Celularity Inc (CELU) — 10-K

Filed 2025-05-08 · Period ending 2024-12-31 · 123,728 words · SEC EDGAR

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# Celularity Inc (CELU) — 10-K

**Filed:** 2025-05-08
**Period ending:** 2024-12-31
**Accession:** 0001641172-25-009319
**Source:** [SEC EDGAR](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1752828/000164117225009319/)
**Origin leaf:** 47af3b4cf6ef4b4215a1a947a87eefa72addd13e0d95afa4cde07664889984e0
**Words:** 123,728



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**UNITED STATES**
**SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION**
**Washington, D.C.
20549**
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**FORM 10-K**
**(Mark One)**
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
**For the fiscal year ended December 31,
2024**
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**OR**
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR
15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
**For the transition period from
to**
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**Commission file number 001-38914**
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**Celularity Inc.**
**(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)**
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Delaware | 
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83-1702591 | |
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) | 
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) | |
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170 Park Ave
Florham Park, NJ | 
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07932 | |
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(Address of principal executive offices) | 
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(Zip Code) | |
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**Registrants telephone number,
including area code: (908) 768-2170**
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class | 
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Trading Symbol(s) | 
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Name of each exchange on which registered | |
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Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share | 
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CELU | 
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The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | |
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Warrants, each exercisable
for one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $115 per share | 
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CELUW | 
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The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: **None**
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned
issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes No 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to
file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes No 
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.
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Large accelerated filer | 
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Accelerated filer | 
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Non-accelerated filer | 
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Smaller reporting company | 
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Emerging growth company | 
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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
has filed a report on and attestation to its managements assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or
issued its audit report. 
If securities are registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the
correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. 
Indicate by check mark whether any of those
error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrants
executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to 240.10D-1(b). 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes 
No 
The aggregate market value of the voting
and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price of the shares of Class A common stock
on the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 30, 2024, was $38.5 million.
The number of shares of the registrants
Class A common stock outstanding as of May 6, 2025 was 23,949,229.
**DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE**
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**Table of Contents**
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PART I | 
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Item 1. | 
Business | 
1 | |
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Item 1A. | 
Risk
Factors | 
31 | |
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Item 1B. | 
Unresolved Staff Comments | 
68 | |
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Item 1C. | 
Cybersecurity | 
68 | |
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Item 2. | 
Properties | 
69 | |
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Item 3. | 
Legal Proceedings | 
69 | |
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Item 4. | 
Mine Safety Disclosures | 
69 | |
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PART II | 
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Item 5. | 
Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 
70 | |
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Item 6. | 
[Reserved] | 
70 | |
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Item 7. | 
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 
71 | |
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Item 7A. | 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 
82 | |
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Item 8. | 
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 
82 | |
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Item 9. | 
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | 
140 | |
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Item 9A. | 
Controls and Procedures | 
140 | |
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Item 9B. | 
Other Information | 
141 | |
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Item 9C. | 
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdiction that Prevents Inspections | 
141 | |
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PART III | 
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Item 10. | 
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | 
142 | |
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Item 11. | 
Executive Compensation | 
142 | |
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Item 12. | 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | 
142 | |
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Item 13. | 
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 
142 | |
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Item 14. | 
Principal Accounting Fees and Services | 
142 | |
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PART IV | 
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Item 15. | 
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules | 
142 | |
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Item 16 | 
Form 10-K Summary | 
147 | |
Unless the context indicates
otherwise, references in this annual report on Form 10-K to the Company, Celularity, we, us,
our and similar terms refer to Celularity Inc. (f/k/a GX Acquisition Corp.) and its consolidated subsidiaries (including
Celularity LLC, or Legacy Celularity).
The Celularity logo,
Celularity IMPACT, Biovance, Biovance 3L, Rebound, Interfyl, Lifebank, CentaFlex and other trademarks or service marks of Celularity Inc.
appearing in this annual report on Form 10-K are the property of Celularity Inc. This annual report on Form 10-K also contains registered
marks, trademarks and trade names of other companies. All other trademarks, registered marks and trade names appearing herein are the
property of their respective holders. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to, including logos, artwork and other visual displays, may appear without
the or symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that their respective owners will not assert,
to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.
On February 28, 2024, we
effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock. Unless specifically provided otherwise herein,
all share and per share information in this annual report on Form 10-K has been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.
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**SUMMARY RISK FACTORS**
Our business involves significant
risks. Below is a summary of the material risks that our business faces, which makes an investment in our securities speculative and risky.
This summary does not address all these risks. These risks are more fully described below under the heading Risk Factors
in Part I, Item 1A of this annual report on Form 10-K. Before making investment decisions regarding our securities, you should carefully
consider these risks. The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could have a material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price. In such event, the market price of our securities could
decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. In addition, there are also additional risks not described below that are
either not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial, and these additional risks could also materially impair our business,
operations or market price of our Class A common stock.
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We have incurred net losses in every period since our inception, have no cellular therapeutic candidates approved for commercial sale and we anticipate that we will incur substantial net losses in the future. | |
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Our historical operating results indicate substantial doubt exists related to our ability to continue as a going concern. | |
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We will need substantial additional financing to develop our therapeutics and implement our operating plans. If we fail to obtain additional financing, we may be unable to complete the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates. | |
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We have substantial indebtedness, which is secured by all of our assets. Payments on our outstanding debt and debt maturities could impact our liquidity, require us to modify our operations to meet any payment obligations and could force us to seek protection under the provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. | |
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Our Class A common stock may be delisted from the Nasdaq and begin trading
in the over-the-counter markets if we are not successful in regaining compliance with the Nasdaqs continued listing standards,
which may negatively impact the price of our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets. | |
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If sales of our currently commercialized biomaterial products decline significantly and we do not have alternative products to market, our business would be significantly harmed. | |
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Our placental-derived cellular therapy candidates represent a novel approach to cancer, infectious and degenerative disease treatments that creates significant challenges. | |
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We rely on distribution arrangements for the sale of our biomaterials products. We may incur costs to meet demand forecasts that do not materialize or we may be unable to meet demand if our distribution partners do not provide adequate forecasts. | |
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Our
commercial biomaterials business may be impacted if The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Medicare Administrative
Contractors do not reverse their Local Coverage Determination, or LCD, for skin substitute grafts and cellular and tissue-based
products, or CTPs, before the LCD effective date of January 1, 2026. | |
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The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, regulatory approval process is lengthy and time-consuming, and we may experience significant
delays in the clinical development and regulatory review of our therapeutic candidates. | |
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We operate our own manufacturing and storage facility, which requires significant resources; manufacturing or other failures could adversely affect our clinical trials and the commercial viability of our therapeutic candidates and our biobanking and degenerative diseases businesses. | |
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We rely on donors of healthy human full-term post-partum placentas to manufacture our therapeutic candidates and biomaterials products, and if we do not obtain an adequate supply of such placentas from qualified donors, development of our placental-derived allogeneic cells may be adversely impacted. | |
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If our efforts to protect the proprietary nature of the intellectual property related to our technologies are inadequate, we may not be able to compete effectively in our market. | |
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We will continue to rely on third parties to conduct potential future clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of, or commercialize, our therapeutic candidates. | |
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We face significant competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and our operating results will suffer if we fail to compete effectively. | |
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We may form or seek strategic alliances or enter into additional licensing arrangements in the future, and we may not realize the benefits or such alliances or licensing arrangements. | |
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Our business could be materially adversely affected by the effects of health pandemics or epidemics in regions where we or third parties on which we rely have concentrations of clinical trial sites or other business operations. | |
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**SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS**
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Some of the statements
contained in this annual report on form 10-K constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking
statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions
concerning matters that are not historical facts. These statements relate to our future events, including our anticipated operations,
research, development and commercialization activities, clinical trials, operating results and financial condition. These forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements
to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about:
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the success, cost, timing and potential indications of our cellular therapy candidate development activities and clinical trials, as well as our ability to expand our biomaterials business and leverage our core expertise in cellular therapeutic development and manufacturing to generate revenues by providing contract manufacturing and development services to third parties; | |
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the size of the markets for our therapeutic candidates and biomaterials products, and our ability to serve those markets; | |
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the timing of the initiation, enrollment and completion of planned clinical trials in the United States and foreign countries; | |
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our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates in any of the indications for which we plan to develop them, and any related restrictions, limitations, and/or warnings in the label of any approved therapeutic; | |
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our ability to regain compliance with Nasdaqs continued listing standards; | |
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our ability to obtain funding for our operations, including funding necessary to complete the clinical trials of any of our therapeutic candidates; | |
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our ability and plans to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize our therapeutic candidates, as well as our degenerative disease products; | |
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our ability to attract and retain collaborators with development, regulatory and commercialization expertise; | |
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our ability to successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates and biomaterials products and the ability for such therapeutic products and biomaterials products to qualify for reimbursement; | |
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our ability to develop and maintain sales and marketing capabilities, whether alone or with potential future collaborators; | |
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our estimates regarding future expenses, revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; | |
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our use of cash and other resources; and | |
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our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our therapeutic candidates, degenerative disease products, and our ability to operate our business without infringing on the intellectual property rights of others. | |
In some cases, you can
identify these forward-looking statements by the use of terminology such as anticipate, believe, can,
contemplate, continue, could, estimate, expect, forecast,
intends, may, might, outlook, plan, possible, potential,
predict, project, seek, should, strive, target, will,
would and the negative version of these words or other comparable words or phrases, but the absence of these words does
not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are based
on assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks in greater detail under the headings Risk Factors and Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this annual report on Form 10-K. Because forward-looking
statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond
our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected
in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements.
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Moreover, we operate in a
very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict
all risks, 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. In light of these risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this annual report may not occur and actual results
could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking
statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the
forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, except as required by law, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility
for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statements for any reason after the date of this annual report on Form 10-K to conform these statements to actual results or to changes
in our expectations.
You should read this annual
report on Form 10-K and the documents that we reference in this annual report on Form 10-K completely and with the understanding that
our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary
statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained
herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this annual report on Form 10-K.
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**PART I**
**Item 1. Business.**
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**Overview**
We are a regenerative and
cellular medicines company focused on addressing aging-related and degenerative diseases. We believe that by harnessing the placentas
unique biology and ready availability, we will be able to develop therapeutic solutions that address a significant unmet global need for
effective, accessible and affordable therapeutics. Our advanced biomaterials business today is comprised primarily of the sale of Biovance
3L and Rebound product lines, both directly and through our distribution network. Biovance 3L is a tri-layer decellularized, dehydrated
human amniotic membrane derived from the placenta of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. It is an intact, natural extracellular matrix that
provides a foundation for the wound regeneration process and acts as a scaffold for restoration of functional tissue. Rebound is a full
thickness extracellular matrix that contains amnion and chorion. We are developing new placental biomaterial products to deepen the biomaterials
commercial pipeline. We also develop off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic cell therapy product candidates including mesenchymal-like
adherent stromal cells, or MLASCs, for which we have clinical datasets from Phase I and Phase II clinical studies and are prioritizing
advanced stage programs in diabetic foot ulcer, or DFU, and Crohns Disease, or CD. It also includes natural killer, or NK cells,
product candidates for which we have clinical datasets from Phase I and Phase II clinical studies and are currently investigating in preclinical
studies as senoablatant candidates. We also are leveraging our core expertise in cellular therapeutic development and manufacturing to
generate revenues by providing contract manufacturing and development services to third parties. The initial focus of this new service
offering is to assist development stage cell therapy companies and others with the development and manufacture of their therapeutic candidates
for clinical trials.
We are working toward a set
of milestones with respect to off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic biomaterial product candidates and cell therapy product candidates,
respectively. With respect to our biomaterial product candidate pipeline, we expect to submit a 510(k) application for our Celularity
Tendon Wrap, or CTW, in the second half of 2025. We expect to advance the development of our FUSE Bone Void Filler, or FUSE, with the
objective of a 510(k) filing in the second half of 2026, and to advance the development of our Celularity Placental Matrix, or CPM, with
the objective of a 510(k) filing in the second half of 2027. With respect to our MLASCs cell therapy product candidate for DFU (PDA 002),
we expect in the first half of 2025 to request an end of Phase 2, or EOP2, meeting with the FDA as part of which we intend to discuss
with the FDA our Phase 3 plan and protocols. In addition, with respect to our MLASCs cell therapy product candidate (PDA 001), we expect
to complete, in the first half of 2025, our safety and efficacy assessment of previously generated data that is one factor in determining
whether to progress our MLASCs cell therapy product candidate in CD to a Phase 3 clinical trial.
Our Celularity IMPACT manufacturing
platform is a seamless, fully integrated process designed to optimize speed and scalability from the sourcing of placentas from full-term
healthy informed consent donors through the use of proprietary processing methods, cell selection, product-specific chemistry, manufacturing
and controls, or CMC, advanced cell manufacturing and cryopreservation. The result is a suite of allogeneic inventory-ready, on demand
placental-derived cell therapy products. We also operate and manage a commercial biobanking business that includes the collection, processing
and cryogenic storage of certain birth byproducts for third-parties. A biobank is an organized collection of biological human material,
and its associated information stored for future retrieval and use in research, regenerative medicine, and innovation. We provide a fee-based
biobanking service to expectant parents who contract with us to collect, process, cryogenically preserve and store certain biomaterial,
including umbilical cord blood and placenta derived cells and tissue. We receive a one-time fee for the collection, processing, and cryogenic
preservation of the biomaterials, and a storage fee to maintain the biomaterials in our biobank payable annually generally over a period
of 18 to 25 years. We intend to explore opportunities to diversify our biobanking business, including adult cell banking.
Our current science is the
product of the cumulative background and effort over two decades of our seasoned and experienced management team. We have our roots in
Anthrogenesis Corporation, or Anthrogenesis, a company founded under the name Lifebank in 1998 by Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., our founder
and Chief Executive Officer, and acquired in 2002 by Celgene Corporation, or Celgene. The team continued to hone their expertise in the
field of placental-derived technology at Celgene through August 2017, when we acquired Anthrogenesis. We have a robust global intellectual
property portfolio comprised of over 290 patents and patent applications protecting our Celularity IMPACT platform, our processes, technologies
and cell therapy programs that we are actively developing on our own or seeking to out-license or to find a collaboration partner to develop.
We believe this know-how, expertise and intellectual property will drive the rapid development and, if approved, the commercialization
of these potentially lifesaving therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.
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**Our Advanced Biomaterial Products**
We develop and market off-the-shelf
placental-derived allogeneic advanced biomaterial products including allografts and connective tissue matrices for soft tissue repair
and reconstructive procedures in the treatment of degenerative disorders and diseases including those associated with aging. Our advanced
biomaterial products include:
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Biovance, a human amniotic membrane allograft designed to cover or offer protection from the surrounding environment in soft tissue repair and reconstructive procedure. | |
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Biovance3L, a Tri-Layer Biovance human amniotic membrane allograft designed for use as a covering, barrier, or wrap to surgical sites. | |
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Biovance 3L Ocular, a tri-layer Biovance human amniotic membrane allograft designed to support the treatment of ocular surface disease and ocular surgical applications. | |
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Interfyl, a decellularized human placental connective tissue matrix designed for use to replace or supplement damaged or inadequate integumental tissue. | |
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CentaFlex, a decellularized human placental matrix allograft derived from human umbilical cord designed for use as a surgical covering, wrap, or barrier to protect and support the repair of damaged tissues. | |
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ReboundTM, a full thickness, placental derived extracellular matrix that contain amnion and chorion for use as a wound covering or barrier to protect and support full thickness wounds. | |
We also are developing new
placental-derived advanced biomaterial products to deepen our commercial pipeline. We plan to explore opportunities to generate revenue
and leverage our core expertise in advanced biomaterial product manufacturing by providing contract manufacturing services under which
we manufacture one or more of our advanced biomaterial products for a distributor to sell under its own brand name(s). We also pursue
opportunities to generate revenues that leverage our core expertise in cellular therapeutic development and manufacturing by providing
contract manufacturing and development services to third parties. Contract manufacturing and development optimization services can help
accelerate translational and clinical discoveries and mitigate the complexity and risk associated with introducing new cell therapeutics,
including process variability, vulnerable supply chains, and manufacturing capacity constraints on scalability. Likewise, our biomaterial
contract manufacturing and development services support scale-up for small and large commercial volumes, including tissue procurement,
prototyping, private branding, and product distribution. Leveraging over three decades of experience in human tissue procurement and biobanking,
we maintain a supply of cryopreserved placental tissue procured from informed consent donors so it is available on demand to be converted
rapidly to finished biomaterial products, thereby addressing the structural vulnerabilities and inefficiencies inherent to most tissue
supply chains.
**Addressable Markets**
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According to Global Market
Insights, the global tendon repair market was valued at approximately $2.2 billion with a 10-year compounded annual growth rate of
7.8% and the global bone graft substitute market was valued at approximately $3.4 billion with a 10-year compounded annual growth
rate of 6.8%. Furthermore, according to Nova 1 Advisors, the U.S. wound care market was valued at approximately $14.6 billion
with a 10 year compounded annual growth rate of 5.1% and, according to Allied Market Research, the global dermal filler market is
estimated to be approximately $5.1 billion with a 10 year compounded annual growth rate of 10.8%.
**Our Strategy**
Our goal is to lead the next
evolution in regenerative and cellular medicine by delivering off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular therapies, at greater scale and quality
with attractive economics. We believe achieving this goal will result in placental-derived allogeneic cellular therapies becoming a standard
of care in various indications across aging-related and degenerative diseases, and enable us to make potentially lifesaving therapies
more readily accessible to more patients throughout the world. We plan to achieve this mission by:
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Leveraging the inherent advantages of placental-derived cells. Our cells come from the postpartum placenta donated by healthy donors who have signed an informed consent, representing a renewable, economical, and highly scalable starting material collected under rigorous controls. We use those cells to produce on-demand, off-the-shelf investigational allogeneic cellular therapy products that are designed to sidestep treatment delays inherent to autologous cellular therapies and other allogeneic cellular therapy approaches, all while offering the potential for greater in vivo expansion, persistence, potency, and acceptance. Further, we believe the immunological navet of placental cells may allow for potentially less toxicity. | |
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Capturing efficiencies through our integrated Celularity IMPACT platform. Manufacturing allogeneic cell therapeutic candidates involves a series of complex and precise steps. We believe a critical component to our success will be to leverage our rapidly scalable, end-to-end supply chain. Applying proprietary manufacturing know-how, expertise and capacity utilizing our purpose-built U.S.-based cGMP, compliant facility, we believe our fully integrated manufacturing operations and infrastructure will allow us to improve the manufacturing process, eliminate reliance on other contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, and more rapidly advance therapeutic candidates. We also plan to leverage this core expertise to generate revenues by providing contract manufacturing and development services to third parties. | |
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Selectively targeting indications with unmet patient need with potential for accelerated development. Our pipeline reflects our intent to leverage the unique biology of the placenta to develop placental-derived allogeneic cells for indications where the demonstrated properties of such cells could provide an advantage, both in terms of development (sourcing and proliferation) and potential efficacy (affinity). In selecting indications, we evaluate where the biological properties of placental-derived cells position them for success, as well as where there is a clearly defined regulatory pathway providing the potential for accelerated development to address unmet patient need. | |
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Growing our existing commercial business and deepening the pipeline of placentally derived biomaterial products. We intend to grow our existing commercial business through higher volumes of product sold through existing domestic distribution relationships and potentially through distribution relationships outside of the United States. We plan to continue to invest in new biomaterials programs, some or all of which may require different regulatory pathways than Section 361 HCT/Ps. We are currently developing a tendon wrap indicated for the management and protection of tendon injuries in which there has been no substantial loss of tendon tissue. We are also developing a bone void filler product for use in orthopedic surgical markets. We have preliminary data from a knee osteoarthritis animal model that placentally derived extracellular matrix may decrease joint pain and promote chondrogenesis in damaged cartilage. These products were developed in part to achieve two goals: first, to address significant unmet needs in their particular medical specialties; and second, to accommodate likely changes in the reimbursement environment under the control of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS. | |
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Continuing to invest in basic and translational research. We intend to continue to invest in the discovery and development of additional pipeline cell franchises and explore other placental-derived cell opportunities. Preclinical and early clinical data demonstrating the unique biological activity and potential of placental-derived stem cells, provide potential for multiple highly effective cellular therapy programs targeting aging-related and degenerative diseases. | |
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Benefiting from collective experience of deep, seasoned management team. We have a deep, seasoned management team with experience in all aspects of regenerative and cellular medicine, including discovery and translational research, clinical development and product approval, process development and manufacturing, and commercialization. For over two decades, the team has been at the vanguard of regenerative and cellular medicine, and has collectively seen a number of programs through FDA-approval to commercialization. | |
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**Our Pipeline**
Leveraging our Celularity
IMPACT platform, we can derive four allogeneic cell types from a single source material, the postpartum human placenta: T cells, or pT
cells; unmodified NK cells, or pNK cells, or CYNK-001; MLASCs, or PDA-001 and PDA-002; and HPDSCs, or PSC-100. In 2022, we had active
and approved clinical trials under development utilizing CYNK-001, a placental derived unmodified NK cell, for the treatment of AML, a
blood cancer, and for glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM, a solid tumor cancer. We also had an active clinical trial utilizing CYNK-101,
a genetically modified NK cell, for the treatment of HER2+ gastric cancer. Due to a need to prioritize corporate resources, in January
2023 we announced our intention to cease recruitment in the GBM and the HER2+ gastric trials. In addition, in April 2023, we announced
based on the preliminary results of the Phase 1 trial data of CYNK-001, the AML trial would be closed to further enrollment and completed
follow up. We are not actively investigating CYNK-001 for any indication although we are evaluating it in senolytic/senoablation for age-related
conditions while we seek a collaboration partner. During the second quarter of 2023, we fully impaired the in-process research and development,
or IPR&D, assets associated with CYNK-001. In the first quarter of 2022, we submitted an IND to investigate CYCART-19, a placental-derived
CAR-T cell therapy targeting the cluster of differentiation 19, for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. In late May 2022, we received
formal written communication from FDA requesting additional information before we could proceed with the Phase 1/2 clinical trial. After
assessing the status of the IND to determine an optimal path forward for the CYCART-19 program, we elected to terminate development of
CYCART-19 for B-cell malignancies during the third quarter of 2023 and have discontinued our internal CYCART development efforts. We may
continue pre-clinical development of other T-cell candidates. MLASC is in development for the treatment of Crohns disease, and
other degenerative diseases. Due to an internal alignment of corporate resources, we paused development in exosomes to focus on other
priorities.
| 3 | |
In addition, we can derive
genetically modified versions of three of these cell types: a pT cell that is genetically modified with a CAR, or CYCART; a pNK cell that
is genetically modified with a CAR, or CYNK; and a MLASC that is genetically modified via CRISPR-mediated tissue factor gene knockout,
or APPL. We also are researching a placenta-derived adherent cell exosome, or pEXO, and an exosome derived from a placental-derived immune
cell such as a pT cell or a pNK cell.
In the fourth quarter 2023
following a strategic review, we refocused our cellular therapeutics pipeline. We plan to continue to develop T cell and NK cell products
at the IND-enabling study stage to target aging-related and degenerative disease indications. These programs have built on the learnings
from our previous clinical programs to help us ensure we have product candidates that are optimized for efficacy, safety, and persistence
to offer first-in-class or best-in-class potential. We have developed a novel approach to addressing age-related conditions by using our
healthy young NK cell to attack and destroy senescent cells using the mechanism of attacking stress-ligand expressing cells, a process
we have termed senoablation. Data on our preclinical NK cell senoablation study has also been submitted for presentation
at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. We continue to assess opportunities to advance our preclinical autoimmune candidates,
modified NK cells and T cells, in SLE, scleroderma and multiple sclerosis. We are evaluating CYNK-001 and seeking collaboration partners
in senolytic/senoablation for aging-related conditions. We also plan to continue to explore the opportunity to investigate PDA-001 and
PDA-002 to build on our existing data for our MLASC in Crohns disease, an autoimmune disease that leads to chronic inflammation
of the gastrointestinal tract; Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, or FSHD, a rare progressive genetic muscle disease; and Sarcopenia,
or age-related muscle loss.
*
Also following a strategic
review in fourth quarter 2023, we reconfirmed our advanced biomaterial product pipelines focus on three developmental-stage medical
devices intended to treat aging-associated and other degenerative diseases and disorders characterized by the progressive loss of function
and/or structure of the affected tissues. The three medical devices are Celularity Tendon Wrap, or CTW, Celularity Bone Void Filler, or
CBVF, and Celularity Placental Matrix, or CPM. We are developing our CTW medical devices for the treatment and management of tendon injuries
in which there has been no substantial loss of tendon tissue as a structural barrier for injured tendon tissue and does not depend on
chemical action (pharmacological activity) to mediate this effect. We are developing our CBVF medical device for use as a passive osteoconductive
bone filler in the pelvis, extremities, and posterior-lateral spinal fusion settings as well as other skeletal defects that are not dependent
on chemical action to mediate an effect. We are developing our CPM medical device for use as a passive temporary wound covering which
is not meant to achieve its primary intended purpose through chemical action (pharmacological activity) and is not dependent on being
metabolized for the achievement of its intended purpose. CPM is a fully resorbable device composed of extracellular matrix, or ECM derived
from decellularized human placental tissue and intended to treat partial and full-thickness wounds, pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, diabetic
ulcers, chronic vascular ulcers, tunneled/undermined wounds, surgical wounds, trauma wounds, and draining wounds. We intend to seek premarket
review and clearance by the FDA for CTW, CBVF and CPM through the 510(k) premarket notification procedure. With respect to our biomaterial
product candidate pipeline, we expect to:
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Submit a 510(k) application for CTW in the second half of 2025. | |
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Advance the development of CBVF with the objective of a 510(k) filing in the second half of 2026. | |
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Advance the development of CPM with the objective of a 510(k) filing in the second half of 2027. | |
| 4 | |
TCR KO = T-cell receptor knock out, TF
KO = tissue factor knock out, MCL = mantle cell lymphoma
Regulatory Pathway denotes FDA submissions.
We also intend to develop
and commercialize cellular medicine therapeutic product candidates, advance our preclinical pipeline, and utilize our technical operations
infrastructure and expertise in multiple clinical areas, subject to the availability of research funding and the prioritization described
above regarding our three developmental-stage medical devices.
Mesenchymal-like Adherent Stromal Cells (MLASCs)/Placenta-Derived
Adherent Cells (PDA)*
PDA cells are a mesenchymal-like
cell population derived from normal, full-term human placental tissue. PDA-001 for intravenous administration and PDA-002 for intramuscular
administration.
PDA-001: Five indications
were studied with PDA-001 product among 88 patients. CD was the first indication where in one Phase 1, one Phase 2a, and one Phase 1b
studies were completed among 53 patients. The first Phase I clinical study involved investigating two dose levels of PDA-001 (150 million
and 600 million cells) among six patients each. On both day 365 and day 730, a clinical response of 83% and a clinical remission of 50%
were observed among the 150 million PDA-001 cell group after only two doses of treatment. During the second Phase 2a study, the primary
efficacy endpoint of clinical response at both weeks four and six was achieved in 33.3% of patients who received 150 million PDA-001 cells
in comparison to 0% response within the placebo group. The secondary endpoint of clinical remission was noted to be 13.3% in patients
who received 150 million PDA-001 cells versus 0% in the placebo group. In the third Phase 1b study, a lower dose of 37 million PDA-001
cells was investigated with only seven patients treated among the PDA-001 group versus five patients within the placebo group. The PDA-001
cell group demonstrated a 42% clinical response and 28% clinical remission versus 0% placebo patients that were assessed on the day 365
follow-up visit. The overall safety among all three studies was concluded to be favorable with Grade 1 and Grade 2 local thrombophlebitis
being the most common adverse event.
The second indication with
PDA-001 included a Phase 2a Multiple Sclerosis study where six patients in each of the two dose levels of PDA-001 (150 million and 600
million cells) were compared to four patients within the placebo group. The study met the primary endpoint of Cutters rule ( 
five new lesions present on two consecutive monthly scans), warranting a proof-of-concept study. The remaining three indications for PDA-001
cells included Rheumatoid arthritis (17 patients), stroke (two patients), and Sarcoidosis (four patients) which were closed.
| 5 | |
PDA-002: Two indications
were studied with PDA-002. DFU with or without Peripheral Artery Disease was the first indication wherein one Phase I and one Phase II
studies were completed. The Phase II study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study that investigated two doses of PDA-002
intramuscularly at three dose levels (3 x 106, 10 x 106, 30 x 106 cells) versus placebo. Safety was well-tolerated with injection-site
reactions being the most comment adverse event among the 145 patients. The primary efficacy endpoint was the rate of response, defined
as complete wound closure within three months after dosing and retention of wound closure for the subsequent four weeks. The highest response
rate, observed in the 3 x 106 PDA-002 cells group was 38.5% compared to the 22.6% response rate within the placebo group. The response
rates were 29.6% in the 10 x 106 PDA-002 cells group and 35.7% in the 30 x 106 PDA-002 cells group. A sub-group analysis was conducted
to compare the ulcer closure at 12-week and 20-week timepoints with the currently approved FDA products which demonstrated equivalent
closure rate of 42.8% and 53.8% with 3 x 106 PDA-002 dose level.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
was the second indication that involved a Phase 2a study wherein 16 patients were treated with PDA-002 cells versus nine patients with
placebo. The safety was well-tolerated. An increase in nerve fiber density was observed, warranting a proof-of-concept study.
CYNK-001 [discontinued internal
development in oncology]: CYNK-001 is an allogeneic off-the-shelf cell therapy enriched for CD56+/CD3- NK cells expanded from human placental
CD34+ cells. We conducted four clinical trials of CYNK-001 among four indications: the CYNK-001-AML-001 is a Phase 1, open-label dose-escalation
study in adults with either Minimum Residue Disease, or MRD, or Relapsed/Refractory, or R/R, AML patients. In December 2023, the results
of this study were presented at the American Society of Hematology. A total of eight patients (17 with R/R AML and 11 with MRD positive
AML) were enrolled during dose escalation, and 27 received at least one dose of CYNK-001. In R/R AML patients treated, three of the six
patients achieved an objective response of Morphologic Leukemia-Free State on day 28. One of the three patients with MRD positive patients
achieved MRD negativity until day 120.
The remaining three clinical
studies were completed in Multiple Myeloma (CYNK-001-MM-002), Glioblastoma (CYNK-001-GBM-001), and COVID-19 (CYNK-001-COVID-19) wherein
a total of nine, three, and seven subjects were treated respectively. The safety was well-tolerated among all 46 patients with Grade 1
and 2 Cytokine Release Syndrome being the most common adverse event. There were no events of GvHD associated with the CYNK-001 treatment.
We are evaluating CYNK-001
and seeking collaboration partners in senolytic/senablation for age-related conditions.
CYNK-101 [discontinued internal
development]: CYNK-101 is a human placental hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell derived NK cell product, that is genetically modified to
express a variant of CD16, Fc gamma receptor III (FcRIII), via lentiviral vector transduction. We initiated a Phase 1 open-label
study of CYNK-101 in combination with Trastuzumab and Pembrolizumab in newly diagnosed patients with Locally Advanced Unresectable or
Metastatic HER2-Positive Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction (G/GEJ) Adenocarcinoma. One patient was treated with five doses of CYNK-101
with no reported safety concerns.
**Celularity IMPACT Platform**
Placental-derived cellular
therapies offer potentially lifesaving therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. We have developed and acquired proprietary technology
for collecting, processing, and storing placental stem cells with potentially broad therapeutic applications in the treatment of aging-associated
and other degenerative disorders and diseases. These span various therapeutic areas for which aging is known to be a major risk factor,
including cancer, regenerative medicine, and immune disorders.
Common to all degenerative
disorders and diseases is the progressive loss of function or structure (or both) of affected tissues and organs based on a continuous
process of degenerative cell changes. We use our proprietary Celularity IMPACT platform for the development of allogeneic cellular therapies
that we believe exert immunomodulatory and regenerative effects. Immunomodulation is the regulation and modulation of immunity achieved
by reducing or enhancing the immune response, for example, promoting immune tolerance to cellular therapies. We believe that by harnessing
the placentas unique biology and ready availability, we will be able to develop therapeutic solutions that address a significant
unmet global need for effective, accessible, and affordable therapeutics.
Our Celularity IMPACT manufacturing
process is a seamless, fully integrated process that is built to optimize speed and scale, from the sourcing of human full term healthy
postpartum placentas from informed consent donors through proprietary processing methods, cell selection, product-specific CMC, advanced
cell manufacturing, and cryopreservation resulting in allogeneic inventory-ready and on-demand cellular therapy products. The fully integrated
process is housed in our purpose-built manufacturing, translational research, and biobanking facility located in Florham Park, NJ.
Our Celularity IMPACT platform
capitalizes on our integrated processes and the unique biologic characteristics of placental-derived allogeneic cells to target degenerative
disorders and diseases including those associated with aging that span various therapeutic areas including cancer, regenerative medicine,
and immune disorders, and infectious diseases. The platform is designed to accelerate the speed at which therapies can be provided to
patients while ensuring manufacturing excellence of high quality and pure placental-derived cellular therapy products at a lower cost.
We believe our IMPACT platform enables cellular therapy inventory to be available to physicians on demand to treat patients in need and
to enable repeat dosing regimens that other cellular therapy platforms will not be able to support.
| 6 | |
*
**Allogeneic Placental-Derived Cells**
**Biomaterials Collection**
The initial source material
for our four allogeneic cell types is the postpartum human placenta. We source human placental birth material used for the manufacture
of our products from accredited hospitals and birth centers, with collections performed by licensed health care professionals. Eligibility
for donation is determined by a donor screening process that includes education about the donor program, obtaining informed consent from
the donor, and completion of a detailed maternal health questionnaire and family health history. These forms are completed by the donor,
with assistance from trained collection technicians as needed. Donors providing birth materials do not encounter any fees and are not
renumerated.
Licensed health care professionals
collect donor material utilizing our proprietary collection kits, which include barcode labels for biomaterials (cord blood, placenta,
and maternal blood samples) along with appropriate chain of custody documentation. Once collected, the donated material and a maternal
blood sample are shipped in an insulated container via courier to our Florham Park, New Jersey laboratory and manufacturing facility.
Upon arrival at our facility,
the donated material is reviewed for labeling completeness and accuracy of the barcoded kit and is electronically coded into a validated
software database. If all quality criteria are met, the donated material is then individually evaluated and forwarded to the appropriate
production suite for processing and manufacturing. We believe that our sourcing is rapidly scalable due to numerous established procurement
relationships that provide a constant renewable supply to meet current and future manufacturing needs.
**Unique Biology of Placenta-Derived Cells**
Placental-derived cells
have unique biology related to immunological navet, stemness, persistence and proliferation that makes them a biologically
preferred starting material with the potential for less toxicity and superior biological activity relative to adult bone marrow or peripheral
blood-derived cells.
| 7 | |
Research has shown that
the human placenta is a novel and valuable source of multi potential stem/progenitor cells of mesenchymal and hematopoietic origin, which
have multiple therapeutic applications. Our characterization data show that approximately one to five percent of placental-derived cells
are CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs, among which expression of certain markers suggests that such HSCs have more self-renewal
capacity and the potential to facilitate the early engraftment of the placental-derived cells. In addition, further characterization has
shown low T-cell content and immature T subpopulations. This demonstrated immunological navet further suggests the potential
for low or no GvHD in transplant. Furthermore, mesenchymal-like cells have been shown to possess other characteristics, capabilities,
and effects (e.g., osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic differentiation capabilities and immunomodulatory effects). The high quantity
of mesenchymal-like cells and Treg cells indicate that placental-derived cells can potentially contribute to prevention of GvHD and host
microenvironment modulation. In summary, we believe the stemness, potential capacity of proliferation and persistence of placental-derived
cells support multiple potential therapeutic applications, including those in development by us.
We are also researching placental-derived
exosomes for potential therapeutic applications. Exosomes are a kind of extracellular vesicle that act as communication channels between
cells and cause functional changes in recipient cells. Exosomes enable intercellular communication by transferring specific cargo contents
to a recipient cell and can confer epigenetic changes in the recipient cells by delivering microRNAs, or miRNAs. Exosomes have been identified
as the primary factors responsible for paracrine effects detected in all types of stem cells and for the transfer of genetic material
from stem cells to the tissue-specific cell that needs regeneration. Exosomes have been shown to possess powerful regenerative potential,
including immune-modulatory properties and anti-inflammatory properties. We discovered a type of exosome that we call a placenta-derived
adherent cell exosome, or pEXO. Rich in growth factors, deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, fragments, miRNAs, and messenger RNAs, pEXO exhibit
particular markers that distinguish them from other exosomes that are not derived from placenta-derived adherent cells. We are investigating
purified pEXO formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for human administration to promote angiogenesis and/or vascularization, to
modulate immune activity, and to repair tissue damage.
**Overview of CAR-T Cells**
White blood cells are a component
of the immune system and responsible for defending the body against infectious pathogens and other foreign material. T cells are a type
of white blood cell and are involved in both sensing and killing infected or abnormal cells, including cancer cells, as well as coordinating
the activation of other cells in an immune response.
Unlike adult peripheral
blood mononuclear cell, or PBMC, derived T cells, placental-derived T cells are mostly nave and can be readily expanded while maintaining
an earlier differentiation phenotype, such as greater expression of nave/memory markers and lower expression of effector/exhaustion
markers. These characteristics allow for greater proliferative potential of these cells ex vivo*. Placental-derived T cells are
also known to have greater immune tolerance and display impaired allogeneic activation, contributing to lower incidences of severe GvHD,
which makes them an attractive cell population for use as an allogeneic, adoptive cellular therapy. We have developed a robust process
for the isolation, transduction, and expansion of placental-derived T cells to generate off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR-T cells.
Allogeneic human placental
T cells are derived from healthy donor placentas. We separate out mononuclear cells using a mononuclear cell separation method to isolate
placental T cells prior to cryopreservation. Our allogeneic CAR-T cell product begins with the thawing and activation of the isolated
placental T cells, followed by viral transduction of the cancer-targeting CAR construct and an additional genetic modification step to
minimize any risk of GvHD. Once transduced and transfected, the CAR-T cells are expanded to yield large quantities of these cells prior
to harvest, final formulation, and cryopreservation of the cellular therapeutic.
**Overview of NK cells Unmodified
and Genetically Modified**
NK cells are potent effector
cells of the innate immune system responsible for identifying and eliminating abnormal and stressed host cells. They are equipped with
NK cell-specific activating receptors that recognize conserved antigens induced by cellular stress while being simultaneously tuned with
inhibitory receptors to avoid mistakenly targeting healthy cells. NK cells are particularly relevant in combating viral infections and
mediating anti-tumor immunity in which normal cellular processes are stressed for the purposes of perpetuating viral infection and cancer
cell proliferation.
Commercializing NK cellular
therapies has been limited by the difficulty and cost to scale the production of mature NK cells for clinical dosing. Utilizing our Celularity
IMPACT platform, our proprietary process has mitigated these limitations by expanding and differentiating placental-derived stem cells
into NK cells over a period of 35 days. We derive the HSCs from healthy donor placentas, then propagate and differentiate these cells
into NK cells. This process can produce hundreds of doses per donor placenta. We also developed technologies that can achieve high genetic
modification efficiency by transducing placenta HSCs and producing downstream stable gene modified CYNK cells with enhanced cancer killing
activities. These cells are then cryopreserved and available to be shipped upon request.
For our genetically modified
NK cells, our allogeneic modified NK cell product begins with the thawing and activation of the isolated placental NK cells. We then use
a lentiviral vector transduction to augment the effector functions of the NK cells and to sustain their tumor-killing properties. We believe
that our genetically modified NK cells can be used in combination with therapeutic mAbs to boost antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity,
or ADCC, potential.
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**Overview of MLASCs**
Placental-derived MLASCs
are a novel, culture-expanded mesenchymal-like cell population derived from placental tissue. *In vivo*, we demonstrated that MLASCs
immune-modulatory properties alleviate autoimmunity and possess anti-inflammatory activity. Both intravenous and intramuscular administration
formulations of the first generation of MLASCs have been developed and investigated in clinical studies in Crohns Disease, multiple
sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, diabetic foot ulcers and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. We are developing next generation genetically
modified MLASCs for the treatment of degenerative diseases.
Allogeneic human placental
MLASCs are derived from healthy donor placentas. Our allogeneic MLASC product begins with the thawing and activation of the isolated placental-derived
MLASCs, followed by genetic modification of tissue factor to reduce potential toxicities and lower risk of adverse effects. Once modified,
we expand the MLASCs to large quantities prior to harvest, final formulation, and cryopreservation of the cellular therapeutic.
**Overview of Exosomes**
Exosomes are acellular, nano-size
lipid bilayer membrane particles released by cells into extracellular space and play important roles in cell to cell, tissue to tissue
and organ to organ communications. Also referred to as intraluminal vesicles, or ILVs, exosomes are a subtype of extracellular vesicles,
or EVs, along with microvesicles, or MVs, and apoptotic bodies from which exosomes are differentiated based upon their biogenesis, release
pathways, size, content, and function. Exosomes are generated from late endosomes with 30-200 nanometers in diameter. When fused with
the targeted cells, the molecular cargos (e.g., proteins, lipids, DNAs, mRNAs, and microRNAs) carried by exosomes are inserted into the
cells to exert the functions.
Recently, exosomes are being
recognized as promising candidates in the treatment of degenerative diseases. Evidence has suggested that part of the observed cell therapeutic
effects is mediated by exosomes and that mesenchymal stem cell exosomes can act as a therapeutic entity to help reduce tissue injury or
when it occurs, to contribute to injury recovery. Other evidence suggests exosome-based therapy may be superior in anti-senescence and
anti-inflammatory effects to stem cellbased therapy. Exosome therapy has certain advantages over cellular therapy such as: low/non-immunogenicity,
easy storage, and administration. In addition, due to their nano-size, exosomes can cross the brain-blood barrier and be delivered to
broader target tissues and organs than cell-based therapeutics.
pExo-001 is a human postpartum
placenta derived exosome product which consists of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors that have been reported to have regenerative
and immuno-regulatory activities.
**Allogeneic Cellular therapies an
Off-the-Shelf Approach**
There are two primary approaches
to engineered cellular therapies: autologous and allogeneic. Autologous therapies use engineered cells derived from the individual patient,
while allogeneic therapies use cells derived from an unrelated third-party healthy donor. We believe our human placental-derived allogeneic
platform is leading the next evolution of cellular medicine because we aim to deliver off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular therapies, at
greater scale and quality with attractive economics, potentially making lifesaving therapies more readily accessible to more patients
throughout the world.
Our human placental-derived
allogeneic cryopreserved, off-the-shelf platform currently includes placental CAR-T cells, or CYCART, NK cells MLASCs, or APPL-001, and
exosomes, or pEXO-001.
*CYCART*
Currently, autologous CAR-T
products are manufactured by isolating T cells from the patients blood through a process known as leukapheresis. The cancer-targeting
construct expressing specific CAR proteins is virally transduced into the T cells and the engineered T cells are then propagated until
a sufficient number are available for infusion. The engineered T cells are then shipped back to the clinical center for administration
to the patient. The process from leukapheresis to delivery to the clinical center takes approximately four weeks. While the autologous
approach has been revolutionary, with other companies previously approved products demonstrating compelling efficacy in many patients,
it can be burdened by lengthy vein-to-vein time, high production cost, variable potency, and/or manufacturing failures.
Conversely, our allogeneic
placental-derived T cells are derived from healthy donors that have undergone rigorous donor screening and selection. Manufactured drug
product can be deployed from inventory to patients immediately in sufficient quantities because administration is not limited by patient
cell sourcing and individual drug product expansion. As an off-the-shelf treatment, CYCART cells also offer the potential
to re-dose patients, if necessary. Healthy births are in hundreds of millions worldwide, and the placenta provides an abundant, renewable
source of healthy, ready to use lymphocytes. In addition, placental-derived T cells contain an abundance of stem cell memory T cells,
which confer high proliferation and durability. Placental T cells are known to be immune-privileged and have low donor to host toxicity,
or GvHD. We are therefore potentially a generally safer cell population. Furthermore, allogeneic placental T cells can be genetically
engineered to minimize the risk of GvHD and avoid being destroyed by the patients immune system. Therefore, CYCART cells may possess
an advantageous safety profile while delivering effective tumor eradication activity and durable persistence in patients. Our CYCART development
efforts were previously under IND for cancer and has been discontinued internally. We will seek to out-license the technology or find
a collaboration partner to further develop.
| 9 | |
*CYNK*
Similarly, autologous NK
cells and genetically modified autologous NK cells have been used in the setting of immuno-oncology. NK cells can directly kill cancer
cells by recognizing signals of cellular stress and carry no risk of GvHD. However, autologous peripheral blood derived NK cells have
limited proliferation capacity and usually require leukemia cell line-based technology to assist production. In addition, autologous CAR-NK
was shown to encounter technical challenges due to low transduction efficiency of CAR vectors in the peripheral NK cells. Our NK platform
propagates human placenta derived HSCs and differentiates these cells into unmodified NK cells (CYNK-001). This process can produce hundreds
of doses per placenta donor. We have also developed technologies that can achieve high genetic modification efficiency by transducing
placenta HSCs and produce downstream stable gene modified CYNK cells with enhanced and selective cytotoxic and senolytic activity for
potential use in age-related diseases, including cancer, and autoimmune diseases. These cells are cryopreserved and can be shipped to
clinical administration immediately upon request. Our CYNK-001 development efforts were previously under IND for cancer and has been discontinued
internally. We are evaluating CYNK-001 as a senolytic/senablatant for age-related conditions and will seek to out-license the technology
or find a development partner.
*MLASCs*
Both autologous and allogeneic
bone marrow or adipose tissue derived MLASCs have been used in human clinical trials. Autologous MLASC therapies have advantages including
the absence of donor cell related adverse events and fewer regulatory hurdles since cell products are derived from a donors own
cells. However, autologous MLASC products carry the inherited or aging-related biological defects of the donor, which may impair therapeutic
value. Furthermore, in most cases, autologous cells still require cultivation before patient administration and there is a risk of manufacturing
failure.
Conversely, allogeneic MLASCs
can provide an off-the-shelf product with high quality and flexibility of dosing. MLASCs are regarded as immune-privileged due to their
relative low-level major histocompatibility complex class I and II protein expression. Our placenta tissue derived MLASCs are potentially
more immune privileged due to their fetal origin. In addition, because MLASCs have higher proliferative capability, they are expected
to be more suitable for genetic manipulations to engineer the cells to have specific features to enhance their functions or to mitigate
risk factors.
*pEXOs*
Exosomes derived from certain
cell or tissue types including mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, affect angiogenesis, inflammation, and bone remodeling. Recent studies
have demonstrated that MSC-derived exosomes, or MSC-EXOs, alleviate inflammation and restore matrix homeostasis in knee osteoarthritis,
or KOA, a leading degenerative joint disease in the aging population.
**Therapeutic Candidate Pipeline and Development
Strategy**
We are researching and developing
multiple placental-derived allogeneic cellular therapeutic candidates for the treatment of indications across aging-related and degenerative
diseases. From a single source material, the placenta, we focus on four allogeneic cell types: CAR-T cells, unmodified NK cells, genetically
modified NK cells, and MLASCs. We are also researching pEXO. Our product pipeline is presented above.
**Future Pipeline Opportunities**
We plan to utilize our Celularity
IMPACT platform to pursue additional targets of interest. These may include the additional indications for the four allogeneic cell types
currently in the pipeline as well as other targets that might be validated in the future. Our placental-derived T cell platform has potential
to target other receptors.
In addition, we regularly
survey the scientific and industry landscape for opportunities to license, partner or acquire technologies that may help us advance current
or new cellular therapies for the benefit of patients.
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Our ability to prosecute
future opportunities including those with scientific and potential commercial merit may be influenced by our ability to raise sufficient
capital to pursue those opportunities or to find commercial partners that are willing and able to fund portions of their development.
Co-developed or partnered programs may have longer term economics that are less favorable than internally funded programs, but those programs
also may have higher odds of success with a well-capitalized development partner with specific expertise in the disease state under investigation.
**Commercial Businesses**
We are continuing to invest
in new biomaterials programs to expand our pipeline of placenta-derived advanced biomaterial products. We are currently developing a tendon
wrap indicated for the management and protection of tendon injuries in which there has been no substantial loss of tendon tissue; a bone
void filler product for use in orthopedic surgical markets; and a placenta-derived extracellular matrix, or PECM, for use as a passive
temporary wound covering. We have preliminary data from a knee osteoarthritis animal model that our PECM may decrease joint pain and promote
chondrogenesis in damaged cartilage. Our product pipeline is presented above.
**Advanced Biomaterial Products for Degenerative
Diseases**
We report sales of advanced
biomaterial products within the Degenerative Disease operating segment, which includes products for use in wound care and the treatment
of degenerative disease. The National Cancer Institute defines degenerative disease as a disease in which the function or
structure of the affected tissues or organs changes for the worse over time. Our advanced biomaterials business today is comprised primarily
of the sale of our Biovance 3L and Rebound products, directly or through our distribution network. Biovance 3L is a tri-layer decellularized,
dehydrated human amniotic membrane derived from the placenta of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. It is an intact, natural extracellular
matrix that provides a foundation for the wound regeneration process and acts as a scaffold for restoration of functional tissue. Rebound
is a full thickness extracellular matrix that contains amnion and chorion. We are developing new placental biomaterial products to deepen
the biomaterials commercial pipeline. We also market our Biovance and Interfyl products, directly or through our distribution network.
Biovance is decellularized, dehydrated human amniotic membrane derived from the placenta of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. It is an intact,
natural extracellular matrix that provides a foundation for the wound regeneration process and acts as a scaffold for restoration of functional
tissue. Interfyl is human connective tissue matrix derived from the placenta of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. It is used by a variety
of medical specialists to fill soft tissue deficits resulting from wounds, trauma, or surgery.
We have focused our marketing
and sales strategy within the Advanced Biomaterial Products segment on developing strong distribution partners for our products rather
than building out our own direct sales force. On May 7, 2021, we entered into a six-year supply and distribution agreement with Arthrex,
Inc., that includes: (i) an exclusive Biovance, Interfyl, and Centaflex license for distribution and commercialization within the United
States in the field of orthopedic surgery; and (ii) an exclusive license to commercialize and distribute Interfyl and Centaflex within
the United States in the field of acute and chronic non-healing wound care. On December 11, 2023, we entered into an exclusive commercialization
agreement with BioCellgraft Inc., or BioCellgraft, to manufacture advanced biomaterial products for BioCellgraft that it will distribute
under private label brand names for use in dental and oral healthcare applications.
We continue to invest in
creating new or differentiated products for the Degenerative Disease segment to supplement sales of our mature commercial products, Biovance
and Interfyl. For example, we are developing three investigational advanced biomaterial products: Celularity Tendon Wrap, or CTW; Fuse
Bone Void Filler, and Celularity Placental Matrix, or CPM. We are developing our CTW investigational product for the management and protection
of tendon injuries in which there has been no substantial loss of tendon tissue as a structural barrier for injured tendon tissue and
does not depend on chemical action (pharmacological activity) to mediate this effect, to be classified as a surgical mesh. Based on the
FDA Office of Combination Products, or OCP, preliminary assessment we now intend to submit a 510(k) notification for CTW in the
first half of 2025. We are developing our Fuse Bone Void Filler investigational product for use as a passive osteoconductive bone filler
in the pelvis, extremities, and posterior-lateral spinal fusion settings as well as other skeletal defects that are not dependent on chemical
action to mediate an effect. Based on OCPs preliminary assessment, we now intend to submit a 510(k) notification for FUSE in the
second half of 2025. We are developing our CPM investigational product for use as a passive temporary wound covering which is not meant
to achieve its primary intended purpose through chemical action (pharmacological activity) and is not dependent on being metabolized for
the achievement of its intended purpose. CPM is a fully resorbable device composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from decellularized
human placental tissue. Its wound management indications include partial and full-thickness wounds; pressure ulcers; venous ulcers; diabetic
ulcers; chronic vascular ulcers; tunneled/undermined wounds; surgical wounds; trauma wounds; and draining wounds.
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**Biobanking**
We provide a fee-based biobanking
service to expectant parents who contract with us to collect, process, cryogenically preserve and store certain biomaterial, including
umbilical cord blood and placenta derived cells and tissue. We receive a one-time fee for the collection, processing, and cryogenic preservation
of the biomaterials, and a storage fee to maintain the biomaterials in our biobank payable annually generally over a period of 18 to 25
years. We acquired our biobanking business in May 2017 from HLI, which HLI operated as LifebankUSA, along with the degenerative disease
products Biovance and Interfyl, and in October 2018, we acquired CariCord Inc., or CariCord, a family cord blood bank.
**Manufacturing**
We have a 147,215 square
foot purpose-built facility located in Florham Park, New Jersey, which includes a cGMP-ready manufacturing center, along with dedicated
research and office spaces and space for shared services. Our facility includes nine Grade C/ISO-7 and six Grade D/ISO-8 manufacturing
suites designed for commercial production of cellular therapies and advanced biomaterials. We intend to manufacture all finished product
in-house at our Florham Park, New Jersey, manufacturing facility. We have invested resources to optimize our manufacturing process, including
the development of improved analytical methods. We plan to continue to invest in process science, product characterization and manufacturing
to improve our production and supply chain capabilities over time. We have in the past also used CMOs, as needed, on a non-exclusive basis,
and may elect to do so in the future, for certain of our therapeutic candidates. For example, we used a CMO for the clinical manufacture
and supply of CYNK-001 through 2022 subsequent to which we manufactured CYNK-001 in house. Other than Rebound,
all other finished products currently are manufactured in-house. Notwithstanding, we will engage CMOs as necessary to ensure continuous
supply of clinical and commercial grade product based on demands.
Our cellular therapeutic
candidates are designed and manufactured via a platform comprised of defined unit operations and technologies. The process is gradually
developed from small to larger scales, incorporating compliant procedures to create cGMP conditions. Notwithstanding this platform-based
model, each therapeutic is unique and for each new therapeutic candidate, a developmental phase is necessary to individually customize
each engineering step and to create a robust procedure that can later be implemented in a cGMP environment to ensure the production of
clinical batches. This work is performed in a research and development environment to evaluate and assess variability in each step of
the process in order to define the most reliable production conditions.
We plan to leverage our core
expertise in cellular therapeutic development and manufacturing to generate revenues by providing contract manufacturing and development
services to third parties. The initial focus of this new service offering will be to assist development stage cell therapy companies with
the development and manufacturing of their therapeutic candidates for clinical trials. We believe that we will be able to provide a flexible
and cost-effective alternative to the larger contract manufacturing organizations currently serving this market.
**Licensing Agreements**
We enter into license agreements in the ordinary
course of our business. As part of the acquisition of Anthrogensis from Celgene, we granted Celgene a worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid
up, non-exclusive license, to use certain intellectual property for both research and commercial purposes, and granted Celgene the CVRs,
which provide Celgene the right to future milestone and royalty payments in certain circumstances.
**Celgene Corporation**
In August 2017, in connection
with the Anthrogenesis acquisition, we entered into a license agreement, or the Celgene License, with Celgene, which has since been acquired
by Bristol Meyers Squibb. Pursuant to the Celgene License, we granted Celgene a worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid up, non-exclusive
license, without the right to grant sublicenses (other than to its affiliates), under Anthrogenesis intellectual property in existence
as of the date of the Celgene License or as developed by Celgene in connection with any transition services activities related to the
merger for non-commercial pre-clinical research purposes, as well as to develop, manufacture, commercialize and fully exploit products
and services that relate to the construction of any CAR, the modification of any T-cell or NK cell to express such a CAR, and/or the use
of such CARs or T-cells or NK cells for any purpose, which commercial license is sublicensable. Either party may terminate the Celgene
License upon an uncured material breach of the agreement by the other party or insolvency of the other party.
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In August 2017, Legacy Celularity
also issued shares of its Series X Preferred Stock to Celgene as merger consideration and entered into a contingent value rights agreement,
or the CVR Agreement, with Celgene pursuant to which Legacy Celularity issued one contingent value right or CVR, in respect of each share
of Legacy Celularity Series X Preferred Stock issued to Celgene in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition. The CVR Agreement entitles
the holders of the CVRs to an aggregate amount, on a per program basis, of $50.0 million in regulatory milestones and an aggregate $125.0
million in commercial milestone payments with respect to certain of our investigational therapeutic programs. In addition, with respect
to each such program and calendar year, the CVR holders will be entitled to receive a royalty equal to a mid-teen percentage of the annual
net sales for such programs therapeutics from the date of the first commercial sale of such programs therapeutic in a particular
country until the latest to occur of the expiration of the last to expire of any valid patent claim covering such program therapeutic
in such country, the expiration of marketing exclusivity with respect to such therapeutic in such country, and August 2027 (i.e., the
tenth anniversary of the closing of the acquisition of Anthrogenesis). No payments under the CVR Agreement have been made to date. We
estimate the liability associated with the CVR quarterly. Changes to that liability include but are not limited to changes in our clinical
programs, assumptions about the commercial value of those programs and the time value of money.
**Intellectual Property**
Our commercial success depends
in part on our ability to obtain and maintain proprietary protection for the technologies supporting our Celularity IMPACT platform, and
our future therapeutic candidates, as well as novel discoveries, product development technologies, and know-how. Our commercial success
also depends in part on our ability to operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of others and to prevent others from infringing
our proprietary rights. Our policy is to develop and maintain protection of our proprietary position by, among other methods, filing or
in-licensing U.S. and foreign patents and applications related to our technology, inventions, and improvements that are important to the
development and implementation of our business.
We also rely on trademarks
and copyright law, trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovation, confidentiality agreements, and invention assignment
agreements to develop and maintain our proprietary position. The confidentiality agreements are designed to protect our proprietary information,
and the invention assignment agreements are designed to grant us ownership of technologies that are developed for us by our employees,
consultants, or other third parties. We 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. While we have confidence
in our agreements and security measures, either may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies. In addition, our trade secrets
may otherwise become known or independently discovered by competitors.
With respect to both licensed
and Company-owned intellectual property, we cannot be sure that patents will be granted with respect to any of our pending patent applications
or with respect to any patent applications filed by us in the future, nor can we be sure that any of our existing patents or any patents
that may be granted to us in the future will be commercially useful in protecting our commercial therapeutics and methods of using and
manufacturing the same. In addition, our patents and patent applications could face other challenges, such as interference proceedings,
opposition proceedings, re-examination proceedings, and other forms of post-grant review. Any of these challenges, if successful, could
result in the invalidation of, or in a narrowing of the scope of, any of our patents and patent applications subject to challenge. Any
of these challenges, regardless of their success, would likely be time consuming and expensive to defend and resolve, and would divert
our management and scientific personnels time and attention.
We are actively building
our intellectual property portfolio around our Celularity IMPACT platform, our four allogeneic cell types and our therapeutic candidates
based on our own intellectual property as well as licensed intellectual property. As of the date of this annual report on Form 10-K, we
have a robust global intellectual property portfolio comprised of over 290 patents and patent applications protecting our Celularity IMPACT
platform, our processes, technologies and cell therapy programs that we are actively developing or are seeking to out-license/find a collaboration
partner to develop.
Our patent portfolio includes
patents and patent applications directed toward our five allogeneic placental-derived cell and extracellular vesicle types: CAR-T cells,
unmodified NK cells, genetically modified NK cells, MLASCs and exosomes as follows:
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We have five utility patent families in the CAR-T technology area supporting our internally discontinued CYCART-19 therapeutic candidate comprising two patent families owned by us and three patent families in-licensed from Sorrento. These patent applications include placental-derived CAR-T patent families directed toward early CAR receptor technology, CAR receptor method and composition, anti-CD19 CAR receptor and product characterization. Patents issuing from these families have expected expiry dates (assuming current pending applications are granted) ranging from 2039 to 2040 and include pending applications in the United States and under the PCT and include approximately 28 pending patent applications in the United States and under the PCT: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, European Patent Convention, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and South Africa. As stated above, although we have discontinued our internal development of the product candidate, we are seeking to out-license/find a collaboration partner to develop. | |
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We own approximately 15 utility patent applications in the NK technology area that include granted patents and pending patent applications covering process, treatment of indications, and product characterization. Patents issuing from these families have expected expiry dates (assuming current pending applications are granted) ranging from 2028 to 2041 and include pending patent applications in the United States and under the PCT, e.g., Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, European Patent Office, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore. Taiwan R.O.C., and South Africa. | |
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We own approximately 25 utility patent families applications owned by us that support our APPL-001 therapeutic candidate and former MLASC (a.k.a. PDAC) technology, which include pending patent applications and issued patents covering product characterization, method of production, as well as product description and indications. Patents issuing from these families have expected expiry dates (assuming current pending applications are granted) ranging from 2026 to 2046 and include patents issued and pending patent applications in the United States and under the PCT, China, European Patent Office, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, Taiwan R.O.C., Vietnam, and South Africa. Althoughpatent families in this technology area began to expire in 2021, we have numerous patent families in this technology area directed to improvements in the cells and methods/indications for their use, which include recently filed applications directed towards APPL-001, a second generation, genetically modified MLASC therapeutic candidate. These applications have projected expiration dates to 2041 and are expected to replace the early-expiring applications. Accordingly, we do not expect that the expiry of the early-filed MLASC patents will have a material effect on our business. | |
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We have approximately 19 utility patent applications in the exosome technology area supporting our placental exosome candidates, which include issued patents and pending applications. These patent applications include product characterization focused on identifying and protecting the key molecular markers that define these unique exosome populations and establish protection for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties as well as for their use in the treatment of specific indications such as osteoarthritis and GLP=1 agonist induced muscle loss. Patents issuing from these families have expected expiry dates (assuming current pending applications are granted) ranging from 2035 to 2045 and include issued patents and pending patent applications in the United States and under the PCT: Australia, Canada, China, European Patent Convention, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa. | |
Additional patent portfolios
protecting other products in development include our biomaterials portfolio, which includes patent protection for Interfyl, Biovance,
and Biovance 3L (approximately 40 patents and pending applications having anticipated expiration between 2025-2045) and our bio-banking
portfolio (6 patents having expiration between 2025-2033). We are seeking to out-license/find a collaboration partner to develop our CYNK
portfolio (approximately 1 pending application having anticipated expiration in 2039) and our PSC portfolio (15 patents and pending applications
having expiration between 2026-2034).
More generally, our patent
portfolio and filing strategy is designed to provide multiple layers of protection by pursuing claims directed toward composition of matter,
methods of making, and methods of use, amongst others. We strive to protect and enhance the proprietary technologies that we believe are
important to our business, including seeking patent protection intended to cover our technology and related technologies and uses thereof.
The term of individual patents depends upon the
legal term of the patents in the countries in which they are obtained. In most countries in which we file, the patent term is 20 years
from the date of filing of the first non-provisional application to which priority is claimed. In the United States, patent term may be
lengthened by patent term adjustment, which compensates a patentee for administrative delays by the United States Patent and Trademark
Office in granting a patent or may be shortened if a patent is terminally disclaimed over an earlier-filed patent. In the United States,
the term of a patent that covers an FDA-approved drug may also be eligible for a patent term extension of up to five years under the Hatch-Waxman
Act, which is designed to, among other things, compensate for the patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. The length
of the patent term extension is calculated based on the length of time we take for regulatory review. A patent term extension under the
Hatch-Waxman Act is the earlier of up to five years from grant date of the patent to 14 years from the date of product approval, and only
one patent applicable to an approved drug may be extended. Moreover, a patent can only be extended only once. Thus, if a single patent
is applicable to multiple products, the term of the patent can only be extended based on one product. Provisions designed to restore patent
term lost during the regulatory review process are available in Europe and certain other foreign jurisdictions to extend the term of a
patent that covers an approved drug.
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**Competition**
Our products will compete
with novel therapies developed by biopharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, governmental agencies, and public and private
research institutions, in addition to existing standard of care treatments.
Due to the promising therapeutic
effect of cellular therapies in other companies clinical trials, we anticipate increasing competition from existing and new companies
developing these therapies, as well as in the development of allogeneic cellular therapies.
Potential cellular therapy
and biomaterials competitors include:
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allogeneic CAR-T cellular therapies: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc., Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc., Cellectis S.A., Fate Therapeutics Inc., Precision Biosciences, Inc., Sana Biotechnology, CRISPR Therapeutics, Caribou Bio and Wugen. | |
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allogeneic NK cellular therapies: Fate Therapeutics Inc., Century Therapeutics, Inc., Nkarta, Inc., Artiva Biotherapeutics, Wugen, and Shoreline Biosciences. | |
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allogeneic MLASC therapies: Mesoblast Limited and, Longeveron. | |
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Exosomes: Aegle Therapeutics Corporation, Capricor Therapeutics, Inc., and Evox Therapeutics Ltd. | |
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Cellular therapy competition: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc., Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc., Adaptimmune Therapeutics PLC, Celyad S.A., CRISPR Therapeutics AG, Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Poseida Therapeutics, Inc., Precision Biosciences, Inc., Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., Fate Therapeutics, Sana Biotechnology, Caribou Bio, and Artiva Biotherapeutics | |
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Biomaterials competition: Mimedx Group, Inc., Organogenesis Holdings Inc., Skye Biologics Holdings LLC, Regenerative Labs, and Legacy Medical Consultants. | |
Competition will also arise
from non-cell-based therapies pursued by small-cap biotechnology and large-cap pharmaceutical companies including Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca
plc, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Incyte Corporation, Merck & Co., Inc., and F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.
Many of our competitors,
either alone or with their collaboration partners, have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development,
preclinical testing, clinical trials, manufacturing, and marketing than we do. Future collaborations and mergers and acquisitions may
result in further resource concentration among a smaller number of competitors.
Our commercial potential
could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize therapeutics that are safer, more effective, have fewer or
less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than cellular therapeutics that we may develop. Our competitors also
may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their therapies 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 or make development efforts more complicated.
The key competitive factors affecting the success of all of our programs are likely to be efficacy, safety, and convenience.
These competitors may also
vie for a similar pool of qualified scientific and management talent, sites, and patient populations for clinical trials, as well as for
technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.
**Government Regulation and Product Approval**
As a biopharmaceutical company
that operates in the United States, we are subject to extensive regulation. All of our products are subject to regulation in the United
States under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, as implemented and enforced by the FDA.
Our cell therapeutics will
be regulated as biologics. With this classification, commercial production of our cellular therapeutics will need to occur in registered
facilities in compliance with cGMP for biologics. The FDA categorizes human cell or tissue-based products as either minimally manipulated
or more than minimally manipulated, and has determined that more than minimally manipulated products require clinical trials to demonstrate
product safety and efficacy and the submission of a biologics license application, or BLA, for marketing authorization. Our cellular therapeutic
candidates are considered more than minimally manipulated and will require evaluation in clinical trials and the submission and approval
of a BLA before we can market them.
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Our developmental advance
biomaterial products will be regulated as medical devices. The FDA categorizes medical devices into one of three classesClass I,
Class II or Class IIIdepending on the degree of risk associated with each medical device and the extent of control needed to ensure
safety and effectiveness. Class I devices are those for which safety and effectiveness can be assured by adherence to FDAs general
controls for medical devices, or General Controls, which include compliance with the applicable portions of the FDAs Quality System
Regulation, or QSR, facility registration and product listing, reporting of adverse medical events, and appropriate, truthful and non-misleading
labeling, advertising, and promotional materials. Some Class I devices also require premarket clearance by the FDA through the 510(k)
premarket notification process described below. Class II devices are subject to FDAs General Controls, and any other special controls
as deemed necessary by FDA to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device. Premarket review and clearance by the FDA for Class II
devices is accomplished through the 510(k) premarket notification procedure, unless an exemption applies. A Class III product is a product
which has a new intended use or uses advanced technology that is not substantially equivalent to that of a legally marketed device. The
safety and effectiveness of Class III devices cannot be assured solely by the General Controls and the other requirements described above.
These devices almost always require formal clinical studies to demonstrate safety and effectiveness.
Government authorities
in the United States (at the federal, state and local level) and in other countries extensively regulate, among other things, the research,
development, testing, manufacturing, quality control, approval, labeling, packaging, storage, record-keeping, promotion, advertising,
distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting, marketing and export and import of biopharmaceutical products such as those we are
developing. Our therapeutic candidates must be approved by the FDA before they may be legally marketed in the United States and by the
appropriate foreign regulatory agencies before they may be legally marketed in foreign countries. Generally, our activities in other countries
will be subject to regulation that is similar in nature and scope as that imposed in the United States, although there can be important
differences. Additionally, some significant aspects of regulation in Europe are addressed in a centralized way, but country-specific regulation
remains essential in many respects. The process for obtaining regulatory marketing approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate
federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources.
**U.S. Product Development Process**
****
In the United States,
the FDA regulates pharmaceutical and biological products under the FDCA, the Public Health Service Act and their implementing regulations.
The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes
and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply with the applicable U.S. requirements
at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval, may subject an applicant to administrative or
judicial sanctions. These sanctions could include, among other actions, the FDAs refusal to approve pending applications, withdrawal
of an approval, a clinical hold, warning letters, product recalls or withdrawals from the market, product seizures, total or partial suspension
of production or distribution injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement or civil or criminal penalties.
Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on our operation and business. The process required by
the FDA before a biological product may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:
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completion of nonclinical laboratory tests and animal studies according to good laboratory practices, or GLPs, and applicable requirements for the humane use of laboratory animals or other applicable regulations; | |
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submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin; | |
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approval by an independent institutional review board, or IRB, or ethics committee at each clinical site before the trial is commenced; | |
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performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials according to the FDAs regulations commonly referred to as good clinical practices and any additional requirements for the protection of human research patients and their health information, to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed biological product for its intended use; | |
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submission to the FDA of a BLA for marketing approval that includes substantial evidence of safety, purity, and potency from results of nonclinical testing and clinical trials; | |
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satisfactory completion of an FDA Advisory Committee review, if applicable; | |
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satisfactory completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities where the biological product is produced to assess compliance with cGMP, to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the biological products identity, strength, quality and purity and, if applicable, the FDAs current good tissue practices, or GTPs, for the use of human cellular and tissue products; | |
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potential FDA audit of the nonclinical study and clinical trial sites that generated the data in support of the BLA; and | |
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FDA review and approval, or licensure, of the BLA. | |
Before testing any biological
product candidate, including our cellular therapeutic candidates, in humans, the therapeutic candidate enters the preclinical testing
stage. Preclinical tests, also referred to as nonclinical studies, include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, toxicity and formulation,
as well as animal studies to assess the potential safety and activity of the product candidate. The conduct of the preclinical tests must
comply with federal regulations and requirements including GLPs. The clinical trial sponsor must submit the results of the preclinical
tests, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and a proposed clinical protocol,
to the FDA as part of the IND. Some preclinical testing may continue even after the IND is submitted. The IND automatically becomes effective
30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA raises concerns or questions regarding the proposed clinical trials and places the trial
on a clinical hold within that 30-day time period. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before
the clinical trial can begin. The FDA may also impose clinical holds on a biological product candidate at any time before or during clinical
trials due to safety concerns or non-compliance. If the FDA imposes a clinical hold, trials may not recommence without FDA authorization
and then only under terms authorized by the FDA. Accordingly, we cannot be sure that submission of an IND will result in the FDA allowing
clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will not arise that suspend or terminate such trials.
In addition to the submission
of an IND to the FDA before initiation of a clinical trial in the United States, certain human clinical trials involving recombinant or
synthetic nucleic acid molecules are subject to oversight of IBCs as set forth in the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant
or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules, or NIH Guidelines. Under the NIH Guidelines, recombinant and synthetic nucleic acids are defined
as: (i) molecules that are constructed by joining nucleic acid molecules and that can replicate in a living cell (i.e., recombinant nucleic
acids); (ii) nucleic acid molecules that are chemically or by other means synthesized or amplified, including those that are chemically
or otherwise modified but can base pair with naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules (i.e., synthetic nucleic acids); or (iii) molecules
that result from the replication of those described in (i) or (ii). Specifically, under the NIH Guidelines, supervision of human gene
transfer trials includes evaluation and assessment by an IBC, a local institutional committee that reviews and oversees research utilizing
recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules at that institution. The IBC assesses the safety of the research and identifies any potential
risk to public health or the environment, and such review may result in some delay before initiation of a clinical trial. While the NIH
Guidelines are not mandatory unless the research in question is being conducted at or sponsored by institutions receiving NIH funding
of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule research, many companies and other institutions not otherwise subject to the NIH Guidelines
voluntarily follow them.
Clinical trials involve
the administration of the biological product candidate to patients under the supervision of qualified investigators, generally physicians
not employed by or under the trial sponsors control. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing, among other things,
the objectives of the clinical trial, dosing procedures, subject selection and exclusion criteria, and the parameters to be used to monitor
subject safety, including stopping rules that assure a clinical trial will be stopped if certain adverse events should occur. Each protocol
and any amendments to the protocol must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. Clinical trials must be conducted and monitored in
accordance with the FDAs regulations comprising the GCP requirements including the requirement that all research patients provide
informed consent. Further, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an independent IRB at or servicing each institution at
which the clinical trial will be conducted. An IRB is charged with protecting the welfare and rights of trial participants and considers
such items as whether the risks to individuals participating in the clinical trials are minimized and are reasonable in relation to anticipated
benefits. The IRB also approves the form and content of the informed consent that must be signed by each clinical trial subject or his
or her legal representative and must monitor the clinical trial until completed. Some studies also include oversight by an independent
group of qualified experts organized by the clinical study sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board, which provides authorization
for whether or not a study may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the study and may halt the
clinical trial if we determine that there is an unacceptable safety risk for subjects or other grounds, such as no demonstration of efficacy.
There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical studies and clinical study results to public registries.
Human clinical trials
are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap or be combined:
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Phase 1. The biological product is initially introduced into healthy human subjects and tested for safety. In the case of some products for severe or life-threatening diseases, especially when the product may be too inherently toxic to ethically administer to healthy volunteers, the initial human testing is often conducted in patients. | |
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Phase 2. The biological product is evaluated in a limited patient population to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance, optimal dosage and dosing schedule. | |
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Phase 3. Clinical trials are undertaken to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy, potency, and safety in an expanded patient population at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites. These clinical trials are intended to establish the overall risk to benefit ratio of the product and provide an adequate basis for product labeling. | |
Post-approval clinical
trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These clinical trials are
used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication, particularly for long-term safety
follow-up. During all phases of clinical development, regulatory agencies require extensive monitoring and auditing of all clinical activities,
clinical data, and clinical trial investigators. Annual progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials must be submitted
to the FDA. Written IND safety reports must be promptly submitted to the FDA, and the investigators for serious and unexpected adverse
events, any findings from other studies, tests in laboratory animals or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk for human patients,
or any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator
brochure. The sponsor must submit an IND safety report within 15 calendar days after the sponsor determines that the information qualifies
for reporting. The sponsor also must notify the FDA of any unexpected fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reaction within seven
calendar days after the sponsors initial receipt of the information. Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed
successfully within any specified period, if at all. The FDA or the sponsor or its data safety monitoring board may suspend or terminate
a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health
risk, including risks inferred from other unrelated immunotherapy trials. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical
trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRBs requirements or if the biological
product has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.
Human cellular therapy
products are a new category of therapeutics. Because this is a relatively new and expanding area of novel therapeutic interventions, there
can be no assurance as to the length of the trial period, the number of patients the FDA will require to be enrolled in the trials in
order to establish the safety, efficacy, purity and potency of cellular therapy products, or that the data generated in these trials will
be acceptable to the FDA to support marketing approval.
Concurrently with clinical
trials, companies usually complete additional studies and must also develop additional information about the physical characteristics
of the biological product as well as finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP
requirements. To help reduce the risk of the introduction of adventitious agents with use of biological products, the PHSA emphasizes
the importance of manufacturing control for products whose attributes cannot be precisely defined. The manufacturing process must be capable
of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other things, the sponsor must develop methods for testing
the identity, strength, quality, potency and purity of the final biological product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected
and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the biological product candidate does not undergo unacceptable
deterioration over its shelf life.
**U.S. Review and Approval Processes**
****
*FDA Biologics License
Application*
**
After the completion
of clinical trials of a biological product, FDA approval of a BLA must be obtained before commercial marketing of the biological product.
The BLA submission must include results of product development, laboratory and animal studies, human trials, information on the manufacture
and composition of the product, proposed labeling and other relevant information. The testing and approval processes require substantial
time and effort and there can be no assurance that the FDA will accept the BLA for filing and, even if filed, that any approval will be
granted on a timely basis, if at all.
Under the Prescription
Drug User Fee Act, as amended, or PDUFA, each BLA must be accompanied by a significant user fee. The FDA adjusts the PDUFA user fees on
an annual basis. PDUFA also imposes an annual program fee for biological products. Fee waivers or reductions are available in certain
circumstances, including a waiver of the application fee for the first application filed by a small business. Additionally, no user fees
are assessed on BLAs for products designated as orphan drugs, unless the product also includes a non-orphan indication.
| 18 | |
Within 60 days following
submission of the application, the FDA reviews a BLA submitted to determine if it is substantially complete before the agency accepts
it for filing. The FDA may refuse to file any BLA that it deems incomplete or not properly reviewable at the time of submission and may
request additional information. In this event, the BLA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application
also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth
substantive review of the BLA. The FDA reviews the BLA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe, potent,
and/or effective for its intended use, and has an acceptable purity profile, and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance
with cGMP to assure and preserve the products identity, safety, strength, quality, potency and purity. The FDA may refer applications
for novel biological products or biological products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory committee,
typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application
should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such
recommendations carefully when making decisions. During the biological product approval process, the FDA also will determine whether a
Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, is necessary to assure the safe use of the biological product. A REMS is a safety strategy
to manage a known or potential serious risk associated with a medicine and to enable patients to have continued access to such medicines
by managing their safe use, and could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as
restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor
of the BLA must submit a proposed REMS. The FDA will not approve a BLA without a REMS, if required.
Before approving a BLA,
the FDA will inspect the facilities at which the product is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the therapeutic unless it determines
that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMP requirements and adequate to assure consistent production
of the therapeutic within required specifications. For cellular therapies, the FDA also will not approve the product if the manufacturer
is not in compliance with the GTPs, to the extent applicable. These are FDA regulations and guidance documents that govern the methods
used in, and the facilities and controls used for, the manufacture of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue based products, or
HCT/Ps, which are human cells or tissue intended for implantation, transplant, infusion, or transfer into a human recipient. Additionally,
before approving a BLA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure that the clinical trials were conducted in
compliance with IND trial requirements and GCP requirements. To assure cGMP, GTP and GCP compliance, an applicant must incur significant
expenditure of time, money and effort in the areas of training, record keeping, production and quality control.
In November 2017, the
FDA released a guidance document entitled Regulatory Considerations for Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue Based
Products: Minimal Manipulation and Homologous Use Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff, which it
revised and reissued in July 2020, or the Guidance. The document confirmed the FDAs stance that sheet forms of amniotic tissue
are appropriately regulated as solely Section 361 HCT/Ps when manufactured in accordance with 21 CFR Part 1271 and intended for use as
a barrier or covering. The primary intent of the GTP requirements is to ensure that cell and tissue-based therapeutics are manufactured
in a manner designed to prevent the introduction, transmission and spread of communicable disease. FDA regulations also require tissue
establishments to register and list their HCT/Ps with the FDA and, when applicable, to evaluate donors through screening and testing.
Although FDA had indicated in its Guidance that the agency would exercise enforcement discretion under limited conditions with respect
to the IND application and pre-market approval requirements for certain HCT/Ps, this period of enforcement discretion ended May 31, 2021.
Notwithstanding the
submission of relevant data and information, the FDA may ultimately decide that the BLA does not satisfy its regulatory criteria for approval
and deny approval. Data obtained from clinical trials are not always conclusive and the FDA may interpret data differently than we interpret
the same data. If the agency decides not to approve the BLA in its present form, the FDA will issue a complete response letter that describes
all of the specific deficiencies in the BLA identified by the FDA. The deficiencies identified may be minor, for example, requiring labeling
changes, or major, for example, requiring additional clinical trials. Additionally, the complete response letter may include recommended
actions that the applicant might take to place the application in a condition for approval. If a complete response letter is issued, the
applicant may either resubmit the BLA, addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application.
If a therapeutic receives
regulatory approval, the approval may be limited to specific diseases and dosages or the indications for use may otherwise be limited,
which could restrict the commercial value of the therapeutic. Further, the FDA may require that certain contraindications, warnings or
precautions be included in the labeling. The FDA may impose restrictions and conditions on distribution, prescribing, or dispensing in
the form of a risk management plan, or otherwise limit the scope of any approval. In addition, the FDA may require post marketing clinical
trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, designed to further assess a biological products safety and effectiveness,
and testing and surveillance programs to monitor the safety of approved therapeutics that have been commercialized.
In addition, under the
Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, a BLA or supplement to a BLA must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the product
for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation
for which the product is safe and effective. The FDA may grant deferrals for submission of data or full or partial waivers. Unless otherwise
required by regulation, PREA does not apply to any product for an indication for which orphan designation has been granted. However, if
only one indication for a therapeutic has orphan designation, a pediatric assessment may still be required for any applications to market
that same therapeutic for the non-orphan indication(s).
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*510(k) Clearance Marketing Pathway for Devices*
When a 510(k) is required,
the manufacturer must submit to the FDA a premarket notification submission demonstrating that the device is substantially equivalent
to a predicate device already on the market. A predicate device is a legally marketed device that is not subject to premarket approval,
i.e., a device that was legally marketed prior to May 28, 1976 (pre-amendments device) and for which a premarket approval application,
or PMA, is not required, a device that has been reclassified from Class III to Class II or I, or a device that was found substantially
equivalent through the 510(k) process.
If the FDA agrees that the
device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device, it will grant clearance to commercially market the device in the U.S. The FDAs
510(k) clearance process usually takes from three to twelve months from the date the application is submitted and filed with the FDA but
may take significantly longer and clearance is never assured. Although many 510(k) pre-market notifications are cleared without clinical
data, in some cases, the FDA requires significant clinical data to support substantial equivalence. In reviewing a pre-market notification,
the FDA may request additional information, including clinical data, which may significantly prolong the review process. If the FDA determines
that the device, or its intended use, is not substantially equivalent, the FDA may deny the request for clearance.
After a device receives 510(k)
clearance, any subsequent modification of the device that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute
a major change in its intended use, will require a new 510(k) clearance or could require pre-market approval. The FDA requires each manufacturer
to make this determination initially, but the FDA may review any such decision and may disagree with a manufacturers determination.
If the FDA disagrees with a manufacturers determination, the FDA may require the manufacturer to cease marketing or recall the
modified device, or both, until 510(k) clearance or pre-market approval is obtained. We have modified aspects of some of our devices since
receiving regulatory clearance and we have made the determination that new 510(k) clearances or pre-market approvals were not required.
Over the last several years,
the FDA has proposed reforms to its 510(k) clearance process, and such proposals could include increased requirements for clinical data
and a longer review period or could make it more difficult for manufacturers to utilize the 510(k) clearance process for their products.
For example, in November 2018, FDA officials announced forthcoming steps that the FDA intends to take to modernize the premarket notification
pathway under Section 510(k) of the FDCA. Among other things, the FDA announced that it planned to develop proposals to drive manufacturers
utilizing the 510(k) pathway toward the use of newer predicates. These proposals included plans to potentially sunset certain older devices
that were used as predicates under the 510(k) clearance pathway, and to potentially publish a list of devices that have been cleared on
the basis of demonstrated substantial equivalence to predicate devices that are more than 10 years old. The FDA also announced that it
intends to finalize guidance to establish a premarket review pathway for manufacturers of certain well-understood device types
as an alternative to the 510(k) clearance pathway and that such premarket review pathway would allow manufacturers to rely on objective
safety and performance criteria recognized by the FDA to demonstrate substantial equivalence, obviating the need for manufacturers to
compare the safety and performance of their medical devices to specific predicate devices in the clearance process.
In May 2019, the FDA solicited
public feedback on its plans to develop proposals to drive manufacturers utilizing the 510(k) pathway toward the use of newer predicates,
including whether the FDA should publish a list of devices that have been cleared on the basis of demonstrated substantial equivalence
to predicate devices that are more than 10 years old. The FDA requested public feedback on whether it should consider certain actions
that might require new authority, such as whether to sunset certain older devices that were used as predicates under the 510(k) clearance
pathway. These proposals have not yet been finalized or adopted, and the FDA may work with Congress to implement such proposals through
legislation. More recently, in September 2019, the FDA finalized the aforementioned guidance to describe an optional safety and
performance based premarket review pathway for manufacturers of certain, well-understood device types to demonstrate
substantial equivalence under the 510(k) clearance pathway, by demonstrating that such device meets objective safety and performance criteria
established by the FDA, obviating the need for manufacturers to compare the safety and performance of their medical devices to specific
predicate devices in the clearance process. The FDA maintains a list of device types appropriate for the safety and performance
based pathway and develop product-specific guidance documents that identify the performance criteria for each such device type,
as well as the testing methods recommended in the guidance documents, where feasible.
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*FDA PMA Approval Process for Devices*
Although unlikely for the
types of medical devices we are currently developing, the FDA may classify devices, or the particular use of a device, into Class III,
and the device sponsor must then fulfill more rigorous PMA requirements. A PMA application, which is intended to demonstrate that a device
is safe and effective, must be supported by extensive data, including extensive technical and manufacturing data and data from preclinical
studies and human clinical trials. After a PMA application is submitted and filed, the FDA begins an in-depth review of the submitted
information, which typically takes between one and three years, but may take significantly longer. During this review period, the FDA
may request additional information or clarification of information already provided. Also, during the review period, an advisory panel
of experts from outside the FDA will usually be convened to review and evaluate the application and provide recommendations to the FDA
as to the approvability of the device. In addition, the FDA will conduct a pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility to ensure
compliance with the QSR, which imposes stringent design development, testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures
in the design and manufacturing process. The FDA may approve a PMA application with post-approval conditions intended to ensure the safety
and effectiveness of the device including, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion, sale and distribution and collection
of long-term follow-up data from patients in the clinical study that supported approval. Failure to comply with the conditions of approval
can result in materially adverse enforcement action, including the loss or withdrawal of the approval. New PMA applications or PMA supplements
are required for significant modifications to the manufacturing process, labeling of the product and design of a device that is approved
through the PMA process. PMA supplements often require submission of the same type of information as an original PMA, except that the
supplement is limited to information needed to support any changes from the device covered by the original PMA and may not require as
extensive clinical data or the convening of an advisory panel.
A clinical trial is typically
required to support a PMA application and is sometimes required for a 510(k) pre-market notification. Clinical trials generally require
submission of an application for an Investigational Device Exemption, or IDE, to the FDA. The IDE application must be supported by appropriate
data, such as animal and laboratory testing results, showing that it is safe to test the device in humans and that the investigational
protocol is scientifically sound. The IDE application must be approved in advance by the FDA for a specified number of patients, unless
the product is deemed a non-significant risk device and eligible for more abbreviated IDE requirements. Clinical trials for a significant
risk device may begin once the IDE application is approved by the FDA as well as the appropriate institutional review boards at the clinical
trial sites, and the informed consent of the patients participating in the clinical trial is obtained. After a trial begins, the FDA may
place it on hold or terminate it if, among other reasons, it concludes that the clinical subjects are exposed to an unacceptable health
risk. Any trials we conduct must be conducted in accordance with FDA regulations as well as other federal regulations and state laws concerning
human subject protection and privacy.
**Orphan Drug Designation**
****
Under the Orphan Drug
Act, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally a disease
or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or more than 200,000 individuals in the United States and
for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available in the United States a drug or biologic
for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales in the United States for that drug or biologic. Orphan drug designation
must be requested before submitting a BLA. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the generic identity of the therapeutic agent
and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA. The orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten
the duration of, the regulatory review or approval process.
If a therapeutic that
has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease for which it has such designation, the therapeutic
is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a full BLA, to market
the same biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority
to the therapeutic with orphan drug exclusivity. Orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent FDA from approving a different drug or biologic
for the same disease or condition, or the same drug or biologic for a different disease or condition. Among the other benefits of orphan
drug designation are tax credits for certain research and a waiver of the BLA application user fee.
A designated orphan
drug may not receive orphan drug exclusivity if it is approved for a use that is broader than the indication for which it received orphan
designation. In addition, exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for
designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet the needs
of patients with the rare disease or condition.
In April 2021, the FDA
granted orphan drug designation to our non-genetically modified cryopreserved human placental hematopoietic stem cell-derived NK cell
therapy, CYNK-001, for the treatment of patients with malignant gliomas. However, we have discontinued development as to this indication.
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**Expedited Development and Review
Programs**
****
The FDA has programs
intended to facilitate and expedite the development and review of new drugs to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of a serious
or life-threatening condition. These programs include fast track designation, breakthrough therapy designation, accelerated approval,
and priority review designation. Specifically, new therapeutics are eligible for fast track designation if they are intended to treat
a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition.
Fast track designation applies to the combination of the therapeutic and the specific indication for which it is being studied. Unique
to a fast track product, the FDA may consider for review sections of the BLA on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted,
if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the BLA, the FDA agrees to accept sections of the BLA and determines
that the schedule is acceptable, and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the BLA.
Any therapeutic submitted
to the FDA for approval, including a therapeutic with a fast track designation, may also be eligible for other types of FDA programs intended
to expedite development and review, such as priority review and accelerated approval. A therapeutic is eligible for priority review if
it has the potential to provide safe and effective therapy where no satisfactory alternative therapy exists or a significant improvement
in the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of a disease compared to marketed therapeutics. The FDA will attempt to direct additional resources
to the evaluation of an application for a new therapeutic designated for priority review in an effort to facilitate the review. Additionally,
a therapeutic may be eligible for accelerated approval. Therapeutics studied for their safety and effectiveness in treating serious or
life-threatening diseases or conditions may receive accelerated approval upon a determination that the product has an effect on a surrogate
endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible
morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit,
taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. As a
condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a drug or biological product receiving accelerated approval perform adequate
and well-controlled post-marketing clinical studies with due diligence and, under the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022, or FDORA,
the FDA is now permitted to require, as appropriate, that such trials be underway prior to approval or within a specific time period after
the date of approval for a product granted accelerated approval. Under FDORA, the FDA has increased authority for expedited procedures
to withdraw approval of a drug or indication approved under accelerated approval if, for example, the confirmatory trial fails to verify
the predicted clinical benefit of the product. In addition, for products being considered for accelerated approval, the FDA currently
requires, unless the sponsor is otherwise informed by the agency, that all advertising and promotional materials intended for dissemination
or publication within 120 days of marketing approval be submitted to the agency for review during the pre-approval review period, which
could adversely impact the timing of the commercial launch of the product. In addition, breakthrough therapy designation is intended to
expedite the development and review of therapeutics that treat serious or life-threatening conditions. The designation by the FDA requires
preliminary clinical evidence that a therapeutic candidate, alone or in combination with other drugs and biologics, demonstrates substantial
improvement over currently available therapy on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed
early in clinical development. If the FDA designates a breakthrough therapy, it may take actions appropriate to expedite the development
and review of the application, which may include (i) holding meetings with the sponsor and the review team throughout the development
of the therapy, (ii) providing timely advice to, and interactive communication with, the sponsor regarding the development of the drug
to ensure that the development program to gather the nonclinical and clinical data necessary for approval is as efficient as practicable,
(iii) involving senior managers and experienced review staff, as appropriate, in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary review, (iv) assigning
a cross-disciplinary project lead for the FDA review team to facilitate an efficient review of the development program and to serve as
a scientific liaison between the review team and the sponsor and (v) considering alternative clinical trial designs when scientifically
appropriate, which may result in smaller trials or more efficient trials that require less time to complete and may minimize the number
of patients exposed to a potentially less efficacious treatment. Breakthrough therapy designation comes with all of the benefits of fast
track designation, which means that the sponsor may file sections of the BLA for review on a rolling basis if certain conditions are satisfied,
including an agreement with FDA on the proposed schedule for submission of portions of the application and the payment of applicable user
fees before the FDA may initiate a review. The breakthrough therapy designation is a distinct status from both accelerated approval and
priority review, which can also be granted to the same product if relevant criteria are met. If a product is designated as breakthrough
therapy, FDA will expedite the development and review of such product.
Fast track designation,
priority review and breakthrough therapy designation do not change the standards for approval but may expedite the development or approval
process.
In March 2021, we received
fast track designation from the FDA for our non-genetically modified cryopreserved human placental hematopoietic stem cell-derived NK
cell therapy. This program is currently not active.
| 22 | |
**Post-Approval Requirements**
****
Any therapeutics for
which we receive FDA approvals are subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, record-keeping requirements,
reporting of adverse experiences with the product, providing the FDA with updated safety and efficacy information, product sampling and
distribution requirements, and complying with FDA promotion and advertising requirements, which include, among others, standards for direct-to-consumer
advertising, restrictions on promoting products for uses or in patient populations that are not described in the products approved
labeling (known as off-label use), limitations on industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities, and requirements
for promotional activities involving the internet. Although a physician may prescribe a legally available product for an off-label use,
if the physicians deems such product to be appropriate in his/her professional medical judgment, a manufacturer may not market or promote
off-label uses. However, companies may share truthful and not misleading information that is otherwise consistent with a products
FDA approved labeling. A company that is found to have promoted off-label use of its product may be subject to significant liability,
including administrative, civil and criminal sanctions.
In addition, quality
control and manufacturing procedures must continue to conform to applicable manufacturing requirements after approval to ensure the long-term
stability of the product. cGMP regulations require among other things, quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding
maintenance of records and documentation and the obligation to investigate and correct any deviations from cGMP. Manufacturers and other
entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved products, and those supplying products, ingredients, and components
of them, are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies, and are subject to periodic unannounced
inspections by the FDA and certain state agencies for compliance with cGMP and other laws. Manufacturers and other parties involved in
the drug supply chain for prescription drug products must also comply with product tracking and tracing requirements and for notifying
the FDA of counterfeit, diverted, stolen and intentionally adulterated products or products that are otherwise unfit for distribution
in the United States. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money, and effort in the area of production and quality
control to maintain cGMP compliance. Discovery of problems with a product after approval may result in restrictions on a product, manufacturer,
or holder of an approved BLA, including, among other things, recall or withdrawal of the product from the market. In addition, changes
to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated, and depending on the significance of the change, may require prior FDA approval before
being implemented. Other types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications and claims, are also subject to further
FDA review and approval.
The FDA also may require
post-marketing testing, known as Phase 4 testing, and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product. Discovery of previously
unknown problems with a product or the failure to comply with applicable FDA requirements can have negative consequences, including adverse
publicity, judicial or administrative enforcement, warning letters from the FDA, mandated corrective advertising or communications with
doctors, and civil or criminal penalties, among others. Newly discovered or developed safety or effectiveness data may require changes
to a products approved labeling, including the addition of new warnings and contraindications, and also may require the implementation
of other risk management measures. Also, new government requirements, including those resulting from new legislation, may be established,
or the FDAs policies may change, which could delay or prevent regulatory approval of our therapeutics under development.
**U.S. Marketing Exclusivity**
****
The Biologics Price
Competition and Innovation Act, or BPCIA, amended the PHSA to authorize the FDA to approve similar versions of innovative biologics, commonly
known as biosimilars. A competitor seeking approval of a biosimilar must file an application to establish its molecule as highly similar
to an approved innovator biologic, among other requirements. The BPCIA, however, bars the FDA from approving biosimilar applications for
12 years after an innovator biological product receives initial marketing approval. This 12-year period of data exclusivity may be extended
by six months, for a total of 12.5 years, if pediatric exclusivity is granted. Pediatric exclusivity is another type of regulatory market
exclusivity in the United States. This six-month exclusivity, which runs from the end of other exclusivity protection, may be granted
based on the voluntary completion of a pediatric trial that fairly responds to an FDA-issued Written Request for such a
trial.
Depending upon the timing,
duration and specifics of the FDA approval of the use of our therapeutic candidates, some of its U.S. patents, if granted, may be eligible
for limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, commonly referred to as the
Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent restoration term of up to five years, as compensation for patent term lost during
product development and the FDA regulatory review process. However, patent term restoration cannot extend the remaining term of a patent
beyond a total of 14 years from the products approval date. The patent term restoration period is generally one-half the time between
the effective date of an IND and the submission date of a BLA plus the time between the submission date of a BLA and the approval of that
application. Only one patent applicable to an approved therapeutic is eligible for the extension and the application for the extension
must be submitted prior to the expiration of the patent. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, in consultation with the FDA, reviews and
approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration. In the future, we may intend to apply for restoration of patent
term for one of our currently owned or licensed patents to add patent life beyond our current expiration date, depending on the expected
length of the clinical trials and other factors involved in the filing of the relevant BLA.
| 23 | |
**Federal and State Licenses and Registrations**
****
The health care industry
is subject to stringent regulation by a wide range of authorities. Accordingly, our business requires us to maintain certain licenses,
registrations, permits, authorizations, approvals, certifications, accreditations and other types of federal, state, and local governmental
permissions and to comply with various regulations in every jurisdiction in which we operate. For example, we are required to maintain
licenses and registrations in several states, and has obtained biologics, tissue bank and blood bank licenses, permits and registrations
in states where such licensure is required for us to market and support our products and services. Some states, such as New York, impose
state law restrictions on products that have not been the subject of a BLA based upon their interpretation of guidance issued under federal
law, including the FDAs guidance on HCT/Ps, which can lead to different, and potentially conflicting, regulatory frameworks applicable
to our degenerative disease products on a state by state basis. We also maintain an annual registration with the FDA as a tissue bank,
and national accreditation by the American Association of Blood Banks. The failure to comply with such licensure requirements can result
in enforcement actions, including the revocation or suspension of the licenses, registrations or accreditations, or subject us to plans
of correction, monitoring, civil money penalties, civil injunctive action and/or criminal penalties.
**Other U.S. Healthcare Laws and Compliance
Requirements**
****
In the United States,
our activities are potentially subject to regulation by various federal, state and local authorities in addition to the FDA, including
but not limited to, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, other divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (*e.g.*, the Office of Inspector General), the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, and individual U.S. Attorney offices
within the DOJ, and state and local governments. For example, our business practices, including our research and sales, marketing and
scientific/educational grant programs may be required to comply with the fraud and abuse provisions of the Social Security Act, false
claims laws, anti-kickback and anti-bribery laws, the data privacy and security provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act, or HIPAA, federal transparency requirements and similar state laws, each as amended.
The federal Anti-Kickback
Statute prohibits, among other things, any person or entity, from knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving any
remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or
in return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or
order of any item or service reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs. The term remuneration has been
interpreted broadly to include anything of value. The federal Anti-Kickback Statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between
pharmaceutical manufacturers on one hand and prescribers, purchasers, and formulary managers on the other. There are a number of statutory
exceptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting some common activities from prosecution. The exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly
and require strict compliance in order to offer protection. Practices that involve remuneration that may be alleged to be intended to
induce prescribing, purchasing or recommending may be subject to scrutiny if they do not qualify for an exception or safe harbor. Failure
to meet all of the requirements of a particular applicable statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor does not make the conduct per
se illegal under the Anti-Kickback Statute. Instead, the legality of the arrangement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on
a cumulative review of all of its facts and circumstances. Our practices may not in all cases meet all of the criteria for protection
under a statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor.
Additionally, the intent
standard under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute was amended by the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively, the Affordable Care Act, to a stricter standard such that a person
or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have
committed a violation. Rather, if one purpose of the remuneration is to induce referrals, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute
is violated. In addition, the Affordable Care Act codified case law that a claim that includes items or services resulting from a violation
of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal civil False Claims Act (discussed
below).
The federal civil monetary
penalties statute imposes penalties against any person or entity who, among other things, is determined to have knowingly presented or
caused to be presented a false or fraudulent claim to, among others, a federal healthcare program that the person knows or should know
is for an item or service that was not provided as claimed or is false or fraudulent. Further, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute
are subject to civil and criminal fines and penalties for each violation, plus up to three times the remuneration involved, imprisonment,
and exclusion from government healthcare programs.
The federal civil and
criminal false claims laws, including the federal civil False Claims Act, prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly
presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment or approval from Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal government programs that
are false or fraudulent or knowingly making a false statement to improperly avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the
federal government, including federal healthcare programs. As a result of a modification made by the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act
of 2009, a claim includes any request or demand for money or property presented to the federal government. Pharmaceutical
and other healthcare companies are being investigated or, in the past, have been prosecuted under these laws for, among other things,
allegedly providing free product to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal programs for the product. In
addition, pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies also have been prosecuted for causing false claims to be submitted because of
the companies marketing of the product for unapproved, and thus non-reimbursable, uses. The federal False Claims Act also permits
a private individual acting as a whistleblower to bring actions on behalf of the federal government alleging violations
of the federal False Claims Act and to share in any monetary recovery.
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HIPAA created additional
federal criminal statutes that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud or to obtain,
by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any money or property owned by, or under the control or custody
of, any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering
up by trick, scheme or device, a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the
delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does
not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation.
We may be subject to
data privacy and security regulations by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. HIPAA, as amended
by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, or HITECH, and their implementing regulations, imposes
requirements on certain types of individuals and entities, including covered entities (*i.e*., certain healthcare providers, health
plans and healthcare clearinghouses), relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information.
Among other things, HITECH makes HIPAAs privacy and security standards directly applicable to business associates (and their subcontractors)
that are independent contractors or agents of covered entities that receive or obtain protected health information in connection with
providing a service for or on behalf of a covered entity. HITECH also created four new tiers of civil monetary penalties, amended HIPAA
to make civil and criminal penalties directly applicable to business associates, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file
civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorneys fees and costs
associated with pursuing federal civil actions.
State laws also govern
the privacy and security of personal information. Many state laws differ from each other in significant ways, thus complicating compliance
efforts. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA establishes data privacy rights for individuals located in California,
and imposes certain requirements on how businesses can collect and use personal information about such individuals. The California Privacy
Rights Act, or CPRA, which became effective on January 1, 2023, the CPRA imposes additional obligations on companies covered by the legislation
and significantly modifies the CCPA, including by expanding consumers rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information
and establishes a state agency vested with the authority to enforce the CCPA. It is not yet fully clear how the CCPA (as amended by the
CPRA) will be enforced and how it will be interpreted. The evolving nature of the CCPA may require us to modify our data collection or
processing practices and policies and to incur substantial costs and expenses in an effort to comply.
The CCPA (as amended
by the CPRA) has prompted the enactment of similar, comprehensive privacy and data protection legislation in other states, such as Virginia,
Colorado, Utah and Connecticut, which will all become effective in 2023. Furthermore, a number of other U.S. states have proposed similar
privacy and data protection legislation, and it is possible that certain of these proposals will pass. Although many of the existing state
privacy laws exempt clinical trial information and health information governed by HIPAA, future privacy and data protection laws may be
broader in scope. Further, the proliferation of state privacy laws has heightened risks and uncertainties concerning our collection and
use of personal information. This could lead to significant compliance costs and expenses on our business, increase our potential exposure
to regulatory enforcement and/or litigation and have a negative effect on our ability to attract and retain new customers.
Additionally, the
federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act created under the Affordable Care Act, and its implementing regulations, require that certain
manufacturers of drugs, devices, biological and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Childrens
Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) annually report information to CMS related to certain payments or other transfers of
value made or distributed to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and chiropractors) and teaching
hospitals, or to entities or individuals at the request of, or designated on behalf of, the physicians and teaching hospitals and to report
annually certain ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Effective January 1, 2022,
applicable manufacturers were also required to report information regarding payments and other transfers of value provided during the
previous year to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologist
assistants and certified nurse-midwives.
The Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, or FCPA, prohibits any U.S. individual or business from paying, offering, or authorizing payment or offering of anything
of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party 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 accounting provisions requiring us 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.
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Also, many states
have similar fraud and abuse statutes or regulations that apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs,
or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor. In order to distribute therapeutics commercially, we must comply with state laws
that require the registration of manufacturers and wholesale distributors of drug and biological products in a state, including, in certain
states, manufacturers and distributors who ship products into the state even if such manufacturers or distributors have no place of business
within the state. Some states also impose requirements on manufacturers and distributors to establish the pedigree of product in the chain
of distribution, including some states that require manufacturers and others to adopt new technology capable of tracking and tracing product
as it moves through the distribution chain. Several states and local jurisdictions have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies to establish marketing compliance programs and comply with the pharmaceutical industrys voluntary compliance
guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, file periodic reports with the state, make periodic
public disclosures on sales, marketing, pricing, clinical trials and other activities, and/or register their sales representatives, as
well as to prohibit pharmacies and other healthcare entities from providing certain physician prescribing data to pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies for use in sales and marketing, and to prohibit certain other sales and marketing practices. All of our activities are potentially
subject to federal and state consumer protection and unfair competition laws.
If our operations are
found to be in violation of any of the federal and state healthcare laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply
to us, we may be subject to significant penalties, including without limitation, civil, criminal and/or administrative penalties, damages,
fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, exclusion from participation in government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, injunctions, contractual
damages, reputational harm, administrative burdens, diminished profits and future earnings, additional reporting requirements and/or oversight
if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or similar agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws,
and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our
results of operations.
**Coverage, Pricing and Reimbursement**
****
Significant uncertainty
exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any therapeutic candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval. In the United
States and certain markets in other countries, sales of any therapeutics for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale
will depend, in part, on the extent to which third-party payors provide coverage, and establish adequate reimbursement levels for such
products. No uniform policy for coverage and reimbursement exists in the United States, and coverage and reimbursement can differ significantly
from payor to payor. As a result, the coverage determination process is often time-consuming and costly. In the United States, third-party
payors include federal and state healthcare programs, private managed care providers, health insurers and other organizations. The process
for determining whether a third-party payor will provide coverage for a product may be separate from the process for setting the price
of a product or from establishing the reimbursement rate that such a payor will pay for the product. Third-party payors may limit coverage
to specific products on an approved list, also known as a formulary, which might not include all of the FDA-approved products for a particular
indication. Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the price, examining the medical necessity and reviewing the cost-effectiveness
of medical products, therapies and services, in addition to questioning their safety and efficacy. We may need to conduct expensive pharmaco-economic
studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of our therapeutics, in addition to the costs required to
obtain the FDA approvals. Our therapeutic candidates may not be considered medically necessary or cost-effective. A payors decision
to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Net prices for our therapeutics
may also be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government healthcare programs or private payors and by any future relaxation
of laws that presently restrict imports of drugs from countries where they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States. Further,
one payors determination to provide coverage for a therapeutic does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage for
the therapeutic. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an
appropriate return on our investment in therapeutic development.
Different pricing and
reimbursement schemes exist in other countries. In the European Union, or EU, governments influence the price of pharmaceutical products
through their pricing and reimbursement rules and control of national health care systems that fund a large part of the cost of those
products to consumers. Some jurisdictions operate positive and negative list systems under which products may only be marketed once a
reimbursement price has been agreed. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval, some of these countries may require the completion of
clinical trials that compare the cost-effectiveness of a particular therapeutic candidate to currently available therapies. Other member
states allow companies to fix their own prices for medicines but monitor and control company profits. The downward pressure on health
care costs has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition,
in some countries, cross-border imports from low-priced markets exert a commercial pressure on pricing within a country. Accordingly,
in markets outside the United States, the reimbursement for our products may be reduced compared with the United States and may be insufficient
to generate commercially reasonable revenue and profits. Pricing and rebate programs must comply with the Medicaid rebate requirements
of the U.S. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and more recent requirements in the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act of 2010,
as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively, the Affordable Care Act. If products are made available
to authorized users of the Federal Supply Schedule of the General Services Administration, additional laws and requirements apply.
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The marketability of
any therapeutic candidates for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale may suffer if the government and third-party payors
fail to provide adequate coverage and reimbursement. In addition, emphasis on managed care in the United States has increased and we expect
will continue to increase the pressure on healthcare pricing. For example, actions by federal and state governments and health plans may
put additional downward pressure on pharmaceutical pricing and health care costs, which could negatively impact coverage and reimbursement
for our products if approved, our revenue, and our ability to compete with other marketed products and to recoup the costs of our research
and development. Coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement
status is attained for one or more therapeutics for which we receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement
rates may be implemented in the future.
**Healthcare Reform**
****
In the United States
and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been, and continue to be, several legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding
the healthcare system that could prevent or delay marketing approval of therapeutic candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities,
and affect the ability to profitably sell therapeutic candidates for which marketing approval is obtained. Among policy makers and payors
in the United States and elsewhere, there is significant interest in promoting changes in healthcare systems with the stated goals of
containing healthcare costs, improving quality and/or expanding access. In the United States, the pharmaceutical industry has been a particular
focus of these efforts and has been significantly affected by major legislative initiatives.
For example, the Affordable
Care Act has substantially changed healthcare financing and delivery by both governmental and private insurers. Among the Affordable Care
Act provisions of importance to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, in addition to those otherwise described above, are the
following:
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an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain specified branded prescription drugs and biologic agents apportioned among these entities according to their market share in some government healthcare programs that began in 2011; | |
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an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, retroactive to January 1, 2010, to 23.1% and 13% of the average manufacturer price for most branded and generic drugs, respectively, and capped the total rebate amount for innovator drugs at 100% of the Average Manufacturer Price (AMP); | |
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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 of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturers outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D; | |
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extension of manufacturers Medicaid rebate liability to covered drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations; | |
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expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, thereby potentially increasing manufacturers Medicaid rebate liability; | |
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expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the 340B Drug Discount Program; | |
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a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research; | |
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expansion of healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute, new government investigative powers, and enhanced penalties for noncompliance; | |
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a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted, or injected; | |
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requirements to report certain financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals; | |
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a requirement to annually report certain information regarding drug samples that manufacturers and distributors provide to physicians; | |
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establishment of a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at CMS to test innovative payment and service delivery models to lower Medicare and Medicaid spending, potentially including prescription drug spending; and | |
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a licensure framework for follow on biologic products. | |
There remain executive,
legal and political challenges to certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act. For example, in December 2019, the Further Consolidated
Appropriations Act (H.R. 1865), which repealed the Cadillac tax, the health insurance provider tax, and the medical device excise tax,
was signed into law. Moreover, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, effective January 2019, among other things, amended the Affordable Care
Act to close the coverage gap in most Medicare drug plans, commonly referred to as the donut hole. In June 2021, the U.S.
Supreme Court dismissed the most recent judicial challenge to the Affordable Care Act brought by several states without specifically ruling
on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Prior to the Supreme Courts decision an Executive Order was issued to initiate
a special enrollment period from February 15, 2021 through August 15, 2021 for purposes of obtaining health insurance coverage through
the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The Executive Order also instructed certain governmental agencies to review and reconsider their
existing policies and rules that limit access to healthcare, including among others, reexamining Medicaid demonstration projects and waiver
programs that include work requirements, and policies that create unnecessary barriers to obtaining access to health insurance coverage
through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act. The ultimate content, timing or effect of any healthcare reform legislation on the United
States healthcare industry is unclear.
Previously, in October
2017, an Executive Order was signed terminating the cost-sharing subsidies that reimburse insurers under the Affordable Care Act. The
former administration concluded that cost-sharing reduction, or CSR, payments to insurance companies required under the Affordable Care
Act have not received necessary appropriations from Congress and announced that it will discontinue these payments immediately until those
appropriations are made. Several state Attorneys General filed suit to stop the administration from terminating the subsidies, but their
request for a restraining order was denied by a federal judge in California in October 2017. In August 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit ruled in two separate cases that the federal government is liable for the full amount of unpaid CSRs for the years
preceding and including 2017. For CSR claims made by health insurance companies for years 2018 and later, further litigation will be required
to determine the amounts due, if any. Further, in June 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the federal
government was not required to pay more than $12 billion in Affordable Care Act risk corridor payments to third-party payors who argued
the payments were owed to them. In April 2020, the United States Supreme Court reversed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuits
decision and remanded the case to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, concluding the government has an obligation to pay these risk corridor
payments under the relevant formula.
We anticipate that the
Affordable Care Act, if substantially maintained in its current form, will continue to result in additional downward pressure on coverage
and the price that we receive for any approved therapeutic, and could seriously harm our business. Any reduction in reimbursement from
Medicare and other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment
measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our therapeutics.
Such reforms could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenue from therapeutic candidates that we may successfully develop and for
which we may obtain regulatory approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop therapeutic candidates.
Further legislation
or regulation could be passed that could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Other legislative changes have
been proposed and adopted since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. For example, in August 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 was signed
into law, which, among other things, created the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to recommend to Congress proposals in spending
reductions. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction did not achieve a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for
fiscal years 2013 through 2021, triggering the legislations automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate
reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year. These reductions went into effect in April 2013 and, due to
subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, will remain in effect through 2030, with the exception of a temporary suspension from
May 1, 2020, through March 31, 2022. Then, a 1% payment reduction occurred beginning April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022, and the 2% payment
reduction resumed on July 1, 2022. Further, in January 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law, which, among
other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several types of providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer treatment
centers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years.
In addition, on May
30, 2018, the Right to Try Act was signed into law. The law, among other things, provides a federal framework for certain patients to
access certain investigational new drug products that have completed a Phase 1 clinical trial and that are undergoing investigation for
FDA approval. Under certain circumstances, eligible patients can seek treatment without enrolling in clinical trials and without obtaining
FDA permission under the FDA expanded access program. There is no obligation for a pharmaceutical manufacturer to make its drug products
available to eligible patients as a result of the Right to Try Act.
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There has also been
increasing legislative and enforcement interest in the United States with respect to specialty drug pricing practices. At the federal
level, an Executive Order was signed in July 2021 affirming the administrations policy to (i) support legislative reforms that
would lower the prices of prescription drug and biologics, including by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, imposing inflation
caps and supporting the development and market entry of lower-cost generic drugs and biosimilars; and (ii) support the enactment of a
public health insurance option. Among other things, the Executive Order also directs the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS
to provide a report on actions to combat excessive pricing of prescription drugs, to enhance the domestic drug supply chain, to reduce
the price that the Federal government pays for drugs, and to address price gouging in the industry; and directs the FDA to work with states
and Indian Tribes that propose to develop section 804 Importation Programs in accordance with the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement,
and Modernization Act of 2003, and the FDAs implementing regulations. FDA released such implementing regulations in September 2020,
which went into effect in November 2020, providing guidance for states to build and submit importation plans for drugs from Canada. Further,
in November 2020, CMS issued an Interim Final Rule implementing the Most Favored Nation Model under which Medicare Part B reimbursement
rates will be calculated for certain drugs and biologicals based on the lowest price drug manufacturers receive in Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development countries with a similar gross domestic product per capita. In December 2021, CMS rescinded the Most Favored
Nation rule. Further, authorities in Canada have passed rules designed to safeguard the Canadian drug supply from shortages. If implemented,
importation of drugs from Canada may materially and adversely affect the price we receive for any of our therapeutic candidates. Additionally,
in December 2020, HHS published a regulation removing safe harbor protection for price reductions from pharmaceutical manufacturers to
plan sponsors under Part D, either directly or through pharmacy benefit managers, unless the price reduction is required by law. The rule
also creates a new safe harbor for price reductions reflected at the point-of-sale, as well as a safe harbor for certain fixed fee arrangements
between pharmacy benefit managers and manufacturers. In December 2020, HHS published a regulation removing safe harbor protection for
price reductions from pharmaceutical manufacturers to plan sponsors under Part D, either directly or through pharmacy benefit managers,
unless the price reduction is required by law. The rule also creates a new safe harbor for price reductions reflected at the point-of-sale,
as well as a safe harbor for certain fixed fee arrangements between pharmacy benefit managers and manufacturers. Pursuant to court order,
the removal and addition of the aforementioned safe harbors were delayed, and recent legislation imposed a moratorium on implementation
of the rule until January 2026. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, or the IRA, further delayed implementation of this rule to January
2032.
In August 2022, the
IRA was signed into law. The IRA includes several provisions that will impact our business to varying degrees, including provisions that
create a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, impose new manufacturer financial liability on all drugs in Medicare
Part D, allow the U.S. government to negotiate Medicare Part B and Part D pricing for certain high-cost drugs and biologics without generic
or biosimilar competition, require companies to pay rebates to Medicare for drug prices that increase faster than inflation, and delay
the rebate rule that would require pass through of pharmacy benefit manager rebates to beneficiaries. The effect of IRA on our business
and the healthcare industry in general is not yet known.
Although a number of
these and other proposed measures may require authorization through additional legislation to become effective, and the Executive branch
may reverse or otherwise change these measures, both the current administration and Congress have indicated that they will continue to
seek new legislative measures to control drug costs. Individual states in the United States have also become increasingly active 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.
**Additional Regulation**
****
In addition to the foregoing,
state and federal laws regarding environmental protection and hazardous substances, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act,
the Resource Conservancy and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act, affect our business. These and other laws govern our use,
handling and disposal of various biological, chemical and radioactive substances used in, and wastes generated by, our operations. If
our operations result in contamination of the environment or expose individuals to hazardous substances, we could be liable for damages
and governmental fines. We believe that we are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws and that continued compliance
therewith will not have a material adverse effect on our business. We cannot predict, however, how changes in these laws may affect our
future operations.
**Europe/Rest of World Government
Regulation**
****
In addition to regulations
in the United States, we will be subject to a variety of regulations in other jurisdictions governing, among other things, clinical trials
and any commercial sales and distribution of our therapeutics. Whether or not we obtain FDA approval of a therapeutic, we must obtain
the requisite approvals from regulatory authorities in foreign countries prior to the commencement of clinical trials or marketing of
the therapeutic in those countries. Certain countries outside of the United States have a similar process that requires the submission
of a clinical trial application much like the IND prior to the commencement of human clinical trials. In the EU, for example, a clinical
trial application must be submitted to each countrys national health authority and an independent ethics committee, much like the
FDA and IRB, respectively. Once the clinical trial application is approved in accordance with a countrys requirements, clinical
trial development may proceed. Because biologically sourced raw materials are subject to unique contamination risks, their use may be
restricted in some countries.
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The requirements and
process governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases,
the clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with GCP and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles that
have their origin in the Declaration of Helsinki.
To obtain regulatory
approval of an investigational drug or biological product under EU regulatory systems, we must submit a Market Authorization Application.
The application used to file the BLA in the United States is similar to that required in the EU, with the exception of, among other things,
country-specific document requirements.
For other countries
outside of the EU, such as countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America or Asia, the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials,
product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases, again, the clinical trials must be conducted
in accordance with GCP and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles that have their origin in the Declaration
of Helsinki.
If we fail to comply
with applicable foreign regulatory requirements, we may be subject to, among other things, fines, suspension or withdrawal of regulatory
approvals, product recalls, seizure of therapeutics, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution.
**Employees and Human Capital Resources**
As of December 31, 2024,
we had 123 full-time employees and 16 non-employee leased workers. Of these employees, 19 held Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees, 25 were engaged
in research and development and 60 were engaged in technical operations. Substantially all of our employees are located in Florham Park,
New Jersey. Our employees are not represented by labor unions or covered by collective bargaining agreements. We consider our relationship
with our employees to be good.
Our human capital resources
objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing, and integrating our existing and additional employees.
The principal purposes of our incentive plans are to attract, retain and motivate selected employees, consultants, and directors through
the granting of stock-based compensation awards and when available, cash-based performance bonus awards.
**Available Information**
We post our annual report
on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, free of charge, on the Investors section of our public website (www.celularity.com) as
soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. In addition, you can read our
SEC filings over the Internet at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. The contents of these websites are not incorporated into this
annual report on Form 10-K. Further, our references to the URLs for these websites are intended to be inactive textual references only.
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****
**Item 1A. Risk Factors.**
*You should carefully consider
the following risk factors, as well as the other information in this annual report on Form 10-K, and in our other public filings. The
occurrence of any of these risks could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or growth prospects or cause
our actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements we have made in this report and those we may
make from time to time. You should consider all of the risk factors described in our public filings when evaluating our business.*
**Risks Related to Business and Industry**
**We have incurred net losses in every period
since our inception, have no cellular therapeutics approved for commercial sale and anticipate that we will incur substantial net losses
in the future.**
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company, have no cellular therapeutics approved for commercial sale, have not generated any revenue from cellular therapeutic sales to
date, and will continue to incur research and development and other expenses related to our ongoing operations. Investment in biopharmaceutical
product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront expenditure and significant risk that any potential therapeutic
candidate will fail to demonstrate adequate efficacy or an acceptable safety profile, gain regulatory approval and become commercially
viable. As a result, we are not profitable and have incurred net losses in each period since our inception. We reported a net loss of
$57.9 million and $196.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We had an accumulated deficit of $899.7
million at December 31, 2024 and $0.7 million of cash and cash equivalents at such date.
Even after significant reductions
in headcount in 2023, our strategic review to refocus our pipeline, and capital raises in 2024, we expect to incur significant expenditures
for the foreseeable future, and we expect these expenditures to increase as we continue production of our commercial products that have
seen strong demand. We will continue to incur research and development and other expenditures to develop and market therapeutic 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
from our current and future biomaterial products. Our prior losses and expected future losses have had and will continue to have an adverse
effect on our stockholders equity and working capital.
**Our historical operating results indicate
substantial doubt exists related to our ability to continue as a going concern.**
We have incurred net losses
and used significant cash in operating activities since inception, have no cellular therapeutic candidates approved for commercial sale
and we anticipate that we will incur substantial net losses in the future. We had an accumulated deficit of $899.7 million and have cash
and cash equivalents of $0.7 million as of December 31, 2024, and as of the date of this filing, had no available additional sources of
outside capital to sustain our operations for a period of six months beyond the issuance date. Accordingly, there is substantial doubt
about our ability to continue as a going concern, which may affect our ability to obtain future financing and may require us to further
curtail our operations and our independent registered public accounting firm included in its opinion for the year ended December 31, 2024
an explanatory paragraph referring to our recurring losses, and net cash outflows from operations and outstanding debt and expressing
substantial doubt in our ability to continue as a going concern without additional capital becoming available. For additional details,
see the discussion under *Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 
Overview - Going Concern.* We will need to raise additional capital to support our operations. This additional funding may not
be available on acceptable terms or at all. Failure to obtain this necessary capital or address our liquidity needs may force us to delay,
limit or terminate our operations, make further reductions in our workforce, discontinue our commercialization efforts for our biomaterials
products as well as other clinical trial programs, liquidate all or a portion of our assets or pursue other strategic alternatives, and/or
seek protection under the provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
**We will need substantial additional financing
to develop our therapeutics and implement our operating plans. If we fail to obtain additional financing, we may be unable to complete
the development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates.**
We will need substantial
additional financing to develop our therapeutics and implement our operating plans. Further, if approved, we will require significant
additional amounts in order to launch and commercialize our therapeutic candidates.
As of December 31, 2024 and
2023, we had $0.7 million and $0.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, respectively. We will need to raise additional capital to implement
our plans. Further, changing circumstances may cause us to consume capital significantly faster than we currently anticipate, and we may
need to spend more money than currently expected because of circumstances beyond our control. We may also need to raise a large amount
of capital sooner than currently anticipated if we choose to expand more rapidly than our present plans. In any event, we will require
additional capital for the further development and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates, including funding our internal manufacturing
capabilities and growth of our degenerative disease business.
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We cannot be certain that
additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. We have no committed source of additional capital and if we are unable
to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue
the development or commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or other research and development initiatives. We could be required
to seek collaborators for our therapeutic 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 our therapeutic 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 securities to decline.
**We may expend our limited resources to
pursue product candidates that do not yield a successful product and fail to capitalize on development opportunities or therapeutic candidates
that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.**
Due to the significant resources required for
the development of our product candidates, we must focus on specific treatment pathways and decide which product candidates to pursue
and the amount of resources to allocate to each such product candidate. Specifically, we are focused on the development of cellular therapeutic
candidates, targeting indications across cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. Our decisions concerning the allocation of research,
development, collaboration, management and financial resources toward particular product candidates may not lead to the development of
any viable product and may divert resources away from better opportunities. Similarly, any decision to delay, terminate or collaborate
with third parties in respect of certain programs may subsequently also prove to be suboptimal and could cause us to miss valuable opportunities.
If we make incorrect determinations regarding the viability or market potential of any of our programs or product candidates or misinterpret
trends in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, our business, financial condition and results of operations
could be materially adversely affected. As a result, we may fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities,
be required to forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates that may later prove to have greater commercial
potential than those we choose to pursue, or relinquish valuable rights to such product candidates through collaboration, licensing or
other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been advantageous for us to invest additional resources to retain development
and commercialization rights.
**Our placental-derived cellular therapy
candidates represent a novel approach to cancer, infectious and degenerative disease treatments that creates significant challenges.**
We are developing a pipeline
of allogeneic cellular therapeutic candidates that are derived from healthy, full-term, human donor placentas, and in certain cases, are
genetically modified. Allogeneic cells are intended to be off-the-shelf for use in any patient. Advancing these novel therapeutic
candidates creates significant challenges, including:
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manufacturing cellular therapeutic candidates to our and regulatory specifications and in a timely manner to support our clinical trials, and, if approved, commercialization; | |
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biosourcing placentas and other materials and supplies for the manufacture of our therapeutic candidates; | |
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any variability in placental-derived cells, or a higher-rejection rate, which could ultimately affect our ability to produce therapeutics in a reliable and consistent manner and treat certain patients; | |
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educating medical personnel regarding the potential advantages and potential disadvantages such as the side effect profile of our therapeutics, if approved, such as the potential adverse side effects related to GvHD, cytokine release syndrome, or CRS, neurotoxicity, prolonged cytopenia and neutropenic sepsis; | |
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using medicines to manage adverse side effects of our therapeutic candidates that may not adequately control the side effects and/or may have a detrimental impact on the efficacy of the treatment; | |
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obtaining regulatory approval, as the FDA, and other regulatory authorities have limited experience with development of allogeneic cell therapies for cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases; and | |
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establishing sales and marketing capabilities for our therapeutic portfolio upon obtaining any regulatory approval to gain market acceptance of a novel therapy. | |
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**The
gene-editing technology we use is relatively new, and if we are unable to use this technology in our intended therapeutic candidates,
our revenue opportunities will be materially limited.**
We
use gene editing techniques to modify certain of the placental-derived cell types. We use these technologies to either reduce the risk
of toxicity or improve the potential for efficacy. These technologies are relatively new and may not be shown to be effective at achieving
the expected effect in clinical studies, or may be associated with safety issues, either in our clinical development programs or those
of others using these novel technologies. Any issues with the novel gene editing technologies, even if not experienced by us, could negatively
affect our development programs. Genetic modifications may create unintended changes to the DNA of the edited cell, such as a non-target
site gene-editing, a large deletion, or a DNA translocation, any of which could lead to unwanted side-effects. The gene-editing of our
therapeutic candidates may also not be successful in limiting the risk of GvHD or thrombosis or in increasing affinity.
Some
competitors in the allogeneic cell therapy space and more broadly in the gene therapy space have had clinical trials put on hold by the
FDA. Based on findings in those clinical trials, the FDA may request additional testing, request different types of testing or even substantially
revise the methodology used to evaluate clinical trials for other companies pursuing similar therapeutic avenues. We cannot control the
actions of our competitors, cannot influence the results of their clinical trials and cannot know how FDA may react to a specific fact
pattern arising in another clinical trial. Additional testing, different types of testing or a revised regulatory approach may delay
our future clinical trials, increase costs in our future trials or otherwise preclude our trial from being given permission to proceed
absent substantial time, effort and resources on our part.
The
gene-editing industry is rapidly developing, and our competitors may introduce new technologies that render the technologies that we
employ for our therapeutic candidates obsolete or less attractive. New technology could emerge at any point in the development cycle
of our therapeutic candidates. As competitors use or develop new technologies, any failures of such technology could adversely impact
our programs. We also may be placed at a competitive disadvantage, and competitive pressures may force us to implement new technologies
at a substantial cost. In addition, our competitors may have greater financial, technical and personnel resources that allow them to
enjoy technological advantages and may in the future allow them to implement new technologies before we can. We cannot be certain that
we will be able to implement technologies on a timely basis or at an acceptable cost. If we are unable to maintain technological advancements
consistent with industry standards, our operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
**We
will rely on licensed gene editing technology for future cell therapy product candidates.**
We
are dependent on patents, know-how and proprietary technology, both our own and licensed from others.
While
certain of these technologies are available from multiple commercial vendors, were any of these vendors to refuse to supply us, it could
negatively impact our development of our modified NK cells and mesenchymal stem cell-like adherent stromal cells, or MLASCs, which depend
on genetic modification to achieve the intended clinical benefits. Moreover, some gene editing technology that is currently available
without license, could become patented or proprietary to a third party. If we are unable to obtain a license on commercially reasonable
terms when needed, we could be forced to redesign our cellular therapeutics and or stop development. Any of these occurrences could have
a material adverse effect on our business prospects.
Disputes
may also arise between us and our current and future licensors regarding intellectual property subject to a license agreement, including
those related to:
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the
scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues; | |
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whether
and the extent to which our technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the
licensing agreement; | |
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our
right to sublicense patent and other rights to third parties under collaborative development relationships; | |
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our
diligence obligations with respect to the use of the licensed technology in relation to our development and commercialization of
our therapeutic candidates, and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations; and | |
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the
ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and
our partners. | |
If
disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed, or may license in the future, prevent or impair our ability to maintain our
licensing arrangements on acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected therapeutic candidates.
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We
are generally also subject to all of the same risks with respect to protection of intellectual property that we license as for intellectual
property that we own. If we or our current and future licensors fail to adequately protect this intellectual property, our ability to
commercialize products could suffer.
**Our
therapeutic candidates are based on novel technologies, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of therapeutic candidate
development and obtaining regulatory approval.**
We
will be concentrating our research, development and manufacturing efforts on our placental-derived allogeneic T cell, NK cell and MLASC
therapeutic candidates. We have developed our Celularity IMPACT platform, which covers biosourcing through manufacturing of cryopacked
cells, and continues to invest in optimizing and improving our technologies. There can be no assurance that any development problems
we experience in the future will not cause significant delays or unanticipated costs, or that such development problems can be overcome.
We may also experience delays in scaling our manufacturing process when appropriate for commercialization, which may prevent us from
completing future clinical studies or commercializing our therapeutics on a timely or profitable basis, if at all. Finding a suitable
dose for our cell therapeutic candidates may delay our anticipated clinical development timelines. In addition, our expectations with
regard to our scalability and costs of manufacturing may vary significantly as we develop our therapeutic candidates and understand these
critical factors.
The
clinical study requirements of the FDA, European Medicines Agency, and other regulatory agencies and the criteria these regulators use
to determine the safety and efficacy of a therapeutic candidate are determined according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended
use and market of the potential therapeutics. The regulatory approval process for novel therapeutics candidates such as ours can be more
complex and consequently more expensive and take longer than for other, better known or extensively studied pharmaceutical or other therapeutic
candidates. In addition, under guidelines issued by the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, gene therapy clinical trials are also
subject to review and oversight by an institutional biosafety committee, or IBC, a local institutional committee that reviews and oversees
research utilizing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules at that institution. Before a clinical trial can begin at any institution,
that institutions institutional review board, or IRB, and its IBC assesses the safety of the research and identifies any potential
risk to public health or the environment. While the NIH guidelines are not mandatory unless the research in question is being conducted
at or sponsored by institutions receiving NIH funding of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule research, many companies and
other institutions not otherwise subject to the NIH guidelines voluntarily follow them.
While
we expect reduced variability in our allogeneic cell therapeutic candidates compared to autologous products, we do not have clinical
data supporting any benefit of lower variability and the use of healthy donor full-term placentas, and related screening requirements,
may create separate variability challenges. More generally, approvals by any regulatory agency may not be indicative of what any other
regulatory agency may require for approval or what such regulatory agencies may require for approval in connection with new therapeutic
candidates. Moreover, our therapeutic candidates may not perform successfully in clinical trials or may be associated with adverse events
that distinguish them from the autologous therapies that have previously been approved. For instance, allogeneic T cell therapeutic candidates
may result in GvHD not experienced with autologous T cell products. Even if we collect promising initial clinical data of our therapeutic
candidates, longer-term data may reveal new adverse events or responses that are not durable. Unexpected clinical outcomes would significantly
impact our business.
**Our
therapeutic candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could halt our clinical development, prevent
our regulatory approval, limit our commercial potential or result in significant negative consequences.**
Undesirable
or unacceptable side effects caused by our therapeutic candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt
clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other comparable
foreign regulatory authorities. Results of our clinical trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity and prevalence of side effects
or unexpected characteristics. Autologous cell therapies that approved for, or under development by other companies, have shown frequent
rates of CRS and neurotoxicity, and adverse events have resulted in the death of patients. Our potential future therapeutic candidates
may undergo genetic engineering. As these are novel technologies, errors may occur or may not present until used in humans in the clinic,
and could cause adverse events. While we believe that placental-derived cells have an inherent safety profile that may limit adverse
events, there can be no assurance that this is the case as these are novel therapeutics.
As
we continue to evolve our placental-derived therapeutic programs, we may need to halt or modify development of certain candidates as
a result of adverse events. For example, in designing APPL-001, we made certain modifications and adjustments, including a genetic modification
due to an increased risk of thrombosis observed in a Phase 1 clinical trial of a legacy placental-derived MLASC done at Celgene Cellular
Therapeutics. The APPL-001 program has since been discontinued.
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In
any of our planned clinical trials, patients may experience severe adverse events related to our allogeneic cell therapeutic candidates,
some of which may result in death. If unacceptable toxicities arise in the development of our therapeutic candidates, we could suspend
or terminate our trials or the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease clinical trials or deny approval
of our therapeutic candidates for any or all targeted indications. The data safety monitoring board may also suspend or terminate a clinical
trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk,
including risks inferred from other unrelated immunotherapy trials. Treatment-related side effects could also affect patient recruitment
or the ability of enrolled subjects to complete the trial or result in potential product liability claims. In addition, these side effects
may not be appropriately recognized or managed by the treating medical staff, as toxicities resulting from cell therapy are not normally
encountered in the general patient population and by medical personnel. Any of these occurrences may harm our business, financial condition
and prospects significantly.
**Planned
future clinical trials for our product candidates may fail to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of any of our therapeutic candidates,
which would prevent or delay regulatory approval and commercialization.**
Before
obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of any cell therapeutic candidates, we must demonstrate through lengthy, complex
and expensive preclinical testing and clinical trials that the therapeutic candidates are both safe and effective for use in each target
indication. Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and our outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur
at any time during the clinical trial process. The results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of any therapeutic candidates
may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials, including in any post-approval studies.
There
is typically an extremely high rate of attrition from the failure of therapeutic candidates proceeding through clinical trials. Therapeutic
candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy profile despite having progressed through
preclinical studies and initial clinical trials. A number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks
in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy, insufficient durability of efficacy or unacceptable safety issues, notwithstanding
promising results in earlier trials. Most therapeutic candidates that commence clinical trials are never approved as therapeutics.
In
addition, for any future trials that may be completed, we cannot guarantee that the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities will interpret
the results as we do, including, for example, any re-analysis of legacy data that we perform, and more trials could be required before
we submit our therapeutic candidates for approval. To the extent that the results of the trials are not satisfactory to the FDA or foreign
regulatory authorities for support of a marketing application, approval of our therapeutic candidates may be significantly delayed, or
we may be required to expend significant additional resources, which may not be available to us, to conduct additional trials in support
of potential approval of our therapeutic candidates.
**Initial,
interim and preliminary data from any clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as more patient data become
available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.**
From
time to time, we may publish initial, interim or preliminary data from our clinical studies. Interim data from clinical trials that we
may complete are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues
and more patient data become available. Preliminary data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in
the final data being materially different from the preliminary data previously published. As a result, initial, interim and preliminary
data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Adverse differences between preliminary or interim data and final
data could significantly harm our business prospects.
**We
may not be able to submit INDs to commence clinical trials on the timelines we expect, and even if we are able to, the FDA may not permit
such trials to proceed.**
We
plan to submit INDs for our therapeutic candidates in the future. We cannot be certain that submission of an IND or IND amendment will
result in the FDA allowing testing and clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will not arise that suspend or terminate
such clinical trials. The manufacturing of allogeneic cell therapies remains an emerging and evolving field. Accordingly, we expect chemistry,
manufacturing and control related topics, including product specification, will be a focus of IND reviews, which may delay the clearance
of INDs. Additionally, even if the FDA permits the initiation of the clinical trials set forth in an IND or clinical trial application,
we cannot guarantee that the FDA will not change our requirements in the future.
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**Our
HCT/P products are subject to extensive government regulation and our failure to comply with these requirements could cause our business
to suffer.**
We
sell human tissue-derived products, which are referred to by the FDA as HCT/Ps. Certain HCT/Ps are regulated by the FDA solely under
Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act and are referred to as Section 361 HCT/Ps, while other HCT/Ps are subject
to FDAs regulatory requirements applicable to medical devices or biologics. Section 361 HCT/Ps do not require 510(k) clearance,
PMA approval, biologics license application, or BLA, or other premarket authorization from FDA before marketing. We believe our HCT/Ps
are regulated solely under Section 361 of the PHSA, and therefore, we have not sought or obtained 510(k) clearance, PMA approval, or
licensure through a BLA. While certain determinations by FDA have been provided regarding Interfyl and Biovance, the FDA could disagree
with our determination that other of our human tissue products are Section 361 HCT/Ps and could determine that these products are biologics
requiring a BLA or medical devices requiring 510(k) clearance or PMA approval, and could require that we cease marketing such products
and/or recall them pending appropriate clearance, approval or license from the FDA.
**We
may encounter substantial delays in our planned clinical trials or may not be able to conduct our trials on the timelines we expect.**
Clinical
testing is expensive, time consuming and subject to uncertainty. We cannot guarantee that any clinical studies will be conducted as planned
or completed on schedule, if at all. Even if our trials begin as planned, issues may arise that could cause us or relevant regulatory
authorities to suspend or terminate such clinical trials. A failure of one or more clinical studies can occur at any stage of testing,
and our future clinical studies may not be successful. Events that may prevent successful or timely completion of clinical development
include:
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inability
to generate sufficient preclinical, toxicology or other in vivo or in vitro data to support the initiation of clinical studies; | |
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delays
in sufficiently developing, characterizing or controlling a manufacturing process suitable for clinical trials; | |
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difficulty
sourcing healthy full-term donor placentas of sufficient quality and in sufficient quantity to meet our development needs; | |
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delays
in developing suitable assays for screening patients for eligibility for trials with respect to certain therapeutic candidates; | |
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delays
in reaching a consensus with regulatory agencies on study design; | |
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delays
in reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organizations, or CROs, and clinical study sites, the
terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and clinical study sites; | |
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delays
in obtaining required IRB approval at each clinical study site; | |
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imposition
of a temporary or permanent clinical hold by regulatory agencies for a number of reasons; | |
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delays
in patient recruitment, difficulty collaborating with patient groups and investigators, or other issues involving patients, such
as completing participation or return for post-treatment follow-up, or dropping out; | |
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failure
by our CROs, other third parties or us to adhere to clinical study requirements; | |
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failure
to perform in accordance with the FDAs GCP requirements or applicable regulatory guidelines in other countries; | |
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issues
with manufacturing of cellular therapeutics, including delays in manufacturing, testing, releasing, validating sufficient stable
quantities of our therapeutic candidates for use in clinical studies or the inability to do any of the foregoing; | |
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occurrence
of adverse events associated with the therapeutic candidate that are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits; | |
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changes
in regulatory requirements and guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols; | |
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changes
in the standard of care on which a clinical development plan was based, which may require new or additional trials; | |
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the
cost of clinical studies of our therapeutic candidates being greater than we anticipate; | |
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negative
or inconclusive results from clinical studies, which may result in us deciding, or regulators requiring us, to conduct additional
clinical studies or abandon development programs; and | |
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delays
or failure to secure supply agreements with suitable raw material suppliers, or any failures by suppliers to meet its quantity or
quality requirements for necessary raw materials. | |
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Future
pandemics may increase the risk of certain of the events described above and delay our development timelines. For example, in early 2020
and again in mid-2021, we experienced delays in enrolling our Phase 1 clinical trial of CYNK-001 for acute myeloid leukemia, or AML,
as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have since discontinued development of CYNK-001 for AML and are only evaluating it in senolytic/senoablation
for age-related conditions while we seek a collaboration partner. Any inability to successfully complete preclinical and clinical development
could result in additional costs to us or impair our ability to generate revenue. In addition, if we make manufacturing or formulation
changes to our therapeutic candidates, we may be required to, or we may elect to conduct additional studies to bridge our modified candidates
to earlier versions or may need to conduct additional studies on newly discovered candidates. Clinical study delays could also shorten
any periods during which our therapeutics have patent protection and may allow our competitors to bring cell therapies to market before
we do, which could impair our ability to successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates and may harm our business and results
of operations.
**Our
business could be materially adversely affected by the effects of health pandemics or epidemics in regions where we or third parties
on which we rely have concentrations of clinical trial sites or other business operations.**
Our
business could be materially adversely affected by the effects of health pandemics or epidemics. Additionally, our ability to collect
healthy, full-term donor placentas was limited during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey and the tri-state area as hospital
resources were diverted. We are now also subject to risk of outbreaks at our facilities, and potential exposure to employee claims regarding
workplace safety, and unanticipated shutdowns or quarantines could be imposed in the future, which would disrupt our operations. Policies
and restrictions enacted to counter a future pandemic might negatively impact productivity, disrupt our business and delay clinical programs
and timelines, the magnitude of which will depend, in part, on the length and severity of the restrictions and other limitations on our
ability to conduct our business in the ordinary course, which could negatively impact our business, operating results and financial condition.
**Monitoring
and managing toxicities in patients receiving therapeutic candidates is challenging, which could adversely affect our ability to obtain
regulatory approval and commercialize our therapeutic candidates.**
We
expect to contract with academic medical centers and hospitals experienced in the assessment and management of toxicities and adverse
events arising during clinical trials. Even with appropriate procedures in place, these centers and hospitals may have difficulty observing
patients and treating toxicities or any other adverse events, which could lead to more severe or prolonged toxicities or even patient
deaths. If there are any serious issues with GvHD or any other unanticipated events, it could result in us or the FDA delaying, suspending
or terminating one or more of our clinical trials, which could jeopardize regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates. Moreover,
to the extent our cellular therapies are used outside of hospitals or medical centers, and upon any approval if our therapies are made
more widely available on a commercial basis, it may become even more difficult to observe and manage adverse events. Moreover, medicines
used at centers to help manage adverse side effects of our therapeutic candidates, such as any GvHD, may not adequately control the side
effects and/or may have a detrimental impact on the efficacy of the treatment.
**Clinical
trials are expensive, time-consuming and difficult to design and implement.**
Human
clinical trials are expensive and difficult to design and implement, in part because they are subject to rigorous regulatory requirements.
Because our allogeneic placental-derived cell therapeutic candidates are based on new technologies and will require the creation of inventory
of mass-produced, off-the-shelf therapeutics, we expect that they will require extensive research and development and have substantial
manufacturing and processing costs. In addition, costs to treat patients with certain cancers or other targeted indications, including
treating any potential side effects, could be significant. Accordingly, our clinical trial costs for our cellular therapeutic candidates
are likely to be significantly higher than for more conventional therapeutic technologies or drug products.
**If
we fail to develop additional therapeutic candidates, our commercial opportunity will be limited.**
We
have a pipeline of potential commercial products in the biomaterials segment of our business. We have requested and received preliminary
feedback from FDA regarding the appropriate regulatory pathway for those product candidates. Our current development assumptions and
timelines reflect our expectation of the appropriate regulatory pathway. Issues arising from further product development may mean that
a longer and more expensive pathway may eventually be required. This could limit our commercial opportunities or cause us to abandon
those development candidates.
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**Our
organizational changes and cost cutting measures may not be successful.**
In
November 2022 and January 2023, we implemented reductions-in-force that affected a majority of our workforce, and in the fourth quarter
of 2023, we refocused our cellular therapeutics pipeline to align with the results of clinical trials and ongoing evaluations of our
development plans. While these measures were intended to optimize resources and address our evolving operational needs, they have also
resulted in significant organizational changes and could have unintended adverse consequences.
Notably,
we have experienced attrition beyond the intended reductions-in-force, including the departure of key personnel in administrative functions
such as finance and legal. This loss of critical expertise has created challenges in maintaining operational continuity, meeting regulatory
and financial reporting requirements, and supporting our strategic objectives. Replacing these personnel with qualified individuals may
be difficult and could require additional and unanticipated costs.
If
we are unable to maintain the necessary operational and administrative infrastructure, we may face delays or difficulties in resuming
suspended development activities, pursuing new initiatives, or fulfilling our ongoing obligations.
The
departure of several executive officers and other key personnel has further compounded these risks, potentially impairing our ability
to execute our business plan, comply with regulatory requirements, and manage our financial and operational risks effectively. Any of
these consequences could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
**We
operate our own manufacturing and storage facility, which requires significant resources; manufacturing or other failures could adversely
affect our clinical trials and the commercial viability of our therapeutic candidates and our biobanking and degenerative diseases businesses.**
We
have a purpose-built facility located in Florham Park, New Jersey, where we process healthy full-term donor placentas for use in cell
therapy and tissue products and operate our biobanking business. While we have experience managing the process for our research and early
stage clinical trial needs, we may not be able to mass-produce off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic cellular therapeutics to satisfy
demands for any of our therapeutic candidates as we expand into later stage clinical trials, or for commercial production post-approval.
While we believe the manufacturing and processing approaches are appropriate to support our current needs and that we have a scalable
process, we cannot be sure that our scaled process will result in allogeneic cells that will be safe and effective. Further, our manufacturing
and storage facility, including for our biobanking and degenerative disease businesses, must comply with current good manufacturing practices,
or cGMP, which includes, as applicable, the FDAs current good tissue practices, or GTPs, for the use of human cellular and tissue
products. Accordingly, we are subject to ongoing periodic unannounced inspection by the FDA and other governmental agencies to ensure
strict compliance with cGMP, including GTPs as applicable, and other government regulations. For example, in August 2023, the FDA conducted
an inspection at our Florham Park, New Jersey manufacturing facility. The FDA issued a Form FDA 483, which is a list of inspectional
observations provided at the conclusion of the inspection, relating to our Interfyl and CentaFlex human tissue-based biomaterial products.
We provided detailed written responses to the FDA and took actions in response to the FDAs observations. As of February 2025,
FDA has taken no further action in connection with this inspection.
The
manufacture of biopharmaceutical products is complex and requires significant expertise, including the development of advanced manufacturing
techniques and process controls. Manufacturers of cell therapy products often encounter difficulties in production, particularly in scaling
out and validating initial production and ensuring the absence of contamination. These problems include difficulties with production
costs and yields, quality control, including stability of the product, quality assurance testing, operator error, shortages of qualified
personnel, as well as compliance with strictly enforced federal, state and foreign regulations. The application of new regulatory guidelines
or parameters, such as those related to release testing, may also adversely affect our ability to manufacture our therapeutic candidates.
Furthermore, if contaminants are discovered in our supply of therapeutic candidates or in the manufacturing facilities, such supply may
have to be discarded, and our manufacturing facilities may need to be closed for an extended period of time to investigate and remedy
the contamination. We cannot assure any stability or other issues relating to the manufacture of our therapeutic candidates will not
occur in the future.
We
or any other of our vendors may fail to manage the logistics of storing and shipping our raw materials, including donor placentas. Storage
failures and shipment delays and problems caused by us, our vendors or other factors not in our control, such as weather, health pandemics
or epidemics, could result in the inability to manufacture therapeutics, the loss of usable therapeutics or prevent or delay the delivery
of therapeutic candidates to patients and clinical trial sites. We may also experience manufacturing difficulties due to resource constraints
or as a result of labor disputes. If we were to encounter any of these difficulties, our ability to provide our therapeutic candidates
to patients would be jeopardized.
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**We
currently have no cellular therapeutics marketing sales force. If we are unable to establish future marketing and sales capabilities
or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our therapeutic candidates once approved, we may not be able to generate
cell therapy product revenue.**
Our
current sales force is limited to our degenerative disease and biobanking businesses. We may develop an in-house specialized marketing
organization and sales force for our cellular therapeutic candidates, if such candidates receive regulatory approval, which will require
significant expenditures, management resources and time. If we elect to develop an in-house sales force, we will have to compete with
other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to recruit, hire, train and retain marketing and sales personnel. If we are unable or
decide not to establish internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities for our cellular therapeutics once approved, we will
pursue collaborative arrangements regarding the sales and marketing of cellular therapeutics; however, there can be no assurance that
we will be able to establish or maintain such collaborative arrangements, or if we are able to do so, that they will have effective sales
forces. Any revenue we receive from the sale of cellular therapeutics will depend upon the efforts of such third parties, which may not
be successful. We may have little or no control over the marketing and sales efforts of such third parties and our revenue from therapeutic
sales may be lower than if we had commercialized our therapeutic candidates directly, as we do for our degenerative disease products
and biobanking business. We also face competition in our search for third parties to assist us with the sales and marketing efforts of
our therapeutic candidates. There can be no assurance that we will be able to develop in-house sales and distribution capabilities or
establish or maintain relationships with third-party collaborators to commercialize any therapeutic that receives regulatory approval
in the United States or in other markets.
**A
variety of risks associated with conducting research and clinical trials abroad and marketing our therapeutic candidates internationally
could materially adversely affect our business.**
We
plan to globally develop our therapeutic candidates and market our degenerative disease products outside the United States. Accordingly,
we expect that we will be subject to additional risks related to operating in foreign countries, including:
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differing
regulatory requirements in foreign countries; | |
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unexpected
changes in tariffs, trade barriers, price and exchange controls and other regulatory requirements; | |
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differing
standards for the conduct of clinical trials; | |
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increased
difficulties in managing the logistics and transportation of storing and shipping therapeutic candidates or biomaterials produced
in the United States and shipping the therapeutic candidate to the patient abroad, which may necessitate local or regional manufacture,
including the need to source healthy full-term donor placentas outside the United States; | |
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import
and export requirements and restrictions, including as they pertain to donor placentas and human tissue collection and manufacture; | |
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economic
weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular foreign economies and markets; | |
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compliance
with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad; | |
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foreign
taxes, including withholding of payroll taxes; | |
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foreign
currency fluctuations, which could result in increased operating expenses and reduced revenue, and other obligations incident to
doing business in another country; | |
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difficulties
staffing and managing foreign operations; | |
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workforce
uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States; | |
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differing
payor reimbursement regimes, governmental payors or patient self-pay systems, and price controls; | |
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potential
liability under the FCPA or comparable foreign regulations; | |
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challenges
enforcing our contractual and intellectual property rights, especially in those foreign countries that do not respect and protect
intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United States; | |
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production
shortages resulting from any events affecting raw material supply, including obtaining sufficient donor placentas, and other issues
with manufacturing abroad; and | |
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business
interruptions resulting from natural or man-made disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, fires or other medical epidemics, or
geo-political actions, including war and terrorism. | |
These
and other risks associated with our international operations may materially adversely affect our ability to attain or maintain profitable
operations.
| 39 | |
**We
face significant competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and our operating results will suffer if we fail
to compete effectively.**
The
biopharmaceutical industry is characterized by intense competition and rapid innovation. Our competitors may be able to develop other
compounds, drugs or biomaterials that are able to achieve similar or better results. Our potential competitors for our cellular therapeutics
and biomaterials include major multinational pharmaceutical companies, established biotechnology companies, specialty pharmaceutical
companies and universities and other research institutions. Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and
other resources, such as larger research and development staff and experienced marketing and manufacturing organizations and well-established
sales forces. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements
with large, established companies. Mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries may result in even more
resources being concentrated in our competitors. Competition may increase further as a result of advances in the commercial applicability
of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in these industries. Our competitors, either alone or with collaborative
partners, may succeed in developing, acquiring or licensing on an exclusive basis drug or biologic products that are more effective,
safer, more easily commercialized or less costly than our therapeutic candidates or may develop proprietary technologies or secure patent
protection that we may need for the development of our technologies and products.
Even
if we obtain regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates, the availability and price of our competitors products could limit
the demand and the price we are able to charge for our therapeutic candidates. We may not be able to implement our business plan if the
acceptance of our therapeutic candidates is inhibited by price competition or the reluctance of physicians to switch from existing methods
of treatment to our therapeutic candidates, or if physicians switch to other new drug or biologic products or choose to reserve our therapeutic
candidates for use in limited circumstances. For additional information regarding our competition, see the section entitled *Business
- Competition*.
**We
are highly dependent on our key personnel, and if we are not successful in attracting and retaining highly qualified personnel, we may
not be able to successfully implement our business strategy.**
Our
ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries depends upon our ability to attract and
retain highly qualified managerial, scientific and medical personnel. We are highly dependent on our management, scientific and
medical personnel, including our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. The loss of the services of any of
our executive officers, other key employees, and other scientific and medical advisors, and our inability to find suitable
replacements could result in delays in product development and harm our business. For example, we have had the departure of key
personnel in administrative functions such as finance and legal. This loss of expertise and background knowledge has created
challenges in maintaining operational continuity, meeting regulatory and financial reporting requirements, and supporting our
strategic objectives. Replacing these personnel with qualified individuals may be difficult and could require additional and
unanticipated costs and challenges including costs associated with engaging additional financial and legal advisors and the
challenges of bringing such third-party advisors current on our operations. We conduct substantially all of our operations at our
facilities in New Jersey. This region is headquarters to many other biopharmaceutical companies and many academic and research
institutions. Competition for skilled personnel in our market is intense and may limit our ability to hire and retain highly
qualified personnel on acceptable terms or at all. Despite efforts to retain valuable employees, members of our management,
scientific and development teams may terminate their employment on short notice. Although we have employment agreements with our key
employees, these employment agreements provide for at-will employment, which means that any of our employees could leave employment
at any time, with or without notice. We do not maintain key person insurance policies on the lives of these
individuals or the lives of any of our other employees. Our success also depends on our ability to continue to attract, retain and
motivate highly skilled junior, mid-level and senior managers as well as junior, mid-level and senior scientific and medical
personnel.
**We
may experience difficulties in managing the growth of our business.**
As
our development and commercialization plans and strategies developed, and as we began operations as a public company, we expanded our
employee base and expected to add managerial, operational, sales, research and development, marketing, financial and other personnel.
However, in January 2023, we announced reprioritization of efforts, which resulted in a reduction of approximately 70 full-time employees
and 20 non-employee leased workers in March 2023. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2024, we had 123 full-time employees and 16 non-employee
leased workers. As we reposition our business and our personnel requirements evolve, we may be constrained in our ability to bring on
the necessary personnel to expand operations when and as required given our recent reduction in force.
Moreover,
current and future growth imposes significant added responsibilities on members of management, including:
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identifying,
recruiting, integrating, maintaining and motivating additional employees; | |
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managing
our internal development efforts effectively, including the clinical and FDA review process for our therapeutic candidates, while
complying with our contractual obligations to contractors and other third parties; and | |
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improving
our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures. | |
| 40 | |
Our
future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our therapeutic candidates will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively
manage our growth, and our management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount of attention away from day-to-day activities
in order to devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities.
If
we are not able to effectively expand our organization by hiring new employees and expanding our groups of consultants and contractors,
we may not be able to successfully implement the tasks necessary to further develop, manufacture and commercialize our therapeutic candidates
and, accordingly, may not achieve our research, development, manufacturing and commercialization goals.
**We
may form or seek strategic alliances or enter into additional licensing arrangements in the future, and we may not realize the benefits
of such alliances or licensing arrangements.**
We
may form or seek strategic alliances, create joint ventures or collaborations or enter into additional licensing arrangements with third
parties that we believe will complement or augment our development and commercialization efforts with respect to our therapeutic candidates
and any future therapeutic candidates that we may develop. Any of these relationships may require us to incur non-recurring and other
charges, increase our near and long-term expenditures, issue securities that dilute stockholders or disrupt our management and business.
We licensed certain intellectual property back to Celgene in connection with the Anthrogenesis acquisition. Given the broad scope of
the license, Celgene could use our intellectual property to develop therapeutics that compete with us in the chimeric
antigen receptor, or CAR, field. Additionally, we have potential obligations to Celgene under a
contingent value rights agreement, or CVR Agreement, under which we may be required to make certain payments to Celgene with respect
to certain of our future therapeutic candidates. Our payment obligations to Celgene under the CVR Agreement may limit our ability to
partner such assets, were we choose to do so. See *Business - Licensing Arrangements - Celgene Corporation.*for more
information regarding the Celgene relationship.
In
addition, we face significant competition in seeking appropriate strategic partners and the negotiation process is time-consuming and
complex. Moreover, we may not be successful in our efforts to establish a strategic partnership or other alternative arrangements for
our therapeutic candidates because they may be deemed to be at too early of a stage of development for collaborative effort and third
parties may not view our therapeutic candidates as having the requisite potential to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Any delays in entering
into new strategic partnership agreements related to our therapeutic candidates could delay the development and commercialization of
our therapeutic candidates in certain geographies for certain indications, which would harm our business prospects, financial condition
and results of operations.
We
have in the past and in the future will continue to explore entering into new strategic alliances, collaborations, and licensing arrangements
with third parties related to non-core areas. Such arrangements are entered into based on information available at the relevant time
and may not lead to long-term collaborations after initial research and development is conducted. We are party to certain agreements,
and may in the future enter into new agreements, that contain non-competes or otherwise restrict our ability to operate in a particular
field.
Further,
disputes may arise under our current or future strategic alliances, collaborations, or other agreements or arrangements that include
grants of intellectual property rights to or from us, or payments related thereto, including disagreements over scope of rights granted,
proprietary rights, payment obligations, contract interpretation or the preferred course of research, development or commercialization.
As a result of such disagreements, we may be required to pay additional amounts, there may be a reduction or delay in amounts payable
to us, or there may be delays in research, development or commercialization activities, or termination of the arrangements, which could
adversely impact our business and operations.
If
we license products or businesses, 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. We cannot be certain that, following a strategic transaction or license, we will
achieve the results, revenue or specific net income that justifies such transaction.
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**We
may not realize the benefits of acquired assets or other strategic transactions.**
We
actively evaluate various strategic transactions on an ongoing basis. We may acquire other businesses, products or technologies as well
as pursue joint ventures or investments in complementary businesses. The success of our strategic transactions and any future strategic
transactions depends on the risks and uncertainties involved, including:
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unanticipated
liabilities related to acquired companies or joint ventures; | |
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difficulties
integrating acquired personnel, technologies and operations into our existing business; | |
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retention
of key employees; | |
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diversion
of management time and focus from operating our business to management of strategic alliances or joint ventures or acquisition integration
challenges; | |
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increases
in our expenses and reductions in our cash available for operations and other uses; | |
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disruption
in our relationships with collaborators or suppliers as a result of such a transaction; and | |
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possible
write-offs or impairment charges relating to acquired businesses or joint ventures. | |
If
any of these risks or uncertainties occur, we may not realize the anticipated benefit of any acquisition or strategic transaction. Additionally,
foreign acquisitions and joint ventures are subject to additional risks, including those related to integration of operations across
different cultures and languages, currency risks, potentially adverse tax consequences of overseas operations and the particular economic,
political and regulatory risks associated with specific countries. Future acquisitions or dispositions could result in potentially dilutive
issuances of our equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities or amortization expenses or write-offs of goodwill,
any of which could harm our financial condition.
**Our
internal computer systems, or those used by our CROs, collaborators or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security
breaches.**
Our
internal computer systems and those of our CROs, collaborators, and other contractors or consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer
viruses, unauthorized access, cybersecurity threats, and telecommunication and electrical failures. Cyber-attacks, denial-of-service
attacks, ransomware attacks, business email compromises, computer malware, viruses, and social engineering (including phishing) continue
to increase generally. Accordingly, if our cybersecurity measures or those of our service providers fail to protect against unauthorized
access, attacks (which may include sophisticated cyberattacks), compromise or the mishandling of data by our employees or contractors,
then our reputation, customer trust, business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Cyber incidents
have been increasing in sophistication and can include third parties gaining access to sensitive data using stolen or inferred credentials,
computer malware, viruses, spamming, phishing attacks, ransomware, card skimming code, and other deliberate attacks and attempts to gain
unauthorized access. The techniques used to sabotage or to obtain unauthorized access to our internal computer systems in which data
is stored or through which data is transmitted change frequently, and we may be unable to implement adequate preventative measures or
stop security breaches while they are occurring. Because the techniques used by threat actors who may attempt to penetrate and sabotage
our computer systems change frequently and may not be recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these
techniques. While we have not experienced any such material system failure or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur
and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our development programs and our business operations.
For example, the loss of clinical trial data from completed or future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval
efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach in
our systems or infrastructure (including provided by third party vendors) were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications,
or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and the further development and commercialization
of our therapeutic candidates could be delayed. In addition, our increased reliance on personnel working from home could increase our
cybersecurity risk, create data accessibility concerns, and make us more susceptible to communication disruptions, any of which could
adversely impact our business. As an early-stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently
protected against such occurrences and may not have the resources to allocate to such efforts.
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**Changes
in funding for the FDA and other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel,
prevent new therapeutics and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from
performing normal functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.**
The
ability of the FDA to review and approve new therapeutics can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding
levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept payment of user fees, statutory, regulatory and policy changes, and business
disruptions, such as those that may be caused by the pandemics. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as
a result. In addition, funding of 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. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies
may also slow the time necessary for new biologics to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely
affect our business. Should the FDA determine that an inspection is necessary for approval and an inspection cannot be completed during
the review cycle due to restrictions on travel, and the FDA does not determine a remote interactive evaluation to be adequate, the agency
has stated that it generally intends to issue, depending on the circumstances, a complete response letter or defer action on the application
until an inspection can be completed. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, a number of companies announced receipt of complete
response letters due to the FDAs inability to complete required inspections for their applications. Regulatory authorities outside
the U.S. may adopt similar restrictions or other policy measures and may experience delays in their regulatory activities. If a prolonged
government shutdown or disruption occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA or other regulatory authorities to timely
review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government
shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue
our operations.
**Business
disruptions could seriously harm our future revenue and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses.**
In
addition to the business disruptions and clinical trial delays caused by the pandemics as described above, our operations, and those
of our CROs and other contractors and consultants, could be subject to other disruptions, including those caused by power shortages,
telecommunications failures, water shortages, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, extreme weather conditions, medical
epidemics and other natural or man-made disasters or business interruptions. The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could
seriously harm our operations and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses. Our ability to manufacture our therapeutic
candidates could be disrupted if our operations or those of our suppliers are affected by a man-made or natural disaster or other business
interruption. Moreover, because our core operations are concentrated at our purpose-built facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, any disruptions
at this site, if prolonged, could materially harm our business and prospects.
**If
we do not obtain and maintain federal and state licenses and registrations required for our current and future operations, our ability
to generate revenue will be limited.**
The
health care industry is subject to stringent regulation by a wide range of authorities. Accordingly, our business requires us to maintain
certain licenses, registrations, permits, authorizations, approvals, certifications, accreditations and other types of federal, state,
and local governmental permissions and to comply with various regulations in every jurisdiction in which we operate. For example, we
are required to maintain licenses and registrations in several states, and have obtained biologics, tissue bank and blood bank licenses,
permits and registrations in states where such licensure is required for us to market and support our products and services. We also
maintain an annual registration with the FDA as a tissue bank, and national accreditation by the American Association of Blood Banks.
The failure to comply with such licensure requirements can result in enforcement actions, including the revocation or suspension of the
licenses, registrations or accreditations, or subject us to plans of correction, monitoring, civil money penalties, civil injunctive
action and/or criminal penalties. While we believe that, given our current and proposed business, we are not presently required to obtain
additional licenses or registrations to market our products or services, we cannot predict whether additional regulatory approval will
be required in the future and, if so, whether such approval will at such time be obtained, whether for the stem cells and/or any other
services that we are developing or may attempt to develop. Our failure to obtain and maintain required federal and state licenses and
registration will limit our ability to generate revenue.
**Our
relationships with customers, physicians, and third-party payors are subject to numerous laws and regulations. If we or our employees,
independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners and vendors violate these laws, we could face substantial penalties.**
We
operate in a highly regulated industry, and our relationships with customers, physicians, and third-party payors are subject to numerous
laws and regulations. See Business - Government Regulation and Product Approval - Other U.S. Healthcare Laws and Compliance Requirements.
Healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors in the United States and elsewhere will play a primary role in the recommendation
and prescription of any therapeutic candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. Our current and future arrangements with healthcare
providers, third-party payors, customers, and others may expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and
regulations. These laws may impact, among other things, our clinical research and development programs, as well as our proposed and future
sales, marketing and education programs for our cellular therapeutics, as well as the sales and marketing of our degenerative disease
products and biobanking business. In particular, the promotion, sales and marketing of healthcare items and services is subject to extensive
laws and regulations designed to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict
or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive and other business arrangements.
We may also be subject to federal, state and foreign laws governing the privacy and security of identifiable patient information.
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Because
of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors available, it is possible that
some of our business activities, or our arrangements with physicians, some of whom may receive stock options as compensation for service
on our scientific advisory board, could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. If we or our employees, independent contractors,
consultants, commercial partners and vendors violate these laws, we may be subject to investigations, enforcement actions or significant
penalties. We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics, but it is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct
or business noncompliance, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent inappropriate conduct may not be effective in controlling
unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from
a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements will comply with applicable
healthcare laws may involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business
practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare
laws and regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourself or asserting our
rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant penalties and corrective
measures, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations. In addition, the approval
and commercialization of any of our therapeutic candidates or our degenerative disease products outside the United States will also likely
subject us to an additional overlay of foreign equivalents of the healthcare laws, among other foreign laws.
The
scope and enforcement of each of these laws is uncertain and subject to rapid change in the current environment of healthcare reform,
especially in light of the lack of applicable precedent and regulations. Federal and state enforcement bodies often scrutinize interactions
between healthcare companies and healthcare providers, which has led to a number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and settlements
in the healthcare industry. Ensuring business arrangements comply with applicable healthcare laws, as well as responding to possible
investigations by government authorities, can be time- and resource-consuming and can divert a companys attention from the business.
The
distribution of pharmaceutical products is subject to additional requirements and regulations, including extensive record-keeping, licensing,
storage and security requirements intended to prevent the unauthorized sale of pharmaceutical products.
**Our
collection, use, processing, and cross-border transfer of personal information, including individually identifiable health information,
is governed by restrictive regulations.**
Our
business is broadly regulated by U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities, and we must comply with all applicable rules and regulations
concerning our use, processing, handling, maintenance, and protection of personal information. In the U.S., the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, imposes requirements at the federal level relating to the privacy,
security and transmission of individually identifiable health information, while individual states, such as California and Virginia,
have adopted privacy regulations restricting the use of personal information and providing individuals certain rights with respect to
the collection and use of their data. See Business - Government Regulation and Product Approval - Other U.S. Healthcare Laws and
Compliance Requirements for more information regarding U.S. privacy and data protection laws. Further, the collection and use
of personal information in Europe is governed by the European Unions, or EUs, General Data Protection Regulation and the
United Kingdoms implementation of the same, or the GDPR. Failure to comply with the requirements of the GDPR and other applicable
data protection laws of the EU member states and the United Kingdom, or other applicable privacy rules and regulations in other countries,
may result in significant fines and other administrative penalties. We may be required to put in place additional mechanisms to comply
with current and future privacy and data protection regulations applicable to our business. This may interrupt or delay our development
activities and/or require us to change our business practices, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects.
**If
product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization
of our therapeutic candidates.**
We
face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our therapeutic candidates and will face an even greater
risk if we commercialize any cellular therapeutics, in addition to the risks from the sale of our degenerative disease products. For
example, we may be sued if our therapeutic candidates or degenerative disease products cause or are perceived to cause injury or are
found to be otherwise unsuitable during clinical testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include
allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the therapeutic or product, negligence,
strict liability or a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot successfully
defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization of
our therapeutic candidates. Even successful defense would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits
or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in a number of adverse effects, any of which could materially harm our financial condition
and results of operations.
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Our
inability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability claims
could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of therapeutics we develop, alone or with corporate collaborators, or negatively impact
our degenerative disease business. Our insurance policies may also have various exclusions, and we may be subject to a product liability
claim for which we have no coverage. While we have obtained and expect to obtain clinical trial insurance for our clinical trials, we
may have to pay amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered
by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such amounts. Even if our agreements with any
future corporate collaborators entitle us to indemnification against losses, such indemnification may not be available or adequate should
any claim arise.
**Our
ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.**
Under
Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and corresponding provisions of state law, if a corporation
undergoes an ownership change (generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in the equity
ownership of certain stockholders over a rolling three-year period), our ability to use our pre-change federal net operating loss, or
NOL, carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset our post-change income and taxes may be limited. We may experience ownership
changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in our stock ownership. As of December 31, 2024, we had approximately $121.8 million
of NOL carryforwards, and these NOL carryforwards could expire unused and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities, which
could adversely affect our profitability. We anticipate incurring significant additional net losses for the foreseeable future, and our
ability to utilize NOL carryforwards associated with any such losses to offset future taxable income may be limited to the extent we
incur future ownership changes. In addition, at the state level, there may be periods during which the use of NOL carryforwards is suspended
or otherwise limited, which could accelerate or permanently increase state taxes owed. As a result, we may be unable to use all or a
material portion of our NOL carryforwards and other tax attributes, which could adversely affect our future cash flows.
**Changes
in tax law could adversely affect our business and financial condition.**
The
rules dealing with U.S. federal, state, and local income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative
process and by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to tax laws (which changes may have retroactive
application) could adversely affect us or holders of our securities. In recent years, many such changes have been made and changes are
likely to continue to occur in the future. Future changes in tax laws could have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flow,
financial condition or results of operations. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, or IRA, includes a 15% corporate alternative
minimum tax and a 1% excise tax on share repurchases. We urge investors to consult with their legal and tax advisers regarding the implications
of changes in tax laws on an investment in our securities.
**Fluctuations
in the cost and availability of raw materials, equipment, labor, and transportation could cause manufacturing delays or increase our
costs.**
The
price and availability of key components used to manufacture our products has been increasing and may continue to fluctuate significantly.
In addition, the cost of labor could increase significantly due to regulation or inflationary pressures. Additionally, the cost of logistics
and transportation fluctuates in large part due to the price of oil, and availability can be limited due to political and economic issues.
Any fluctuations in the cost and availability of any of our raw materials, packaging, or other sourcing or transportation costs could
harm our gross margins. If we are unable to successfully mitigate a significant portion of these product cost increases or fluctuations,
our results of operations could be harmed.
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**Failure
to maintain effective internal controls could cause our investors to lose confidence in us and adversely affect the market price of our
Class A common stock. If our internal controls are not effective, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent
fraud.**
Effective
internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports in a timely manner. A material weakness
is a significant deficiency, or a combination of significant deficiencies, in internal controls over financial reporting such that it
is reasonably possible that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on
a timely basis. We have identified the following material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting: (i) we failed
to demonstrate a commitment to attract, develop and retain competent and sufficient qualified resources with an appropriate level of
knowledge, experience, and training in certain areas around our financial reporting process; (ii) we failed to design and implement certain
risk assessment activities related to identifying and analyzing risks to achieve objectives and identifying and assessing changes in
the business that could impact our system of internal controls; (iii) we failed to design and implement certain control activities that
address relevant risks and retain sufficient evidence of the performance of control activities; (iv) we failed to design and implement
certain information and communication activities related to obtaining or generating and using relevant quality information to support
the functioning of internal control; and (v) we failed to design and implement certain monitoring activities to ascertain whether the
components of internal control are present and functioning. While we intend to take steps to remediate the material weakness in our internal
control over financial reporting by (i) hiring additional accounting personnel to ensure timely reporting of significant matters; (ii)
designing and implementing controls to formalize roles and review responsibilities to align with our teams skills and experience
and designing and implementing formalized controls to operate at a level of precision to identify all potentially material errors; (iii)
designing and implementing procedures to identify and evaluate changes in our business and the impact on our internal controls in order
to plan and perform more timely and thorough monitoring activities and risk assessment analyses; (iv) designing and implementing formal
processes, policies and procedures supporting our financial close process; and (v) engaging an outside firm to assist with the documentation,
design and implementation of our internal control environment, we may not be successful in remediating such weaknesses in a timely manner,
if at all, which may undermine our ability to provide accurate, timely and reliable reports on our financial and operating results. Furthermore,
if we remediate our current material weakness but identify new material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in
the future, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Class
A common stock may be negatively affected. As a result of such failures, we could also become subject to investigations by Nasdaq, the
SEC, or other regulatory authorities, and become subject to litigation from investors and stockholders, which could harm our reputation,
financial condition or divert financial and management resources from our business.
**We
have substantial indebtedness, which is secured by all of our assets. Payments on our outstanding debt and debt maturities could impact
our liquidity, require us to modify our operations to meet any payment obligations and could force us to seek protection under the provisions
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.**
As
of December 31, 2024, we have outstanding debt in the principal amount of $36.4 million that is secured by all of our assets. Payments
on our outstanding debt and debt maturities could impact our liquidity, require us to modify our operations to meet any payment obligations
and could force us to seek protection under the provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
**Risks
Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties**
**We
rely and will continue to rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out
their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of, or commercialize, our therapeutic
candidates.**
We
depend and will continue to depend upon independent investigators and collaborators, such as universities, medical institutions, CROs
and strategic partners to conduct our preclinical and clinical trials. We negotiate budgets and contracts with CROs and study sites,
which may result in delays to our development timelines and increased costs. We will rely heavily on these third parties over the course
of our clinical trials, and we control only certain aspects of their activities. Nevertheless, we are responsible for ensuring that each
of our studies is conducted in accordance with applicable protocol, legal, regulatory and scientific standards, and our reliance on third
parties does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. We and these third parties are required to comply with GCPs, which are
regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for therapeutic candidates in clinical development.
Regulatory authorities enforce these GCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators and trial sites. If
we or any of these third parties fail to comply with applicable GCP regulations, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may
be deemed unreliable and the FDA 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, such regulatory authorities will determine that any
of our clinical trials comply with the GCP regulations. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with biological product produced
under cGMP and will require a large number of test patients. Our failure or any failure by these third parties to comply with these regulations
or to recruit a sufficient number of patients may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
Moreover, our business may be implicated if any of these third parties violates federal or state fraud and abuse or false claims laws
and regulations or healthcare privacy and security laws.
Any
third parties conducting our clinical trials are not and 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 ongoing preclinical,
clinical and nonclinical programs. These third parties may also have relationships with other commercial entities, including our competitors,
for whom they may also be conducting clinical studies or other drug development activities, which could affect their performance. If
these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, if they need to
be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical
protocols or regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated and we may not
be able to complete development of, obtain regulatory approval of or successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates. As a result,
our financial results and the commercial prospects for our therapeutic candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability
to generate revenue could be delayed.
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If any of our relationships with trial
sites, or any CRO that we may use in the future, terminates, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative trial sites
or CROs or do so on commercially reasonable terms. Switching or adding third parties to conduct our clinical trials involves substantial
cost and requires extensive management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new third party commences
work. As a result, delays occur, which can materially impact our ability to meet our desired clinical development timelines.
**We
rely on donors of healthy human full-term placentas to manufacture our therapeutic candidates, and if we do not obtain an adequate supply
of such placentas from qualified donors, development of our placental-derived allogeneic cells may be adversely impacted.**
We
are reliant on biosourcing healthy donor placentas to manufacture our therapeutic candidates, and on hospital personnel to obtain the
necessary donor consent. Healthy donor placentas vary in type and quality, and this variation makes producing standardized therapeutic
candidates more difficult and makes the development and commercialization pathway of our therapeutic candidates more uncertain. We have
developed a process designed to enhance the quality and consistency of the placental-derived cells used in the manufacture of our three
allogeneic cell types (CAR-T cells, NK cells and mesenchymal-like stromal cells), but our process may fail to identify suitable donors
or detect all issues, and we may discover failures with the material after production. We may also have to update our specifications
for new risks that may emerge, such as to screen for new viruses.
We
have strict specifications for donor material, which include specifications required by regulatory authorities and rely on informed donor
consent. If we are unable to identify and obtain donor material that satisfy specifications, agree with regulatory authorities on appropriate
specifications, incentivize hospital personnel to solicit consent to donation or address variability in donor placentas, there may be
inconsistencies in the therapeutic candidates we produce or we may be unable to initiate or continue ongoing clinical trials on the timelines
we expect, or scale up our manufacturing process for later-stage clinical trials or commercialization, which could harm our reputation
and adversely impact our business and prospects.
**Cell-based
therapies rely on the availability of specialty raw materials, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.**
Our
therapeutic candidates require many specialty raw materials, including viral vectors that deliver the CAR sequence and other raw materials,
some of which are manufactured by small companies with limited resources and experience to support a commercial therapeutic, or to deliver
raw materials to our specifications. We generally do not have dedicated supply contracts with many of our suppliers, and we may not be
able to contract with them on acceptable terms, or at all. Some of our suppliers may not be able to scale-up as we move to later-stage
clinical trials or commercialization. Accordingly, we may experience delays in receiving, or fail to secure entirely, key raw materials
to support clinical or commercial manufacturing. Certain raw materials also require third-party testing, and some of the testing service
companies may not have capacity or be able to conduct the testing that we request.
We
also face competition for supplies from other cell therapy companies. Such competition may make it difficult for us to secure raw materials
or the testing of such materials on commercially reasonable terms or in a timely manner.
Some
raw materials, including the post-partum human placenta obtained through informed consent, are currently available from a small number
of suppliers. We cannot be sure that these suppliers will remain in business or that they will not be purchased by one of our competitors
or another company that is not interested in continuing to produce these materials for our intended purpose. In addition, the lead time
needed to establish a relationship with a new supplier can be lengthy, and we may experience delays in meeting demand in the event we
must switch to a new supplier. The time and effort to qualify a new supplier, including to meet any regulatory requirements for such
qualification, could result in additional costs, diversion of resources or reduced manufacturing yields, any of which would negatively
impact our operating results. Further, we may be unable to enter into agreements with a new supplier on commercially reasonable terms,
which could have a material adverse impact on our business.
| 47 | |
**If
we or third party suppliers acting on our behalf use hazardous, non-hazardous, biological or other materials in a manner that causes
injury or violates applicable law, we may be liable for damages.**
Our
research and development and manufacturing activities involve the controlled use of potentially hazardous substances, including chemical
and biological materials. We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations in the United States governing the use, manufacture,
storage, handling and disposal of medical and hazardous materials. Although we believe our procedures, as well as the procedures of our
third party suppliers for using, handling, storing and disposing of these materials comply with legally prescribed standards, neither
we nor our third party suppliers can completely eliminate the risk of contamination or injury resulting from medical or hazardous materials.
As a result of any such contamination or injury, we may incur liability or local, city, state or federal authorities may curtail the
use of these materials and interrupt our business operations. In the event of an accident, we could be held liable for damages or penalized
with fines, and the liability could exceed our resources. We do not have any insurance for liabilities arising from medical or hazardous
materials. Compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations is expensive, and current or future environmental regulations
may impair our research, development and production efforts, which could harm our business, prospects, financial condition or results
of operations.
**Risks
Related to Government Regulation**
**The
FDA regulatory approval process is lengthy and time-consuming, and we may experience significant delays in the clinical development and
regulatory approval of our future therapeutic candidates.**
The
research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, approval, selling, import, export, marketing, and distribution of drug products, including
biologics, are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States. We are not permitted
to market any biological drug product in the United States until we receive approval of a biologics license application, or BLA, from
the FDA. We have not previously submitted a BLA to the FDA, or similar approval filings to comparable foreign authorities. A BLA must
include extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to establish the therapeutic candidates safety and
effectiveness for each desired indication. The BLA must also include significant information regarding the chemistry, manufacturing and
controls for the product.
We
expect the novel nature of our potential future therapeutic candidates to create further challenges in obtaining regulatory approval.
For example, the FDA has limited experience with commercial development of allogeneic cell therapies. The FDA may also require a panel
of experts, referred to as an Advisory Committee, to deliberate on the adequacy of the safety and efficacy data to support licensure.
The opinion of the Advisory Committee, although not binding, may have a significant impact on our ability to obtain licensure of the
therapeutic candidates based on the completed clinical trials, as the FDA often adheres to the Advisory Committees recommendations.
Accordingly, the regulatory approval pathway for our therapeutic candidates may be uncertain, complex, expensive and lengthy, and approval
may not be obtained.
We
may also experience delays in completing planned clinical trials for a variety of reasons, including if physicians encounter unresolved
ethical issues associated with enrolling patients in clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates in lieu of prescribing existing treatments
that have established safety and efficacy profiles. Further, a clinical trial may be suspended or terminated by us, the IRBs for the
institutions in which such trials are being conducted or by the FDA or other regulatory authorities due to a number of factors. The FDAs
review of our data for future clinical trials may, depending on the data, also result in the delay, suspension or termination of one
or more of our potential clinical trials, which would also delay or prevent the initiation of our other planned clinical trials. If we
experience termination of, or delays in the completion of, any clinical trial of our therapeutic candidates, the commercial prospects
for our therapeutic candidates will be harmed, and our ability to generate revenue will be delayed. In addition, any delays in completing
our clinical trials will increase our costs, slow down our development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to commence therapeutic
sales and generate revenue. Many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials
may ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates.
**To
the extent a regulatory authority determines that any of our currently-marketed advanced biomaterials products do not qualify for regulation
as human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue based products, or HCT/P, solely under
Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act, or PHSA, this could result in removal of these
products from the market.**
Our
Advanced Biomaterials products are marketed without a specific FDA approval, but rather are marketed based on our belief that these products
are exempt from prior FDA approval pursuant to Section 361 of the PHSA. In 2004 and 2005 FDA issued determinations that the product now
marketed as Interfyl, and the Biovance product, qualified to be regulated solely under section 361, subject to limitations on claims
that could be made for such products intended uses. In November 2017, the FDA released a guidance document entitled Regulatory
Considerations for Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products: Minimal Manipulation and Homologous Use - Guidance for
Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff (Guidance), which it revised and reissued in July 2020. The document
confirmed the FDAs stance that sheet forms of amniotic tissue are appropriately regulated as solely Section 361 HCT/Ps when manufactured
in accordance with 21 CFR Part 1271 and intended for use as a barrier or covering. However, wound healing is not a homologous use of
amniotic tissue, and to the extent we make claims for Biovance, Interfyl, CentaFlex and Rebound that extend beyond homologous use, we
may be subject to the requirement for prior FDA approval and to FDA enforcement action. The Guidance stated that the FDA intended to
exercise enforcement discretion under limited conditions with respect to the IND application and pre-market approval requirements for
certain HCT/Ps for a period that expired on May 31, 2021. The FDAs approach is risk-based, and the Guidance clarified that high-risk
products and uses could be subject to immediate enforcement action. New York has interpreted the Guidance such that it has restricted
the marketing of such products without BLA approval, notwithstanding the current exception in the Guidance, and other states may make
similar determination, which would limit the market for such products until a BLA is approved.
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Amniotic
tissue is generally eligible for regulation solely as a HCT/P under Section 361 of the PHSA depending on whether the specific product
at issue and the claims made for it are consistent with the applicable FDA criteria for minimal manipulation and homologous use. HCT/Ps
that do not meet these minimal manipulation and homologous use criteria are subject to more extensive regulation as drugs, medical devices,
biological products, or combination products. Such HCT/Ps must comply with both the FDAs requirements for HCT/Ps and the requirements
applicable to biologics, devices or drugs, including pre-market clearance or approval from the FDA.
We
may need to either modify our claims or cease selling our Biovance, Interfyl, CentaFlex and Rebound products until the FDA approves a
BLA, and then we will only be able to market such products for indications that have been approved in a BLA. The loss of our ability
to market and sell these products would have an adverse impact on our revenues, business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, we expect the cost to manufacture our products will increase due to the costs to comply with the requirements that apply
to Section 361 biological products, such as current cGMP and ongoing product testing costs. Increased costs relating to regulatory compliance
could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In
addition, the FDA might, at some future point, modify its position on which current or future products qualify as Section 361 HCT/Ps.
Any regulatory changes could have adverse consequences for us and make it more difficult or expensive for us to conduct our business
by requiring pre-market clearance or approval and compliance with additional post-market regulatory requirements with respect to those
products. It is also possible that the FDA could require us to recall our Biovance, Interfyl, CentaFlex and Rebound products.
****
**We
expect the cell therapy therapeutic candidates we may develop will be regulated as biological products, or biologics, and they may be
subject to competition sooner than anticipated.**
The
Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, or BPCIA, was enacted as part of the Affordable
Care Act to establish an abbreviated pathway for the approval of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products. The regulatory pathway
establishes legal authority for the FDA to review and approve biosimilar biologics, including the possible designation of a biosimilar
as interchangeable based on its similarity to an approved biologic. Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product
cannot filed with FDA until four years after the reference product was be approved by the FDA, and cannot be approved until 12 years
after the reference product was approved under a BLA. The law is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. As
a result, its ultimate impact, implementation, and meaning are subject to uncertainty. While it is uncertain when such processes intended
to implement the BPCIA may be fully adopted by the FDA, any such processes could have a material adverse effect on the future commercial
prospects for our biological products.
We
believe that any of the therapeutic candidates we develop that are approved in the United States as a biological product under a BLA
should qualify for the 12-year period of exclusivity. However, there is a risk that this exclusivity could be shortened due to congressional
action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider the subject therapeutic candidates to be reference products for competing products,
potentially creating the opportunity for generic competition sooner than anticipated. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar, once
approved, will be substituted for any one of the reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for
non-biological products is not yet clear, and will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors that are still developing.
**The
regulatory landscape that will govern our therapeutic candidates is uncertain; regulations relating to more established cellular therapy
products are still developing, and changes in regulatory requirements could result in delays or discontinuation of development of our
therapeutic candidates or unexpected costs in obtaining regulatory approval.**
Because
we are developing novel cellular therapeutic candidates that are unique biological entities, the regulatory requirements that we will
be subject to are not entirely clear. Regulatory requirements governing gene therapy products and cell therapy products have changed
frequently and may continue to change in the future. Moreover, there is substantial, and sometimes uncoordinated, overlap in those responsible
for regulation of existing gene therapy products and cell therapy products. Although the FDA decides whether individual therapy protocols
may proceed, review process and determinations of other reviewing bodies can impede or delay the initiation of a clinical study, even
if the FDA has reviewed the study and approved its initiation. Conversely, the FDA can place an IND application on clinical hold even
if such other entities have provided a favorable review. Furthermore, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an independent
IRB at or servicing each institution at which a clinical trial will be conducted. In addition, adverse developments in clinical trials
of gene or cell therapy products conducted by others may cause the FDA or other regulatory bodies to change the requirements for approval
of any of our therapeutic candidates. Complex regulatory environments exist in other jurisdictions in which we might consider seeking
regulatory approvals for our therapeutic candidates, further complicating the regulatory landscape.
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The
various committees and advisory groups involved in regulatory review, and new or revised guidelines that they promulgate from time to
time may lengthen the regulatory review process, require us to perform additional studies, increase our development costs, lead to changes
in regulatory positions and interpretations, delay or prevent approval and commercialization of our therapeutic candidates or lead to
significant post-approval limitations or restrictions. Because the regulatory landscape for our placental-derived cell therapeutic candidates
is new, we may face even more cumbersome and complex regulations than those for more traditional pharmaceutical or biological products.
Furthermore, even if our therapeutic candidates obtain required regulatory approvals, such approvals may later be withdrawn as a result
of changes in regulations or the interpretation of regulations by applicable regulatory agencies. Delay or failure to obtain, or unexpected
costs in obtaining, the regulatory approval necessary to bring a potential therapeutic to market could decrease our ability to generate
sufficient revenue to maintain our business.
**The
FDA may disagree with our future regulatory plans and we may fail to obtain regulatory approval of our cell therapeutic candidates**.
The
general approach for FDA approval of a new biologic or drug is for the sponsor to provide dispositive data from two well-controlled,
Phase 3 clinical studies of the relevant biologic or drug in the relevant patient population. Phase 3 clinical studies typically involve
hundreds of patients, have significant costs and take years to complete. The FDA may require that we conduct a comparative trial against
an approved therapy including potentially an approved autologous cell therapy, which would significantly delay our development timelines
and require substantially more resources. In addition, the FDA may only allow us to evaluate patients that have failed or who are ineligible
for autologous therapy, which are extremely difficult patients to treat and patients with advanced and aggressive cancer, and our future
therapeutic candidates may fail to improve outcomes for such patients.
Our
potential future clinical trial results may also not support approval. In addition, our therapeutic candidates could fail to receive
regulatory approval for many reasons, including the following:
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the
FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials; | |
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we
may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that our therapeutic candidates
are safe and effective for any of their proposed indications; | |
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the
results of clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory
authorities for approval, including due to the heterogeneity of patient populations; | |
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we
may be unable to demonstrate that our therapeutic candidates clinical and other benefits outweigh their safety risks; | |
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the
FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical
trials; | |
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the
data collected from clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates may not be sufficient to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable
foreign regulatory authorities to support the submission of a BLA or other comparable submission in foreign jurisdictions or to obtain
regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere; | |
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the
FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities will review our manufacturing process and inspect our commercial manufacturing facility
and may not approve our manufacturing process or facility; and | |
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the
approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering
our clinical data insufficient for approval. | |
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**We
plan to seek orphan drug designation for some or all of our therapeutic candidates across various indications, but we may be unable to
obtain such designations or to maintain the benefits associated with orphan drug designation, including market exclusivity, which may
cause our revenue, if any, to be reduced.**
Under
the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition. In the
United States, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical
trial costs, tax advantages, and user-fee waivers. Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration
of, the regulatory review and approval process, but if a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA
approval of that particular product for the disease for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan product exclusivity,
which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a BLA, to market the same biologic (meaning, a product with
the same principal molecular structural features) for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances. If a competing
company also obtains ODD for a product that is deemed the same drug as ours for the same orphan indication, and obtains
FDA approval before we do, that company would qualify for Orphan Exclusivity which would block approval of our product for seven years.
See Business - Government Regulation and Product Approval for more information regarding orphan drug designation. Even
if the FDA grants orphan drug designation to one or more of our investigational cell therapies, the FDA can still approve other biologics
that do not have the same principal molecular structural features for use in treating the same indication or disease or the same biologic
for a different indication or disease during the exclusivity period. Furthermore, the FDA can waive orphan exclusivity if we are unable
to manufacture sufficient supply of our therapeutic or if a subsequent applicant demonstrates clinical superiority over our product.
We
plan to seek orphan drug designation for some or all of our therapeutic candidates in specific orphan indications in which there is a
medically plausible basis for the use of these therapeutics. Even if we obtain orphan drug designation, exclusive marketing rights in
the United States may be limited if we seek approval for an indication broader than the orphan designated indication and may be lost
if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if we are unable to assure sufficient quantities
of the therapeutic to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition, or if a subsequent applicant demonstrates clinical
superiority over our therapeutics, if approved.
**We
may not elect or be able to take advantage of any expedited development or regulatory review and approval processes available to therapeutic
candidates granted breakthrough therapy or fast track designation by the FDA.**
We
intend to evaluate and engage in discussions with the FDA on regulatory strategies that could enable us to take advantage of expedited
development pathways for certain of our therapeutic candidates, although we cannot be certain that our therapeutic candidates will qualify
for any expedited development pathways or that regulatory authorities will grant, or allow us to maintain, the relevant qualifying designations.
Potential expedited development pathways that we could pursue include breakthrough therapy and fast track designation.
Breakthrough
therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of therapeutic candidates that are designed to treat serious or
life-threatening diseases when preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug 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 designation of a therapeutic candidate as a breakthrough therapy provides potential benefits that include more
frequent meetings with the FDA to discuss the development plan for the therapeutic candidate and ensure collection of appropriate data
needed to support approval; more frequent written correspondence from the FDA about such things as the design of the proposed clinical
trials and use of biomarkers; intensive guidance on an efficient drug development program, beginning as early as Phase 1; organizational
commitment involving senior managers; and eligibility for rolling review and priority review. Fast track designation is designed for
therapeutic candidates intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, where nonclinical or clinical
data demonstrate the potential to address an unmet medical need for this disease or condition.
Although
we have previously received fast track designation for certain of our cell therapy candidates, we may elect not to pursue either of breakthrough
therapy or fast track designation for our other therapeutic candidates, and the FDA has broad discretion whether or not to grant these
designations.
Accordingly,
even if we believe that a particular therapeutic candidate is eligible for breakthrough therapy or fast track designation, we cannot
assure you that the FDA would decide to grant such designation. Breakthrough therapy designation and fast track designation do not change
the standards for product approval, and there is no assurance that such designation or eligibility will result in expedited review or
approval or that the approved indication will not be narrower than the indication covered by the breakthrough therapy designation or
fast track designation. Thus, even if we do receive breakthrough therapy or fast track designation, we may not experience a faster development
process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. The FDA may withdraw breakthrough therapy or fast track designation
if it believes that the product no longer meets the qualifying criteria. Our business may be harmed if we are unable to avail ourself
of these or any other expedited development and regulatory pathways.
| 51 | |
**Obtaining
and maintaining regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates in one jurisdiction does not mean that we will be successful in obtaining
regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates in other jurisdictions.**
Obtaining
and maintaining regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates in one jurisdiction does not guarantee that we will be able to obtain
or maintain regulatory approval in any other jurisdiction, while a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one jurisdiction
may have a negative effect on the regulatory approval process in others. For example, even if the FDA grants marketing approval of a
therapeutic candidate, comparable regulatory authorities in foreign jurisdictions must also approve the manufacturing, marketing and
promotion of the therapeutic candidate in those countries. Approval procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements
and administrative review periods different from, and greater than, those in the United States, including additional preclinical studies
or clinical trials as clinical studies conducted in one jurisdiction may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions.
In many jurisdictions outside the United States, a therapeutic candidate must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved
for sale in that jurisdiction. In some cases, the price that we intend to charge for our products is also subject to approval.
We
may also submit marketing applications in other countries. Regulatory authorities in jurisdictions outside of the United States have
requirements for approval of therapeutic candidates with which we must comply prior to marketing in those jurisdictions. Obtaining foreign
regulatory approvals and compliance with foreign regulatory requirements could result in significant delays, difficulties and costs for
it and could delay or prevent the introduction of our products in certain countries. If we fail to comply with the regulatory requirements
in international markets and/or receive applicable marketing approvals, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize
the full market potential of our therapeutic candidates will be harmed.
**Even
if we receive regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory
review, which may result in significant additional expense and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements
or experience unanticipated problems with our therapeutic candidates.**
Any
regulatory approvals that we receive for our therapeutic candidates will require surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the
therapeutic candidate. The FDA may also require a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, in order to approve our therapeutic
candidates, which could entail requirements for a medication guide, physician communication plans or additional elements to ensure safe
use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. In addition, if the FDA or a comparable
foreign regulatory authority approves our therapeutic candidates, the manufacturing processes, labeling, packaging, distribution, adverse
event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion, import, export and recordkeeping for our therapeutic candidates will be subject to
extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements. These requirements include submissions of safety and other post-marketing information
and reports, registration, as well as continued compliance with cGMP and current GCPs for any clinical trials that we conduct post-approval,
and compliance with applicable product tracking and tracing requirements. As such, we will be subject to continual review and inspections
to assess compliance with cGMP and adherence to commitments made in any BLA, other marketing application and previous responses to inspectional
observations. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work with must continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory
compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control. In addition, the FDA could require us to conduct another study to
obtain additional safety or biomarker information. Further, we will be required to comply with FDA promotion and advertising rules, which
include, among others, standards for direct-to-consumer advertising, restrictions on promoting products for uses or in patient populations
that are not described in the products approved uses (known as off-label use), limitations on industry-sponsored
scientific and educational activities and requirements for promotional activities involving the internet and social media. The FDA and
other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to
have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability. However, physicians may, in their independent medical
judgment, prescribe legally available products for off-label uses. The FDA does not regulate the behavior of physicians in their choice
of treatments, but the FDA does restrict manufacturers communications on the subject of off-label use of their products.
Later
discovery of previously unknown problems with our therapeutic candidates, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency,
or with our third-party suppliers, or our manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions
to the approved labeling to add new safety information, imposition of post-market studies or clinical studies to assess new safety risks;
or imposition of distribution restrictions or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other
things:
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restrictions
on the marketing or manufacturing of our therapeutic candidates, withdrawal of the therapeutic from the market or voluntary or mandatory
product recalls; | |
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fines,
warning letters or holds on clinical trials; | |
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refusal
by the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us or suspension or revocation of license
approvals; | |
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product
seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of our therapeutic candidates; and | |
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injunctions
or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties. | |
| 52 | |
The
FDAs and other regulatory authorities policies may change, and additional government regulations may be enacted that could
prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government
regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or executive action, either in the United States or abroad. If we
are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able
to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.
**Negative
public opinion and increased regulatory scrutiny of genetic research and therapies involving gene editing or modified cells may damage
public perception of our therapeutic candidates or adversely affect our ability to conduct our business or obtain regulatory approvals
for our therapeutic candidates.**
The
gene-editing technologies that we use are novel. Public perception may be influenced by claims that gene editing is unsafe, and products
incorporating gene editing may not gain the acceptance of the public or the medical community. In particular, our success will depend
upon physicians specializing in our targeted diseases prescribing our therapeutic candidates as treatments in lieu of, or in addition
to, existing, more familiar, treatments for which greater clinical data may be available. Any increase in negative perceptions of gene
editing may result in fewer physicians prescribing our treatments or may reduce the willingness of patients to utilize our treatments
or participate in clinical trials for our therapeutic candidates. In addition, given the novel nature of gene-editing and cell therapy
technologies, governments may place import, export or other restrictions in order to retain control or limit the use of the technologies.
Increased negative public opinion or more restrictive government regulations either in the United States or internationally, would have
a negative effect on our business or financial condition and may delay or impair the development and commercialization of our therapeutic
candidates or demand for such therapeutic candidates.
**Even
if we obtain regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates, the cell therapies may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients,
hospitals, cancer treatment centers and others in the medical community.**
The
use of engineered placental-derived cells as a potential treatment is a recent development and may not become broadly accepted by physicians,
patients, hospitals, cancer treatment centers and others in the medical community. We may not be able to educate these persons on the
benefits of using our therapeutic candidates for many reasons. For example, certain of the therapeutic candidates that we will be developing
target a cell surface marker that may be present on cancer cells as well as non-cancerous cells. It is possible that our therapeutic
candidates may kill these non-cancerous cells, which may result in unacceptable side effects, including death. Additional factors will
influence whether our therapeutic candidates are accepted in the market, including:
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the
clinical indications for which our therapeutic candidates are approved; | |
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physicians,
hospitals, cancer treatment centers and patients considering our therapeutic candidates as a safe and effective treatment; | |
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the
potential and perceived advantages of our therapeutic candidates over alternative treatments; | |
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the
prevalence and severity of any side effects; | |
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product
labeling or product insert requirements of the FDA or other regulatory authorities; | |
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limitations
or warnings contained in the labeling approved by the FDA; | |
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the
timing of market introduction of our therapeutic candidates as well as competitive products; | |
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the
cost of treatment in relation to alternative treatments; | |
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the
availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement by third-party payors and government authorities; | |
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the
willingness of patients to pay out-of-pocket in the absence of coverage and adequate reimbursement by third-party payors and government
authorities; | |
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relative
convenience and ease of administration, including as compared to alternative treatments and competitive therapies; and | |
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the
effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts. | |
| 53 | |
If
our therapeutic candidates are approved but fail to achieve market acceptance among physicians, patients, hospitals, cancer treatment
centers or others in the medical community, we will not be able to generate significant revenue. Even if our cell therapies achieve market
acceptance, we may not be able to maintain that market acceptance over time if new products or technologies are introduced that are more
favorably received than our therapeutics, are more cost effective or render our therapeutics obsolete.
**Coverage
and reimbursement may be limited or unavailable in certain market segments for our therapeutic candidates, which could make it difficult
for us to sell our cell therapies, if approved, profitably.**
Successful
sales of our therapeutic candidates, if approved, depend on the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party
payors including governmental healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, managed care organizations and commercial payors, among
others. Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any therapeutic candidates for which we obtain
regulatory approval. In addition, because our therapeutic candidates represent new approaches to the treatment of cancer, infectious
and degenerative diseases, we cannot accurately estimate the potential revenue from our therapeutic candidates. For more information
on coverage and reimbursement requirements see Business - Government Regulation and Product Approval - Coverage, Pricing and Reimbursement.
Patients
who are provided medical treatment for their conditions generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the costs associated
with their treatment. Obtaining coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors is critical to new product acceptance.
Third-party
payors decide which drugs and treatments they will cover and the amount of reimbursement. Reimbursement by a third-party payor may depend
upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the third-party payors determination that use of a therapeutic is:
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a
covered benefit under our health plan; | |
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safe,
effective and medically necessary; | |
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appropriate
for the specific patient; | |
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cost-effective;
and | |
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neither
experimental nor investigational. | |
Obtaining
coverage and reimbursement of a therapeutic from a government or other third-party payor is a time-consuming and costly process that
could require us to provide to the payor supporting scientific, clinical and cost-effectiveness data for the use of our therapeutics.
Even if we obtain coverage for a given therapeutic, if the resulting reimbursement rates are insufficient, hospitals may not approve
our therapeutic for use in their facility or third-party payors may require co-payments that patients find unacceptably high. Patients
are unlikely to use our therapeutic candidates unless coverage is provided, and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion
of the cost of our therapeutic candidates. Separate reimbursement for the therapeutic itself may or may not be available. Instead, the
hospital or administering physician may be reimbursed only for providing the treatment or procedure in which our therapeutic is used.
Further, from time to time, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, revises the reimbursement systems used to reimburse
health care providers, including the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Outpatient Prospective Payment System, which may result in reduced
Medicare payments. In some cases, private third-party payors rely on all or portions of Medicare payment systems to determine payment
rates. Furthermore, in November 2024, the CMS and Medicare Administrative Contractors, or MACs, simultaneously finalized nearly identical
Local Coverage Determinations, or LCDs, that will deny coverage for virtually all amniotic tissue products that are used to cover and
treat chronic wounds. While, as of the date of this annual report on Form 10-K, these LCD determinations will become effective as of
January 1, 2026, the Trump administration may suspend such determinations; however, no assurance can be provided that such suspension
will occur, or if it does occur that it will occur in a timely manner, if at all. If the Trump administration does not suspend the LCD
determinations by January 1, 2026, the sales of our amniotic tissue products may be affected. Changes to government healthcare programs
that reduce payments under these programs may negatively impact payments from private third-party payors and reduce the willingness of
physicians to use our therapeutic candidates.
In
the United States, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for products exists among third-party payors. Therefore, coverage
and reimbursement for products can differ significantly from payor to payor. Further, one payors determination to provide coverage
for a product does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage for the product. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not
be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.
| 54 | |
We
intend to seek approval to market our therapeutic candidates in both the United States and in selected foreign jurisdictions. If we obtain
approval in one or more foreign jurisdictions for our therapeutic candidates, we will be subject to rules and regulations in those jurisdictions.
In some foreign countries, particularly those in Europe, the pricing of biologics is subject to governmental control. In these countries,
pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after obtaining marketing approval of a therapeutic candidate.
Some of these countries may require the completion of clinical trials that compare the cost-effectiveness of a particular therapeutic
candidate to currently available therapies. Other EU member states allow companies to fix their own prices for medicines but monitor
and control company profits. The downward pressure on health care costs has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers
are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition, in some countries, cross-border imports from low-priced markets exert a
commercial pressure on pricing within a country.
The
marketability of any therapeutic candidates for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale may suffer if government and
other third-party payors fail to provide coverage and adequate reimbursement. We expect downward pressure on pharmaceutical pricing to
continue. Further, coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement
status is attained for one or more therapeutics for which we receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement
rates may be implemented in the future.
**The
advancement of healthcare reform may negatively impact our ability to sell our therapeutic candidates, if approved, profitably.**
Third-party
payors, whether domestic or foreign, or governmental or commercial, are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling
healthcare costs. In both the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory
changes to the health care system that could impact our ability to sell our therapeutic candidates, if approved, profitably. Further
legislation or regulation could be passed that could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. See *Business
- Government Regulation and Product Approval* - *Healthcare Reform* for a discussion of these laws and regulations. There
have been, and likely will continue to be, legislative and regulatory proposals at the foreign, federal and state levels directed at
broadening the availability of healthcare and containing or lowering the cost of healthcare. The implementation of cost containment measures
or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our therapeutics.
Such reforms could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenue from therapeutic candidates that we may successfully develop and for
which we may obtain regulatory approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop therapeutic candidates.
In
addition, there has been increasing legislative and enforcement interest in the United States with respect to specialty drug pricing
practices. Specifically, there have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries and federal and state legislative activity designed
to, among other things, bring more transparency to drug pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient assistance
programs, and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for drugs. Individual states in the United States have also become
increasingly active in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical 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.
We
cannot predict the initiatives that may be adopted in the future. Additionally, 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:
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the
demand for our therapeutic candidates, if we obtain regulatory approval; | |
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our
ability to set a price that we believe is fair for our therapeutics; | |
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our
ability to generate revenue and achieve or maintain profitability; | |
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the
level of taxes that we are required to pay; and | |
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the
availability of capital. | |
Any
reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors,
which may adversely affect our future profitability.
| 55 | |
**Risks
Related to Our Intellectual Property**
**If
our efforts to protect the proprietary nature of the intellectual property related to our technologies is not adequate, we may not be
able to compete effectively in our market.**
As
is the case with other biopharmaceutical companies, our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain protection
of intellectual property. We rely upon a combination of patents, trade secret protection and license agreements to protect the intellectual
property related to our technologies. Any disclosure to or misappropriation by third parties of our confidential proprietary information
could enable competitors to quickly duplicate or surpass our technological achievements, thus eroding our competitive position in our
market. We have filed additional patent applications, and we anticipate additional patent applications will be filed in the future, both
in the United States and in other countries, as appropriate. However, we cannot predict:
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if
and when patents will issue; | |
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the
degree and range of protection any issued patents will afford us against competitors, including whether third parties will find ways
to invalidate or otherwise circumvent our patents; | |
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whether
or not others will obtain patents claiming aspects similar to those covered by our patents and patent applications; or | |
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whether
we will need to initiate litigation or administrative proceedings, which may be costly whether we win or lose. | |
Obtaining
and enforcing biopharmaceutical patents is costly, time consuming and complex, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary
or desirable patent applications, or maintain, enforce and license any patents that may issue from such patent applications, at a reasonable
cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we may fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output
before it is too late to obtain patent protection. We may not have the right to control the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent
applications licensed from third parties, or to maintain the rights to patents licensed to third parties. Therefore, these patents and
applications may not be prosecuted and enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business.
We
cannot be certain that the claims in our pending patent applications will be considered patentable by the United States Patent and Trademark
Office, or USPTO, or by patent offices in foreign countries, or that the claims in any of our issued patents will be considered valid
and enforceable by courts in the United States or foreign countries. The strength of patents in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical
field involves complex legal and scientific questions and can be uncertain. The patent applications that we own or in-license may fail
to result in issued patents with claims that cover our therapeutic candidates or uses thereof in the United States or in other foreign
countries. Even if the patents do successfully issue, third parties may challenge the patentability, validity, enforceability or scope
thereof, which may result in such patents being canceled, narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable. Furthermore, even if they are
unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not adequately protect our intellectual property or prevent others from designing
their products to avoid being covered by our claims. If the breadth or strength of protection provided by the patents and patent applications
we hold with respect to our therapeutic candidates is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to develop,
and threaten our ability to commercialize, our therapeutic candidates. Further, if we encounter delays in our clinical trials, the period
of time during which we could market our therapeutic candidates under patent protection would be reduced. Further, changes in U.S. patent
law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products.
Depending
on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable
ways that would weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing patents and patents that we might obtain in the future.
**Confidentiality
agreements with employees and third parties may not prevent unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.**
In
addition to the protection afforded by patents, we seek to rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect
proprietary know-how that is not patentable, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce and any other elements of our product
discovery and development processes that involve proprietary know-how, information or technology that is not covered by patents. We take
steps to protect our intellectual property and proprietary technology by entering into agreements, including confidentiality agreements,
non-disclosure agreements and intellectual property assignment agreements, with our employees, consultants, corporate partners and, when
needed, advisers. Trade secrets, however, may be difficult to protect.
| 56 | |
Monitoring
unauthorized disclosure and detection of unauthorized disclosure is difficult, and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to
prevent such disclosure are, or will be, adequate. If we were to enforce a claim that a third party had illegally obtained and was using
our trade secrets, it would be expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome would be unpredictable.
Although
we require all of our employees to assign their inventions to us, and requires all of our employees and key consultants who have access
to our proprietary know-how, information, or technology to enter into confidentiality agreements, we cannot be certain that our trade
secrets and other confidential proprietary information will not be disclosed or that competitors will not otherwise gain access to our
trade secrets or independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques. Furthermore, the laws of some foreign countries
do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent or in the same manner as the laws of the United States. As a result, we may encounter
significant problems in protecting and defending our intellectual property both in the United States and abroad. If we are unable to
prevent unauthorized material disclosure of our confidential information or intellectual property to third parties, we will not be able
to establish or maintain a competitive advantage in our market, which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results
and financial condition.
**We
may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information
of third parties.**
We
have received confidential and proprietary information from third parties. In addition, we employ individuals who were previously employed
at other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants, advisors and independent
contractors do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or
our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including
trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential information of these third parties or our employees former employers. Litigation
may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may
lose valuable intellectual property rights and face increased competition to business. A loss of key research personnel work product
could hamper or prevent our ability to commercialize potential technologies and solutions, which could harm our business. Even if we
are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial cost and be a distraction to our management
team and employees.
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. 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. Any of the
foregoing could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
**Third-party
claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our product discovery and development efforts and our ability to commercialize
our therapeutic candidates.**
Our
commercial success depends in part on us avoiding infringement of the patents and proprietary rights of third parties. There is a substantial
amount of litigation involving patents and other intellectual property rights in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. 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
developing our therapeutic candidates. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk
increases that our therapeutic candidates may give rise to claims of infringement of the patent rights of others.
Third
parties may assert that we infringe their patents or are otherwise employing their proprietary technology without authorization and may
sue. Because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending patent applications that may later result
in issued patents that our therapeutic candidates may be alleged to infringe. In addition, third parties may obtain patents in the future
and claim that use of our technologies infringes upon these patents. If any third-party patents were held by a court of competent jurisdiction
to cover the manufacturing process of our therapeutic candidates, constructs or molecules used in or formed during the manufacturing
process, or any final therapeutic itself, the holders of any such patents may be able to block our ability to commercialize the therapeutic
candidate unless we obtain a license under the applicable patents, or until such patents expire or they are finally determined to be
held not infringed, unpatentable, invalid or unenforceable. Similarly, if any third-party patent were held by a court of competent jurisdiction
to cover aspects of our formulations, processes for manufacture or methods of use, including combination therapy or patient selection
methods, the holders of any such patent may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the therapeutic candidate unless
we obtain a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be held not infringed, unpatentable, invalid or unenforceable.
In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain a necessary
license to a third-party patent on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, our ability to commercialize our therapeutic candidates
may be impaired or delayed, which could in turn significantly harm our business.
| 57 | |
Parties
making claims against us may seek and obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further
develop and commercialize our therapeutic candidates. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation
expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business and may impact our reputation. In the event of a
successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys fees
for willful infringement, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may
be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure. We cannot predict whether any such license would be available at
all or whether it would be available on commercially reasonable terms. Furthermore, even in the absence of litigation, we may need to
obtain licenses from third parties to advance our research or allow commercialization of our therapeutic candidates. We may fail to obtain
any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all. In that event, we would be unable to further develop and
commercialize our therapeutic candidates, which could harm our business significantly.
**We
may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to product components and processes for our development pipeline through
acquisitions and in-licenses.**
Presently,
we have rights to the intellectual property, through licenses from third parties and under patent applications that we own or will own,
that we believe will facilitate the development of our therapeutic candidates. In the future, we may identify third party intellectual
property and technology that we may need to acquire or license in order to engage in our business, including to develop or commercialize
new technologies or services, and the growth of our business may depend in part on our ability to acquire, in-license or use this technology.
We
may be unable to acquire or in-license any third-party intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify. We may fail
to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, which would harm our business. Even if we are able to obtain
a license, we may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In that event, we
may be required to expend significant time and resources to develop or license replacement technology. We may need to cease use of the
compositions or methods covered by such third-party intellectual property rights to the extent we are unable to maintain our license
with any such third-party licensors.
The
licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and companies, which may be more established,
or have greater resources than we do, may also be pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights
that we may consider necessary or attractive in order to commercialize our therapeutic candidates. More established companies may have
a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash 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. If such licenses are available,
we may be required to pay the licensor in return for the use of such licensors technology, lump-sum payments, payments based on
certain milestones such as sales volumes, or royalties based on sales. In addition, our licenses may also place restrictions on our future
business opportunities.
In
spite of our best efforts, our licensors might conclude that we have materially breached our license agreements and might therefore terminate
the license agreements, thereby removing our ability to develop and commercialize technology covered by these license agreements. If
these licenses are terminated, or if the underlying intellectual property fails to provide the intended exclusivity, competitors would
have the freedom to seek regulatory approval of, and to market products that use technologies identical to those licensed to us. This
could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Additionally, termination of these agreements or reduction or elimination of our rights under these agreements, or restrictions on our
ability to freely assign or sublicense our rights under such agreements when it is in the interest of our business to do so, may result
in us having to negotiate new or reinstated agreements with less favorable terms, or cause us to lose our rights under these agreements,
including our rights to important intellectual property or technology or impede, or delay or prohibit the further development or commercialization
of one or more technologies that rely on such agreements.
| 58 | |
In
addition to the above risks, intellectual property rights that may be licensed now or in the future could include sublicenses under intellectual
property owned by third parties, in some cases through multiple tiers. The actions of our licensors may therefore affect our rights to
use sublicensed intellectual property, even if we are in compliance with all of the obligations under our license agreements. Should
our licensors or any of the upstream licensors fail to comply with their obligations under the agreements pursuant to which they obtain
the rights that are sublicensed to us, or should such agreements be terminated or amended, our ability to develop and commercialize therapeutic
candidates may be materially harmed.
Further,
we may not have the right to control the prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of all of our licensed and sublicensed intellectual
property, and even when we do have such rights, we may require the cooperation of our licensors and upstream licensors, which may not
be forthcoming. Our business could be adversely affected if we or our licensors are unable to prosecute, maintain and enforce licensed
and sublicensed intellectual property effectively.
Our
licensors may have relied on third-party consultants or collaborators or on funds from third parties such that our licensors are not
the sole and exclusive owners of the patents and patent applications in-licensed. If other third parties have ownership rights to patents
or patent applications in-licensed by us, they may be able to license such patents to our competitors, and our competitors could market
competing products and technology. This could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial conditions,
results of operations and prospects.
Our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to enter
into necessary agreements on acceptable terms or at all, if any necessary licenses are subsequently terminated, if the licensors fail
to abide by the terms of the licenses or fail to prevent infringement by third parties, or if the acquired or licensed patents or other
rights are found to be invalid or unenforceable. Moreover, we could encounter delays in the introduction of services while we attempt
to develop alternatives. Further, defense of any lawsuit or failure to obtain any of these licenses on favorable terms could prevent
us from commercializing products, which could harm our business, financial condition, or results of operations and prospects.
**We
may be involved in lawsuits or other legal proceedings to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, which could
be expensive, time-consuming and unsuccessful.**
Competitors
may infringe our patents or the patents of our licensors or misappropriate or otherwise violate our intellectual property rights or the
intellectual property rights of our licensors. In the future, we or our licensors may initiate legal proceedings to enforce or defend
our intellectual property rights or the intellectual property rights of our licensors, to protect our trade secrets or the trade secrets
of our licensors, or to determine the validity or scope of intellectual property rights we own or control.
To
counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file infringement claims, which can be expensive and time-consuming.
Third parties may also initiate legal proceedings against us or our licensors to challenge the validity or scope of intellectual property
rights we own, control or to which we have rights. In an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that one or more of our patents
are not valid or are unenforceable or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents
do not cover the technology in question. An adverse result in any litigation or defense proceeding could put one or more of our patents
at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable or interpreted narrowly and could put one or more of our pending patent applications
at risk of not issuing. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be
a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. Additionally, many of our adversaries or adversaries of our licensors
in these proceedings may have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to prosecuting these legal actions than we can.
In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys
fees for willful infringement, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which
may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.
Third-party
pre-issuance submission of prior art to the USPTO, or opposition, derivation, revocation, reexamination, inter partes review or interference
proceedings, or other pre-issuance or post-grant proceedings or other patent office proceedings or litigation in the United States or
other jurisdictions provoked by third parties or brought by us or our licensors, may challenge or be necessary to determine the inventorship,
priority, patentability or validity of inventions with respect to us or our licensors patents or patent applications. An unfavorable
outcome could leave our technology or therapeutic candidates without patent protection, allow third parties to commercialize our technology
or therapeutic candidates and compete directly with us, without payment to us, or could require us or our licensors to cease using the
related technology or to obtain license rights from the prevailing party in order to be able to manufacture or commercialize our therapeutic
candidates without infringing third-party patent rights.
| 59 | |
Our
business could be harmed if the prevailing party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms. Litigation or other legal
proceedings may result in a decision adverse to our interests and, even if we are successful, may result in substantial costs and distract
our management and other employees. We may not be able to prevent, alone or with our licensors, misappropriation of our trade secrets
or confidential information, particularly in countries where the laws may not protect those rights as fully as in the United States.
Furthermore,
because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some
of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. In addition, there could be public
announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive
these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock. If the breadth or
strength of protection provided by us or our licensors patents and patent applications is threatened, it could dissuade companies
from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize therapeutic candidates. Moreover, the uncertainties associated with litigation
could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue clinical trials, continue research programs,
license necessary technology from third parties, or enter into collaborations.
**Obtaining
and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements
imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.**
Periodic
maintenance fees on any issued patent are due to be paid to the USPTO, and foreign patent agencies in several stages over the lifetime
of the patent. The USPTO and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary,
fee payment and other similar provisions during the patent application process. While an inadvertent lapse can in many cases be cured
by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules, there are situations in which noncompliance can result
in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction.
Noncompliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure
to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal
documents. In such an event, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
**The
lives of our patents may not be sufficient to effectively protect our products and business.**
Patents
have a limited lifespan. In the United States, if all maintenance fees are timely paid, the natural expiration of a patent is generally
20 years after its first effective filing date. Although various extensions may be available, the life of a patent, and the protection
it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering our therapeutic candidates are obtained, once the patent life has expired for a product,
we may be open to competition from biosimilar or generic medications. In addition, although upon issuance in the United States a patents
life can be increased based on certain delays caused by the USPTO, this increase can be reduced or eliminated based on certain delays
caused by the patent applicant during patent prosecution. If our technologies require extended development and/or regulatory review,
patents protecting our technologies might expire before or shortly after we are able to successfully commercialize them. If we do not
have sufficient patent life to protect our products, our business and results of operations will be adversely affected.
**We
or our licensors may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship of our patents and other intellectual property.**
We
or our licensors may in the future be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators, or other third parties have an interest
in our patents or other intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor. For example, we may have inventorship disputes arise from
conflicting obligations of consultants or others who are involved in developing our therapeutic candidates. Litigation may be necessary
to defend against these and other claims challenging inventorship. 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, valuable
intellectual property. Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we or our licensors are successful
in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.
| 60 | |
**We
may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.**
We
may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights outside the United States. Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on therapeutic
candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries
outside the United States can be less extensive than those in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not
protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States, and even where such protection
is nominally available, judicial and governmental enforcement of such intellectual property rights may be lacking. Whether filed in the
United States or abroad, our patents and patent applications may be challenged or may fail to result in issued patents. Consequently,
we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling
or importing products made using its inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies
in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and further, may export otherwise infringing
products to territories where we have patent protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products
may compete with our products and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them
from competing. In addition, certain countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses
to other parties. Furthermore, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against other parties, including government agencies
or government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value
of any patents.
Many
companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The
legal systems of many other countries do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly
those relating to biotechnology, which could make it difficult for us to stop the misappropriation or other violations of our intellectual
property rights including infringement of our patents in such countries. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions
could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents 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 may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, or that are initiated against us, and the damages or other remedies
awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. In addition, changes in the law and legal decisions by courts in the United States
and foreign countries may affect our ability to obtain adequate protection for our technologies and the enforcement of intellectual property.
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.
**Changes
in patent law, including recent patent reform legislation, could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of
our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents.**
Changes
in either the patent laws or in interpretations of patent laws in the United States or other countries or regions may diminish the value
of our intellectual property. We cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be allowed or enforced in our patents or in third party
patents. We may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable.
Assuming
that other requirements for patentability are met, prior to March 16, 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. On or
after March 16, 2013, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the America Invents Act, enacted on September 16, 2011, the United
States transitioned to a first inventor to file system in which, assuming that other 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. A third party that files a patent application in the USPTO on or after March 16, 2013, but before us,
could therefore be awarded a patent covering an invention of ours, even if we have made the invention before it was made by such third
party. This will require us to be cognizant of the time from invention to filing of a patent application. 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 technology or (ii) invent any of the
inventions claimed in us or our licensors 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 invalid 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 invalidate 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.
| 61 | |
In
addition, the patent position of companies in the biotechnology field is particularly uncertain. Various courts, including the United
States Supreme Court have rendered decisions that affect the scope of patentability of certain inventions or discoveries relating to
biotechnology. These decisions state, among other things, that a patent claim that recites an abstract idea, natural phenomenon or law
of nature (for example, the relationship between particular genetic variants and cancer) are not themselves patentable. Precisely what
constitutes a law of nature or abstract idea is uncertain, and it is possible that certain aspects of our technology could be considered
natural laws. Accordingly, the evolving case law in the United States, and abroad, may adversely affect us and our licensors ability
to obtain new patents or to enforce existing patents and may facilitate third party challenges to any owned or licensed patents.
**Intellectual
property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats to our competitive advantage.**
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 any competitive advantage. For example:
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others
may be able to make products that are similar to any therapeutic candidates we may develop or utilize similar technology that are
not covered by the claims of the patents that we license or may own in the future; | |
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we,
or our, current or future collaborators, might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the issued patents and pending
patent applications that we license or may own in the future; | |
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we,
or our, current or future collaborators, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our intellectual
property or our inventions; | |
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others
may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our owned or
licensed intellectual property rights; | |
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it
is possible that our pending patent applications or those that we may own in the future will not lead to issued patents; | |
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issued
patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable, including as a result of legal challenges by our competitors; | |
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our
competitors might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information
learned from such activities to develop competitive therapeutics for sale in our major commercial markets; | |
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we
cannot ensure that any patents issued to us or our licensors will provide a basis for an exclusive market for our commercially viable
therapeutic candidates or will provide us with any competitive advantages; | |
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we
cannot ensure that our commercial activities or therapeutic candidates will not infringe upon the patents of others; | |
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we
cannot ensure that we will be able to successfully commercialize our therapeutic candidates on a substantial scale, if approved,
before the relevant patents that we own or licenses expire; | |
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we
cannot ensure that any of our patents, or any of our pending patent applications, if issued, or those of our licensors, will include
claims having a scope sufficient to protect our therapeutic candidates; | |
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we
may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable; | |
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the
patents or intellectual property rights of others may harm our business; and | |
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we
may choose not to file a patent application in order to maintain 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 have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects.
| 62 | |
**Risks
Related to Ownership of Our Securities**
**There
may not be an active trading market for our securities, which may make it difficult to sell shares of Class A common stock.**
It
is possible that an active trading market for our securities will not develop or, if developed, that any market will not be sustained.
This would make it difficult for us to sell our securities at an attractive price or at all.
**The
market price of our securities may be volatile, which could cause the value of an investment to decline.**
The
price of our securities may fluctuate significantly due to general market and economic conditions. An active trading market for our securities
may not develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. In addition, fluctuations in the price of our securities could contribute
to the loss of all or part of the investment in us. Even if an active market for our securities develops and continues, the trading price
of our securities could be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Any of the factors listed below could have a material adverse effect on your investment in our securities and our securities may trade
at prices significantly below the price you paid for them. In such circumstances, the trading price of our securities may not recover
and may experience a further decline.
Factors
affecting the trading price of our securities may include:
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the
realization of any of the risk factors presented in this annual report on Form 10-K; | |
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actual
or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial results or the quarterly financial results of companies perceived to be similar
to us; | |
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changes
in the markets expectations about our operating results; | |
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our
operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts of investors in a particular period; | |
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operating
and share price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us; | |
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the
volume of shares of Class A common stock available for public sale; | |
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future
issuances, sales, resales or repurchases or anticipated issuances, sales, resales or repurchases of our securities; | |
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the
commencement, enrollment or results of our ongoing and planned clinical trials of our therapeutic candidates or any future clinical
trials we may conduct, or changes in the development status of our therapeutic candidates; | |
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our
decision to initiate a clinical trial, not to initiate a clinical trial or to terminate an existing clinical trial; | |
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adverse
results or delays in clinical trials; | |
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any
delay in our regulatory filings for our therapeutic candidates and any adverse development or perceived adverse development with
respect to the applicable regulatory authoritys review of such filings, including without limitation the FDAs issuance
of a refusal to file letter or a request for additional information; | |
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our
failure to commercialize our therapeutic candidates; | |
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adverse
regulatory decisions, including failure to receive regulatory approval of our therapeutic candidates; | |
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changes
in laws or regulations applicable to our therapeutic candidates, including but not limited to clinical trial requirements for approvals; | |
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adverse
developments concerning manufacturers or suppliers; | |
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our
inability to manufacture or obtain adequate supply for any approved therapeutic or inability to do so at acceptable prices; | |
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our
inability to establish collaborations if needed; | |
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additions
or departures of key scientific or management personnel; | |
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unanticipated
serious safety concerns related to cellular therapies; | |
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introduction
of new therapeutics or services offered by our competitors; | |
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announcements
of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by us or our competitors; | |
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our
ability to effectively manage growth; | |
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actual
or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results; | |
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our
cash position; | |
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our
failure to meet the estimates and projections of the investment community or that we may otherwise provide to the public; | |
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publication
of research reports about us or our industry, or cellular therapy in particular, or positive or negative recommendations or withdrawal
of research coverage by securities analysts; | |
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changes
in the structure of healthcare payment systems; | |
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changes
in the market valuations of similar companies; | |
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overall
performance of the equity markets; | |
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speculation
in the press or investment community; | |
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sales
of Class A common stock by us or our stockholders in the future; | |
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the
trading volume of our Class A common stock; | |
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changes
in accounting practices; | |
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the
ineffectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; | |
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disputes
or other developments relating to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain or maintain
patent protection for our technologies; | |
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significant
lawsuits, including patent or stockholder litigation; | |
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general
political and economic conditions, including health pandemics, such as COVID-19; and | |
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other
events or factors, many of which are beyond our control. | |
In
addition, the stock market in general, and Nasdaq and biopharmaceutical companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume
fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry
factors may negatively affect the market price of our Class A common stock, regardless of its actual operating performance. In the past,
securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of
a companys securities. This type of litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of managements
attention and resources, which would harm our business, operating results or financial condition.
**We
do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future.**
We
have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation
and expansion of our business, and we do not expect to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you
may only receive a return on your investment in our Class A common stock if the trading price of your shares increases.
**Our
Class A common stock is currently listed on Nasdaq. If we are unable to maintain listing of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq or any
stock exchange, our stock price could be adversely affected and the liquidity of our stock and our ability to obtain financing could
be impaired and it may be more difficult for our stockholders to sell their securities.**
Although
our Class A common stock is currently listed on Nasdaq, we may not be able to continue to meet the exchanges minimum listing requirements
or those of any other national exchange. The Listing Rules of Nasdaq require listing issuers to comply with certain standards in order
to remain listed on its exchange. If, for any reason, we should fail to maintain compliance with these listing standards and Nasdaq should
delist our securities from trading on its exchange and we are unable to obtain listing on another national securities exchange, we anticipate
that our securities would begin trading on the over-the-counter market. Delisting from Nasdaq and trading on the over-the-counter market
could adversely affect the liquidity of our securities. Securities traded on the over-the-counter market generally have limited trading
volume and exhibit a wider spread between the bid/ask quotation, as compared to securities listed on a national securities exchange.
Consequently, you may not be able to liquidate your investment in the event of an emergency or for any other reason.
On April 22, 2025, we were notified by Nasdaq
that we had not paid certain fees required by Listing Rule 5250(f) totaling $70,000, and as a result, we will be delisted unless we
appeal this determination. We paid the assessed fees on April 24, 2025 and Nasdaq informed us on April 30, 2025 that we were in
compliance with Listing Rule 5250(f) and the matter is now closed. Additionally, on April 16, 2025, Nasdaq provided formal notice to
us that as a result of our failure to timely file this annual report on Form 10-K, we no longer complied with the continued listing
requirements under the timely filing criteria outlined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1). Pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(d)(2), this
delinquency serves as an additional and separate basis for delisting, and as such, our common stock will be suspended from trading
on May 1, 2025, unless we appeal Nasdaqs determination before a Hearing Panel. On April 29, 2025, we filed an appeal
requesting an oral hearing with a Nasdaq Hearing Panel. There can be no assurance that the appeal will be successful or that we will
maintain compliance with the Nasdaq listing requirements. If relief is not granted by the Nasdaq Hearing Panel or we are unable to
regain compliance, our securities will be delisted from the Nasdaq.
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If
Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange for failure to meet the listing standards, we and our stockholders could face
significant negative consequences including:
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limited
availability of market quotations for our securities; | |
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a
determination that the Class A common stock is a penny stock which will require brokers trading in the Class A common
stock to adhere to more stringent rules; | |
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possibly
resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for shares of the Class A common stock; | |
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a
limited amount of analyst coverage; and | |
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a
decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. | |
**Future
sales and issuances of our Class A common stock or rights to purchase common stock, including pursuant to our equity plans, could result
in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders and could cause our stock price to fall.**
We
expect that significant additional capital may be needed in the future to continue our planned operations, including, commercialization
efforts, expanded research and development activities, conducting clinical trials and costs associated with operating as a public company.
To raise capital, we may sell shares of our Class A common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions
at prices and in a manner we determine from time to time. We may also sell our Class A common stock as part of entering into strategic
alliances, creating joint ventures or collaborations or entering into additional licensing arrangements with third parties that we believe
will complement or augment our development and commercialization efforts. If we sell shares of our Class A common stock, convertible
securities or other equity securities, investors may be materially diluted by subsequent sales. Such sales may also result in material
dilution to existing stockholders, and new investors could gain rights, preferences and privileges senior to the holders of our Class
A common stock.
**Anti-takeover
provisions under our charter documents and Delaware law could delay or prevent a change of control, which could limit the market price
of our Class A common stock and may prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.**
Our
second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (certificate of incorporation), and our amended and
restated bylaws (bylaws) contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change of control of our Company or changes in
our board of directors that our stockholders might consider favorable. Some of these provisions include:
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board of directors divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms, such that not all members of our board of directors
will be elected at one time; | |
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a
prohibition on stockholder action through written consent, which requires that all stockholder actions be taken at a meeting of our
stockholders; | |
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a
requirement that special meetings of stockholders be called only by the chairman of our board of directors, the chief executive officer,
or by a majority of the total number of authorized directors; | |
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advance
notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations for election to our board of directors; | |
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a
requirement that no member of our board of directors may be removed from office by our stockholders except for cause and, in addition
to any other vote required by law, upon the approval of not less than two-thirds of all outstanding shares of our voting stock then
entitled to vote in the election of directors; | |
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a
requirement of approval of not less than two-thirds of all outstanding shares of our voting stock to amend any bylaws by stockholder
action or to amend specific provisions of our certificate of incorporation; and | |
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the
authority of our board of directors to issue preferred stock on terms determined by the directors without stockholder approval and
which preferred stock may include rights superior to the rights of the holders of common stock. | |
In
addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, which may prohibit certain
business combinations with stockholders owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. These anti-takeover provisions and other
provisions in our charter and bylaws could make it more difficult for stockholders or potential acquirors to obtain control of our board
of directors or initiate actions that are opposed by the then-current board of directors and could also delay or impede a merger, tender
offer or proxy contest involving our Company. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you
and other stockholders to elect directors of your choosing or cause us to take other corporate actions you desire. Any delay or prevention
of a change of control transaction or changes in our board of directors could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline.
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**Our
certificate of incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the federal district courts of the United
States of America will be the exclusive forums for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our
stockholders ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees.**
Our
certificate of incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all
such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) will be the exclusive forum
for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law:
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any
derivative claim or cause of action brought on our behalf; | |
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any
claim or cause of action for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees
to us or our stockholders; | |
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any
claim or cause of action against us or any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees, arising out of or pursuant
to any provision of the DGCL, our charter or the bylaws; | |
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any
claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our charter or bylaws; | |
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any
claim or cause of action as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and | |
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any
claim or cause of action against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine,
in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the courts having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable
parties named as defendants. | |
This
provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the
U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
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 charter provides that the federal
district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action 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 charter. 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 a stockholders ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes
with our Company or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers
and other employees. If a court were to find either exclusive-forum provision in our charter to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an
action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could seriously harm our business.
**Sales
of a substantial number of our shares of Class A common stock in the public market could cause our stock price to fall.**
We
may issue and sell additional shares of Class A common stock in the public markets. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class
A common stock in the public markets or the perception that such sales could occur could depress the market price of our c Class A common
stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
**The
exercise of our outstanding options and warrants and the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units will dilute stockholders and could
decrease our stock price.**
The
exercise of our outstanding options and warrants and the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units may adversely affect our stock
price due to sales of a large number of shares or the perception that such sales could occur. These factors also could make it more difficult
to raise funds through future offerings of our securities and could adversely impact the terms under which we could obtain additional
equity capital. Exercise of outstanding options and warrants or any future issuance of additional shares of Class A common stock or other
equity securities, including, but not limited to, options, warrants, restricted stock units or other derivative securities convertible
into our Class A common stock, may result in significant dilution to our stockholders and may decrease our stock price.
| 66 | |
**General
Risk Factors**
**Unstable
market and economic conditions may have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and stock price.**
The
global credit and financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruptions in the past including
severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, inflationary pressure
and interest rate changes, increases in unemployment rates and uncertainty about economic stability. The
financial markets and the global economy may also be adversely affected by the current or anticipated impact of military conflict, including
the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, terrorism or other geopolitical events. Sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries
in response to such conflicts, including the one in Ukraine, may also adversely impact the financial markets and the global economy,
and any economic countermeasures by the affected countries or others could exacerbate market and economic instability. Furthermore, the
closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and their placement into receivership with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC) created bank-specific and broader financial institution liquidity risk and concerns. Although the Department of
the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC jointly confirmed that depositors at SVB and Signature Bank would continue to have access
to their funds, even those in excess of the standard FDIC insurance limits, under a systemic risk exception, future adverse developments
with respect to specific financial institutions or the broader financial services industry may lead to market-wide liquidity shortages,
impair the ability of companies to access near-term working capital needs, and create additional market and economic uncertainty. There
can be no assurance that future credit and financial market instability and a deterioration in confidence in economic conditions will
not occur. Our general business strategy may be adversely affected by any such economic downturn, liquidity shortages, volatile business
environment or continued unpredictable and unstable market conditions. If the current equity and credit markets deteriorate, or
if adverse developments are experienced by financial institutions, it may cause short-term
liquidity risk and also 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 have a material adverse effect on our operations, growth
strategy, financial performance and stock price and could require it to delay or abandon clinical development plans. In addition, there
is a risk that one or more of our current service providers may not survive an economic downturn, which could directly affect our ability
to attain our operating goals on schedule and on budget.
**If
securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports, or publish unfavorable research or reports about our business, our
stock price and trading volume may decline.**
The
trading market for our Class A common stock relies in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about
us, our business, our markets and our competitors. We do not control these analysts. If securities analysts do not cover our Class A
common stock, the lack of research coverage may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock. Furthermore, if one or
more of the analysts who do cover us downgrade our stock or if those analysts issue other unfavorable commentary about us or our business,
our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fails to regularly publish reports on
us, we could lose visibility in the market and interest in our stock could decrease, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading
volume to decline and may also impair our ability to grow our business.
**We
could be subject to securities class action litigation.**
In
the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following a decline in the market price of its
securities. This risk is especially relevant for us because biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have experienced significant stock
price volatility in recent years. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of managements
attention and resources, which could harm our business.
**Financial
reporting obligations of being a public company in the U.S. are expensive and time-consuming, and our management will be required to
devote substantial time to compliance matters.**
As
a publicly traded company we incur significant additional legal, accounting and other expenses. The obligations of being a public company
in the U.S. require significant expenditures and place significant demands on our management and other personnel, including costs resulting
from public company reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations regarding corporate governance practices,
including those under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and The Nasdaq Capital Market.
These rules require the establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and procedures, internal control
over financial reporting and changes in corporate governance practices, among many other complex rules that are often difficult to implement,
monitor and maintain compliance with. Moreover, despite recent reforms made possible by the JOBS Act, the reporting requirements, rules,
and regulations will make some activities more time-consuming and costly, particularly after we are no longer a smaller reporting
company. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to ensure that we comply with all
of these requirements and to keep pace with new regulations, otherwise we may fall out of compliance and risk becoming subject to litigation
or being delisted, among other potential problems.
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**We
have material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition
and operating results.**
We
previously disclosed material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, we have insufficient resources
with the appropriate knowledge and expertise to design, implement, and operate effective internal controls over our financial reporting
process that contributed to other material weaknesses within our system of internal control over financial reporting at the control activity
level. If we are unable to remedy the current material weaknesses, or have additional material weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal
control over financial reporting in the future, our consolidated financial statements might contain material misstatements and we could
be required to restate our financial results. Moreover, failures in internal controls may also cause us to fail to meet reporting obligations,
negatively affect investor confidence in our management and the accuracy of our financial statements and disclosures, or result in adverse
publicity and concerns from investors, any of which could have a negative effect on the price of our common stock, subject us to regulatory
investigations and penalties or stockholder litigation, and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
**Item
1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.**
None.
**Item
1C. Cybersecurity**
We
incorporate cybersecurity into our Enterprise Risk Management program. Our cybersecurity program incorporates cybersecurity processes,
technologies, and controls designed to identify and manage potential material cyber risks including, but not limited to, operational
risk, intellectual property theft, fraud, harm to employees, patients, or third parties, and violation of privacy or security-related
laws or regulations. Our cybersecurity program is designed to be aligned with applicable industry standards set by the Center for Internet
Security. Our cybersecurity program employs a range of tools and services, including regular network and endpoint monitoring, managed
detection and response, system patching, managed security services, server and endpoint scheduled backups, awareness training and testing,
periodic vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, to update our ongoing risk identification and mitigation efforts and is assessed
periodically by independent third parties.
Our
cybersecurity program is managed by a vice president of global security and cybersecurity who reports to our Chief Executive Officer,
or CEO, providing routine security program updates and briefings. The current vice president of global security and cybersecurity has
more than 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, federal law enforcement, and cyber investigations, while possessing the required subject
matter expertise, skills, experience, and industry certifications expected of an individual assigned to these duties. Our information
security team, which includes the vice president of global security and cybersecurity, as well as additional professionals, is responsible
for leading enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy, policy, standards, and processes. The vice president provides regular updates to
our CEO and other members of management. Our board of directors has ultimate oversight of cybersecurity risk, which it manages as part
of our Enterprise Risk Management program. Cybersecurity periodically provides updates to our management on cyber risks and threats,
the status of projects to strengthen our information security systems, assessments of the information security program, and the emerging
threat landscape. Management informs the audit committee or the board of directors of risks from cybersecurity threats as necessary or
advisable.
For
the year ended December 31, 2024, we are not aware of any material cybersecurity incidents. While we have not, as of the date of this
annual report on Form 10-K, experienced a cybersecurity threat or incident resulting in a material adverse impact to our business or
operations, these threats are constantly evolving, thereby increasing the difficulty of successfully defending against them or implementing
adequate preventative measures. There can be no guarantee that we will not experience such an incident in the future. We maintain cybersecurity
insurance coverage that provides protection against losses arising from certain cybersecurity incidents. In addition, we seek to detect
and investigate unauthorized attempts and attacks against our network, products, and services, and to prevent their occurrence and recurrence
where practicable through changes or updates to our internal processes and tools and changes or updates to our products and services;
however, we remain potentially vulnerable to known or unknown threats.
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****
**Item
2. Properties.**
We
occupy approximately 150,000 square feet of office, laboratory and manufacturing space in Florham Park, New Jersey under a lease expiring
in 2036, which we use as our principal place of business. We believe that our existing facilities will be sufficient for our needs for
the foreseeable future.
**Item
3. Legal Proceedings.**
From
time to time, we may become involved in litigation or other legal proceedings. We are not currently a party to any litigation or legal
proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business other than as described
below. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management
resources and other factors.
*Arbitration
Demand from Palantir Technologies Inc.*
On
April 20, 2023, Palantir Technologies Inc., or Palantir, commenced an arbitration with JAMS Arbitration, or JAMS, asserting claims for
declaratory relief and breach of contract relating to the May 5, 2021 Master Subscription Agreement, or Palantir MSA, seeking damages
in an amount equal to the full value of the contract. We have responded to the arbitration demand and asserted counterclaims for breach
of contract, breach of warranty, fraudulent inducement, violation of Californias Unfair Competition Law, amongst others, in relation
to the Palantir MSA. On December 21, 2023, we entered into a settlement and release agreement as amended pursuant to the JAMS arbitration
proceeding asserting claims for declaratory relief and breach of contract relating to the Palantir MSA. Both parties agreed to dismiss
the arbitration proceeding and dispute and provide for mutual releases upon satisfaction of a settlement payment obligation. Through
June 3, 2024, we made total settlement payments of $3.5 million and issued Palantir an aggregate of 60,584 shares of our Class A common
stock as consideration for further amendments to the settlement and release agreement, and on June 4, 2024, the parties dismissed all
claims and counterclaims. The Palantir MSA has fully terminated and neither party has any further rights or obligations thereunder. The
shares of our Class A common stock issued to Palantir were issued with piggyback registration rights. Resale of such shares by Palantir
shall be included on any future registration statement we file.
*Celularity
Inc. v. Evolution Biologyx, LLC, et al.*
On
April 17, 2023, we filed a complaint against Evolution Biologyx, LLC, Saleem S. Saab, individually, and Encyte, LLC, (collectively, Evolution),
in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey to recover unpaid invoice amounts for the sale of our biomaterial products
in the amount of approximately $2.35 million, plus interest. In September 2021, we executed a distribution agreement with Evolution,
whereupon Evolution purchased biomaterial products from us for sale through Evolutions distribution channels. We fulfilled Evolutions
orders and otherwise performed each of our obligations under the distribution agreement. Despite attempts to recover the outstanding
invoices and Evolutions promise to pay, Evolution has refused to pay any of the invoices and has materially breached its obligations
under the distribution agreement. Our complaint asserts claims of breach of contract, amongst others. On April 4, 2024, Evolution filed
a counter claim alleging damages in an amount to be determined resulting from alleged breach of contract, breach of warranty, quasi contract
and fraud. We believe Evolutions counter claims are without any merit, and we intend to vigorously pursue the matter to recover
the outstanding payments owed by Evolution, including interest and associated attorneys fees, as well as defend against Evolutions
counterclaims.
*Civil
Investigative Demand*
We
received a Civil Investigative Demand, or Demand, under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3729, dated August 14, 2022, from the
U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Demand requests documents and information relating to claims
submitted to Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal insurers for services or procedures involving injectable human tissue therapy products
derived from amniotic fluid or birth tissue and includes Interfyl. We are cooperating with the request and are engaged in an ongoing
dialogue with the Assistant U.S. Attorneys handling the Demand. The matter is still in preliminary stages and there is uncertainty as
to whether the Demand will result in any liability.
*TargetCW
v. Celularity Inc*.
On
March 27, 2024, WMBE Payrolling, Inc., dba TCWGlobal, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of California alleging a breach of contract and account stated claims relating to a Master Services Agreement dated May 4,
2020, or the TCWGlobal MSA, for the provision of certain leased workers to perform services on our behalf. The complaint alleges
that we breached the TCWGlobal MSA by failing to make payments on certain invoices for the services of the leased workers. On May 7,
2024, we entered into a settlement agreement and mutual release with TCWGlobal pursuant to which we agreed to pay $516,127 in
tiered monthly installments, with the last payment due and payable on May 1, 2025, in exchange for a dismissal of the complaint and
full release of all claims. We defaulted on the payments in November 2024. On April 21, 2025, we were served with a motion by TCWGlobal to enforce
the settlement and enter judgment against us in the amount of $350,127.
*Hackensack Meridian v. Celularity Inc*.
On March
27, 2025, Hackensack Meridian Health (HUMC) filed a complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey seeking $947,576 allegedly
owed by Celularity for costs associated with clinical trials. The amounts claimed were part of a three-party arrangement with a contract
research organization (CRO), which we engaged to make payments on our behalf to HUMC. We have asserted that we believe there are improper
charges in the claim. The parties are attempting to agree on the actual amounts owed by us.
**Item
4. Mine Safety Disclosures.**
Not
applicable.
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**PART
II**
**Item
5. Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.**
****
**Market
Information**
Shares
of our Class A common stock have traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol CELU. Our ticker symbol for
our warrants, which are each exercisable for one-tenth of a share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $115.00 per share,
as adjusted for the reverse stock split, is CELUW.
****
**Holders**
As
of May 7, 2025, there were approximately 96 stockholders of record of our Class A common stock and four holders of record of our publicly
traded warrants.
****
**Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans**
Information
about our equity compensation plans is incorporated herein by reference to Item 12 of Part III of this annual report on Form 10-K.
****
**Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities**
On
January 10, 2024, we issued 20,000 shares of our Class A common stock to Palantir Technologies Inc., Palantir, pursuant to a Confidential
Letter Agreement by and among us and Palantir dated January 10, 2024.
On
May 6, 2024, we issued 40,584 shares of our Class A common stock to Palantir pursuant to a Confidential Letter Amendment to the Palantir
Settlement Agreement by and among us and Palantir dated December 21, 2023.
On
dates ranging from November 11, 2024 to November 14, 2024, we issued YA II PN. Ltd., or Yorkville, a total of 478,881 shares of our Class
A common stock in connection with the conversion of notes outstanding in the principal and interest amount of $1.3 million.
On
November 18, 2024, we issued 59,176 shares of our Class A common stock to a former employee pursuant to a Confidential Settlement and
Release Agreement by and among us and the former employee with an effective date of November 18, 2024.
**Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities**
None.
**Item
6. [Reserved]**
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**Item
7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.**
**
*The
following discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section
21E of the Exchange Act. See Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Such forward-looking statements, which
represent our intent, belief, or current expectations, involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results
and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In
some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as may, will, expect,
anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, predict, potential,
believe, should and similar expressions. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences in results
include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Item 1.B. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this annual report on Form
10-K. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date of this report or to reflect actual outcomes.*
****
**Overview**
We
are a regenerative and cellular medicines company focused on addressing aging related and degenerative diseases. Our goal is to ensure
all individuals have the opportunity to live healthier longer. We develop off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic cell therapy product
candidates including mesenchymal-like adherent stromal cells, or MLASCs, for which we have clinical datasets from Phase I and Phase II
clinical studies and are prioritizing advanced stage programs in diabetic foot ulcer, or DFU, and Crohns Disease, or CD. It also
includes natural killer, or NK cells, product candidates for which we have clinical datasets from Phase I and Phase II clinical studies
and are currently investigating in preclinical studies as senoablatant candidates. We believe that by harnessing the placentas
unique biology and ready availability, we will be able to develop therapeutic solutions that address a significant unmet global need
for effective, accessible and affordable therapeutics. Our advanced biomaterials business today is comprised primarily of the sale of
Biovance 3L and Rebound product lines, directly or through our distribution network. Biovance 3L is a tri-layer decellularized, dehydrated
human amniotic membrane derived from the placenta of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. It is an intact, natural extracellular matrix that
provides a foundation for the wound regeneration process and acts as a scaffold for restoration of functional tissue. Rebound is a full
thickness extracellular matrix that contains amnion and chorion. We are developing new placental biomaterial products to deepen the biomaterials
commercial pipeline. We also plan to leverage our core expertise in cellular therapeutic development and manufacturing to generate revenues
by providing contract manufacturing and development services to third parties. The initial focus of this new service offering will be
to assist development stage cell therapy companies with the development and manufacturing of their therapeutic candidates for clinical
trials.
We
are working toward a set of milestones with respect to off-the-shelf placental-derived allogeneic biomaterial product candidates and
cell therapy product candidates, respectively. With respect to our biomaterial product candidate pipeline, we expect to submit a 510(k)
application for our Celularity Tendon Wrap, or CTW, in the second half of 2025. We expect to advance the development of our FUSE Bone
Void Filler, or FUSE, with the objective of a 510(k) filing in the second half of 2026, and to advance the development of our Celularity
Placental Matrix, or CPM, with the objective of a 510(k) filing in the second half of 2027. With respect to our MLASCs cell therapy product
candidate for DFU (PDA 002), we expect in the first half of 2025 to request an End of Phase 2, or EOP2, meeting with the FDA as part
of which we intend to discuss with the FDA our Phase 3 plan and protocols. In addition, with respect to our MLASCs cell therapy product
candidate (PDA 001), we expect to complete, in the first half of 2025, our safety and efficacy assessment of previously generated data
that is one factor in determining whether to progress our MLASCs cell therapy product candidate in CD to a Phase 3 clinical trial.
Our
Celularity IMPACT manufacturing process is a seamless, fully integrated process designed to optimize speed and scalability from the sourcing
of placentas from full-term healthy informed consent donors through the use of proprietary processing methods, cell selection, product-specific
chemistry, manufacturing and controls, or CMC, advanced cell manufacturing and cryopreservation. The result is a suite of allogeneic
inventory-ready, on demand placental-derived cell therapy products. We also operate and manage a commercial biobanking business that
includes the collection, processing and cryogenic storage of certain birth byproducts for third-parties. A biobank is an organized collection
of biological human material and its associated information stored for future retrieval and use in research, regenerative medicine, and
innovation. We provide a fee-based biobanking service to expectant parents who contract with us to collect, process, cryogenically preserve
and store certain biomaterial, including umbilical cord blood and placenta derived cells and tissue. We receive a one-time fee for the
collection, processing, and cryogenic preservation of the biomaterials, and a storage fee to maintain the biomaterials in our biobank
payable annually generally over a period of 18 to 25 years. We intend to explore opportunities to diversify our biobanking business,
including adult cell banking.
Our
current science is the product of the cumulative background and effort over two decades of our seasoned and experienced management team.
We have our roots in Anthrogenesis Corporation, or Anthrogenesis, a company founded under the name Lifebank in 1998 by Robert J. Hariri,
M.D., Ph.D., our founder and Chief Executive Officer, and acquired in 2002 by Celgene Corporation, or Celgene. The team continued to
hone their expertise in the field of placental-derived technology at Celgene through August 2017, when we acquired Anthrogenesis. We
have a robust global intellectual property portfolio comprised of over 300 patents and patent applications protecting our Celularity
IMPACT platform, our processes, technologies and cell therapy programs that we are actively developing or are seeking to out-license/find
a collaboration partner to develop. We believe this know-how, expertise and intellectual property will drive the rapid development and,
if approved, commercialization of these potentially lifesaving therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.
| 71 | |
**Recent Developments**
On
October 9, 2024, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Sequence LifeScience, Inc., or Sequence, pursuant to which we acquired
Sequences Rebound full thickness placental-derived allograft matrix product, or the Product, and certain assets related
thereto, collectively the Asset. We will pay aggregate
consideration for the Asset of up to $5.5 million, which consists of (i) an upfront cash payment
of $1.0 million (ii) an aggregate of up to $4.0 million in monthly milestone payments, or the Milestone Payments, and (iii) a credit
of $0.5 million for the previous payment made by the Company to Sequence pursuant to that certain letter of intent between us and Sequence
dated August 16, 2024. Pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Milestone Payments are calculated based on 20% of net
sales collected by us from our customers during the preceding calendar month, commencing the first full month after the closing of the
transaction. The closing of the transaction occurred on October 9, 2024. Concurrently with the execution of the Asset Purchase Agreement,
we entered into an exclusive supply agreement with Sequence for the manufacture and supply of the Product for a minimum period of six
months. We retain the right to manufacture the Product internally and intend to commence a technology transfer as soon as practicable.
On November 25, 2024, we
entered into a securities purchase agreement with an accredited investor pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue to the investor
and other purchasers in a private placement transaction, in one or more closings, unsecured senior convertible notes (the November
Notes) and warrants (the November Warrants). As of the date of this annual report, we have issued and sold $0.75
million in aggregate principal amount of November Notes and related November Warrants. The November Notes bear interest at an annual rate
of 8% (increasing to 10% in the event of default as defined in the securities purchase agreement) and have a maturity date of one year
from the date of issuance. Upon an event of default, the November Notes are convertible at the holders option into shares of our
Class A common stock at a price per share equal to (i) $2.85 (adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, or similar
transactions); or (ii) the offering price of a subsequent financing transaction with gross proceeds of $2.5 million or more, subject to
a floor price of $1.00 per share. The November Warrants entitle the holder thereof to purchase shares of Class A common stock equal to
the principal amount of November Notes purchased by such holder, divided by the exercise price of $2.85 per share. The exercise price,
and the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable under the November Warrants, are subject to a one-time reset upon the completion
of a subsequent financing transaction with gross proceeds of $2.5 million or more, subject to a floor price of $1.00 per share. The November
Warrants are immediately exercisable and have a five-year term. In connection with the transaction, we issued a five-year warrant to the
placement agent to purchase 52,500 shares of Class A common stock (the Placement Agent Warrants) at an exercise price equal
to 125% of the offering price, or $3.56. The Placement Agent Warrants are subject to the same one-time reset upon completion of a subsequent
financing transaction as the November Warrants, except that the reset price for the Placement Agent Warrants shall be 125% of the reset
price of the November Warrants.
On December 27, 2024, we
entered into a securities purchase agreement with an institutional investor for the issuance and sale in a private placement (the December
Placement) of (i) 1,263,157 shares of our Class A common stock and (ii) five-year warrants to purchase up to 1,263,157 shares of
our Class A common stock, at a purchase price of $2.375 per share of Class A common stock and accompanying warrant. Effective as of January
23, 2025, the December Placement was terminated.
On January 24, 2025, we agreed
with the holder of warrants dated January 16, 2024 to purchase 535,274 shares of Class A common stock (the 2024 Warrant)
and warrants dated January 9, 2020, as amended, to purchase 652,981 shares of Class A common stock (the 2020 Warrant and
together with the 2024 Warrants, the Warrants) to amend the exercise price of the Warrants to $2.07 per share from $2.49
per share. The holder agreed to exercise the Warrants for gross proceeds to us of approximately $2.46 million.
On January 29, 2025, Dr.
Robert Hariri, our CEO, extended the maturity date of his outstanding loans from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
On February 12, 2025, we
entered into a binding term sheet with Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd, or RWI, pursuant to which RWI agreed to, among other things, an extension
of that certain second forbearance agreement dated as of March 13, 2024 whereby RWI has agreed not to exercise its rights and remedies
upon the occurrence of any default under certain loans owed to RWI and whereby the maturity date of the foregoing loans is extended to
February 15, 2026. Pursuant to the RWI binding term sheet, we agreed to (i) use a portion of the proceeds from our next registered public
offering to pay RWI approximately $1.3 million, representing cash interest through January 31, 2025 and (ii) issue to RWI, on July 24,
2025, a new five-year warrant to purchase up to 500,000 shares of our Class A common stock. In addition, we agreed to reprice certain
outstanding warrants held by RWI.
On February 12, 2025, we
entered into a binding term sheet, with C.V. Starr & Co., Inc., or Starr, pursuant to which Starr agreed to, among other things, an
extension of that certain forbearance agreement dated March 13, 2024 whereby Starr agreed not to exercise its rights and remedies upon
the occurrence of any default under certain loans owed to Starr and whereby the maturity date of the loan is extended to February 15,
2026. Pursuant to the Starr binding term sheet, we agreed to (i) use a portion of the proceeds from our next registered public offering
to pay Starr approximately $0.8 million, representing cash interest through January 31, 2025 and (ii) issue to Starr a new five-year warrant
to purchase up to 100,000 shares of our Class A common stock. In addition, we agreed to reprice certain outstanding warrants held by Starr.
On April 22, 2025, we
were notified by Nasdaq that we had not paid certain fees required by Listing Rule 5250(f) totalling $70,000, and as a result, we
will be delisted unless we appeal this determination. We paid the assessed fees on April 24, 2025, and Nasdaq informed us on April
30, 2025, that we were in compliance with Listing Rule 5250(f) and the matter is now closed. Additionally, on April 16, 2025, Nasdaq
provided formal notice to us that as a result of our failure to timely file this annual report on Form 10-K, we no longer complied
with the continued listing requirements under the timely filing criteria outlined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1). Pursuant to
Listing Rule 5810(d)(2), this delinquency serves as an additional and separate basis for delisting, and as such, our common stock
will be suspended from trading on May 1, 2025, unless we appeal Nasdaqs determination before a Hearing Panel. On April 29,
2025, we filed an appeal requesting an oral hearing with a Nasdaq Hearing Panel. There can be no assurance that the appeal will be
successful or that we will maintain compliance with the Nasdaq listing requirements. If relief is not granted by the Nasdaq Hearing
Panel or we are unable to regain compliance, our securities will be delisted from the Nasdaq.
**
**
| 72 | |
**
**Going Concern**
In accordance with Accounting
Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2014-15, *Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entitys Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic
205-40)*, or ASU 205-40, we evaluated whether there are certain conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial
doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued.
As a small clinical-stage
biotechnology company, we are subject to certain inherent risks and uncertainties associated with the development of an enterprise. In
this regard, since our inception, substantially all of managements efforts have been devoted to making investments in research
and development including basic scientific research into placentally-derived allogeneic cells, pre-clinical studies to support our current
and future clinical programs in cellular therapeutics, and clinical development of our cell programs as well as facilities and selling,
general and administrative expenses that support our core business operations (collectively the investments), all at the
expense of our short-term profitability. We have historically funded these investments through limited revenues generated from our biobanking
and degenerative disease businesses and issuances of equity and debt securities to public and private investors (these issuances are collectively
referred to as outside capital). Notwithstanding these efforts, management can provide no assurance that our research and
development and commercialization efforts will be successfully completed, or that adequate protection of our intellectual property will
be adequately maintained. Even if these efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, we will generate significant sales or operate
in a profitable manner to sustain our operations without needing to continue to rely on outside capital. Continued decline in our share
price could result in further impairment of our goodwill or long-lived assets in a future period.
As of the date the accompanying
consolidated financial statements were issued, or the issuance date, management evaluated the significance of the following adverse conditions
and events in accordance with ASU 205-40:
| 
| Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses and used net cash from operations. For
the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred an operating loss of $38.4 million and used net cash outflows in operations of $6.4 million.
As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $899.7 million. We expect to continue to incur significant operating losses
and use net cash in operations for the foreseeable future. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| We expect to incur substantial expenditures to fund our investments for the foreseeable future. In order
to fund these investments, we will need to secure additional sources of outside capital. While we are actively seeking to secure additional
outside capital (and have historically been able to successfully secure such capital), as of the issuance date, no additional outside
capital has been secured or was deemed probable of being secured. In addition, management can provide no assurance that we will be able
to secure additional outside capital in the future or on terms that are acceptable to us. Absent an ability to secure additional outside
capital in the very near term, we will be unable to meet our obligations as they become due over the next 12 months beyond the issuance
date. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| As of the issuance date, we had approximately $43.3 million of principal debt outstanding, all of which
is currently due or due within one year of the issuance date. As disclosed in Note 10, substantially all of our outstanding debt is subject
to a forbearance agreement. In the event the terms of the forbearance agreements are not met and/or the outstanding borrowings are not
repaid, the lenders may, at their discretion, exercise all of their rights and remedies under the loan agreements which may include, among
other things, seizing our assets and/or forcing us into liquidation. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| | As a result of our failure to timely
file this annual report on Form 10-K, we no longer complied with the continued listing requirements under the timely filing criteria
outlined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1). Pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(d)(2), this delinquency serves as an additional and
separate basis for delisting, and as such, our common stock will be suspended from trading on May 1, 2025, unless we appeal
Nasdaqs determination before a Hearing Panel. On April 29, 2025, we filed an appeal requesting an oral hearing with a Nasdaq
Hearing Panel. There can be no assurance that the appeal will be successful or that we will maintain compliance with the Nasdaq
listing requirements. If relief is not granted by the Nasdaq Hearing Panel or we are unable to regain compliance, our securities
will be delisted from the Nasdaq, which such delisting could have a materially adverse effect on our ability to continue as a going
concern. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| In the event we are unable to secure additional outside capital to fund our obligations when they become
due, including repayment of our outstanding debt, over the next 12 months beyond the issuance date, management will be required to seek
other strategic alternatives, which may include, among others, a significant curtailment of our operations, a sale of certain of our assets,
a sale of our entire company to strategic or financial investors, and/or allowing us to become insolvent by filing for bankruptcy protection
under the provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. | |
These uncertainties raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared
on the basis that we will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates that we will be able to realize assets and settle
liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
| 73 | |
**Business Segments**
We manage our operations
through an evaluation of three distinct business segments: Cell Therapy, Degenerative Disease, and BioBanking. The reportable
segments were determined based on the distinct nature of the activities performed by each segment. Cell Therapy broadly refers to
cellular therapies we are researching and developing. Therapies being researched are unproven and in various phases of development.
All of the cell therapy programs fall into the Cell Therapy segment. Degenerative Disease produces, sells and licenses products used
in surgical and wound care markets, such as Biovance, Biovance 3L, Interfyl and CentaFlex. We sell products in this segment using
independent sales representatives as well as distributors. We are developing additional tissue-based products for the Degenerative
Disease segment. BioBanking collects stem cells from umbilical cords and placentas and provides storage of such cells on behalf of
individuals for future use. We operate in the biobanking business primarily under the LifebankUSA brand. For more information about
our reportable business segments refer to Note 19, *Segment Information* of our audited consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.
**Corporate Information**
Celularity Inc., formerly
known as GX Acquisition Corp. (GX), was a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on August 24, 2018. The Company was
formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar
business combination with one or more businesses. On July 16, 2021 (the Closing Date), the Company consummated the previously
announced merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated January 8, 2021 (the Merger Agreement),
by and among GX, Alpha First Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of GX (First Merger
Sub), Celularity LLC (f/k/a Alpha Second Merger Sub LLC), a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary
of GX (Second Merger Sub), and the entity formerly known as Celularity Inc., incorporated under the laws of the state of
Delaware on August 29, 2016 (Legacy Celularity). Upon completion of the merger transaction, GX changed its name to Celularity
Inc.
Our principal executive offices
are located at 170 Park Avenue, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932, and our telephone number is (908) 768-2170. We maintain a website at *https://celularity.com/*
where general information about us is available. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual
report on Form 10-K, and you should not consider any information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of
this annual report or in deciding whether to purchase our securities.
**Components of Operating Results**
****
**Net revenues**
Net revenues include: (i)
sales of biomaterial products, including Biovance, Biovance 3L, ReboundTM, Interfyl, and CentaFlex of which our direct sales
are included in Product Sales while sales through our network of distribution partners are included in License, royalty and other; and
(ii) the collection, processing and storage of umbilical cord and placental blood and tissue after full-term pregnancies, collectively,
Services.
**Cost of revenues**
Cost of revenues consists
of labor, material and overhead costs associated with our two existing commercial business segments, biobanking and degenerative disease.
Biobanking costs include the cost of storage and transportation kits for newly banked materials as well as tank and facility overhead
costs for cord blood and other units in storage. Degenerative disease costs include costs associated with procuring placentas, qualifying
the placental material and processing the placental tissue into a marketable product. Costs in the degenerative disease segment include
labor and overhead costs associated with the production of the Biovance, Biovance 3L, Interfyl and CentaFlex product lines. Cost of revenues
associated with direct sales are part of Product Sales while cost of revenues associated with sales through our network of distribution
partners are included in License, royalty and other.
| 74 | |
**Research and development expense**
Our research and development
expenses primarily relate to basic scientific research into placentally derived allogeneic cells, pre-clinical studies to support our
current and future clinical programs in cellular medicine, clinical development of our NK cell programs and facilities, depreciation and
other direct and allocated expenses incurred as a result of research and development activities. We incur expenses for personnel expenses
for research scientists, specialized chemicals and reagents used to conduct biologic research, expense for third party testing and validation
and various overhead expenses including rent and facility maintenance expense. Basic research, research collaborations involving partners
and research designed to enable successful regulatory submissions is critical to our current and future success in cell therapy. The amount
of our research and development expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the timing of clinical trials, preliminary evidence
of efficacy in clinical trials and the number of indications that we choose to pursue.
**Selling, general and administrative expense**
Selling, general and administrative
expense consists primarily of personnel costs including salaries, bonuses, stock compensation and benefits for specialized staff that
support our core business operations. Executive management, finance, legal, human resources and information technology are key components
of selling, general and administrative expense and those expenses are recognized when incurred. We expect that as a result of our reprioritization
efforts, we will see a decrease in our selling, general and administrative costs in the near term. The magnitude and timing of our selling,
general and administrative costs will depend on the progress of clinical trials, commercialization efforts for any approved therapies
including the release of new products within the degenerative disease portfolio, changes in the regulatory environment or staffing needs
to support our business strategy.
**Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability**
Because the acquisitions
of Anthrogenesis from Celgene and HLI CT were accounted for as business combinations, we recognized acquisition-related contingent
consideration on the balance sheets in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting. See Note 12, *Commitments and
Contingencies* for more information. The fair value of contingent consideration liability is determined based on a
probability-weighted income approach derived from revenue estimates and a probability assessment with respect to the likelihood of
achieving regulatory and commercial milestone obligations and royalty obligations. The fair value of acquisition related contingent
consideration is remeasured each reporting period with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Changes in contingent consideration fair value estimates result in an increase or decrease in our contingent consideration
obligation and a corresponding charge or reduction to operating results. Key elements of the contingent consideration are regulatory
milestone payments, sales milestone payments and royalty payments. Regulatory payments are due on regulatory approval of certain
cell types in the United States and the European Union. Regulatory milestone payments are one time but are due prior to any
potential commercial success of a cell type in a specific indication. Royalty payments are a percentage of net sales. Sales
milestone payments are due when certain aggregate sales thresholds have been met. Management must use substantial judgment in
evaluating the value of the contingent consideration. Estimates used by management include but are not limited to: (i) the number
and type of clinical programs that we are likely to pursue based on the quality of our preclinical data, (ii) the time required to
conduct clinical trials, (iii) the odds of regulatory success in those trials, (iv) the potential number of patients treatable for
the indications in which we are successful and (v) the pricing of treatments that achieve commercial status. All of these areas
involve substantial judgment on the part of management and are inherently uncertain.
**Results of Operations**
****
**Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2024 to December
31, 2023**
****
| 
(in thousands) | | 
Year Ended December 31, | | | 
| | | 
Percent | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | | 
Change | | | 
Change | | |
| 
Revenues: | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Product sales, net | | 
$ | 35,336 | | | 
$ | 13,149 | | | 
$ | 22,187 | | | 
| 168.7 | % | |
| 
Services | | 
| 5,140 | | | 
| 5,441 | | | 
| (301 | ) | | 
| (5.5 | )% | |
| 
License, royalty and other | | 
| 13,744 | | | 
| 4,181 | | | 
| 9,563 | | | 
| 228.7 | % | |
| 
Total revenues | | 
| 54,220 | | | 
| 22,771 | | | 
| 31,449 | | | 
| 138.1 | % | |
| 
Operating expenses: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Cost of revenues (excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets) | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Product sales | | 
| 4,924 | | | 
| 8,628 | | | 
| (3,704 | ) | | 
| (42.9 | )% | |
| 
Services | | 
| 1,172 | | | 
| 1,650 | | | 
| (478 | ) | | 
| (29.0 | )% | |
| 
License, royalty and other | | 
| 8,893 | | | 
| 5,738 | | | 
| 3,155 | | | 
| 55.0 | % | |
| 
Research and development | | 
| 17,386 | | | 
| 30,465 | | | 
| (13,079 | ) | | 
| (42.9 | )% | |
| 
Selling, general and administrative | | 
| 58,643 | | | 
| 50,576 | | | 
| 8,067 | | | 
| 16.0 | % | |
| 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability | | 
| (193 | ) | | 
| (104,339 | ) | | 
| 104,146 | | | 
| (99.8 | )% | |
| 
Goodwill impairment | | 
| | | | 
| 112,347 | | | 
| (112,347 | ) | | 
| (100.0 | )% | |
| 
IPR&D impairment | | 
| | | | 
| 107,800 | | | 
| (107,800 | ) | | 
| (100.0 | )% | |
| 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | | 
| 1,753 | | | 
| 2,193 | | | 
| (440 | ) | | 
| (20.1 | )% | |
| 
Total operating expenses | | 
| 92,578 | | | 
| 215,058 | | | 
| (122,480 | ) | | 
| (57.0 | )% | |
| 
Loss from operations | | 
$ | (38,358 | ) | | 
$ | (192,287 | ) | | 
$ | 153,929 | | | 
| (80.1 | )% | |
| 75 | |
*Net Revenues and Cost of Revenues*
**
Net revenues for the year
ended December 31, 2024 was $54.2 million, an increase of $31.4 million, or 138.1%, compared to the prior year period. The increase was
primarily due to a $22.2 million increase in product sales driven mainly by increased sales of Biovance 3L and Rebound and a $9.6 million
increase in license, royalty and other driven by Rebound distributor sales, which we started selling in the third quarter of 2024 through
an exclusive distribution agreement with Sequence. On October 9, 2024, we acquired Rebound in an asset purchase agreement with Sequence.
For more information about the Rebound asset purchase agreement, see Note 3, *Asset Acquisition* in our audited consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.
Cost of revenues for the
year ended December 31, 2024 was $15.0 million, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 6.4%, compared to the prior year period. The decrease
was primarily due to a $3.7 million decrease in product sales costs, which was primarily related to lower inventory impairment
charges. Included in product sales costs in the current year were inventory impairment and obsolescence charges of $0.8 million,
compared to inventory impairment charges of $5.4 million in the prior year period due to lower of cost or market adjustments. The
decrease in product sales costs was partially offset by an increase of $3.2 million in licenses, royalty and other costs, primarily
driven by Rebound distributor sales. As a percentage of revenues, cost of revenues decreased to 28% for the year ended December 31,
2024 compared to 70% in the prior year period. This decrease was due to an increase in Biovance 3L and Rebound sales, which have a
higher gross profit margin than other biomaterial products and lower inventory impairment charges.
*Research and Development Expenses*
Research and development
expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $17.4 million, a decrease of $13.1 million, or 42.9%, compared to the prior year period.
The decrease was primarily due to: (i) $8.2 million decrease in outside services, driven by a $2.8 million decrease in clinical trial
costs, resulting from discontinuing certain clinical trials related to cell therapy candidates and $4.0 million included in the prior year period in connection with the Pulthera, LLC sublicense agreement for stem cells inventory to be
used in research and development; (ii) $3.6 million decrease in personnel costs, mainly due to a
reduction in force implemented in March 2023; and, (iii) $1.9 million decrease in corporate allocations.
*Selling, General and Administrative Expenses*
Selling, general and administrative
expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $58.6 million, an increase of $8.1 million, or 16.0%, compared to the prior year period.
The increase was primarily due to higher selling expenses, which were driven by an increase in biomaterial sales.
*Change in Fair Value of Contingent
Consideration Liability*
The acquisition-related contingent
consideration liability decreased to $1.4 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $1.6 million at December 31, 2023. This decrease,
resulting in a gain of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, was driven by adjustments to market-based assumptions related
to future consideration payable in connection with the HLI Cellular Therapeutics acquisition. In 2023, we discontinued our cell therapy
clinical trials, which led to the full write-off the Anthrogenesis acquisition-related contingent consideration liability. As a result,
we recognized a gain of $104.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. For more information about changes in the fair value of contingent
consideration liability refer to Note 4, *Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities* of our audited consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K).
| 76 | |
*Impairments*
There were no impairment
charges for the year ended December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded goodwill and IPR&D impairment charge
of $112.3 million and $107.8 million, respectively, due to the decline in future revenue projections in the Cell Therapy business driven
by discontinuation of clinical trials and changes in our strategy and pipeline.
*Other Income (Expense)*
**
| 
(in thousands) | | 
Year Ended December 31, | | | 
| | | 
Percent | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | | 
Change | | | 
Change | | |
| 
Interest income | | 
$ | 331 | | | 
$ | 320 | | | 
$ | 11 | | | 
| 3.4 | % | |
| 
Interest expense | | 
| (6,264 | ) | | 
| (3,015 | ) | | 
| (3,249 | ) | | 
| 107.8 | % | |
| 
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | | 
| 398 | | | 
| 6,164 | | | 
| (5,766 | ) | | 
| (93.5 | )% | |
| 
Change in fair value of debt | | 
| (492 | ) | | 
| (1,177 | ) | | 
| 685 | | | 
| (58.2 | )% | |
| 
Loss on debt extinguishment | | 
| (3,908 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| (3,908 | ) | | 
| (100.0 | )% | |
| 
Other expense, net | | 
| (9,599 | ) | | 
| (6,290 | ) | | 
| (3,309 | ) | | 
| 52.6 | % | |
| 
Total other expense | | 
$ | (19,534 | ) | | 
$ | (3,998 | ) | | 
$ | (15,536 | ) | | 
| 388.6 | % | |
For the year ended December
31, 2024, total other expense was $19.5 million compared to $4.0 million in the prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to changes
in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $5.8 million, a loss on debt extinguishment of $3.9 million and an increase in interest expense
of $3.2 million. Change in fair value of warrant liability for the year ended December 31, 2023, was a $6.2 million gain primarily due
to decreases in the price of our Class A common stock during the prior year period (see Note 4, *Fair Value of Financial Assets
and Liabilities* of our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K). Included
in the year ended December 31, 2024 was a $3.9 million loss on debt extinguishment recorded in connection with the January 12, 2024 RWI
Second Amended Bridge Loan (for more information about the RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan refer to Note 10, *Debt* in
our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K). The $3.2 million increase in interest
expense was primarily driven by interest on the January 12, 2024, RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan. Other expense, net increased $3.3 million
from the prior period primarily due to an accrual for liquidated damages resulting from our failure to satisfy certain public information
conditions pursuant to the securities purchase agreement dated May 18, 2022.
**Liquidity and Capital Resources**
As of December 31, 2024,
we had $0.7 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and an accumulated deficit of $899.7 million. Our primary sources of cash
are revenues generated through our biomaterials and biobanking commercial businesses, as well as financing activities. Our capital resources
are primarily used to fund our operating expenses, including: selling, general and administrative costs to operate our commercial businesses;
costs to maintain our GMP manufacturing and research and development facility; and, costs related to development of our advanced biomaterial
and cell therapy product candidates, along with cash used for debt repayment.
On October 9, 2024, we entered
into an asset purchase agreement with Sequence LifeScience, Inc., or Sequence, pursuant to which we acquired Sequences Rebound
full thickness placental-derived allograft matrix product, or the Product, and certain assets related thereto, collectively the Asset.
We will pay aggregate consideration for the Asset of up to $5.5 million, which consists of (i) an upfront cash payment of $1.0 million
(ii) an aggregate of up to $4.0 million in monthly milestone payments, or the Milestone Payments, and (iii) a credit of $0.5 million for
the previous payment made by us to Sequence pursuant to that certain letter of intent between us and Sequence dated August 16, 2024. Pursuant
to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Milestone Payments are calculated based on 20% of net sales collected by us from our
customers during the preceding calendar month, commencing the first full month after the closing of the transaction. The closing of the
transaction occurred on October 9, 2024. Concurrently with the execution of the Asset Purchase Agreement, we entered into an exclusive
supply agreement with Sequence for the manufacture and supply of the Product for a minimum period of six months. We retain the right to
manufacture the Product internally and intend to commence a technology transfer as soon as practicable.
| 77 | |
On November 25, 2024, we
entered into a securities purchase agreement with an accredited investor pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue to the investor
and other purchasers in a private placement transaction, in one or more closings, unsecured senior convertible notes (the November
Notes) and warrants (the November Warrants). As of the date of this annual report, we have issued and sold $0.75
million in aggregate principal amount of November Notes and related November Warrants. The November Notes bear interest at an annual rate
of 8% (increasing to 10% in the event of default as defined in the securities purchase agreement) and have a maturity date of one year
from the date of issuance. Upon an event of default, the November Notes are convertible at the holders option into shares of our
Class A common stock at a price per share equal to (i) $2.85 (adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, or similar
transactions); or (ii) the offering price of a subsequent financing transaction with gross proceeds of $2.5 million or more, subject to
a floor price of $1.00 per share. The November Warrants entitle the holder thereof to purchase shares of Class A common stock equal to
the principal amount of November Notes purchased by such holder, divided by the exercise price of $2.85 per share. The exercise price,
and the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable under the November Warrants, are subject to a one-time reset upon the completion
of a subsequent financing transaction with gross proceeds of $2.5 million or more, subject to a floor price of $1.00 per share. The November
Warrants are immediately exercisable and have a five-year term. In connection with the transaction, we issued a five-year warrant to the
placement agent to purchase 52,500 shares of Class A common stock (the Placement Agent Warrants) at an exercise price equal
to 125% of the offering price, or $3.56. The Placement Agent Warrants are subject to the same one-time reset upon completion of a subsequent
financing transaction as the November Warrants, except that the reset price for the Placement Agent Warrants shall be 125% of the reset
price of the November Warrants.
On January 24, 2025, we agreed
with the holder of warrants dated January 16, 2024 to purchase 535,274 shares of Class A common stock (the 2024 Warrant)
and warrants dated January 9, 2020, as amended, to purchase 652,981 shares of Class A common stock (the 2020 Warrant and
together with the 2024 Warrants, the Warrants) to amend the exercise price of the Warrants to $2.07 per share from $2.49
per share. The holder agreed to exercise the Warrants for gross proceeds to us of approximately $2.46 million.
On January 29, 2025, Dr.
Robert Hariri, our CEO, extended the maturity date of his outstanding loans from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
As of the issuance date,
we had insufficient unrestricted cash and cash equivalents available to fund our operations and no available additional sources of outside
capital to sustain our operations for a period of 12 months beyond the issuance date. These uncertainties raise substantial doubt about
our ability to continue as a going concern. Refer to the Going Concern section above for further details.
To date, we have not had
any cellular therapeutics approved for sale and have not generated any revenues from the sale of our cellular therapeutics and we are
not actively developing any cellular therapeutics in our pipeline given our liquidity. We do not expect to generate any revenues from
cellular therapeutic product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more
of our therapeutic candidates, which we expect will take a number of years. If we obtain regulatory approval for any of our therapeutic
candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to therapeutic sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution
as our current commercialization efforts are limited to our biobanking and degenerative disease businesses. As a result, until such time,
if ever, as we can generate sufficient revenues to fund operations, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt
financings or other capital sources, including commercial sales of our biomaterials products, as well as potentially collaborations, licenses
and other similar arrangements for our cellular therapeutic candidates. We continue to explore licensing and collaboration arrangements
for our cellular therapeutics as well as distribution arrangements for our degenerative disease business. However, we may be unable to
raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. Any failure to raise capital as
and when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies.
Failure to obtain this necessary capital or address our liquidity needs may force us to delay, limit or terminate our operations, make
further reductions in our workforce, discontinue our commercialization efforts for our biomaterials products as well as other clinical
trial programs, liquidate all or a portion of our assets or pursue other strategic alternatives, and/or seek protection under the provisions
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
We expect to incur substantial
expenses in the foreseeable future for the expansion of our degenerative disease business and ongoing internal research and development
programs. We will require substantial additional funding in the future to build the sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure that
will be necessary to commercialize our biomaterials products.
To date, inflation has not
had a significant impact on our business. However, any significant increase in inflation and interest rates could have a significant effect
on the economy in general and, thereby, could affect our future operating results.
****
****
| 78 | |
****
**Cash Flows**
****
The following table
summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| 
(in thousands) | | 
Year Ended December 31, | | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | | 
Change | | |
| 
Cash (used in)/provided by | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Operating activities | | 
$ | (6,401 | ) | | 
$ | (38,685 | ) | | 
$ | 32,284 | | |
| 
Investing activities | | 
| 514 | | | 
| (4,048 | ) | | 
| 4,562 | | |
| 
Financing activities | | 
| 6,701 | | | 
| 24,094 | | | 
| (17,393 | ) | |
| 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | 
$ | 814 | | | 
$ | (18,639 | ) | | 
$ | 19,453 | | |
*Operating Activities*
We used $6.4 million of net
cash in operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $38.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was
primarily due to higher net revenues driven mainly by increased sales of Biovance 3L and Rebound and lower operating expenses mainly due
to lower research and development costs resulting from discontinuation of certain clinical trials related to cell therapy candidates.
*Investing Activities*
Net cash provided by investing
activities was $0.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $4.0 million
during the year ended December 31, 2023. Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 included $2.2
million settlement of a convertible note receivable from Sanuwave, offset by $1.5 million for the Rebound asset purchase and $0.2 million
of capital expenditures. Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, included $1.0 million of capital
expenditures and $3.0 million used to acquire in-process research and development.
*Financing Activities*
Net cash provided by financing
activities was $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, which consisted of $15.0 million from the RWI Second Amended Bridge
Loan entered into on January 12, 2024, $6.0 million from the January 2024 private placement with Dragasac and $3.6 million net proceeds
from convertible debt issuances, including $3.0 million from the March 13, 2024 convertible promissory note issued to Yorkville and $0.6
million from the November 2024 convertible promissory note issued to an accredited investor, partially offset by $17.4 million for the
payment in full of the Yorkville PPA. We generated $24.1 million of net cash from financing activities for the year ended December 31,
2023, which included: $11.6 million aggregate net cash proceeds from senior secured bridge loan and warrant agreements entered into with
Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd, in May 2023 and June 2023; $12.8 million in cash proceeds from PIPE financings, consisting of a $9.0 million
PIPE entered into in March 2023 and a $3.8 million PIPE entered into in May 2023; $5.0 million in proceeds from the issuance of a senior
secured bridge loan and warrants to C.V. Starr in March 2023; $8.2 million net proceeds from registered direct offerings, consisting of
net proceeds of $5.5 million from a registered direct offering in April 2023 and $2.7 million registered direct offering in July 2023;
and $3.0 million in proceeds from loan agreements entered into in August 2023, including a $1.0 million loan agreement with Dr. Robert
Hariri, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Partially offsetting these sources was $16.8 million principal repayments of the PPA.
**Critical Accounting Policies**
****
Our significant accounting
policies are summarized in Note 2, *Summary of Significant Accounting Policies*, included in our consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.
The preparation of our
consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated
financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions
reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, assumptions related to goodwill and intangible
impairment assessment, the valuation of inventory, gross-to-net sales adjustments, contingent consideration, short-term debt, and
contingent stock consideration, determination of incremental borrowing rates, and the valuations of stock options and preferred
stock warrants. We based our estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors
that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates when there are
changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
| 79 | |
**Revenue Recognition**
****
We recognize revenue
when control of the products and services is transferred to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive
from our customers in exchange for those products and services. This process involves identifying the contract with a customer, determining
the performance obligations in the contract, determining the contract price, allocating the contract price to the distinct performance
obligations in the contract, and recognizing revenue when the performance obligations have been satisfied.
A performance obligation
is considered distinct from other obligations in a contract when it provides a benefit to the customer either on its own or together with
other resources that are readily available to the customer and is separately identified in the contract. We consider a performance obligation
satisfied once it has transferred control of a good or service to the customer, meaning the customer has the ability to use and obtain
the benefit of the good or service. Transaction prices of products or services are typically based on contracted rates with customers
and to the extent that the transaction price includes variable consideration, we estimate the amount of variable consideration that should
be included in the transaction price utilizing the expected value method or the most likely amount, depending on the circumstances, to
which we expect to be entitled.
Products within our
Degenerative Disease segment generally do not contain multiple elements. We allow for a right of return for those products but to date
returns have been minimal.
**Valuation of Goodwill and Intangible Assets**
****
We have acquired and
may continue to acquire significant intangible assets in connection with business combinations, which we record at fair value. The determination
of fair value requires the use of forecasts, estimates and assumptions, which requires significant judgment by management. Each of these
factors are subject to uncertainty and can significantly affect the value of the intangible asset.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived
intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually or when an event occurs that could result in an impairment. The impairment analysis
requires the exercise of significant judgment by management and can involve both the assessment of qualitative factors (which are subject
to uncertainty and can change significantly from period to period), as well as a quantitative. For our quantitative impairment tests,
we use an estimated future cash flow approach that requires significant judgment with respect to future volume, revenue and expense growth
rates, the selection of an appropriate discount rate, asset groupings and other assumptions and estimates. The estimates and assumptions
used are subject to uncertainty. The use of alternative estimates and assumptions could increase or decrease the estimated fair value
of the assets and could potentially impact our results of operations. Actual results may differ from our estimates. For the year ended
December 31, 2023, we recognized goodwill impairment charges of $112.3 million and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charges
associated with IPR&D of $107.8 million. For more information about the trigger events leading to the impairments refer to Note 2,
*Summary of Significant Accounting Policies* and Note 8, Goodwill and Intangibles, Net of our consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K).
**Valuation of Inventory**
We have disclosed our inventory
valuation policy in Note 2, *Summary of Significant Accounting Policies* of our consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K. We periodically analyze the inventory levels to determine whether there is any obsolete,
expired, or excess inventory. If any inventory is (i) expected to expire prior to being sold, (ii) has a cost basis in excess of its net
realizable value, (iii) is in excess of expected sales requirements as determined by internal sales forecasts, or (iv) fails to meet commercial
sale specifications, the inventory is written-down through a charge to cost of revenues. The determination of whether inventory costs
will be realizable requires estimates by management of future expected inventory requirements, based on sales forecasts. If actual market
conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, inventory write-downs may be required. Inventory, net of current portion
on our consolidated balance sheets includes inventory expected to remain on hand beyond one year. For the year ended December 31, 2024,
we recognized inventory impairment and obsolescence charges totaling $0.8 million. In comparison, for the year ended December 31, 2023,
we recorded inventory impairment charges of $5.4 million, consisting of lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments for finished goods and work
in progress of $2.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively. Both years inventory impairment charges are reflected in cost of revenues
in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
| 80 | |
**Contingent Consideration**
****
We have
acquisition-related contingent consideration, which consists of potential milestone and royalty obligations, which was recorded in
the consolidated balance sheets at our acquisition-date estimated fair value. We remeasure the fair value each reporting period,
with changes recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The determination of fair value requires the exercise of
significant judgment and estimates by management. These include estimates and assumptions regarding the achievement and timing of
milestones, forecasted revenues and assumptions utilized in calculating a discount rate. If managements assumptions prove to
be inaccurate, it could result in changes to the contingent consideration liability and have a material effect on our results of
operations.
**Warrant Liability**
****
Accounting for liability
classified warrants requires management to exercise judgment and make estimates and assumptions regarding their fair value (for more
information about the material inputs and assumptions used to value the liability classified warrants refer to Note 4,
*Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities* of our audited consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K). The warrant liabilities are initially recorded at fair value upon the date of
issuance and subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date, with changes recognized in the consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive loss. Changes in the fair value of the liability classified warrants will continue to be recognized until the warrants are
exercised, expire or qualify for equity classification.
**Stock-Based Compensation**
****
We recognize compensation
expense related to stock options granted to employees and nonemployees based on the estimated grant date fair value and recognize forfeitures
as they occur. We estimate the grant date fair value, and the resulting stock-based compensation expense, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing
model for service-based and performance-based awards. For awards with market conditions, we utilize a Monte-Carlo model to estimate the
fair value of those awards. The grant date fair value of the stock-based awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite
service period, which is typically the vesting period of the respective awards. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model and Monte-Carlo
model requires the use of highly subjective assumptions to determine the fair value of stock-based awards. See Note 14, Stock-Based
Compensation to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K for information
concerning certain of the specific assumptions used in applying the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the estimated fair
value of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Such assumptions involve inherent uncertainties and
the application of significant judgment. As a result, if factors or expected outcomes change and we use significantly different assumptions
or estimates, our stock-based compensation could be materially different.
**Leases**
****
We cannot readily determine
the interest rate implicit in the lease, therefore, we use our incremental borrowing rate, or IBR, to measure lease liabilities. The IBR
is the rate of interest that we would have to pay to borrow over a similar term, and with a similar security, the funds necessary to obtain
an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use, or ROU, asset in a similar economic environment. The IBR therefore reflects what we would
have to pay, which requires estimation when no observable rates are available or when they need to be adjusted to reflect the terms
and conditions of the lease. We estimate the IBR using observable inputs (such as market interest rates) when available and are required
to make certain entity and asset-specific estimates. The IBR used in the calculation of the present value of lease payments in calculating
lease liabilities and the corresponding ROU requires the use of significant judgment by management.
**Short-Term Debt**
We elected the fair value
option to account for the Yorkville PPA. Due to its short-term nature, as of December 31, 2023, the Yorkville PPA fair value approximated
the January 17, 2024 settlement amount. We also elected the fair value option to account for the Yorkville convertible promissory note,
issued on March 13, 2024, and the unsecured senior convertible notes, issued pursuant to the securities purchase agreement signed on November
25, 2024. The Yorkville convertible promissory note and the unsecured senior convertible notes are comprised of the debt host instruments
and embedded derivatives. The fair values of the Yorkville convertible promissory note and unsecured senior convertible notes are based
on valuations which employ a Monte Carlo model and a credit default model. The fair value measurement of the debt was determined using
Level 3 inputs and assumptions unobservable in the market. Changes in the fair value of debt that is accounted for at fair value, inclusive
of related accrued interest expense, are presented as gains or losses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive
income (loss) under change in fair value of debt. The portion of total changes in fair value of debt attributable to changes in instrument-specific
credit risk are determined through specific measurement of periodic changes in the discount rate assumption exclusive of base market changes
and are presented as a component of comprehensive income (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive
income (loss). The actual settlement of the short-term debt could differ from estimates based on the timing of when and if the investors
elect to convert amounts into common shares, potential cash repayment by us prior to maturity, and movements in our common share price.
| 81 | |
**Recent Accounting Pronouncements**
****
See Note 2, *Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies* to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form
10-K for information about recent accounting pronouncements, the timing of their adoption, and our assessment, to the extent we have made
one, of their potential impact on our financial condition of results of operations.
**Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk.**
****
****
We are exposed to market
risks in the ordinary course of business. These risks primarily include interest rate sensitivities.
**Interest Rate Risk**
****
We had cash and cash
equivalents of $0.7 million as of December 31, 2024, which consists principally of cash held in commercial bank accounts and money market
funds having an original maturity of less than three months. At December 31, 2024, substantially all cash and cash equivalents were held
in either commercial bank accounts or money market funds. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve capital to
fund our operations. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk. Because our investments are
primarily short-term in duration, we believe that our exposure to interest rate risk is not significant, and a 1% movement in market interest
rates would not have a significant impact on the total value of our portfolio. We have no variable interest debt outstanding as of December
31, 2024.
**Effects of Inflation**
****
Inflation generally
affects us by increasing our cost of labor and clinical trial costs. We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our
results of operations during the periods presented.
**Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.**
| 
Page | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 274) | 
83 | |
| 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 34) | 
84 | |
| 
Consolidated Balance Sheets | 
85 | |
| 
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss | 
86 | |
| 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity | 
87 | |
| 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow | 
88 | |
| 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 
89 | |
| 82 | |
**REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM**
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Celularity Inc.
**Opinion on
the Financial Statements**
****
We
have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Celularity Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and
the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders equity, and cash flows for the year
then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31,
2024, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 
**Going Concern**
****
The accompanying financial
statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements,
the Company has suffered recurring losses and net cash outflows from operations and has outstanding debt that is currently due for which
the Company does not have sufficient liquidity to repay, which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
Managements plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments
that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
**Basis for
Opinion**
****
These financial statements
are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statements
based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB)
and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit
in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to
have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required
to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness
of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included
performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing
procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for
our opinion.
**Critical Audit Matter**
The critical audit matter communicated
below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated
to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved
our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way
our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing
a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
**Accounting for Debt and Equity Transactions**
As described in Notes 10 and 13
to the financial statements, the Company entered into a series of debt and equity financing arrangements with both existing and new debt
and equity holders. The transactions were entered into at various times throughout 2024 and consisted of convertible notes, standby equity
purchase agreements, private placements, existing loan modifications and warrant agreements. The description of the transactions and accounting
implications are disclosed in Note 10 under the following captions: Yorkville Convertible Promissory Note, Unsecured Senior Convertible
Notes, Short-Term Debt-Related Parties C.V. Starr and RWI; and Note 13 under January 2024 PIPE and Standby Equity Purchase Agreement.
Based on the specific terms in the agreements and the applicable authoritative guidance, the Company determined the appropriate debt and
equity classification for each transaction as well as the proper accounting treatment and valuation.
We identified the assessment of
the appropriate accounting and balance sheet classification of the common stock warrants as equity or liability, as well as the accounting
and valuation of the various debt and equity instruments issued, as a critical audit matter due to the complexity in assessing the instruments
features, which requires management to interpret the complex terms in the agreements and apply the appropriate accounting
authoritative guidance and apply judgement in the estimates and assumptions involved in the valuation. As such, there was a high
degree of auditor judgement and subjectivity, and significant audit effort was required in performing procedures to evaluate managements
conclusions.
Addressing the critical audit
matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the financial statements.
These procedures included, among others, (i) obtaining an understanding of and evaluating the design of controls related
to accounting over financial reporting, including complex transactions; (ii) obtaining the agreements, and evaluating the terms and conditions
of the agreements, and (iii) assessing the reasonableness of managements interpretation and application of the appropriate authoritative
accounting guidance; and the appropriateness of conclusions reached by management which included (a) evaluating the underlying terms
of the agreements, (b) assessing the appropriateness of managements application of the authoritative accounting guidance and (c)
evaluating the methodologies and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the debt and equity instruments issued. Professionals
with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the valuation model, and (ii) the reasonableness
and appropriateness of certain assumptions used in evaluating the reasonableness of the fair value of certain of the debt and equity
instruments issued.
/s/ EisnerAmper LLP
We have served as the Companys
auditor since 2024.
EISNERAMPER LLP
Iselin, New Jersey
May 8, 2025
| 83 | |
****
**REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM**
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Celularity Inc.
**Opinion on
the Financial Statements**
****
We have audited the
accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Celularity Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2023, the related
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), stockholders equity (deficit), and cash flows for the
year ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023, and
the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
**Going Concern**
****
The accompanying financial
statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements,
the Company has suffered recurring losses and net cash outflows from operations and has outstanding debt that is currently due for which
the Company does not have sufficient liquidity to repay, which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
Managements plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments
that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
**Basis for
Opinion**
****
These financial statements
are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statements
based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB)
and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit
in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to
have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required
to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness
of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included
performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing
procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for
our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Morristown, New Jersey
July
30, 2024 (May 8, 2025, as to the effects of the adoption of ASU No. 2023-07, *Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable
Segment Disclosures*, described in Note 2).
We
began serving as the Companys auditor in 2018. In 2024, we became the predecessor auditor.
| 84 | |
**CELULARITY INC.**
**CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS**
**(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)**
****
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Assets | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Current assets: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Cash and cash equivalents | | 
$ | 738 | | | 
$ | 227 | | |
| 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $6,294 and $5,837 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively | | 
| 13,557 | | | 
| 10,046 | | |
| 
Notes receivable | | 
| | | | 
| 2,072 | | |
| 
Inventory | | 
| 5,409 | | | 
| 5,753 | | |
| 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | 
| 857 | | | 
| 1,695 | | |
| 
Total current assets | | 
| 20,561 | | | 
| 19,793 | | |
| 
Property and equipment, net | | 
| 61,600 | | | 
| 67,828 | | |
| 
Goodwill | | 
| 7,347 | | | 
| 7,347 | | |
| 
Intangible assets, net | | 
| 9,248 | | | 
| 11,001 | | |
| 
Right-of-use assets - operating leases | | 
| 10,830 | | | 
| 10,990 | | |
| 
Restricted cash | | 
| 10,239 | | | 
| 9,936 | | |
| 
Inventory, net of current portion | | 
| 12,587 | | | 
| 16,657 | | |
| 
Other long-term assets | | 
| 270 | | | 
| 337 | | |
| 
Total assets | | 
$ | 132,682 | | | 
$ | 143,889 | | |
| 
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Current liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Accounts payable | | 
$ | 23,296 | | | 
$ | 14,144 | | |
| 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | | 
| 19,842 | | | 
| 7,580 | | |
| 
Accrued R&D software | | 
| | | | 
| 3,500 | | |
| 
Acquisition-related contingent consideration | | 
| 650 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Short-term debt - unaffiliated (includes debt measured at fair value of $2,485 and $17,223 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively) | | 
| 2,485 | | | 
| 19,331 | | |
| 
Short-term debt - related parties | | 
| 3,876 | | | 
| 19,909 | | |
| 
Short-term debt | | 
| 3,876 | | | 
| 19,909 | | |
| 
Deferred revenue | | 
| 3,531 | | | 
| 2,834 | | |
| 
Total current liabilities | | 
| 53,680 | | | 
| 67,298 | | |
| 
Deferred revenue, net of current portion | | 
| 2,724 | | | 
| 3,186 | | |
| 
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, net of current portion | | 
| 1,413 | | | 
| 1,606 | | |
| 
Long-term debt - related parties | | 
| 35,927 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Long-term lease liabilities | | 
| 26,548 | | | 
| 26,177 | | |
| 
Warrant liabilities | | 
| 3,264 | | | 
| 4,359 | | |
| 
Deferred income tax liabilities | | 
| 9 | | | 
| 9 | | |
| 
Other liabilities | | 
| 280 | | | 
| 294 | | |
| 
Total liabilities | | 
| 123,845 | | | 
| 102,929 | | |
| 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12) | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Stockholders equity: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 730,000,000 shares authorized, 22,546,671 and 19,378,192 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively | | 
| 2 | | | 
| 19 | | |
| 
Additional paid-in capital | | 
| 908,523 | | | 
| 882,732 | | |
| 
Accumulated deficit | | 
| (899,683 | ) | | 
| (841,791 | ) | |
| 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | 
| (5 | ) | | 
| | | |
| 
Total stockholders equity | | 
| 8,837 | | | 
| 40,960 | | |
| 
Total liabilities and stockholders equity | | 
$ | 132,682 | | | 
$ | 143,889 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
| 85 | |
**CELULARITY INC.**
**CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE
LOSS**
**(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)**
****
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Revenues | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Product sales, net | | 
$ | 35,336 | | | 
$ | 13,149 | | |
| 
Services | | 
| 5,140 | | | 
| 5,441 | | |
| 
License, royalty and other | | 
| 13,744 | | | 
| 4,181 | | |
| 
Total net revenues | | 
| 54,220 | | | 
| 22,771 | | |
| 
Operating expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Cost of revenues (excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets) | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Product sales | | 
| 4,924 | | | 
| 8,628 | | |
| 
Services | | 
| 1,172 | | | 
| 1,650 | | |
| 
License, royalty and other | | 
| 8,893 | | | 
| 5,738 | | |
| 
Cost of revenues | | 
| 8,893 | | | 
| 5,738 | | |
| 
Research and development | | 
| 17,386 | | | 
| 30,465 | | |
| 
Selling, general and administrative | | 
| 58,643 | | | 
| 50,576 | | |
| 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability | | 
| (193 | ) | | 
| (104,339 | ) | |
| 
Goodwill impairment | | 
| | | | 
| 112,347 | | |
| 
IPR&D impairment | | 
| | | | 
| 107,800 | | |
| 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | | 
| 1,753 | | | 
| 2,193 | | |
| 
Total operating expenses | | 
| 92,578 | | | 
| 215,058 | | |
| 
Loss from operations | | 
| (38,358 | ) | | 
| (192,287 | ) | |
| 
Other income (expense): | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Interest income | | 
| 331 | | | 
| 320 | | |
| 
Interest expense | | 
| (6,264 | ) | | 
| (3,015 | ) | |
| 
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | | 
| 398 | | | 
| 6,164 | | |
| 
Change in fair value of debt | | 
| (492 | ) | | 
| (1,177 | ) | |
| 
Loss on debt extinguishment | | 
| (3,908 | ) | | 
| | | |
| 
Other expense, net | | 
| (9,599 | ) | | 
| (6,290 | ) | |
| 
Total other expense | | 
| (19,534 | ) | | 
| (3,998 | ) | |
| 
Loss before income taxes | | 
| (57,892 | ) | | 
| (196,285 | ) | |
| 
Income tax expense | | 
| | | | 
| 10 | | |
| 
Net loss | | 
$ | (57,892 | ) | | 
$ | (196,295 | ) | |
| 
Change in fair value of debt due to change in credit risk, net of tax | | 
| (5 | ) | | 
| 146 | | |
| 
Other comprehensive (loss) income | | 
| (5 | ) | | 
| 146 | | |
| 
Comprehensive loss | | 
$ | (57,897 | ) | | 
$ | (196,149 | ) | |
| 
Share information: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net loss per share basic and diluted | | 
$ | (2.64 | ) | | 
$ | (11.02 | ) | |
| 
Weighted average shares outstanding basic and diluted | | 
| 21,890,518 | | | 
| 17,813,044 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
| 86 | |
****
**CELULARITY INC.**
**CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS
EQUITY**
**(In thousands, except share amounts)**
| 
| | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
Capital | | | 
Deficit | | | 
Income (Loss) | | | 
Equity | | |
| 
| | 
Common Stock | | | 
Additional Paid-in | | | 
Accumulated | | | 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive | | | 
Total Stockholders | | |
| 
| | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
Capital | | | 
Deficit | | | 
Income (Loss) | | | 
Equity | | |
| 
Balances at January 1, 2023 | | 
| 14,892,129 | | | 
$ | 15 | | | 
$ | 844,373 | | | 
$ | (645,496 | ) | | 
$ | 9 | | | 
$ | 198,901 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock in Registered Direct Offering, net of offering expenses | | 
| 1,780,220 | | | 
| 2 | | | 
| 1,320 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,322 | | |
| 
Common stock issued pursuant to short-term debt maturity extension | | 
| 270,731 | | | 
| | | | 
| 712 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 712 | | |
| 
Exercise of stock options | | 
| 108,637 | | | 
| | | | 
| 304 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 304 | | |
| 
Fair value of warrant modification for professional services | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 403 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 403 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock for stem-cells to be used in research and development | | 
| 169,492 | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,000 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,000 | | |
| 
Issuance of warrants to RWI and C.V. Starr | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 2,290 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 2,290 | | |
| 
Common stock issued pursuant to short-term debt conversion | | 
| 559,481 | | | 
| 1 | | | 
| 4,598 | | | 
| | | | 
| (155 | ) | | 
| 4,444 | | |
| 
Vesting of restricted stock units | | 
| 83,759 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 0 | | |
| 
Tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units | | 
| (19,130 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| (101 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| (101 | ) | |
| 
Stock-based compensation expense | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 15,017 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 15,017 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock in PIPE Offering, net of offering expenses | | 
| 1,519,579 | | | 
| 1 | | | 
| 12,680 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 12,681 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock under ATM Agreement | | 
| 13,296 | | | 
| | | | 
| 136 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 136 | | |
| 
Change in fair value of debt due to change in credit risk, net of tax | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 146 | | | 
| 146 | | |
| 
Net loss | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| (196,295 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| (196,295 | ) | |
| 
Balances at December 31, 2023 | | 
| 19,378,192 | | | 
| 19 | | | 
| 882,732 | | | 
| (841,791 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| 40,960 | | |
| 
Balances | | 
| 19,378,192 | | | 
| 19 | | | 
| 882,732 | | | 
| (841,791 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| 40,960 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock and warrants in PIPE Offering, net of offering expenses | | 
| 2,141,098 | | | 
| | | | 
| 6,000 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 6,000 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock to Yorkville for debt extension and SEPA commitment fee | | 
| 116,964 | | | 
| | | | 
| 317 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 317 | | |
| 
Issuance and modification of warrants to RWI and C.V. Starr | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 3,261 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 3,261 | | |
| 
Exercise of stock options | | 
| 20,744 | | | 
| | | | 
| 58 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 58 | | |
| 
Retirement of shares in connection with reverse stock split | | 
| (191 | ) | | 
| (17 | ) | | 
| 17 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock to Palantir as consideration for settlement agreement | | 
| 60,584 | | | 
| | | | 
| 175 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 175 | | |
| 
Stock-based compensation expense | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 11,569 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 11,569 | | |
| 
Reclassification of warrants from liability classified to equity classified | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 2,970 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 2,970 | | |
| 
Change in fair value of debt due to change in credit risk, net of tax | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| (5 | ) | | 
| (5 | ) | |
| 
Vesting of restricted stock units | | 
| 401,013 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units | | 
| (109,790 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| (434 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| (434 | ) | |
| 
Common stock issued pursuant to short-term debt conversion | | 
| 478,881 | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,700 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,700 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock as compensation expense | | 
| 59,176 | | | 
| | | | 
| 158 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 158 | | |
| 
Net loss | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| (57,892 | ) | | 
| | | | 
| (57,892 | ) | |
| 
Balances at December 31, 2024 | | 
| 22,546,671 | | | 
$ | 2 | | | 
$ | 908,523 | | | 
$ | (899,683 | ) | | 
$ | (5 | ) | | 
$ | 8,837 | | |
| 
Balances | | 
| 22,546,671 | | | 
$ | 2 | | | 
$ | 908,523 | | | 
$ | (899,683 | ) | | 
$ | (5 | ) | | 
$ | 8,837 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
| 87 | |
**CELULARITY INC.**
**CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS**
**(In thousands)**
****
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Cash flow from operating activities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net loss | | 
$ | (57,892 | ) | | 
$ | (196,295 | ) | |
| 
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Depreciation and amortization | | 
| 7,922 | | | 
| 9,324 | | |
| 
Non cash lease expense | | 
| 160 | | | 
| (13 | ) | |
| 
Provision for credit losses | | 
| 457 | | | 
| 1,233 | | |
| 
Provision for inventory obsolescence | | 
| (186 | ) | | 
| 1,328 | | |
| 
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | | 
| (398 | ) | | 
| (6,164 | ) | |
| 
Inventory impairment | | 
| 466 | | | 
| 5,384 | | |
| 
Goodwill impairment | | 
| | | | 
| 112,347 | | |
| 
IPR&D impairment | | 
| | | | 
| 107,800 | | |
| 
Stock-based compensation expense | | 
| 11,569 | | | 
| 15,017 | | |
| 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration | | 
| (193 | ) | | 
| (104,339 | ) | |
| 
Acquired in-process research and development | | 
| | | | 
| 3,000 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock for stem-cells to be used in research and development | | 
| | | | 
| 1,000 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock to Palantir as consideration for settlement agreement | | 
| 175 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock to Yorkville for debt extension and SEPA commitment fee | | 
| 317 | | | 
| 712 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock as compensation expense | | 
| 158 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Discounts arising from RWI loan arrangement - related party | | 
| | | | 
| 2,151 | | |
| 
Fair value of warrant modification for professional services | | 
| | | | 
| 403 | | |
| 
Loss on debt extinguishment | | 
| 3,908 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Change in fair value of debt | | 
| 492 | | | 
| 1,177 | | |
| 
Change in fair value of contingent stock consideration | | 
| | | | 
| (159 | ) | |
| 
Non cash interest expense | | 
| 4,144 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Other, net | | 
| 300 | | | 
| 4,157 | | |
| 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Accounts receivable | | 
| (3,968 | ) | | 
| (6,827 | ) | |
| 
Inventory | | 
| 6,284 | | | 
| (865 | ) | |
| 
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | 
| 905 | | | 
| 5,606 | | |
| 
Accounts payable | | 
| 9,239 | | | 
| 8,497 | | |
| 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | 
| 12,634 | | | 
| (1,128 | ) | |
| 
Accrued R&D software | | 
| (3,500 | ) | | 
| (3,834 | ) | |
| 
Lease liabilities - operating | | 
| 371 | | | 
| 275 | | |
| 
Deferred revenue | | 
| 235 | | | 
| 1,528 | | |
| 
Net cash used in operating activities | | 
| (6,401 | ) | | 
| (38,685 | ) | |
| 
Cash flow from investing activities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Capital expenditures | | 
| (161 | ) | | 
| (1,048 | ) | |
| 
Rebound asset acquisition | | 
| (1,500 | ) | | 
| | | |
| 
Purchase of acquired in-process research and development | | 
| | | | 
| (3,000 | ) | |
| 
Proceeds from Sanuwave convertible note | | 
| 2,175 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | | 
| 514 | | | 
| (4,048 | ) | |
| 
Cash flow from financing activities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Proceeds from warrants and short-term debt - related parties | | 
| 15,000 | | | 
| 18,369 | | |
| 
Repayments of short-term debt - unaffiliated | | 
| (17,374 | ) | | 
| (16,811 | ) | |
| 
Proceeds from the sale of common stock in ATM offering | | 
| | | | 
| 136 | | |
| 
Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt - unaffiliated | | 
| 3,622 | | | 
| 2,000 | | |
| 
Payment of SEPA commitment fee | | 
| (25 | ) | | 
| | | |
| 
Repayments of short-term debt - related parties | | 
| (146 | ) | | 
| | | |
| 
Proceeds from PIPE financing | | 
| 6,000 | | | 
| 12,750 | | |
| 
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options | | 
| 58 | | | 
| 304 | | |
| 
Tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units | | 
| (434 | ) | | 
| (101 | ) | |
| 
Proceeds from registered direct offering | | 
| | | | 
| 9,000 | | |
| 
Payments of PIPE and other issuance costs | | 
| | | | 
| (1,553 | ) | |
| 
Net cash provided by financing activities | | 
| 6,701 | | | 
| 24,094 | | |
| 
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | 
| 814 | | | 
| (18,639 | ) | |
| 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year | | 
| 10,163 | | | 
| 28,802 | | |
| 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year | | 
$ | 10,977 | | | 
$ | 10,163 | | |
| 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Cash paid for interest | | 
$ | 144 | | | 
$ | 1,073 | | |
| 
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses | | 
$ | (87 | ) | | 
$ | (223 | ) | |
| 
Common stock issued for short-term debt conversion | | 
$ | 1,700 | | | 
$ | 4,599 | | |
| 
Modification of C.V. Starr warrants in connection with forbearance | | 
$ | 51 | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
Issuance of RWI warrants in connection with forbearance | | 
$ | 1,162 | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
Issuance of warrants on senior secured bridge loan | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 2,002 | | |
| 
Reduction of right-of-use assets and associated lease liabilities - operating due to lease modification | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | (2,083 | ) | |
| 
PIPE related costs included in accrued expenses | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | (69 | ) | |
| 
Interest accrued on senior secured loans within long-term debt - related parties | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | (1,770 | ) | |
| 
Contingent consideration accrued in connection with Rebound asset acquisition | | 
$ | 650 | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
Inventory acquired in connection with Rebound asset acquisition | | 
$ | 2,150 | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
Reclassification of warrants from liability classified to equity classified | | 
$ | 2,970 | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
Assumption of short-term debt - unaffiliated by related party | | 
$ | 2,333 | | | 
$ | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
| 88 | |
**CELULARITY INC.**
**NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)**
****
**1. Nature of Business**
Celularity Inc., (Celularity
or the Company), formerly known as GX Acquisition Corp. (GX), was a blank check company incorporated in Delaware
on August 24, 2018. The Company was formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock
purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses.
On July 16, 2021 (the Closing
Date), the Company consummated the previously announced merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated
January 8, 2021 (the Merger Agreement), by and among GX, Alpha First Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct,
wholly owned subsidiary of GX (First Merger Sub), Celularity LLC (f/k/a Alpha Second Merger Sub LLC), a Delaware limited
liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of GX (Second Merger Sub), and the entity formerly known as Celularity
Inc., incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on August 29, 2016 (Legacy Celularity). Upon completion of the
merger transaction, GX changed its name to Celularity Inc.
At the special meeting held
on February 22, 2024, the stockholders of Celularity approved an amendment to Celularitys Second Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse stock split of Celularitys Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share,
at a ratio of 1-for-10. Following the reverse stock split, each 10 shares of Celularitys Class A common stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior thereto were combined into one new share of Class A common stock. Unless specifically provided otherwise herein, all
share and per share information has been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.
**Description of Business**
Celularity is a cell therapy
and regenerative medicine company focused on addressing aging related diseases including cancer and degenerative diseases. Celularity
is headquartered in Florham Park, NJ. Legacy Celularity acquired Anthrogenesis Corporation (Anthrogenesis) in August 2017
from Celgene Corporation (Celgene), a global biotechnology company that merged with Bristol Myers Squibb Company. Previously,
Anthrogenesis operated as Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, Celgenes cell therapy division.
The Company is subject to
risks and uncertainties common to early-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, compliance with governmental regulations
and the ability to secure additional capital to fund operations. Drug candidates currently under development will require significant
additional approval prior to commercialization, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval. These efforts
require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel, and infrastructure and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities.
Even if the Companys drug development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize significant
revenue from cellular therapy product sales.
**Going Concern**
The Company has evaluated
whether there are certain conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability
to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued.
As an emerging clinical-stage
biotechnology company, Celularity is subject to certain inherent risks and uncertainties associated with the development of an enterprise.
In this regard, since the Companys inception, substantially all of managements efforts have been devoted to making investments
in research and development including basic scientific research into placentally-derived allogeneic cells, pre-clinical studies to support
its current and future clinical programs in cellular therapeutics, and clinical development of its cell programs as well as facilities
and selling, general and administrative expenses that support its core business operations (collectively, the investments),
all at the expense of the Companys short-term profitability. The Company has historically funded these investments through limited
revenues generated from its biobanking and degenerative disease businesses and issuances of equity and debt securities to public and private
investors (these issuances are collectively referred to as outside capital). Notwithstanding these efforts, management can
provide no assurance that the Companys research and development and commercialization efforts will be successfully completed, or
that adequate protection of the Companys intellectual property will be adequately maintained. Even if these efforts are successful,
it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will generate significant sales or operate in a profitable manner to sustain the Companys
operations without needing to continue to rely on outside capital.
| 89 | |
As of the date the accompanying
consolidated financial statements were issued, or the issuance date, management evaluated the significance of the following adverse conditions
and events in considering its ability to continue as a going concern:
| 
| Since its inception, the Company has incurred significant operating losses and net cash used in operating
activities. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company incurred an operating loss of $38,358 and net cash used in operating activities
of $6,401. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $899,683. The Company expects to continue to incur significant
operating losses and use net cash for operations for the foreseeable future. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| The Company expects to incur substantial expenditures to fund its investments for the foreseeable future.
In order to fund these investments, the Company will need to secure additional sources of outside capital. While the Company is actively
seeking to secure additional outside capital (and has historically been able to successfully secure such capital), as of the issuance
date, additional outside capital sufficient to fund operations for the next six months has not been secured or was deemed probable of
being secured. In addition, management can provide no assurance that the Company will be able to secure additional outside capital in
the future or on terms that are acceptable to the Company. Absent an ability to secure additional outside capital in the very near term,
the Company will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due over the next 12 months beyond the issuance date. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| As of the issuance date, the Company had approximately $43,288 of principal debt outstanding, all of which
is currently due or due within one year of the issuance date. As disclosed in Note 10, a substantial portion of the Companys outstanding
debt is subject to forbearance agreements. In the event the terms of the forbearance agreements are not met and/or the outstanding borrowings
are not repaid, the lenders may, at their discretion, exercise all of their rights and remedies under the loan agreements which may include,
among other things, seizing the Companys assets and/or forcing the Company into liquidation. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| | On April 22, 2025, the Company was notified by Nasdaq that it had not
paid certain fees required by Listing Rule 5250(f) totalling $70,000, and as a result, the Company will be delisted unless it
appeals this determination. The Company paid the assessed fees on April 24, 2025, and Nasdaq informed the Company on April 30, 2025,
that it was in compliance with Listing Rule 5250(f) and the matter is now closed. Additionally, on April 16, 2025, Nasdaq provided
formal notice to the Company that as a result of the Companys failure to timely file this annual report on Form 10-K, it no
longer complied with the continued listing requirements under the timely filing criteria outlined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1).
Pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(d)(2), this delinquency serves as an additional and separate basis for delisting, and as such, the
Companys common stock will be suspended from trading on May 1, 2025, unless it appeals Nasdaqs determination before a
Hearing Panel. On April 29, 2025, the Company filed an appeal requesting an oral hearing with a Nasdaq Hearing Panel. There can be
no assurance that the appeal will be successful or that the Company will maintain compliance with the Nasdaq listing requirements.
If relief is not granted by the Nasdaq Hearing Panel or the Company is unable to regain compliance, the Companys securities
will be delisted from the Nasdaq, which such delisting could have a materially adverse effect on the Companys ability to
continue as a going concern. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| In the event the Company is unable to secure additional outside capital to fund the Companys obligations
when they become due over the next 12 months beyond the issuance date, which includes the funds needed to repay the Companys outstanding
debt, management will be required to seek other strategic alternatives, which may include, among others, a significant curtailment of
the Companys operations, a sale of certain of the Companys assets, a sale of the entire Company to strategic or financial
investors, and/or allowing the Company to become insolvent by filing for bankruptcy protection under the provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code. | |
These uncertainties raise
substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements
have been prepared on the basis that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates that the Company will
be able to realize assets and settle liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. Accordingly,
the accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
**2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies**
****
**Basis of Presentation**
****
The Companys
consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of wholly owned subsidiaries, after elimination of intercompany accounts and
transactions. The consolidated financial information presented herein reflects all financial information that, in the opinion of management,
is necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
**Use of Estimates**
The preparation of the
Companys consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant
estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, assumptions related
to the Companys goodwill and intangible asset impairment assessments, determination of incremental borrowing rates, and the
valuations of inventory, gross-to-net sales adjustments, contingent consideration, short-term debt, stock options and stock
warrants. The Company based its estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors
that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates when there are
changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
| 90 | |
**Fair Value Measurements**
****
Certain assets and
liabilities of the Company are carried at fair value under GAAP. 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 Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| Level 2 Observable inputs (other than Level 1 quoted prices), such as quoted prices in active
markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities,
or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. | |
| 
| | | |
| 
| Level 3 Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity that are significant
to determining the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques. | |
****
**Cash and Cash Equivalents**
****
Cash and cash equivalents
consist principally of cash held in commercial bank accounts, money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity when
acquired of less than three months. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at
the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, substantially all cash and cash equivalents were held
in either commercial bank accounts or money market funds.
**Restricted Cash**
****
As of December 31,
2024 and 2023, the Company maintained a letter of credit of $10,239 and $9,936, respectively, for the benefit of the landlord of a leased
property, which the Company classified as restricted cash (non-current) on its consolidated balance sheets.
**Accounts Receivable**
Accounts receivable represent amounts due from customers, typically within 30 to 90 days from invoice date, arising from the Companys revenue-generating activities. Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for credit losses. The
allowance for credit losses is determined based on a combination of the aging of receivables, and customer-specific information, including
historical loss experience, current economic conditions, forecasts of future economic conditions and other relevant risk factors. The
Company applies judgment in evaluating the collectability of accounts. Receivables are written off when all reasonable collection efforts
have been exhausted and the amounts are deemed uncollectible. Actual credit losses may differ from managements estimates, and such
differences are recognized in the period in which they become known. The Companys accounts receivable balance, net of allowance for credit losses, was $13,357, $10,046 and $4,452
as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
**Inventory**
****
Inventory is stated
at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost being determined on a first-in, first-out basis. Prior to initial approval
from the FDA or other regulatory agencies, the Company expenses costs relating to the production of inventory in the period incurred.
After such time as the product receives initial regulatory approval, the Company capitalizes the inventory costs related to the product.
The Company continues to expense costs associated with clinical trial supply costs as research and development expense.
The Company periodically
analyzes the inventory levels to determine whether there is any obsolete, expired, or excess inventory. If any inventory is (i)
expected to expire prior to being sold, (ii) has a cost basis in excess of its net realizable value, (iii) is in excess of expected
sales requirements as determined by internal sales forecasts, or (iv) fails to meet commercial sale specifications, the inventory is
written-down through a charge to cost of revenues. The determination of whether inventory costs will be realizable requires
estimates by management of future expected inventory requirements, based on sales forecasts. If actual market conditions are less
favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required. Inventory, net of current portion on
the Companys consolidated balance sheets includes inventory expected to remain on hand beyond one year.
| 91 | |
**Property and Equipment**
****
Property and equipment
are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense is recognized using the straight-line
method over the estimated useful life of each asset, as follows:
Schedule of Property and
Equipment Estimated Useful Life
| 
| | 
Estimated Useful Life | |
| 
Building | | 
26 years | |
| 
Furniture and fixtures | | 
5 - 7 years | |
| 
Lab equipment | | 
5 years | |
| 
Computer equipment | | 
3 years | |
| 
Software | | 
3 years | |
| 
Leasehold improvements | | 
shorter of the estimated useful life or the lease term | |
Estimated useful lives are
periodically assessed to determine if changes are appropriate. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When
assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of these assets and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are
eliminated from the consolidated balance sheets and any resulting gains or losses are included in the consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive loss in the period of disposal. Costs for capital assets not yet placed into service are capitalized as
construction-in-progress and depreciated once placed into service.
**Impairment of Long-Lived Assets**
****
Long-lived assets consist
of property, plant and equipment, operating right-of-use assets, and finite-lived intangible assets. Long-lived assets to be held and
used are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets
may not be fully recoverable. Factors that the Company considers in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant
underperformance of the business in relation to expectations, significant negative industry or economic trends and significant changes
or planned changes in the use of the assets. If an impairment review is performed to evaluate a long-lived asset group for recoverability,
the Company compares forecasts of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the long-lived asset
group to its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized in loss from operations when estimated undiscounted future cash flows
expected to result from the use of an asset group are less than its carrying amount. The impairment loss would be based on the excess
of the carrying value of the impaired asset group over its fair value, determined based on discounted cash flows. Due to the goodwill
impairment recognized during the year ended December 31, 2023 as discussed below and in Note 8, the Company performed a recoverability
test on long-lived assets and concluded no additional impairment to be recognized as result of this test. The Company did not record any
impairment losses on long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
**Asset Acquisitions**
****
The Company measures
and recognizes asset acquisitions that are not deemed to be business combinations based on the cost to acquire the assets, which includes
transaction costs. In an asset acquisition, the cost allocated to acquire IPR&D with no alternative future use is charged to research
and development expense at the acquisition date.
**In-Process Research and Development**
****
The fair value of IPR&D
acquired through a business combination is capitalized as an indefinite-lived intangible asset until the completion or abandonment of
the related research and development activities. When the related research and development is completed, the asset is reclassified to
a finite-lived asset and amortized over its estimated useful life.
The fair value of an
IPR&D intangible asset is typically determined using an income approach whereby management forecasts the net cash flows expected to
be generated by the asset over its estimated useful life. The net cash flows reflect the assets stage of completion, the probability
of technical success, the projected costs to complete, expected market competition, and an assessment of the assets life-cycle.
The net cash flows are then adjusted to present value by applying an appropriate discount rate that reflects the risk factors associated
with the cash flow streams.
| 92 | |
Indefinite-lived IPR&D
is not subject to amortization but is tested annually for impairment or more frequently if there are indicators of impairment. The
Company tests its indefinite-lived IPR&D annually for impairment during the fourth quarter. In testing indefinite-lived
IPR&D for impairment, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of
events or circumstances would indicate that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount, or the
Company can perform a quantitative impairment analysis to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived IPR&D without
performing a qualitative assessment. Qualitative factors that the Company considers include significant negative industry or
economic trends and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. If the Company chooses to first assess
qualitative factors and the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the indefinite-lived IPR&D
is less than its carrying amount, the Company would then determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived IPR&D. Under either
approach, if the fair value of the indefinite-lived IPR&D is less than its carrying amount, an impairment charge is recognized
in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company did not
recognize an impairment charge related to its indefinite-lived IPR&D. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company
recognized an impairment charge related to its indefinite-lived IPR&D of $107,800.
**Goodwill**
****
Goodwill represents
the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets
acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not subject to amortization but is tested annually for impairment or more frequently if
there are indicators of impairment. The Company typically tests its goodwill annually for impairment in the fourth quarter of each year.
The Company manages
its operations through an evaluation of three different operating segments: Cell Therapy, Degenerative Disease and BioBanking (see Note
19). The Company determined that the operating segments represented the reporting units.
In testing goodwill
for impairment, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances
would indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or the Company
can perform a quantitative impairment analysis without performing the qualitative assessment. Examples of such events or circumstances
considered in the Companys qualitative assessment include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in legal or business
climate, an adverse regulatory action or unanticipated competition. If the Company chooses to first assess qualitative factors and the
Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company
would then perform the quantitative impairment test. The quantitative test starts with comparing the fair value of the reporting unit
to the carrying amount of a reporting unit, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying amount, no
impairment loss is recognized. However, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company would recognize
an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting units fair value, not to exceed the total
amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company did not recognize any goodwill
impairment. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized goodwill impairment of $112,347 relating to the Cell Therapy
reporting unit (see Note 8) in the Companys consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
**Warrant Liabilities**
****
The Company accounts for
the public warrants, private placement warrants, registered direct warrants, May 2022 PIPE warrants, and November 2024 Purchaser
Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants (collectively, Liability Warrants) in accordance with the guidance contained in
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815-40, *Derivatives and HedgingContracts in Entitys Own
Equity*, under which the Liability Warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities.
Accordingly, the Company classifies the Liability Warrants as liabilities at their fair value and adjusts to fair value at each
reporting period. These liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised or expired, and any change in
fair value is recognized as a component of other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Liability
Warrants, excluding the public warrants, were initially and subsequently valued using either a Black-Scholes or a Monte Carlo option
pricing model, which are considered to be Level 3 fair value measurements. The public warrants are valued based on the quoted market
price as of each relevant reporting date, which is considered to be a Level 1 fair value measurement.
| 93 | |
**Leases**
****
In accordance with
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, *Leases (Topic 842)* (ASU 2016-02 or ASC 842), the Company classifies leases
at the lease commencement date. At the inception of an arrangement, the Company determines whether the arrangement is or contains a lease
based on the circumstances present. Leases with a term greater than one year will be recognized on the consolidated balance sheets as
right-of-use (ROU) assets, lease liabilities, and if applicable, long-term lease liabilities. The Company includes renewal
options to extend the lease in the lease term where it is reasonably certain that it will exercise these options. Lease liabilities and
the corresponding ROU assets are recorded based on the present values of lease payments over the terms. The interest rate implicit in
lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As such, the Company utilizes the appropriate incremental borrowing rates, which
are the rates that would be incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis, over similar terms, amounts equal to the lease payments in a
similar economic environment. Variable payments that do not depend on a rate or index are not included in the lease liabilities and are
recognized as incurred. Lease contracts do not include residual value guarantees nor do they include restrictions or other covenants.
Certain adjustments to ROU assets may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid, incentives received, or lease prepayments.
If significant events, changes in circumstances, or other events indicate that the lease term or other inputs have changed, the Company
would reassess lease classification, remeasure the lease liabilities using revised inputs as of the reassessment date, and adjust the
ROU assets.
The Company has elected
the package of 3 practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which eliminates the requirements to reassess
prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs. The Company also adopted an accounting policy
which provides that leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and no purchase option that the Company is reasonably certain of
exercising will not be included within the ROU assets and lease liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets.
Refer to Note 11 for further information.
**Short-Term Debt - Yorkville and
Unsecured Senior Convertible Notes**
****
The Company elected
the fair value option to account for its pre-paid advance agreement with YA II PN, Ltd (Yorkville) (see Note 10). As of
December 31, 2023, due to the short-term nature of the debt, the fair value approximated the settlement amount which was fully paid on
January 17, 2024. The Company also elected the fair value option to account for the Yorkville convertible promissory note signed on March
13, 2024 (see Note 10) and the unsecured senior convertible notes issued pursuant to the securities purchase agreement signed on November
25, 2024 (see Note 10). As of December 31, 2024, the estimate of the fair value of the Yorkville convertible promissory note and the unsecured
senior convertible notes was determined using a binomial lattice model and a credit default model. The fair value measurement of the debt
is determined using Level 3 inputs and assumptions unobservable in the market. Changes in the fair value of debt that is accounted for
at fair value, inclusive of related accrued interest expense, are presented as gains or losses in the accompanying consolidated statements
of operations and comprehensive loss under change in fair value of debt. The portion of total changes in fair value of debt attributable
to changes in instrument-specific credit risk are determined through specific measurement of periodic changes in the discount rate assumption
exclusive of base market changes and are presented as a component of comprehensive income (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements
of operations and comprehensive loss. The actual settlement of the short-term debt could differ from current estimates based on the timing
of when and if the investors elect to convert amounts into common shares, potential cash repayment by the Company prior to maturity, and
movements in the Companys common share price.
**Revenue Recognition**
****
The Company generates
revenue from its degenerative disease commercial operations (i.e., the sale of Biovance, Biovance 3L,
CentaFlex, Interfyl and ReboundTM), biobanking services (i.e., the collection, processing and
storage of umbilical cord and placental blood and tissue after full-term pregnancies), and license, royalty and other revenues.
*Product sales*
**
Biovance, Biovance 3L, CentaFlex
and Rebound are decellularized, dehydrated human amniotic membrane products intended for use as a biological membrane covering that provides
the extracellular matrix while supporting the repair of damaged tissue. Interfyl is an allogeneic decellularized particulate human placental
connective tissue matrix consisting of natural human structural and biochemical extracellular matrix components and is intended for use
in both surgical requirements and wound care as the replacement or supplementation of damaged or inadequate integumental tissue. Rebound
is a full thickness extracellular matrix that contains amnion and chorion.
The Company recognizes
revenue when control of the products and services is transferred to its customers in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects
to receive from its customers in exchange for those products and services. This process involves identifying the contract with a customer,
determining the performance obligations in the contract, determining the contract price, allocating the contract price to the distinct
performance obligations in the contract, and recognizing revenue when, or as, the performance obligations have been satisfied. Sales and
other taxes collected on behalf of third parties are excluded from revenue.
| 94 | |
A performance obligation
is considered distinct from other obligations in a contract when it provides a benefit to the customer either on its own or together with
other resources that are readily available to the customer and is separately identified in the contract. The Company considers a performance
obligation satisfied once it has transferred control of a good or service to the customer, meaning the customer has the ability to use
and obtain the benefit of the good or service. Transaction prices of products or services are typically based on contracted rates with
customers and to the extent that the transaction price includes variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration
that should be included in the transaction price utilizing the expected value method or the most likely amount, depending on the circumstances,
to which the Company expects to be entitled.
The Company offers
volume-based discounts, rebates and prompt pay discounts and other various incentives which are accounted for under the variable consideration
model. If sales incentives may be earned by a customer for purchasing a specified amount of product, the Company estimates whether such
incentives will be achieved and recognizes these incentives as a reduction in revenue in the same period the underlying revenue transaction
is recognized. The Company primarily uses the expected value method to estimate incentives. Under the expected value method, the Company
considers the historical experience of similar programs as well as reviews sales trends on a customer-by-customer basis to estimate what
levels of incentives will be earned.
The Company provides
for rights of return to customers on its degenerative disease products. To date, the Company has had minimal product returns and therefore
does not record a provision for returns.
*Services*
The Company separately recognizes
revenues for services to expectant parents who contract with the Company to collect, process and store umbilical cord blood and placenta
derived cells and tissue for private use. The Company recognizes revenue from collection and processing fees at the point in time of the
successful completion of processing and recognizes storage fees over time, which is ratably over the contractual storage period. Contracted
storage periods are generally 18 years and 25 years. Deferred revenue on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets includes the portion
of the 18- and the 25-year storage fees that are being recognized over the contractual storage period. The Company classifies deferred
revenue as current if the Company expects to recognize the related revenue over the next 12 months from the balance sheet date.
When determining the transaction
price of a contract, an adjustment is made if payment from a customer occurs either significantly before or significantly after performance,
resulting in a significant financing component. For all plans (annual, lifetime, 18
years and 25
years), the storage fee is paid at the beginning of the storage period (prepaid plans). Alternatively, the Company offers payment plans
for customers to pay over time for a period of one
1 to 24
months (over time plans). The Company concluded that a significant financing component is not present within either the prepaid or overtime
payment plans. The Company has determined that the prepaid plans do not include a significant financing component as the payment terms
were structured primarily for reasons other than the provision of financing and to maximize profitability.
When considered over
a 24-month period for over time plans, the difference between the cash selling price and the consideration paid is nominal. As such, the
Company believes that its payment plans do not include significant financing components as they are not significant in the aggregate when
considered in the context of all contracts entered into nor are they significant at the individual contract level.
The Company offers
promotional discounts and other various incentives which are accounted for under the variable consideration model. The Company estimates
whether such incentives will be achieved and recognizes these incentives as a reduction in revenue in the same period the underlying revenue
transaction is recognized. The Company primarily uses the expected value method to estimate incentives. Under the expected value method,
the Company considers the historical experience of similar programs as well as reviews sales trends on a customer-by-customer basis to
estimate what levels of incentives will be earned.
As
the Companys processing and storage agreements contain multiple performance obligations, ASC 606, *Revenue from Contracts with
Customers,* requires an allocation of the transaction price based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised
services underlying each performance obligation. The Company has selected an adjusted market assessment approach to estimate the standalone
selling prices of the processing services and storage services and concluded that the published list price is the price that a customer
in that market would be willing to pay for those goods or services. The Company also considered the fact that all customers are charged
the list prices current at the time of their enrollment where the Company has separately stated list prices for processing and storage.
*License, royalty and other*
**
Under license agreements,
the Company assesses whether the related performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time or over time.
| 95 | |
At the inception of
each arrangement that includes milestone payments based on certain events, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered
probable of being achieved and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it
is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price.
Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable
of being achieved until those approvals are received. The Company evaluates factors such as the scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial,
and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the particular milestone in making this assessment. There is considerable judgment involved
in determining whether it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur. At the end of each subsequent reporting period,
the Company reevaluates the probability of achievement of all milestones subject to constraint and, if necessary, adjusts its estimate
of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenues and earnings
in the period of adjustment. If a milestone or other variable consideration relates specifically to the Companys efforts to satisfy
a single performance obligation or to a specific outcome from satisfying the performance obligation, the Company generally allocates the
milestone amount entirely to that performance obligation once it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur. See
Note 16 for further discussion of the Companys license agreements.
While the Companys
direct sales of degenerative disease products are included in product sales, sales through the Companys network of distribution partners
are included in license, royalty and other revenues. For certain distribution agreements as described in Note 16, the Company will utilize
the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-55-83, whereby an entity may recognize revenue in the amount to which the entity has a right to
invoice so long as the consideration from a customer corresponds directly with the value received. Thus, the Company will recognize revenue
upon invoicing for these agreements (subsequent to receipt of the related purchase order).
**Cost of Revenues**
Cost
of revenues consists of labor, material and overhead costs associated with the Companys two existing commercial business segments,
biobanking and degenerative disease. Biobanking costs, which include the cost of storage and transportation kits for newly banked materials
as well as tank and facility overhead costs for cord blood and other units in storage, are included in services in cost of revenues. Degenerative
disease costs, which include costs associated with procuring placentas, qualifying the placental material and processing the placental
tissue into a marketable product, are included in product sales or license, royalty and other in cost of revenues depending on the class
of customer. Costs in the degenerative disease segment include labor and overhead costs associated with the production of the Biovance,
Biovance 3L, Interfyl and Rebound product lines.
**Research and Development Costs**
****
The Company has entered
into various research and development and other agreements with commercial firms, researchers, universities and others for provisions
of goods and services. These agreements are generally cancellable, and the related costs are recorded as research and development expense
as incurred. Research and development expenses include costs for salaries, employee benefits, subcontractors, facility-related expenses,
depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, third-party license fees, laboratory supplies, and external costs of outside
vendors engaged to conduct discovery, preclinical and clinical development activities and clinical trials as well as to manufacture clinical
trial materials, and other costs. The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research and development costs. Nonrefundable advance
payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses.
Such prepaid expenses are recognized as an expense when the goods have been delivered or the related services have been performed, or
when it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered, or the services rendered.
Upfront payments, milestone
payments and annual maintenance fees under license agreements are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.
**Advertising and Marketing Costs**
****
Advertising and marketing
costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and were
$23 and $44 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
**Government Grants**
****
From time to time,
the Company may be awarded a government research grant. Under these arrangements, the Company recognizes awarded grants as a reduction
to research and development expense at the point in time where achievement of related milestones is confirmed by the governmental agency.
The Company did not receive grant monies during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| 96 | |
**Patent Costs**
****
All patent-related
costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the
recovery of the expenditure. Amounts incurred are classified in selling, general and administrative expenses.
**Stock-Based Compensation**
****
The Company measures
all stock-based awards granted to employees and directors based on the fair value on the date of the grant and recognizes compensation
expense for those awards, over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. The Company
typically issues stock-based awards with only service-based vesting conditions and records the expense for these awards using a straight-line
method.
The Companys
board of directors may also approve and award performance-based stock options. The performance-based stock options are earned based on
the attainment of specified goals achieved over the performance period. The Company recognizes expense for performance-based awards over
the related vesting period once it deems the achievement of the performance condition is probable. The Company reassesses the probability
of vesting at each reporting period for performance-based awards and adjusts expense accordingly on a cumulative basis.
The fair value of each
service-performance- and market-based stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using an appropriate option pricing
model using inputs available as of the grant date. For awards with service-based vesting conditions only, the Company determines the
fair value of the award as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Prior to the merger, Legacy Celularity
was a private company and lacked company-specific historical and implied volatility information for its stock. Therefore, the
Company estimates its expected stock price volatility using its volatility since the merger and the historical volatility of
publicly traded peer companies. The expected term of the Companys stock options granted to employees is determined utilizing
the simplified method for awards that qualify as plain-vanilla options. The expected term of stock
options granted to non-employee consultants is equal to the contractual term of the option award or the Companys estimated
term based on the underlying agreement. 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. The expected
dividend yield is zero based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends on common stock and does not expect to pay
any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
The Company classifies
stock-based compensation expense in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the same manner in which the award
recipients payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipients service payments are classified. The Company elects
to account for forfeitures as they occur and compensation cost previously recognized for an award that is forfeited because of a failure
to satisfy a service or performance condition is generally reversed in the period of the forfeiture.
**Comprehensive Income (Loss)**
Comprehensive income (loss)
refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under GAAP are included in comprehensive income (loss) but are excluded from net income
(loss) as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Companys only
component of other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of the portion of the total change in fair value of debt accounted for under
the fair value option that is attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the
Company recorded instrument-specific credit risk loss of $5. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded instrument-specific
credit risk income of $146 and reclassified $155 from accumulated other comprehensive loss to other expense, net on the consolidated statements
of operations and comprehensive loss upon short-term debt conversion. These amounts have been recorded as a separate component of stockholders
equity.
**Income Taxes**
The Company accounts for
income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected
future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or in the Companys tax returns.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and
liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets
and liabilities are recorded in the provision for income taxes. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will
be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent it believes, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely
than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge
to income tax expense. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected and
considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.
| 97 | |
The Company accounts
for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the consolidated financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine the amount
of tax benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained based
on the technical merits of the position. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax position is then
assessed to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of the benefit that may
be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority.
The provision for income taxes includes the effects of unrecognized tax benefits, as well as the related interest and penalties (see Note
18).
**Net Loss per Share**
Basic net loss per share
of common stock is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period.
Diluted net loss per share of common stock includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such
as redeemable convertible preferred stock, convertible debt, stock options, restricted stock units and warrants, which would result in
the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. However, potential common shares are excluded if their effect is anti-dilutive. For
diluted net loss per share when the Company has a net loss, the weighted-average number of shares of common stock is the same as for basic
net loss per share due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive securities are not included in the calculation as the impact
is anti-dilutive. All warrants are participating securities, as they participate on a one-for-one basis with Class A common stock in the
distribution of dividends, if and when declared by the Board of Directors. For the purposes of computing earnings per share, the warrants
are considered to participate with Class A common stock in earnings of the Company. Therefore, the Company computes earnings per share
using the two-class method, an earnings allocation method that determines net income (loss) per share (when there are earnings) for common
stock and participating securities. No income was allocated to the warrants for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, as results
of operations were a loss for both periods.
The following potentially
dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding, prior
to the use of the two-class method, as they would be anti-dilutive:
Schedule of Potentially
Dilutive Securities
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Stock options | | 
| 4,006,525 | | | 
| 2,820,187 | | |
| 
Restricted stock units | | 
| 688,106 | | | 
| 823,332 | | |
| 
Warrants | | 
| 11,221,557 | | | 
| 7,070,627 | | |
| 
Convertible debt | | 
| 1,126,496 | | | 
| 549,681 | | |
| 
Anti-dilutive
securities | | 
| 17,042,684 | | | 
| 11,263,827 | | |
**Segment Information**
****
Operating segments
are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief
operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources in assessing performance. The Company manages
its operations through an evaluation of three distinct businesses segments: Cell Therapy, Degenerative Disease and BioBanking. These segments
are presented for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 in Note 19.
**Allowance for Credit Losses**
With the adoption of ASU
2016-13 *Financial Instruments Credit Losses,*as noted below, the Company recognizes credit losses based on forward-looking
current expected credit losses. The Company makes estimates of expected credit losses based upon its assessment of various factors, including
historical collection experience, the age of accounts receivable balances, credit quality of its customers, current economic conditions,
reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and other factors that may affect its ability to collect from customers.
**Concentrations of Credit Risk and
Significant Customers**
Financial instruments that
potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and
accounts receivable. The Company generally maintains cash balances in various operating accounts at financial institutions that management
believes to be of high credit quality, in amounts that may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses
related to its cash and cash equivalents or restricted cash and does not believe that it is subject to unusual credit risk beyond the
normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships.
| 98 | |
The Company is subject to
credit risk from trade accounts receivable related to both degenerative disease product sales and biobanking services. All trade accounts
receivables are a result from product sales and services performed in the United States. As of December 31, 2024, three of the Companys
customers, each of which individually comprised at least 10%, represented an aggregate 46% of the Companys outstanding gross accounts
receivable. As of December 31, 2023, two of the Companys customers, each of which individually comprised at least 10%, represented an
aggregate 41% of the Companys outstanding gross accounts receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company had one
customer provide for 17% of revenue and another customer provided for 16% of revenue. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company
had one customer provide for 14% of revenue and another customer provided for 13% of revenue.
**Reclassifications**
Certain prior period amounts
have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. On the consolidated balance sheets, short-term debt - Yorkville and
other short-term debt were reclassified to short-term debt - unaffiliated, and short-term debt - related party and short-term debt - related
parties - C.V. Starr and RWI were reclassified to short-term debt - related parties. See Note 10 for further information.
**Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements**
In June 2016, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-13, *Financial Instruments Credit Losses* (ASU 2016-13),
which changes the accounting for recognizing impairments of financial assets. Under the new guidance, credit losses for certain types
of financial instruments will be estimated based on expected losses. ASU 2016-13 also modifies the impairment models for available-for-sale
debt securities and for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual
periods beginning after December 15, 2022 (fiscal year 2023 for the Company), and interim periods within those periods, with early adoption
permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2023. The standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated
financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB
issued ASU 2023-07, *Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures*, which requires disclosure of
incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis. This ASU was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023,
and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company adopted the guidance in ASU 2023-07 for the year
ended December 31, 2024, and it is being applied retrospectively to its consolidated financial statement disclosures.
**Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements**
In December 2023, the FASB
issued ASU 2023-09, *Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures*, which expands the disclosures required for
income taxes. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The amendment should
be applied on a prospective basis while retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this
pronouncement on its financial statement disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB
issued ASU 2024-03, *Income StatementReporting Comprehensive IncomeExpense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic
220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses*, as subsequently amended by ASU 2025-01 to clarify the effective date,
which is intended to provide more detailed information about specified categories of expenses (purchases of inventory, employee
compensation, depreciation and amortization) included in certain expense captions presented on the consolidated statement of
operations and comprehensive loss. The guidance in this ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments may be applied either (1) prospectively
to financial statements issued for periods after the effective date of this ASU or (2) retrospectively to all prior periods
presented in the consolidated financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this pronouncement on its
consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.
**3. Asset
Acquisition**
On
October 9, 2024, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Sequence LifeScience, Inc. (Sequence) to acquire
Sequences Rebound full thickness placental-derived allograft matrix product and certain related intangible assets. Rebound
adds to the Companys portfolio of placental-derived advanced biomaterial products. The Company will pay aggregate consideration for
the assets of up to $5,500, which consists of (i) an upfront cash payment of $1,000 (ii) an aggregate of up to $4,000 in monthly milestone
payments, and (iii) a credit of $500 for the previous payment made by the Company to Sequence pursuant to a letter of intent between the
Company and Sequence dated August 16, 2024. Pursuant to the terms of the asset purchase agreement, the milestones are calculated based
on 20% of net sales collected by the Company from its customers during the preceding calendar month, commencing the first full month after
the closing of the transaction. Transaction costs incurred with in connection with the Rebound asset acquisition were de minimis. 
| 99 | |
Concurrently
with the execution of the asset purchase agreement, the Company entered into an exclusive supply agreement with Sequence for the manufacture
and supply of Rebound for a minimum period of six months. The Company retains the right to manufacture Rebound internally and intends
to commence a technology transfer as soon as practicable.
The
Company determined that this transaction represented an asset acquisition in accordance with ASC 805, *Business Combinations*, because
the acquired assets did not meet the definition of a business. As noted above, the purchase price consists of $4,000 of contingent consideration
that is based on future collections of net sales of Rebound. The Companys policy is to record contingent consideration when the contingency
is resolved and, therefore, it is generally excluded from the cost of the acquisition. Further, the contingent consideration comprising
monthly milestone payments does not meet the definition of a derivative and, therefore, is not required to be recorded at fair value.
The fair value of the net assets acquired exceeded the initial cash payments for the purchase, resulting in the write-down of the intangible
assets acquired and the recognition of a contingent consideration liability for the excess of the fair value of the inventory acquired
over the initial cash consideration. Future monthly milestone payments will reduce the contingent consideration liability until it has
been satisfied in full, and then will be recognized as a period cost when incurred. The Company incurred $135 of milestone payments based
on collections of net sales of Rebound for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The
purchase price was allocated to the acquired assets as follows:
Schedule of Purchase Price
Allocated to Acquired Assets
| 
| | 
| | |
| 
Consideration: | | 
| | |
| 
Cash payment | | 
$ | 1,500 | | |
| 
Contingent consideration | | 
| 650 | | |
| 
Total consideration | | 
$ | 2,150 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | |
| 
Assets acquired: | | 
| | | |
| 
Inventory | | 
$ | 2,150 | | |
| 
Total assets acquired | | 
$ | 2,150 | | |
| 100 | |
****
**4. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities**
****
The following tables present information about
the Companys financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level of the fair value
hierarchy used to determine such fair values:
Schedule of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measures at Fair Value
| 
| | 
Level 1 | | | 
Level 2 | | | 
Level 3 | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
Level 1 | | | 
Level 2 | | | 
Level 3 | | | 
Total | | |
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Acquisition-related contingent consideration obligations | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 1,413 | | | 
$ | 1,413 | | |
| 
Contingent stock consideration | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 27 | | | 
| 27 | | |
| 
Short-term debt - Yorkville | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,865 | | | 
| 1,865 | | |
| 
Short-term debt - unsecured senior convertible notes | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 620 | | | 
| 620 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - July 2023 Registered Direct Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,115 | | | 
| 1,115 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - April 2023 Registered Direct Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,022 | | | 
| 1,022 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - May 2022 PIPE Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 505 | | | 
| 505 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - November 2024 Purchaser Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 278 | | | 
| 278 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - November 2024 Placement Agent Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 48 | | | 
| 48 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - Sponsor Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 9 | | | 
| 9 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - Public Warrants | | 
| 287 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 287 | | |
| 
Total
fair value liabilities | | 
$ | 287 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 6,902 | | | 
$ | 7,189 | | |
| 101 | |
| 
| | 
Level 1 | | | 
Level 2 | | | 
Level 3 | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Level 1 | | | 
Level 2 | | | 
Level 3 | | | 
Total | | |
| 
Assets: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Convertible note receivable | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 2,072 | | | 
$ | 2,072 | | |
| 
Total
fair value assets | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 2,072 | | | 
$ | 2,072 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Acquisition-related contingent consideration obligations | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 1,606 | | | 
$ | 1,606 | | |
| 
Contingent stock consideration | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 27 | | | 
| 27 | | |
| 
Short-term debt - Yorkville | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 17,223 | | | 
| 17,223 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - July 2023 Registered Direct Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,529 | | | 
| 1,529 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - April 2023 Registered Direct Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,487 | | | 
| 1,487 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - May 2022 PIPE Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 708 | | | 
| 708 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - Sponsor Warrants | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 60 | | | 
| 60 | | |
| 
Warrant liability - Public Warrants | | 
| 575 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 575 | | |
| 
Total
fair value liabilities | | 
$ | 575 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 22,640 | | | 
$ | 23,215 | | |
During the years ended December
31, 2024 and 2023, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.
The carrying values of other current
liabilities approximate fair value in the accompanying consolidated financial statements due to the short-term nature of those instruments.
**Valuation of Convertible Note Receivable**
The convertible note receivable
was received in connection with the disposition of the UltraMIST/MIST business in 2020. At any time on or after January 1, 2021, at the
sole discretion of the Company, amounts outstanding under the convertible note receivable (including accrued interest) may be converted
into Sanuwave common stock at a defined rate. The convertible note receivable was to be paid on or before August 6, 2021.
On December 18, 2023, the Company
entered into a forbearance agreement with Sanuwave (Sanuwave Forbearance Agreement). Per the Sanuwave Forbearance Agreement,
from the period from December 18, 2023 to the earliest of (i) February 28, 2024, (ii) the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings for Sanuwave
pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, (iii) the occurrence of an event of default other than payment default, or (iv) the failure of Sanuwave
to comply with any term, condition or covenant set forth in the forbearance agreement, the Company agrees that it will not exercise any
remedy available to it under the convertible note receivable, excluding the right to increase the interest rate. As collateral for payments
owed to Palantir Technologies, Inc. (Palantir), the Company assigned to Palantir the Sanuwave convertible note receivable
in the event of default (see Note 12). On May 10, 2024, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Sanuwave to extend the forbearance
period from February 28, 2024 to June 3, 2024. The letter agreement increased the total note payments to $2,175. Upon executing the letter
agreement, Sanuwave made an initial note payment of $100 and on June 3, 2024, made a second note payment of $2,075, fully discharging
all outstanding indebtedness under the note.
The following table presents a
reconciliation of the convertible note receivable measured on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs for the year ended December 31, 2024:
Schedule of Reconciliation of Convertible Note Receivable Measured on Recurring Basis
| 
| | 
Balance as of January 1, 2024 | | | 
Net transfers in to (out of) Level 3 | | | 
Purchases, settlements and other net | | | 
Fair value adjustments | | | 
Balance as of December 31, 2024 | | |
| 
Assets: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Convertible note receivable | | 
$ | 2,072 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | (2,072 | ) | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | |
At December 31, 2023, the fair
value of this note was based on a bond valuation which employs a credit default model. The Company utilized Level 3 inputs on a probability
weighted model based on outcomes of a default, repayment and conversion of the note. The measurement was based upon unobservable inputs
supported by little or no market activity based on the Companys own assumptions.
| 102 | |
Significant inputs for the convertible
note valuation model were as follows:
Schedule of Convertible
Note Valuation Model
| 
| | 
December 31, 2023 | | |
| 
Face value | | 
$ | 4,000 | | |
| 
Coupon rate | | 
| 12.00% - 17.00% | | |
| 
Stock price | | 
$ | 0.2 | | |
| 
Term (years) | | 
| 0.51-2.45 | | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | | 
| 5.47 | % | |
| 
Volatility | | 
| n/a | | |
****
**Valuation of Contingent Consideration**
The fair value measurement of
the contingent consideration obligations is determined using Level 3 inputs and is based on a probability-weighted income approach. The
measurement is based upon unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity based on the Companys own assumptions.
The following table presents a
reconciliation of contingent consideration obligations measured on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs for the years ended December
31, 2024 and 2023:
Schedule
of Reconciliation of Contingent Consideration Obligations Measured on a Recurring Basis
| 
| | 
Balance as of January 1, 2024 | | | 
Net transfers in to (out of) Level 3 | | | 
Purchases, settlements and other net | | | 
Fair value adjustments | | | 
Balance as of December 31, 2024 | | |
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Acquisition-related contingent consideration obligations | | 
$ | 1,606 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | (193 | ) | | 
$ | 1,413 | | |
| 
| | 
Balance as of January 1, 2023 | | | 
Net transfers in to (out of) Level 3 | | | 
Purchases, settlements and other net | | | 
Fair value adjustments | | | 
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | | |
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Acquisition-related contingent consideration obligations | | 
$ | 105,945 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | (104,339 | ) | | 
$ | 1,606 | | |
The fair value of the liability
to make potential future milestone and earn-out payments was estimated by the Company at each reporting date based, in part, on the results
of a third-party valuation using a discounted cash flow analysis based on various assumptions, including the probability of achieving
specified events, discount rates, and the period of time until earn-out payments are payable and the conditions triggering the milestone
payments are met. The actual settlement of contingent consideration could differ from current estimates based on the actual occurrence
of these specified events.
At each reporting date, the Company
revalues the contingent consideration obligation to estimated fair value and records changes in fair value as income or expense in the
Companys consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration
obligations may result from changes in discount periods and rates, changes in the timing and amount of revenue estimates and changes in
probability assumptions with respect to the likelihood of achieving the various contingent consideration obligations. The Company has
classified the contingent consideration as a long-term liability in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
See Note 12 for more information on contingent consideration.
**Valuation of Contingent Stock Consideration**
The contingent stock consideration
liability at December 31, 2024 and 2023 is comprised of the fair value of potential future issuance of Class A common stock to CariCord
participating shareholders pursuant to a settlement agreement signed during the year ended December 31, 2021. The fair value measurement
of the contingent stock consideration obligation is determined using Level 3 inputs and is based on a probability-weighted expected return
methodology (PWERM). The measurement is largely based upon unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity
based on the Companys own assumptions.
| 103 | |
The following table presents a
reconciliation of the contingent stock consideration obligation measured on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs for the years ended
December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Schedule
of Reconciliation of Contingent Consideration Obligation Measured on a Recurring Basis
| 
| | 
Balance as of January 1, 2024 | | | 
Net transfers in to (out of) Level 3 | | | 
Purchases, settlements and other net | | | 
Fair value adjustments | | | 
Balance as of December 31, 2024 | | |
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Contingent stock consideration | | 
$ | 27 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 27 | | |
| 
| | 
Balance as of January 1, 2023 | | | 
Net transfers in to (out of) Level 3 | | | 
Purchases, settlements and other net | | | 
Fair value adjustments | | | 
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | | |
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Contingent stock consideration | | 
$ | 186 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | (159 | ) | | 
$ | 27 | | |
The fair value of the liability
to issue future shares of Class A common stock was estimated by the Company at each reporting date using a PWERM based on various inputs
and assumptions, including the Companys common share price, discount rates, and the probability of achieving specified future operational
targets. The actual settlement of contingent stock consideration could differ from current estimates based on the actual achievement of
these specified targets and movements in the Companys common share price.
At each reporting date, the Company
revalues the contingent stock consideration obligation to estimated fair value and records changes in fair value as income or expense
in the Companys consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Changes in the fair value of the contingent stock
consideration obligation may result from changes in discount rates, changes in the Companys common share price, and changes in
probability assumptions with respect to the likelihood of achieving specified operational targets. The change in the fair value of the
contingent stock consideration obligation during the year ended December 31, 2024 was de minimis. The Company has classified the contingent
stock consideration as a current liability in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
**Valuation of Short-Term Debt - Yorkville and
Unsecured Senior Convertible Notes**
The Company elected the fair value
option to account for the Yorkville PPA signed on September 15, 2022 (see Note 10). As of December 31, 2023, due to the short-term nature
of the debt, the fair value of the Yorkville PPA approximated the settlement amount, which was fully paid on January 17, 2024. The Company
also elected the fair value option to account for the Yorkville convertible promissory note signed on March 13, 2024 (see Note 10) and
the unsecured senior convertible notes issued pursuant to the securities purchase agreement signed on November 25, 2024 (see Note 10).
The fair value measurement of the debt is determined using Level 3 inputs and assumptions unobservable in the market. Changes in the fair
value of debt that is accounted for at fair value, inclusive of related accrued interest expense, are presented as gains or losses in
the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss under change in fair value of debt. The portion of total
changes in fair value of debt attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk are determined through specific measurement of
periodic changes in the discount rate assumption exclusive of base market changes and are presented as a component of comprehensive loss
in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The actual settlement of the short-term debt could differ
from current estimates based on the timing of when and if the investors elect to convert amounts into common shares, potential cash repayment
by the Company prior to maturity, and movements in the Companys common share price.
| 104 | |
The following table presents a
reconciliation of short-term debt obligations measured on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs for the years ended December 31, 2023
and 2024:
Schedule of Reconciliation
of Short-term Debt Obligation Measured on Recurring Basis
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance as of January 1, 2023 | | 
$ | 37,603 | | |
| 
Conversion of debt into common shares | | 
| (4,599 | ) | |
| 
Principal repayments | | 
| (16,811 | ) | |
| 
Issuance of convertible promissory note | | 
| 3,150 | | |
| 
Issuance of unsecured senior convertible notes, net of fair value adjustment | | 
| 689 | | |
| 
Fair value adjustment through earnings | | 
| 354 | | |
| 
Fair value adjustment through accumulated other comprehensive income | | 
| (146 | ) | |
| 
Fair value adjustment through interest accrual | | 
| 822 | | |
| 
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | | 
$ | 17,223 | | |
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance as of January 1, 2024 | | 
$ | 17,223 | | |
| 
Principal repayments | | 
| (17,374 | ) | |
| 
Issuance of convertible promissory note | | 
| 3,150 | | |
| 
Issuance of unsecured senior convertible notes, net of fair value adjustment | | 
| 689 | | |
| 
Conversion of debt into common shares | | 
| (1,700 | ) | |
| 
Fair value adjustment through earnings | | 
| 492 | | |
| 
Fair value adjustment through accumulated other comprehensive income | | 
| 5 | | |
| 
Balance as of December 31, 2024 | | 
$ | 2,485 | | |
The fair values of the Yorkville
convertible promissory note and the unsecured senior convertible notes are based on valuations which employ a Monte Carlo model and a
credit default model. The Company utilized Level 3 inputs in a probability weighted model based on outcomes of a default, repayment and
conversion of the notes. The measurements are based upon unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity based on the Companys
own assumptions. The fair value of the Yorkville convertible promissory note on March 13, 2024, the date of issuance, was $2,993 and the
aggregate fair value of the unsecured senior convertible notes at the dates of issuance was $689.
Significant inputs for the Yorkville
convertible promissory note valuation model were as follows:
Schedule
of Yorkville Convertible Promissory Note Valuation Model
| 
| | 
December 31, 2024 | | | 
March 13, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| (issuance) | | |
| 
Common share price | | 
$ | 2.08 | | | 
$ | 5.79 | | |
| 
Credit spread | | 
| 7.50 | % | | 
| 8.50 | % | |
| 
Dividend yield | | 
| 0 | % | | 
| 0 | % | |
| 
Term (years) | | 
| 0.20 | | | 
| 1.00 | | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | | 
| 4.30 | % | | 
| 4.90 | % | |
| 
Volatility | | 
| 50.0 | % | | 
| 50.0 | % | |
| 105 | |
Significant inputs for the unsecured
senior convertible notes valuation model were as follows:
Schedule of Convertible Notes Valuation Model
| 
| | 
December 31, 2024 | | | 
November
25, 2024 and December 3, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| (issuance) (1) | | |
| 
Common share price | | 
$ | 2.08 | | | 
| $2.00 - $3.00 | | |
| 
Credit spread | | 
| 7.6 | % | | 
| 6.9% - 7.2 | % | |
| 
Dividend yield | | 
| 0 | % | | 
| 0 | % | |
| 
Term (years) | | 
| 0.90 | | | 
| 0.98 - 1.00 | | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | | 
| 4.20 | % | | 
| 4.30% - 4.40 | % | |
| 
Volatility | | 
| 50.0 | % | | 
| 50.0 | % | |
| 
| 
(1) | 
As discussed
in Note 10, the securities purchase agreement dated November 25, 2024 provided for multiple closings. | |
****
**Valuation of Warrant Liability**
The warrant liability at December
31, 2024 is comprised of the fair value of warrants to purchase shares of Class A common stock. The Public Warrants are recorded at fair
value based on the period-end publicly stated close price, which is a Level 1 input. The January 2024 Bridge Loan - Tranche #2 Warrants
(prior to reclassification to equity classified) and November 2024 Purchaser Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants were recorded at fair
value based on a Monte Carlo simulation model and the Registered Direct, PIPE and Sponsor Warrants are recorded at their respective closing
date fair values based on a Black-Scholes option pricing model that utilizes inputs for: (i) the value of the underlying asset, (ii) the
exercise price, (iii) the risk-free rate, (iv) the volatility of the underlying asset, (v) the dividend yield of the underlying asset
and (vi) maturity, which are Level 3 inputs. The Black-Scholes option pricing models primary unobservable input utilized in determining
the fair values of the warrant liabilities is the expected volatility of the Class A common stock. Prior to the merger, Legacy Celularity
was a private company and lacked company-specific historical and implied volatility information for its stock. Therefore, the Company
estimates its expected stock price volatility using its volatility since the merger and the historical volatility of publicly traded peer
companies. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve for time periods approximately equal
to the estimated remaining term of the warrants. Inputs to the Monte Carlo and Black-Scholes option pricing models for the warrants are
updated each reporting period to reflect fair value.
The following table presents
a reconciliation of the warrant liabilities measured on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs for the years ended December 31, 2024 and
2023:
Schedule
of Reconciliation of Warrant Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance as of January 1, 2023 | | 
$ | 3,598 | | |
| 
April 2023 Registered Direct warrant issuance | | 
| 4,280 | | |
| 
July 2023 Registered Direct warrant issuance | | 
| 2,645 | | |
| 
January 2024 Bridge Loan - Tranche #2 warrant issuance | | 
| 1,858 | | |
| 
November 2024 Purchaser warrant issuance | | 
| 354 | | |
| 
November 2024 Placement Agent warrant issuance | | 
| 61 | | |
| 
Gain recognized in earnings from change in fair value | | 
| (6,164 | ) | |
| 
Reclassification of warrants from liability classified to equity classified | | 
| (2,970 | ) | |
| 
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | | 
$ | 4,359 | | |
| 
Liabilities: | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance as of January 1, 2024 | | 
$ | 3,784 | | |
| 
January 2024 Bridge Loan - Tranche #2 warrant issuance | | 
| 1,858 | | |
| 
November 2024 Purchaser warrant issuance | | 
| 354 | | |
| 
November 2024 Placement Agent warrant issuance | | 
| 61 | | |
| 
Gain recognized in earnings from change in fair value | | 
| (110 | ) | |
| 
Reclassification of warrants from liability classified to equity classified | | 
| (2,970 | ) | |
| 
Balance as of December 31, 2024 | | 
$ | 2,977 | | |
| 106 | |
Significant inputs for the May
2022 PIPE Warrants and the 2023 Registered Direct Warrants were as follows:
Schedule of May 2022 PIPE
Warrants and 2023 Registered Direct Warrants
| 
| | 
December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Common share price | | 
$ | 2.08 | | | 
$ | 2.47 | | |
| 
Exercise price | | 
$ | 3.50
- $7.50 | | | 
$ | 3.50
- $7.50 | | |
| 
Dividend yield | | 
| 0 | % | | 
| 0 | % | |
| 
Term (years) | | 
| 3.78 - 4.09 | | | 
| 5.03 - 5.34 | | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | | 
| 4.3 | % | | 
| 4.60 | % | |
| 
Volatility | | 
| 98.5%
- 98.8 | % | | 
| 97.0 | % | |
Significant inputs for the January
2024 Bridge Loan - Tranche #2 Warrants were as follows:
Schedule
of January 2024 Bridge Loan
| 
| | 
July 15, 2024 | | | 
January 16, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| (reclassification) | | | 
| (issuance) | | |
| 
Common share price | | 
$ | 3.19 | | | 
$ | 2.00 | | |
| 
Term to initial exercise date (years) (1) | | 
| N/A | | | 
| 0.50 | | |
| 
Dividend yield | | 
| 0 | % | | 
| 0 | % | |
| 
Term (years) | | 
| 5.0 | | | 
| 5.0 | | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | | 
| 4.00 | % | | 
| 3.90 | % | |
| 
Volatility | | 
| 112.5 | % | | 
| 107.5 | % | |
| 
| 
(1) | 
As discussed
further in Note 10, the warrants were not exercisable and the exercise price was not set until certain conditions were met. As of July
15, 2024, the warrants became exercisable and no longer contain adjustment provisions to the exercise price that are not indexed to the
Companys own stock. As such, the warrants were adjusted to fair value as of the initial exercise date and then reclassified from
liability classified to equity classified. | |
Significant inputs for the November
2024 Purchaser and Placement Agent Warrants were as follows:
Schedule of November 2024
Purchaser and Placement Agent Warrants
| 
| | 
December 31, 2024 | | | 
November
25, 2024 And December 3, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| (issuance) (1) | | |
| 
Common share price | | 
$ | 2.08 | | | 
| $2.00 - $3.00 | | |
| 
Term to Subsequent Financing (years) | | 
| 0.1 | | | 
| 0.1 0.6 | | |
| 
Exercise price | | 
| -(2)
(3) | | | 
| -(2)
(3) | | |
| 
Dividend yield | | 
| 0 | % | | 
| 0 | % | |
| 
Term (years) | | 
| 4.9 | | | 
| 4.9 - 5.0 | | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | | 
| 4.00 | % | | 
| 4.00% - 4.10% | | |
| 
Volatility | | 
| 50.0 | % | | 
| 50.0 | % | |
| 
| 
(1) | 
As discussed in Note 10, the securities purchase agreement dated November 25, 2024 provided for multiple closings. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
(2) | 
The exercise price of the November 2024 Purchaser Warrants is based on the lesser of (i) $2.85 or (ii) the offering price of a Subsequent Financing (see Note 10), subject to a floor price of $1.00. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
(3) | 
The exercise price of the November 2024 Placement Agent Warrants is based on the lesser of (i) $3.56 or (ii) 125% of the offering price of a Subsequent Financing (see Note 10), subject to a floor price of $1.00. | |
| 107 | |
Significant inputs for the Sponsor
Warrants are as follows:
Schedule
of Significant Inputs for Warrants
| 
| 
| 
December 31, | |
| 
| 
| 
2024 | 
| 
2023 | |
| 
Common share price | 
| 
$ 2.08 | 
| 
$ 2.47 | |
| 
Exercise price | 
| 
$ 115.00 | 
| 
$ 115.00 | |
| 
Dividend yield | 
| 
0% | 
| 
0% | |
| 
Term (years) | 
| 
1.5 | 
| 
2.5 | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | 
| 
4.21 % | 
| 
4.12 % | |
| 
Volatility | 
| 
111.4 % | 
| 
100.7 % | |
**5. Inventory**
The Companys major classes
of inventories were as follows:
Schedule of Major Classes of Inventories
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Raw materials | | 
$ | 42 | | | 
$ | 3,081 | | |
| 
Work in progress | | 
| 8,093 | | | 
| 10,696 | | |
| 
Finished goods | | 
| 11,964 | | | 
| 10,922 | | |
| 
Inventory, gross | | 
| 20,099 | | | 
| 24,699 | | |
| 
Less: inventory reserves | | 
| (2,103 | ) | | 
| (2,289 | ) | |
| 
Inventory, net | | 
$ | 17,996 | | | 
$ | 22,410 | | |
| 
Balance sheet classification: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Inventory | | 
$ | 5,409 | | | 
$ | 5,753 | | |
| 
Inventory, net of current portion | | 
| 12,587 | | | 
| 16,657 | | |
| 
Inventory,
net | | 
$ | 17,996 | | | 
$ | 22,410 | | |
Inventory, net of current portion
includes inventory expected to remain on-hand beyond one year from each balance sheet date presented.
The Company recognized a $466
inventory impairment charge during the year ended December 31, 2024 in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss
due to lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments for finished goods. The Company recognized a $5,384 inventory impairment charge during the
year ended December 31, 2023 in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss due to lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments
of $2,129 for finished goods and $3,255 for work in progress.
A schedule of the activity in
the inventory reserves is as follows:
Schedule of Inventory Reserves
| 
Balance at January 1, 2023 | | 
$ | 1,099 | | |
| 
Provision for obsolete inventory | | 
| 7,627 | | |
| 
Write-offs | | 
| (6,437 | ) | |
| 
Balance at December 31, 2023 | | 
| 2,289 | | |
| 
Provision for obsolete inventory | | 
| (186 | ) | |
| 
Balance at December 31, 2024 | | 
$ | 2,103 | | |
| 108 | |
**6. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets**
Prepaid expenses and other current
assets consisted of the following:
Schedule of Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Prepaid clinical expenses | | 
$ | 221 | | | 
$ | 688 | | |
| 
Prepaid insurance expense | | 
| 375 | | | 
| 678 | | |
| 
Other | | 
| 261 | | | 
| 329 | | |
| 
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets | | 
$ | 857 | | | 
$ | 1,695 | | |
**7. Property and Equipment, Net**
Property and equipment, net consisted
of the following:
Schedule of Property and Equipment, Net
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Leasehold improvements | | 
$ | 73,211 | | | 
$ | 73,211 | | |
| 
Laboratory and production equipment | | 
| 14,093 | | | 
| 14,093 | | |
| 
Machinery, equipment and fixtures | | 
| 7,163 | | | 
| 7,781 | | |
| 
Construction in progress | | 
| | | | 
| 21 | | |
| 
Property and equipment | | 
| 94,467 | | | 
| 95,106 | | |
| 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization | | 
| (32,867 | ) | | 
| (27,278 | ) | |
| 
Property and equipment, net | | 
$ | 61,600 | | | 
$ | 67,828 | | |
Depreciation expense was $6,169
and $7,131 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 respectively.
****
**8. Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net**
****
**Goodwill**
The Company tests its goodwill
for impairment on an annual basis in the fourth quarter of each year for all of its reporting units, or more frequently if events or circumstances
indicate a potential impairment. The Company manages its operations through an evaluation of three different operating segments: Cell
Therapy, Degenerative Disease and BioBanking (see Note 19). The Company determined that the operating segments represented the reporting
units.
During annual impairment tests
and for any period in which the Company identifies an impairment trigger, the Companys methodology includes internally generated
separate cash flow projections for each reporting unit based on the different drivers that affect each reporting unit. The Company compares
the fair values of each of its reporting units to their respective carrying amounts. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds
its estimated fair value, a goodwill impairment charge is recorded for the difference, with the impairment loss limited to the total amount
of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The fair values of each of the Companys reporting units were derived using the income
approach, specifically the discounted cash flow method. The use of a discounted cash flow analysis requires significant judgment to estimate
the future cash flows and the period of time over which those cash flows will be realized, as well as to determine the appropriate discount
rate. The discounted cash flow model reflects managements assumptions regarding revenue growth rates, risk-adjusted discount rates,
terminal period growth rates, economic and market trends, and other expectations about the anticipated operating results of the Companys
reporting units. As part of the goodwill impairment test, the Company also considers its market capitalization in assessing the reasonableness
of the combined fair values estimated for its reporting units. Substantial changes in the cash flows assumptions of the different reporting
units may lead to a future impairment or may alter the implied distribution of value between the different reporting units. A material
decline in the Companys stock price may affect the imputed discount rate and the distribution of value between the reporting units,
which may also lead to a future impairment.
The carrying value of
goodwill, all of which was assigned to the Companys BioBanking reporting unit, was $7,347
at both December 31, 2024 and 2023. At December 31, 2024, the Company performed a qualitative assessment to determine whether the
existence of events or circumstances would indicate that it was more likely than not that the that the fair value of the reporting
unit is less than its carrying amount. Based on the assessment, there was no
goodwill impairment recognized during the year ended December 31, 2024. At December 31, 2023, the estimated fair value of the
BioBanking reporting unit was substantially in excess of its book value. The relative stability of the expected cash flows of the
BioBanking reporting unit makes an impairment of goodwill in the future less likely.
| 109 | |
The Degenerative Disease reporting unit goodwill was fully impaired as
of December 31, 2022.
For the year ended December 31,
2023, the Company recognized $112,347 of goodwill impairment charges related to its Cell Therapy reporting unit, which resulted in full
impairment of the reporting unit.
During the first quarter 2023,
as a result of a sustained decrease in its stock price and market capitalization, and its decision to cease recruitment in its GBM and
HER2+ gastric trials, the Company tested for impairment due to these triggering events. Based on the results of the impairment analysis,
the carrying value exceeded the fair value on the Cell Therapy reporting unit. The Company recognized a $29,633 goodwill impairment charge
during the first quarter of 2023 in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
During the second quarter of 2023,
the Companys stock price and market capitalization continued to decline, and the Company also determined to cease active recruitment
in its AML trial and halted all NK programs. The AML trial was the Companys most advanced clinical program with a relatively large
addressable patient population given the high unmet medical need in relapsed and refractory AML. After the Company ceased recruitment,
it removed all associated cash flows relating to that program including all other NK related programs as well. As a result of these triggering
events, the Company fully impaired the IPR&D assets associated with these product candidates, and performed a goodwill impairment
test on its Cell Therapy reporting unit. At June 30, 2023, the estimated fair value of the Cell Therapy reporting unit was determined
to be at breakeven compared to the carrying value using a discount rate commensurate with the risks associated with the cash flows for
preclinical product candidates. The Company also performed a reconciliation of the aggregate fair value of each reporting unit to the
market capitalization of the Company. The analysis showed the fair value of the reporting units approximated the Companys market
capitalization, indicating an insignificant control premium. Based on the results of the impairment analysis, the Company did not recognize
a goodwill impairment charge during the second quarter of 2023.
During the third quarter of 2023,
the Companys stock price and market capitalization continued to further decline. The Company also elected to terminate development
of CYCART-19 for B-cell malignancies during the quarter, as well as paused development in exosomes. Therefore, the Company tested for
impairment due to these triggering events. Based on the results of the impairment analysis, the carrying value exceeded the fair value
on the Cell Therapy reporting unit. The Company recognized a goodwill impairment charge for the remaining goodwill balance on the Cell
Therapy reporting unit of $82,714 during the third quarter of 2023 in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
| 110 | |
**Intangible Assets, Net**
Intangible assets, net consisted
of the following:
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Net
| 
| | 
December 31, | | | 
Estimated Useful | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | | 
Lives | |
| 
Amortizable intangible assets: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| |
| 
Developed technology | | 
$ | 16,810 | | | 
$ | 16,810 | | | 
11 16 years | |
| 
Customer relationships | | 
| 2,413 | | | 
| 2,413 | | | 
10 years | |
| 
Trade names & trademarks | | 
| 570 | | | 
| 570 | | | 
10 13 years | |
| 
Reacquired rights | | 
| 4,200 | | | 
| 4,200 | | | 
6 years | |
| 
| | 
| 23,993 | | | 
| 23,993 | | | 
| |
| 
Less: accumulated amortization | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| |
| 
Developed technology | | 
| (8,895 | ) | | 
| (7,722 | ) | | 
| |
| 
Customer relationships | | 
| (1,965 | ) | | 
| (1,700 | ) | | 
| |
| 
Trade names & trademarks | | 
| (385 | ) | | 
| (330 | ) | | 
| |
| 
Reacquired rights | | 
| (4,200 | ) | | 
| (3,940 | ) | | 
| |
| 
| | 
| (15,445 | ) | | 
| (13,692 | ) | | 
| |
| 
Amortizable intangible assets, net | | 
| 8,548 | | | 
| 10,301 | | | 
| |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| |
| 
Non-amortized intangible assets | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| |
| 
Acquired IPR&D product rights | | 
| 700 | | | 
| 700 | | | 
indefinite | |
| 
| | 
$ | 9,248 | | | 
$ | 11,001 | | | 
| |
Amortization expense for intangible
assets was $1,753 and $2,193 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
No impairment charges were recorded
on intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company discontinued its unmodified
NK cell and AML Cell Therapy clinical trials and as a result recorded an IPR&D impairment of $107,800 on its CYNK-001 and GMNK intangible
assets acquired from the Anthrogenesis acquisition.
Aggregate amortization expense
for each of the five succeeding years and thereafter related to intangible assets held as of December 31, 2024 is estimated as follows:
Schedule of Aggregate Amortization Expense Related to Intangible Assets
| 
| | 
| | | |
| 
2025 | | 
$ | 1,493 | | |
| 
2026 | | 
| 1,356 | | |
| 
2027 | | 
| 1,258 | | |
| 
2028 | | 
| 1,208 | | |
| 
2029 | | 
| 1,155 | | |
| 
Thereafter | | 
| 2,078 | | |
| 
Amortization
expense | | 
$ | 8,548 | | |
| 111 | |
**9. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities**
Accrued expenses and other current
liabilities consisted of the following:
Schedule of Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Accrued clinical trial expense | | 
$ | 189 | | | 
$ | 189 | | |
| 
Accrued professional fees | | 
| 691 | | | 
| 573 | | |
| 
Accrued wages, bonuses, commissions and vacation | | 
| 5,797 | | | 
| 3,011 | | |
| 
Accruals for construction in progress | | 
| 135 | | | 
| 214 | | |
| 
Accrued interest | | 
| 1,798 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Accrued compliance fee | | 
| 10,277 | | | 
| 1,145 | | |
| 
Other | | 
| 955 | | | 
| 2,448 | | |
| 
Total
accrued expenses and other current liabilities | | 
$ | 19,842 | | | 
$ | 7,580 | | |
**10. Debt**
Debt consisted of the following:
Schedule
of Debt
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Debt - unaffiliated: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Yorkville - PPA (measured at fair value) | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 17,223 | | |
| 
Yorkville - convertible promissory note (measured at fair value) | | 
| 1,865 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Unsecured senior convertible notes (measured at fair value) | | 
| 620 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Short-term debt - other | | 
| | | | 
| 2,108 | | |
| 
Total debt - unaffiliated | | 
| 2,485 | | | 
| 19,331 | | |
| 
Debt - related parties: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
C.V. Starr Bridge Loan, net of discount | | 
| 5,652 | | | 
| 5,523 | | |
| 
RWI Bridge Loan, net of discount | | 
| 30,275 | | | 
| 12,967 | | |
| 
CEO promissory note | | 
| 3,876 | | | 
| 1,419 | | |
| 
Total debt - related parties | | 
| 39,803 | | | 
| 19,909 | | |
| 
Total debt | | 
$ | 42,288 | | | 
$ | 39,240 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance sheet classification: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Short-term debt - unaffiliated | | 
$ | 2,485 | | | 
$ | 19,331 | | |
| 
Short-term debt - related parties | | 
| 3,876 | | | 
| 19,909 | | |
| 
Long-term debt - related parties | | 
| 35,927 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total
debt | | 
$ | 42,288 | | | 
$ | 39,240 | | |
****
| 112 | |
****
**Yorkville PPA**
On September 15, 2022, the Company
entered into a Pre-Paid Advance Agreement (PPA) with Yorkville, pursuant to which the Company could request advances of
up to $40,000 in cash from Yorkville (or such greater amount that the parties may mutually agree) (each, a Pre-Paid Advance)
over an 18-month period, with an aggregate limitation of $150,000. Pre-Paid Advances were issued at a 2.0% discount, bore interest at
an annual rate equal to 6.0% (increased to 15.0% in the event of default as described in the PPA) and could have been offset by the issuance
of shares of common stock, at Yorkvilles option, at a price per share calculated pursuant to the PPA, which in no event would be
less than $7.50 per share. The issuance of the shares under the PPA was subject to certain limitations, including that the aggregate number
of shares of common stock issued pursuant to the PPA could not exceed 19.9% of the Companys outstanding stock as of September 15,
2022, as well as a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99%. Further, Yorkville agreed not to purchase any shares of common stock for
60 days following entry into the PPA, nor could Yorkville purchase more than $6,000 of shares of common stock during a 30-day period,
in each case at a price per share less than the Fixed Price, as defined in the PPA. In the event the daily volume weighted average price
(VWAP) of the Class A common stock was below $7.50 (the floor price) for any five of seven consecutive trading
days, the Company would pay Yorkville a monthly cash payment of $6,000, plus any accrued and unpaid interest along with a 5.0% redemption
premium until such time as the daily VWAP for five consecutive trading days immediately prior to the due date of the next monthly payment
was at least 10.0% greater than $7.50. In connection with the Companys 2023 annual stockholder meeting held in June 2023, the Company
and Yorkville agreed to lower the floor price to $0.50 (the amended floor price). The Company also received stockholder
approval of the proposal for the issuance of more than 20.0% of its pre-transaction Class A common stock outstanding at a price below
the minimum price pursuant to the PPA. Further, absent prior written consent from Yorkville, the Company agreed it would not increase
the size or amount borrowed under the C.V. Starr loan facility nor would it incur other borrowings or liens of any kind as long as any
amounts were due and remained outstanding to Yorkville until paid in full. The Company agreed that all obligations due and owing to Yorkville
would become secured obligations upon any violation under the PPA.
In connection with the entry into
the PPA, the Company received the initial Pre-Paid Advance of $40,000 gross or $39,200 net of discount. Each Pre-Paid Advance had a maturity
of 12 months. Further Pre-Paid Advances would be based upon the mutual agreement of the parties. Direct costs and fees related to the
PPA were recognized in earnings. At issuance, the Company concluded that certain features of the PPA would be considered a derivative
that would require bifurcation. In lieu of bifurcation, the Company elected the fair value option for this financial instrument and records
changes in fair value within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss at the end of each reporting period. Under
the fair value option, upon derecognition the Company will include in net loss the cumulative amount of the gain or loss on the debt that
resulted from changes in instrument-specific credit risk.
During the year ended December
31, 2023, Yorkville elected to convert $3,889
of principal and $400
of accrued interest into 559,481
shares of common stock. Further, during the year December 31, 2023, total repayments to Yorkville were $18,724
which consisted of (i) $16,811
applied to the principal amount; (ii) $1,073
towards accrued interest; and (iii) $840
of redemption premium. As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of the debt was $17,223
and the principal balance was $16,623.
Refer to Note 4 for additional details regarding the fair value measurement.
On January 12, 2024, the Company
and Yorkville entered into a forbearance agreement (Forbearance Agreement), pursuant to which Yorkville agreed to restrain
from enforcing its rights and remedies as a result of the event of default during the forbearance period. The forbearance period was to
continue until the earlier of January 19, 2024 or the date the Company fully repaid all amounts outstanding under the PPA (Forbearance
Period). During the Forbearance Period, interest accrued at 15.0% per annum. In addition, the Company was to make a cash payment
of $17,348 plus per diem interest of $7 for each day after January 12, 2024 until payment was made and was required to issue Yorkville
a total of 100,000 shares of its common stock. On January 12, 2024, the Company issued Yorkville 100,000 of its common stock in connection
with the extension of the maturity date of the PPA. The PPA was repaid in full on January 17, 2024.
On March 13, 2024, the Company
entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (SEPA) with Yorkville (see Note 13).
**Yorkville Convertible Promissory Note**
****
Upon entry into the SEPA, the
Company issued Yorkville a $3,150 convertible promissory note for $2,993 in cash (after a 5.0% original issue discount). The note bears
interest at an annual rate equal to 8.0% (increased to 18.0% in the event of default as provided in the note) and was scheduled to mature
on March 13, 2025. The note was initially convertible into common stock at a price per share equal to $6.3171, provided however, the conversion
price was subject to reset on the earlier of (a) the fifth trading day following the effective date of the resale shelf, or (b) the six-month
anniversary of the issuance date of the convertible note (i.e., September 13, 2024). The conversion price was reset to $2.7546 on September
13, 2024. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default (as defined in the note), the note (including accrued
interest) may become immediately due and payable. The issuance of the common stock upon conversion of the note and otherwise under the
SEPA is capped at 19.9% of the outstanding common stock as of March 13, 2024. Further, the note and SEPA include a beneficial ownership
blocker for Yorkville such that Yorkville may not be deemed the beneficial owner of more than 4.99% of the Companys common stock.
As a result of the Companys failure to file its 2023 Form 10-K by April 30, 2024 (i.e., a deemed Event of Default under the convertible
promissory note), the Company began accruing interest at the default rate of 18.0% as of May 1, 2024. A further event of default occurred
as a result of the Companys failure to file a registration statement with the SEC for the resale by Yorkville of the shares of
common stock issuable under the SEPA by May 3, 2024 (see Note 13).
| 113 | |
The Company determined that
the convertible promissory note included embedded derivatives that would otherwise require bifurcation as derivative liabilities, and
neither the debt instrument nor the embedded features are required to be classified as equity. Therefore, at inception, the Company elected
to carry the convertible promissory note comprised of the debt host and the embedded derivative liabilities at fair value on a recurring
basis as permitted under ASC 825, *Financial Instruments*. Changes in fair value caused by changes in the instrument-specific credit
risk are reported in other comprehensive income, and the remaining change in fair value is reported in earnings (i.e., as a component
of other income/expense). Interest expense is a component of the change in fair value of the convertible promissory note and, therefore,
is not separately recorded. As a result of the fair value election, the original issue discount of $157
was recorded to other expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. In November 2024, Yorkville
elected to convert $1,150
of principal and $169
of accrued interest into 478,881
shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2024, the fair value of the debt was $1,865
and the principal balance was $2,000.
Refer to Note 4 for additional details regarding the fair value measurement.
****
On March 17, 2025, the Company
entered into a letter agreement with Yorkville to extend the maturity date of the convertible promissory note from March 13, 2025 to May
12, 2025. In addition, Yorkville agreed not to declare an event of default until May 12, 2025 (the Forbearance). In connection
with the maturity date extension and Forbearance, the Company agreed to issue Yorkville 100,000 shares of its Class A common stock. The
shares of Class A common stock were issued with piggyback registration rights such that the resale of such shares by Yorkville are to
be included on any such registration statement filed by the Company following the issuance.
****
**Unsecured Senior Convertible Notes**
On November 25, 2024, the Company
entered into a securities purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with an accredited investor, pursuant to which the
Company agreed to sell and issue, in one or more closings, to the investor and other purchasers in a private placement transaction, unsecured
senior convertible notes and warrants for an aggregate original principal amount of up to $1,000. The Company issued and sold $750 unsecured
senior convertible notes and warrants to acquire up to an aggregate of 263,156 shares of Class A common stock (the November 2024
Purchaser Warrants).
The unsecured senior convertible
notes bear interest at an annual rate of 8.0% (increasing to 10.0% in the event of default as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and have
a maturity date of one year from the date of issuance. Upon an event of default, the notes are convertible at the purchasers option
into shares of the Companys Class A common stock at a price per share equal to (i) $2.85 (adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock
splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions); or (ii) the offering price of a subsequent financing transaction with gross proceeds
of $2,500 or more (a Subsequent Financing), subject to a floor price of $1.00 per share. The unsecured senior convertible
notes include customary negative covenants restricting the Companys ability to incur other indebtedness other than as permitted,
pay dividends to stockholders, grant or suffer to exist a security interest in any of the Companys assets, other than as permitted,
amongst others. In addition, the unsecured senior convertible notes include customary events of default.
The November 2024 Purchaser Warrants
entitle the investors to purchase shares of common stock equal to each purchasers subscription amount divided by the exercise price
of $2.85 per share. The exercise price, and the number of shares of common stock issuable under the November 2024 Purchaser Warrants,
are subject to a one-time reset upon the completion of a Subsequent Financing, subject to a floor price of $1.00 per share. The Purchaser
Warrants are immediately exercisable and have a 5-year term.
In connection with the transaction,
the Company agreed to issue a 5-year warrant to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to 7% of the proceeds of the transaction
(the November 2024 Placement Agent Warrants), at an exercise price equal to 125% of the offering price. The November 2024
Placement Agent Warrants are subject to the same one-time exercise price adjustment provision as the November 2024 Purchaser Warrants
in connection with a Subsequent Financing.
The Company determined
that the unsecured senior convertible notes included embedded derivatives that would otherwise require bifurcation as derivative
liabilities, and neither the debt instrument nor the embedded features are required to be classified as equity. Therefore, at
inception, the Company elected to carry the unsecured senior convertibles note comprised of the debt host and the embedded
derivative liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis as permitted under ASC 825, *Financial Instruments*. Changes in fair
value caused by changes in the instrument-specific credit risk are reported in other comprehensive income, and the remaining change
in fair value is reported in earnings (i.e., as a component of other income/expense). Interest expense is a component of the change
in fair value of the unsecured senior convertible notes and, therefore, is not separately recorded. The November 2024 Purchaser and
Placement Agent Warrants are classified as liabilities since the exercise price was not determined at issuance and may be
subsequently adjusted in connection with a Subsequent Financing. The fair value of the November 2024 Placement Agent Warrants has
been treated as a transaction cost and was reduced from the cash proceeds to arrive at the net proceeds from the transaction. As a
result of the fair value election, a charge of $478
was recorded to other expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the difference between the net
proceeds from the transaction and the aggregate fair value of the unsecured senior convertible notes and November 2024 Purchaser and
Placement Agent Warrants at issuance. As of December 31, 2024, the fair value of the debt was $620
and the principal balance was $750.
Refer to Note 4 for additional details regarding the fair value measurement.
| 114 | |
**Short-Term Debt - Other and CEO Promissory Note**
On August 21, 2023, the Company
entered into a loan agreement with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robert Hariri, and two unaffiliated lenders, providing
for a loan in the aggregate principal amount of $3,000 (of which Dr. Hariri contributed $1,000), or the Loan. The Loan bears
interest at a rate of 15.0% per year, with the first year of interest being paid in kind on the last day of each month and matured on
August 21, 2024. Pursuant to the terms of the Loan, the Company is required to apply the net proceeds from a subsequent transaction (as
defined) in which the Company receives gross proceeds of $4,500 or more to repay the Loan. The Company did not repay the Loan upon receipt
of the letter of credit funds in connection with signing the lease amendment (see Note 11) or the January 2024 PIPE (see Note 13), both
of which were defined as subsequent transactions. The lenders agreed to a loan amendment whereby the loan maturity date was extended to
December 31, 2024, and on September 30, 2024, Dr. Hariri and the two unaffiliated lenders entered into an assignment agreement whereby
Dr. Hariri assumed the full loan in exchange for repayment of the other lenders respective principal loan amount, plus accrued
interest. As a result, the loan was reclassified from short-term debt - unaffiliated to short-term debt - related parties. On January
29, 2025, Dr. Hariri extended the maturity date of the Loan from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
On October 12, 2023, in order
to further address the Companys immediate working capital requirements, Dr. Hariri and the Company signed a promissory note for
$285 which bears interest at a rate of 15.0% per year. The note matures together with the outstanding principal amount and accrued and
unpaid interest upon the earlier of 12 months from the date of the note or upon a change of control.
As of December 31, 2024, there
was no other short-term debt and the carrying value of the CEO promissory note inclusive of accrued interest was $3,876. As of December
31, 2023, the carrying value of the other short-term debt and the CEO promissory note inclusive of accrued interest was $2,108 and $1,419,
respectively. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the carrying amounts of the loans were deemed to approximate fair value.
**Short-Term Debt Related Parties - C.V.
Starr and RWI**
*C.V. Starr & Co., Inc*
On March 17, 2023, the Company
entered into a loan agreement (the Starr Bridge Loan) with C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. (C.V. Starr), a stockholder
of the Company, for an aggregate principal amount of $5,000
net of an original issue discount of $100.
The loan bears interest at a rate equal to 12.0%
per year or 15.0%
in the event of default, with the first year of interest being paid in kind on the last day of each month, and was scheduled to mature
on March
17, 2025. In addition, the parties entered into a warrant agreement to acquire up to an aggregate 75,000
shares of Class A common stock (Starr Warrant), at a purchase price of $1.25
per whole share underlying the Starr Warrant or $94.
The Starr Warrant has a five5-year
term and had an exercise price of $7.10
per share.
In June 2023, in connection with
the Amended RWI Loan (as defined below), the Company granted C.V. Starr additional warrants to acquire up to an aggregate 50,000 shares
of its Class A common stock (Starr Additional Warrant and in combination with Starr Warrant, Starr Warrants),
which additional warrants have a 5-year term and had an exercise price of $8.10 per share. The Company applied the guidance for this transaction
in accordance with ASC 470-20, *Debt with Conversion and Other Options* and ASC 815, *Derivatives and Hedging*. The net proceeds
of the Starr Bridge Loan and Starr Additional Warrant were recorded at fair value. The fair value of the Starr Additional Warrant was
determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Starr Warrants met the requirements for a derivative scope exception under
ASC 815-10-15--74(a) for instruments that are both indexed to an entitys own stock and classified in stockholders equity.
Under the terms of the Starr Bridge
Loan, the Company agreed to customary negative covenants restricting its ability to repay indebtedness, pay dividends to stockholders,
repay or incur other indebtedness other than as permitted, grant or suffer to exist a security interest in any of the Companys
assets, other than as permitted, or hold cash and cash equivalents less than $3,000 for more than five consecutive business days. During
the year ended December 31, 2023, the Companys cash and cash equivalents fell below the $3,000 minimum liquidity covenant, which
per the terms of the loan agreement caused an event of default. Therefore, the Company reclassified the loan as a current liability reflected
within short-term debt - related parties on the consolidated balance sheets.
On January 12, 2024, the Company
entered into an amendment which terminated the minimum $3,000 liquidity covenant requirement. In addition to the negative covenants in
the Starr Bridge Loan, the Starr Bridge Loan includes customary events of default and the Company granted C.V. Starr a senior security
interest in all of its assets, pari passu with RWI (as defined below).
| 115 | |
On March 13, 2024, the Company
and C.V. Starr entered into a forbearance agreement (Starr Forbearance Agreement) with respect to the Starr Bridge Loan.
Under the Starr Forbearance Agreement, (i) C.V. Starr agreed not to exercise its rights and remedies upon the occurrence of any default
under the Starr Bridge Loan until the Companys obligations in respect of the Yorkville convertible promissory note have been indefeasibly
paid in full, (ii) C.V. Starr consented to the Companys incurrence of indebtedness under the Yorkville convertible promissory note,
(iii) C.V. Starr consented to cash payments required to be made under the SEPA and the Yorkville convertible promissory note, (iv) the
Company agreed to increase the interest rate on the loan outstanding under the Starr Bridge Loan by 100 basis points and (v) the Company
agreed to amend the exercise price of (x) that certain warrant to acquire 75,000 shares of the Companys common stock for $7.10
per share, expiring March 17, 2028, and (y) that certain warrant to acquire 50,000 shares of common stock for $8.10 per share expiring
June 20, 2028, each of which are held by C.V. Starr, such that the exercise price of each such warrant in (x) and (y) is $5.895 per share.
In addition, the interest rate of the Starr Bridge Loan was increased to 13.0% per annum. The Starr Forbearance Agreement resulted in
a modification of the Starr Bridge Loan, since the change in cash flows was determined to be less than 10%. Accordingly, no gain or loss
was recorded and the change in fair value of the Starr Warrants of $51 was recorded as a debt discount and will be amortized based on
the new effective interest rate over the term of the Starr Bridge Loan. Due to the Companys failure to make certain interest payments
when due, the Company began accruing interest at the default rate of 16.0% as of April 5, 2024.
On February 12, 2025, the Company
entered into a binding term sheet with C.V. Starr, pursuant to which C.V. Starr agreed to, among other things, an extension of the Starr
Forbearance Agreement whereby C.V. Starr agreed not to exercise its rights and remedies upon the occurrence of any default under the Starr
Bridge Loan and whereby the maturity date of the Starr Bridge Loan has been extended to February 15, 2026. Pursuant to the binding term
sheet, the Company agreed to (i) use a portion of the proceeds from its next registered public offering to pay C.V. Starr approximately
$800, representing cash interest through January 31, 2025 and (ii) issue to C.V. Starr a new five5-year warrant to purchase up to 100,000
shares of its Class A common stock. In addition, the Company agreed to reprice certain outstanding warrants held by C.V. Starr.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023,
the carrying value of Starr Bridge Loan, inclusive of accrued interest and net of discount, was $5,652 and $5,523, respectively. The carrying
amounts of the Starr Bridge Loan were deemed to approximate fair value.
*Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd*
On May 16, 2023, with written
consent provided by Yorkville, the Company entered into a senior secured loan agreement (RWI Bridge Loan) with Resorts World
Inc Pte Ltd, (RWI) providing for an initial loan in the aggregate principal amount of $6,000 net of an original issue discount
of $120, which bears interest at a rate of 12.5% per year or 15.5% in the event of default, with the first year of interest being paid
in kind on the last day of each month, and matured on June 14, 2023.
On June 21, 2023, the Company
closed on an amended and restated senior secured loan agreement (Amended RWI Loan), to amend and restate the previous senior
secured loan agreement, in its entirety. The Amended RWI Loan provided for an additional loan in the aggregate principal amount of $6,000
net of an original issue discount of $678,
which bears interest at a rate of 12.5%
per year or 15.5%
in the event of default, with the first year of interest being paid in kind on the last day of each month, and was schedule to mature
on March
17, 2025. The Amended RWI Loan extended the maturity date of the initial loan to March 17, 2025. In addition, the Amended RWI
Loan provided for the issuance of warrants to acquire up to an aggregate 300,000
shares of the Companys Class A common stock (RWI Warrant), at a purchase price of $1.25
per whole share underlying the RWI Warrant (or an aggregate purchase price of $375).
The RWI Warrant has a five5-year term and an exercise
price of $8.10 per share.
Pursuant to the terms of the Amended
RWI Loan, the Company was required to apply the net proceeds to the trigger payments due to Yorkville pursuant to the PPA. In addition,
the Company agreed to customary negative covenants restricting its ability to repay indebtedness, pay dividends to stockholders, repay
or incur other indebtedness other than as permitted, grant or suffer to exist a security interest in any of its assets, other than as
permitted, or hold cash and cash equivalents of less than $3,000 for more than five consecutive business days, and includes customary
events of default. The Company granted RWI a senior security interest in all of its assets, pari passu with C.V. Starr pursuant to the
Starr Bridge Loan. The Company and RWI signed a forbearance agreement on September 14, 2023, whereby RWI agreed to forebear any action
under the terms of the Amended RWI Loan in relation to the minimum $3,000 liquidity covenant and with respect to any potential default
in relation to the Companys outstanding debt owed to Yorkville until December 31, 2023. The Company reclassified the loan as a
current liability reflected within short-term debt - related parties on the consolidated balance sheets. Pursuant to the amendment on
January 12, 2024, see below, the minimum $3,000 liquidity covenant requirement was terminated.
The Company accounted for the
Amended RWI Loan in accordance with ASC 470-20, *Debt with Conversion and Other Options* and ASC 815, *Derivatives and Hedging*.
The net proceeds of the Amended RWI Loan and RWI Warrant were recorded at fair value, which resulted in a total discount of $2,151 based
on the difference between the proceeds and fair value which were recorded as a loss within other income (expense) on the consolidated
statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The fair value of the RWI Warrant was determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing
model. The RWI Warrant met the requirements for a derivative scope exception under ASC 815-10-15-74(a) for instruments that are both indexed
to an entitys own stock and classified in stockholders equity.
| 116 | |
On January 12, 2024, the Company
entered into a second amended and restated senior secured loan agreement (RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan), to amend and
restate the previously announced senior secured loan agreement with RWI dated as of May 16, 2023, as amended on June 20, 2023, in its
entirety. The RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan provided for an additional loan in the aggregate principal amount of $15,000 net of an original
issue discount of $3,750, which bears interest at a rate of 12.5% per year, with the first year of interest being paid in kind on the
last day of each month, and matures on July 16, 2025. In addition, the RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan provides for the issuance of a 5-year
immediately exercisable warrant to acquire up to 1,650,000 shares of Class A common stock (Tranche #1 Warrant), and a warrant
to acquire up to 1,350,000 shares of Class A common stock, which would only be exercisable upon the later of (x) stockholder approval
for Nasdaq purposes of its exercise price, (y) CFIUS clearance and (z) six months from issuance date (Tranche #2 Warrant)
and will expire 5 years after it becomes exercisable. The Tranche #1 Warrant and Tranche #2 Warrant were each issued on January 16, 2024
in conjunction with the close of the RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan. The Tranche #1 Warrant has an exercise price of $2.4898 per share.
The Tranche #2 Warrant became exercisable on July 15, 2024 and has an exercise price of $2.988 per share.
Pursuant to the terms of the RWI
Second Amended Bridge Loan, the Company was required to apply the proceeds of the additional loan (i) to the payment in full of all outstanding
amounts owed to Yorkville under the PPA, (ii) to the payment of invoices of certain critical vendors, (iii) to the first settlement payment
owed to Palantir (see Note 12), and (iv) for working capital and other purposes pre-approved by RWI. Pursuant to the terms of the RWI
Second Amended Bridge Loan, the Company agreed to customary negative covenants restricting its ability to pay dividends to stockholders,
repay or incur other indebtedness other than as permitted, or grant or suffer to exist a security interest in any of the Companys
assets, other than as permitted. In addition, the Company agreed to apply net revenues received through the sale of its products/provision
of services in connection with or related to its distribution and manufacturing agreement with Genting Innovation Pte Ltd (Genting
Innovation), a related party, as a prepayment towards the loan.
The RWI Second Amended Bridge
Loan resulted in an extinguishment of the Amended RWI Loan, since the change in cash flows exceeded 10%. As a result, the Company record
a loss on extinguishment equal to the difference between (i) the fair values of the new loan and Tranche #1 and Tranche #2 Warrants and
(ii) the previous carrying amount of the Amended RWI Loan, or $3,908. The Company has not elected to carry the RWI Second Amended Bridge
Loan at fair value, as permitted under ASC 815, *Derivatives and Hedging* and ASC 825, *Fair Value Option for Financial Instruments*.
The Tranche #1 Warrant has been classified in stockholders equity, since it is exercisable into a fixed number of the Companys
own shares at a known exercise price, and therefore is not required to be classified as a liability under ASC 480, *Distinguishing Liabilities
from Equity*. The Tranche #2 Warrant was initially classified as a liability, since the exercise price (i.e., Minimum Price) was not
determined at issuance and may have been subsequently adjusted. As of July 15, 2024, the Tranche #2 Warrant became exercisable and no
longer contains adjustment provisions to the exercise price that are not indexed to the Companys own stock, resulting in the reclassification
from liability to equity.
The Company and RWI also entered
into an investor rights agreement dated as of January 12, 2024. The investor rights agreement provides RWI certain information and audit
rights, as well as registration rights with respect to the shares underlying the Tranche #1 Warrant and Tranche #2 Warrant, including
both the undertaking to file a registration statement within 45 days of filing of the 2023 Form 10-K, piggyback registration
rights, as well as the right to request up to three demand rights for underwritten offerings per year; in each case subject to customary
underwriter cutback language as well as any objections raised by the Securities and Exchange Commission to inclusion of
securities. If the initial registration statement was not filed on or prior to May 15, 2024, the investor rights agreement provided for
partial liquidating damages equal to 1.0% of the purchase price of the Tranche #1 and Tranche #2 Warrants amount each month, up to a maximum
of 6.0%, plus interest thereon accruing daily at a rate of 18.0% per annum.
On March 13, 2024, the Company
and RWI entered into a second forbearance agreement (RWI 2nd Forbearance Agreement). Under the RWI 2nd Forbearance Agreement,
(i) RWI agreed not to exercise its rights and remedies upon the occurrence of any default under the RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan until
the Companys obligations in respect of the Yorkville convertible promissory note have been indefeasibly paid in full or March 13,
2025, whichever occurs first, (ii) RWI consented to the Companys incurrence of indebtedness under the Yorkville convertible promissory
note, (iii) RWI consented to cash payments required to be made under the SEPA and the Yorkville convertible promissory note, (iv) the
Company agreed to increase the interest rate on the loan outstanding under the RWI Loan Agreement by 100 basis points, or from 12.5% to
13.5% per annum, and (v) the Company agreed to issue RWI a warrant to acquire up to 300,000 shares of common stock (RWI New Warrant),
which expires June 20, 2028 and has an exercise price of $5.895 per share. The RWI 2nd Forbearance Agreement resulted in a modification
of the RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan, since the change in cash flows was less than 10%. Accordingly, no gain or loss was recorded, and
the fair value of the RWI New Warrant of $1,162 was recorded as debt discount and will be amortized based on the new effective interest
rate over the term of the RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan. Due to the Companys failure to make certain interest payments when due,
the Company began accruing interest on the Amended RWI Loan balance of approximately $13,700 at the default rate of 16.5% as of August
5, 2024.
| 117 | |
On February 12, 2025, the Company
entered into a binding term sheet with RWI, pursuant to which RWI agreed to, among other things, an extension of the RWI 2nd Forbearance
Agreement whereby RWI has agreed not to exercise its rights and remedies upon the occurrence of any default under certain loans owed to
RWI and whereby the maturity date of the foregoing loans is extended to February 15, 2026. Pursuant to the RWI binding term sheet, the
Company agreed to (i) use a portion of the proceeds from its next registered public offering to pay RWI approximately $1,300, representing
cash interest through January 31, 2025 and (ii) issue to RWI, on July 24, 2025, a new five5-year warrant to purchase up to 500,000 shares
of its Class A common stock. In addition, the Company agreed to reprice certain outstanding warrants held by RWI.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023,
the carrying values of the RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan and Amended RWI Loan, inclusive of interest and net of discount was $30,275
and $12,967, respectively. The carrying amounts of the RWI Second Amended Bridge Loan and Amended RWI Loan were deemed to approximate
fair value.
****
**11. Leases**
ROU assets represent the Companys
right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Companys obligation to make lease payments
arising from the lease. The Companys lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the
present value of lease payments over the lease term. In determining the present value of lease payments, the Company uses its incremental
borrowing rate (IBR) based on the information available at the lease commencement date to determine the appropriate discount
rate by multiple asset classes. Variable lease payments that are not based on an index or that result from changes to an index subsequent
to the initial measurement of the corresponding lease liability are not included in the measurement of lease ROU assets or liabilities
and instead are recognized in earnings in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Lease terms may include options
to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise any such options. Lease expense is recognized
on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. Rent expense was $4,444 and $3,750 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023,
respectively.
On March 13, 2019, Legacy Celularity
entered into a lease agreement for a 147,215
square foot facility consisting of office, manufacturing and laboratory space in Florham Park, New Jersey, which expires in 2036.
The Company has the option to renew the term of the lease for two additional five-year terms so long as the lease is then in full force
and effect; both option periods have been included in determining the lease term
used in recognizing the ROU assets and lease liability. The lease term commenced on March
1, 2020 subject to an abatement of the fixed rent for the first 13 months following the lease commencement date. The initial monthly
base rent was approximately $230
and will increase annually. The Company is obligated to pay real estate taxes and costs related to the premises, including costs
of operations, maintenance, repair, replacement and management of the new leased premises. In connection with entering into this lease
agreement, Legacy Celularity issued a letter of credit of $14,722.
The lease agreement allows for a landlord provided tenant improvement allowance of $14,722
to be applied to the costs of the construction of the leasehold improvements.
On September 14, 2023, the Company
entered into a lease amendment on the Companys Florham Park, New Jersey facility to reduce the letter of credit by approximately
$4,900 for a new letter of credit in the amount of $9,883 in exchange for higher base rental payments of approximately $400 per year,
effective October 1, 2023. The letter of credit, inclusive of interest earned on the account, is classified as restricted cash (non-current)
on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company evaluates changes to the terms and conditions of a lease contract to determine if they
result in a new lease or a modification of an existing lease. The Company accounted for the lease amendment as a modification since the
change in lease payments did not represent additional ROU assets. The Company reassessed the IBR, and remeasured the lease liability and
ROU asset on the modification date of September 14, 2023. As a result, the Company recorded a decrease to the ROU asset and related lease
liability in the amount of $2,083 on the consolidated balance sheets reflecting a higher IBR due to lower Company credit rating.
The components of the Companys
lease costs are classified on its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as follows:
Schedule of Lease Costs
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Operating lease cost | | 
$ | 3,911 | | | 
$ | 3,256 | | |
| 
Variable lease cost | | 
| 1,348 | | | 
| 1,132 | | |
| 
Total operating lease cost | | 
$ | 5,259 | | | 
$ | 4,388 | | |
The table below shows the cash
activity related to the Companys lease liabilities:
Schedule of Cash Activity
Related to the lease Liabilities
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Cash paid related to lease liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Operating cash flows from operating leases | | 
$ | 3,378 | | | 
$ | 2,995 | | |
| 118 | |
As of December 31, 2024, the maturities
of the Companys operating lease liabilities were as follows:
Schedule
of Future Minimum Payments under Operating Leases
| 
| | 
| | | |
| 
2025 | | 
$ | 3,452 | | |
| 
2026 | | 
| 3,526 | | |
| 
2027 | | 
| 3,599 | | |
| 
2028 | | 
| 3,673 | | |
| 
2029 | | 
| 3,746 | | |
| 
Thereafter | | 
| 80,821 | | |
| 
Total lease payments | | 
| 98,817 | | |
| 
Less imputed interest | | 
| (72,269 | ) | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 26,548 | | |
As of December 31, 2024, the weighted
average remaining lease term of the Companys operating lease was 21.3 years, and the weighted average discount rate used to determine
the lease liability for the operating lease was 14.24%.
**12. Commitments and Contingencies**
**Contingent Consideration Related to Business
Combinations**
In connection with Legacy Celularitys
acquisition in 2017 of HLI Cellular Therapeutics, LLC and Anthrogenesis, the Company has agreed to pay future consideration to the sellers
upon the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones. As a result, the Company recorded $1,413 and $1,606 as contingent
consideration as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During 2023, the Company discontinued its unmodified NK cell and AML Cell
Therapy clinical trials subject to the contingent consideration agreement under the Anthrogenesis acquisition and, as a result, the fair
value of the contingent consideration obligation decreased significantly as of December 31, 2023. Due to the contingent nature of these
milestone and royalty payments, there is a high degree of judgment in the management estimates that determine the fair value of the contingent
consideration. See Note 4 for further discussion.
**Indemnification Agreements**
In the ordinary course of business,
the Company may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to vendors, lessors, business partners and other parties with respect
to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement
claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with members of its board of directors
and its executive officers that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise
by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required
to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs
as a result of such indemnifications. The Company is not currently aware of any indemnification claims and has not accrued any liabilities
related to such obligations in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2024 or 2023.
**Agreement with Palantir Technologies Inc.**
On May 5, 2021, Legacy Celularity
executed a Master Subscription Agreement (the Palantir MSA) with Palantir under which it agreed to pay $40,000 over five
years for access to Palantirs Foundry platform along with certain professional services. The Company intended to utilize Palantirs
Foundry platform to secure deeper insights into data obtained from the Companys discovery and process development, as well as manufacturing
and biorepository operations. In January 2023, the Company ceased use of the software and provided a notice of dispute to Palantir on
the basis that the software had not performed as promised and that Palantir had failed to provide the Company with the professional services
necessary to successfully implement, integrate and enable the Foundry platform. As a result, in accordance with ASC 420, *Exit or Disposal
Costs*, during the quarter ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized the remaining related cease-use costs liability estimated based
on the discounted future cash flows of contract payments for $24,402 which was included as software cease-use costs in the consolidated
statements of operations and comprehensive loss. On December 21, 2023, the Company entered into a settlement and release agreement with
Palantir (the Palantir Settlement Agreement), which was subsequently amended on January 10, 2024 and May 6, 2024, whereupon
the parties agreed that if the Company paid Palantir the settlement fees of $3,500, less any amounts previously paid, and issued shares
as discussed in the *Arbitration Demand* section below no later than June 3, 2024, the parties would cease the arbitration and deem
the original Palantir MSA terminated. The Company made the required payments prior to June 3, 2024, and on June 4, 2024, the parties dismissed
all claims and counterclaims. Accordingly, at December 31, 2023, the Company reversed previously recognized costs in excess of the final
settlement amount. The Company had no liability as of December 31, 2024 and a current liability of $3,500 as of December 31, 2023, respectively,
for accrued R&D software on the consolidated balance sheets.
| 119 | |
**Sirion License Agreement**
In December 2021, the Company
entered into a license agreement (Sirion License) with Sirion Biotech GmbH (Sirion). Under the Sirion License,
Sirion granted the Company a license related to patent rights and know-how associated with poloxamers (Licensed Product).
As part of the Sirion License, the Company paid Sirion $136 as an upfront fee, a $113 annual maintenance fee and may owe up to $5,099
related to clinical and regulatory milestones for each Licensed Product during the term. The Company also agreed to pay Sirion low-single
digit royalties on net sales on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product and country-by-country basis and until the later of: (i) expiration
of the last to expire valid claim of the patents covering such Licensed Product, and (ii) 10 years after first Commercial Sale of a Licensed
Product. In addition, the Sirion License is subject to termination rights including for termination for material breach and by the Company
for convenience upon 30 days written notice. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, no milestones have been achieved and no
royalties have been earned.
**Legal Proceedings**
At each reporting date, the Company
evaluates whether or not a potential loss amount or a potential range of loss is probable and reasonably estimable under the provisions
of the authoritative guidance that addresses accounting for contingencies. The Company expenses as incurred the costs related to such
legal proceedings.
*Civil Investigative Demand*
The Company received a Civil Investigative
Demand (the Demand) under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3729, dated August 14, 2022, from the U.S. Attorneys
Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Demand requests documents and information relating to claims submitted to Medicare,
Medicaid, or other federal insurers for services or procedures involving injectable human tissue therapy products derived from amniotic
fluid or birth tissue and includes Interfyl, a biomaterials product. The Company is cooperating with the request and is engaged in an
ongoing dialogue with the Assistant U.S. Attorneys handling the Demand. The matter is still in preliminary stages and there is uncertainty
as to whether the Demand will result in any liability.
*Arbitration Demand from Palantir Technologies Inc.*
On April 20, 2023, Palantir commenced
an arbitration with JAMS Arbitration asserting claims for declaratory relief and breach of contract relating to the Palantir MSA, seeking
damages in an amount equal to the full value of the contract. The Company responded to the arbitration demand and asserted counterclaims
for breach of contract, breach of warranty, fraudulent inducement, violation of Californias Unfair Competition Law, amongst others,
in relation to the Palantir MSA.
On December 21, 2023, the Company
and Palantir entered into the Palantir Settlement Agreement to resolve the JAMS Arbitration. The Palantir Settlement Agreement was subsequently
amended on January 10, 2024 and May 6, 2024. Both parties agreed to dismiss the arbitration proceeding and dispute and provide for mutual
releases upon the Companys satisfaction of a settlement payment obligation. Through June 3, 2024, the Company made total settlement
payments of $3,500 and issued Palantir an aggregate of 60,584 shares of the Companys Class A common stock as consideration for
further amendments to the Palantir Settlement Agreement. On June 4, 2024, the parties dismissed all claims and counterclaims. The Palantir
MSA is now fully terminated and neither party has any further rights or obligations thereunder. The shares of the Companys Class
A common stock issued to Palantir were issued with piggyback registration rights. Resale of such shares by Palantir shall be included
on any future registration statement filed by the Company.
*Celularity Inc. v. Evolution Biologyx, LLC, et
al.*
On April 17, 2023, the
Company filed a complaint against Evolution Biologyx, LLC, Saleem S. Saab, individually, and Encyte, LLC (collectively,
Evolution) in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey to recover unpaid invoice amounts for
the sale of its biomaterial products in the amount of approximately $2,350,
plus interest. In September 2021, the Company executed a distribution agreement with Evolution, whereupon Evolution purchased
biomaterial products from the Company for sale through Evolutions distribution channels. The Company fulfilled
Evolutions orders and otherwise performed each of its obligations under the distribution agreement. Despite attempts to
recover the outstanding invoices and Evolutions promise to pay, Evolution has refused to pay any of the invoices and has
materially breached its obligations under the distribution agreement. The Companys complaint asserts claims of breach of
contract and fraudulent inducement, amongst others. On April 4, 2024, Evolution filed a counter claim alleging damages in an amount
to be determined resulting from alleged breach of contract, breach of warranty, quasi contract and fraud. The Company believes
Evolutions counter claims are without any merit, and the Company intends to vigorously pursue the matter to recover the outstanding
payments owed by Evolution, including interest and associated attorneys fees, as well as defend against Evolutions
counterclaims.
| 120 | |
*TargetCW v. Celularity Inc.*
**
On March 27, 2024, WMBE Payrolling,
Inc., dba TCWGlobal, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California alleging a breach
of contract and account stated claims relating to a Master Services Agreement dated May 4, 2020, or the TCWGlobal MSA, for the provision
of certain leased workers to perform services on the Companys behalf. The complaint alleges that the Company breached the TCWGlobal
MSA by failing to make payments on certain invoices for the services of the leased workers. On May 7, 2024, the Company entered into
a settlement agreement and mutual release with TCWGlobal whereupon the Company agreed to pay $516
in tiered monthly installments, with the last payment due and payable on May 1, 2025, in exchange for a dismissal of the complaint
and full release of all claims. The Company defaulted on the payments in November 2024. On April 21, 2025, the Company was served with a motion by
TCWGlobal to enforce the settlement and enter judgment against the Company in the amount of $350.
*Hackensack Meridian v. Celularity Inc*.
On March 27, 2025,
Hackensack Meridian Health (HUMC) filed a complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey seeking $946
allegedly owed by Celularity for costs associated with clinical trials. The amounts claimed were part of a three-party arrangement
with a contract research organization (CRO), which the Company engaged to make payments on behalf of the Company to HUMC. The
Company has asserted that it believes there are improper charges in the claim. The parties are attempting to agree on the actual
amounts owed by the Company.
**13. Equity**
****
****
**Common Stock**
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023,
the Companys certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated, authorized the Company to issue 730,000,000 shares of $0.0001
par value Class A common stock. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding were 22,546,671
and 19,378,192, respectively.
**
*Voting Power*
Except as otherwise required by
law or as otherwise provided in any certificate of designation for any series of preferred stock, the holders of common stock possess
all voting power for the election of the Companys directors and all other matters requiring stockholder action. Holders of common
stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters to be voted on by stockholders.
**
*Dividends*
Holders of Class A common stock
will be entitled to receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Companys board of directors in
its discretion out of funds legally available therefor. In no event will any stock dividends or stock splits or combinations of stock
be declared or made on common stock unless the shares of common stock at the time outstanding are treated equally and identically.
*Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up*
In the event of the Companys
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding-up, the holders of the common stock will be entitled
to receive an equal amount per share of all of the Companys assets of whatever kind available for distribution to stockholders,
after the rights of the holders of the preferred stock have been satisfied.
*Preemptive or Other Rights*
**
The Companys stockholders
have no preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to common stock.
*Election of Directors*
The Companys board of directors
is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class
serving a three-year term, except with respect to the election of directors at the special meeting held in connection with the merger
with GX, Class I directors are elected to an initial one-year term (and three-year terms subsequently), the Class II directors are elected
to an initial two-year term (and three-year terms subsequently) and the Class III directors are elected to an initial three-year term
(and three-year terms subsequently). There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the
holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.
**Preferred Stock**
The Companys Certificate
of Incorporation authorized 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock and provides that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to
time in one or more series. The Companys board of directors is authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers
and preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof,
applicable to the shares of each series of preferred stock. The Companys board of directors is able to, without stockholder approval,
issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common
stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of the Companys board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder
approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of Celularity or the removal of existing management.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not have any outstanding preferred stock.
****
| 121 | |
****
**ATM Agreement**
On September 8, 2022, the Company
entered into an At-the-Market Sales Agreement (the ATM Agreement) with BTIG, LLC, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and B. Riley
Securities, Inc., acting as sales agents and/or principals, pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time in its
sole discretion, shares of its common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000, subject to certain limitations as set
forth in the ATM Agreement. The Company is not obligated to make any sales of shares under the ATM Agreement.
Any shares offered and sold in
the at-the-market offering will be issued pursuant to the Companys shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and the related prospectus
supplement. Under the ATM Agreement, the sales agents may sell shares of common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an at
the market offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933. The Company will pay the sales agents a commission
rate of up to 3.0% of the gross sales proceeds of any shares sold and has agreed to provide the sales agents with customary indemnification,
contribution and reimbursement rights. The ATM Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and conditions to the placements
of the shares pursuant thereto.
During the year ended December
31, 2023, the Company received gross and net proceeds of $141 and $136, respectively, from the sale of 13,296 shares of its common stock
at an average price of $10.60 per share under the ATM Agreement. No shares were issued under the ATM Agreement during the year ended December
31, 2024.
**March 2023 PIPE**
On March 20, 2023, the Company
entered into a securities purchase agreement with two accredited investors, including its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robert
Hariri, providing for the private placement of (i) 938,183 shares of its Class A common stock, and (ii) accompanying warrants to purchase
up to 938,183 shares of Class A common stock (the March 2023 PIPE Warrants), for $8.34 per share and $1.25 per accompanying
March 2023 PIPE Warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of $9,000 (of which Dr. Hariri subscribed for $2,000). The closing of the private
placement occurred on March 27, 2023. Each March 2023 PIPE Warrant had an exercise price of $30.00 per share, is immediately exercisable,
will expire on March 27, 2028 (five years from the date of issuance), and is subject to customary adjustments for certain transactions
affecting the Companys capitalization. The March 2023 PIPE Warrants may not be exercised if the aggregate number of shares of Class
A common stock beneficially owned by the holder thereof (together with its affiliates) would exceed the specified percentage cap provided
therein (which may be adjusted upon 61 days advance notice) immediately after exercise thereof.
The Company accounted for the
March 2023 PIPE Warrants and common stock as a single non-arms length transaction. The Company applied the guidance for this transaction
in accordance with ASU 2020-06, *(Subtopic 470-20): Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options, ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging,*and *ASC 480 Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity*. Accordingly, the net proceeds were allocated between common stock and the
March 2023 PIPE warrants at their respective fair value, which resulted in a net premium of $1,650 based on the difference between the
proceeds and fair value of the common stock and March 2023 PIPE warrants, which was recorded as additional paid-in capital within stockholders
equity on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the March 2023 PIPE Warrants was determined using a Black-Scholes option
pricing model and the common stock based on closing date share price. The Company evaluated the March 2023 PIPE warrants under ASC 815
and determined that they did not require liability classification and met the requirements for a derivative scope exception under ASC
815-10-15-74(a) for instruments that are both indexed to an entitys own stock and classified in stockholders equity. The
warrants were recorded in additional paid-in capital within stockholders equity on the consolidated balance sheets.
On September 14, 2023, the Company
entered into a warrant amendment on the March 2023 PIPE Warrants with the unaffiliated investor to reduce the exercise price from $30.00
per share to $10.00 per share for warrants to purchase 729,698 shares of Class A common stock. The warrant amendment was executed as consideration
for professional services rendered to the Company. As a result, the Company accounted for the transaction in accordance with ASC 718,
*Stock-Based Compensation,* and based on the calculated incremental fair value attributable to the modified warrant compared to the
original warrant immediately prior to the modification, recognized an expense of $402 within selling, general and administrative on the
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2023.
| 122 | |
**Registered Direct Offerings**
On April 10, 2023, the Company
closed on a registered direct offering of 923,076 shares of its Class A common stock together with warrants (Registered Direct
Warrants) to purchase up to 923,076 shares of its Class A common stock at a combined purchase price of $6.50 per share and accompanying
warrant, resulting in total gross proceeds of approximately $6,000 before deducting placement agent commissions and other estimated offering
expenses. The Registered Direct Warrants had an exercise price of $7.50, became exercisable beginning six months after the date of issuance
and will expire five years thereafter. The Company used the $5,505 net proceeds from the offering to repay its obligations to Yorkville
under the PPA. The Company considered the appropriate accounting guidance and concluded that the Registered Direct Warrants qualified
for liability treatment, and therefore, recorded the warrant liability at fair value $4,280 which was based on a Black-Scholes option
pricing model. The remainder of the net proceeds were allocated to the Class A common stock issued and recorded as a component of equity.
Upon the closing of the registered
direct offering on April 10, 2023, the Company amended the existing May 2022 PIPE Warrants, to reduce the exercise price from $82.50 to
$7.50 per share and extended the expiration date to five and one-half years following the closing of the offering or October 10, 2028.
The modification resulted in the recognition of additional warrant liability of $1,389 based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model
as of the modification date.
On July 31, 2023, the Company
closed on a registered direct offering of 857,142 shares of its Class A common stock together with warrants (July 2023 Registered
Direct Warrants) to purchase up to 857,142 shares of its Class A common stock at a combined purchase price of $3.50 per share and
accompanying warrant, resulting in total gross proceeds of approximately $3,000 before deducting placement agent commissions and other
estimated offering expenses. The July 2023 Registered Direct Warrants have an exercise price of $3.50, will be exercisable beginning six
months after the date of issuance and will expire five years thereafter. The Company used the $2,740 net proceeds for working capital
and general corporate purposes. The Company considered the appropriate accounting guidance and concluded that the July 2023 Registered
Direct Warrants qualified for liability treatment, and therefore, recorded the warrant liability at fair value $2,645 which was based
on a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The remainder of the net proceeds were allocated to the Class A common stock issued and recorded
as a component of equity.
In connection with the July 31,
2023 registered direct offering described above, the Company also entered into an amendment to certain existing warrants to purchase up
to an aggregate of 892,856 shares at an exercise price of $7.50 (consisting of all the May 2022 PIPE Warrants and a portion of the Registered
Direct Warrants issued in April 2023), and such amended warrants have a reduced exercise price of $3.50 per share. As noted above, the
modification resulted in an increase to the warrant liability of $511 based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model as of the July 31,
2023 modification date.
**May 2023 PIPE**
On May 18, 2023, the Company closed
on a securities purchase agreement with a group of accredited investors, providing for the private placement of an aggregate (i) 581,394
shares of its Class A common stock and (ii) accompanying warrants to purchase up to 581,394 shares of Class A common stock (the May
2023 PIPE Warrants), for $5.20 per share and $1.25 per accompanying May 2023 PIPE Warrant, for an aggregate gross purchase price
of $3,750. Each May 2023 PIPE Warrant has an exercise price of $10.00 per share, is immediately exercisable, will expire on May 17, 2028,
and is subject to customary adjustments for certain transactions affecting the Companys capitalization. The May 2023 PIPE Warrants
may not be exercised if the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock beneficially owned by the holder thereof (together with
its affiliates) would exceed the specified percentage cap provided therein (which may be adjusted upon 61 days advance notice) immediately
after exercise thereof. The Company evaluated the May 2023 PIPE Warrants under ASC 815 and determined that they did not require liability
classification and met the requirements for a derivative scope exception under ASC 815-10-15-74(a) for instruments that are both indexed
to an entitys own stock and classified in stockholders equity. Accordingly, the proceeds were allocated between common stock
and the May 2023 PIPE Warrants at their respective relative fair value basis to stockholders equity on the consolidated balance
sheets. The fair value of the May 2023 PIPE Warrants was determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and the common stock based
on the closing date share price and were recorded in additional paid-in capital within stockholders equity on the consolidated
balance sheets.
**January 2024 PIPE**
On January 12, 2024, the Company
entered into a securities purchase agreement with an existing investor, Dragasac Limited (Dragasac), providing for the private
placement of (i) 2,141,098 shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, or the Class A common stock, and (ii) accompanying
warrants to purchase up to 535,274 shares of Class A common stock (January 2024 PIPE Warrant), for $2.4898 per share and
$1.25 per accompanying January 2024 PIPE Warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $6,000. The closing of the private
placement occurred on January 16, 2024. The securities were issued pursuant to an exemption from registration provided under Section 4(a)(2)
of the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The offer and sale of the shares and January 2024 PIPE Warrant (including
the shares underlying the January 2024 PIPE Warrant) has not been registered under the Act or any state securities laws. The securities
may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Each January
2024 PIPE Warrant had an exercise price of $2.4898 per share, is immediately exercisable, and will expire on January 16, 2029 (five5 years
from the date of issuance).
| 123 | |
The Company accounted for the
January 2024 PIPE Warrant and common stock as a single non-arms length transaction recognized in equity. The Company applied the
guidance for this transaction in accordance with ASU 2020-06, *(Subtopic 470-20): Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options, ASC
815 Derivatives and Hedging,*and *ASC 480 Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity*. Accordingly, the net proceeds were allocated
between common stock and the January 2024 PIPE Warrant at their respective fair values, which resulted in proceeds of $909 allocated to
the January 2024 PIPE Warrant and the balance of the proceeds allocated to the common stock. The fair value of the January 2024 PIPE Warrant
was determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and the common stock based on closing date share price. The Company evaluated
the January 2024 PIPE warrant under ASC 815 and determined that it did not require liability classification and met the requirements for
a derivative scope exception under ASC 815-10-15-74(a) for instruments that are both indexed to an entitys own stock and classified
in stockholders equity. The warrants were recorded in additional paid-in capital within stockholders equity on the consolidated
balance sheets. Also in connection with the January 2024 PIPE transaction, the Company repriced legacy warrants held by Dragasac to purchase
652,981 shares of common stock with a previous exercise price of $67.70 per share to a new exercise price of $2.4898 per share. The modification
of warrants resulted in incremental fair value of $524, which has been recognized as an equity issuance cost and had no net impact on
stockholders equity as the warrants remain equity-classified after the modification.
In connection with the execution
of the securities purchase agreement, the Company also entered into an investor rights agreement with Dragasac dated as of January 12,
2024. The investor rights agreement provides Dragasac certain information and audit rights, as well as registration rights with respect
to the shares (and shares underlying the January 2024 PIPE Warrant), including both the undertaking to file a registration statement within
45 days of filing of the 2023 Form 10-K, piggyback registration rights, as well as the right to request up to three demand
rights for underwritten offerings per year; in each case subject to customary underwriter cutback language as well as any
objections raised by the SEC to inclusion of securities. If the initial registration statement was not filed on or prior to May 15, 2024,
the investor rights agreement provides for partial liquidating damages equal to 1.0% of the subscription amount each month, up to a maximum
of 6.0%, plus interest thereon accruing daily at a rate of 18.0% per annum. The Company began to accrue partial liquidating damages and
interest as of May 22, 2024. As a condition to closing, the Company entered into an amendment to an amended and restated distribution
and manufacturing agreement with an affiliate of Dragasac to add cell therapy products in clinical development, investigational stage
and/or in near-term commercial use to the list of products under the scope of the exclusive distribution and manufacturing licenses (including
unmodified natural killer cells (such as CYNK-001) for aging and other non-oncology indications, PSC-100, PDA-001, PDA-002, pEXO and APPL-001
for regenerative indications).
Effective February 16, 2024, in
order to comply with Section 4.15(a) of the securities purchase agreement, the Company entered into an amended employment agreement with
its Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), whereby the CAO agreed to decrease his base salary from $500 to $425 per year through
December 31, 2024.
*Warrant Modifications*
On January 12, 2024, in connection
with the January 2024 PIPE, the Company agreed to amend the exercise price of legacy warrants held by Dragasac to purchase 652,981 shares
of common stock, which expired March 16, 2025, from $67.70 per share to $2.4898 per share. On January 24, 2025, the Company agreed to
reduce the exercise price of both the January 2024 PIPE Warrant and legacy warrants held by Dragasac from $2.4898 per share to $2.07 per
share. See Warrants section below for additional information. On March 13, 2024, in connection with the RWI Forbearance Agreement (see
Note 10), the Company agreed to issue RWI a warrant to acquire up to 300,000 shares of common stock, which expires June 20, 2028 and has
an exercise price of $5.895 per share. Additionally, on March 13, 2024, in connection with the Starr Forbearance Agreement (see Note 10),
the Company agreed to amend the exercise price of the 75,000 March 2023 Loan Warrants expiring March 17, 2028 from $7.10 per share to
$5.895 per share (the Minimum Price as determined pursuant to Nasdaq 5635(d) on March 13, 2024) and the 50,000 June 2023
Warrants expiring June 20, 2028 from $8.10 per share to $5.895 per share, each of which are held by C.V. Starr.
**Standby Equity Purchase Agreement**
On March 13, 2024, the Company
and Yorkville entered into a SEPA. Under the SEPA, the Company has the right to sell to Yorkville up to $10,000 of its Class A common
stock, par value $0.0001 per share subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the SEPA, from time to time, over a 36-month
period. Sales of the common stock to Yorkville under the SEPA, and the timing of any such sales, are at the Companys option, and
the Company is under no obligation to sell any shares of common stock to Yorkville under the SEPA except in connection with notices that
may be submitted by Yorkville, in certain circumstances as described below.
Upon the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent in the SEPA, which include having a resale shelf for shares of common stock issued to Yorkville declared effective, the Company
has the right to direct Yorkville to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock by delivering written notice (Advance).
An Advance may not exceed 100% of the average of the daily trading volume of the common stock on Nasdaq, during the five consecutive trading
days immediately preceding the written notice.
| 124 | |
Yorkville will generally purchase
shares pursuant to an Advance at a price per share equal to 97% of the VWAP, on Nasdaq during the three consecutive trading days commencing
on the date of the delivery of the written notice (unless the Company specifies a minimum acceptable price or there is no VWAP on the
subject trading day).
The SEPA will automatically terminate
on the earliest to occur of (i) the first day of the month next following the 36-month anniversary of the date of the SEPA or (ii) the
date on which Yorkville shall have made payment for shares of common stock equal to $10,000. The Company has the right to terminate the
SEPA at no cost or penalty upon five trading days prior written notice to Yorkville, provided that there are no outstanding advances
for which shares of common stock need to be issued and the Yorkville convertible promissory note (the Initial Advance) (see
Note 10) has been paid in full. The Company and Yorkville may also agree to terminate the SEPA by mutual written consent.
As consideration for Yorkvilles
commitment to purchase the shares of common stock pursuant to the SEPA, the Company paid Yorkville a $25 cash due diligence fee and a
commitment fee equal to 16,964 shares of common stock. The Company recorded direct issuance costs of $125 inclusive of the commitment
shares as other expense in the consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive loss.
In connection with the entry into
the SEPA, on March 13, 2024, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with Yorkville, pursuant to which the Company agreed
to file with the SEC no later than May 3, 2024, a registration statement for the resale by Yorkville of the shares of common stock issued
under the SEPA (including the commitment fee shares). The Company agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration
statement declared effective within 45 days of such filing and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement during the
36-month commitment period. The Company will not have the ability to request any Advances under the SEPA (nor may Yorkville convert the
Initial Advance into common stock) until such resale registration statement is declared effective by the SEC. The Company has not yet
filed a registration statement with the SEC for the resale by Yorkville of the shares of common stock issued under the SEPA, which is
deemed an event of default under the SEPA and as a result, the interest rate on the on the Yorkville convertible promissory note (see
Note 10) increased to 18.0%.
The Company determined that the
SEPA should be accounted for as a derivative measured at fair value, with changes in the fair value recognized in earnings. Because the
Company has not yet filed a registration statement and no shares can currently be issued under the SEPA, the SEPA is deemed to have no
value as of the issuance date and as of December 31, 2024.
| 125 | |
**Warrants**
As of December 31, 2024, the Company
had outstanding warrants to purchase 11,221,557 shares of Class A common stock. A summary of the warrants is as follows:
Summary of the Warrants
| 
| | 
Number of shares | | | 
Exercise price | | | 
Expiration date | |
| 
Dragasac Warrants (1) (4) | | 
| 652,981 | | | 
$ | 2.4898 | | | 
March 16, 2025 | |
| 
Public Warrants (2) | | 
| 1,437,447 | | | 
$ | 115.00 | | | 
July 16, 2026 | |
| 
Sponsor Warrants (2) | | 
| 849,999 | | | 
$ | 115.00 | | | 
July 16, 2026 | |
| 
May 2022 PIPE Warrants | | 
| 405,405 | | | 
$ | 3.50 | | | 
October 10, 2028 | |
| 
March 2023 PIPE Warrants | | 
| 208,485 | | | 
$ | 30.00 | | | 
March 27, 2028 | |
| 
March 2023 PIPE Warrants (modified) | | 
| 729,698 | | | 
$ | 10.00 | | | 
March 27, 2028 | |
| 
March 2023 Loan Warrants | | 
| 75,000 | | | 
$ | 5.8950 | | | 
March 17, 2028 | |
| 
April 2023 Registered Direct Warrants | | 
| 435,625 | | | 
$ | 7.50 | | | 
October 10, 2028 | |
| 
April 2023 Registered Direct Warrants (modified) | | 
| 487,451 | | | 
$ | 3.50 | | | 
October 10, 2028 | |
| 
May 2023 PIPE Warrants | | 
| 581,394 | | | 
$ | 10.00 | | | 
May 17, 2028 | |
| 
June 2023 Warrants (3) | | 
| 50,000 | | | 
$ | 5.8950 | | | 
June 20, 2028 | |
| 
June 2023 Loan Warrants | | 
| 300,000 | | | 
$ | 8.10 | | | 
June 20, 2028 | |
| 
July 2023 Registered Direct Warrants | | 
| 857,142 | | | 
$ | 3.50 | | | 
January 31, 2029 | |
| 
January 2024 PIPE Warrants (4) | | 
| 535,274 | | | 
$ | 2.4898 | | | 
January 16, 2029 | |
| 
January 2024 Bridge Loan - Tranche #1 Warrants | | 
| 1,650,000 | | | 
$ | 2.4898 | | | 
January 16, 2029 | |
| 
January 2024 Bridge Loan - Tranche #2 Warrants | | 
| 1,350,000 | | | 
$ | 2.9880 | | | 
July 15, 2029 | |
| 
March 2024 RWI Forbearance Warrants | | 
| 300,000 | | | 
$ | 5.8958 | | | 
June 20, 2028 | |
| 
November 2024 Purchaser Warrants | | 
| 263,156 | | | 
$ | 2.85 | | | 
November 25, 2029 - December 3, 2029 | |
| 
November 2024 Placement Agent Warrants | | 
| 52,500 | | | 
$ | 3.56 | | | 
November 25, 2029 - December 3, 2029 | |
| 
| | 
| 11,221,557 | | | 
| | | | 
| |
**
| 
| 
(1) | 
In connection with the execution of the January 2024 PIPE described above, the Company agreed to reprice 652,981 legacy warrants held by Dragasac with a previous exercise price of $67.70 to a new exercise price of $2.4898. The term of the warrants was unchanged. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
(2) | 
The number of Public Warrants
and Sponsor Warrants outstanding was not adjusted for the reverse stock split. There are 14,374,478 Public Warrants and 8,499,999 Sponsor
Warrants outstanding. After the reverse stock split, the number of warrants outstanding remains the same. However, each outstanding warrant
is now exercisable for one-tenth of a share of Class A common stock, and the exercise price per share was adjusted to $115.00 as a result
of the split. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
(3) | 
In connection with the execution
of the Starr Forbearance Agreement on March 13, 2024, described above under Warrant Modification and further in Note 10, the Company
agreed to reprice 75,000 warrants with a previous exercise price of $7.10 and 50,000 warrants with a previous exercise price of $8.10
held by C.V. Starr to a new exercise price of $5.895. The term of the warrants was unchanged. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
(4) | 
On January 24, 2025, the
Company agreed to reduce the exercise price of the Dragasac warrants and the January 2024 PIPE warrants from $2.49 per share to $2.07
per share. As a result of the price reduction, the holder agreed to immediately exercise the warrants in full and to purchase an aggregate
1,188,255 shares of the Companys Class A common stock for gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $2.5 million. | |
****
**14. Stock-Based Compensation**
****
**2021 Equity Incentive Plan**
In July 2021, the Companys
board of directors adopted, and the Companys stockholders approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2021 Plan).
The 2021 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options (ISOs) to employees and for the grant of nonstatutory stock
options (NSOs), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance awards and
other forms of stock awards to employees, directors and consultants.
| 126 | |
The number of shares of Class
A Common Stock initially reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan is 2,091,528.
As of December 31, 2024, 330,391
shares were reserved for issuance and those shares remain available for future grant under the 2021 Plan. The number of shares
reserved for issuance will automatically increase on January 1 of each year, for a period of 10
years, from January 1, 2022 through January 1, 2031, by 4.0%
of the total number of shares of Celularity common stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number
of shares as may be determined by the Companys board of directors. On January 1, 2025, the number of shares reserved for issuance
increased to 1,229,890 and those shares remain available for future grant under the 2021 Plan. The shares added to the 2021 Plan on
January 1, 2025, remain subject to an effective registration statement on Form S-8. Shares subject to stock awards granted under the
2021 Plan that expire or terminate without being exercised in full, or that are paid out in cash rather than in shares, will not reduce
the number of shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan. Additionally, shares issued pursuant to stock awards under the 2021
Plan that are repurchased or forfeited, as well as shares that are reacquired as consideration for the exercise or purchase price of
a stock award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to a stock award, will become available for future grant under the 2021
Plan.
The 2021 Plan is administered
by the Companys board of directors. The Companys board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, may delegate
to one or more officers the authority to (i) designate employees other than officers to receive specified stock awards and (ii) determine
the number of shares to be subject to such stock awards. Subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan, the plan administrator has the authority
to determine the terms of awards, including recipients, the exercise price or strike price of stock awards, if any, the number of shares
subject to each stock award, the fair market value of a share, the vesting schedule applicable to the awards, together with any vesting
acceleration, the form of consideration, if any, payable upon exercise or settlement of the stock award and the terms and conditions of
the award agreements for use under the 2021 Plan. The plan administrator has the power to modify outstanding awards under the 2021 Plan.
Subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan and in connection with a corporate transaction or capitalization adjustment, the plan administrator
may not reprice or cancel and regrant any award at a lower exercise price, strike price or purchase price or cancel any award with an
exercise price, strike price or purchase price in exchange for cash, property or other awards without first obtaining the approval of
the Companys stockholders.
**2017 Equity Incentive Plan**
The 2017 Equity Incentive Plan
(the 2017 Plan) adopted by Legacy Celularitys board of directors and approved by Legacy Celularitys stockholders
provided for Legacy Celularity to grant stock options to employees, directors and consultants of Legacy Celularity. In connection with
the closing of the merger and effectiveness of the 2021 Plan, no further grants were made under the 2017 Plan.
The total number of stock options
that could have been issued under the 2017 Plan was 3,234,204. Shares that expired, forfeited, canceled or otherwise terminated without
having been fully exercised were available for future grant under the 2017 Plan.
The 2017 Plan is
administered by the Companys board of directors or, at the discretion of the Companys board of directors, by a
committee of the board of directors. The exercise prices, vesting and other restrictions were determined at the discretion of Legacy
Celularitys board of directors, or its committee if so delegated, except that the exercise price per share of stock options
could not be less than 100%
of the fair market value of the share of common stock on the date of grant and the term of stock option could not be greater than ten
years. Stock options granted to employees, officers, members of the board of directors and consultants typically vested over
a three3 or four4
year period.
**Stock Option Valuation**
*Awards with Service Conditions*
The fair value of each option
is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model that takes into account inputs such as the exercise price,
the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock at grant date, expected term, expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest
rate, and dividend yield. The fair value of each grant of stock options was determined by the Company using the methods and assumptions
discussed below. Certain of these inputs are subjective and generally require judgment to determine.
| 
| 
| 
The expected term of employee stock options with service-based vesting is determined using the simplified method, whereby the expected life equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the option due to the Companys lack of sufficient historical data. The expected term of non-employee options is equal to the contractual term or its estimated term based on the underlying agreement. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
The expected stock price
volatility is based on historical volatilities of comparable public entities within the Companys industry. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
The risk-free interest rate
is based on the interest rate payable on U.S. Treasury securities in effect at the time of grant for a period that is commensurate with
the respective expected term or contractual term. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
The expected dividend yield
is 0% because the Company has not historically paid, and does not expect, for the foreseeable future, to pay a dividend on its common
stock. | |
| 127 | |
The following table presents,
on a weighted average basis, the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the grant-date fair value of
stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Schedule
of Weighted Average Grant Fair Value of Stock Options using Black-Scholes Option-pricing Model
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | | 
| 4.4 | % | | 
| 4.1 | % | |
| 
Expected term (in years) | | 
| 5.7 | | | 
| 5.6 | | |
| 
Expected volatility | | 
| 104.9 | % | | 
| 86.5 | % | |
| 
Expected dividend yield | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
The weighted average grant-date
fair value per share of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $2.66 and $5.35, respectively.
The following table summarizes
option activity with service conditions under the 2021 Plan and the 2017 Plan:
Schedule of Stock Option Activity
| 
| | 
Options | | | 
Weighted Average Exercise Price | | | 
Weighted Average Contract Term (years) | | | 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value | | |
| 
Outstanding at January 1, 2024 | | 
| 2,820,187 | | | 
$ | 40.16 | | | 
| 5.6 | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
Granted | | 
| 1,503,394 | | | 
| 3.26 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Exercised | | 
| (20,744 | ) | | 
| 2.80 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Forfeited/Expired | | 
| (341,312 | ) | | 
| 29.51 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Outstanding at December 31, 2024* | | 
| 3,961,525 | | | 
$ | 27.27 | | | 
| 6.4 | | | 
$ | 16 | | |
| 
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2024 | | 
| 3,961,525 | | | 
$ | 27.27 | | | 
| 6.4 | | | 
$ | 16 | | |
| 
Exercisable at December 31, 2024 | | 
| 2,586,561 | | | 
$ | 37.49 | | | 
| 4.9 | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
* | Options outstanding at December 31, 2024 under the 2021 Plan and 2017 Plan were 2,569,029 and
1,437,496, respectively. Options outstanding at December 31, 2024 under the 2021 Plan include 45,000 awards with performance
conditions (see below). | 
|
The aggregate intrinsic value
of options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the fair value of the Companys Class
A common stock for those options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of Class A common stock.
The Company recorded stock-based
compensation expense relating to option awards with service conditions of $8,336 and $9,293 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and
2023, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the aggregate intrinsic value was $8 and $0, respectively, for
the stock options exercised. As of December 31, 2024, unrecognized compensation cost for options issued with service conditions was $7,129
and will be recognized over an estimated weighted-average amortization period of 2.09 years.
*Awards with Performance Conditions*
In connection with the advisory
agreement signed with Robin L. Smith, MD (see Note 20), the Company awarded options under the 2021 Plan to acquire a total of 105,000
shares with an exercise price of $29.90
to Dr. Smith, a former member of the Companys board of directors. The initial tranche of 25,000
stock options vested upon execution of the advisory agreement on August 16, 2022. The remaining 80,000
stock options are subject to vesting upon achievement of certain predefined milestones in relation to the expansion of the degenerative
disease business. On November 1, 2022, the second tranche of 20,000
stock options vested upon achievement of the first milestone. The fair value of the award was determined based on a Black-Scholes
option-pricing model. The Companys grant date fair value assumptions were 79.9%
expected volatility, 2.95%
risk-free interest rate, five5-year
expected term, and 0%
expected dividend yield. The remaining 60,000
stock options were forfeited on August 16, 2023 upon termination of the advisory agreement. There were no milestones achieved
or probable of being achieved and accordingly there was no stock-based compensation expense recorded during the year ended December 31,
2023.
****
| 128 | |
****
**Restricted Stock Units**
The Company issues restricted
stock units (RSUs) to employees that generally vest over a four4-year
period, with 25%
vesting on the anniversary of the grant date, and the remainder vesting in equal annual installments thereafter so that the RSUs are
vested in full on the four-year anniversary of the grant date. At times, the board of directors may approve exceptions to the standard
RSU vesting terms. Any unvested shares will be forfeited upon termination of services. The fair value of an RSU is equal to the fair
market value price of the Companys common stock on the date of grant. RSU expense is amortized straight-line over the vesting
period. There are no RSUs outstanding under the 2017 Plan.
The following table summarizes
activity related to RSU stock-based payment awards under the 2021 Plan:
Schedule
of Activity Related to RSU Stock-Based Payment Awards
| 
| | 
Number of
Shares | | | 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | | |
| 
Outstanding at January 1, 2024 | | 
| 823,332 | | | 
$ | 13.77 | | |
| 
Granted | | 
| 337,080 | | | 
$ | 2.23 | | |
| 
Released | | 
| (400,996 | ) | | 
$ | 11.58 | | |
| 
Forfeited | | 
| (99,977 | ) | | 
$ | 13.24 | | |
| 
Outstanding at December 31, 2024 | | 
| 659,439 | | | 
$ | 9.29 | | |
The Company recorded stock-based
compensation expense of $3,022 and $5,724 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to RSUs. As of December
31, 2024, the total unrecognized expense related to all RSUs was $4,136, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average
period of 1.44 years.
**Stock Units with Market Condition Vesting**
In July 2023, the Company granted
174,500
market condition stock unit awards (MCUs) under the 2021 Plan to certain members of management. The awards are scheduled
to vest over a period of one1
to three3
years from the grant date based on continuous employment and specified market conditions based on the Companys stock price
at the time of vest. As of December 31, 2024, 145,833
of the MCUs were forfeited as a result of the participants termination of continuous service. Stock-based compensation
expense for the remaining 28,667
MCUs is being recognized over the requisite service period based on the awards fair value on the grant date, which was
determined based on the Companys closing stock price on the date of grant of $5.00,
further discounted to reflect the effects of the market condition of the award. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense
relating to MCUs of $211
for the year ended December 31, 2024. Stock-based compensation expense relating to MCUs for the year ended December 31, 2023 was
de minimis.
****
**Stock-Based Compensation Expense**
The Company recorded stock-based
compensation expense in the following expense categories of its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss:
Schedule
of Stock-based Compensation Expense
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Cost of revenues | | 
$ | 450 | | | 
$ | 580 | | |
| 
Research and development | | 
| 1,287 | | | 
| 1,832 | | |
| 
Selling, general and administrative | | 
| 9,832 | | | 
| 12,605 | | |
| 
Stock-based
compensation expense | | 
$ | 11,569 | | | 
$ | 15,017 | | |
| 129 | |
**15. Revenue Recognition**
The following table provides information
about disaggregated revenue by product and services:
Schedule
of Disaggregated Revenue by Product and Services
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Product sales, net | | 
$ | 35,336 | | | 
$ | 13,149 | | |
| 
Services | | 
| 5,140 | | | 
| 5,441 | | |
| 
License, royalty and other | | 
| 13,744 | | | 
| 4,181 | | |
| 
Total revenues | | 
$ | 54,220 | | | 
$ | 22,771 | | |
Net revenues include: (i) sales
of biomaterial products, including Biovance, Biovance 3L, Rebound, Interfyl, and CentaFlex, of which our direct sales are included in
Product Sales while sales through our network of distribution partners are included in License, royalty and other; and (ii) the collection,
processing and storage of umbilical cord and placental blood and tissue after full-term pregnancies, collectively, Services.
The following table provides changes
in deferred revenue from contract liabilities:
Schedule of Changes in Deferred Revenue from Contract Liabilities
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Balance at January 1 | | 
$ | 6,020 | | | 
$ | 4,492 | | |
| 
Beginning Balance | | 
$ | 6,020 | | | 
$ | 4,492 | | |
| 
Deferral of revenue (1) | | 
| 5,731 | | | 
| 6,266 | | |
| 
Recognition of unearned revenue (2) | | 
| (5,496 | ) | | 
| (4,738 | ) | |
| 
Balance at December 31 | | 
$ | 6,255 | | | 
$ | 6,020 | | |
| 
Ending Balance | | 
$ | 6,255 | | | 
$ | 6,020 | | |
| 
| 
(1) | 
Deferral
of revenue includes $5,061 in 2024 resulting from payments received in advance of performance under the biobanking services storage
contracts that are recognized as revenue under the contract as performance is completed. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
(2) | 
Recognition
of unearned revenue includes $2,561 that was included in the beginning deferred revenue balance at January 1, 2024. | |
| 130 | |
****
**16. License and Distribution Agreements**
**Sequence LifeScience, Inc. Independent Distribution
Agreement**
On August 23, 2024, the Company
entered into an Independent Distributor Agreement (the Distribution Agreement) with Sequence LifeScience, Inc. (Sequence),
which provided the Company exclusive rights to market, sell and distribute ReboundTM, a full thickness placental-derived allograft
matrix product, in the U.S. for a period of ninety (90) days. Under the terms of the Distribution Agreement, Sequence made Rebound available
for purchase to the Company at a fixed price consistent with market terms. The Distribution Agreement was intended to be a bridge to allow
the parties to cooperatively market the product prior to consummating an asset purchase agreement. The Company acquired Rebound on October
9, 2024, through an asset purchase agreement with Sequence. See Note 3 for more information about the Rebound asset purchase.
****
**Regeneron Research Collaboration Services Agreement**
On August 25, 2023, the Company
entered into a multi-year research collaboration services agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron), pursuant
to which the Company will support the research effort of Regenerons allogeneic cell therapy candidates (the Regeneron Services
Agreement). The Regeneron Services Agreements initial focus is the research on a targeted allogeneic gamma delta chimeric
antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy owned by Regeneron designed to enhance proliferation and potency against solid tumors. Payments
to the Company under the Regeneron Services Agreement included a non-refundable up-front payment of $750 and payments based upon the achievement
of defined milestones according to written statements of work. The Regeneron Services Agreement will expire five years from the effective
date and may be terminated immediately by either party for the uncured material breach, bankruptcy, or insolvency of the other party.
Regeneron may also terminate for convenience upon 30 days written notice.
| 131 | |
The Regeneron Services Agreement
grants Regeneron a royalty-free, fully-paid up, worldwide, non-exclusive license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to the Companys
intellectual property (IP) to the extent that any such license is necessary for Regeneron to fully use the Companys
research services. The Company determined that the (1) research licenses and (2) the research activities performed by the Company represent
a single combined performance obligation under the Regeneron Services Agreement. The Company determined that Regeneron cannot benefit
from the licenses separately from the research activities because these services are specialized and rely on the Companys expertise
such that these activities are highly interrelated and therefore not distinct. Accordingly, the promised goods and services represent
one combined performance obligation and the entire transaction price was allocated to that single combined performance obligation. The
performance obligation will be satisfied over the research term as the Company performs the research activities.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company
received payments totaling $1,325 under the Regeneron Services Agreement, of which $688 was recognized in revenue during the fourth quarter
of 2024 based on achievement of defined milestones. As of December 31, 2024, the remaining $637 was recorded as deferred revenue to be
recognized based on satisfaction of future performance obligations. The Company recognizes revenue using the cost-to-cost method, which
it believes best depicts the transfer of control to the customer over time. Under the cost-to-cost method, the extent of progress towards
completion is measured based on the ratio of actual costs incurred to the total estimated costs expected upon satisfying the identified
performance obligation. Under this method, revenue is recorded as a percentage of the estimated transaction price based on the extent
of progress towards completion.
****
**Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. License and Transfer
Agreement**
The Company and Sorrento Therapeutics,
Inc. (Sorrento), a related party through September 30, 2023, are party to a License and Transfer Agreement for the exclusive
worldwide license to CD19 CAR-T constructs for use in placenta-derived cells and/or cord blood-derived cells for the treatment of any
disease or disorder (the 2020 Sorrento License Agreement). The Company retains the right to sublicense the rights granted
under the agreement with Sorrentos prior written consent. As consideration for the license, the Company is obligated to pay Sorrento
a royalty equal to low single-digit percentage of net sales (as defined within the agreement) and a royalty equal to low double-digit
percentage of all sublicensing revenues (as defined within the agreement). The 2020 Sorrento License Agreement will remain in effect until
terminated by either the Company or Sorrento for uncured material breach upon 90 days written notice or, after the first anniversary of
the effective date of the 2020 Sorrento License Agreement, by the Company for convenience upon six months written notice to Sorrento.
On October 19, 2023, Sorrento filed a Plan of Reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
for the Southern District of Texas which plan contemplates a liquidation of the debtor. If the Plan is confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court,
the Company believes that Sorrento will not be able to perform under the license and that any rights the Company might have under the
license would be unenforceable. After assessing the status of the IND to determine an optional path forward for the program, the Company
elected to terminate development of CYCART-19 for B-cell malignancies during the third quarter of 2023. The Company may continue pre-clinical
development of other T-cell candidates.
****
**Genting Innovation PTE LTD Distribution Agreement**
On May 4, 2018, concurrently with
Dragasacs equity investment in Legacy Celularity, Legacy Celularity entered into a distribution agreement with Genting Innovation
PTE LTD (Genting Innovation) pursuant to which Genting Innovation was granted supply and distribution rights to certain
Company products in select Asia markets (the Genting Agreement). The Genting Agreement granted Genting Innovation limited
distribution rights to the Companys then-current portfolio of degenerative disease products and provides for the automatic rights
to future products developed by or on behalf of the Company.
The term of the Genting Agreement
was renewed on January 31, 2023, and automatically renews for successive 12 month terms unless: Genting provides written notice of its
intention not to renew at least three months prior to a renewal term or the Genting Agreement is otherwise terminated by either party
for cause.
Genting Innovation and Dragasac
are both direct subsidiaries of Genting Berhad, a public limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in Malaysia.
On June 14, 2023, the Genting
Agreement was amended and restated to include manufacturing rights in the territories covered under the agreement, expansion to two new
countries, and a commitment by the Company to provide technology transfer pursuant to the plan established by a Joint Steering Committee.
On January 17, 2024, the Company further amended the Genting Agreement to include distribution and manufacturing rights to certain of
the Companys cell therapy products, including PSC-100, PDA-001, PDA-002, pEXO-001, APPL-001 and CYNK-001. As of December 31, 2024,
the Company has not recognized any revenue under the Genting Agreement.
| 132 | |
**Celgene
Corporation License Agreement**
The
Company is party to a license agreement with Celgene (the Celgene Agreement) pursuant to which the Company granted Celgene
two separate licenses to certain intellectual property. The Celgene Agreement grants Celgene a royalty-free, fully-paid up, worldwide,
non-exclusive license to the certain intellectual property (IP) for pre-clinical research purposes in all fields and a
royalty-free, fully-paid up, worldwide license, with the right to grant sublicenses, for the development, manufacture, commercialization
and exploitation of products in the field of the construction of any CAR, the modification of any T-lymphocyte or NK cell to express
such a CAR, and/or the use of such CARs or T-lymphocytes or NK cells for any purpose, including prophylactic, diagnostic, and/or therapeutic
uses thereof. The Celgene Agreement will remain in effect until its termination by either party for cause.
**Pulthera,
LLC Binding Term Sheet**
Concurrent
with the entry into the securities purchase agreement for the March 2023 private placement described in Note 13 above, the Company executed
a binding term sheet to negotiate and enter into a sublicense agreement of certain assets from an affiliate of Pulthera, LLC (the sublicensor).
Pursuant to the binding term sheet, the Company paid the sublicensor a $3,000 option fee in cash and issued $1,000 of shares of its Class
A common stock (169,492 shares based on the closing price on March 17, 2023) as consideration for stem-cells inventory to be used in
research and development. The option fee paid by the Company will be applied towards an initial license fee as outlined in the sublicense
agreement. The Company is required to use diligent and reasonable efforts to develop and obtain regulatory approval to market at least
one licensed product contingent upon a firm written commitment to provide further financing to the Company. The $3,000 option fee was
recorded as acquired IPR&D expense included in research and development expense on the consolidated statements of operations and
comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, as the acquired IPR&D had no alternative future use.
**License
Agreement with BioCellgraft, Inc.**
On
December 11, 2023, the Company and BioCellgraft, Inc. (BioCellgraft) entered into a license agreement whereby the
Company granted an exclusive license to BioCellgraft, with the right to sublicense, to develop and commercialize certain licensed
products to the dental market in the United States over an initial four4
year term and it will automatically renew for an additional two
years unless either party provides written notice of termination. BioCellgraft will pay to the Company total license fees of
$5,000
over a two
year period, as defined. Upon execution of the agreement, the Company received a $300
payment towards the first year payment. To date, the Company has not received any additional consideration beyond the $300 license payment under the agreement.
| 133 | |
****
**17.
Benefit Plan**
The
Company established a defined contribution savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. This plan covers all
employees who meet minimum age and service requirements and allows participants to defer a portion of their annual compensation on a
pre-tax basis. Matching contributions to the plan may be made at the discretion of the Companys board of directors. During
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company made contributions of $139
and $198,
respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company accrued $1,159 but
has not made the matching contribution to the plan.
****
**18.
Income Taxes**
A
summary of the Companys current and deferred tax provision is as follows:
Schedule
of Current and Deferred Tax Provision
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Current income tax expense: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Federal | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
State | | 
| | | | 
| 10 | | |
| 
Total
current income tax expense | | 
| | | | 
| 10 | | |
| 
Deferred income tax expense
(benefit): | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Federal | | 
| 1 | | | 
| 1 | | |
| 
State | | 
| (1 | ) | | 
| (1 | ) | |
| 
Total
deferred tax expense | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total
income tax expense | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 10 | | |
| 134 | |
A
reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Companys effective income tax rate is as follows:
Schedule
of Reconciliation of the U.S federal statutory income tax
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Federal statutory income tax rate | | 
| 21.0 | % | | 
| 21.0 | % | |
| 
State income taxes, net of federal benefits | | 
| (1.3 | )% | | 
| 1.4 | % | |
| 
Interest accretion expense | | 
| 0.1 | % | | 
| 11.0 | % | |
| 
Change in valuation allowance | | 
| (20.1 | )% | | 
| (20.0 | )% | |
| 
Mark to market warrant | | 
| | % | | 
| 0.5 | % | |
| 
Deferred true-up | | 
| (0.1 | )% | | 
| (2.4 | )% | |
| 
Impairment | | 
| | % | | 
| (12.0 | )% | |
| 
Other permanent items | | 
| 0.4 | % | | 
| 0.5 | % | |
| 
Effective income tax rate | | 
| | % | | 
| | % | |
Net
deferred income tax liabilities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted of the following:
Schedule
of Deferred tax assets and liabilities
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2023 | | |
| 
Deferred tax assets: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net operating loss carryforwards | | 
$ | 121,804 | | | 
$ | 109,544 | | |
| 
Research and development tax credit carryforwards | | 
| 5,674 | | | 
| 5,674 | | |
| 
Stock-based compensation expense | | 
| 17,717 | | | 
| 16,539 | | |
| 
Startup costs | | 
| 431 | | | 
| 498 | | |
| 
Intangible assets | | 
| 3,028 | | | 
| 3,442 | | |
| 
Deferred revenue | | 
| 1,469 | | | 
| 1,441 | | |
| 
Unicap | | 
| 5 | | | 
| 5 | | |
| 
Imputed interest on contingent payments | | 
| 97 | | | 
| 110 | | |
| 
Legal fee capitalization and amortization | | 
| 1,053 | | | 
| 1,171 | | |
| 
Capitalized research and development | | 
| 22,903 | | | 
| 26,613 | | |
| 
IRC Section 163j interest | | 
| 1,471 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Other | | 
| 5,755 | | | 
| 4,751 | | |
| 
Total deferred tax assets | | 
| 181,407 | | | 
| 169,788 | | |
| 
Valuation allowance | | 
| (181,416 | ) | | 
| (169,797 | ) | |
| 
Net deferred tax liabilities | | 
$ | (9 | ) | | 
$ | (9 | ) | |
A
reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
Schedule
of Unrecognized TaxBenefits
| 
| | 
Unrecognized Tax Benefits | | |
| 
Balance at January 1, 2023 | | 
$ | 1,028 | | |
| 
Decrease related to current year tax provision | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance at December 31, 2023 | | 
| 1,028 | | |
| 
Decrease related to current year tax provision | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance at December 31, 2024 | | 
$ | 1,028 | | |
As
of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $121,804 and $109,544, respectively,
which may be available to offset future taxable income and begin to expire in 2040. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company also
had U.S. federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of $5,674, which may be available to offset future tax liabilities
and begin to expire in 2032.
| 135 | |
Utilization
of the U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards may be subject to
an annual limitation under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and corresponding provisions of state law, due
to ownership changes that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future. These ownership changes may limit the amount of
carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities. In general, an ownership change, as defined
by Section 382, results from transactions increasing the ownership of certain stockholders in the stock of a corporation by more than
50% over a three-year period. A corporation that experiences an ownership change is subject to an annual limitation under Section 382,
which is determined by first multiplying the value of the Companys stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable
long-term tax-exempt rate subject to additional adjustments, as required. The Company experienced an ownership change on August 15, 2017.
The annual limitation from the ownership change is not expected to result in the expiration of net operating losses or research and development
credits before utilization.
The
realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Companys ability to generate taxable income in future years. ASC 740-10,
*Income Taxes,* requires a valuation allowance to be applied against deferred tax assets when it is considered more likely
than not that some or all of the gross deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company considers all available positive
and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies,
and recent financial performance.
At
December 31, 2024, based upon the weight of available evidence, the Company concluded that it is not more likely than not that the
benefits of the federal and state deferred tax assets will be realized. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance
against its federal and state gross deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance increased by $11,619
and $39,272 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The
impact of an uncertain income tax position is recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained
upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of
being sustained.
As
of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $1,028. The Company does not expect that there will
be a significant change in the unrecognized tax benefits over the next 12 months. The Companys policy is to record interest and
penalties related to income taxes as part of its income tax provision. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had no accrued interest
or penalties related to uncertain tax positions and no amounts had been recognized in the Companys consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive loss. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. and numerous states, as prescribed by the tax laws
of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by federal and state
jurisdictions, where applicable. There are currently no pending tax examinations. The Company is open to future tax examination under
statute from 2019 to the present; however, carryforward attributes that were acquired may still be adjusted upon examination by federal,
state or local tax authorities if they either have been or will be used in a future period.
****
**19.
Segment Information**
The
Company regularly reviews its segments and the approach used by management to evaluate performance and allocate resources. The
Company manages its operations through an evaluation of three
distinct operating segments: Cell Therapy, Degenerative Disease, and BioBanking. The chief operating decision maker, who is the
Companys chief executive officer, uses the actual segment contribution results compared to budgets, among other factors, for
performance evaluation and resource allocation among these segments. The segment contribution is calculated as net revenues less the cost of
revenues (excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets) and direct expenses. Direct expenses in the Cell Therapy operating segment
consist of research and development costs, and direct expenses in the Degenerative Disease and Biobanking operating segments consist
mainly of selling, general, and administrative costs. The CODM assesses actual results against budgets and forecasts, and uses this information
to make decisions about strategic investment into the Companys operations.
The
reportable segments, which are the same as the operating segments, were determined based on the distinct nature of the activities performed by each segment. Cell Therapy broadly refers
to therapies the Company is researching and developing. Therapies being researched are unproven and in various phases of development.
Degenerative Disease produces, sells and licenses products used in surgical and wound care markets. BioBanking collects stem cells from
umbilical cords and placentas and provides storage of such cells on behalf of individuals for future use.
The
Company manages its assets on a total company basis, not by operating segment. Therefore, the chief operating decision maker does not
regularly review any asset information or related income statement effects by operating segment and, accordingly, asset information is
not reported by reportable segment. Refer to the Consolidated Balance Sheet for information about total assets.
| 136 | |
Financial
information by segment is as follows:
Schedule
of Financial Information by Segment
| 
| | 
Cell Therapy | | | 
BioBanking | | | 
Degenerative Disease | | 
| 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
Cell Therapy | | | 
BioBanking | | | 
Degenerative Disease | | 
| 
Total | | |
| 
Net revenues | | 
$ | 688 | | | 
$ | 5,140 | | | 
$ | 48,392 | | 
| 
$ | 54,220 | | |
| 
Cost of revenues (excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets) | | 
| | | | 
| 1,172 | | | 
| 13,817 | | 
| 
| 14,989 | | |
| 
Direct expenses | | 
| 15,807 | | | 
| 1,673 | | | 
| 20,846 | | 
| 
| 38,326 | | |
| 
Segment contribution | | 
| (15,119 | ) | | 
| 2,295 | | | 
| 13,729 | | 
| 
| 905 | |
| 
Other general and administrative expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| 37,703 | | |
| 
Indirect expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| 1,560 | (a) | |
| 
Loss from operations | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
$ | (38,358 | ) | |
| 
Other expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| (19,534 | ) | |
| 
Loss before income taxes | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
$ | (57,892 | ) | |
| 
(a) Components of indirect expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| | | |
| 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
$ | (193 | ) | |
| 
Goodwill impairment | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| | | |
| 
- | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| | | |
| 
Amortization | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| 1,753 | | |
| 
Total other | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
$ | 1,560 | | |
| 
| | 
Cell Therapy | | | 
BioBanking | | | 
Degenerative Disease | | 
| 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, 2023 | | |
| 
| | 
Cell Therapy | | | 
BioBanking | | | 
Degenerative Disease | | 
| 
Total | | |
| 
Net revenues | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | 5,441 | | | 
$ | 17,330 | | 
| 
$ | 22,771 | | |
| 
Cost of revenues (excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets) | | 
| | | | 
| 1,650 | | | 
| 14,366 | | 
| 
| 16,016 | | |
| 
Direct expenses | | 
| 28,694 | | | 
| 1,752 | | | 
| 9,720 | | 
| 
| 40,166 | | |
| 
Segment contribution | | 
| (28,694 | ) | | 
| 2,039 | | | 
| (6,756 | ) | 
| 
| (33,411 | ) | |
| 
Other general and administrative expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| 40,876 | | |
| 
Indirect expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| 118,001 | (a) | |
| 
Loss from operations | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
$ | (192,287 | ) | |
| 
Other expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| (3,998 | ) | |
| 
Loss before income taxes | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
$ | (196,285 | ) | |
| 
(a) Components of indirect expenses | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| | | |
| 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
$ | (104,339 | ) | |
| 
Goodwill impairment | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| 112,347 | | |
| 
IPR&D impairment | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| 107,800 | | |
| 
Amortization | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
| 2,193 | | |
| 
Total other | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | 
| 
$ | 118,001 | | |
**20. Related
Party Transactions**
**Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with
Dr. Robert Hariri**
On
January 25, 2023, in order to address the Companys current working capital requirements, Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., the Companys
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, agreed to temporarily reduce payment of his salary pursuant to his employment agreement to minimum
wage level with the remaining salary deferred until December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2024, $1,274 was recorded to accrued expenses
on the consolidated balance sheets.
In
order to comply with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated January 12, 2024 with Dragasac Limited, Dr. Hariri is not to be paid the
$1,088 in base salary that was otherwise due to him for the 2023 calendar year unless the Company raises additional cash through offerings
of equity securities with aggregate net proceeds equal or greater to $21,000 at a valuation at least equal to the valuation, cost per
security or exercise/conversion price, as applicable, of the Class A common stock and January 2024 PIPE Warrant purchased by Dragasac
Limited in January 2024. In compliance with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, the compensation committee of the
Companys board of directors approved a cash bonus program, or bonus program, effective February 16, 2024, pursuant to which Dr.
Hariri will be paid 125% of his unpaid base salary upon the satisfaction of the foregoing performance conditions. Accordingly, the Company
entered into a second amendment to Dr. Hariris employment agreement implementing the 85% base salary reduction effective as of
February 16, 2024 and documenting the bonus program. As a result of the reduction, Dr. Hariris annual rate of base salary for
the 2024 year will be $180. Payment of Dr. Hariris base salary at the rate in effect prior to the reduction will resume on January
1, 2025.
| 137 | |
**March
2023 PIPE**
On
March 20, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with two accredited investors, including its Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Dr. Robert Hariri, for an aggregate purchase price of $9,000 (of which Dr. Hariri subscribed for $2,000). See Note
13 under March 2023 PIPE caption for further details.
**Loan
Agreement with Dr. Robert Hariri**
On
August 21, 2023, the Company entered into a $1,000 loan agreement with Dr. Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., the Companys Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, which bears interest at a rate of 15.0% per year, with the first year of interest being paid in kind on the
last day of each month and was scheduled to mature on August 21, 2024. The loan maturity date was subsequently extended to December 31,
2024. On September 30, 2024, Dr. Hariri assumed the loans of two unaffiliated lenders who were parties to an August 21, 2023 loan agreement.
On January 29, 2025, Dr. Hariri extended the maturity date of the loan to December 31, 2025. See Note 10, Short-Term Debt - Other and
CEO Promissory Note, for more information.
On
October 12, 2023, in order to further address the Companys immediate working capital requirements, Dr. Hariri and the Company
signed a promissory note (CEO Promissory Note) for $285 which bears interest at a rate of 15.0% per year (Note 10).
****
**Consulting
& Advisory Agreements with Dr. Andrew Pecora**
On
August 31, 2022, Dr. Pecora resigned as the Companys President, and subsequently entered into a consulting agreement with the
Company dated September 21, 2022, to receive a $10 monthly fee for an initial six-month term and which would be automatically renewed
for one additional six- month term if either party did not provide notice of non-renewal. Simultaneously, the Company entered into a
scientific and clinical advisor agreement (the SAB Agreement), effective as of September 1, 2022, whereby Dr. Pecora agreed
to serve as co-chair of the Companys scientific and clinical advisory board for a $10 monthly fee and a one-time grant of RSUs
having a value of $125 on the grant date and which vest equally over four years. The SAB Agreement had a one-year term and may be renewed
for successive one-year terms upon mutual agreement of both parties. The consulting agreement was early terminated effective January
14, 2023. As of August 8, 2024, Dr. Pecora no longer serves on the Companys scientific and clinical advisory board.
****
**Advisory
Agreement with Robin L. Smith MD**
On
August 16, 2022, the Company entered into an advisory agreement with Robin L. Smith, MD, a then member of the Companys board of
directors, to receive $20 per month for advisory fees, an equity grant for a total amount of 105,000 stock options with the initial tranche
of 25,000 stock options vesting upon execution of the advisory agreement and the remaining shares subject to vesting upon achievement
of certain predefined milestones. On November 1, 2022, the second tranche of 20,000 stock options vested upon achievement of the milestone.
The agreement also provided for a one-time cash bonus of $1,500 upon the successful achievement of the trigger event, as defined in the
agreement. The Company paid advisory fees of $0 and $20 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The advisory agreement
expired pursuant to the terms of the agreement on August 16, 2023 and was not renewed for an additional term. Dr. Smith resigned from
the Companys board effective December 24, 2023.
****
**COTA,
Inc**
In
November 2020, Legacy Celularity and COTA, Inc. (COTA) entered into an Order Schedule (the Order Schedule No. 2),
to the Master Data License Agreement between Legacy Celularity and COTA, dated October 29, 2018, pursuant to which COTA will provide
the licensed data in connection with AML patients. The COTA Order Schedule No. 2 will terminate on the one-year anniversary following
the final licensed data deliverable described therein. Andrew Pecora, M.D., Celularitys former President, is the Founder and Chairman
of the Board of COTA and Dr. Robin L. Smith, a former member of the Companys board of directors, is an investor in COTA. The Company
did not make any payments to COTA during either of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. As of August 8, 2024, Dr. Pecora no longer
serves on the Companys scientific and clinical advisory board and therefore, COTA is no longer a related party.
****
| 138 | |
****
**Cryoport
Systems, Inc**
During
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company made payments totaling $2 and $33, respectively, to Cryoport Systems, Inc (Cryoport)
for transportation of cryopreserved materials. The Companys Chief Executive Officer and director, Dr. Robert Hariri, M.D, Ph.D.,
has served on Cryoports board of directors since September 2015.
****
**C.V.
Starr Loan**
On
March 17, 2023 the Company entered into a $5,000
loan agreement with C.V. Starr. C.V. Starr is
an investor in the Company, beneficially owning 125,000
warrants to purchase Class A common stock and
1,528,138
shares of Class A common stock as of December
31, 2024. See Note 10, Short-Term Debt Related Parties C.V. Starr and RWI for more information.
**Resorts World Inc Pte
Ltd**
On May 16, 2023, the Company entered
into a $12,000 loan agreement, as amended on June 21, 2023, with RWI. On January 12, 2024, the Company entered into a $15,000 second loan
agreement with RWI. RWI is affiliated with Lim Kok Thay, a significant stockholder and former member of the Company's board of directors,
beneficially owning 3,600,000 warrants to purchase Class A common stock and 6,338,161 shares of Class A common stock as of December 31,
2024. See Note 10, Short-Term Debt Related Parties C.V. Starr and RWI for more information.
**Employment
of an Immediate Family Member**
Alexandra
Hariri, the daughter of Robert J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D., Celularitys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is employed by the Company
as an Executive Director, Corporate Strategy & Business Development. Ms. Hariris annual base salary for 2024 and 2023 was
$265. Ms. Hariri has received and continues to be eligible to receive a bonus, equity awards and benefits on the same general terms and
conditions as applicable to unrelated employees in similar positions.
**Fountain
Life Management LLC**
On
November 7, 2024, the Company entered into a Technology Services Agreement with Fountain Life Management LLC (Fountain Life),
under which the Company agreed to process and store mononuclear cells isolated from blood samples collected by Fountain Life or its authorized
representatives in accordance with the Companys adult banking enrollment processes. In consideration of the services, Fountain
Life will pay the Company a one-time fee of two thousand five hundred dollars per sample collected and stored. The initial term of the
agreement is one year and the term automatically extends for one-year periods unless earlier terminated by either party. The Companys
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robert Hariri, M.D, Ph.D., and director, Peter Diamandis, M.D., are founding partners of Fountain
Life.
****
**21.
Subsequent Events**
****
On May 1, 2025, the
Company executed a cash advance agreement to sell $990
of accounts receivable to Genesis Equity Group Funding LLC (GEG) to provide incremental funding to address immediate
cash needs. Net funds, after applicable fees, were $594.
The amount GEG will collect from the Company towards the receivables purchased amount is capped at $47
for twenty-one (21) weeks.
| 139 | |
**Item
9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.**
None.
****
**Item
9A. Controls and Procedures.**
**
*Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures*
The
term disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act or the 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 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified
in the SECs 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 Act is accumulated
and communicated to the issuers management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing
similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our
management, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of
our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024. Based on that evaluation, management concluded that such disclosure controls
and procedures were not effective, at the reasonable assurance level, as of December 31, 2024, as a result of the material weaknesses
in internal control over financial reporting discussed below as well as our inability to timely file our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q
for all quarters in the year ended December 31, 2024, and this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
**
*Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting*
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control system
was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation
of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even
those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
An internal control material weakness is a significant deficiency, or aggregation of deficiencies, that does not reduce to a relatively
low level the risk that material misstatements in financial statements will be prevented or detected on a timely basis by employees in
the normal course of their work. An internal control significant deficiency, or aggregation of deficiencies, is one that could result
in a misstatement of the financial statements that is more than inconsequential. In making its assessment of internal control over financial
reporting management used the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal
ControlIntegrated Framework (2013). Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2024, and determined that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective at a reasonable
assurance level due to the material weaknesses previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and
our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024.
*Material
Weaknesses in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting*
In
our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, we previously disclosed material weaknesses in our internal control
over financial reporting. Specifically, we had insufficient resources with the appropriate knowledge and expertise to design, implement,
and operate effective internal controls over our financial reporting process that contributed to other material weaknesses within our
system of internal control over financial reporting at the control activity level. In addition, we failed to timely file our quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for all quarters in the year ended December 31, 2024, and this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2024. As a result, we have identified the following material weaknesses as of December 31, 2024:
| 
| 
i. | 
Control
Environment: We failed to demonstrate a commitment to attract, develop, and retain competent and sufficient qualified resources
with an appropriate level of knowledge, experience, and training in certain areas around our financial reporting process. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
ii. | 
Risk
Assessment: We failed to design and implement certain risk assessment activities related to identifying and analyzing risks to
achieve objectives and identifying and assessing changes in the business that could impact our system of internal controls. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
iii. | 
Control
Activities: We failed to design and implement certain control activities that address relevant risks and retain sufficient evidence
of the performance of control activities. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
iv. | 
Information
and Communication: We failed to design and implement certain information and communication activities related to obtaining or
generating and using relevant quality information to support the functioning of internal control. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
v. | 
Monitoring:
We failed to design and implement certain monitoring activities to ascertain whether the components of internal control are present
and functioning. | |
**
| 140 | |
**
*Plans for Remediation of Material Weaknesses*
We are currently implementing
our remediation plan to address the material weaknesses identified above. Such measures include:
| 
| 
| 
Hiring
additional accounting personnel to ensure timely reporting of significant matters. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Designing
and implementing controls to formalize roles and review responsibilities to align with our teams skills and experience and
designing and implementing formalized controls to operate at a level of precision to identify all potentially material errors. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Designing
and implementing procedures to identify and evaluate changes in our business and the impact on our internal controls in order to
plan and perform more timely and thorough monitoring activities and risk assessment analyses. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Designing
and implementing formal processes, policies and procedures supporting our financial close process. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Engaging
an outside firm to assist with the documentation, design and implementation of our internal control environment. | |
Remediation
of the identified material weaknesses and strengthening our internal control environment will require a substantial effort throughout
2025 and beyond, as necessary. We will test the ongoing operating effectiveness of the new and existing controls in future periods. The
material weaknesses cannot be considered completely remediated until the applicable controls have operated for a sufficient period of
time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively.
**
*Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting*
Except
for the identified material weaknesses described above and related remediation efforts to date, there have been no changes in our internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2024 that materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
****
**Item 9B. Other Information.**
*Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans*
During the three months ended
December 31, 2024, none of our directors or executive officers adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the
purchase or sale of our securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any non-Rule
10b5-1 trading arrangement.
****
**Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions
that Prevent Inspections.**
Not applicable.
| 141 | |
**PART III**
The information
required by the following items is incorporated by reference to our Definitive Proxy Statement, expected to be filed within 120 days
of our fiscal year end:
Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Item
11. Executive Compensation.
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Item
14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
**PART
IV**
****
**Item
15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.**
The
following documents are filed as part of this report
**
| 
| 
(1) | 
Financial
Statements See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
(2) | 
Financial
Statement Schedules | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
All
other schedules are omitted because they are not required or the required information is included in the financial statements or
notes thereto | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
(3) | 
Exhibits | |
| 
Exhibit
Number | 
| 
Description | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
2.1+ | 
| 
Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among GX Acquisition Corp., Alpha First Merger Sub, Inc., Alpha Second Merger Sub, LLC, and Celularity Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on January 8, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
3.1 | 
| 
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
3.2 | 
| 
Certificate of Amendment of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Celularity Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 16, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
3.3 | 
| 
Certificate of Amendment of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Celularity Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February 26, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
3.4 | 
| 
Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
4.1 | 
| 
Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2021). | |
| 142 | |
| 
10.1 | 
| 
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.2 | 
| 
Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 18, 2022, between Celularity Inc. and the holder party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 20, 2022). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.3 | 
| 
Form of Registration Rights Agreement, among Celularity Inc. and the holder party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on March 23, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.4 | 
| 
Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 18, 2023, among Celularity Inc. and the holder party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 19, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.5 | 
| 
Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 13, 2024, between Celularity, Inc. and YA II PN, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on March 15, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.6 | 
| 
Vesting Agreement dated as of July 16, 2021 by and among GX Sponsor LLC, Celularity Inc. (f/k/a GX Acquisition Corp.), and each of the other Persons set forth on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.7 | 
| 
Warrant Agreement, dated May 20, 2019, by and between GX Acquisition Corp. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 24, 2019). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.8 | 
| 
Specimen Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.9# | 
| 
Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.10# | 
| 
Celularity Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.11# | 
| 
Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice, Option Agreement and Notice of Exercise under the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.12# | 
| 
Celularity Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-260025), filed with the Commission on October 4, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.13# | 
| 
Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice, Option Agreement, Notice of Exercise, RSU Award Grant Notice and Award Agreement under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-260025), filed with the Commission on October 4, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.14# | 
| 
Celularity 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.5 to the registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-260025), filed with the Commission on October 4, 2021. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.15# | 
| 
Celularity Inc. 2018 Annual Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 143 | |
| 
10.16# | 
| 
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Celularity and Robert J. Hariri, dated as of January 7, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.17# | 
| 
Amendment to the Employment Agreement, as of January 25, 2023, by and between Celularity Inc. and Robert J. Hariri. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on March 31, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.18# | 
| 
Second Amendment dated February 16, 2024 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated January 7, 2021 by and between Celularity Inc. and Robert J. Hariri, MD PhD (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 22, 2024. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.19# | 
| 
Employment Agreement, as of April 1, 2022, by and between Celularity Inc. and David C. Beers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 10, 2022). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.20# | 
| 
Amendment dated February 16, 2024 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of April 1, 2022 by and between Celularity Inc. and David Beers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 22, 2024. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.21# | 
| 
Employment Agreement, as of April 1, 2022, by and between Celularity Inc. and Stephen A. Brigido (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 10, 2022). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.22# | 
| 
Amendment dated February 16, 2024 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of April 1, 2022 by and between Celularity Inc. and Stephen Brigido (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 22, 2024. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.23# | 
| 
Employment Agreement, as of April 1, 2022, by and between Celularity Inc. and John R. Haines (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 10, 2022). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.24# | 
| 
Amendment dated February 16, 2024 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of April 1, 2022 by and between Celularity Inc. and John Haines (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 22, 2024. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.25 | 
| 
Lease Agreement, dated March 13, 2019, by and between LSREF4 Turtle, LLC and Celularity Inc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.26 | 
| 
Second Amendment to the Lease Agreement originally entered on March 13, 2019, by and between Celularity Inc. and LPIT 170 Park Avenue, LLC, dated on September 14, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the current report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Commission on January 3, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.27 | 
| 
Lease Amendment, dated September 14, 2023, by and between LSREF4 Turtle, LLC and Celularity Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on July 30, 2024) | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.28 | 
| 
License Agreement, dated August 15, 2017, by and between Celgene Corporation and Anthrogenesis Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.29 | 
| 
Contingent Value Rights Agreement, dated August 15, 2017, by and between Celularity Inc. and the Holders named therein, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Contingent Value Rights Agreement, dated March 4, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 144 | |
| 
10.30 | 
| 
Investors Rights Agreement, between Celularity Inc. and Dragasac Limited, dated as of January 12, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.31 | 
| 
Investor Rights Agreement dated as of January 12, 2024, between Celularity Inc. and Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.32 | 
| 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 22, 2018, by and among Celularity Inc., CariCord Inc, CC Subsidiary, Inc. and Gregory L. Andrews, as amended by the First Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 30, 2018 and the Second Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 24, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-252402), filed with the Commission on June 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.34 | 
| 
Amendment to certain warrants issued on May 20, 2022 and April 4, 2023, dated as of July 27, 2023, by and between Celularity Inc. and the holder party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 28, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.35 | 
| 
Form of Starr Warrant issued on March 17, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on March 23, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.36 | 
| 
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 7, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.37 | 
| 
Form of RWI Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 21, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.38 | 
| 
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued on July 31, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 28, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.39 | 
| 
Form of Additional Starr Warrant dated as of June 20, 2023, by and between Celularity Inc. and C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.40 | 
| 
Amended and Restated Warrant, between Celularity Inc. and Dragasac Limited, dated as of January 16, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.41 | 
| 
Tranche 1 Warrant issued to RWI, dated as of January 16, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.42 | 
| 
Tranche 2 Warrant issued to RWI, dated as of January 16, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.43 | 
| 
Warrant issued to Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd, dated as of March 13, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on March 15, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.44 | 
| 
At-the-Market Sales Agreement, dated September 8, 2022, by and among the Celularity Inc., BTIG, LLC, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and B. Riley Securities, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on September 8, 2022). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.45 | 
| 
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated March 20, 2023, among Celularity Inc. and the purchaser party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on March 23, 2023). | |
| 145 | |
| 
10.46 | 
| 
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2023, by and between Celularity Inc. and the investors party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 7, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.47 | 
| 
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 17, 2023, among Celularity Inc. and the purchaser party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 19, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.48 | 
| 
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of July 27, 2023, by and between Celularity Inc. and the investors party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 28, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.49+ | 
| 
Securities Purchase Agreement, between Celularity Inc. and Dragasac Limited, dated as of January 12, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.50 | 
| 
Secured Loan Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2023, among Celularity Inc. and the lender party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on March 23, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.51 | 
| 
Secured Loan Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2023, among Celularity Inc. and the lender party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 16, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.52 | 
| 
Form of Amended and Restated Secured Loan Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2023, by and between Celularity Inc. and the lender party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 21, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.53 | 
| 
Loan Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2023, among Celularity Inc. and the lenders thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on August 25, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.54 | 
| 
Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, among Celularity Inc., Celularity LLC and Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd dated as of January 12, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.55 | 
| 
Supplemental Letter Agreement to Pre-Paid Advance dated as of September 15, 2022, by and between Celularity Inc. and YA II PN, Ltd. dated on September 18, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on August 25, 2023). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.56 | 
| 
Support Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.57 | 
| 
Standby Equity Purchase Agreement, dated March 13, 2024, between Celularity, Inc. and YA II PN, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on March 15, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.58 | 
| 
Form of convertible promissory note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on March 15, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.59 | 
| 
Forbearance Agreement, dated March 13, 2024, between Celularity Inc. and Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on March 15, 2024). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.60 | 
| 
Forbearance Agreement, dated March 13, 2024, between Celularity Inc. and C.V. Starr & Co. Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed on March 15, 2024). | |
| 146 | |
| 
10.61 | 
| 
Form of PIPE Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 20, 2022). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.62 | 
| 
Pre-Paid Advance Agreement, dated September 15, 2022, by and between Celularity Inc. and YA II PN, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on September 15, 2022). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.63 | 
| 
Amendment dated August 16, 2024 to the Loan Agreement dated August 21, 2023 by and between Celularity Inc. and the lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on October 16, 2024) | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.64 | 
| 
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of November 25, 2024, by and between Celularity Inc. and the investor parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 2, 2024) | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.65 | 
| 
Form of Unsecured Bridge Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 2, 2024) | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.66 | 
| 
Form of Purchaser Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 2, 2024) | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.67 | 
| 
Form of Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 2, 2024) | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.68 | 
| 
Binding Term Sheet by and between the Company and Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd dated February 12, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February 18, 2025). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
10.69 | 
| 
Binding Term Sheet by and between the Company and C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. dated February 12, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February 18, 2025). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
16.1 | 
| 
Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP dated August 5, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 16.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 5, 2024) | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
19.1* | 
| 
Insider Trading Policy | |
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| 
| 
| |
| 
21.1 | 
| 
List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2021). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
23.1* | 
| 
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
23.2* | 
| 
Consent of EisnerAmper LLP | |
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| 
| 
| |
| 
24.1* | 
| 
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page). | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
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 and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
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| 
| 
| |
| 
97.1 | 
| 
Compensation Recovery Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to the annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on July 30, 2024) | |
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| 
| 
| |
| 
99.1 | 
| 
Order of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on March 31, 2023) | |
| 
101.INS | 
| 
Inline XBRL Instance Document the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL 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 | 
| 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |
*
Filed herewith.
#
Indicates a management contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
+
Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. We agree to furnish supplementally a copy of any
omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.
Certain portions of this exhibit are omitted because they are not material and are the type that the registrant treats as private or
confidential.
These certifications will not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the
liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference into such filing.
****
**Item
16. Form 10-K Summary**
NA
| 147 | |
****
**SIGNATURES**
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized**.**
| 
| 
Celularity
Inc. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
Date:
May 8, 2025 | 
By: | 
/s/
Robert J. Hariri | |
| 
| 
| 
Robert
J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | |
| 
| 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer | |
KNOW
ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Robert J. Hariri, M.D.,
Ph.D. and David C. Beers, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
to this annual report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on
behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| 
Name | 
| 
Title | 
| 
Date | |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Robert J. Hariri | 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer) | 
| 
May 8, 2025 | |
| 
Robert
J. Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
David C. Beers | 
| 
Chief
Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | 
| 
May 8, 2025 | |
| 
David
C. Beers | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Dean C. Kehler | 
| 
Director | 
| 
May 8, 2025 | |
| 
Dean
C. Kehler | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Diane Parks | 
| 
Director | 
| 
May 8, 2025 | |
| 
Diane
Parks | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Geoffrey Ling M.D. | 
| 
Director | 
| 
May 8, 2025 | |
| 
Geoffrey
Ling, M.D. | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Peter Diamandis | 
| 
Director | 
| 
May 8, 2025 | |
| 
Peter
Diamandis, M.D. | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 148 | |