118 (residential remodelers), 236210 (industrial building construction), or 236220 (commercial and institutional building construction), if Borrower is primarily engaged in construction or renovation of properties on its own account rather than as a hired contractor. Borrower is not classified under NAICS codes 531210 (offices of real estate agents and brokers), 531311 (residential property managers), 531312 (nonresidential property managers), 531320 (offices of real estate appraisers), or 531390 (other activities related to real estate), unless it derives at least 80 percent of its revenue from non-Affiliate sources. The proceeds of the Loan will not be used to acquire or refinance real property unless Borrower (x) is acquiring an existing property and will use at least 51 percent of the usable square footage for its business purposes; (y) is building or renovating a building and will use at least 67 percent of the usable square footage for its business purposes; or (z) occupies the subject property and uses at least 67 percent of the usable square footage for its business purposes. |
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| 5. | No Project Finance. Borrower’s assets are not intended to be reduced or consumed, generally without replacement, as the life of its business progresses, and the nature of Borrower’s business does not require that a stream of cash payments be made to the business’s financing sources, on a basis associated with the continuing sale of assets (e.g., real estate development projects and oil and gas wells). The primary purpose of the Loan is not to fund production of a single item or defined limited number of items, generally over a defined production period, where such production will constitute the majority of the activities of Borrower (e.g., motion pictures and electric generating plants). |
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| 6. | No Farm Land Purchases. Borrower will not use the proceeds of the Loan to acquire farm land which is or is intended to be used for agricultural or forestry purposes, such as the production of food, fiber, or wood, or is so taxed or zoned. |
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| 7. | No Foreign Investment. The proceeds of the Loan will not be used substantially for a foreign operation, passed through to a foreign business or used to acquire a foreign business. Borrower will not have, on or within one year after each SBA Funding Date and each other Loan provided by a Lender that is an SBIC more than 49 percent of its employees or tangible assets located outside the United States of America. |
(b) Small Business Administration Documentation. Agent and Lenders acknowledge that Borrower completed, executed and delivered to Agent prior to each SBA Funding Date SBA Forms 480, 652 and 1031 (Parts A and B) together with a business plan showing Borrower’s financial projections (including balance sheets and income and cash flows statements) for the period described therein and a written statement (whether included in the purchase agreement or pursuant to a separate statement) from Agent regarding its intended use of proceeds from the sale of securities to Lenders (the “Use of Proceeds Statement”). Borrower represents and warrants to Agent and Lenders that the information regarding Borrower and its affiliates set forth in the SBA Form 480, Form 652 and Form 1031 and the Use of Proceeds Statement delivered as of each SBA Funding Date is accurate and complete.
(c) Inspection. The following covenants contained in this Section (c) are intended to supplement and not to restrict the related provisions of the Loan Documents. Subject to the preceding sentence, Borrower will permit, for so long as Lenders hold any debt or equity securities of Borrower, Agent, Lenders or their representative, at Agent’s or Lenders’ expense, and examiners of the SBA to visit and inspect the properties and assets of Borrower, to examine its books of account and records, and to discuss Borrower’s affairs, finances and accounts with Borrower’s officers, senior management and accountants, all at such reasonable times as may be requested by Agent or Lenders or the SBA.
(d) Annual Assessment. Upon request of Agent or Lender, promptly after the end of each calendar year (but in any event prior to February 28 of each year) and at such other times as may be reasonably requested by Agent or Lenders, Borrower will deliver to Agent a written assessment of the economic impact of Lenders’ investment in Borrower, specifying the full-time equivalent net jobs created and total jobs created or retained in connection with the investment, the impact of the investment on the revenues and profits of Borrower’s business and on taxes paid by Borrower and its employees, and such other information as may be required regarding Borrower in connection with the filing of Lenders’ SBA Form 468. Lenders will assist Borrower with preparing such assessment. In addition to any other rights granted hereunder, Borrower will grant Agent and Lenders and the SBA access to Borrower’s books and records for the purpose of verifying the use of such proceeds. Borrower also will furnish or cause to be furnished to Agent and Lenders such other information regarding the business, affairs and condition of Borrower as Agent or Lenders may from time to time reasonably request, and such information shall be certified by the President, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of Borrower to the extent requested by Agent or Lender for compliance with the SBIC Act.
(e) Use of Proceeds. Borrower will use the proceeds from the Loan only for purposes set forth in Section 7.17. Borrower will deliver to Agent from time to time promptly following Agent’s request, a written report, certified as correct by Borrower’s Chief Financial Officer, verifying the purposes and amounts for which proceeds from the Loan have been disbursed. Borrower will supply to Agent such additional information and documents as Agent reasonably requests with respect to its use of proceeds and will permit Agent and Lenders and the SBA to have access to any and all Borrower records and information and personnel as Agent deems necessary to verify how such proceeds have been or are being used, and to assure that the proceeds have been used for the purposes specified in Section 7.17.
(f) Activities and Proceeds. Neither Borrower nor any of its affiliates (if any) will engage in any activities or use directly or indirectly the proceeds from the Loan for any purpose for which a small business investment company is prohibited from providing funds by the SBIC Act, including 13 C.F.R. §107.720. Borrower shall not, nor shall it cause or permit any of its subsidiaries to, without obtaining the prior written approval of Agent, change Borrower’s or any such subsidiary’s business activities from that conducted on the date hereof to a business activity from which a licensee under the SBIC Act is prohibited from providing funds by the SBIC Act. Borrower agrees that any such change in its or any such subsidiary’s business activities without such prior written consent of Agent shall constitute a material breach of the obligations of Borrower under this Addendum 3.
(g) Compliance and Resolution. Borrower agrees that a failure to comply with Borrower’s obligations under this Addendum, or any other set of facts or circumstances where it has been asserted by any governmental regulatory agency (or Agent or Lenders believes that there is a substantial risk of such assertion) that Agent, Lenders and their affiliates are not entitled to hold, or exercise any significant right with respect to, any securities issued to Lenders by Borrower, will constitute a breach of the obligations of Borrower under the financing agreements among Borrower, Agent and Lenders. In the event of (i) a failure to comply with Borrower’s obligations under this Addendum; or (ii) an assertion by any governmental regulatory agency (or Agent or Lenders believe that there is a substantial risk of such assertion) of a failure to comply with Borrower’s obligations under this Addendum, then (i) Agent, Lenders and Borrower will meet and resolve any such issue in good faith to the satisfaction of Borrower, Agent, Lenders, and any governmental regulatory agency, and (ii) upon request of Lenders or Agent, Borrower will cooperate and assist with any assignment of the financing agreements among Hercules Capital IV, L.P. and Hercules SBIC V, L.P., as applicable, and Hercules Capital, Inc.
ADDENDUM 4 to LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
Agent and Lender Terms
(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Hercules Capital, Inc. to act on its behalf as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and irrevocably authorizes Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Agent shall have only those duties which are specified in this Agreement and it may perform such duties by or through its agents, representatives or employees. In performing its duties on behalf of Lenders, Agent shall exercise the same care which it would exercise in dealing with loans made for its own account, but it shall not be responsible to any Lender for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability or sufficiency of all or any of the Loan Documents, or for any representations, warranties, recitals or statements made therein or made in any written or oral statement or in any financial or other statements, instruments, reports, certificates or any other documents furnished or delivered in connection herewith or therewith by Agent to any Lender or by or on behalf of Borrower to Agent or any Lender, or be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained herein or therein, as to the use of the proceeds of the Term Loan Advances, the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 4 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to Agent. Agent shall not be responsible for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of any Taxes, assessments, charges or any other charges or liens of any nature whatsoever upon the Collateral or otherwise for the maintenance of the Collateral, except in the event Agent enters into possession of a part or all of the Collateral, in which event Agent shall preserve the part in its possession. Unless the officers of Agent acting in their capacity as officer of Agent on Borrower’s account have actual knowledge thereof or have been notified in writing thereof by Lenders, Agent shall not be required to ascertain or inquire as to the existence or possible existence of any Event of Default.
(b) Neither Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, attorneys, representatives or agents shall be liable to Lenders for any action taken or omitted hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents or in connection herewith or therewith unless caused by its or their gross negligence or willful misconduct. No provision of this Agreement or of any other Loan Document shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on Agent to perform any act or to exercise any power in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on Agent to perform any act or exercise any right or power if such performance or exercise (a) would subject Agent to a Tax in a jurisdiction where it is not then subject to a Tax or (b) would require Agent to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not so qualified. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against Agent as a result of Agent acting or (where so instructed) refraining from acting under this Agreement or under any of the other Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of Lenders. Agent shall be entitled to refrain from exercising any power, discretion or authority vested in it under this Agreement unless and until it has obtained the written instructions of Lenders. The agency hereby created shall in no way impair or affect any of the rights and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon Agent in its individual capacity. With respect to its participation in the Loan Agreement hereunder, Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same rights and powers as though it were not performing the duties and functions delegated to it hereunder and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” or any similar term shall unless the context clearly indicates otherwise include Agent in its individual capacity.
(c) Agent may rely, and shall be fully protected in acting, or refraining to act, upon, any resolution, statement, certificate, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond or other paper or document that it has no reason to believe to be other than genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties or, in the case of cables, telecopies and telexes, to have been sent by the proper party or parties. In the absence of its gross negligence or willful misconduct, Agent may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to Agent and conforming to the requirements of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents. Agent may consult with counsel, and any opinion or legal advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, not taken or suffered by Agent hereunder or under any Loan Documents in accordance therewith. Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of the Collateral from any court of competent jurisdiction. Agent shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
granted to Agent by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents at the request or direction of Lenders unless Agent shall have been provided by Lenders with adequate security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(d) Each Lender agrees to indemnify Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower and without limiting the obligation of Borrower to do so), according to its respective Term Commitment percentages (based upon the total outstanding Term Commitments) in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Addendum 4, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against Agent in any way relating to or arising out of, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; The agreements in this Section shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
(e) To the extent not reimbursed either by Borrower or from the application of Collateral proceeds pursuant to Section 10.2, a Lender (the “Indemnified Lender”) shall be indemnified by the other Lenders (an “Indemnifying Lender”), on a several basis in proportion to each Lender’s pro rata portion of the Term Commitment, and each Indemnifying Lender agrees to reimburse the Indemnified Lender for the Indemnifying Lender’s pro rata share of the following items (an “Indemnified Payment”):
(i) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Indemnified Lender incurred by the Indemnified Lender in connection with the discharge of its activities under this Agreement or the Loan Agreement, including reasonable legal expenses and attorneys’ fees; provided, that the Indemnified Lender shall consult with the other Lender regarding the incurrence of such costs and expenses at reasonable intervals (but not more often than monthly) and any such reasonable costs and expenses shall be “Claims” hereunder notwithstanding any disagreement by the other Lender as to their incurrence; and from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever, which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Indemnified Lender in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, or any action taken or omitted by the Indemnified Lender hereunder; provided, however, that the Indemnified Lender shall not be reimbursed or indemnified for an Indemnified Payment, except to the extent that the Indemnified Lender paid more than its ratable share of such payment. All Indemnified Payments as set forth in this clause (e) to an Indemnified Lender are intended to be paid ratably by the other Lender.
(f) [Reserved.]
(g) [Reserved.].
(h) Agent in Its Individual Capacity. The Person serving as Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not Agent and the term “Lender” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include each such Person serving as Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.
(i) Exculpatory Provisions. Agent shall have no duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Agent shall not:
(i) be subject to any fiduciary, advisory or other implied duties, regardless of whether any Default or any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(ii) have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by Lenders, provided that Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
(iii) except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and Agent shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by any Person serving as Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
(j) In connection with any exercise of Enforcement Actions hereunder, neither any Agent nor any Lender or any of its partners, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, accountants, or agents shall be
liable as such for any action taken or omitted by it or them, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to its duties under this Agreement.
(k) Each Lender and Agent may execute any of its powers and perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact. Each Lender and Agent shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such powers and duties. No Lender or Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it, if the selection of such agents or attorneys-in-fact was done without gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(l) Each Lender agrees that it will make its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of Borrower in connection with the making of Term Loan Advances pursuant to the Loan Agreement and has made and shall continue to make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of Borrower. Neither Agent nor any Lender shall have any duty or responsibility either initially or on a continuing basis to make any such investigation or any such appraisal on behalf of all Lenders or to provide the other Lenders with any credit or other information with respect thereto whether coming into its possession before the date hereof or any time or times thereafter and shall further have no responsibility with respect to the accuracy of or the completeness of the information provided to Lenders by Borrower.
ADDENDUM 5 to LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
Multiple Borrower Terms
(a) Borrower’s Agent. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Company as its agent, attorney-in-fact and legal representative for all purposes, including requesting disbursement of the Term Loan and receiving account statements and other notices and communications to Borrowers (or any of them) from Agent or any Lender. Agent may rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, on any request for the Term Loan Advances, disbursement instruction, report, information or any other notice or communication made or given by Company, whether in its own name or on behalf of one or more of the other Borrowers, and Agent shall not have any obligation to make any inquiry or request any confirmation from or on behalf of any other Borrower as to the binding effect on it of any such request, instruction, report, information, other notice or communication, nor shall the joint and several character of Borrowers’ obligations hereunder be affected thereby.
(b) Waivers. Each Borrower hereby waives: (i) any right to require Agent to institute suit against, or to exhaust its rights and remedies against, any other Borrower or any other person, or to proceed against any property of any kind which secures all or any part of the Secured Obligations, or to exercise any right of offset or other right with respect to any reserves, credits or deposit accounts held by or maintained with Agent or any Indebtedness of Agent or any Lender to any other Borrower, or to exercise any other right or power, or pursue any other remedy Agent or any Lender may have; (ii) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of any other Borrower or any guarantor or any endorser, co-maker or other person, or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of any liability of any other Borrower or any guarantor or any endorser, co-maker or other person, with respect to all or any part of the Secured Obligations, or by reason of any act or omission of Agent or others which directly or indirectly results in the discharge or release of any other Borrower or any guarantor or any other person or any Secured Obligations or any security therefor, whether by operation of law or otherwise; (iii) any defense arising by reason of any failure of Agent to obtain, perfect, maintain or keep in force any Lien on, any property of any Borrower or any other person; (iv) any defense based upon or arising out of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, liquidation or dissolution proceeding commenced by or against any other Borrower or any guarantor or any endorser, co-maker or other person, including without limitation any discharge of, or bar against collecting, any of the Secured Obligations (including without limitation any interest thereon), in or as a result of any such proceeding. Until Payment in Full, nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of any Borrower hereunder except Payment in Full. If any claim is ever made upon Agent for repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts received by Agent in payment of or on account of any of the Secured Obligations, because of any claim that any such payment constituted a preferential transfer or fraudulent conveyance, or for any other reason whatsoever, and Agent repays all or part of said amount by reason of any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative body having jurisdiction over Agent or any of its property, or by reason of any settlement or compromise of any such claim effected by Agent with any such claimant (including without limitation the any other Borrower), then and in any such event, each Borrower agrees that any such judgment, decree, order, settlement and compromise shall be binding upon such Borrower, notwithstanding any revocation or release of this Agreement or the cancellation of any note or other instrument evidencing any of the Secured Obligations, or any release of any of the Secured Obligations, and each Borrower shall be and remain liable to Agent and Lenders under this Agreement for the amount so repaid or recovered, to the same extent as if such amount had never originally been received by Agent or any Lender, and the provisions of this sentence shall survive, and continue in effect, notwithstanding any revocation or release of this Agreement. Each Borrower hereby expressly and unconditionally waives all rights of subrogation, reimbursement and indemnity of every kind against any other Borrower, and all rights of recourse to any assets or property of any other Borrower, and all rights to any collateral or security held for the payment and performance of any Secured Obligations, including (but not limited to) any of the foregoing rights which Borrower may have under any present or future document or agreement with any other Borrower or other person, and including (but not limited to) any of the foregoing rights which any Borrower may have under any equitable doctrine of subrogation, implied contract, or unjust enrichment, or any other equitable or legal doctrine.
(c) Consents. Each Borrower hereby consents and agrees that, without notice (except any notices expressly required by the Loan Documents) to or by Borrower and without affecting or impairing in any way the obligations or liability of Borrower hereunder, Agent may, from time to time before or after revocation of this Agreement, do any one or more of the following in its sole and absolute discretion: (i) accept partial payments of, compromise or
settle, renew, extend the time for the payment, discharge, or performance of, refuse to enforce, and release all or any parties to, any or all of the Secured Obligations; (ii) grant any other indulgence to any Borrower or any other Person in respect of any or all of the Secured Obligations or any other matter; (iii) accept, release, waive, surrender, enforce, exchange, modify, impair, or extend the time for the performance, discharge, or payment of, any and all property of any kind securing any or all of the Secured Obligations or any guaranty of any or all of the Secured Obligations, or on which Agent at any time may have a Lien, or refuse to enforce its rights or make any compromise or settlement or agreement therefor in respect of any or all of such property; (iv) substitute or add, or take any action or omit to take any action which results in the release of, any one or more other Borrowers or any endorsers or guarantors of all or any part of the Secured Obligations, including, without limitation one or more parties to this Agreement, regardless of any destruction or impairment of any right of contribution or other right of Borrower; (v) apply any sums received from any other Borrower, any guarantor, endorser, or co-signer, or from the disposition of any Collateral or security, to any Indebtedness whatsoever owing from such person or secured by such Collateral or security, in such manner and order as Agent determines in its sole discretion, and regardless of whether such Indebtedness is part of the Secured Obligations, is secured, or is due and payable. Each Borrower consents and agrees that Agent shall be under no obligation to marshal any assets in favor of Borrower, or against or in payment of any or all of the Secured Obligations. Each Borrower further consents and agrees that Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities whatsoever with respect to any property securing any or all of the Secured Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Agent shall have no obligation to monitor, verify, audit, examine, or obtain or maintain any insurance with respect to, any property securing any or all of the Secured Obligations.
(d) Independent Liability. Each Borrower hereby agrees that one or more successive or concurrent actions may be brought hereon against such Borrower, in the same action in which any other Borrower may be sued or in separate actions, as often as deemed advisable by Agent. Each Borrower is fully aware of the financial condition of each other Borrower and is executing and delivering this Agreement based solely upon its own independent investigation of all matters pertinent hereto, and such Borrower is not relying in any manner upon any representation or statement of Agent or any Lender with respect thereto. Each Borrower represents and warrants that it is in a position to obtain, and each Borrower hereby assumes full responsibility for obtaining, any additional information concerning any other Borrower’s financial condition and any other matter pertinent hereto as such Borrower may desire, and such Borrower is not relying upon or expecting Agent to furnish to it any information now or hereafter in Agent’s possession concerning the same or any other matter.
(e) Subordination. All Indebtedness of a Borrower now or hereafter arising held by another Borrower is subordinated to the Secured Obligations and Borrower holding the Indebtedness shall take all actions reasonably requested by Agent to effect, to enforce and to give notice of such subordination.
EXHIBIT K
CERTAIN ECONOMIC TERMS
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“Amortization Date” | | If neither the First Interest Only Extension Conditions nor the Second Interest Only Extension Conditions are satisfied: July 1, 2028. If the First Interest Only Extension Conditions are satisfied: July 1, 2029. If the Second Interest Only Extension Conditions are satisfied: the Term Loan Maturity Date. |
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“Approval Milestone I” Satisfaction of each of the following events: | | (a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (b) Borrower shall have delivered evidence satisfactory to Agent (including supporting documents as reasonably requested by Agent) that [**]. |
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“Approval Milestone II” Satisfaction of each of the following events: | | (a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (b) Borrower shall have delivered evidence satisfactory to Agent (including supporting documents as reasonably requested by Agent) that [**]. |
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“At-the-Market Offering” | | Means sales by Borrower of shares of its capital stock that are (i) offered on a delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415 promulgated under the Act pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-3 under the Act, and (ii) sold from time to time at prevailing market prices through a designated broker-dealer pursuant to a written agreement between Borrower and such broker-dealer |
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“Commercial Milestone” Satisfaction of each of the following events: | | (a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (b) Borrower shall have delivered evidence satisfactory to Agent (including supporting documents as reasonably requested by Agent) that Borrower has generated Net Product Revenue, measured on a trailing three (3) month basis, of at least [**] Dollars ($[**]) for any measuring period ending by or before March 31, 2028. |
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“Data Milestone I” Satisfaction of each of the following events: | | (a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (b) Borrower shall have delivered evidence satisfactory to Agent (including supporting documents as reasonably requested by Agent) that Borrower has [**]. |
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“Data Milestone II” Satisfaction of each of the following events: | | (a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (b) Borrower shall have delivered evidence satisfactory to Agent (including supporting documents as reasonably requested by Agent) that Borrower has [**]. |
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“Due Diligence Fee” | | [**] Dollars ($[**]) |
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“End of Term Charge” | | (x) Five and one-half percent (5.50%) (“End of Term Charge Percentage”), multiplied by the aggregate original principal amount of such Term Loan Advances made hereunder Minus (y) the aggregate amount of payments made pursuant to Section 2.6(a) |
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“Financing Milestone” Satisfaction of each of the following events: | | (a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (b) Borrower shall have delivered evidence satisfactory to Agent (including supporting documents as reasonably requested by Agent) that Borrower has raised an aggregate amount of at least Three Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($350,000,000) in Qualified Equity Issuance Net Proceeds between June 4, 2025 and December 15, 2026. |
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“First Interest Only Extension Conditions” Satisfaction of each of the following events: | | (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (b) Agent’s receipt of evidence prior to July 1, 2028, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, that the Tranche 2 Milestone has been achieved. |
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“Initial Facility Charge” | | One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). |
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“Initial Minimum Cash Test Date” | | April 1, 2026; provided, that the Initial Minimum Cash Test Date shall be extended to January 1, 2027 if Borrower shall have delivered evidence satisfactory to Agent |
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| | (including supporting documents as reasonably requested by Agent) that Borrower has raised an aggregate amount of at least Three Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($350,000,000) in Qualified Equity Issuance Net Proceeds between June 4, 2025 and December 15, 2026. |
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“Initial Minimum Revenue Test Date” | | The date on or after the Initial Revenue Trigger Date on which the amount of the advanced Term Loan Advances is first greater than One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000). |
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“Initial Revenue Trigger Date” | | The date that reporting is due pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or (b) for the first calendar month or quarter, as applicable, which is nine (9) months after the earliest date that Borrower achieves either the Approval Milestone I or the Approval Milestone II. |
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“Maximum Term Loan Amount” | | Two Hundred Seventy-Five Million Dollars ($275,000,000). |
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“Minimum Advance Amount” | | [**] Dollars ($[**]). |
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“Prepayment Charge” | | (a) The outstanding principal amount of each Advance amount being prepaid, multiplied by (b) (i) two percent (2.00%), if the principal amount of such Advance amounts are prepaid on or prior to the date which is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date; |
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| | (ii) one and one-half percent (1.50%), if the principal amount of such Advance amounts are prepaid after the date which is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date but on or prior to the date which is twenty-four (24) months following the Closing Date; and (iii) three-quarters of one percent (0.75%), if after the date which is twenty-four (24) months following the Closing Date through the day before the Term Loan Maturity Date. |
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“Prime Rate” | | The greater of (a) the “prime rate” as reported in The Wall Street Journal or any successor publication thereto and (b) seven and one-half percent (7.50%). |
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“Second Interest Only Extension Conditions” Satisfaction of each of the following events: | | (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (b) the First Interest Only Extension Conditions shall have been achieved; and (c) Agent’s receipt of evidence prior to July 1, 2029, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, that the Tranche 3 Milestone has been achieved. |
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“Subsequent Financing” | | The closing of any broadly marketed equity offering of Borrower (other than sales effected pursuant to any At-the-Market Offering) which becomes effective after the Closing Date and that Borrower reasonably expects to result in aggregate gross proceeds to Borrower of at least Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000). |
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“Subsequent Tranche Facility Charge” | | [**] percent ([**]%) of any Advance (other than a Tranche 1 Advance). |
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“Term Commitment” | | The obligation, if any, of any Lender to make a Term Loan Advance to Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Tranche 1 Commitment”, “Tranche 2 Commitment”, “Tranche 3 Commitment”, “Tranche 4 Commitment” or “Tranche 5 Commitment”, as the case may be, opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1. |
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“Term Loan Interest Rate” | | A per annum rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate plus two and forty-five hundredths percent (2.45%) |
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“Term Loan Maturity Date” | | July 1, 2030. |
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“Tranche 1 Commitment” | | The obligation, if any, of any Lender to make a Term Loan Advance to Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading Tranche 1 Commitment opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1. |
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“Tranche 2 Commitment” | | The obligation, if any, of any Lender to make a Term Loan Advance to Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading Tranche 2 Commitment opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1. |
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“Tranche 2 Commitment Period” | | The period beginning on the first date on which Borrower shall have achieved the Tranche 2 Milestone and continuing through the earlier to occur of (a) [**], and (b) the date that is ninety (90) days after the first date on which Borrower shall have achieved the Tranche 2 Milestone. |
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“Tranche 2 Milestone” | | Borrower’s achievement of at least two (2) of the following: (i) the Data Milestone I, (ii) the Data Milestone II, (iii) the Approval Milestone I, and (iv) the Financing Milestone. |
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“Tranche 3 Commitment” | | The obligation, if any, of any Lender, if any, to make a Term Loan Advance to Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading Tranche 3 Commitment opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1. |
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“Tranche 3 Commitment Period” | | The period beginning on the first date on which Borrower (i) achieves the Tranche 3 Milestone and (ii) either draws the entire amount of the Tranche 2 Commitment or the Tranche 2 Commitment Period expires, and continuing through the earlier to occur of (a) [**], and (b) the date that is ninety (90) days after the first date on which Borrower shall have achieved the Tranche 3 Milestone. |
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“Tranche 3 Milestone” | | Borrower’s achievement of (a) the Financing Milestone, and (b) at least two (2) of the following: (i) the Data Milestone II, (ii) the Approval Milestone I, and (iii) the Approval Milestone II. |
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“Tranche 4 Commitment” | | The obligation, if any, of any Lender to make a Term Loan Advance to Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading Tranche 4 Commitment opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1. |
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“Tranche 4 Commitment Period” | | The period beginning on the first date on which Borrower (i) achieves the Tranche 4 Milestone and (ii) either draws the entire amount of the Tranche 3 Commitment or the Tranche 3 Commitment Period expires, and continuing through the earlier to occur of (a) [**], and (b) the date that is ninety (90) days after the first date on which Borrower shall have achieved the Tranche 4 Milestone. |
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“Tranche 4 Milestone” | | Borrower’s achievement of the Tranche 3 Milestone and the Commercial Milestone. |
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“Tranche 5 Commitment” | | The obligation, if any, of any Lender to make a Term Loan Advance to Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading Tranche 5 Commitment opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1. |
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“Tranche 5 Commitment Period” | | The period beginning on the Closing Date and continuing until the Amortization Date. |
SCHEDULE 1.1
COMMITMENTS
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LENDERS | | TRANCHE 1 COMMITMENT | | TRANCHE 2 COMMITMENT | | TRANCHE 3 COMMITMENT | | TRANCHE 4 COMMITMENT | | TRANCHE 5 COMMITMENT* |
Hercules Capital, Inc. | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] |
Hercules Private Credit Fund 1 L.P. | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] |
Hercules Private Global Venture Growth Fund I L.P. | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] |
Hercules Venture Growth Credit Opportunities Fund I L.P. | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] |
Hercules Capital IV, L.P. | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] |
Hercules SBIC V, L.P. | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] |
TOTAL COMMITMENTS | | $100,000,000 | | [**] | | [**] | | [**] | | $60,000,000* |
[**]
EX-31.1 Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John G. Cox, hereby certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: July 28, 2025
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/s/ John G. Cox |
John G. Cox |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
EX-31.2 Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Erick Lucera, hereby certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: July 28, 2025
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/s/ Erick Lucera |
Erick Lucera Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
EX-32.1 Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John G. Cox, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Dyne Therapeutics, Inc. for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2025 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the information contained in such Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
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/s/ John G. Cox |
John G. Cox |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
July 28, 2025 |
EX-32.2 Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Erick Lucera, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Dyne Therapeutics, Inc. for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2025 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the information contained in such Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Dyne Therapeutics, Inc.
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/s/ Erick Lucera |
Erick Lucera Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
July 28, 2025 |