Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 2018

Registration No. 333-227445

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 1

to

Form S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

SI-BONE, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   3841   26-2216351

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

 

SI-BONE, Inc.

471 El Camino Real, Suite 101

Santa Clara, California 95050

(408) 207-0700

(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Laura A. Francis

Chief Financial Officer

SI-BONE, Inc.

471 El Camino Real, Suite 101

Santa Clara, California 95050

(408) 207-0700

(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

Copies to:

Matthew B. Hemington

John T. McKenna

Cooley LLP

3175 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 843-5000

 

Michael A. Pisetsky

General Counsel

SI-BONE, Inc.

471 El Camino Real, Suite 101

Santa Clara, California 95050

(408) 207-0700

 

Michael Benjamin

Peter J. Sluka

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(212) 906-1200

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement. If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  ☐   Accelerated filer  ☐   Non-accelerated filer  ☑   Smaller reporting company  ☐

Emerging growth company  ☑

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered  

Amount to be

Registered(1)

 

Proposed Maximum
Offering Price

Per Share(2)

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(1)(2)
 

Amount of

Registration Fee(3)

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

  6,900,000   $15.00   $103,500,000   $12,545

 

 

 

(1)

Includes 900,000 shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(3)

The Registrant previously paid a registration fee of $12,170 in connection with the initial filing of this Registration Statement.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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Index to Financial Statements

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 5, 2018

6,000,000 Shares

 

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

This is the initial public offering of shares of common stock of SI-BONE, Inc.

We are offering 6,000,000 shares of our common stock. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $13.00 and $15.00. We have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “SIBN.”

We are an emerging growth company under the federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company.”

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 15.

 

     Per
Share
     Total  

Initial public offering price

   $                  $              

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

   $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $        $    

 

(1)

See “Underwriting” for additional disclosure regarding underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated offering expenses.

To the extent that the underwriters sell more than 6,000,000 shares of common stock, the underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 shares from us at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

Certain of our existing stockholders or their affiliates, including entities affiliated with our directors, have indicated an interest in purchasing up to an aggregate of $32.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, the underwriters may determine to sell more, fewer, or no shares in this offering to any or all of these entities, or any or all of these entities may determine to purchase more, fewer, or no shares in this offering.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York on                , 2018.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley    BofA Merrill Lynch
Canaccord Genuity    JMP Securities

                , 2018


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Index to Financial Statements

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Prospectus Summary

     1  

Risk Factors

     15  

Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     59  

Market, Industry, and Other Data

     61  

Use of Proceeds

     62  

Dividend Policy

     62  

Capitalization

     63  

Dilution

     66  

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

     69  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     71  

Business

     90  

Management

     126  
     Page  

Executive Compensation

     137  

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

     150  

Principal Stockholders

     153  

Description of Capital Stock

     157  

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

     162  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders of our Common Stock

     164  

Underwriting

     168  

Legal Matters

     176  

Experts

     176  

Where You Can Find Additional Information

     176  

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-1  
 

 

 

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus or in any applicable free writing prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of its time of delivery or any sale of shares of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since that date.

Through and including                    , 2018 (25 days after commencement of this offering), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

TRADEMARKS

Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in this prospectus, the terms “SI-BONE” and “iFuse Implant System” or “iFuse” and other iFuse-formative trademarks, as well as other trademarks or service marks of SI-BONE appearing in this prospectus, are the property of SI-BONE. This prospectus contains additional trade names, trademarks, and service marks of ours and of other companies. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.

 

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KEY METRICS FOR STUDIES

Statistical significance in the studies described in this prospectus is denoted by p-values for both pain and disability analysis. The p-value is the statistical probability that the results observed are due to chance alone (i.e., a p-value <0.0001 for reduction in pain means that there is a less than a 0.01% chance that the demonstrated reduction in pain for subjects surgically treated with iFuse in relation to the non-surgical management group was purely due to chance).

The performance for subjects surgically treated with iFuse is evaluated using a number of commonly used metrics, including the following:

 

   

Visual analog scale, or VAS: VAS measures a patient’s pain intensity on a 0–100 scale, with zero representing no pain and 100 representing the worst pain imaginable. The VAS score is used to calculate changes in patient pain.

 

   

Oswestry Disability Index, or ODI: ODI measures a patient’s disability on a scale of 0–100, where zero represents no disability and scores greater than 60 represent very severe disability.

INVESTORS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

Neither we nor the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may provide to you in connection with this offering in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus and any such free writing prospectus outside of the United States.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights certain information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information you should consider in making your investment decision. You should read the entire prospectus carefully before making an investment in our common stock. You should carefully consider, among other things, our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus. Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “SI-BONE,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to SI-BONE, Inc.

Our Business

We are a medical device company that has pioneered a proprietary minimally invasive surgical implant system, which we call iFuse, to fuse the sacroiliac joint to treat sacroiliac joint dysfunction that often causes severe lower back pain. Since we introduced iFuse in 2009, more than 34,000 procedures have been performed by over 1,700 surgeons, in the United States and 33 other countries. Published clinical studies have shown that 15% to 30% of all chronic lower back pain is associated with the sacroiliac joint. We believe iFuse is currently used in the majority of minimally invasive surgical fusions of the sacroiliac joint in the United States.

The two sacroiliac joints are the largest joints in the body and connect the sacrum, near the base of the spine, to the iliac bones, the two major bones of the pelvis. The iFuse system includes a series of patented triangular implants, the instruments we have developed to enable the procedure, as well as the diagnostic and surgical techniques we have developed to enable physicians to perform the procedure. We introduced our second generation implant, the iFuse-3D, in 2017. We market our products with a direct sales force and a number of distributors in the United States, and with a combination of a direct sales force and distributors in other countries.

Our growth rate has recently increased, which we attribute in part to more widespread insurance coverage for sacroiliac fusion procedures, with many recent positive payor coverage policies exclusive to our iFuse system, as well as our efforts to educate the market regarding sacroiliac dysfunction. Since January 1, 2018, because of the strength of published clinical evidence on iFuse, 18 U.S. payors have published reimbursement policies exclusively covering the patented triangular design of our iFuse implants and excluding coverage of other products that are intended to fuse the sacroiliac joint. We believe that the full impact of each exclusive coverage decision grows over time as we continue to educate surgeons about the coverage and the medical criteria they need to follow, and train them on the diagnosis and how to perform the iFuse procedure.

In 2016 and 2017, we generated revenue of $42.1 million and $48.0 million, respectively, a growth rate of 14%, and incurred net losses of $20.6 million and $23.0 million, respectively. Our gross margins were 88% and 89% for 2016 and 2017, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018, we generated revenue of $22.5 million and $26.4 million, respectively, a growth rate of 17%, and incurred net losses of $12.5 million and $7.3 million, respectively. Our gross margins were 89% and 92% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The number of iFuse procedures performed in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018 was 2,739 and 3,200, respectively.

Patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction may experience debilitating pain. We believe that the sacroiliac joint is the last major joint to be addressed by the orthopedic implant industry. Studies have shown that the disability that results from disease of the sacroiliac joint is comparable to the disability associated with a number of other serious orthopedic conditions, such as knee and hip arthritis and degenerative disc disease, each of which has surgical solutions where an implant is used and a multi-billion dollar market exists.

Our implants have a triangular cross section, which resists twisting of the implant within the bone in which it is implanted, helping stabilize the joint even before fixation of the bone onto the implant, or bony ingrowth,



 

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which results in fusion. Products from our competitors use screws to treat the sacroiliac joint, which do not resist twisting within the bone as well as our patented triangular implants. A study we performed showed that our iFuse implants have more than six times the rotation resistance of a screw designed for sacroiliac joint fusion. We hold issued patents on implants with cross-sections of many non-round shapes, including the triangular shape we use for iFuse. We also hold issued patents for the method of placing those implants across the sacroiliac joint, as well as other parts of the spine and pelvis. Each titanium iFuse implant is at least three times the strength of a typical eight-millimeter surgical screw and the larger porous surface area of our implants allows for bony ingrowth. Three of our implants are typically used in each procedure.

Published Clinical Evidence on iFuse

The safety, clinical effectiveness, durability of pain relief and reduction in disability, cost effectiveness, and reduction in opioid use that result from iFuse are supported by a large number of studies that have resulted in more than 60 published papers. Several of these papers publish results from three prospective multicenter studies (INSITE, SIFI, and iMIA), two of which were randomized controlled clinical trials. These three prospective multicenter studies were summarized in a publication in SPINE, analyzing combined results from the three trials, as summarized in the graph below:

 

LOGO

In INSITE, for example, one of the studies included in the graph above, subjects surgically treated with iFuse had mean 52-, 54-, and 55-point reductions in sacroiliac joint pain at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, as measured by the VAS, a standard method of assessing pain in which study subjects are asked to rate their pain from 0 (no pain) to 100 (worst imaginable pain). By contrast, subjects in the non-surgical management group had only a mean 12-point reduction at six months (p<0.0001), and only a small proportion of patients in the



 

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non-surgical group had sufficient pain relief. The 12-point reduction in pain in the non-surgical management group is below a commonly accepted threshold of 20 points for clinically significant reduction in chronic back pain. At 24 months, the proportion of subjects with a reduction in VAS sacroiliac joint pain of 20 or more points due to the assigned treatment was 83% in the iFuse group and 10% in the non-surgical management group.

Results from the iMIA and SIFI studies were similar to INSITE.

There have been several studies showing longer-term follow-up of up to six years.

 

   

LOIS is a prospective follow-on study, enrolling subjects at a subset of INSITE and SIFI sites treated with iFuse. Study outcomes at three years were published in April 2018 in Medical Devices: Evidence and Research. Amongst 103 enrolled subjects, mean sacroiliac joint pain at three years decreased from 81.5 preoperatively to 26.2 (a 56-point improvement from baseline, p<.0001). A manuscript showing sustained improvement in pain and disability at four-year follow-up was recently accepted for publication.

 

   

A study in Neurosurgery published in April 2017 showed similar improvements in pain and disability in patients followed for up to six years. The study also showed a substantial reduction in the number of subjects using opioids in patients treated with iFuse at their last follow-up visit. As shown in the graph below, at the last follow-up visit, 84% of patients who received non-surgical management were using opioids, while only 7% of patients treated with iFuse were using opioids.

 

LOGO

 

 

Surgical revision rate is an important measurement of a treatment’s effectiveness for patients. Studies on lumbar, or lower back, fusion, a different type of spine procedure from iFuse, have shown revision rates as approximately 12%. A study published in Medical Devices: Evidence and Research in November 2015 showed that the cumulative four-year revision rate with iFuse was 3.5%. A single surgeon retrospective study published in the International Journal of Spine Surgery in January 2017 showed that the cumulative four-year revision rate for screw-based treatment of the sacroiliac joint was five times higher than the cumulative four-year revision rate for iFuse.

See “Business—Our Published Studies” for more detail from these studies.



 

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Market Opportunity

We estimate that over 30 million American adults have chronic lower back pain. For patients whose chronic lower back pain stems from the sacroiliac joint, our experience in both clinical trials and commercial settings indicates that iFuse could be beneficial for at least 30% of patients who are properly diagnosed and screened for surgery by trained healthcare providers. Approximately 282,000 patients in the United States were estimated to have received multiple non-surgical steroid injections for sacroiliac joint pain in 2017. Based on our market experience and internal estimates, and the assumption that the average person suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction has been in pain for five years, we estimate that the potential market for iFuse in the United States could be 279,000 patients annually, for a potential annual market in the United States of approximately $2.7 billion. While we have made significant inroads at penetrating this market, patients received only 4,319 iFuse procedures in 2017.

Limitations of Prior Treatment

Patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction or sacroiliac joint arthritis frequently experience significant pain simply from sitting, standing, or rolling over in bed. These activities result in small movements of the sacroiliac joints and pressure transferred across the joints. The pain can be exacerbated with activity—when a patient walks or runs, for example, the shock from each step is transmitted up the leg, through the iliac bones of the pelvis to the sacroiliac joint. The initial goal in fusion of the sacroiliac joint is to immediately stabilize the joint which very quickly decreases the pain. Following initial stabilization of the sacroiliac joint, the goal is to permanently fuse the joint. We believe our proprietary triangular implants stabilize the joint better and more quickly than competing technologies such as screws.

Surgical fusion of the sacroiliac joint with an open surgical technique was first reported in 1908, with further reports in the 1920s. The open procedure uses plates and screws, requires a 6- to 12-inch incision and is extremely invasive. The iFuse procedure involves a 1- to 2-inch incision and is much less invasive. For these reasons, we believe that open surgery for elective sacroiliac joint fusion has become less common in the United States since we introduced iFuse.

Due to its invasiveness, pain, long recovery time, and infrequent use, the open sacroiliac joint fusion procedure was rarely taught in medical school or residency programs. Prior to our launch of iFuse, most spine surgeons were unfamiliar with the sacroiliac joint and had never performed a sacroiliac joint fusion. As a result, when patients presented with lower back pain, spine surgeons often did not include evaluation of the sacroiliac joint in their diagnostic work-up. Surgeons who did recognize the condition typically told their patients they had nothing to offer surgically.

Since we launched iFuse, we have made considerable investments in teaching healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose and treat sacroiliac joint disorders. We provide instruction and training on how to perform provocative maneuvers in a physician’s office that can reveal the sacroiliac joint as the source of pain. If the provocative tests are positive, surgeons (or other physicians) confirm the diagnosis by injecting a small amount of local anesthetic into the joint under fluoroscopic guidance. The sacroiliac joint is confirmed as a pain source if the local anesthetic produces immediate and significant pain reduction. In addition to the differentiated characteristics of our iFuse procedure and triangular iFuse implants, we believe that more accurate diagnosis is part of the reason for the high success and patient satisfaction rates of the iFuse procedure.

Recently, major medical societies involved in spine surgery have begun offering sacroiliac joint diagnostic training sessions for their membership. In 2018, these societies include the North American Spine Society, or NASS, Congress of Neurologic Surgeons, or CNS, American Academy of Neurologic Surgeons, or AANS, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, or ISASS, and the Scoliosis Research Society, or SRS.



 

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It is often difficult to identify the source of lower back pain. As a result, some surgical procedures performed on the spine have a sub-optimal success rate. For example, published studies of lumbar fusion have shown success rates of only approximately 60%. We believe low success rates of lumbar fusion are likely related, in many cases, to failure to diagnose the sacroiliac joint as the correct cause of pain.

The iFuse procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon uses a custom instrument set we provide to prepare a triangular channel for each implant through the ilium, across the sacroiliac joint, and into the sacrum. An iFuse implant is then pressed into the triangular channel, which is slightly smaller than the implant, creating what is known as an interference fit. The triangular cross section of our iFuse implants, as shown below, prevents them from rotating. Our triangular iFuse implants cross the sacroiliac joint and provide immediate joint stability, which is why we believe pain diminishes soon after the iFuse procedure. Over time, bone grows onto the implants and across the joint, permanently stabilizing or fusing the joint.

 

LOGO

 

Because of the triangular shape, porous surface, strength, and other differentiating factors of our iFuse implants, we believe that our published clinical data do not apply to other minimally invasive solutions. Little published evidence of safety, clinical effectiveness, durability, or economic utility currently exists for sacroiliac fusion devices other than iFuse. We believe that the differences between iFuse and other products, as well as the substantial published clinical evidence showing the safety and effectiveness of iFuse, are the reason why a growing number of payors have recommended that iFuse be reimbursed for sacroiliac surgery to the exclusion of other technologies that are designed for the procedure.



 

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Our Second-Generation Implant

Our second-generation iFuse implant, iFuse-3D, shown on the left below, was cleared for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2017 and the European Union in May 2017. This patented titanium implant combines the triangular cross-section of the iFuse implant with a proprietary 3D-printed porous surface and fenestrated design. This design also allows the surgeon to fill the implant with ground-up bone before implanting it, which some surgeons believe accelerates bone through-growth. iFuse-3D implants have shown positive bony ingrowth in cell culture and animal studies, whether or not ground-up bone is used, as shown in two peer reviewed studies published in June 2017 in the International Journal of Spine Surgery. The image on the right below shows the cross section cut from an iFuse-3D implant removed from an animal as part of the study, and reveals robust growth of bone into the implants.

 

 

LOGO   LOGO

Coverage and Reimbursement

As of August 31, 2018, U.S. payors covering 250 million lives reimburse for iFuse, 115 million of which are covered by private payors. There are a number of large and small private payors, including Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and Anthem, that are not yet reimbursing for the procedure. Some of these non-covering payors are reevaluating coverage given the latest data, but there can be no assurance they will reach positive coverage decisions.

Prior to our launch of iFuse in 2009, Medicare and most private insurance companies reimbursed surgeons routinely for sacroiliac joint fusions, which were primarily invasive. However, effective July 1, 2013, the American Medical Association’s, or AMA’s, Editorial Panel effectively restricted reimbursement for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion because they considered the published clinical evidence at the time to be inadequate.

Subsequently, as a result of the growing number of published clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of iFuse, along with the support of several professional medical specialty societies and leading academic surgeons, the AMA Editorial Panel established a new reimbursement code for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion surgery, effective January 1, 2015. However, the new code did not immediately lead to positive coverage decisions by payors—in many cases, the payors wanted additional published evidence before deciding to cover the procedure. As a result, positive reimbursement decisions covering the procedure have occurred over the last few years, and some payors are still in the process of making decisions based on the most recent evidence.



 

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Coverage decisions for this code are made independently by each private insurance company and each of the seven regional Medicare Administrative Contractors that help manage Medicare. The process of obtaining coverage is laborious. As of June 30, 2016, because of the iFuse clinical evidence, all Medicare Administrative Contractors were covering the procedure. At the time, very few private payors were covering. However, as of August 31, 2018, 39 of the largest 65 private payors were covering regularly, or had announced coverage for, the iFuse procedure, while the remaining private payors were reevaluating their coverage policies. Of these, 23 private payors have issued positive coverage policies exclusive to iFuse for sacroiliac joint fusion because of the clinical evidence. Seventeen of these exclusive coverage policies have published since January 1, 2018, which we believe has contributed to our accelerating sales growth in fiscal year 2018.

Prior to payor coverage, surgeons have been reluctant to get trained on a procedure for which they could not reliably be reimbursed. We believe it takes between six and 24 months for surgeons to fully incorporate iFuse into their practices after payors initiate coverage. Further, the administrative burden on surgical practices can be substantial for patients where reimbursement coverage is new, and some surgeons do not believe that the current average surgeon reimbursement is yet adequate to compensate them. As reimbursement coverage has improved, surgeon interest in learning to diagnose the sacroiliac joint and perform iFuse procedures has been increasing.

Specialty benefit managers and companies which perform healthcare technology assessments have significant influence on coverage decisions. In 2018, four of the leading organizations, including Milliman Care Guidelines, AIM Specialty Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Evidence Street, and eviCore Healthcare published positive coverage recommendations to their constituents and payor customers, of which three have recommended that iFuse be covered exclusively. Internationally, the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, or NICE, published a positive coverage recommendation for sacroiliac joint fusion in 2017. In October 2018, NICE published medical technology guidance specific to the iFuse Implant System, recommending that it be used in the National Health System because of the evidence demonstrating that treatment with iFuse improves pain, quality of life, and disability in properly selected patients. Additionally, in August 2018, the public hospital system in France announced it would initiate coverage for iFuse exclusively beginning September 6, 2018.

Our Strategy

Our business objective is to maintain and enhance our leadership position in the area of sacroiliac joint fusion by providing clinically proven products and procedure-related training to promote relief of pain and disability in affected patients. To accomplish this objective, we intend to:

 

   

Continue to educate physicians and other healthcare providers, payors, and patients globally about the growing body of evidence supporting the safety, durable clinical effectiveness, economic benefit, and reduction in opioid use associated with the iFuse procedure;

 

   

Educate and train the healthcare community on the prevalence, anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment options for the sacroiliac joint, including minimally invasive surgical fusion, and work with and support medical societies including NASS, CNS, AANS, ISASS, SRS, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, to increase their education programs teaching the diagnosis of the sacroiliac joint as part of the differential diagnosis of lower back pain;

 

   

Increase exclusive and non-exclusive reimbursement coverage for iFuse;

 

   

Expand our direct field organization in the United States and select European countries to help drive adoption of our iFuse products;

 

   

Maintain our technological leadership by investing in the creation of new or improved products for sacroiliac joint surgery, and obtain domestic and international regulatory clearance or approvals to market them in the United States and additional countries; and

 

   

Continue to grow our existing intellectual property portfolio.



 

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Company History

SI-BONE was founded in 2008 by orthopedist Mark A. Reiley, M.D., the main inventor of iFuse and member of our board of directors, as well as our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman, Jeffrey W. Dunn, and orthopedic surgeon Leonard Rudolf, M.D. Dr. Reiley previously invented balloon kyphoplasty and founded Kyphon Inc., which was sold to Medtronic in 2007. He also invented the INBONE total ankle replacement system, which was sold to Wright Medical Technology, Inc. in 2008.

As of June 30, 2018, we had 168 employees, including a direct field sales organization of 72 in the United States and 28 in Europe. We intend to expand our direct field organization with some of the proceeds from this offering. As of June 30, 2018, we had 40 issued patents throughout the world, of which 34 were in the United States, and 18 pending patent applications, of which 11 were in the United States. These patents and applications cover various aspects of the iFuse procedure, implants, and instruments.

Risks Associated with Our Business

Our business is subject to numerous risks, as more fully described in the section “Risk Factors,” which immediately follow this prospectus summary. These risks include, among others:

 

   

We have incurred significant operating losses since inception, we expect to continue to incur operating losses in the future, and we may not be able to achieve or sustain future profitability.

 

   

If hospitals, surgeons, and other healthcare providers are unable to obtain coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors for procedures performed using our products, adoption of our products may be delayed, and it is unlikely that they will gain further acceptance.

 

   

If the reimbursement provided by third-party payors to hospitals, surgeons, and other healthcare providers for procedures performed using our products is insufficient, adoption and use of our products and the prices paid for our implants may decline.

 

   

If healthcare payors reverse decisions to cover minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion exclusively when performed with iFuse and choose to reimburse for procedures performed with competitive products, our market share could decline, adversely affecting our revenues.

 

   

We may not be able to convince physicians that iFuse is an attractive alternative to our competitors’ products and that our procedure is an attractive alternative to existing surgical and non-surgical treatments of the sacroiliac joint.

 

   

Surgeons and payors may not find our clinical evidence to be compelling, which could limit our sales and revenue, and on-going and future research may prove our products to be less safe and effective than initially anticipated.

 

   

Pricing pressure from our competitors, changes in third-party coverage and reimbursement, healthcare provider consolidation, payor consolidation and the proliferation of “physician-owned distributorships” may impact our ability to sell our product at prices necessary to support our current business strategies.

 

   

We operate in a very competitive business environment and if we are unable to compete successfully against our existing or potential competitors, our sales and operating results may be negatively affected and we may not grow.

 

   

We currently manufacture and sell products used in a single procedure, which could negatively affect our operations and financial condition.

 

   

If we are unable to maintain and expand our network of direct sales representatives and third-party distributors, we may not be able to generate anticipated sales.



 

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We, our suppliers, and our third-party manufacturers are subject to extensive governmental regulation both in the United States and abroad, and failure to comply with applicable requirements could cause our business to suffer.

 

   

We and our sales representatives must comply with U.S. federal and state fraud and abuse laws, including those relating to physician kickbacks and false claims for reimbursement, as well as equivalent foreign laws.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act, and therefore we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including not being required to have our internal control over financial reporting audited by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We may take advantage of these exemptions for up to five years or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier. In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption and, therefore, we will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.”

Recent Developments

Set forth below are certain preliminary revenue, cost of goods sold, and operating loss expectations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to actual unaudited financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. We have provided a range for these preliminary results because our financial closing procedures for the three months ended September 30, 2018 are not yet complete. These preliminary results represent our estimates only based on currently available information and do not present all necessary information for an understanding of our financial condition as of September 30, 2018 or our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. As we complete our quarter-end financial close process and finalize our unaudited financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we will be required to make significant judgments in a number of areas, including inventory, stock-based compensation, and the liability for preferred stock warrants.

This financial information has been prepared by and is the responsibility of our management. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has not audited, reviewed, compiled, or performed any procedures with respect to this preliminary financial data or the accounting treatment thereof and does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto, nor has PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP audited or reviewed financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. We expect to complete our unaudited financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 subsequent to the completion of this offering. It is possible that we or PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP may identify items that require us to make adjustments to the financial information set forth below and those changes could be material. We do not intend to update the financial information set forth below prior to completion of our interim financial statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these preliminary estimates. These preliminary estimates are not necessarily indicative of any future period and should be read together with “Risk Factors,” “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Selected Consolidated Financial Data,” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.



 

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Revenue

We estimate that our total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was between approximately $13.2 million and $13.4 million as compared to $11.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. We estimate that our total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was between approximately $39.6 million and $39.8 million as compared to $34.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Cost of goods sold

We estimate that our cost of goods sold was between approximately $1.1 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to cost of goods sold of $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. We estimate that our cost of goods sold was between approximately $3.4 million and $3.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to cost of goods sold of $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Operating loss

We estimate that our operating loss was between approximately $2.7 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to $5.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. We estimate that our operating loss was between $7.4 million and $8.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to $15.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated in March 2008 in Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 471 El Camino Real, Suite 101, Santa Clara, California 95050 and our telephone number is (408) 207-0700. Our website address is www.si-bone.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only.



 

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THE OFFERING

 

Shares of common stock offered by us

   6,000,000 shares

Shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering

  

21,793,160 shares (22,693,160 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full)

Option to purchase additional shares

   We have granted to the underwriters the option, exercisable for 30 days, to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares of our common stock.

Use of proceeds

   We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering of 6,000,000 shares of our common stock will be approximately $76.4 million, or $88.1 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
   We expect to use approximately $65.0 million of the net proceeds for sales and marketing activities to support ongoing commercialization of the iFuse Implant System and the remainder, if any, for working capital and general corporate purposes, including research and development and clinical studies. We may also use a portion of our net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary products, technologies, or businesses; however, we currently have no agreements or commitments to complete any such transactions. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Risk factors

   See “Risk Factors” and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before deciding to invest in our common stock.

Proposed Nasdaq Global Market symbol

   “SIBN”

Certain of our existing stockholders or their affiliates, including entities affiliated with Arboretum Ventures, Novo Holdings A/S, OrbiMed, and Skyline Venture Partners, have indicated an interest in purchasing up to an aggregate of $32.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, the underwriters may determine to sell more, fewer, or no shares in this offering to any or all of these entities, or any or all of these entities may determine to purchase more, fewer, or no shares in this offering. The underwriters will receive the same underwriting discount on any shares purchased by these entities as they will on any other shares sold to the public in this offering.



 

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The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 15,793,160 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2018, and excludes:

 

   

2,900,842 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of June 30, 2018, with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.09 per share;

 

   

230,066 shares of common stock, as converted, issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2018, with a weighted-average exercise price of $8.69 per share;

 

   

26,613 additional shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2008 Stock Plan, which shares will cease to be available for issuance at the time our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan becomes effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering;

 

   

2,576,538 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as well as any increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering; and

 

   

515,307 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as any increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes:

 

   

The filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the effectiveness of our amended and restated bylaws upon the closing of this offering;

 

   

A 1-for-18 reverse stock split of common stock and preferred stock effected on October 4, 2018;

 

   

The conversion of all warrants to purchase shares of preferred stock into warrants to purchase shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering;

 

   

The conversion of all outstanding shares of preferred stock into an aggregate of 12,066,654 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering;

 

   

The issuance of 19,238 shares of common stock upon the automatic net exercise of warrants, with an exercise price of $9.10 per share, immediately prior to the closing of this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus;

 

   

The reclassification of all outstanding shares of Series 1 common stock and Series 2 common stock into a single class of common stock named “common stock,” which shall have the same voting powers, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations, and restrictions as the current Series 2 common stock, immediately prior to the closing of this offering;

 

   

No exercise of outstanding options and warrants, other than as provided for above; and

 

   

No exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares of common stock.



 

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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following summary consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included within this prospectus. The consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The consolidated statements of operations data for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018, and the consolidated balance sheet data at June 30, 2018, are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future and our results for the six months ended June 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year.

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
              2016                         2017                         2017                         2018            
    (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

       

Revenue

  $ 42,101     $ 47,983     $ 22,531     $ 26,375  

Cost of goods sold

    5,165       5,112       2,566       2,230  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    36,936       42,871       19,965       24,145  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

       

Sales and marketing

    35,215       41,646       21,130       21,285  

Research and development

    6,380       5,513       2,768       2,502  

General and administrative

    12,906       13,062       6,737       4,972  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    54,501       60,221       30,635       28,759  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

    (17,565     (17,350     (10,670     (4,614

Interest and other income (expense), net:

       

Interest income

    71       175       73       130  

Interest expense

    (3,308     (6,204     (1,920     (2,544

Other income (expense), net

    213       340       66       (320
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    (20,589     (23,039     (12,451     (7,348

Other comprehensive income:

       

Changes in foreign currency translation

    67       (70     (35     33  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

  $ (20,522   $ (23,109   $ (12,486   $ (7,315
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per common share, basic and diluted(1)

  $ (6.21   $ (6.65   $ (3.63   $ (2.04
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per common share(1)

    3,314,198       3,467,096       3,426,963       3,603,308  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per common share, basic and diluted (unaudited)(1)

    $ (1.50     $ (0.45
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Pro forma weighted-average number of common shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share (unaudited)(1)

      15,478,016         15,689,200  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for the method used to calculate net loss per common share, basic and diluted, and pro forma net loss per common share, basic and diluted, and weighted-average number of shares used in the computation of the per share amounts.



 

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     As of June 30, 2018  
     Actual     Pro
Forma(1)
    Pro Forma
As Adjusted(2)(3)
 
     (in thousands)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 16,233     $ 16,233     $ 92,653  

Working capital

     20,040       20,040       96,460  

Total assets

     29,913       29,913       106,333  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock warrant liability

     646              

Total long-term borrowings

     38,834       38,834       38,834  

Total liabilities

     47,068       46,422       46,422  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock

     118,548              

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (135,703     (16,509     59,911  

 

(1)

The pro forma column reflects (i) the conversion of all outstanding shares of our preferred stock into an aggregate of 12,066,654 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering, (ii) the issuance of 19,238 shares of common stock upon the automatic net exercise of outstanding warrants, with an exercise price of $9.10 per share, immediately prior to the closing of this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and (iii) the reclassification of our preferred stock warrant liability to additional paid-in capital immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

(2)

The pro forma as adjusted column further reflects the sale of 6,000,000 shares of common stock in this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(3)

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets, and total stockholders’ equity by $5.6 million, assuming the number of shares we are offering, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 in the number of shares offered by us would increase (decrease) each of pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets, and total stockholders’ equity by $13.0 million, assuming the initial public offering price per share remains the same, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price, number of shares offered, and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.



 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the section “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry

We have incurred significant operating losses since inception, we expect to continue to incur operating losses in the future, and we may not be able to achieve or sustain future profitability.

We have incurred net losses since our inception in 2008. For 2017 and the six months ended June 30, 2018, we had net losses of $23.0 million and $7.3 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $147.1 million. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements of equity securities, certain debt-related financing arrangements, and from sales of our products. We have devoted substantially all of our resources to research and development of our products, sales and marketing activities, investments in training and educating surgeons and other healthcare providers, and clinical and regulatory matters for our products. There can be no assurances that we will be able to generate sufficient revenue from our existing products or from any of our product candidates in development, and to transition to profitability and generate consistent positive cash flows. Following this offering, we expect that our operating expenses will continue to increase as we continue to build our commercial infrastructure, develop, enhance, and commercialize our existing and new products and incur additional operational and reporting costs associated with being a public company. As a result, we expect to continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve profitability. Furthermore, even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on an ongoing basis. If we do not achieve profitability, it will be more difficult for us to finance our business and accomplish our strategic objectives.

Our recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, our credit facility agreement requires us to comply with certain financial covenants, including minimum liquidity, revenue, and earnings targets. As a result, our independent registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph in its report on our financial statements as of, and for the year ended, December 31, 2017, describing the existence of substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We believe that the successful completion of this offering will eliminate this doubt and enable us to continue as a going concern; however, if we are unable to raise sufficient capital in this offering, we may need to obtain alternative financing or significantly modify our operational plans for us to continue as a going concern. Our expected future capital requirements may depend on many factors including expanding our surgeon base, the expansion of our sales force, and the timing and extent of spending on the development of our technology to increase our product offerings. We may need additional funding to fund our operations but additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms on a timely basis, if at all. We may seek funds through borrowings or through additional rounds of financing, including private or public equity or debt offerings. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. Any future debt financing into which we enter may impose upon us additional covenants that restrict our operations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens or additional debt, pay dividends, repurchase our common stock, make certain investments, and engage in certain merger, consolidation or asset sale transactions. Any future debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms that are not favorable to us or our stockholders. Furthermore, we cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, if

 

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at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital or generate sufficient cash from operations to adequately fund our operations, we will need to curtail planned activities to reduce costs, which will likely harm our ability to execute on our business plan and continue operations.

If hospitals, surgeons, and other healthcare providers are unable to obtain coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors for procedures performed using our products, adoption of our products may be delayed, and it is unlikely that they will gain further acceptance.

Maintaining and growing sales of our products depends on the availability of adequate coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors, including government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, private insurance plans, and managed care programs. Hospitals, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that purchase or use medical devices generally rely on third-party payors to pay for all or part of the costs and fees associated with the procedures performed with these devices.

Adequate coverage and reimbursement for procedures performed with our products is central to the acceptance of our current and future products. We may be unable to sell our products on a profitable basis if third-party payors deny coverage, continue to deny coverage or reduce their current levels of payment, or if our costs of production increase faster than increases in reimbursement levels. For example, our sales decreased significantly after minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion was assigned to a Category III Current Procedure Terminology, or CPT, code effective July 1, 2013. After implementation of this Category III CPT Code, surgeons were no longer able to consistently obtain reimbursement for procedures performed using our products. However, effective January 1, 2015, minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion was assigned to a Category I CPT Code.

Many private payors refer to coverage decisions and payment amounts determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, which administers the Medicare program, as guidelines for setting their coverage and reimbursement policies. By June 30, 2016, all Medicare Administrative Contractors were regularly reimbursing for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion. Private payors that do not follow the Medicare guidelines may adopt different coverage and reimbursement policies for procedures performed with our products. Private commercial payors have been slower to adopt positive coverage policies for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion, and many private payors still have policies that treat the procedure as experimental or investigational and do not regularly reimburse for the procedure. Future action by CMS or third-party payors may further reduce the availability of payments to physicians, outpatient surgery centers, and/or hospitals for procedures using our products.

The healthcare industry in the United States has experienced a trend toward cost containment as government and private insurers seek to control healthcare costs. Payors are imposing lower payment rates and negotiating reduced contract rates with service providers and being increasingly selective about the technologies and procedures they chose to cover. For example, several Blue Cross Blue Shield payors have recently adopted policies that treat 3D-printed orthopedic implants that come in standard sizes, rather than customized to the patient’s anatomy, such as our iFuse-3D implant, as experimental and investigational and therefore not eligible for reimbursement. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to provide the scientific and clinical data necessary to overcome these policies. Such policies may contribute to a decrease in sales of our iFuse-3D implants. Payors may adopt policies in the future restricting access to medical technologies like ours and/or the procedures performed using such technologies. Therefore, we cannot be certain that the procedures performed with each of our products will be reimbursed. There can be no guarantee that, should we introduce additional products in the future, payors will cover those products or the procedures in which they are used.

Market acceptance of our products in foreign markets may depend, in part, upon the availability of coverage and reimbursement within prevailing healthcare payment systems. Reimbursement and healthcare payment systems in international markets vary significantly by country and include both government-sponsored healthcare and private insurance. We may not obtain additional international coverage and reimbursement approvals in a

 

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timely manner, if at all. Our failure to receive such approvals would negatively impact market acceptance of our products in the international markets in which those approvals are sought.

If the reimbursement provided by third-party payors to hospitals, surgeons, and other healthcare providers for procedures performed using our products is insufficient, adoption and use of our products and the prices paid for our implants may decline.

When an iFuse procedure is performed, both the surgeon and the healthcare facility, either a hospital or ambulatory surgery center, submit claims for reimbursement to the healthcare payor. Generally, the facility obtains a lump sum payment, or facility fee, for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusions. Our products are purchased by the facility, along with other supplies used in the procedure. The facility must also pay for its own fixed costs of operation, including certain operating room personnel involved in the procedure. If these costs exceed the facility fee reimbursement, the facility’s managers may discourage or restrict surgeons from performing the procedure in the facility or using certain technologies, such as our iFuse implants, to perform the procedure.

The national average Medicare payment per procedure to hospital outpatient departments increased from $10,538 to $14,704 effective January 1, 2017. Effective January 1, 2018, the national average Medicare payment to hospital outpatient departments is $15,371. Effective January 1, 2018, the Medicare payment to an ambulatory surgery center for a sacroiliac joint fusion is $12,456. We believe that payments to facilities are generally adequate for these facilities to offer the iFuse procedure. However, there can be no guarantee that these facility fee payments will not decline in the future. The number of iFuse procedures performed and the prices paid for our implants may in the future decline if payments to facilities for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusions decline.

Surgeons are reimbursed separately for their professional time and effort to perform a surgical procedure. Prior to reassignment of minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion to a Category III CPT Code, the national average Medicare physician fee schedule payment to surgeons for CPT codes commonly used to submit claims for reimbursement for the iFuse procedure was approximately $1,000 and the procedure was commonly covered by both government and private commercial payors in the United States. In 2015, the national average physician payment for the new Category I CPT Code for minimally invasive sacroiliac fusion was $574, and we believe that this payment caused adoption of the procedure to slow. Effective January 1, 2016, the national average Medicare payment for the Category I CPT code increased to $718, and the national average payment effective January 1, 2018, is $720. Many private payors set their payment amounts with reference to the Medicare payment, often approximately 10% to 33% higher than the Medicare payment for a procedure. For some governmental programs, such as Medicaid, coverage and reimbursement differ from state to state, and some state Medicaid programs may not pay an adequate amount for the procedures performed with our products, if any payment is made at all.

We believe that some surgeons view the current Medicare reimbursement amount as insufficient for the procedure, given the work effort involved with the procedure, including the time to diagnose the patient and obtain prior authorization from the patient’s health insurer if necessary. Many private payors require extensive documentation of a multi-step diagnosis before authorizing minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion for a patient. We believe that some private payors apply their own coverage policies and criteria inconsistently, and surgeons may not be able to consistently have minimally invasive sacroiliac fusions approved and covered. The perception by physicians that the reimbursement for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion is insufficient to compensate them for the work required, including diagnosis, documentation, obtaining payor approval for the procedure, and burden on their office staff, may negatively affect the number of procedures performed and may therefore impede the growth of our revenues or cause them to decline.

 

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If healthcare payors reverse decisions to cover minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion exclusively when performed with iFuse and choose to reimburse for procedures performed with competitive products, our market share could decline, adversely affecting our revenues.

As of August 31, 2018, 23 of the largest 65 U.S. private payors that we track and target have issued positive coverage policies covering the patented triangular design of our iFuse implants and excluding coverage of other products that are intended to fuse the sacroiliac joint because of the clinical evidence supporting the use of iFuse and the lack of clinical evidence supporting the use of other products. Additionally, in August 2018, the public hospital system in France announced it would initiate coverage for iFuse exclusively beginning September 6, 2018. We believe that payors have adopted these exclusive coverage decisions due to the strength of our clinical evidence and in part due to recommendations of specialty benefit managers and healthcare technology assessment organizations. In the first six months of 2018, AIM Specialty Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Evidence Street, and eviCore Healthcare published positive coverage recommendations to their constituents and payor customers, recommending that iFuse be covered exclusively. Clinical trials of the type and size necessary to offer evidence of the safety and efficacy of competing products could be performed and could show that other products for sacroiliac joint fusion are as effective as, or more effective than, iFuse. Payors could also abandon their decisions to cover iFuse exclusively for other reasons.

We may not be able to convince physicians that iFuse is an attractive alternative to our competitors’ products and that our procedure is an attractive alternative to existing surgical and non-surgical treatments of the sacroiliac joint.

Surgeons play the primary role in determining the course of treatment in consultation with their patients and, ultimately, the product that will be used to treat a patient. In order for us to sell our iFuse solution successfully, we must convince surgeons through education and training that treatment with iFuse is beneficial, safe, and cost-effective for patients as compared to our competitors’ products. If we are not successful in convincing surgeons of the merits of iFuse, they may not use our product, and we will be unable to increase our sales and achieve or grow profitability.

Historically, most spine surgeons did not include sacroiliac joint pain in their diagnostic work-up because they did not have an adequate surgical procedure to perform for patients diagnosed with the condition. As a result, some patients with lower back pain resulting from sacroiliac joint dysfunction are misdiagnosed. We believe that educating surgeons and other healthcare professionals about the clinical merits and patient benefits of iFuse is an important element of our growth. If we fail to effectively educate surgeons and other medical professionals, they may not include a sacroiliac joint evaluation as part of their diagnosis and, as a result, those patients may continue to receive unnecessary or only non-surgical treatment.

Surgeons may also hesitate to change their medical treatment practices for other reasons, including the following:

 

   

lack of experience with minimally invasive procedures;

 

   

perceived liability risks generally associated with the use of new products and procedures;

 

   

costs associated with the purchase of new products; and

 

   

time commitment that may be required for training.

Furthermore, we believe surgeons will not widely use iFuse unless they determine, based on experience, clinical data, and published peer-reviewed publications, that surgical intervention provides benefits or is an attractive alternative to non-surgical treatments of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. In addition, we believe support of our products relies heavily on long-term data showing the benefits of using our products. If we are unable to provide that data, surgeons may not use our products. In such circumstances, we may not achieve expected sales and may be unable to achieve profitability.

 

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Surgeons and payors may not find our clinical evidence to be compelling, which could limit our sales and revenue, and on-going and future research may prove our products to be less safe and effective than initially anticipated.

The products we currently market in the United States have either received premarket clearance under Section 510(k) of the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, or are exempt from premarket review. Those marketed in the European Union, or EU, have been the subject of a CE Certificate of Conformity. The 510(k) clearance process of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, requires us to document that our product is “substantially equivalent” to another 510(k)-cleared products. The 510(k) process is shorter and typically requires the submission of less supporting documentation than other FDA approval processes, such as a premarket approval, or PMA, and does not usually require pre-clinical or clinical studies. Additionally, to date, we have not been required to complete clinical studies in connection with the sale of our products outside the United States. As a result, while there are a number of published studies relating to iFuse and minimally invasive sacroiliac joint surgery that support the safety and effectiveness of our products and the benefits they offer, our clinical studies may lack the size and scope of randomized controlled clinical trials required to support approval of a PMA. For these reasons, surgeons may be slow to adopt our products, third-party payors may be slow to provide coverage, and we may be subject to greater regulatory and product liability risks. Further, future patient studies or clinical experience may indicate that treatment with our products does not improve patient outcomes. Such results would slow the adoption of our products by surgeons, significantly reduce our ability to achieve expected sales, and could prevent us from achieving profitability. Moreover, if future results and experience indicate that our products cause unexpected or serious complications or other unforeseen negative effects, we could be subject to mandatory product recalls, suspension, or withdrawal of FDA clearance, and suspension, variation, or withdrawal of our CE Certificates of Conformity, significant legal liability or harm to our business reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our results or operations and financial condition. Similar risks apply to product approvals and registrations in other countries outside the United States and the EU as well.

Pricing pressure from our competitors, changes in third-party coverage and reimbursement, healthcare provider consolidation, payor consolidation and the proliferation of “physician-owned distributorships” may impact our ability to sell our product at prices necessary to support our current business strategies.

If competitive forces drive down the prices we are able to charge for our product, our profit margins will shrink, which will adversely affect our ability to invest in and grow our business. The sacroiliac joint fusion market has attracted numerous new companies and technologies. As a result of this increased competition, we believe there will be continuing increased pricing pressure, resulting in lower gross margins, with respect to our products.

Even to the extent our product and procedures using our product are currently covered and reimbursed by third-party private and public payors, adverse changes in coverage and reimbursement policies that affect our products, discounts, and number of implants used may also drive our prices down and harm our ability to market and sell our products.

We are unable to predict what changes will be made to the reimbursement methodologies used by third-party payors. We cannot be certain that under current and future payment systems, in which healthcare providers may be reimbursed a set amount based on the type of procedure performed, such as those utilized by Medicare and in many privately managed care systems, the cost of our products will be justified and incorporated into the overall cost of the procedure. In addition, to the extent there is a shift from inpatient setting to outpatient settings, we may experience pricing pressure and a reduction in the number of iFuse procedures performed.

Consolidation in the healthcare industry, including both third-party payors and healthcare providers, could lead to demands for price concessions or to the exclusion of some suppliers from certain of our markets, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, or financial condition. Because healthcare

 

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costs have risen significantly over the past several years, numerous initiatives and reforms initiated by legislators, regulators, and third-party payors to curb these costs have resulted in a consolidation trend in the healthcare industry to aggregate purchasing power. As the healthcare industry consolidates, competition to provide products and services to industry participants has become and will continue to become more intense. This in turn has resulted and will likely continue to result in greater pricing pressures and the exclusion of certain suppliers from important market segments as group purchasing organizations, independent delivery networks, and large single accounts continue to use their market power to consolidate purchasing decisions for hospitals. We expect that market demand, government regulation, third-party coverage, and reimbursement policies and societal pressures will continue to change the worldwide healthcare industry, resulting in further business consolidations and alliances among our customers, which may reduce competition, exert further downward pressure on the prices of our products, and adversely impact our business, results of operations, or financial condition. As we continue to expand into international markets, we will face similar risks relating to adverse changes in coverage and reimbursement procedures and policies in those markets.

Physician-owned distributorships, or PODs, are medical device distributors that are owned, directly or indirectly, by physicians. These physicians profit from selling or arranging the sale of medical devices for use in procedures they perform on their own patients at hospitals that purchase the devices from the POD. We currently do not engage with PODs. The proliferation of PODs could result in increased pricing pressure on our products or harm our ability to sell our products to physicians who own or are affiliated with those distributorships.

We operate in a very competitive business environment and if we are unable to compete successfully against our existing or potential competitors, our sales and operating results may be negatively affected and we may not grow.

Our currently marketed products are, and any future products we commercialize will likely be, subject to intense competition. The number of competitors that we are aware of marketing sacroiliac joint fusion products in the United States has grown from zero to 18 since 2008. Many of our current and potential competitors are major medical device companies that have substantially greater financial, technical, and marketing resources than we do, and they may succeed in developing products that would render our products obsolete or noncompetitive. In addition, many of these competitors have significantly longer operating history and more established reputations than we do. Our field is intensely competitive, subject to rapid change and highly sensitive to the introduction of new products or other market activities of industry participants. Our ability to compete successfully will depend on our ability to develop proprietary products that reach the market in a timely manner, receive adequate coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors, and are safer, less invasive, and more effective than alternatives available for similar purposes as demonstrated in peer-reviewed clinical publications. Because of the size of the potential market, we anticipate that other companies will dedicate significant resources to developing competing products.

In the United States, we believe that our primary competitors currently are Globus Medical, Inc., Medtronic plc, XTant Medical Holdings, Inc., and RTI Surgical, Inc. Our primary competitors in Europe are Globus Medical, SIGNUS Medizintechnik GmbH, and XTant Medical Holdings. At any time, these or other industry participants may develop alternative treatments, products or procedures for the treatment of the sacroiliac joint that compete directly or indirectly with our products. They may also develop and patent processes or products earlier than we can or obtain domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals and CE Certificates of Conformity for competing products in the European Economic Area, or EEA, more rapidly than we can, which could impair our ability to develop and commercialize similar processes or products. If alternative treatments are, or are perceived to be, superior to our products, sales of our products and our results of operations could be negatively affected.

 

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Some of our larger competitors are either publicly traded or divisions or subsidiaries of publicly traded companies. These competitors may enjoy several competitive advantages over us, including:

 

   

greater financial, human, and other resources for product research and development, sales and marketing, and legal matters;

 

   

significantly greater name recognition;

 

   

established relationships with surgeons, hospitals, and other healthcare providers;

 

   

large and established sales and marketing and distribution networks;

 

   

greater experience in obtaining and maintaining domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals, or CE Certificates of Conformity for products and product enhancements;

 

   

more expansive portfolios of intellectual property rights; and

 

   

greater ability to cross-sell their products or to incentivize hospitals or surgeons to use their products.

New participants have increasingly entered the medical device industry. Many of these new competitors specialize in a specific product or focus on a particular market segment, making it more difficult for us to increase our overall market position. The frequent introduction by competitors of products that are or claim to be superior to our products or that are alternatives to our existing or planned products may make it difficult to differentiate the benefits of our products over competing products. In addition, the entry of multiple new products and competitors may lead some of our competitors to employ pricing strategies that could adversely affect the pricing of our products and pricing in the market generally.

As a result, without the timely introduction of new products and enhancements, our products may become obsolete over time. If we are unable to develop innovative new products, maintain competitive pricing, and offer products that surgeons and other physicians perceive to be as reliable as those of our competitors, our sales or margins could decrease, thereby harming our business.

We currently manufacture and sell products used in a single procedure, which could negatively affect our operations and financial condition.

We do not sell any product other than iFuse and related tools and instruments. Therefore, we are solely dependent on widespread market adoption of iFuse and we will continue to be dependent on the success of this single product for the foreseeable future. There can be no assurance that iFuse will gain a substantial degree of market acceptance among surgeons, patients or healthcare providers. Our failure to successfully increase sales of iFuse or any other event impeding our ability to sell iFuse, would result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and continuing operations.

If we are unable to maintain and expand our network of direct sales representatives and third-party distributors, we may not be able to generate anticipated sales.

As of June 30, 2018, our U.S. sales force consisted of 45 sales representatives directly employed by us and 30 third-party distributors. As of June 30, 2018, our international sales force consisted of 18 sales representatives and 27 exclusive third-party distributors, which together have had sales in 33 countries through June 30, 2018. Our operating results are directly dependent upon the sales and marketing efforts of both our direct sales force and of our third-party distributors.

As we launch new products and increase our marketing efforts with respect to existing products, we will need to expand the reach of our marketing and sales networks. Our future success will depend largely on our ability to continue to hire, train, retain and motivate skilled direct sales representatives and third-party distributors with significant technical knowledge in various areas, such as spine health and treatment. New hires

 

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require training and take time to achieve full productivity. If we fail to train new hires adequately, or if we experience high turnover in our sales force in the future, we cannot be certain that new hires will become as productive as may be necessary to maintain or increase our sales. Our intention is for our direct sales representatives and third-party distributors to develop long-lasting relationships with the surgeons they serve. If our direct sales representatives or third-party distributors fail to adequately promote, market and sell our products or decide to leave or cease to do business with us, our sales could significantly decrease.

We face significant challenges and risks in managing our geographically dispersed distribution network and retaining the individuals who make up that network. Some of our international third-party distributors account for a significant portion of our international sales volume, and if any such third-party distributor were to cease to distribute our products, our sales could be adversely affected. In such a situation, we may need to seek alternative third-party distributors or increase our reliance on our direct sales representatives, which may not prevent our sales from being adversely affected. If a direct sales representative or third-party distributor were to depart and be retained by one of our competitors, we may be unable to prevent them from helping competitors solicit business from our existing customers, which could further adversely affect our sales. Because of the intense competition for their services, we may be unable to recruit or retain additional qualified third-party distributors or to hire additional direct sales representatives to work with us. Furthermore, we may not be able to enter into agreements with them on favorable or commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Failure to hire or retain qualified direct sales representatives or third-party distributors would prevent us from expanding our business and generating sales.

In addition, distribution arrangements are complex and time consuming to negotiate and document, especially outside the United States. We may not be able to negotiate distribution arrangements on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to do so, we may have to curtail the development of our products, delay their potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our expenditures and undertake development or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we may not be able to further develop our products or bring them to market and generate revenue.

If we are unable to expand our sales and marketing capabilities domestically and internationally, we may not be able to effectively commercialize our products, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

We have a limited operating history and may face difficulties encountered by early stage companies in new and rapidly evolving markets.

We were formed in 2008. Accordingly, we have a limited operating history upon which to base an evaluation of our business and prospects. In assessing our prospects, you must consider the risks and difficulties frequently encountered by early stage companies in new and rapidly evolving markets, particularly companies engaged in the development and sales of medical devices. These risks include our inability to:

 

   

increase coverage by third-party, private, and government payors;

 

   

establish and increase awareness of our brand and strengthen customer loyalty;

 

   

obtain domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals, and CE Certificates of Conformity;

 

   

conformity to commercialize new products and enhance our existing products;

 

   

manage rapidly changing and expanding operations;

 

   

grow our direct sales force and increase the number of our third-party distributors to expand sales of our products in the United States and in targeted international markets;

 

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implement and successfully execute our business and marketing strategy;

 

   

respond effectively to competitive pressures and developments;

 

   

continue to develop and enhance our products and product candidates;

 

   

expand our presence and commence operations in international markets;

 

   

perform clinical research and trials on our existing products and current and future product candidates; and

 

   

attract and retain qualified personnel.

We can also be negatively affected by general economic conditions. Because of our limited operating history, we may not have insight into trends that could emerge and negatively affect our business. As a result of these or other risks, our business strategy might not be successful.

Our sales volumes and our operating results may fluctuate over the course of the year.

We have experienced and continue to experience meaningful variability in our sales and gross profit from quarter to quarter, as well as within each quarter. Our sales and results of operations will be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things:

 

   

payor coverage and reimbursement;

 

   

the number of products sold in the quarter and our ability to drive increased sales of our products;

 

   

our ability to establish and maintain an effective and dedicated sales force;

 

   

pricing pressure applicable to our products, including adverse third-party coverage and reimbursement outcomes;

 

   

results of clinical research and trials on our existing products and products in development;

 

   

the mix of our products sold because profit margins differ amongst our products;

 

   

timing of new product offerings, acquisitions, licenses or other significant events by us or our competitors;

 

   

the ability of our suppliers to timely provide us with an adequate supply of materials and components;

 

   

the evolving product offerings of our competitors;

 

   

the demand for, and pricing of, our products and the products of our competitors;

 

   

factors that may affect the sale of our products, including seasonality and budgets of our customers;

 

   

domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals, or CE Certificates of Conformity, and legislative changes affecting the products we may offer or those of our competitors;

 

   

interruption in the manufacturing or distribution of our products;

 

   

the effect of competing technological, industry and market developments;

 

   

our ability to expand the geographic reach of our sales and marketing efforts;

 

   

the costs of maintaining adequate insurance coverage, including product liability insurance;

 

   

the availability and cost of components and materials;

 

   

the number of selling days in the quarter;

 

   

fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates; and

 

   

impairment and other special charges.

 

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Some of the products we may seek to develop and introduce in the future will require FDA clearance or approval before commercialization in the United States, and commercialization of such products outside of the United States would likely require additional regulatory approvals, or Certificates of Conformity and import licenses. As a result, it will be difficult for us to forecast demand for these products with any degree of certainty. In addition, we will be increasing our operating expenses as we expand our commercial capabilities. Accordingly, we may experience significant, unanticipated quarterly losses. If our quarterly or annual operating results fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the price of our common stock could decline substantially. Furthermore, any quarterly or annual fluctuations in our operating results may, in turn, cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially. Quarterly comparisons of our financial results may not always be meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of our future performance.

If our business strategy proves to be flawed, or if we do not successfully implement our business strategy, our business and results of operations will be adversely affected.

Our business strategy was based on assumptions about the market that might prove wrong. We believe that various demographics and industry-specific trends will help drive growth in the market and our business, but these demographics and trends have been and will continue to be uncertain. Actual demand for our products could differ materially from projected demand if our assumptions regarding these factors prove to be incorrect or do not materialize, or if alternative treatments to those offered by our products gain widespread acceptance.

To implement our business strategy we need to, among other things, develop and introduce new products, find new applications for and improve our existing products, obtain new domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals and CE Certificates of Conformity and domestic and international regulatory clearance or approval for new products and applications, and educate surgeons and payors about the clinical benefits and cost effectiveness of our products. We may not be able to successfully implement our business strategy. Also, our strategy of focusing exclusively on the sacroiliac joint market may limit our ability to grow. In addition, in order to increase our sales, we will need to commercialize additional products and expand our direct and third-party distributor sales forces in existing and new regions, all of which could result in our becoming subject to additional or different foreign and domestic regulatory requirements, with which we may not be able to comply. Moreover, we may decide to alter or discontinue aspects of our business strategy and may adopt different strategies due to business or competitive factors not currently foreseen, such as new medical technologies that would make our products obsolete. Any failure to implement our business strategy may adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Our business could suffer if we lose the services of key members of our senior management, key advisors or personnel.

We are dependent upon the continued services of key members of our senior management and a limited number of key advisors and personnel. In particular, we are highly dependent on the skills and leadership of our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman, Jeffrey W. Dunn. The loss of members of our senior management team, key advisors or personnel, or our inability to attract or retain other qualified personnel or advisors, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. We do not maintain “key person” insurance for any of our executives or employees. In addition, several of the members of our executive management team are not subject to non-competition agreements that restrict their ability to compete with us. Accordingly, the adverse effect resulting from the loss of certain executives could be compounded by our inability to prevent them from competing with us.

Although it will be subject to lock-up agreements and other restrictions on trading, a portion of the equity of our management team will not contain other contractual transfer restrictions at the time of this offering and may become tradable after the expiration of the 180-day lock-up agreement with the underwriters. This liquidity may represent material wealth to such individuals and impact retention and focus of existing key members of management.

 

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Our products may have undesirable side effects which may require them to be taken off the market, require them to include safety warnings or otherwise limit their sales.

Unforeseen adverse events related to our products could arise either during clinical development or, if cleared, approved, or subject to CE Certificate of Conformity, after the product has been marketed. In clinical research, the most common adverse event related to our implant was leg pain resulting from misplacement. The most common adverse event for our implant procedure has been minor wound infections. Additional adverse effects from iFuse or any of our other products could arise either during clinical development or, if approved, cleared, or subject to CE Certificate of Conformity, after the product has been marketed.

If we or others later identify adverse events caused by our products:

 

   

sales of the product may decrease significantly and we may not achieve the anticipated market share;

 

   

regulatory authorities or our Notified Body may require changes to the labeling of our product. This may include the addition of labeling statements, specific warnings, and contraindications and issuing field alerts to physicians and patients;

 

   

we may be required to change instructions regarding the way the product is implanted or conduct additional clinical trials;

 

   

we may be subject to limitations on how we may promote the product;

 

   

regulatory authorities may require us to take our approved product off the market (temporarily or permanently) or to conduct other field safety corrective actions;

 

   

we may be required to modify our product;

 

   

we may be subject to litigation fines or product liability claims; and

 

   

our reputation may suffer.

Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the affected product or could substantially increase commercialization costs and expenses, which in turn could delay or prevent us from generating significant revenue from the sale of our products.

Various factors outside our direct control may adversely affect manufacturing, sterilization, and distribution of our products.

The manufacture, sterilization, and distribution of our products is challenging. Changes that our suppliers may make outside the purview of our direct control can have an impact on our processes, quality of our products, and the successful delivery of products to our customers. Mistakes and mishandling are not uncommon and can affect supply and delivery. Some of these risks include:

 

   

failure to complete sterilization on time or in compliance with the required regulatory standards;

 

   

transportation and import and export risk;

 

   

delays in analytical results or failure of analytical techniques that we will depend on for quality control and release of products;

 

   

natural disasters, labor disputes, financial distress, raw material availability, issues with facilities and equipment, or other forms of disruption to business operations affecting our manufacturers or suppliers; and

 

   

latent defects that may become apparent after products have been released and that may result in a recall of such products.

If any of these risks were to materialize, our ability to provide our products to customers on a timely basis would be adversely impacted.

 

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We are dependent on a limited number of third-party suppliers, some of them single-source and some of them in single locations, for most of our products and components, and the loss of any of these suppliers, or their inability to provide us with an adequate supply of materials in a timely and cost-effective manner, could materially adversely affect our business.

We rely on third-party suppliers to supply substantially all of our products. For us to be successful, our suppliers must be able to provide us with products and components in substantial quantities, in compliance with regulatory requirements, in accordance with agreed upon specifications, at acceptable prices, and on a timely basis. We do not have long-term supply contracts for some of our suppliers, and in some cases, even where we do have agreements in place, we purchase important parts of the iFuse Implant System from a single supplier. Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain sufficient quantities of product in the future.

In addition, our anticipated growth could strain the ability of our suppliers to deliver an increasingly large supply of products, materials, and components. Suppliers often experience difficulties in scaling up production, including financial issues, or problems with production yields and quality control and assurance. For example, from time to time, we have experienced certain delays and may experience delays from our suppliers in the future.

We generally use a small number of suppliers for our instruments and rely on one supplier, Orchid Bio-Coat, a division of Orchid Orthopedic Solutions LLC, for our iFuse implants and one supplier, rms Company, for our second-generation iFuse-3D implants. Our dependence on such a limited number of suppliers exposes us to risks, including, among other things:

 

   

third-party contract manufacturers or suppliers may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or make errors in manufacturing that could negatively affect the safety or effectiveness of our products or cause delays in shipments of our products;

 

   

we or our third-party manufacturers and suppliers may not be able to respond to unanticipated changes in customer orders, and if orders do not match forecasts, we or our suppliers may have excess or inadequate inventory of materials and components;

 

   

we or our third-party manufacturers and suppliers may be subject to price fluctuations due to a lack of long-term supply arrangements for key components;

 

   

we or our third-party manufacturers and suppliers may lose access to critical services and components, resulting in an interruption in the manufacture, assembly and shipment of our systems;

 

   

we may experience delays in delivery by our third-party manufacturers and suppliers due to changes in demand from us or their other customers;

 

   

fluctuations in demand for products that our third-party manufacturers and suppliers manufacture for others may affect their ability or willingness to deliver components to us in a timely manner;

 

   

our third-party manufacturers and suppliers may wish to discontinue supplying components or services to us for risk management reasons;

 

   

we may not be able to find new or alternative components or reconfigure our system and manufacturing processes in a timely manner if the necessary components become unavailable; and

 

   

our third-party manufacturers and suppliers may encounter financial hardships unrelated to our demand, which could inhibit their ability to fulfill our orders and meet our requirements.

If any one or more of these risks materialize, it could significantly increase our costs and impact our ability to meet demand for our products. If we are unable to satisfy commercial demand for our system in a timely manner, our ability to generate revenue would be impaired, market acceptance of our products could be adversely affected, and customers may instead purchase or use our competitors’ products. Additionally, we could be forced to seek alternative sources of supply.

 

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In addition, most of our supply and manufacturing agreements do not have minimum manufacturing or purchase obligations. As such, we have no obligation to buy any given quantity of products, and our suppliers have no obligation to sell us or to manufacture for us any given quantity of components or products. As a result, our ability to purchase adequate quantities of components or our products may be limited and we may not be able to convince suppliers to make components and products available to us. Our suppliers may also encounter problems that limit their ability to supply components or manufacture products for us, including financial difficulties, damage to their manufacturing equipment or facilities, or product discontinuations. As a result, there is a risk that certain components could be discontinued and no longer available to us. We may be required to make significant “last time” purchases of component inventory that is being discontinued by the supplier to ensure supply continuity. If we fail to obtain sufficient quantities of high quality components to meet demand for our products in a timely manner or on terms acceptable to us, we would have to seek alternative sources of supply. Securing a replacement third-party manufacturer or supplier could be difficult. The introduction of new or alternative manufacturers or suppliers also may require design changes to our iFuse that are subject to domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals and the review of our Notified Body.

Because of the nature of our internal quality control requirements, regulatory requirements, and the custom and proprietary nature of the parts, we may not be able to quickly engage additional or replacement suppliers for many of our critical components. We may also be required to assess any potential new manufacturer’s compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines, which could further impede our ability to manufacture our products in a timely manner. As a result, we could incur increased production costs, experience delays in deliveries of our products, suffer damage to our reputation, and experience an adverse effect on our business and financial results. Failure of any of our third-party suppliers to meet our product demand level would limit our ability to meet our sales commitments to our customers and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We may also have difficulty obtaining similar components from other suppliers that are acceptable to the FDA our Notified Body the competent authorities or countries of the countries of the EEA, or other foreign regulatory authorities, and the failure of our suppliers to comply with strictly enforced regulatory requirements could expose us to delays in obtaining clearances or approvals, regulatory action including warning letters, product recalls, termination of distribution, product seizures, civil, administrative, or criminal penalties and the suspension, variation, or withdrawal of our CE Certificates of Conformity. We could incur delays while we locate and engage qualified alternative suppliers, and we may be unable to engage alternative suppliers on favorable terms or at all. Any such disruption or increased expenses could harm our commercialization efforts and adversely affect our ability to generate sales.

In addition, each of our third-party suppliers operates at a facility in a single location and substantially all of our inventory of component supplies and finished goods is held at these locations. We, and our suppliers, take precautions to safeguard facilities, including acquiring insurance, employing back-up generators, adopting health and safety protocols, and utilizing off-site storage of computer data. However, vandalism, terrorism, or a natural or other disaster, such as an earthquake, fire, or flood, could damage or destroy equipment or our inventory of component supplies or finished products, cause substantial delays in our operations, result in the loss of key information, and cause us to incur additional expenses. Our insurance may not cover our losses in any particular case. In addition, regardless of the level of insurance coverage, damage to our or our suppliers’ facilities could harm our business, financial condition, and operating results.

As our sales grow, we may encounter problems or delays in the assembly of our products or fail to meet certain regulatory requirements which could result in an adverse effect on our business and financial results.

To become profitable, we must assemble our products in adequate quantities in compliance with regulatory requirements and at an acceptable cost. Increasing our capacity to assemble and test our products will require us to improve internal efficiencies. We may encounter a number of difficulties in increasing our assembly and testing capacity, including:

 

   

managing production yields;

 

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maintaining quality control and assurance;

 

   

providing component and service availability;

 

   

maintaining adequate control policies and procedures;

 

   

hiring and retaining qualified personnel; and

 

   

complying with state, federal, and foreign regulations.

If we are unable to satisfy commercial demand for our iFuse solution due to our inability to assemble and test, our ability to generate revenue would be impaired, market acceptance of our products could be adversely affected and customers may instead purchase or use our competitors’ products.

If we do not enhance our product offerings through our research and development efforts, we may be unable to compete effectively.

In order to increase our market share in the sacroiliac joint fusion market, we must enhance and broaden our product offerings in response to changing customer demands and competitive pressures and technologies. We might not be able to successfully develop, obtain domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals, or CE Certificates of Conformity for, or market new products, and our future products might not be accepted by the surgeons or the third-party payors who reimburse for many of the procedures performed with our products. The success of any new product offering or enhancement to an existing product will depend on numerous factors, including our ability to:

 

   

properly identify and anticipate surgeon and patient needs;

 

   

develop and introduce new products or product enhancements in a timely manner;

 

   

adequately protect our intellectual property and avoid infringing upon the intellectual property rights of third parties;

 

   

demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of new products; and

 

   

obtain the necessary domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals and CE Certificates of Conformity for new products or product enhancements.

If we do not develop and obtain domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals and CE Certificates of Conformity for new products or product enhancements in time to meet market demand, or if there is insufficient demand for these products or enhancements, our results of operations will suffer. Our research and development efforts may require a substantial investment of time and resources before we are adequately able to determine the commercial viability of a new product, technology, material, or other innovation. In addition, even if we are able to successfully develop enhancements or new generations of our products, these enhancements or new generations of products may not produce sales in excess of the costs of development and they may be quickly rendered obsolete by changing customer preferences or the introduction by our competitors of products embodying new technologies or features.

We are required to maintain adequate levels of inventory, the failure of which could consume our resources and reduce our cash flows.

As a result of the need to maintain adequate levels of inventory, we are subject to the risk of inventory obsolescence. Many of our products come in sets, which feature components in a variety of sizes so that the implant or device may be customized to the patient’s needs. In order to market our products effectively, we often maintain and provide surgeons and hospitals with back-up products and products of different sizes. For each surgery, fewer than all of the components of the set are used, and therefore certain portions of the set may become obsolete before they can be used. In the event that a substantial portion of our inventory becomes obsolete, it could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and cash flows due to the resulting costs associated with the inventory impairment charges and costs required to replace such inventory.

 

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The size and future growth in the market for iFuse has not been established with precision and may be smaller than we estimate, possibly materially. In addition, our estimates of cost savings to the economy and healthcare system as a result of the iFuse procedure are based on our internal estimates and market research and could also be smaller than we estimate, possibly materially. If our estimates and projections overestimate the size of this market or cost savings, our sales growth may be adversely affected.

We are not aware of an independent third-party study that reliably reports the potential market size for iFuse or cost savings as a result of the iFuse procedure. Therefore, our estimates of the size and future growth in the market for our iFuse products, including cost savings to the economy overall, including patients and employers, and to the healthcare system and the number of people currently suffering from lower back pain who may benefit from and be amenable to our iFuse procedure, is based on a number of internal and third-party studies, surveys, reports, and estimates. While we believe these factors have historically provided and may continue to provide us with effective tools in estimating the total market for our iFuse products and procedures and health cost savings, these estimates may not be correct and the conditions supporting our estimates may change at any time, thereby reducing the predictive accuracy of these underlying factors. For example, the surveys we have conducted are based on a small number of respondents and are not statistically significant and may have other limitations. The actual incidence of lower back pain, and the actual demand for our products or competitive products, could differ materially from our projections if our assumptions and estimates are incorrect. As a result, our estimates of the size and future growth in the market for our iFuse products may prove to be incorrect. In addition, actual health cost savings to the healthcare system as a result of the iFuse procedure may materially differ from those presented in this prospectus. If the actual number of people with lower back pain who would benefit from our iFuse products and the size and future growth in the market for iFuse products and related costs savings to the healthcare system is smaller than we have estimated, it may impair our projected sales growth and have an adverse impact on our business.

Our results of operations could suffer if we are unable to manage our planned international expansion effectively.

Expansion into international markets is an element of our business strategy and involves risk. The sale and shipment of our products across international borders, as well as the purchase of components and products from international sources, subject us to extensive U.S. and foreign governmental trade, import, and export and customs regulations and laws. Compliance with these regulations and laws is costly and exposes us to penalties for non-compliance. Other laws and regulations that can significantly affect us include various anti-bribery laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and the United Kingdom Bribery Act, or UKBA, anti-boycott laws, anti-money laundering laws, and regulations relating to economic sanctions imposed by the United States, including the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the U.S. Treasury. Any failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations in the United States or abroad could adversely affect us in a variety of ways that include, but are not limited to, significant criminal, civil and administrative penalties, including imprisonment of individuals, fines and penalties, denial of export privileges, seizure of shipments and restrictions on certain business activities. Also, the failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could result in the disruption of our distribution and sales activities.

In addition, some of the countries in which we sell or plan to sell our products are, to some degree, subject to various risks, including:

 

   

exposure to different legal and regulatory standards;

 

   

lack of stringent protection of intellectual property;

 

   

obstacles to obtaining domestic and foreign export, import, and other governmental approvals, permits, and licenses and compliance with foreign laws;

 

   

potentially adverse tax consequences and the complexities of foreign value-added tax systems;

 

   

adverse changes in tariffs and trade restrictions;

 

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limitations on the repatriation of earnings;

 

   

difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;

 

   

transportation delays and difficulties of managing international distribution channels;

 

   

longer collection periods and difficulties in collecting receivables from foreign entities;

 

   

increased financing costs;

 

   

currency risks; and

 

   

political, social, and economic instability and increased security concerns.

These risks may limit or disrupt our expansion, restrict the movement of funds or result in the deprivation of contractual rights or the taking of property by nationalization or expropriation without fair compensation.

Our goal of a successful international expansion depends, in part, on our ability to develop and implement policies and strategies that are effective in anticipating and managing these and other risks in the countries in which we plan to do business. Failure to manage these and other risks may have a material adverse effect on our operations in any particular country and on our business as a whole.

In the future our products may become obsolete, which would negatively affect operations and financial condition.

The medical device industry is characterized by rapid and significant change. There can be no assurance that other companies will not succeed in developing or marketing devices, and products that are more effective than our iFuse system or that would render the iFuse system obsolete or noncompetitive. Additionally, new surgical procedures, medications and other therapies could be developed that replace or reduce the importance of our product. Accordingly, our success will depend in part on our ability to respond quickly to medical and changes through the development and introduction of new products. Product development involves a high degree of risk and there can be no assurance that our new product development efforts will result in any commercially successful products.

If we experience significant disruptions in our information technology systems, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be adversely affected.

The efficient operation of our business depends on our information technology systems. We rely on our information technology systems to effectively manage:

 

   

sales and marketing, accounting, and financial functions;

 

   

inventory management;

 

   

engineering and product development tasks; and

 

   

our research and development data.

Our information technology systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from:

 

   

earthquakes, fires, floods, and other natural disasters;

 

   

terrorist attacks and attacks by computer viruses or hackers;

 

   

power losses; and

 

   

computer systems, or Internet, telecommunications, or data network failures.

 

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The failure of our information technology systems to perform as we anticipate or our failure to effectively implement new systems could disrupt our entire operation and could result in decreased sales, increased overhead costs, excess inventory and product shortages, and legal liability issues, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations, and financial condition.

In addition, we accept payments for many of our sales through credit card transactions, which are handled through a third-party payment processor. As a result, we are subject to a number of risks related to credit card payments. As a result of these transactions, we pay interchange and other fees, which may increase over time and could require us to either increase the prices we charge for our products or experience an increase in our costs and expenses. In addition, as part of the payment processing process, we transmit our customers’ credit card information to our third-party payment processor. We may in the future become subject to lawsuits or other proceedings for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising out of the actual or alleged theft of our customers’ credit card information if the security of our third-party credit card payment processor is breached. We and our third-party credit card payment processor are also subject to payment card association operating rules, certification requirements and rules governing electronic funds transfers, which could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for us to comply. If we or our third-party credit card payment processor fail to comply with these rules or requirements, we may be subject to fines and higher transaction fees and lose our ability to accept credit card payments from our customers, and there may be an adverse impact on our business.

We may seek to grow our business through acquisitions of or investments in new or complementary businesses, products or technologies, and the failure to manage acquisitions or investments, or the failure to integrate them with our existing business, could have a material adverse effect on us.

From time to time, we expect to consider opportunities to acquire or make investments in other technologies, products, and businesses that may enhance our capabilities, complement our current products, or expand the breadth of our markets or customer base. Potential and completed acquisitions and strategic investments involve numerous risks, including:

 

   

problems assimilating the purchased technologies, products, or business operations;

 

   

issues maintaining uniform standards, procedures, controls, and policies;

 

   

unanticipated costs and liabilities associated with acquisitions;

 

   

diversion of management’s attention from our core business;

 

   

adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers;

 

   

risks associated with entering new markets in which we have limited or no experience;

 

   

potential loss of key employees of acquired businesses; and

 

   

increased legal and accounting compliance costs.

We have no current commitments with respect to any acquisition or investment. We do not know if we will be able to identify acquisitions we deem suitable, whether we will be able to successfully complete any such acquisitions on favorable terms or at all, or whether we will be able to successfully integrate any acquired business, product, or technology into our business or retain any key personnel, suppliers, or distributors. Our ability to successfully grow through acquisitions depends upon our ability to identify, negotiate, complete, and integrate suitable target businesses and to obtain any necessary financing. These efforts could be expensive and time consuming, and may disrupt our ongoing business and prevent management from focusing on our operations. If we are unable to successfully integrate any acquired businesses, products, or technologies effectively, our business, results of operations, and financial condition will be materially adversely affected.

 

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We may enter into collaborations, in-licensing arrangements, joint ventures, strategic alliances, or partnerships with third-parties that may not result in the development of commercially viable products or the generation of significant future revenue.

In the ordinary course of our business, we may enter into collaborations, in-licensing arrangements, joint ventures, strategic alliances, partnerships, or other arrangements to develop products and to pursue new markets. We have not entered into any collaboration arrangements to date. Proposing, negotiating, and implementing collaborations, in-licensing arrangements, joint ventures, strategic alliances, or partnerships may be a lengthy and complex process. Other companies, including those with substantially greater financial, marketing, sales, technology, or other business resources, may compete with us for these opportunities or arrangements. We may not identify, secure, or complete any such transactions or arrangements in a timely manner, on a cost-effective basis, on acceptable terms or at all. We have limited institutional knowledge and experience with respect to these business development activities, and we may also not realize the anticipated benefits of any such transaction or arrangement. In particular, these collaborations may not result in the development of products that achieve commercial success or result in significant revenue and could be terminated prior to developing any products.

Additionally, we may not be in a position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding the transaction or arrangement, which could create the potential risk of creating impasses on decisions, and our future collaborators may have economic or business interests or goals that are, or that may become, inconsistent with our business interests or goals. It is possible that conflicts may arise with our collaborators, such as conflicts concerning the achievement of performance milestones, or the interpretation of significant terms under any agreement, such as those related to financial obligations or the ownership or control of intellectual property developed during the collaboration. If any conflicts arise with any future collaborators, they may act in their self- interest, which may be adverse to our best interest, and they may breach their obligations to us. In addition, we may have limited control over the amount and timing of resources that any future collaborators devote to our or their future products.

Disputes between us and our collaborators may result in litigation or arbitration which would increase our expenses and divert the attention of our management. Further, these transactions and arrangements will be contractual in nature and will generally be terminable under the terms of the applicable agreements and, in such event, we may not continue to have rights to the products relating to such transaction or arrangement or may need to purchase such rights at a premium. If we enter into in-bound intellectual property license agreements, we may not be able to fully protect the licensed intellectual property rights or maintain those licenses. Future licensors could retain the right to prosecute and defend the intellectual property rights licensed to us, in which case we would depend on the ability of our licensors to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property protection for the licensed intellectual property. These licensors may determine not to pursue litigation against other companies or may pursue such litigation less aggressively than we would. Further, entering into such license agreements could impose various diligence, commercialization, royalty, or other obligations on us. Future licensors may allege that we have breached our license agreement with them, and accordingly seek to terminate our license, which could adversely affect our competitive business position and harm our business prospects.

Risks Related to Our Legal and Regulatory Environment

We, our suppliers, and our third-party manufacturers are subject to extensive governmental regulation both in the United States and abroad, and failure to comply with applicable requirements could cause our business to suffer.

The medical device industry is regulated extensively by governmental authorities, principally the FDA and corresponding state and foreign regulatory agencies. The FDA and other U.S. and foreign governmental agencies regulate, among other things, with respect to medical devices:

 

   

design, development, and manufacturing;

 

   

testing, labeling, content, and language of instructions for use and storage;

 

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clinical trials;

 

   

product safety;

 

   

marketing, sales, and distribution;

 

   

premarket clearance and approval;

 

   

conformity assessment procedures;

 

   

record keeping procedures;

 

   

advertising and promotion;

 

   

compliance with good manufacturing practices requirements;

 

   

recalls and field safety corrective actions;

 

   

post-market surveillance, including reporting of deaths or serious injuries and malfunctions that, if they were to recur, could lead to death or serious injury;

 

   

post-market approval studies; and

 

   

product import and export.

The regulations to which we are subject are complex and have tended to become more stringent over time. Regulatory changes could result in restrictions on our ability to carry on or expand our operations, difficulties achieving new product clearances, higher than anticipated costs or lower than anticipated sales.

Before we can market or sell a new regulated product or make a significant modification to an existing product in the United States, with very limited exception, we must obtain either clearance under Section 510(k) of the FDCA for Class II devices or approval of a premarket approval, or PMA, application from the FDA for a Class III device. In the 510(k) clearance process, the FDA must determine that a proposed device is “substantially equivalent” to a device legally on the market, known as a “predicate” device, with respect to intended use, technology, and safety and effectiveness, in order to clear the proposed device for marketing. Clinical data is sometimes required to support substantial equivalence. The PMA pathway requires an applicant to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the device based, in part, on extensive data, including, but not limited to, technical, preclinical, clinical trial, manufacturing, and labeling data. The PMA process is typically required for devices that are deemed to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting, or implantable devices. Products that are approved through a PMA application generally need FDA approval before they can be modified. Similarly, some modifications made to products cleared through a 510(k) may require a new 510(k). Both the 510(k) and PMA processes can be expensive and lengthy and require the payment of significant fees, unless exempt. The FDA’s 510(k) clearance process usually takes from three to 12 months, but may last longer. The process of obtaining a PMA is much more costly and uncertain than the 510(k) clearance process and generally takes from one to three years, or even longer, from the time the application is submitted to the FDA until an approval is obtained. The process of obtaining domestic and international regulatory clearances or approvals to market a medical device can be costly and time consuming, and we may not be able to obtain these clearances or approvals on a timely basis, if at all.

In the United States, our currently commercialized products have either received premarket clearance under Section 510(k) of the FDCA or are exempt from premarket review. If the FDA requires us to go through a lengthier, more rigorous examination for future products or modifications to existing products than we had expected, our product introductions or modifications could be delayed or canceled, which could cause our sales to decline. In addition, the FDA may determine that future products will require the more costly, lengthy, and uncertain PMA process. Although we do not currently market any devices under PMA, the FDA may demand that we obtain a PMA prior to marketing certain of our future products. In addition, if the FDA disagrees with our determination that a product we currently market is subject to an exemption from premarket review, the FDA

 

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may require us to submit a 510(k) or PMA in order to continue marketing the product. Further, even with respect to those future products where a PMA is not required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the 510(k) clearances with respect to those products.

The FDA can delay, limit or deny clearance or approval of a device for many reasons, including:

 

   

we may not be able to demonstrate to the FDA’s satisfaction that our products are safe and effective for their intended users;

 

   

the data from our pre-clinical studies and clinical trials may be insufficient to support clearance or approval, where required; and

 

   

the manufacturing process or facilities we use may not meet applicable requirements.

In addition, the FDA may change its clearance and approval policies, adopt additional regulations or revise existing regulations, or take other actions which may prevent or delay clearance or approval of our products under development or impact our ability to modify our currently approved or cleared products on a timely basis.

Any delay in, or failure to receive or maintain, clearance or approval for our products under development could prevent us from generating revenue from these products or achieving profitability.

In addition, even after we have obtained the proper regulatory clearance or approval to market a product, the FDA has the power to require us to conduct postmarketing studies. These studies can be very expensive and time consuming to conduct. Failure to comply with those studies in a timely manner could result in the revocation of the 510(k) clearance for a product that is subject to such a 522 Order and the recall or withdrawal of the product, which could prevent us from generating sales from that product in the United States.

In the EEA, our medical devices must comply with the Essential Requirements set forth in Annex I to the EU Medical Devices Directive (Council Directive 93/42/EEC), or Essential Requirements. Compliance with these requirements is a prerequisite to be able to affix the CE mark to our medical devices, without which they cannot be marketed or sold in the EEA. To demonstrate compliance with the Essential Requirements we must undergo a conformity assessment procedure, which varies according to the type of medical device and its classification. Except for low risk medical devices (Class I), where the manufacturer can issue an EC Declaration of Conformity based on a self-assessment of the conformity of its products with the Essential Requirements, a conformity assessment procedure requires the intervention of a third-party organization designated by the competent authorities of a EEA country to conduct conformity assessments, known as a Notified Body. The Notified Body would typically audit and examine the medical device’s Technical File, the quality system for the manufacture, design and conduct a final inspection of our medical devices before issuing a CE Certificate of Conformity demonstrating compliance with the Essential Requirements or the QSR of the Medical Devices Directive.

Additionally, as part of the conformity assessment process, medical device manufacturers must carry out a clinical evaluation of their medical devices to verify that they comply with the relevant Essential Requirements covering safety and performance. A clinical evaluation includes an assessment of whether a medical device’s performance is in accordance with its intended use and that the known and foreseeable risks linked to the use of the device under normal conditions are minimized and acceptable when weighed against the benefits of its intended purpose. The clinical evaluation conducted by the manufacturer must also address any clinical claims, the adequacy of the device labeling and information (particularly claims, contraindications, precautions/ warnings) and the suitability of related Instructions for Use. This assessment must be based on clinical data, which can be obtained from (i) clinical studies conducted on the devices being assessed; (ii) scientific literature from similar devices whose equivalence with the assessed device can be demonstrated; or (iii) both clinical studies and scientific literature. With respect to implantable devices, or devices classified as Class III in the EU, the manufacturer must conduct clinical studies to obtain the required clinical data, unless the relying on existing

 

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clinical data from similar devices can be justified. As part of the conformity assessment procedure, depending on the type of devices, the Notified Body will review the manufacturer’s clinical evaluation for the medical device. The conduct of clinical studies to obtain clinical data that might be required as part of the described clinical evaluation process can be expensive and time consuming.

The FDA and other regulatory authorities have broad enforcement powers. Regulatory enforcement or inquiries, or other increased scrutiny on us, could dissuade some surgeons from using our products and adversely affect our reputation and the perceived safety and effectiveness of our products.

Failure to comply with applicable regulations could jeopardize our ability to sell our products and result in enforcement actions such as:

 

   

warning letters;

 

   

fines;

 

   

injunctions;

 

   

civil penalties;

 

   

termination of distribution;

 

   

recalls or seizures of products;

 

   

delays in the introduction of products into the market;

 

   

total or partial suspension of production;

 

   

facility closures;

 

   

refusal of the FDA or our Notified Body or other regulator to grant future clearances or approvals or to issue CE Certificates of Conformity;

 

   

withdrawals or suspensions of current clearances or approvals and CE Certificates of Conformity, resulting in prohibitions on sales of our products; and

 

   

in the most serious cases, criminal penalties.

Adverse action by an applicable regulatory agency, our Notified Body or the FDA could result in inability to produce our products in a cost-effective and timely manner, or at all, decreased sales, higher prices, lower margins, additional unplanned costs or actions, damage to our reputation, and could have material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations, and financial condition.

We and our sales representatives must comply with U.S. federal and state fraud and abuse laws, including those relating to physician kickbacks and false claims for reimbursement, as well as equivalent foreign laws.

Healthcare providers, distributors, physicians, and third-party payors play a primary role in the distribution, recommendation, ordering, and purchasing of any implant or other medical device for which we have or obtain marketing clearance or approval. Through our arrangements with customers and third-party payors, we are exposed to the risk that our employees, independent contractors, principal investigators, consultants, vendors, or third-party distributors may engage in fraudulent or other illegal activity. Misconduct by these parties could include, among other infractions or violations, intentional, reckless and/or negligent conduct or unauthorized activity that violates FDA regulations, manufacturing standards, federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations, laws that require the true, complete, and accurate reporting of financial information or data, other commercial or regulatory laws or requirements, and equivalent foreign rules. We have a compliance program, Code of Conduct, and associated policies and procedures, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by our employees and other third parties, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from

 

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governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations, and government authorities may conclude that our business practices do not comply with applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations or guidance despite our good faith efforts to comply.

There are numerous U.S. federal and state laws pertaining to healthcare fraud and abuse, including anti-kickback and false claims laws. Our relationships and our distributors’ relationships with surgeons, other healthcare professionals, and hospitals are subject to scrutiny under these laws.

Healthcare fraud and abuse laws and related regulations are complex, and even minor irregularities can potentially give rise to claims that a statute or prohibition has been violated. The laws that may affect our ability to operate include:

 

   

the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, items or services for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under federal healthcare programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;

 

   

the federal False Claims Act, which prohibits, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false or fraudulent claims for payment of government funds; knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement to get a false claim paid or to avoid, decrease, or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. A claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act. There are also criminal penalties for making or presenting a false or fictitious or fraudulent claim to the federal government;

 

   

the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which imposes criminal and civil liability for, among other actions, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program including private third-party payors, or knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing, or covering up a material fact or making a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, or making or using any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items, or services;

 

   

the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act, which requires manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to report annually to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, information related to payments or other “transfers of value” made to physicians and teaching hospitals, and requires applicable manufacturers to report annually to CMS ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members and payments or other “transfers of value” to such physician owners; and

 

   

analogous state and foreign law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers; state laws that require device companies to comply with the industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the applicable compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state beneficiary inducement laws, and state laws that require device manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts.

 

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If we or our employees are found to have violated any of the above laws we may be subjected to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including imprisonment, exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and significant fines, monetary penalties and damages, and damage to our reputation. Additional information about these laws is provided in “Business—Regulation.”

We have entered into consulting agreements and royalty agreements with surgeons, including some who are customers. We also engage in co-marketing arrangements with certain surgeons who use our products. In addition, a small number of our current customer surgeons own less than 1.0% of our stock, which they either purchased in an arm’s length transaction on terms identical to those offered to others or received from us as fair market value consideration for consulting services performed. While all of these transactions were structured with the intention of complying with all applicable laws, including the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, state anti-kickback laws and other applicable laws, to the extent applicable, it is possible that regulatory agencies may view these transactions as prohibited arrangements that must be restructured, or discontinued, or for which we could be subject to significant penalties. We would be materially and adversely affected if regulatory agencies interpret our financial relationships with surgeons who order our products to be in violation of applicable laws and we were unable to comply with such laws, which could subject us to, among other things, monetary penalties for non-compliance, the cost of which could be substantial.

In certain cases, federal and state authorities pursue actions for false claims on the basis that manufacturers and distributors are promoting unapproved, or “off-label” uses of their products. Pursuant to FDA regulations, we can only market our products for cleared or approved uses. Although surgeons are permitted to use medical devices for indications other than those cleared or approved by the FDA, we are prohibited from promoting products for “off-label” uses. We market our products and provide promotional materials and training programs to surgeons regarding the use of our products. If it is determined that our marketing, promotional materials or training programs constitute promotion of unapproved uses, we could be subject to significant fines in addition to regulatory enforcement actions, including the issuance of a warning letter, injunction, seizure, criminal penalty, and damage to our reputation. Federal and state authorities also pursue actions for false claims based upon improper billing and coding advice or recommendations, as well as decisions related to the medical necessity of procedures, including the site-of-service where procedures are performed. Actions under the federal False Claims Act may also be brought by whistleblowers under its qui tam provisions.

To enforce compliance with the federal laws, the U.S. Department of Justice has increased its scrutiny of interactions between healthcare companies and healthcare providers, which has led to a number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and settlements in the healthcare industry. Dealing with investigations can be time- and resource-consuming and can divert management’s attention from the business. Additionally, if a healthcare company settles an investigation with the Department of Justice or other law enforcement agencies, it may need to agree to additional onerous compliance and reporting requirements as part of a consent decree or corporate integrity agreement. Any such investigation or settlement could increase our costs or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business. Even if we are not determined to have violated these laws, government investigations into these issues typically require the expenditure of significant resources and generate negative publicity, which could harm our financial condition and divert resources and the attention of our management from operating our business.

The scope and enforcement of these laws is uncertain and subject to rapid change. The shifting compliance environment and the need to build and maintain robust and expandable systems to comply with different compliance and/or reporting requirements in multiple jurisdictions increase the possibility that we may run afoul of one or more of the requirements or that federal or state regulatory authorities might challenge our current or future activities under these laws. Additionally, we cannot predict the impact of any changes in these laws, whether or not retroactive.

 

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Our failure to adequately protect personal information in compliance with evolving legal requirements could harm our business.

In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data, including legally protected personally identifiable information. We collect this kind of information during the course of clinical trials and for post-marketing safety vigilance, helping enable surgeons and their patients to pursue claims for reimbursement for procedures using iFuse and servicing potential warranty claims.

There are a number of state, federal, and international laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data. These data protection and privacy-related laws and regulations are evolving and may result in ever-increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of companies’ data practices and escalating levels of enforcement and sanctions. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009, or ARRA, Congress amended the privacy and security provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. HIPAA imposes certain requirements regarding the privacy, security, use, and disclosure of an individual’s protected health information, or PHI, by certain health care providers, health care clearinghouses, and health insurance plans, collectively referred to as “covered entities,” and their “business associates,” or subcontractors who provide services to covered entities that involve the creation, use, maintenance, or disclosure of PHI. ARRA included significant increases in the penalties for improper use or disclosure of an individual’s PHI under HIPAA and extended enforcement authority to state attorneys general. The amendments also created notification requirements applicable to covered entities and business associates in certain cases when PHI in their control has been inappropriately accessed or disclosed. In the case of a breach of unsecured PHI, covered entities may be required to provide notification to individuals affected by the breach, federal regulators, and, in some cases, local and national media. In addition to HIPAA, most states have laws requiring notification of affected individuals and state regulators in the event of a breach of “personal information,” which is a broader class of information than the PHI protected by HIPAA. Certain states also have data privacy requirements applicable to individually identifiable health information. Privacy laws in different states may contain different requirements, and such laws may not be pre-empted by HIPAA, which could complicate our efforts to comply.

In addition, even when HIPAA does not apply, according to the FTC, failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal information secure constitutes unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTCA, 15 U.S.C § 45(a). The FTC expects a company’s data security measures to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and complexity of its business, and the cost of available tools to improve security and reduce vulnerabilities. Medical data is considered sensitive data that merits stronger safeguards. The FTC’s guidance for appropriately securing consumers’ personal information is similar to what is required by the HIPAA Security Rule.

Many foreign countries and governmental bodies, including the EU, Australia, and other relevant jurisdictions, have laws and regulations concerning the collection and use of personal or sensitive data obtained from their residents or by businesses operating within their jurisdiction. For example, the European Commission recently adopted the General Data Protection Regulation, or the GDPR, effective on May 25, 2018, that will supersede current EU data protection legislation, impose more stringent EU data protection requirements and provide for greater penalties for noncompliance. The GDPR applies to any company established in the EU as well as to those outside the EU if they collect and use “personal data,” or any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, in connection with the offering goods or services to individuals in the EU or the monitoring of their behavior. The GDPR enhances data protection obligations for processors and controllers of personal data, including, for example, expanded disclosures about how personal information is to be used, limitations on retention of information, mandatory data breach notification requirements, and substantial new obligations on services providers. Non-compliance with the GDPR can trigger steep fines of up to €20 million or 4% of total worldwide annual revenues, whichever is higher. Given the breadth and depth of changes in data protection obligations, achieving and maintaining GDPR compliance will require considerable time and resources.

 

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We are at risk of enforcement actions taken by certain EU data protection authorities until such point in time that we may be able to ensure that all transfers of personal data to us from the European Economic Area are conducted in compliance with all applicable regulatory obligations, the guidance of data protection authorities and evolving best practices. We may find it necessary to establish systems to maintain personal data originating from the EU in the European Economic Area, which may involve substantial expense and may cause us to need to divert resources from other aspects of our business, all of which may adversely affect our business.

Our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations, or to protect such data, could result in enforcement actions against us, including fines, imprisonment of company officials and public censure, claims for damages by end-customers, and other affected individuals, and the imposition of integrity obligations and agency oversight, damage to our reputation, and loss of goodwill, any of which could harm on our operations, financial performance, and business. Evolving and changing definitions of personal data and personal information, within the European Union, the United States, and elsewhere, may limit or inhibit our ability to operate or expand our business, including limiting strategic partnerships that may involve the sharing of data. Moreover, if the relevant laws and regulations change, or are interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our data practices or the operation of our products, or if we expand into new regions and are required to comply with new requirements, we may need to expend resources in order to change our business operations, data practices, or the manner in which our products operate. Even the perception of privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation and inhibit adoption of our products.

We are subject to risks associated with our non-U.S. operations.

The FCPA prohibits companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Other anti-corruption or anti-bribery laws, such as the UKBA, prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business in foreign countries. The FCPA also imposes accounting standards and requirements on publicly traded U.S. corporations and their foreign affiliates, which are intended to prevent the diversion of corporate funds to the payment of bribes and other improper payments, and to prevent the establishment of slush funds from which such improper payments can be made. Because of the predominance of government-sponsored healthcare systems around the world, many of our customer relationships outside of the United States are with governmental entities and are therefore subject to such anti-bribery laws. Our internal control policies and procedures may not always protect us from reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees or agents. Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our operations, involve significant management distraction, and result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. We also could suffer severe penalties, including criminal and civil penalties, disgorgement, and other remedial measures, including further changes or enhancements to our procedures, policies, and controls, as well as potential personnel changes and disciplinary actions.

Furthermore, we are subject to anti-boycott laws, anti-money laundering laws, and the export controls and economic embargo rules and regulations of the United States, including, but not limited to, the Export Administration Regulations and trade sanctions against embargoed countries, which are administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the Department of the Treasury, as well as the laws and regulations administered by the Department of Commerce. These regulations limit our ability to market, sell, distribute, or otherwise transfer our products or technology to prohibited countries or persons. A determination that we have failed to comply, whether knowingly or inadvertently, may result in substantial penalties, including fines and enforcement actions and civil and/or criminal sanctions, the disgorgement of profits, and the imposition of a court-appointed monitor, as well as the denial of export privileges, and may have an adverse effect on our reputation.

 

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Even if our products are approved by regulatory authorities or CE marked, if we, our contractors, or our suppliers fail to comply with ongoing FDA or other foreign regulatory requirements, or if we experience unanticipated problems with our products, these products could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.

Any product for which we obtain regulatory clearance or approval, or a CE Certificate of Conformity, and the manufacturing processes, reporting requirements, post-approval clinical data, and promotional activities for such product, will be subject to continued regulatory review, oversight and periodic inspections by the FDA, our Notified Body and other domestic and foreign regulatory bodies. In particular, we and our suppliers are required to comply with FDA’s Quality System Regulations, or QSR, and International Standards Organization, regulations for the manufacture of our products and other regulations which cover the methods and documentation of the design, testing, production, control, quality assurance, labeling, packaging, storage, and shipping of any product for which we obtain regulatory clearance or approval, or a CE Certificate of Conformity.

The failure by us or one of our suppliers to comply with applicable statutes and regulations, or the failure to timely and adequately respond to any adverse inspectional observations or product safety issues, could result in, among other things, any of the following enforcement actions:

 

   

untitled letters, warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent, and civil penalties;

 

   

unanticipated expenditures to address or defend such actions;

 

   

customer notifications for repair, replacement, refunds;

 

   

recall, detention, or seizure of our products;

 

   

operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production;

 

   

refusing or delaying our requests for 510(k) clearance or premarket approval and conformity assessments of new products or modified products;

 

   

limitations on the intended uses for which the product may be marketed;

 

   

operating restrictions;

 

   

withdrawing 510(k) clearances or PMA approvals that have already been granted;

 

   

suspension or withdrawal of CE Certificates of Conformity;

 

   

refusal to grant export approval for our products; and

 

   

criminal prosecution.

In addition, we may be required to conduct costly post-market testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or effectiveness of our products, and we must comply with medical device reporting requirements, including the reporting of adverse events and malfunctions related to our products. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our products, including unanticipated adverse events or adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, manufacturing problems, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements such as QSR, may result in changes to labeling, restrictions on such products or manufacturing processes, withdrawal of the products from the market, voluntary or mandatory recalls, a requirement to repair, replace, or refund the cost of any medical device we manufacture or distribute, fines, suspension, variation, or withdrawal of regulatory approvals or CE Certificates of Conformity, product seizures, injunctions, or the imposition of civil, administrative, or criminal penalties which would adversely affect our business, operating results, and prospects.

If the FDA determines that our promotional materials, labeling, training or other marketing or educational activities constitute promotion of an unapproved use, it could request that we cease or modify our training or promotional materials or subject us to regulatory enforcement actions. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they consider our training or other promotional materials to constitute promotion of an unapproved use, which could result in significant fines or penalties under other statutory authorities, such as laws prohibiting false or fraudulent claims for payment of government funds.

 

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If any of these actions were to occur it would harm our reputation and cause our product sales and profitability to suffer and may prevent us from generating revenue. Furthermore, our key component suppliers may not currently be or may not continue to be in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, which could result in our failure to produce our products on a timely basis and in the required quantities, if at all.

The FDA inspected our facilities in May 2014. As a result, we received a Notice of Inspectional Observations, or Form 483, with three observations that have since been addressed with a corrective and preventative action, or CAPA, plan. We responded to the Agency in writing and the matter was closed as of October 2014 through the issuance of an Establishment Inspection Report. To date, the FDA has not taken any further action with respect to the May 2014 inspection or its findings. The FDA inspected our facilities again in December 2016 and no findings were noted.

Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, manufacturers, and third-party distributors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, relating to regulatory standards and requirements.

We are exposed to the risk that our employees, independent contractors, consultants, manufacturers, and third-party distributors may engage in fraudulent conduct or other illegal activity. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless and/or negligent conduct or disclosure of unauthorized activities to us that violates FDA regulations, including those laws requiring the reporting of true, complete and accurate information to the FDA, manufacturing standards, federal and state healthcare laws and regulations, and laws that require the true, complete and accurate reporting of financial information or data. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs, and other business arrangements. Misconduct by these parties could also involve the improper use of individually identifiable information, including, without limitation, information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. We have a compliance program, code of conduct and associated policies and procedures, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant civil, criminal, and administrative penalties, including, without limitation, damages, fines, disgorgement of profits, imprisonment, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations.

We may be subject to enforcement action, including fines, penalties or injunctions, if we are determined to be engaging in the off-label promotion of our products.

Our promotional materials and training methods must comply with FDA and other applicable laws and regulations, including the prohibition of the promotion of off-label use. Physicians may use our products off-label, as the FDA does not restrict or regulate a physician’s choice of treatment within the practice of medicine. In the United States, the full indication for the iFuse Implant System is: “The iFuse Implant System is intended for sacroiliac joint fusion for conditions including sacroiliac joint dysfunction that is a direct result of sacroiliac joint disruption and degenerative sacroiliitis. This includes conditions whose symptoms began during pregnancy or in the peripartum period and have persisted postpartum for more than six months. Clinical studies have demonstrated that treatment with the iFuse Implant System improved pain, patient function, and quality of life.” Moreover, iFuse is one of the few devices regulated through the class II pathway that has claims for clinical improvements. iFuse-3D, which was FDA-cleared in 2017, has a very similar indication statement but does not have the statement regarding improvement in pain, function and quality of life. In the United States, our marketing strategies must adhere to the above statements. In all other countries, the indication statement for the iFuse Implant System (including iFuse-3D) more broadly indicates that the device is indicated for sacroiliac joint fusion. The above-described potential limitation in indication statements in the U.S. does not apply in other geographies.

 

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We believe that the specific surgical procedures for which our products are marketed fall within the scope of the surgical applications that have been cleared by the FDA. However, if the FDA determines that our promotional materials or training constitutes promotion of an off-label use, it could request that we modify our training or promotional materials, require us to stop promoting our products for those specific procedures until we obtain FDA clearance or approval for them, or subject us to regulatory or enforcement actions, including the issuance of an untitled letter, a warning letter, injunction, seizure, civil fines, and criminal penalties. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they consider our promotional or training materials to constitute promotion of an unapproved use, which could result in significant fines or penalties under other statutory authorities, such as laws prohibiting false or fraudulent claims for payment of government fund. In that event, our reputation could be damaged and adoption of the products would be impaired. Although our policy is to refrain from statements that could be considered off-label promotion of our products, the FDA or another regulatory agency could disagree and conclude that we have engaged in off-label promotion. In addition, the off-label use of our products may increase the risk of injury to patients, and, in turn, the risk of product liability claims. Product liability claims are expensive to defend and could divert our management’s attention, result in substantial damage awards against us and harm our reputation.

We are required to report certain malfunctions, deaths, and serious injuries associated with our products, which can result in voluntary corrective actions or agency enforcement actions.

Further, under the FDA’s medical device reporting, regulations, we are required to report to the FDA any information that our product may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or in which our product malfunctioned and, if the malfunction were to recur, would likely cause or contribute to death or serious injury. If we fail to report these events to the FDA within the required timeframes, or at all, FDA could take enforcement action against us. Any such adverse event involving our products or repeated product malfunctions may result in a voluntary or involuntary corrective actions, such as recalls or customer notifications, or agency action, such as inspection or enforcement action. Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, as well as defending ourselves in a lawsuit could divert managerial and financial resources, impair our ability to manufacture our products in a cost-effective and timely manner, and have an adverse effect on our reputation, results of operations, and financial condition.

In the EEA, we must comply with the EU Medical Device Vigilance System. Under this system, incidents must be reported to the relevant authorities of the Member States of the EEA, and manufacturers are required to take Field Safety Corrective Actions, or FSCAs, to reduce a risk of death or serious deterioration in the state of health associated with the use of a medical device that is already placed on the market. An incident is defined as any malfunction or deterioration in the characteristics and/or performance of a device, as well as any inadequacy in the labeling or the instructions for use which, directly or indirectly, might lead to or might have led to the death of a patient or user or of other persons or to a serious deterioration in their state of health. An FSCA may include the recall, modification, exchange, destruction or retrofitting of the device FSCAs must be communicated by the manufacturer or its legal representative to its customers and/or to the end users of the device through Field Safety Notices.

Any adverse event involving our products, whether in the United States or abroad could result in future voluntary corrective actions, such as recalls, including corrections, or customer notifications, or agency action, such as inspection or enforcement actions. If malfunctions do occur, we may be unable to correct the malfunctions adequately or prevent further malfunctions, in which case we may need to cease manufacture and distribution of the affected products, initiate voluntary recalls, and redesign the products. Regulatory authorities may also take actions against us, such as ordering recalls, imposing fines, or seizing the affected products. Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, will require the dedication of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business, and may harm our reputation and financial results.

 

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A recall of our products, either voluntarily or at the direction of the FDA or another governmental authority, including foreign governmental authorities, or the discovery of serious safety issues or malfunctions with our products, can result in voluntary corrective actions or agency enforcement actions, which could have a significant adverse impact on us.

The FDA and similar foreign governmental authorities have the authority to require the recall of commercialized products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture or in the event that a product poses an unacceptable risk to health. Manufacturers may, under their own initiative, recall a product if any material deficiency in a device is found.

In the case of the FDA, the authority to require a recall must be based on an FDA finding that there is an unreasonable risk of substantial public harm. In addition, foreign governmental bodies have the authority to require the recall of our products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us or one of our third-party distributors could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component failures, manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects, or other deficiencies and issues. Recalls of any of our products would divert managerial and financial resources and have an adverse effect on our reputation, results of operations, and financial condition, which could impair our ability to produce our products in a cost-effective and timely manner in order to meet our customers’ demands. We may also be required to bear other costs or take other actions that may have a negative impact on our future sales and our ability to generate profits.

The FDA requires that certain classifications of recalls be reported to FDA within 10 working days after the recall is initiated. Companies are required to maintain certain records of recalls, even if they are not reportable to the FDA. We may initiate voluntary recalls involving our products in the future that we determine do not require notification of the FDA. If the FDA disagrees with our determinations, they could require us to report those actions as recalls. A future recall announcement could harm our reputation with customers and negatively affect our sales. In addition, the FDA could take enforcement action for failing to report the recalls when they were conducted.

Modifications to our products may require new 510(k) clearances or premarket approvals and new conformity assessment by our Notified Body, or may require us to cease marketing or recall the modified products until clearances, approvals, or CE Certificates of Conformity are obtained.

Any modification to a 510(k)-cleared device that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute a major change in its intended use, design, or manufacture, requires a new 510(k) clearance or, possibly, a PMA. The FDA requires every manufacturer make and document this determination in the first instance. A manufacturer may determine that a modification could not significantly affect safety or effectiveness and does not represent a major change in its intended use, so that no new 510(k) clearance is necessary. FDA may review any manufacturer’s decision and may not agree with our decisions regarding whether new clearances or approvals are necessary. The FDA may also on its own initiative determine that a new clearance or approval is required. We have made modifications to our products in the past and may make additional modifications in the future that we believe do not or will not require additional clearances or approvals. If the FDA disagrees and requires new clearances or approvals for the modifications, we may be required to recall and to stop marketing our products as modified until clearance or approvals can be obtained, which could require us to redesign our products and harm our operating results. In these circumstances, we may be subject to significant enforcement actions.

We have modified some of our 510(k) cleared products, and have determined based on our review of the applicable FDA guidance that in certain instances new 510(k) clearances or PMAs are not required. If the FDA disagrees with our determination and requires us to submit new 510(k) clearances or PMAs for modifications to our previously cleared products for which we have concluded that new clearances or approvals are unnecessary, we may be required to cease marketing or to recall the modified product until we obtain clearance or approval, and we may be subject to significant enforcement action, regulatory fines, or penalties.

 

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If a manufacturer determines that a modification to an FDA-cleared device could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or would constitute a major change in its intended use, then the manufacturer must file for a new 510(k) clearance or possibly a premarket approval application. Where we determine that modifications to our products require a new 510(k) clearance or premarket approval application, we may not be able to obtain those additional clearances or approvals for the modifications or additional indications in a timely manner, or at all. FDA’s ongoing review of the 510(k) program may make it more difficult for us to make modifications to our previously cleared products, either by imposing more strict requirements on when a new 510(k) for a modification to a previously cleared product must be submitted, or applying more onerous review criteria to such submissions.

In the EEA, we must inform the Notified Body that carried out the conformity assessment of the medical devices we market or sell in the EEA of any planned substantial changes to our quality system or changes to our devices which could affect compliance with the essential requirements or the devices’ intended use. The Notified Body will then assess the changes and verify whether they affect the products’ conformity. There can be no assurances that the assessment will be favorable and that the Notified Body will attest our compliance with the essential requirements, which will prevent us from selling our products in the EEA.

Obtaining regulatory clearances or approvals and CE Certificates of Conformity can be a time-consuming process, and delays in obtaining required future regulatory clearances or approvals, and CE Certificates of Conformity would adversely affect our ability to introduce new or enhanced products in a timely manner, which in turn would harm our future growth.

There is no guarantee that the FDA will grant 510(k) clearance or premarket approval of our future products or that our Notified Body will issue the required CE Certificate of Conformity, and failure to obtain necessary clearances or approvals for our future products would adversely affect our ability to grow our business.

We are in the process of developing our regulatory strategies for obtaining clearance or approval for future products. Some of them may require 510(k) clearance by the FDA or a new CE Certificate of Conformity. Other future products may require premarket approval. In addition, some of our new products may require clinical trials to support regulatory approval and we may not successfully complete these clinical trials. The FDA may not approve or clear these products or our Notified Body may not issue CE Certificate of Conformity for the indications that are necessary or desirable for successful commercialization. Indeed, the FDA may refuse our requests for 510(k) clearance or premarket approval of new products, new intended uses, or modifications to existing products. Failure to receive clearance or approval for our new products would have an adverse effect on our ability to expand our business.

We may fail to obtain or maintain foreign regulatory approvals to market our products in other countries.

We currently market our products internationally and intend to expand our international marketing. International jurisdictions require separate regulatory approvals and compliance with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. For example, we intend to continue to seek domestic and international regulatory clearance to market our primary products Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East and other key markets. The approval procedures vary among countries and may involve requirements for substantial additional testing, and the time required to obtain approval may differ from country to country and from that required to obtain FDA clearance or approval or to obtain CE Certificates of Conformity.

Clearance or approval by the FDA or obtaining a CE Certificate of Conformity does not ensure approval or certification by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval or certification by one foreign regulatory authority does not ensure approval or certification by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA, and the CE marking of our products in the EEA. The foreign regulatory approval or certification process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA clearance or approval, or a CE Certificate of Conformity for a medical device in the EEA in addition to other risks. In addition, the time

 

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required to obtain foreign approval may differ from that required to obtain FDA clearance or approval, or a CE Certificate of Conformity in the EEA and we may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all. We may not be able to file for regulatory approvals or certifications and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any market. If we fail to receive necessary approvals or certifications to commercialize our products in foreign jurisdictions on a timely basis, or at all, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Clinical trials necessary to support a 510(k) or PMA application or a conformity assessment procedure will be expensive and may require the enrollment of large numbers of patients, and suitable patients may be difficult to identify and recruit. Delays or failures in our clinical trials will prevent us from commercializing any modified or new products and will adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.

Initiating and completing clinical trials necessary to support a PMA application for our future products and additional safety and effectiveness data beyond that typically required for a 510(k) clearance for iFuse, as well as other possible future product candidates, and to support a conformity assessment procedure would be time consuming and expensive and the outcome uncertain. Moreover, the results of early clinical trials are not necessarily predictive of future results, and any product we advance into clinical trials may not have favorable results in later clinical trials.

Conducting successful clinical studies may require the enrollment of large numbers of patients, and suitable patients may be difficult to identify and recruit. Patient enrollment in clinical trials and completion of patient participation and follow-up depends on many factors, including the size of the patient population, the nature of the trial protocol, the attractiveness of, or the discomforts and risks associated with, the treatments received by enrolled subjects, the availability of appropriate clinical trial investigators, support staff, and proximity of patients to clinical sites and able to comply with the inclusion and exclusion criteria for participation in the clinical trial and patient compliance. Development of sufficient and appropriate clinical protocols to demonstrate safety and effectiveness are required and we may not adequately develop such protocols to support clearance and approval. Further, the FDA or our Notified Body may require us to submit data on a greater number of patients than we originally anticipated and/or for a longer follow-up period or change the data collection requirements or data analysis applicable to our clinical trials. Delays in patient enrollment or failure of patients to continue to participate in a clinical trial may cause an increase in costs and delays in the approval and attempted commercialization of our products or result in the failure of the clinical trial. In addition, despite considerable time and expense invested in our clinical trials, the FDA or our Notified Body may not consider our data adequate to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. Such increased costs and delays or failures could adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.

Our facility and our clinical investigational sites operate under procedures that govern the conduct and management of FDA-regulated clinical studies under 21 CFR Parts 50 and 812, and Good Clinical Practices. The FDA may conduct Bioresearch Monitoring inspections of us and/or our clinical sites to assess compliance with 21 CFR Parts 50 and 812, our procedures, and the clinical protocol. If the FDA were to find that we or our clinical investigators are not operating in compliance with applicable regulations, we could be subject to the above FDA enforcement action, as well as refusal to accept all or part of our data in support of our 510(k) or PMA, or we may need to conduct additional studies.

The results of our clinical trials may not support our product candidate claims or may result in the discovery of adverse side effects.

Even if our clinical trials are completed as planned, we cannot be certain that their results will support our product candidate claims or that the FDA, foreign authorities, or our Notified Body will agree with our conclusions regarding them. Success in pre-clinical studies and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and we cannot be sure that the later trials will replicate the results of prior trials and pre-clinical studies. The clinical trial process may fail to demonstrate that our product candidates are safe and

 

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effective for the proposed indicated uses, which could cause us to abandon a product candidate and may delay development of others. Any delay or termination of our clinical trials will delay the filing of our product submissions and, ultimately, our ability to commercialize our product candidates and generate revenue. It is also possible that patients enrolled in clinical trials will experience adverse side effects that are not currently part of the product candidate’s profile.

U.S. legislative or FDA or foreign regulatory reforms may make it more difficult and costly for us to obtain regulatory clearances or approvals, or CE Certificates of Conformity for our product candidates and to manufacture, market, and distribute our products after approval is obtained.

From time to time, Congress introduces legislation that could significantly change the statutory provisions governing the regulatory approval, manufacture, and marketing of regulated products or the reimbursement thereof. In addition, FDA regulations and guidance are often revised or reinterpreted by the FDA in ways that may significantly affect our business and our products. Any new regulations or revisions or reinterpretations of existing regulations may impose additional costs or lengthen review times of future products. In addition, FDA regulations and guidance are often revised or reinterpreted by the agency in ways that may significantly affect our business and our products. It is impossible to predict whether legislative changes will be enacted or FDA regulations, guidance, or interpretations changed, and what the impact of such changes, if any, may be.

In December 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act was enacted, with a number of provisions impacting medical device regulation. The FDA has implemented, and continues to implement, these reforms, which could impose additional regulatory requirements upon us and delay our ability to obtain new 510(k) clearances, increase the costs of compliance or restrict our ability to maintain our current clearances. Any change in the laws or regulations that govern the clearance and approval processes relating to our current and future products could make it more difficult and costly to obtain clearance or approval for new products, or to produce, market, and distribute existing products. Significant delays in receiving clearance or approval, or the failure to receive clearance or approval for our new products would have an adverse effect on our ability to expand our business.

Moreover, the policies of the Trump Administration and their impact on the regulation of our products in the United States remain uncertain. The outcome of the 2016 election and the forthcoming 2018 mid-term elections could result in significant legislative and regulatory reforms impacting the FDA’s regulation of our products. Any change in the laws or regulations that govern the clearance and approval processes relating to our current and future products could make it more difficult and costly to obtain clearance or approval for new products, or to produce, market and distribute existing products. Significant delays in receiving clearance or approval, or the failure to receive clearance or approval for our new products would have an adverse effect on our ability to expand our business.

Another example can be found in the EEA. On September 26, 2012, the European Commission adopted a package of legislative proposals designed to replace the existing regulatory framework for medical devices in the EEA. These proposals are intended to strengthen the medical devices rules in the EEA. On April 5, 2017, the final text of the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR) were adopted by the Parliament and the Council. These regulations, which will substantially impact medical devices manufacturers, will be applicable from May 2020 for the MDR and May 2022 for the IVDR. Examples of the changes which will be introduced by these regulations include the following:

 

   

additional scrutiny during the conformity assessment procedure for high risk medical devices;

 

   

strengthening of the clinical data requirements related to medical devices;

 

   

strengthening of the designation and monitoring processes governing notified bodies;

 

   

the obligation for manufacturers and authorized representative to have a person responsible for regulatory compliance continuously at their disposal;

 

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authorized representatives would be held legally responsible and liable for defective products placed on the EU market;

 

   

increased traceability of medical devices following the introduction of a Unique Device Identification, or UDI, system;

 

   

new rules governing the reprocessing of medical devices; and

 

   

increased transparency with the establishment of EUDAMED III as information from several databases concerning economic operators, CE Certificates of Conformity, conformity assessment, clinical investigations, the UDI system, adverse event reporting and market surveillance would be available to the public.

The sales of our products depend in part on the availability of coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors such as government health administration authorities, private health insurers, health maintenance organizations, and other healthcare-related organizations. Recent political, economic, and regulatory influences are subjecting the healthcare industry to fundamental changes that can impact coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors. For example, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2011, among other things, reduced and/or limited Medicare reimbursement to certain providers. Legislative changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act remain possible and appear likely in the 115th United States Congress and under the Trump Administration. We expect that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as currently enacted or as it may be amended in the future, and other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, could have a material adverse effect on our industry generally and on our ability to maintain or increase sales of our existing products. Other federal laws further reduce Medicare’s payments to providers by two percent through 2024. These reductions reduce reimbursement for our products, which could potentially negatively impact our revenue, and may reduce providers’ revenues or profits, which could affect their ability to purchase new technologies. Both the federal and state governments in the United States and foreign governments continue to propose and pass new legislation and regulations designed to contain or reduce the cost of healthcare. Such legislation and regulations may result in decreased reimbursement for medical devices, which may further exacerbate industry-wide pressure to reduce the prices charged for medical devices. This could harm our ability to market our products and generate sales.

Our financial performance may be adversely affected by medical device tax provisions in the healthcare reform laws.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2011, imposes, among other things, an annual excise tax on any entity that manufactures or imports medical devices offered for sale in the United States. Under these provisions, the Congressional Research Service predicts that the total cost to the medical device industry may be up to $20.0 billion over the next decade. A two-year moratorium currently applies to this tax through December 2019. After that time, the tax may be repealed or modified, or the moratorium may be lifted, in which case sales of our iFuse would be subject to this excise tax. In July 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal this tax. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the matter in the fourth quarter of 2018.

We may incur product liability losses, and insurance coverage may be inadequate or unavailable to cover these losses.

Our business exposes us to potential product liability claims that are inherent in the testing, design, manufacture, and sale of medical devices for sacroiliac joint surgery procedures. Sacroiliac joint surgery involves significant risk of serious complications, including bleeding, nerve injury, paralysis, and even death. In addition, if longer-term patient results and experience indicates that our products or any component of a product cause tissue damage, motor impairment, or other adverse effects, we could be subject to significant liability. Surgeons may misuse or ineffectively use our products, which may result in unsatisfactory patient outcomes or patient

 

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injury. We could become the subject of product liability lawsuits alleging that component failures, manufacturing flaws, design defects, or inadequate disclosure of product-related risks or product-related information resulted in an unsafe condition or injury to patients. Product liability lawsuits and claims, safety alerts, or product recalls, regardless of their ultimate outcome, could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation, our ability to attract and retain customers and our results of operations or financial condition.

Although we maintain third-party product liability insurance coverage, it is possible that claims against us may exceed the coverage limits of our insurance policies or cause us to record a self-insured loss. Even if any product liability loss is covered by an insurance policy, these policies typically have substantial retentions or deductibles that we are responsible for. Product liability claims in excess of applicable insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

In addition, any product liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could result in an increase of our product liability insurance rates. Insurance coverage varies in cost and can be difficult to obtain, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain insurance coverage in the future on terms acceptable to us or at all.

We are subject to environmental laws and regulations that can impose significant costs and expose us to potential financial liabilities.

The manufacture of certain of our products, including our implants and products, and the handling of materials used in the product testing process, including in our cadaveric laboratory, involve the use of biological, hazardous and/or radioactive materials and wastes. Our business and facilities and those of our suppliers are subject to foreign, federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and the environment, including those governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling, and disposal of, and exposure to, such materials and wastes. In addition, under some environmental laws and regulations, we could be held responsible for costs relating to any contamination at our past or present facilities and at third-party waste disposal sites even if such contamination was not caused by us. A failure to comply with current or future environmental laws and regulations could result in severe fines or penalties. Any such expenses or liability could have a significant negative impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

The recently passed comprehensive tax reform bill could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law new legislation that significantly revised the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. The newly enacted federal income tax law, among other things, contains significant changes to corporate taxation, including reduction of the corporate tax rate from a top marginal rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21%, limitation of the tax deduction for interest expense to 30% of adjusted earnings (except for certain small businesses), limitation of the deduction for net operating losses arising after 2017 to 80% of current year taxable income and elimination of carrybacks of such net operating losses, one time taxation of offshore earnings at reduced rates regardless of whether they are repatriated, elimination of U.S. tax on foreign earnings (subject to certain important exceptions), immediate deductions for certain new investments instead of deductions for depreciation expense over time, and modification or repeal of many business deductions and credits. Notwithstanding the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the overall impact of the new federal tax law is uncertain and our business and financial condition could be adversely affected. In addition, it is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to the newly enacted federal tax law. The impact of this tax reform on holders of our common stock is also uncertain and could be adverse. We urge our stockholders to consult with their legal and tax advisors with respect to this legislation and the potential tax consequences of investing in or holding our common stock.

 

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Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

Our ability to protect our intellectual property and proprietary technology is uncertain.

We rely primarily on patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality and non- disclosure agreements and other methods, to protect our proprietary technologies and know-how. As of June 30, 2018, we owned 34 issued U.S. patents and had 11 pending U.S. patent applications, and we owned six issued foreign patents and had seven pending foreign patent applications. As of June 30, 2018, we have 12 registered trademarks in the United States and have filed for one more. We have sought protection for at least two of these trademarks in 60 countries including the 28 European member countries of the Madrid Protocol.

We have applied for patent protection relating to certain existing and proposed products and processes. While we generally apply for patents in those countries where we intend to make, have made, use, or sell patented products, we may not accurately predict all of the countries where patent protection will ultimately be desirable. If we fail to timely file a patent application in any such country, we may be precluded from doing so at a later date. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that any of our patent applications will be approved. The rights granted to us under our patents, including prospective rights sought in our pending patent applications, may not be meaningful or provide us with any commercial advantage. In addition, those rights could be opposed, contested, or circumvented by our competitors or be declared invalid or unenforceable in judicial or administrative proceedings. The failure of our patents to adequately protect our technology might make it easier for our competitors to offer the same or similar products or technologies. Competitors may be able to design around our patents or develop products that provide outcomes which are comparable to ours without infringing on our intellectual property rights. Due to differences between foreign and U.S. patent laws, our patented intellectual property rights may not receive the same degree of protection in foreign countries as they would in the United States. Even if patents are granted outside the United States, effective enforcement in those countries may not be available. Since most of our issued patents are for the United States only, we lack a corresponding scope of patent protection in other countries. In countries where we do not have significant patent protection, we may not be able to stop a competitor from marketing products in such countries that are the same as or similar to our products.

We rely on our trademarks, trade names and brand names to distinguish our products from the products of our competitors and have registered or applied to register many of these trademarks. We cannot assure you that our trademark applications will be approved. Third parties may also oppose our trademark applications, or otherwise challenge our use of the trademarks. In the event that our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products, which could result in loss of brand recognition, and could require us to devote resources to advertising and marketing new brands. Further, we cannot assure you that competitors will not infringe upon our trademarks, or that we will have adequate resources to enforce our trademarks.

We also rely on trade secrets, know-how, and technology, which are not protected by patents, to maintain our competitive position. We try to protect this information by entering into confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with parties that develop intellectual property for us and/or have access to it, such as our officers, employees, consultants, and advisors. However, in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure or other breaches of such agreements, we may not be provided with meaningful protection for our trade secrets or other proprietary information. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. To the extent that our commercial partners, collaborators, employees, and consultants use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know- how and inventions. If any of our trade secrets, know-how or other technologies not protected by a patent were to be disclosed to or independently developed by a competitor, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

In the future, we may enter into licensing agreements to maintain our competitive position. If we enter into in-bound intellectual property license agreements, we may not be able to fully protect the licensed intellectual property rights or maintain those licenses. Future licensors could retain the right to prosecute and defend the

 

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intellectual property rights licensed to us, in which case we would depend on the ability of our licensors to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property protection for the licensed intellectual property. These licensors may determine not to pursue litigation against other companies or may pursue such litigation less aggressively than we would. Further, entering into such license agreements could impose various diligence, commercialization, royalty, or other obligations on us. Future licensors may allege that we have breached our license agreement with them, and accordingly seek damages or to terminate our license, which could adversely affect our competitive business position and harm our business prospects.

If a competitor infringes upon one of our patents, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights, enforcing those patents, trademarks, and other rights may be difficult and time consuming. Even if successful, litigation to defend our patents and trademarks against challenges or to enforce our intellectual property rights could be expensive and time consuming and could divert management’s attention from managing our business. Moreover, we may not have sufficient resources to defend our patents or trademarks against challenges or to enforce our intellectual property rights. In addition, if third parties infringe any intellectual property that is not material to the products that we make, have made, use, or sell, it may be impractical for us to enforce this intellectual property against those third parties.

We may be subject to damages resulting from claims that we, our employees, or our third-party distributors have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of our competitors or are in breach of non-competition or non-solicitation agreements with our competitors.

Many of our employees were previously employed at other medical device companies, including our competitors or potential competitors, in some cases until recently. Some of our third-party distributors sell, or in the past have sold, products of our competitors. We may be subject to claims that we, our employees, or our third-party distributors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of these former employers or competitors. In addition, we have been and may in the future be subject to claims that we caused an employee to breach the terms of his or her non-competition or non-solicitation agreement. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs, divert the attention of management from our core business and harm our reputation. If our defense to those claims fails, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. There can be no assurance that this type of litigation will not continue, and any future litigation or the threat thereof may adversely affect our ability to hire additional direct sales representatives. A loss of key personnel or their work product could hamper or prevent our ability to commercialize product candidates, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

The medical device industry is characterized by patent litigation and we could become subject to litigation that could be costly, result in the diversion of management’s time and efforts, require us to pay damages, and/or prevent us from developing or marketing our existing or future products.

Our commercial success will depend in part on not infringing the patents or violating the other proprietary rights of third parties. Significant litigation regarding patent rights exists in our industry. Our competitors in both the United States and abroad, many of which have substantially greater resources and have made substantial investments in competing technologies, may have applied for or obtained or may in the future apply for and obtain, patents that will prevent, limit, or otherwise interfere with our ability to make and sell our products. We have conducted a limited review of patents issued to third parties. The large number of patents, the rapid rate of new patent issuances, the complexities of the technology involved, and the uncertainty of litigation increase the risk of business assets and management’s attention being diverted to patent litigation. Any litigation or claim against us, even those without merit, may cause us to incur substantial costs, and could place a significant strain on our financial resources, divert the attention of management from our core business, and harm our reputation. Further, as the number of participants in the medical device industry grows, the possibility of intellectual property infringement claims against us increases. If we are found to infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties, we could be required to pay substantial damages, including treble, or triple, damages if an

 

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infringement is found to be willful, and/or royalties and could be prevented from selling our products unless we obtain a license or are able to redesign our products to avoid infringement. Any such license may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all, and there can be no assurance that we would be able to redesign our products in a way that would not infringe the intellectual property rights of others. If we fail to obtain any required licenses or make any necessary changes to our products or technologies, we may have to withdraw existing products from the market or may be unable to commercialize one or more of our products, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. If passed into law, patent reform legislation currently pending in the U.S. Congress could significantly change the risks associated with bringing or defending a patent infringement lawsuit. For example, fee shifting legislation could require a non-prevailing party to pay the attorney fees of the prevailing party in some circumstances.

In addition, we generally indemnify our customers and third-party distributors with respect to infringement by our products of the proprietary rights of third parties. Third parties may assert infringement claims against our customers or third-party distributors. These claims may require us to initiate or defend protracted and costly litigation on behalf of our customers or third-party distributors, regardless of the merits of these claims. If any of these claims succeed, we may be forced to pay damages on behalf of our customers or third-party distributors or may be required to obtain licenses to intellectual property owned by such third parties. If we cannot obtain all necessary licenses on commercially reasonable terms, our customers and third-party distributors may be forced to stop using or selling our products.

Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock

The price of our common stock may be volatile, and the value of your investment could decline.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock, and medical device stocks have historically experienced volatility. The trading price of our common stock following this offering may fluctuate substantially. Following the closing of this offering, the market price of our common stock may be higher or lower than the price you pay in the offering, depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our common stock. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock include the following:

 

   

actual or anticipated changes or fluctuations in our results of operations;

 

   

results of our clinical trials and that of our competitors’ products;

 

   

regulatory actions with respect to our products or our competitor’s products;

 

   

announcements of new offerings, products, services or technologies, commercial relationships, acquisitions, or other events by us or our competitors;

 

   

price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;

 

   

significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of healthcare companies, in general, and of companies in the medical device industry in particular;

 

   

fluctuations in the trading volume of our shares or the size of our public float;

 

   

negative publicity;

 

   

whether our results of operations meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors or those expectations change;

 

   

litigation involving us, our industry, or both;

 

   

regulatory developments in the United States, foreign countries, or both;

 

   

lock-up releases and sales of large blocks of our common stock;

 

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additions or departures of key employees or scientific personnel; and

 

   

general economic conditions and trends.

In addition, if the market for healthcare stocks or the stock market, in general, experience a loss of investor confidence, the trading price of our common stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, results of operations, or financial condition. The trading price of our common stock might also decline in reaction to events that affect other companies in our industry even if these events do not directly affect us. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. If our stock price is volatile, we may become the target of securities litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources from our business. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public markets, including when the “lock-up” or “market standoff” period ends, or the perception that sales might occur, could reduce the price of our common stock and may dilute your voting power and your ownership interest in us.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market after this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock, and may make it more difficult for you to sell your common stock at a time and price that you deem appropriate. Based on the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock as of June 30, 2018, upon the closing of this offering, we will have 21,793,160 shares of common stock outstanding. All of the shares of common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restrictions or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, except for any shares held by our “affiliates” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Subject to certain exceptions, we, our directors and officers and the holders of substantially all of our capital stock, warrants and stock options have agreed not to offer, sell or agree to sell, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock without the permission of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus. When the lock-up period expires, our security holders will be able to sell shares in the public market subject to any restrictions under the securities laws. In addition, Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch may, in their discretion, release all or some portion of the shares subject to lock-up agreements prior to the expiration of the lock-up period. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for more information. Sales of a substantial number of such shares upon expiration, or the perception that such sales may occur, or early release of the lock-up, could cause our share price to fall, or make it more difficult for you to sell your common stock at a time and price that you deem appropriate.

Based on shares outstanding as of June 30, 2018, the holders of 12,066,654 shares, or approximately 55.4%, of our common stock after this offering, will have rights, subject to some conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering the sale of their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders. We also intend to register the offer and sale of all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans.

We may issue our shares of common stock or securities convertible into our common stock from time to time in connection with a financing, acquisition, investments or otherwise. Any such issuance could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders and cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.

Insiders will continue to have substantial control over us after this offering, which could limit your ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.

Our directors, executive officers, and each of our stockholders that own greater than 5% of our outstanding common stock, in the aggregate, will beneficially own approximately 52.0% of the outstanding shares of our common stock after this offering, based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2018. In addition,

 

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certain of our existing stockholders or their affiliates, including entities affiliated with Arboretum Ventures, Novo Holdings A/S, OrbiMed, and Skyline Venture Partners, have indicated an interest in purchasing up to an aggregate of $32.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, the underwriters may determine to sell more, fewer, or no shares in this offering to any or all of these entities, or any or all of these entities may determine to purchase more, fewer, or no shares in this offering.

As a result, these stockholders will be able to influence or control matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers, acquisitions or other extraordinary transactions. They may also have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a manner that is adverse to your interests. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of deterring, delaying, or preventing a change of control of our company, could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of our company and might ultimately affect the market price of our common stock.

There is no existing market for our common stock, and we cannot assure you that a market will develop for our common stock or what the market price of our common stock will be.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our company will lead to the development of an active trading market on the Nasdaq Global Market or otherwise or how liquid that market might become. If an active trading market does not develop, you may have difficulty selling any shares of our common stock that you purchase, and the value of such shares might be materially impaired.

In addition, we cannot predict the prices at which our common stock will trade. The initial public offering price for our common stock will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following this offering. Consequently, you may not be able to sell shares of our common stock at prices equal to or greater than the price you paid in this offering.

We have broad discretion in the use of net proceeds that we receive in this offering, and if we do not use those proceeds effectively, your investment could be harmed.

The principal purposes of this offering are to create a public market for our common stock, obtain additional working capital, and facilitate our future access to the public equity markets. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, sales, and marketing activities, research initiatives including enhancement of our solution, investment in technology and development and capital expenditures. We also may use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire or invest in technologies, solutions, or businesses that complement our business, although we have no present commitments, and we have not allocated specific amounts of net proceeds, to complete any such transactions or plans. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds to us from this offering. Investors in this offering will need to rely upon the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds. If we do not use the net proceeds that we receive in this offering effectively, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be harmed.

We may be unable to utilize our federal net operating loss carryforwards to reduce our income taxes.

As of December 31, 2017, we had net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards of $124.9 million and $101.7 million available to reduce future taxable income, if any, for U.S. federal income tax and state income tax purposes, respectively. If not utilized, our federal and state NOL carryforwards begin to expire in 2029 and 2019, respectively. These NOL carryforwards could expire unused and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities. In addition, under Section 382 of the Code, and corresponding provisions of state law, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” which generally occurs if the percentage of the corporation’s stock owned by

 

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5% stockholders increases by more than 50% over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. We have determined that we have experienced Section 382 ownership changes in 2010 and $1.4 million of our NOL and tax credit carryforwards are subject to limitation. In addition, we may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in our stock ownership, including this offering, some of which may be outside of our control. If a future ownership change occurs, our ability to use our NOL tax credit carryforwards may be materially limited, which would harm our future operating results by effectively increasing our future tax obligations.

The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert our management’s attention, and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members.

As a public company, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and will be required to comply with the applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time consuming, or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources. Among other things, the Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly, and current reports with respect to our business and results of operations and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting. In order to maintain and, if required, improve our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting to meet this standard, significant resources and management oversight may be required. As a result, management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could harm our business and results of operations. Although we have already hired additional employees to comply with these requirements, we may need to hire even more employees in the future, which will increase our costs and expenses.

We also expect that being a public company and these new rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee and compensation committee, and qualified executive officers.

Failure to establish and maintain an effective system of internal controls could result in material misstatements of our financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or fail to prevent fraud in which case, our stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and could negatively impact the price of our stock.

After the closing of this offering, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of Nasdaq Global Market. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting. Commencing with the year ending December 31, 2019, we must perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal controls over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for that year, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404. This will require that we incur substantial additional professional fees and internal costs to expand our accounting and finance functions and that we expend significant management efforts. Prior to this offering, we have never been required to test our internal controls within a specified period, and we are not currently in compliance with, and we cannot be certain when we will be able to implement the requirements of Section 404. As a result, we may experience difficulty in producing accurate financial statements in a timely manner.

We may discover weaknesses in our system of internal financial and accounting controls and procedures that could result in a material misstatement of our financial statements. In addition, our internal control over

 

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financial reporting will not prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud will be detected.

The rules governing the standards that must be met for our management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing, and possible remediation. If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner, or if we are unable to maintain proper and effective internal controls, we may not be able to produce timely and accurate financial statements. In addition, in connection with the future attestation process by our independent registered public accounting firm, we may encounter problems or delays in completing the implementation of any requested improvements and receiving a favorable attestation. If we cannot favorably assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide an unqualified attestation report on our internal controls, our stockholders could lose confidence in our reporting, and the market price of our stock could decline. In addition, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the Nasdaq Global Market, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, or other regulatory authorities.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act and we intend to take advantage of some of the exemptions from reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including:

 

   

reduced obligations with respect to financial data, including presenting only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of selected financial data;

 

   

an exception from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

 

   

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements in our periodic reports, proxy statements, and registration statements;

 

   

exemptions from the requirements of holding non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements; and

 

   

exemption from complying with new or revised financial accounting standards until such time as such standards are applicable to private companies.

We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the closing of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non- affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.

 

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Because the initial public offering price of our common stock will be substantially higher than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common stock following this offering, new investors will experience immediate and substantial dilution.

The initial public offering price of our common stock is substantially higher than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately following this offering based on the total value of our tangible assets less our total liabilities. Therefore, if you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will experience immediate dilution of $11.25 per share, the difference between the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the range as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock of $2.75, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of our common stock in this offering. See “Dilution.”

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or publish unfavorable research reports about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will, to some extent, depend on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us publishes unfavorable commentary about us or changes their opinion of our business prospects, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of or fails to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.

We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.

We have never declared or paid any dividends on our common stock. We intend to retain any earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the future. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our common stock if the market price of our common stock increases. In addition, our loan and security agreements contain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.

Our credit facility contains covenants that may restrict our business and financing activities.

Borrowings under our credit facility are secured by substantially all of our assets. Our credit facility also restricts our ability to, among other things:

 

   

dispose of or sell assets;

 

   

make material changes in our business or management;

 

   

consolidate or merge with or acquire other entities;

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

incur liens on our assets;

 

   

pay dividends or make distributions on our capital stock;

 

   

make certain investments;

 

   

enter into transactions with our affiliates;

 

   

make any payment in respect of any subordinated indebtedness; and

 

   

waive or amend any of our current intellectual property agreements or material contracts.

 

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These restrictions are subject to certain exceptions. In addition, our loan and security agreement requires us to maintain a minimum cash balance and revenue targets. Beginning with the three months ended March 31, 2019, we are required to meet either revenue or earnings targets.

The covenants in our credit facility, as well as any future financing agreements that we may enter into, may restrict our ability to finance our operations, engage in, expand, or otherwise pursue our business activities and strategies. Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, and future breaches of any of these covenants could result in a default under our credit facility agreements. If not waived, future defaults could cause all of the outstanding indebtedness under our credit facility agreement to become immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit.

If we do not have or are unable to generate sufficient cash available to repay our debt obligations when they become due and payable, either upon maturity or in the event of a default, we may not be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing on favorable terms, if at all, which may negatively impact our ability to operate our business.

Our charter documents and Delaware law could discourage takeover attempts and lead to management entrenchment.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect upon closing of this offering contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change in control of our company. These provisions could also make it difficult for stockholders to elect directors that are not nominated by the current members of our board of directors or take other corporate actions, including effecting changes in our management. These provisions include:

 

   

a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms, which could delay the ability of stockholders to change the membership of a majority of our board of directors;

 

   

the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquiror;

 

   

the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of our board of directors or the resignation, death or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors;

 

   

a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent, which forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;

 

   

the requirement that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our entire board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, or our chief executive officer, which could delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors;

 

   

the requirement for the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the voting stock, voting together as a single class, to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to the management of our business or our amended and restated bylaws, which may inhibit the ability of an acquiror to effect such amendments to facilitate an unsolicited takeover attempt; and

 

   

advance notice procedures with which stockholders must comply to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquiror’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

 

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In addition, as a Delaware corporation, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. These provisions may prohibit large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, from merging or combining with us for a certain period of time.

A Delaware corporation may opt out of this provision by express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or by amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders. However, we have not opted out of, and do not currently intend to opt out of, this provision.

These and other provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law could make it more difficult for stockholders or potential acquirers to obtain control of our board of directors or initiate actions that are opposed by our then-current board of directors, including delay or impede a merger, tender offer, or proxy contest involving our company. The existence of these provisions could negatively affect the price of our common stock and limit opportunities for you to realize value in a corporate transaction.

Our amended and restated 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 restricts our stockholders’ ability to bring a lawsuit against us or our directors, officers, or employees in jurisdictions other than Delaware and federal district courts.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of a fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or our amended and restated bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. These choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees. Some companies that adopted a similar federal district court forum selection provision are currently subject to a suit in the Chancery Court of Delaware by stockholders who assert that the provision is not enforceable. If a court were to find either choice of forum provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business.

 

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INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, strategy and plans, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, and our expectations for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “design,” “intend,” “expect,” “could,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “would,” or the negative version of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, strategy, short- and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business.” These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the following:

 

   

our expectation that, for the foreseeable future, a significant portion of our revenues will be derived from sales of the iFuse Implant System, or iFuse;

 

   

our ability to expand our sales and marketing capabilities to increase demand for iFuse, expand geographically, and obtain favorable coverage and reimbursement determinations from third-party payors;

 

   

our estimates of our market opportunity;

 

   

developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights;

 

   

competition in the markets we serve;

 

   

our expectations of the reliability and performance of iFuse;

 

   

our expectations of the benefits to patients, providers, and payors of iFuse;

 

   

our reliance on a limited number of suppliers, including sole source suppliers, which may impact the availability of replacement instruments and materials;

 

   

the factors we believe drive demand for iFuse and our ability to sustain or increase such demand;

 

   

our ability to develop additional revenue opportunities, including new devices;

 

   

the scope of protection we establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering iFuse and any other device we may develop;

 

   

our estimates regarding our costs and risks associated with our international operations and international expansion;

 

   

our ability to retain and recruit key personnel and expand our sales force;

 

   

our expectations regarding acquisitions and strategic operations;

 

   

our ability to fund our working capital requirements;

 

   

our compliance with, and the cost of, federal, state, and foreign regulatory requirements;

 

   

the factors that may impact our financial results; and

 

   

anticipated trends and challenges in our business and the markets in which we operate.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in the section “Risk Factors.” 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

 

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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 prospectus 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 prospectus to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance, and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect.

 

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MARKET, INDUSTRY, AND OTHER DATA

This prospectus contains estimates, projections, and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for our products and product candidates, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets for our products and product candidates, their projected growth rates, the perceptions and preferences of surgeons and patients regarding certain procedures, surgeon and patient data, as well as data regarding market research, estimates, and forecasts prepared by our management. We obtained the industry, market, and other data throughout this prospectus from our own internal estimates and research, as well as from industry publications and research, surveys, and studies conducted by third parties.

Information is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research, or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which this data is derived.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering of 6,000,000 shares of common stock will be approximately $76.4 million, or $88.1 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) our net proceeds by $5.6 million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Each increase (decrease) by 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase (decrease) the net proceeds from this offering by $13.0 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions.

We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering, as follows:

 

   

approximately $65.0 million for sales and marketing activities to support ongoing commercialization of the iFuse Implant System, including, but not limited to, expansion of our sales force, additional medical affairs and educational efforts, and expanding our international sales presence; and

 

   

the remainder, if any, for working capital and general corporate purposes, including research and development and clinical studies to bring new enhancements to the existing product offering.

We may also use a portion of our net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary products, technologies, or businesses; however, we currently have no agreements or commitments to complete any such transactions.

As of the date of this prospectus, since we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses of the net proceeds, our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering. Pending the use of the proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit or government securities.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock, and we do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, our credit facility with Biopharma Credit Investments IV Sub LP, or Pharmakon, restricts our ability to pay dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Any future determination to pay dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors subject to applicable laws, and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, and capital requirements. Our future ability to pay cash dividends on our capital stock may also be limited by the terms of any future debt or preferred securities or future credit facility.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of June 30, 2018:

 

   

on an actual basis;

 

   

on a pro forma basis to reflect:

 

   

the conversion of all outstanding shares of our preferred stock into an aggregate of 12,066,654 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering;

 

   

the issuance of 19,238 shares of common stock upon the automatic net exercise of outstanding warrants, with an exercise price of $9.10 per share, immediately prior to the closing of this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus;

 

   

the reclassification of our preferred stock warrant liability to additional paid-in capital immediately prior to the closing of this offering; and

 

   

the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation upon the closing of this offering; and

 

   

on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give further effect to the sale of 6,000,000 shares of common stock in this offering assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

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You should read this information together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the information set forth in “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

     As of June 30, 2018  
     Actual     Pro
Forma
    Pro
Forma As
Adjusted(1)
 
     (in thousands, except for share and
per share amounts)
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 16,233     $ 16,233     $ 92,653  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redeemable convertible preferred stock warrant liability

   $ 646     $     $  

Total long-term borrowings(2)

     38,834       38,834       38,834  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 12,104,749 shares authorized, 11,871,578 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     118,548              

Stockholders’ equity (deficit):

      

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, actual; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

      

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 19,333,333 shares authorized, 3,707,268 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 15,793,160 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; and 100,000,000 shares authorized, 21,793,160 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     1       2       2  

Additional paid-in capital

     10,933       130,126       206,546  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     435       435       435  

Accumulated deficit

     (147,072     (147,072     (147,072
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (135,703     (16,509     59,911  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 22,325     $ 22,325   $ 98,745
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $5.6 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase (decrease) each of pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in-capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $13.0 million, assuming that the assumed initial price to the public remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price, number of shares offered and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

(2)

Total borrowings consist of $40.0 million of principal, net of discount of $1.2 million.

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 15,793,160 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2018, and excludes:

 

   

2,900,842 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of June 30, 2018, with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.09 per share;

 

   

230,066 shares of common stock, as converted, issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2018, with a weighted-average exercise price of $8.69 per share;

 

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26,613 additional shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2008 Stock Plan, which shares will cease to be available for issuance at the time our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan becomes effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering;

 

   

2,576,538 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as well as any increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering; and

 

   

515,307 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as any increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering.

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the assumed initial public offering price per share and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering.

Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share represents our total tangible assets less our liabilities and preferred stock that is not included in equity divided by the total number of shares outstanding. As of June 30, 2018, our historical net tangible book value (deficit) was $(135.7) million, or $(36.61) per share.

Our pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) as of June 30, 2018, was $(16.5) million, or $(1.05) per share after giving effect to (i) the conversion of all outstanding shares of our preferred stock into an aggregate of 12,066,654 shares of common stock; (ii) the issuance of 19,238 shares of common stock upon the automatic net exercise of outstanding warrants, with an exercise price of $9.10 per share, immediately prior to the closing of this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus; (iii) the reclassification of our preferred stock warrant liability to additional paid-in capital immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

After giving further effect to receipt of the net proceeds of our sale of 6,000,000 shares of common stock, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2018, would have been approximately $59.9 million, or $2.75 per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $3.80 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $11.25 per share to new investors participating in this offering.

The following table illustrates this dilution to new investors on a per share basis:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

      $ 14.00

Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of June 30, 2018

   $ (36.61   

Pro forma increase in net tangible book value (deficit) per share attributable to the conversion of our preferred stock and preferred stock warrants

     35.56     
  

 

 

    

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2018

     (1.05   

Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors purchasing shares in this offering

     3.80     
  

 

 

    

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

        2.75  
     

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering

      $ 11.25  
     

 

 

 

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares in this offering is exercised in full, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value would be $3.15 per share, the increase in the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share for existing stockholders would be $4.20 per share and the dilution to new investors participating in this offering would be $10.85 per share.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value, by $0.26 per share and the dilution per share to new investors by $0.74 per share, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

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We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An increase of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares we are offering would increase our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by $0.45 per share, and the dilution to new investors would decrease by $0.45 per share, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. A decrease of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares we are offering would decrease the pro forma as adjusted net book value by $0.49 per share, and the dilution to new investors would increase by $0.49 per share, assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The pro forma information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual initial public offering price, number of shares and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

The table below summarizes, as of June 30, 2018, on the pro forma basis described above, the number of shares of our common stock, the total consideration, and the average price per share (1) paid to us by our existing stockholders and (2) to be paid by new investors participating in this offering assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

    

 

Shares Purchased

    Total Consideration     Weighted-
Average
Price Per
Share
 
     Number      Percent     Amount      Percent  
     (in thousands)  

Existing stockholders

     15,793,160        72.5   $ 123,319,207        59.5   $ 7.81  

New investors

     6,000,000        27.5       84,000,000        40.5     14.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

     21,793,160        100.0   $ 207,319,207        100.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

In addition, if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the number of shares held by existing stockholders will be reduced to 69.6% of the total number of shares of common stock to be outstanding upon closing of this offering, and the number of shares of common stock held by new investors participating in this offering will be further increased to 30.4% of the total number of shares of common stock to be outstanding upon closing of the offering.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share would increase (decrease) total consideration paid by new investors by $6.0 million and increase (decrease) the percent of total consideration paid by new investors by 1.7%, assuming the number of shares we are offering, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions.

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering excludes:

 

   

2,900,842 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of June 30, 2018, with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.09 per share;

 

   

230,066 shares of common stock, as converted, issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2018, with a weighted-average exercise price of $8.69 per share;

 

   

26,613 additional shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2008 Stock Plan, which shares will cease to be available for issuance at the time our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan becomes effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering;

 

   

2,576,538 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as well as any increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering; and

 

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515,307 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as any increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering.

To the extent that any outstanding stock options or warrants are exercised, new options are issued under our stock-based compensation plans, or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. If all outstanding options under our 2008 Stock Plan as of June 30, 2018 and all outstanding warrants as of June 30, 2018 (other than warrants that will be automatically net exercised immediately prior to the closing of this offering) were exercised for cash, then our existing stockholders, including the holders of these options and warrants, would own 75.9% and our new investors would own 24.1% of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding upon the closing of this offering, respectively. In such event, the total consideration paid by our existing stockholders, including the holders of these options and warrants, would be $137.1 million, or 62.0%, the total consideration paid by our new investors would be $84.0 million, or 38.0%, the weighted-average price per share paid by our existing stockholders would be $7.25 and the price per share paid by our new investors would be $14.00.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included within this prospectus. The consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2016 and 2017, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The consolidated statements of operations data for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018, and the consolidated balance sheet data at June 30, 2018, are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future and our results for the six months ended June 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2016     2017     2017     2018  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

        

Revenue

   $ 42,101     $ 47,983     $ 22,531     $ 26,375  

Cost of goods sold

     5,165       5,112       2,566       2,230  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     36,936       42,871       19,965       24,145  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

        

Sales and marketing

     35,215       41,646       21,130       21,285  

Research and development

     6,380       5,513       2,768       2,502  

General and administrative

     12,906       13,062       6,737       4,972  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     54,501       60,221       30,635       28,759  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (17,565     (17,350     (10,670     (4,614

Interest and other income (expense), net:

        

Interest income

     71       175       73       130  

Interest expense

     (3,308     (6,204     (1,920     (2,544

Other income (expense), net

     213       340       66       (320
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (20,589     (23,039     (12,451     (7,348

Other comprehensive income:

        

Changes in foreign currency translation

     67       (70     (35     33  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (20,522   $ (23,109   $ (12,486   $ (7,315
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per common share, basic and diluted(1)

   $ (6.21   $ (6.65   $ (3.63   $ (2.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per common share(1)

     3,314,198       3,467,096       3,426,963       3,603,308  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per common share, basic and diluted (unaudited)(1)

     $ (1.50     $ (0.45
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Pro forma weighted-average number of common shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share (unaudited)(1)

       15,478,016         15,689,200  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for the method used to calculate net loss per common share, basic and diluted, and pro forma net loss per common share, basic and diluted, and weighted-average number of shares used in the computation of the per share amounts.

 

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     As of December 31,     As of June 30,
2018
 
     2016     2017  
     (in thousands)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 27,900     $ 22,408     $ 16,233  

Working capital

     22,938       26,091       20,040  

Total assets

     39,436       35,834       29,913  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock warrant liability

     588       422       646  

Total long-term borrowings

     29,310       38,704       38,834  

Total liabilities

     35,048       46,664       47,068  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock

     113,121       118,548       118,548  

Total stockholders’ deficit

     (108,733     (129,378     (135,703

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion and other parts of this prospectus contain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Some of the numbers included herein have been rounded for convenience of presentation. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those discussed in the section “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Overview

We are a medical device company that has pioneered a proprietary minimally invasive surgical implant system, which we call iFuse, to fuse the sacroiliac joint to treat sacroiliac joint dysfunction that often causes severe lower back pain. Since we introduced iFuse in 2009, more than 34,000 procedures have been performed by over 1,700 surgeons, in the United States and 33 other countries. Published clinical studies have shown that 15% to 30% of all chronic lower back pain is associated with the sacroiliac joint. We believe iFuse is currently used in the majority of minimally invasive surgical fusions of the sacroiliac joint in the United States.

The two sacroiliac joints are the largest joints in the body and connect the sacrum, near the base of the spine, to the iliac bones, the two major bones of the pelvis. The iFuse system includes a series of patented triangular implants, the instruments we have developed to enable the procedure, as well as the diagnostic and surgical techniques we have developed to enable physicians to perform the procedure. We introduced our second generation implant, the iFuse-3D, in 2017. We market our products with a direct sales force and a number of distributors in the United States, and with a combination of a direct sales force and distributors in other countries.

We have incurred net losses since our inception in 2008. During 2016 and 2017 and for the six months ended 2018 we had net losses of $20.6 million, $23.0 million, and $7.3 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $147.1 million. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements of equity securities, certain debt-related financing arrangements, and sales of our products. We have devoted substantially all of our resources to research and development of our products, reimbursement-related initiatives, sales and marketing activities, and clinical, quality assurance, and regulatory matters for our products.

Factors Affecting Results of Operations

Coverage and Reimbursement

As of August 31, 2018, U.S. payors covering 250 million lives reimburse for iFuse, 115 million of which are covered by private payors. There are a number of large and small private payors, including Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and Anthem, that are not yet reimbursing for the procedure. Some of these non-covering payors are reevaluating coverage given the latest data, but there can be no assurance they will reach positive coverage decisions.

Prior to our launch of iFuse in 2009, Medicare and most private insurance companies reimbursed surgeons routinely for sacroiliac joint fusions, which were primarily invasive. However, effective July 1, 2013, the AMA’s Editorial Panel effectively restricted reimbursement for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion because they considered the published clinical evidence at the time to be inadequate.

Subsequently, as a result of the growing number of published clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of iFuse, along with the support of several professional medical specialty societies and

 

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leading academic surgeons, the AMA Editorial Panel established a new reimbursement code for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion surgery, effective January 1, 2015. However, the new code did not immediately lead to positive coverage decisions by payors—in many cases, the payors wanted additional published evidence before deciding to cover the procedure. As a result, positive reimbursement decisions covering the procedure have occurred over the last few years, and some payors are still in the process of making decisions based on the most recent evidence.

Coverage decisions for this code are made independently by each private insurance company and each of the seven regional Medicare Administrative Contractors that help manage Medicare. The process of obtaining coverage is laborious. As of June 30, 2016, because of the iFuse clinical evidence, all Medicare Administrative Contractors were covering the procedure. At the time, very few private payors were covering. As of December 31, 2016, U.S. payors covering approximately 133 million lives regularly reimbursed for the iFuse procedure, and as of December 31, 2017, U.S. payors covering approximately 162 million lives regularly reimbursed for the iFuse procedure. However, as of August 31, 2018, 39 of the largest 65 private payors were covering regularly, or had announced coverage for, the iFuse procedure, while the remaining private payors were reevaluating their coverage policies. Of these, 23 private payors have issued positive coverage policies exclusive to iFuse for sacroiliac joint fusion because of the clinical evidence. Seventeen of these exclusive coverage policies have published since January 1, 2018, which we believe has contributed to our accelerating sales growth in our fiscal year 2018.

Our Sales Force

We market and sell iFuse primarily through a direct sales force and a number of third-party distributors. Our target customer base includes approximately 7,500 surgeons who perform spine and/or pelvic surgery, including orthopedic spine surgeons, neurosurgeons, general orthopedic surgeons, and orthopedic trauma surgeons.

Our direct sales organization in the United States is comprised of seven sales regions. Each region is comprised of a number of territory sales managers who act as the primary customer contact. Our territory sales managers have extensive training and experience selling medical devices for spine problems and pain management, generally focusing on emerging technologies and markets. As of June 30, 2018, our territory sales managers were led by seven regional sales managers who reported to our Vice President of U.S. Sales. The Vice President of U.S. Sales reports to our Chief Commercial Officer. As of June 30, 2018, our U.S. sales force consisted of 45 sales representatives directly employed by us and 30 third-party distributors.

In addition to general sales and marketing training, we provide our sales organization with comprehensive, hands-on cadaveric and dry-lab training sessions focusing on the clinical benefits of our products and how to use them. We believe our robust training and professional development programs have been an important component of our success to date and will help support our anticipated future growth. We expect to continue to increase the size of our sales organization in order to increase sales and market penetration and to provide the significant, ongoing level of customer support required by our sales and marketing strategy.

As of June 30, 2018, we had 28 employees working in our European operations, and have established operations in Italy (2010), Germany (2014), and the United Kingdom (2015). As of June 30, 2018, our international sales force consisted of 18 sales representatives directly employed by us and 27 exclusive third-party distributors, which together had sales in 33 countries through June 30, 2018. We anticipate continuing to build our operations in the major European countries while establishing distributor arrangements in smaller ones. We intend to follow a similar model in Europe to the one established in the United States, working with internationally recognized healthcare professional experts as we expand our training and reimbursement activities. As of June 30, 2018, beyond Europe and the United States, surgeons had performed the first iFuse procedures in Australia, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Taiwan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

 

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We have in the past and expect in the future to enter into different compensation arrangements with our sales professionals, which include minimum guaranteed commissions. This has impacted our compensation expenses in the past and we expect it will in the future.

Components of Results of Operations

Revenue

We derive substantially all our revenue from sales of iFuse. Revenue from sales of iFuse fluctuate based on volume of cases (procedures performed), discounts, mix of international and U.S. sales, and the number of implants used for a particular patient. Similar to other orthopedic companies, our revenue can also fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to a variety of factors, including reimbursement, sales force changes, physician activities, and seasonality. Our revenue from international sales may also be significantly impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar (our reporting currency) and the local currency.

Cost of Goods Sold, Gross Profit, and Gross Margin

We utilize third-party manufacturers for production of the iFuse implants and instrument sets. Cost of goods sold consists primarily of costs of the components of iFuse implants and instruments, scrap and inventory obsolescence, as well as distribution-related expenses such as logistics and shipping costs. We anticipate that our cost of goods sold will increase in absolute dollars as case levels increase.

In accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, effective January 1, 2013, we began to incur an excise tax on sales of medical devices in the United States. Effective December 2015, the Act was amended to include a provision to suspend the tax on medical devices through 2017. In January 2018, the suspension on the tax on medical devices was further extended through 2019. In July 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal this tax. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the matter in the fourth quarter of 2018. Our gross margins have been and will continue to be affected by a variety of factors, including the cost to have our products manufactured for us, pricing pressure from increasing competition, and the factors described above impacting our revenue. Our gross margins are typically higher on products we sell directly as compared to products we sell through third-party distributors. As a result, changes in the mix of direct versus distributor sales can directly influence gross margin.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consist of sales and marketing, research and development, and general and administrative expenses. Personnel costs are the most significant component of operating expenses and consist of salaries, sales commissions and other cash and stock-based compensation related expenses. We expect operating expenses to increase in absolute dollars, as we continue to invest and grow our business, but decrease as a percentage of revenue. In September 2017, we implemented cost-saving measures, which reduced our operational expenses though headcount reductions, reduced project spending, and more targeted marketing and surgeon training activities.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of salaries, stock-based compensation expense, and other compensation related costs, for personnel employed in sales, marketing, medical affairs, and professional education departments. In addition, our sales and marketing expenses include commissions and bonuses, generally based on a percentage of sales, to our sales managers and directors, direct sales representatives and third-party distributors. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to increase in absolute dollars with the continued commercialization of our current and future products and continued investment in our global sales organization, including broadening our relationships with third-party distributors, expanding exclusivity

 

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commitments among them and increasing the number of our direct sales representatives, especially with increased reimbursement and adoption in the United States. Our sales and marketing expenses may fluctuate from period to period due to the seasonality of our business and as we continue to add direct sales representatives in new territories.

Research and Development Expenses

Our research and development expenses primarily consist of engineering, product development, clinical and regulatory expenses (including clinical study expenses), and consulting services, outside prototyping services, outside research activities, materials, depreciation, and other costs associated with development of our products. Research and development expenses also include related personnel and consultants’ compensation and stock-based compensation expense. We expense research and development costs as they are incurred. We expect research and development expense to increase in absolute dollars as we develop new products, add research and development personnel, and undergo clinical activities, including more clinical studies to gain additional regulatory clearances and wider surgeon adoption.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses primarily consist of compensation, stock-based compensation expense, and other costs for finance, accounting, legal, compliance, reimbursement, and administrative matters. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars to support the growth of our business. We also expect to incur additional general and administrative expenses as a result of operating as a public company, including but not limited to: expenses related to compliance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and those of the Nasdaq Global Market on which our securities will be traded; additional insurance expenses; investor relations activities; and other administrative and professional services. While we expect the general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars, we anticipate that it will decrease as a percentage of revenue over time.

Interest Expense

Interest expense is related to borrowings and includes the amortization of debt discounts derived from the issuance of warrants.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net consists primarily of the changes in fair value of our preferred stock warrant liability and net gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions. In connection with this initial public offering, we expect that our preferred stock warrant liability will be settled.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our results of operations for the period presented:

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
             2016                 2017                 2017                 2018      
     (in thousands)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

        

Revenue

   $ 42,101     $ 47,983     $ 22,531     $ 26,375  

Cost of goods sold

     5,165       5,112       2,566       2,230  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     36,936       42,871       19,965       24,145  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

        

Sales and marketing

     35,215       41,646       21,130       21,285  

Research and development

     6,380       5,513       2,768       2,502  

General and administrative

     12,906       13,062       6,737       4,972  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     54,501       60,221       30,635       28,759  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (17,565     (17,350     (10,670     (4,614

Interest and other income (expense), net:

        

Interest income

     71       175       73       130  

Interest expense

     (3,308     (6,204     (1,920     (2,544

Other income (expense), net

     213       340       66       (320
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (20,589   $ (23,039   $ (12,451   $ (7,348
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table sets forth our results of operations as a percentage of revenue:

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2016     2017     2017     2018  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

        

Revenue

     100     100     100     100

Cost of goods sold

     12       11       11       8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     88       89       89       92  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

        

Sales and marketing

     84       87       94       81  

Research and development

     15       11       12       9  

General and administrative

     31       27       30       19  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     130       125       136       109  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (42     (36     (47     (17

Interest and other income (expense), net:

        

Interest income

                        

Interest expense

     (8     (13     (8     (10

Other income (expense), net

     1       1       0       (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (49 )%      (48 )%      (55 )%      (28 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The following table sets forth our United States and international revenue:

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Six Months Ended June 30,  
         2016              2017              2017              2018      
     (in thousands)  

United States

   $ 38,791      $ 43,351      $ 20,385      $ 23,456  

International

     3,310        4,632        2,146        2,919  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 42,101      $ 47,983      $ 22,531      $ 26,375  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table sets forth our United States and international revenue as a percentage of our total revenue:

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2016     2017     2017     2018  

United States

     92     90     90     89

International

     8       10       10       11  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     100     100     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2018

Revenue, Cost of Goods Sold, Gross Profit, and Gross Margin

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,              
         2017             2018         $ Change     % Change  
     (in thousands, except for percentages)  

Revenue

   $ 22,531     $ 26,375     $ 3,844       17

Cost of goods sold

     2,566       2,230       (336     (13 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross profit

   $ 19,965     $ 24,145     $ 4,180       21
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross margin

     89     92    

Revenue. Revenue increased $3.8 million, or 17%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017. The majority of the increase is due to $3.0 million of growth from domestic sales as a result of higher sales force productivity and improved U.S. reimbursement coverage. In addition, international revenue increased $0.8 million as a result of an expanded international direct sales force and improving reimbursement coverage in Europe.

Cost of Goods Sold, Gross Profit, and Gross Margin. Total cost of goods sold decreased $0.3 million, or 13%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in cost of goods sold is primarily due to $0.5 million of cost control measures related to reduced headcount in operations that more than offset the increase in direct product costs from higher case volumes. Gross profit increased $4.2 million, or 21%, to $24.1 million due to higher revenue and lower cost of goods sold.

 

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Operating Expenses

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,               
         2017              2018          $ Change     % Change  
     (in thousands, except for percentages)  

Sales and marketing

   $ 21,130      $ 21,285      $ 155       1

Research and development

     2,768        2,502        (266     (10 )% 

General and administrative

     6,737        4,972        (1,765     (26 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

   $ 30,635      $ 28,759      $ (1,876  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased $0.2 million, or 1%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily due to $0.9 million in increased salaries, commissions, and related expenses due to an increase in the number of sales representatives hired late in the first quarter of 2017 to support the growth of our business. This increase was largely offset by a $0.5 million decrease in the level of spending on general marketing costs related to a shift in marketing effort from print media to less expensive digital media, as well as other cost control measures that were put in place at the end of the third quarter of 2017. The increased compensation costs were also offset by a $0.3 million decrease in surgeon training costs, including training facilities and consulting surgeon costs due to continued focus on maximizing class sizes to more fully leverage training events.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 10%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease was primarily due to a $0.3 million reduction in compensation expense related to cost control measures put in place at the end of the third quarter 2017.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased $1.8 million, or 26%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of $0.5 million in compensation expense due to the write-off of principal and interest due on a promissory note from our Chief Executive Officer in the first half of 2017, with no similar write-offs in the six months ended June 30, 2018. In addition, there were decreases of $0.4 million in legal costs for patent and general corporate matters, $0.3 million in audit and accounting fees, $0.2 million in compensation expense as a result of a decrease in headcount, $0.1 million in travel expense, and $0.2 million of recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Interest and Other Income (Expense), Net

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,              
         2017             2018         $ Change     % Change  
     (in thousands except for percentages)  

Interest income

   $ 73     $ 130     $ 57       78

Interest expense

     (1,920     (2,544     (624     33  

Other income (expense), net

     66       (320     (386     NM  

Interest Income. Interest income increased $0.1 million, or 78%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017 due to investment of excess cash in money market funds.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $0.6 million, or 33%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017, primarily due to a $10.0 million increase in the level of borrowings associated with closing a new debt arrangement in October 2017.

Other Income (Expense), Net. Other income (expense), net, decreased $0.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to losses related to the change in the fair value of our preferred stock warrants outstanding, which are accounted for as a liability and revalued at each reporting period, and foreign currency exchange losses.

 

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Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2017

Revenue, Cost of Goods Sold, Gross Profit, and Gross Margin

 

     Years Ended December 31,              
         2016             2017         $ Change     % Change  
     (in thousands except for percentages)  

Revenue

   $ 42,101     $ 47,983     $ 5,882       14

Cost of goods sold

     5,165       5,112       (53     (1 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross profit

   $ 36,936     $ 42,871     $ 5,935       16
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross margin

     88     89    

Revenue. Revenue increased $5.9 million, or 14%, from 2016 to 2017. The increase of $5.9 million was primarily due to an increase of $4.6 million from growth of domestic revenue from additional hiring of sales personnel and improved U.S. reimbursement coverage. In addition, we had $1.3 million from growth of international revenue from our branch in the United Kingdom, increased sales force productivity in Germany, and new business in Australia and Taiwan.

Cost of Goods Sold, Gross Profit, and Gross Margin. Total cost of goods sold decreased $0.1 million, or 1%, from 2016 to 2017. This is primarily due to the reduction in inventory write-offs from improved inventory level management, offset by the increase in direct product costs from higher case volumes. Gross profit increased $5.9 million, or 16%, to $42.9 million from 2016 to 2017 due to higher revenue and relatively flat cost of goods sold.

Operating Expenses

 

     Years Ended December 31,               
         2016              2017          $ Change     % Change  
     (in thousands except for percentages)  

Sales and marketing

   $ 35,215      $ 41,646      $ 6,431       18

Research and development

     6,380        5,513        (867     (14 )% 

General and administrative

     12,906        13,062        156       1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

   $ 54,501      $ 60,221      $ 5,720    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased $6.4 million, or 18%, from 2016 to 2017 from increased efforts to support higher revenues. The increase was primarily due to $4.7 million in increased salaries, guaranteed minimum commissions, and related expenses from higher headcount, $0.9 million in increased commissions due to higher revenues, $0.7 million in increased general marketing expenses, and $0.2 million in surgeon training programs.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses decreased $0.9 million, or 14%, from 2016 to 2017. The decrease was partially due to a $0.4 million reduction in salaries and related expenditures, from lower headcount, a $0.3 million reduction in clinical trial expense as the INSITE and SIFI studies mature, and a decrease of $0.2 million in reduced consulting expense from lower engineering project spending.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased $0.2 million, or 1%, from 2016 to 2017. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $0.9 million in salaries and employee related costs, including the forgiveness of a loan to the Chief Executive Officer for $0.5 million. This increase was offset by a decrease of $0.3 million in external professional fees related to reimbursement related activities

 

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and a decrease of $0.3 million in accounting fees. Included in general administrative expenses is $1.5 million and $1.3 million in public offering costs previously recorded on the consolidated balance sheet, which were written off in 2016 and 2017, respectively, as a result of delays in the public offering process.

Interest and Other Income (Expense), Net

 

     Years Ended December 31,     $ Change     % Change  
         2016             2017      
     (in thousands except for percentages)  

Interest income

   $ 71     $ 175     $ 104       146

Interest expense

     (3,308     (6,204     (2,896     88

Other income (expense), net

     213       340       127       60

Interest Income. Interest income increased $0.1 million, or 146%, from 2016 to 2017 due to investment of excess cash in money market funds.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $2.9 million, or 88%, from 2016 to 2017 primarily due to the extinguishment of a credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, and Oxford Finance LLC, or Oxford, in October 2017. The extinguishment resulted in $1.5 million in early termination fees and we expensed an additional $0.7 million of unamortized debt discounts. In conjunction with the extinguishment, we entered into a new term loan with Pharmakon, or the New Term Loan, with an increased principal balance from $30.6 million to $40.0 million resulting in an increase in interest of approximately $0.2 million. In December 2016, we also had drawn an additional $4.0 million in debt, resulting in $0.4 million of higher interest expense in 2017.

Other Income (Expense), Net. Other income (expense), net, increased $0.1 million or 60%, from 2016 to 2017, as a result in losses related to the change in the fair value of outstanding preferred stock warrants, which are accounted for as a liability and revalued at each reporting period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of June 30, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $16.2 million. Since inception, we have financed our operations through private placements of preferred stock, debt financing arrangements, and the sale of our products. As of June 30, 2018, we had $38.8 million principal amount of outstanding debt, net of debt discounts.

As of June 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $147.1 million. During 2017 and the six months ended June 30, 2018 we incurred net losses of $23.0 million and $7.3 million, respectively, and expect to incur additional losses in the future. We have not achieved positive cash flow from operations to date. We evaluated our current cash position, historical results, forecasted cashflows, and plans in regards to liquidity. We further considered the debt covenants associated with our current debt agreement. These covenants require us to maintain a minimum cash balance of $5.0 million and revenue targets. Beginning with the three months ended March 31, 2019, we are required to meet either revenue or earnings targets. If we do not comply with these covenants, the debt will immediately become due. Considering all of these factors, we believe, absent this offering, that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the next 12 months.

Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least the next 12 months from the date of this offering. We continue to face challenges and uncertainties and, as a result, our available capital resources may be consumed more rapidly than currently expected due to (a) decreases in sales of our products and the uncertainty of future revenues from new products; (b) changes we may make to the business that affect ongoing operating expenses; (c) changes we may make in our business strategy; (d) regulatory developments affecting our existing products; (e) changes we may make in our research and development spending plans; and (f) other items affecting our forecasted level of expenditures and use of cash resources.

 

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If we need to raise additional capital to fund our operations, funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or suspend one or more of our sales and marketing efforts, research and development activities, or other operations. We may seek to raise any necessary additional capital through a combination of public or private equity offerings, debt financings, and collaborations or licensing arrangements. If we do raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect our stockholders’ rights. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, we may be subject to covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, or declaring dividends. If we are unable to raise capital, we will need to delay, reduce, or terminate planned activities to reduce costs. Doing so will likely harm our ability to execute our business plans.

Borrowings

In October 2015, we entered into a term loan facility and a revolving line of credit with SVB and Oxford, or Term Loan, for $35.2 million. The first tranche of the Term Loan closed in October 2015 for $16.2 million, the proceeds of which were used to pay off previous loans with SVB of $15.5 million and final fees of $0.7 million related to the previous loans. Prepayment fees on the then existing debt facilities were waived. We drew the second tranche of $10.0 million in November 2015 and the third tranche of $4.0 million in December 2016. The maturity date of the Term Loan was December 1, 2019, and it carried an interest rate equal to the greater of 11% or the WSJ Prime rate plus 7.75%.

In connection with this agreement, we also issued to SVB and Oxford warrants to purchase, in the aggregate, 63,622 shares of our Series 6 preferred stock, with an exercise price of $16.47 per share. Subsequently, in August 2016, we amended the agreement to extend the draw period of the fourth tranche for an additional three months. In conjunction with the additional draw of the Term Loan, we issued an additional 9,712 warrants for the purchase of Series 7 preferred stock at an exercise price of $10.03 per share in December 2016. In February 2017, we amended the agreement to extend the interest only period by six months to October 2017 and extended the draw period of the fourth tranche through January 2018.

In October 2017, we extinguished the Term Loan and revolving line of credit facility with SVB and Oxford and concurrently, entered into the New Term Loan with Pharmakon for $40.0 million. The New Term Loan includes an interest-only period for 35 months through September 2020 and is then repaid for 25 months of equal principal payments plus interest through December 2022. The New Term Loan carries a fixed interest rate of 11.5% and a closing fee of 1.5% of the funded amount, or $0.6 million. The New Term Loan includes a pre-payment fee of the remaining interest payable for the first 30 months of the agreement if it is prepaid within the first 30 months, a 2% prepayment penalty for months 31-48, and a 1% penalty for months 49-60. The New Term Loan requires us to maintain a minimum cash balance of $5.0 million and revenue targets. Beginning with the three months ended March 31, 2019, we are required to meet either revenue or earnings targets. Under the New Term Loan, we also have a second tranche of $10.0 million available through January 2019, contingent upon the achievement of certain revenue milestones. The New Term Loan is collateralized by all of our assets, including intellectual property.

As of December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018, we were in compliance with all of our debt obligations and covenants.

 

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Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2017:

 

     Payments Due By Period         
     Total      Less than
1 year
     1-3 years      4-5 years      More than
5 years
 
     (in thousands)  

Principal obligations on the debt arrangements(1)

   $ 40,000      $      $ 4,444      $ 35,556      $      —  

Interest obligations on the debt arrangements(1)

     18,658        4,664        9,341        4,653         

Operating leases(2)

     967        721        169        77         

Purchase obligations

     146        146                       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 59,771      $ 5,531      $ 13,954      $ 40,286      $  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

For further discussion, see Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements.

(2)

Operating lease obligations consist primarily of lease payments for our San Jose, California facility and Europe facilities.

In February 2018, we entered into a new seven-year lease for our Santa Clara, California facility. The total commitment is $5.1 million.

Cash Flows

The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented below:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
             
     2017     2018     $ Change     % Change  
     (in thousands, except for percentages)  

Net cash (used in) provided by:

        

Operating activities

   $ (9,520   $ (5,673   $ 3,847       (40 )% 

Investing activities

     (274     (715     (441     161

Financing activities

     5,218       208       (5,010     (96 )% 

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     27       5       (22     (82 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (4,549   $ (6,175   $ (1,626  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
   

 

   

 

 
     2016     2017     $ Change     % Change  
     (in thousands, except for percentages)  

Net cash (used in) provided by:

        

Operating activities

   $ (16,753   $ (17,530   $ (777     5

Investing activities

     (441     (478     (37     (8 )% 

Financing activities

     24,755       12,862       (11,893     (48 )% 

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     67       (346     (413     (617 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 7,628     $ (5,492   $ (13,120  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Cash Used in Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities decreased $3.8 million, or 40%, from the six months ended June 30, 2017 to the six months ended June 30, 2018. The decrease in the net cash used in operating activities was primarily due to a decrease of $5.1 million in our net loss, offset by a decrease of $1.3 million in accounts payable related to the timing of payments made.

 

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Net cash used in operating activities increased $0.8 million, or 5%, from 2016 to 2017. The increase in the net cash used in operating activities was primarily due to an increase of $2.5 million in our net loss, an increase of $1.2 million in accounts receivable, an increase of $2.2 million in inventory, and an increase in prepaid and other assets of $0.1 million. These uses of cash were partially offset by an increase of $2.3 million in accounts payable, and an increase of $1.8 million in accrued liabilities, as well as non-cash adjustments for the write-off of a debt discount of $0.7 million and the forgiveness of a note receivable of $0.4 million.

Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased $0.4 million, or 161%, from the six months ended June 30, 2017 to the six months ended June 30, 2018. Cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 primarily consisted of leasehold improvements related to the new building lease entered into in February 2018 of $0.6 million. Cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily consisted of instrument set purchases of $0.3 million. The instrument sets are carried by our sales representatives and used during iFuse procedures.

Net cash used in investing activities was relatively constant from 2016 to 2017 and consisted primarily of instrument set purchases.

Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities decreased $5.0 million, or 96%, from the six months ended June 30, 2017 to the six months ended June 30, 2018. Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 consisted primarily of net proceeds of $5.4 million from the issuance of Series 7 preferred stock from February through March 2017, offset by payments for public offering costs of $0.3 million. Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 consisted of proceeds from exercises of common stock options of $0.2 million.

Cash provided by financing activities decreased $11.9 million, or 48%, from 2016 to 2017. Cash provided by financing activities during 2016 consisted of net proceeds of $20.3 million from the issuance of Series 7 preferred stock from June through August 2016 and proceeds from additional debt financing of $4.0 million in December 2016. Cash provided by financing activities during 2017 consisted of net proceeds of $5.4 million from the issuance of Series 7 preferred stock from February through March 2017 and proceeds of $40 million from debt financing, offset by $29.1 million in extinguishment of debt financing, $1.1 million in repayment of debt financing, payments of debt issuance costs of $1.5 million, and payments of public offering costs of $1.3 million.

Critical Accounting Policies, Significant Judgments, and Use of Estimates

This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported revenue generated, and expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s judgments and estimates. For more detail on our critical accounting policies, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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Revenue Recognition

Our revenue is derived from the sale of our products to medical groups and hospitals through our direct sales force and distributors throughout the United States and Europe.

In accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, we recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, title and risk of loss has transferred to the customer, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. For the majority of product sales where our sales representative delivers the product at the point of implantation at hospitals or other medical facilities, we recognize revenue related to product sales upon completion of the procedure and authorization by the customer. Revenue is recognized upon receipt of a purchase agreement or agreement on pricing terms with the customer and when all other revenue recognition criteria are met. For the remaining sales, which include distributor and hospital sales where the product is ordered in advance of a procedure and a valid purchase order has been received, we recognize revenue based on shipping or delivery, which represents the point in time when the customer has taken ownership and assumed risk of loss and the required revenue recognition criteria are met. Such customers are obligated to pay within specified terms regardless of when or if they ever sell or use the products, and we have no post-delivery obligations.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure our stock-based awards made to employees based on the estimated fair value of the awards as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Stock-based compensation cost is recognized over the requisite service period using the straight-line method and is based on the value of the portion of stock-based payment awards ultimately expected to vest.

Equity instruments issued to nonemployees are recorded at their fair value on the measurement date and are subject to periodic adjustment as the underling equity instruments vest. We believe that the estimated fair value of the stock options is more readily measurable than the fair value of the services received. Stock-based compensation related to stock options granted to nonemployees is recognized as the stock options are earned.

In July 2016, we modified the terms of 575,742 vested and unvested stock option awards by reducing their exercise price to the fair value of our common stock on the date of modification which resulted in an incremental value of $0.4 million being allocated to the options. In December 2017, we modified the terms of 394,656 unvested stock option awards by reducing their exercise price to the fair value of our common stock on the date of modification and removing the vesting performance conditions for the awards which resulted in a fair value expense of $0.8 million for the options.

We recorded total non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1.4 million during both 2016 and 2017. At June 30, 2018, we had $2.2 million of total unrecognized employee stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to stock option grants. This amount will be recognized as expense over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years. We expect to continue to grant stock options in the future, and, to the extent that we do, our actual stock-based compensation expense recognized in future periods will likely increase.

The intrinsic value of all outstanding options as of June 30, 2018 was $28.8 million based on the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, of which $24.6 million related to vested options and $4.2 million related to unvested options.

Determining Fair Value of Stock Options

We recognize compensation costs related to stock-based awards granted to employees and directors, including stock options, based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant. We estimate the grant date fair value, and the resulting stock-based compensation, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The grant date fair value of the stock-based awards is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective awards.

 

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The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of subjective assumptions to determine the fair value of stock-based awards. These assumptions include:

 

   

Expected Term—The expected term represents the period that stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term for option grants is determined using the simplified method. The simplified method deems the expected term to be the midpoint between the vesting date and the contractual life of the stock-based awards.

 

   

Expected Volatility—Since we have been privately held and do not have any trading history for our common stock, the expected volatility was estimated based on the average volatility for comparable publicly traded companies over a period equal to the expected term of the stock option grants. The comparable companies were chosen based on their similar size, stage in the life cycle, or area of specialty.

 

   

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of option.

 

   

Expected Dividend—We have never paid dividends on our common stock and have no plans to pay dividends on our common stock. Therefore, we used an expected dividend yield of zero.

Our board of directors intends all options granted to be exercisable at a price per share not less than the per share fair value of our common stock underlying those options on the date of grant. The estimated fair value of our common stock was determined at each valuation date in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation. Our board of directors, with the assistance of management, developed these valuations using significant judgment and taking into account numerous factors, including developments at our company, market conditions, and contemporaneous independent third-party valuations. In valuing our common stock, the fair value of our business, or enterprise value, was determined using both the income approach and market approach. The income approach estimates value based on the expectation of future cash flows that a company will generate. These future cash flows are discounted to their present values using a discount rate based on the capital rates of return for venture-backed early stage companies and is adjusted to reflect the risks inherent in our cash flows. The market approach estimates value based on a comparison of the subject company to comparable public companies in a similar line of business. From the comparable companies, a representative market value multiple is determined and then applied to the subject company’s financial results to estimate the value of the subject company.

The enterprise values derived from the approaches discussed above were then allocated to each of our classes of stock using a hybrid methodology, which included both the Option Pricing Method, or OPM, and the Probability Weighted Expected Return Method, or PWERM. The allocation of these enterprise values to each part of our capital structure, including our common stock, was done based on the OPM. OPM treats the rights of the holders of preferred and common shares as equivalent to call options on any value of the enterprise above certain breakpoints of value based upon the liquidation preferences of the holders of preferred shares, as well as their rights to participation and conversion. Thus, the estimated value of the common stock can be determined by estimating the value of its portion of each of these call option rights. The OPM is appropriate to use when the range of possible future outcomes is difficult to predict and thus creates highly speculative forecasts. The OPM backsolve method derives the implied enterprise value of a company from a recent transaction involving our own securities issued on an arms-length basis. Under the PWERM the value is estimated based upon analysis of future values for the enterprise under varying scenarios, probabilities are ascribed to these scenarios based on expected future outcomes. PWERM involves a forward-looking analysis of the possible future outcomes of the enterprise. This method is particularly useful when discrete future outcomes can be predicted at a relatively high confidence level with a probability distribution. Discrete future outcomes considered under the PWERM include an initial public offering scenarios.

After the equity value is determined and allocated to the various classes of shares, a discount for lack of marketability, or DLOM, is applied to arrive at the fair value of common stock. A DLOM is applied based on the

 

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theory that as an owner of a private company stock, the stockholder has limited opportunities to sell this stock and any such sale would involve significant transaction costs, thereby reducing overall fair market value.

Following the closing of this offering, the fair value of our common stock will be determined based on the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market.

Preferred Stock Warrant Liability

We have issued freestanding warrants to purchase shares of common and preferred stock in connection with our prior debt facilities. We account for these warrants as a liability in our consolidated financial statements because the underlying instrument into which the warrants are exercisable contains deemed liquidation provisions that are outside our control.

The warrants were recorded at fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The warrants are re-measured at each financial reporting period with any changes in fair value being recognized as a component of other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. We will continue to adjust the liability for changes in fair value until the earlier of (i) exercise or expiration of the warrants, or (ii) the closing of an initial public offering, at which time certain preferred stock warrants will be converted into warrants to purchase common stock and the liability will be reclassified to additional paid-in capital, if they qualify for equity classification.

Common Stock Warrants

We account for warrants for shares of common stock as equity in accordance with the accounting guidance for derivatives. The accounting guidance provides a scope exception from classifying and measuring as a financial liability a contract that would otherwise meet the definition of a derivative if the contract is both (i) indexed to the entity’s own stock and (ii) classified in the stockholders’ deficit section of the consolidated balance sheet. We determined that the warrants for shares of common stock issued in connection with our prior debt facilities. We estimate the fair value of our warrants for shares of common stock by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Warrants classified as equity are recorded as additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheet and no further adjustments to their valuation are made after the issuance of the warrants.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. We assess the likelihood that the resulting deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

As of December 31, 2017, we had net operating loss carryforwards of $124.9 million and $101.7 million available to reduce future taxable income, if any, for federal and state income tax purposes, respectively. If not utilized, our federal and state net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2029 and 2019, respectively, and valuation allowances have been established, where necessary. We also have research credit carryforwards of approximately $1.6 million and $1.7 million available to reduce future taxable income, if any, for both federal and California state income tax purposes, respectively. The federal credits begin to expire in 2030, and the California credits have no expiration date. Realization of these net operating loss and research credit carryforwards could expire unused and be unavailable to reduce future income tax liabilities, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

We did not record a provision or benefit for income taxes during the six months ended June 30, 2017 or 2018. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

 

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We assess all material positions taken in any income tax return, including all significant uncertain positions, in all tax years that are still subject to assessment or challenge by relevant taxing authorities. Assessing an uncertain tax position begins with the initial determination of the positions sustainability and is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. As of each balance sheet date, unresolved uncertain tax positions must be reassessed, and we will determine whether (i) the factors underlying the sustainability assertion have changed and (ii) the amount of the recognized tax benefit is still appropriate. The recognition and measurement of tax benefits requires significant judgment. Judgments concerning the recognition and measurement of a tax benefit may change as new information becomes available.

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 limits the use of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards in certain situations where changes occur in the stock ownership of a company. We have determined that we experienced Section 382 ownership changes in 2010 and $1.4 million of our NOL carryforwards are subject to limitation.

On December 22, 2017, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Tax Act, was enacted into law and the new legislation contains several key tax provisions that affected us, including a reduction of the corporate income tax rate to 21% effective January 1, 2018, among others. We are required to recognize the effect of the tax law changes in the period of enactment, such as remeasuring our U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities as well as reassessing the net realizability of our deferred tax assets and liabilities. In December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (SAB 118), which allows us to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date. We consider the accounting of the deferred tax re-measurements to be complete. However, ongoing guidance and accounting interpretation are expected in the near term and we expect to complete our analysis relating to this guidance and interpretation within the measurement period in accordance with SAB 118.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During 2016 and 2017 and for the six months ended June 30, 2018, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated organizations or financial partnerships, such as structured finance or special purpose entities that would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Seasonality

Our business is affected by seasonal variations. For instance, we have historically experienced lower sales in the summer months and higher sales in the last quarter of the fiscal year. However, taken as a whole, seasonality does not have a material impact on our financial results.

JOBS Act Accounting Election

In April 2012, the JOBS Act was enacted. Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption and, therefore, we will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to interest rate risks related to our cash and cash equivalents. We had cash and cash equivalents of $22.4 million and $16.2 million as of December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018, respectively, which

 

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consist of bank deposits and money market funds. Our cash balance consisted of bank deposits and money market funds in 2017. Such interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk; however, historical fluctuations in interest income have not been significant.

We had outstanding debt of $38.7 million and $38.8 million as of December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018, which accrues interest at a fixed rate of 11.5%. In the ordinary course of business, we may enter into contractual arrangements to reduce our exposure to interest rate risks. We do not believe that a 10% change in interest rates would have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We operate in countries other than the United States, and, therefore, we are exposed to foreign currency risks. We bill most direct sales outside of the United States in local currencies, which are mostly comprised of the Euro and the British Pound. Operating expenses related to these sales are largely denominated in the same respective currency, thereby limiting our transaction risk exposure. We do not believe that a 10% change in foreign currency exchange rates would have a significant impact on our net income. We do not currently hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; however, we may choose to hedge our exposure in the future.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which required an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 for public companies, and for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, for private companies. Early application is permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in ASU 2014-09. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which clarifies certain aspects of identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which relates to disclosures of remaining performance obligations, as well as other amendments to guidance on collectability, non-cash consideration, and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes collected from customers. These standards have the same effective date and transition date as ASU 2014-09. Our management is undergoing its assessment of the new standard, which includes the review of contracts and revenue channels, and will adopt the standard for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. ASU 2015-11 simplifies the guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory, excluding inventory measured using last-in, first out or the retail inventory method. Under the new standard, in scope inventory should be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The new standard will become effective for fiscal years, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016, for public companies. For all other entities, the new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We have adopted this standard for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. ASU 2015-17 specifies that deferred tax assets and liabilities shall be classified as noncurrent, or long-term, in a

 

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classified statement of financial position. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For private entities, the new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Earlier application is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or an annual reporting period. We have early adopted this standard for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued its new lease accounting guidance. Under the new guidance, ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The new lease guidance simplifies the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessor’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control use of, a specified asset for the lease term for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the adoption date. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 for public companies and beginning after December 15, 2019 for private companies. Early adoption is permitted for any interim or annual financial statements net yet issued. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. We are currently evaluating the impact of this standard on our consolidated financial statements, and anticipate adopting the standard for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, which simplified several aspects of accounting for stock-based compensation transactions. The areas for simplification in this update involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those years. Other entities must apply the new guidance in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and in interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2017 by recording the cumulative impact of applying this guidance to retained earnings, which was not material. We elected to continue to estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on the following eight specific cash flow classification issues: (1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; (2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; (3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; (5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies; (6) distributions received from equity method investees; (7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and (8) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. Current GAAP does not include specific guidance on these eight cash flow classification issues. The amendments of this ASU are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 for public companies, and reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 for private companies, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2016-15 on our consolidated financial statements, and anticipate adopting the standard for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of

 

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the change in terms or conditions. The standard is effective for all entities for fiscal years, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. We have adopted this standard for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception. Part I applies to entities that issue financial instruments such as warrants, convertible debt or convertible preferred stock that contain down-round features. Part II replaces the indefinite deferral for certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests and mandatorily redeemable financial instruments of nonpublic entities contained within ASC Topic 480 with a scope exception and does not impact the accounting for these mandatorily redeemable instruments. For public business entities, the amendments in Part I of this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. For all other entities, the amendments in Part I of this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements, and anticipate adopting the standard for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). This update provides companies with the option to reclassify stranded tax effects caused by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the 2017 Tax Act, from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. This standard is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements, and anticipate adopting the standard for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. ASU 2018-07 supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity—Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than a company’s adoption date of ASC 606. We are evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements, and anticipate adopting the standard for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

 

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BUSINESS

Overview

We are a medical device company that has pioneered a proprietary minimally invasive surgical implant system, which we call iFuse, to fuse the sacroiliac joint to treat sacroiliac joint dysfunction that often causes severe lower back pain. Since we introduced iFuse in 2009, more than 34,000 procedures have been performed by over 1,700 surgeons, in the United States and 33 other countries. Published clinical studies have shown that 15% to 30% of all chronic lower back pain is associated with the sacroiliac joint. We believe iFuse is currently used in the majority of minimally invasive surgical fusions of the sacroiliac joint in the United States.

The two sacroiliac joints are the largest joints in the body and connect the sacrum, near the base of the spine, to the iliac bones, the two major bones of the pelvis. The iFuse system includes a series of patented triangular implants, the instruments we have developed to enable the procedure, as well as the diagnostic and surgical techniques we have developed to enable physicians to perform the procedure. We introduced our second generation implant, the iFuse-3D, in 2017. We market our products with a direct sales force and a number of distributors in the United States, and with a combination of a direct sales force and distributors in other countries.

Our growth rate has recently increased, which we attribute in part to more widespread insurance coverage for sacroiliac fusion procedures, with many recent positive payor coverage policies exclusive to our iFuse system, as well as our efforts to educate the market regarding sacroiliac dysfunction. Since January 1, 2018, because of the strength of published clinical evidence on iFuse, 18 U.S. payors have published reimbursement policies exclusively covering the patented triangular design of our iFuse implants and excluding coverage of other products that are intended to fuse the sacroiliac joint. We believe that the full impact of each exclusive coverage decision grows over time as we continue to educate surgeons about the coverage and the medical criteria they need to follow, and train them on the diagnosis and how to perform the iFuse procedure.

In 2016 and 2017, we generated revenue of $42.1 million and $48.0 million, respectively, a growth rate of 14%, and incurred net losses of $20.6 million and $23.0 million, respectively. Our gross margins were 88% and 89% for 2016 and 2017, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018, we generated revenue of $22.5 million and $26.4 million, respectively, a growth rate of 17%, and incurred net losses of $12.5 million and $7.3 million, respectively. Our gross margins were 89% and 92% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The number of iFuse procedures performed in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2018 was 2,739 and 3,200, respectively.

Our implants have a triangular cross section, which resists twisting of the implant within the bone in which it is implanted, helping stabilize the joint even before fixation of the bone onto the implant, or bony ingrowth, which results in fusion. Products from our competitors use screws to treat the sacroiliac joint, which do not resist twisting within the bone as well as our patented triangular implants. A study we performed showed that our iFuse implants have more than six times the rotation resistance of a screw designed for sacroiliac joint fusion. We hold issued patents on implants with cross-sections of many non-round shapes, including the triangular shape we use for iFuse. We also hold issued patents for the method of placing those implants across the sacroiliac joint, as well as other parts of the spine and pelvis. Each titanium iFuse implant is at least three times the strength of a typical eight-millimeter surgical screw and the larger porous surface area of our implants allows for bony ingrowth. Three of our implants are typically used in each procedure.

The safety, clinical effectiveness, durability of pain relief and reduction in disability, cost effectiveness, and reduction in opioid use that result from iFuse are supported by a large number of studies that have resulted in more than 60 published papers. Several of these papers publish results from three prospective multicenter studies (INSITE, SIFI, and iMIA), two of which were randomized controlled clinical trials. Additionally, there have been several studies showing longer-term follow-up of up to six years.

 

   

INSITE is a randomized controlled study conducted in the United States. Positive 24-month follow-up results were published in August 2016 in the International Journal of Spine Surgery showing

 

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statistically significant and clinically important reduction in pain and disability after sacroiliac joint fusion but very little response to maximal non-surgical treatment. In April 2015, INSITE was awarded the “Best Overall Paper” out of approximately 450 submitted clinical study papers at the International Society for Advancement of Spine Surgery, or ISASS, conference.

 

   

iMIA is a randomized controlled study conducted in Europe. Positive six-month follow-up results were published in European Spine Journal in May 2016, and the 12 follow-up results were published in August 2017 in Pain Physician. 24-month results are currently under review at an orthopedic journal. Like INSITE, results from iMIA show statistically significant and clinically profound reduction in pain and disability after SI joint fusion but little improvement after non-surgical treatment.

 

   

SIFI is a single-arm study conducted in the United States. Positive 24-month follow-up results were published in the International Journal of Spine Surgery in April 2016, showing substantial and sustained reduction in pain and disability.

 

   

LOIS is a prospective follow-on study, enrolling subjects at a subset of INSITE and SIFI sites treated with iFuse. Study outcomes at three years were published in April 2018 in Medical Devices: Evidence and Research. Amongst 103 enrolled subjects, mean sacroiliac joint pain at three years decreased from 81.5 preoperatively to 26.2 (a 56-point improvement from baseline, p<.0001). A manuscript showing sustained improvement in pain and disability at four-year follow-up was recently accepted for publication.

 

   

A study in Neurosurgery published in April 2017 showed similar improvements in pain and disability in patients followed for up to six years. The study also showed a substantial reduction in the number of subjects using opioids in patients treated with iFuse at their last follow-up visit. At the last follow-up visit, 84% of patients who received non-surgical management were using opioids, while only 7% of patients treated with iFuse were using opioids.

The INSITE clinical trial included 148 subjects treated at 19 centers in the United States, with subjects randomized in a two-to-one ratio to either immediate sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse or non-surgical management. The study design allowed subjects in the non-surgical management group to cross over and have surgery after six months. By 24 months after the start of the clinical trial, 89% of the non-surgical management group subjects still participating in the trial had elected to cross over to have the iFuse procedure, primarily because they derived little clinical benefit from non-surgical treatments. The study’s results can be summarized as follows:

 

   

Reduction in Pain. There was a statistically significant and clinically important pain reduction in subjects treated with iFuse as compared to very small responses in those treated with non-surgical management. Subjects surgically treated with iFuse had mean 52- 54- and 55-point reductions in sacroiliac joint pain at 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively, as measured by the VAS. By contrast, subjects in the non-surgical management group had only a mean 12-point reduction (p<0.0001) at six months. 12 points is below the commonly accepted 20-point threshold for clinically important improvement. In addition, the non-surgical management group subjects who elected after six months to cross over to have the iFuse procedure had pain reduction similar to that seen in subjects originally assigned to sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse. At 24 months, the proportion of subjects with a reduction in VAS sacroiliac joint pain of 20 or more points due to the assigned treatment only was 83% in the iFuse group and 10% in the non-surgical management group.

 

   

Reduction in Disability. There was a statistically significant and clinically important reduction in disability in subjects treated with iFuse as compared to very little response in those treated with non-surgical management. Subjects surgically treated with iFuse had a mean 27-point reduction in disability at six months, on the 0–100 Oswestry Disability Index, or ODI, while subjects in the non-surgical management group had only a mean five-point reduction (p<0.0001). Five points is less than the commonly accepted 15-point threshold to denote a clinically important response. At 24 months, the iFuse group had a mean 28-point reduction in ODI. At six months, the proportion of

 

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subjects with ODI improvements of at least 15 points was 72.5% with iFuse treatment and only 13.0% in those undergoing non-surgical management (p<0.0001 for difference in response rate). In addition, the subjects who elected after six months to cross over to have the iFuse procedure had similar reduction in disability as the subjects originally assigned to sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse. At 24 months, the proportion of subjects with an ODI improvement of at least 15 points with the assigned treatment only was 68.2% and 7.5% in the iFuse and non-surgical management groups, respectively (p<0.0001 for difference in response rate). These are very large differences.

Patients from certain sites participating in the INSITE study will be followed for up to five years as part of LOIS, a separate long-term study.

Surgical revision rate is an important measurement of a treatment’s effectiveness for patients. Studies on lumbar, or lower back, fusion, a different type of spine procedure from iFuse, have shown revision rates as approximately 12%. A study published in Medical Devices: Evidence and Research in November 2015 showed that the cumulative four-year revision rate with iFuse was 3.5%. A single surgeon retrospective study published in the International Journal of Spine Surgery in January 2017 showed that the cumulative four-year revision rate for screw-based treatment of the sacroiliac joint was five times higher than the cumulative four-year revision rate for iFuse.

Market Opportunity

We estimate that over 30 million American adults have chronic lower back pain. For patients whose chronic lower back pain stems from the sacroiliac joint, our experience in both clinical trials and commercial settings indicates that iFuse could be beneficial for at least 30% of patients who are properly diagnosed and screened for surgery by trained healthcare providers. Approximately 282,000 patients in the United States were estimated to have received multiple non-surgical steroid injections for sacroiliac joint pain in 2017. Based on our market experience and internal estimates, and the assumption that the average person suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction has been in pain for five years, we estimate that the potential market for iFuse in the United States could be 279,000 patients annually, for a potential annual market in the United States of approximately $2.7 billion. While we have made significant inroads at penetrating this market, patients received only 4,319 iFuse procedures in 2017.

Patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction may experience debilitating pain. We believe that the sacroiliac joint is the last major joint to be addressed by the orthopedic implant industry. Studies have shown that the disability that results from disease of the sacroiliac joint is comparable to the disability associated with a number of other serious orthopedic conditions, such as knee and hip arthritis and degenerative disc disease, each of which has surgical solutions where an implant is used and a multi-billion dollar market exists.

Frequently, sacroiliac joint patients are aging and/or may have experienced one or more of the following events that have contributed to disruption or degeneration of the sacroiliac joint: falls, previous lumbar surgery, automobile accidents, and/or pregnancies. We believe that Americans spend approximately $85.9 billion per year on spine problems and that approximately 65% of people who suffer from sacroiliac pain are women. In the United States, iFuse is intended for sacroiliac joint fusion for conditions including sacroiliac joint dysfunction that is a direct result of sacroiliac joint disruption and degenerative sacroiliitis. This includes conditions whose symptoms began during pregnancy or in the peripartum period and have persisted postpartum for more than six months. In all other countries where iFuse is available commercially, the system is indicated for sacroiliac joint fusion.

Diagnosis

It is often difficult to identify the source of lower back pain. As a result, some surgical procedures performed on the spine have a sub-optimal success rate. For example, published studies of lumbar fusion have

 

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shown success rates of only approximately 60%. Unsuccessful spine surgery may result in failed back surgery syndrome, which has been shown to result in high healthcare costs with poor overall relief of pain. Published studies have shown that the sacroiliac joint is a cause of the pain in 32% to 43% of patients who have previously had lumbar fusion surgery and are experiencing recurrent low back pain. We believe low success rates of lumbar fusion are likely related, in many cases, to failure to diagnose the sacroiliac joint as the correct cause of pain.

Since we launched iFuse, we have made considerable investments in teaching healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose sacroiliac joint disorders. We provide instruction and training on how to perform the provocative maneuvers in a physician’s office that can help establish the sacroiliac joint as the source of pain. If provocative tests are positive, surgeons confirm the diagnosis by injecting a small amount of local anesthetic into the joint under fluoroscopic guidance. The sacroiliac joint is confirmed as a pain source if the local anesthetic produces immediate and significant pain reduction. In addition to the differentiated characteristics of our iFuse procedure and triangular iFuse implants, we believe that more accurate diagnosis is part of the reason for the high success and patient satisfaction rates of the iFuse procedure.

Surgical Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Disease

Patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction or sacroiliac joint arthritis frequently experience significant pain simply from sitting, standing, or rolling over in bed. These activities result in small movements of the sacroiliac joints and pressure transferred across the joints. The pain can be exacerbated with activity—when a patient walks or runs, for example, the shock from each step is transmitted up the leg, through the iliac bones of the pelvis to the sacroiliac joint. The initial goal in fusion of the sacroiliac joint is to immediately stabilize the joint which very quickly decreases the pain. Following initial stabilization of the sacroiliac joint, the goal is to permanently fuse the joint. We believe our proprietary triangular implants stabilize the joint better and more quickly than competing technologies such as screws.

Surgical fusion of the sacroiliac joint with an open surgical technique was first reported in 1908, with further reports in the 1920s. The open procedure uses plates and screws, requires a 6- to 12-inch incision and is extremely invasive. The iFuse procedure involves a 1- to 2-inch incision and is much less invasive. For these reasons, we believe that open surgery for elective sacroiliac joint fusion has become less common in the United States since we introduced iFuse.

Due to its invasiveness, pain, long recovery time, and infrequent use, the open sacroiliac joint fusion procedure was rarely taught in medical school or residency programs. Prior to our launch of iFuse, most spine surgeons were unfamiliar with the sacroiliac joint and had never performed a sacroiliac joint fusion. As a result, when patients presented with lower back pain, spine surgeons often did not include evaluation of the sacroiliac joint in their diagnostic work-up. Surgeons who did recognize the condition typically told their patients they had nothing to offer surgically.

Non-Surgical Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Disease

Although a number of non-surgical treatments exist for sacroiliac joint pain, they did not provide the level of pain or disability relief seen with the iFuse procedure for the patients participating in the INSITE study. Non-surgical treatments include:

 

   

Medical therapy, including opiates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

 

   

Physical therapy, which can involve exercises as well as massage.

 

   

Intra-articular injections of steroid medications, which are typically performed by physicians who specialize in pain treatment or anesthesia.

 

   

Radiofrequency ablation, or the cauterizing, of the lateral branches of the sacral nerve roots.

 

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Our Solution—The iFuse Implant System

Our iFuse system, which includes our implants and instruments, is designed to address the shortcomings of alternative treatments, including open surgery, non-surgical management, and screw-based fusion procedures. As shown in the graphic below, our iFuse implants are triangular, and three implants are typically used in each procedure. Our implants are made of titanium and have a porous surface. Each iFuse implant is at least three times the strength of a typical eight-millimeter surgical screw and the large porous surface area allows fixation of the bone to the implants. We introduced the original iFuse implants in 2009, and our second generation iFuse-3D implants in 2017.

 

LOGO

 

The iFuse procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon uses a custom instrument set we provide to prepare a triangular channel for each implant through the ilium, across the sacroiliac joint, and into the sacrum. An iFuse implant is then pressed into the triangular channel, which is slightly smaller than the implant, creating what is known as an interference fit. The triangular cross section of our iFuse implants, as shown below, prevents them from rotating. Our triangular iFuse implants cross the sacroiliac joint and provide immediate joint stability, which is why we believe pain diminishes soon after the iFuse procedure. Over time, bone grows onto the implants and across the joint, permanently stabilizing or fusing the joint.

By contrast, open fusion of the sacroiliac joint, as well as the minimally invasive solutions offered by other companies, typically use screws and/or plates for fixation. When placed across the sacroiliac joint, standard orthopedic screws, which lack features to encourage biologic fixation, have an exhibited propensity to rotate and loosen over time. Because of the triangular shape, porous surface, strength, and other differentiating factors of our iFuse implants, we believe that our published clinical data do not apply to other minimally invasive solutions. Little published evidence of safety, clinical effectiveness, durability, or economic utility currently exists for sacroiliac fusion devices other than iFuse. We are unaware of any data to show that our competitors’ sacroiliac joint screws, with features allowing biologic fixation, have a lower rate of loosening than standard orthopedic screws. In addition, placement of plates for open fusion procedures typically requires larger incisions and more invasive dissection, which results in longer recovery times and increased morbidity. We believe that the differences between iFuse and other products, as well as the substantial published clinical evidence showing the safety and effectiveness of iFuse, are the reason why a growing number of payors have recommended that iFuse be reimbursed for sacroiliac surgery to the exclusion of other technologies that are designed for the procedure.

Our implants cross the sacroiliac joint and provide immediate stability, which is why we believe pain diminishes soon after the iFuse procedure. Typically, surgeons recommend protected weight-bearing for three weeks. However, post-operative instructions are patient-specific and some patients are allowed to perform weight-bearing activities sooner. Follow-up studies have shown that bony bridging across the sacroiliac joint is present in the majority of cases five years after the iFuse procedure.

Three implants are used in most iFuse procedures. Each implant bridges across the joint from the iliac bone to the sacrum. Placing each implant requires four basic steps:

 

   

Pin. The surgeon inserts a guide pin through the iliac bone, across the sacroiliac joint and into the sacrum.

 

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Drill. Surgeons drill over the guide pin, through the iliac bone, across the sacroiliac joint and just into the sacrum. This step is optional if using the sharp-tip broach.

 

   

Broach. The surgeon impacts a triangular broach over the pin which prepares a triangular channel that is slightly smaller than the iFuse implant.

 

   

Implant. The surgeon impacts the implant into the triangular channel thereby spanning the sacroiliac joint and docking the implant in the sacrum. The channel is slightly smaller than the implant, which produces an interference fit.

iFuse is a cannulated system, which means that the drill, broach and implants have hollow channels which fit over the pin for guidance purposes. As is typical across the orthopedic implant industry, a member of our team is normally present in the operating suite during surgery to provide technical assistance for the use of iFuse.

We currently offer three custom instrument sets for surgical placement of iFuse implants in the body. The standard set is comprised of largely stainless steel materials; the XL (Extra Long) set is the same as the standard set but most instruments are elongated by three inches for treatment of larger patients; and the radiolucent set is comprised of instruments made with more radiolucent materials, such as PEEK and aluminum to improve visualization under fluoroscopy during an iFuse procedure. We also have instrument sets which have been cleared for use with Medtronic’s surgical navigation system and with the Mazor surgical robot.

Our Strategy

Our business objective is to maintain and enhance our leadership position in the area of sacroiliac joint fusion by providing clinically proven products and procedure-related training to promote pain and disability relief in affected patients. To accomplish this objective, we intend to:

 

   

Continue to educate physicians, payors, and patients globally about the growing body of evidence supporting the safety, durable clinical effectiveness, economic benefit, and reduction in opioid use associated with the iFuse procedure;

 

   

Educate and train the healthcare community on the prevalence, anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment options for the sacroiliac joint, including minimally invasive surgical fusion, and work with and support medical societies including NASS, CNS, AANS, ISASS, SRS, and AAOS to increase their education programs teaching the diagnosis of the sacroiliac joint as part of the differential diagnosis of lower back pain;

 

   

Increase exclusive and non-exclusive reimbursement coverage for iFuse;

 

   

Expand our direct field organization in the United States and select European countries to help drive adoption of our iFuse products;

 

   

Maintain our technological leadership by investing in the creation of new or improved products for sacroiliac joint surgery, and obtain domestic and international regulatory clearance or approvals to market them in the United States and additional countries; and

 

   

Continue to grow our existing intellectual property portfolio.

Our Published Studies

iFuse is the only minimally invasive product for sacroiliac joint fusion commercially available in the United States that, to our knowledge, is supported by substantial high-quality published evidence of safety, clinical effectiveness, durability, and economic utility.

These benefits are supported by more than 60 published papers (46 of which we financially supported), including a prospective, randomized controlled multi-center clinical trial referred to as “INSITE” and a

 

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prospective multi-center clinical study referred to as “SIFI.” INSITE 24-month follow-up results were published in August 2016 in International Journal of Spine Surgery. 6-month and 1-year summaries were also published in reputable journals. Published results demonstrate clinically important and statistically significant improvement for sacroiliac joint pain, disability due to lower back pain, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. Moreover, the level of published evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of sacroiliac joint fusion using iFuse is high.

In the United States, the iFuse Implant System is FDA-cleared with the following indication statement: The iFuse Implant System® is intended for sacroiliac fusion for conditions including sacroiliac joint dysfunction that is a direct result of sacroiliac joint disruption and degenerative sacroiliitis. This includes conditions whose symptoms began during pregnancy or in the peripartum period and have persisted postpartum for more than six months. Clinical studies have demonstrated that treatment with the iFuse Implant System improved pain, patient function, and quality of life.

iFuse-3D, which was FDA-cleared in 2017, has a very similar indication statement but does not have the statement regarding improvement in pain, function, and quality of life. In the United States, our marketing strategies must adhere to the above statements. In all other countries, the indication statement for the iFuse Implant System (including iFuse-3D) more broadly indicates that the device is indicated for sacroiliac joint fusion.

INSITE Study Design

INSITE is a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted in the US. This section describes INSITE in more detail.

INSITE enrollment took place between January 2013 and May 2014 at 19 sites in the United States. Adults between 21 and 70 years old were eligible to participate if they had a confirmed diagnosis of sacroiliac dysfunction due to degenerative sacroiliitis and/or sacroiliac joint disruption. Diagnosis was based on the subject’s history, provocative tests performed in the surgeon’s office, and at least a 50% decrease in sacroiliac joint pain 30 to 60 minutes after local anesthetic was injected into the joint under image guidance. Eligibility required a sacroiliac VAS pain score of at least 50, where zero represents no pain and 100 represents the worst pain imaginable, as well as a baseline ODI score of at least 30, which has a scale of 0-100, where zero represents no disability and scores greater than 60 represent very severe disability.

Exclusion criteria included inability to diagnose pain related to the sacroiliac joint, sacroiliac joint pain due to inflammatory conditions, severe back pain deemed to be due primarily to other causes, history of recent major trauma to the pelvis, metabolic bone disease, or any condition that made treatment with the study devices infeasible or interfered with the ability to participate in physical therapy. Subjects involved in litigation, on disability leave, or receiving workers’ compensation related to their back or sacroiliac joint pain were also excluded. Subjects were randomly assigned to sacroiliac joint fusion or non-surgical management in a two to one ratio. After six months of follow-up, subjects could elect to receive sacroiliac joint fusion surgery using iFuse. All of the subjects who were randomized to non-surgical management completed at least six months of follow-up before electing to cross over to surgery. There was no early crossover.

Subjects assigned to non-surgical management began immediately with treatment consisting of one or more of the following: 1) management of pain with medication, including narcotics; 2) physical therapy; 3) steroid injections in the sacroiliac joint; and 4) radiofrequency ablation of local nerves. Physical therapy followed American Physical Therapy Association, or APTA, guidelines. Not all non-surgical management interventions were provided to all non-surgical management subjects. Non-surgical management interventions were provided serially, typically in order of increasing invasiveness, according to individual needs.

Baseline assessments included medical history and physical examination. Subjects were scheduled for follow-up at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after enrollment. At each follow-up, the subjects evaluated their pain and disability by completing questionnaires to assess pain and disability.

 

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A high-resolution pelvic CT scan was performed at the 24-month follow-up for those subjects randomized to and treated with iFuse. The primary purpose of the CT scan is to judge the adherence of bone onto the implants on both the sacral and iliac sides of the sacroiliac joint and to determine whether there is bone bridging across the joint. Other radiographic endpoints were assessed as well.

The study required that subjects receive only the assigned treatment to month six. After six months, the study allowed subjects assigned to non-surgical treatment to cross over to surgery. Crossover was allowed because the anticipated success rate for non- surgical management was low, and many subjects would not have participated without the ability to cross over to surgical care within the study. One-hundred percent of subjects who crossed over to surgical treatment in the study did so shortly after their six-month visit was complete in compliance with the design of the study. Nearly 90% of non-surgical management subjects still participating at month six crossed over to surgical care. All subjects who crossed over had sacroiliac joint fusion using iFuse and were subsequently evaluated with follow-up visits. No early crossover occurred.

The primary endpoint was a composite success or failure endpoint. Success was defined as reduction from baseline VAS sacroiliac joint pain by at least 20 points, absence of device-related serious adverse events, absence of neurological worsening related to the sacral spine, and absence of surgical re-intervention (removal, revision, reoperation, or supplemental fixation) for sacroiliac joint pain. Secondary endpoints included improvement from baseline in VAS, ODI, as well as treatment satisfaction and other criteria. Other important measures included quality of life assessments.

In the study, 442 subjects at 19 centers were screened for participation, of which 148 were enrolled and treated. Mean subject age was 51 years and 18 (12%) were 65 years of age or older. Most subjects (94.6%) were Caucasian and approximately two-thirds were female.

Enrolled subjects were highly debilitated by sacroiliac joint pain as indicated by high baseline VAS scores (mean 82.3) and ODI scores (mean 56.8). Nineteen percent were not working due to chronic pain. The duration of pain prior to enrollment averaged 6.4 years (range 0.5 to 40.7 years), and 87.2% had had pain for more than one year and 73.6% had pain for more than two years.

Trial subjects had previously undergone sacroiliac-specific physical therapy (72.3% of subjects), sacroiliac steroid injections (85.8%) and radiofrequency ablation of the sacroiliac joint (16.2%). Approximately two-thirds were taking opioid pain medications at baseline and all reported that multiple activities commonly caused or worsened their sacroiliac joint pain.

Follow-up was excellent with 96% of non-surgical subjects having 6-month follow-up and 87% of sacroiliac joint fusion patients having 24-month follow-up.

All subjects assigned to sacroiliac joint fusion underwent the procedure. Of the subjects assigned to surgery, 76 had the iFuse procedure on one sacroiliac joint, while 26 underwent the procedure on both sacroiliac joints. Mean procedure time was 45 minutes (range 14 to 140 minutes). Mean estimated blood loss was 33 ml (range 0.5 to 250 ml). Three implants were used in 91.2% of cases and most implants were seven millimeters in diameter. The hospital length of stay ranged from zero to seven days, and 97.1% were discharged in two days or less.

Of the 46 subjects assigned to non-surgical management:

 

   

All but one received physical therapy during the six months after treatment assignment;

 

   

73.9% underwent at least one steroid injection;

 

   

45.7% underwent radiofrequency ablation of the sacroiliac joint; and

 

   

87.0% underwent at least two types of non-surgical management treatments in addition to pain medications.

 

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The above data suggests that the intensity of non-surgical management interventions was high and representative of that provided in standard clinical practice.

INSITE clinical outcomes can be summarized as follows.

 

   

Reduction in Pain. There was a statistically significant and clinically important reduction in pain among subjects treated with iFuse as compared to non-surgical management. As shown in the graph below, subjects surgically treated with iFuse had a mean 52-point VAS reduction in sacroiliac joint pain at six months. The reduction in pain was sustained with a mean 54- and 55-point reduction in sacroiliac joint pain observed at 12 and 24 months, respectively. By contrast, subjects in the non-surgical management group had only a mean 12-point reduction (p<0.0001) at six months. In addition, the non-surgical management group subjects who elected after six months to cross over to have the iFuse procedure had pain reduction similar to that seen in subjects originally assigned to sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse. At 24 months, the proportion of subjects with a reduction in VAS sacroiliac joint pain of 20 or more points was 83% in the iFuse group and 10% in the non-surgical management group.

 

 

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Subjects who elected not to cross over to surgery had reduced pain at six months, but their pain worsened somewhat over time. In contrast, the non-surgical management group subjects who elected to cross over to have the iFuse procedure had pain reduction similar to that seen in subjects originally assigned to sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse. These clinically important differences show the effectiveness of sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse.

 

   

Reduction in Disability. There was a statistically significant reduction in disability with iFuse as compared to non-surgical management. As shown in the graph below, subjects surgically treated with

 

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iFuse had a mean 27-point ODI reduction in disability at six months, while subjects in the non-surgical management group had only a mean 4.6-point decrease (p<0.0001). At 12 and 24 months, the iFuse group had a mean 29- and 28-point reduction in disability, respectively. At six months, the proportion of subjects with ODI improvements of at least 15 points was 72.5% and 13.0% in the iFuse and non-surgical management groups, respectively. At 24 months, the proportion of subjects with an improvement of at least 15 points due to the assigned treatment was 68.2% and 7.5% in the iFuse and non-surgical management groups, respectively (p<0.0001).

As shown in the figure below, the subjects who elected after six months to cross over to have the iFuse procedure had similar reduction in disability as the subjects originally assigned to sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse. These clinically important differences show the effectiveness of sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse.

 

 

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Patient Satisfaction

Patient satisfaction was assessed by asking subjects whether they were very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the treatment received. At six months, 79.0% of subjects who had received the iFuse procedure were very satisfied, compared with 27.3% of subjects in the non-surgical management group. At six months, 81.0% of surgery subjects said they would definitely have the procedure again. At 24 months, satisfaction rates were high, with 73.3% reporting being very satisfied with surgical treatment of the sacroiliac joint, and 71.1% indicated they would have the procedure again. These results are consistent with the satisfaction results from other studies, covering approximately 500 subjects.

Adverse Events

During the first six months, the mean number of adverse events per subject was slightly but not statistically significantly higher in the surgery group (1.3 events) as compared to the non-surgical management group (1.1

 

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events, p=0.3063). The most common adverse event related to our implant was leg pain resulting from misplacement of the implant, resulting in impingement of the implant on a lumbar spine nerve root. The most common adverse event for our implant procedure has been minor wound infections. None of these adverse events required surgical treatment. The following table shows the number and percentages of subjects who had adverse events related to the iFuse device and the iFuse procedure.

 

     Non-Surgical
Management
(n=46)
     Sacroiliac
Joint Fusion
(n=102)
 
     N (%*)      N (%)  

Category

     

Related to iFuse implant

     

Definitely related

            2 (2.0%)  

Probably related

            1 (1.0%)  

Total

            3 (2.9%)  

Related to non-surgical management or iFuse procedure**

     3 (6.5%)        6 (5.9%)  

Definitely related

     1 (2.2%)        10 (9.8%)  

Probably related

     4 (8.7%)        16 (15.7%)  

Total

     

 

*

Percent reported as number of events divided by number assigned to treatment.

**

Events from first 180 days shown.

In summary, we believe the INSITE study, a prospective, randomized controlled multi-center clinical trial, provides substantial evidence of clinically important and statistically significant efficacy supporting the superiority of sacroiliac joint fusion using iFuse as compared to non-surgical management. Further, the fact that subjects who crossed over responded, as well as those who were originally assigned to the iFuse group, adds significantly to the trial’s validity and importance.

iMIA European Clinical Trial

iMIA is a second prospective, randomized clinical trial of sacroiliac joint fusion using iFuse compared to non-surgical management with a design very similar to that of INSITE. iMIA enrolled and treated 103 subjects at nine sites in four European countries. The trial’s six-month results were published in European Spine Journal in May 2016 and 12-month results were published in August 2017 in Pain Physician.

In iMIA, 103 adults with chronic sacroiliac joint pain at nine sites in four European countries were randomly assigned in a one-to-one ratio to either immediate sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse or conservative management. Conservative management was performed according to the European guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pelvic girdle pain and consisted of optimization of medical therapy, individualized physical therapy and adequate information and reassurance as part of a multifactorial treatment.

At 12 months, low back pain in the surgically treated group improved by 42 points and ODI improved by 25 points (p<.0001 from baseline). Adverse events occurred at a low rate and the frequency of adverse events did not differ between groups. One case of postoperative nerve impingement occurred in the surgical group, which was resolved by repositioning the implant.

 

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The figure below shows mean VAS pain scores at baseline and throughout follow-up. The results show clinically profound, rapid and sustained reduction in pain following treatment with iFuse, in contrast with conservative management.

 

 

 

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The figure below shows mean ODI scores at baseline and throughout follow-up. The results show clinically profound, rapid and sustained reduction in disability following treatment with iFuse, in contrast with conservative management.

 

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A manuscript describing 24-month results is currently under review at a medical journal. Study data show that improvements in pain, disability and quality of life were sustained at 24 months and satisfaction rates remained high.

SIFI Clinical Trial

Sacroiliac Joint Fusion with iFuse Implant System, or SIFI, is a prospective, multicenter single-arm clinical trial. Eligibility criteria and endpoints were identical to INSITE. A manuscript summarizing 24-month results was published in International Journal of Spine Surgery in April 2016.

Each of the 172 enrolled subjects received the iFuse procedure at one of 26 participating sites between August 2012 and December 2013. Mean subject age was 51 years and 96.5% subjects were Caucasian and approximately 70% were female. Follow-up rates at month 6, 12, and 24 were 97%, 91%, and 87%, respectively.

Baseline sacroiliac pain and disability scores were high. The mean baseline VAS score was 79.8, while the mean baseline ODI score was 55.2. The mean duration of pain prior to enrollment was five years (range 0.4 to 41 years), and 84.3% had had pain for more than one year and 64.5% had had pain for more than two years.

Seventy-six percent were taking opioid pain medications at baseline and all reported that multiple activities commonly caused their sacroiliac joint pain. Many subjects (44.2%) had a history of prior lumbar fusion, and concomitant spine disease was common. Sacroiliac joint pain persisted despite prior treatments with physical therapy (64.5% of subjects), sacroiliac joint steroid injections (94.2%), and prior radiofrequency ablation of the joint (15.7%).

Hospital length of stay ranged from zero to seven days, and 95.3% were discharged in two days or less. Prolonged hospital stays were related to subject comorbidities, not procedure-related adverse events.

 

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The figure on the left below shows mean VAS pain scores at baseline and throughout follow-up. The figure on the right shows mean ODI scores at baseline and throughout follow-up. The results for both VAS pain and ODI scores each show clinically important and sustained reduction in disability across the subject population and follow-up period, consistent with the results observed in the surgical group in INSITE.

 

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Satisfaction rates were high, with 78.1% reporting being very satisfied with sacroiliac joint treatment by month 24 and 93.8% being very or somewhat satisfied. 74.7% indicated they would definitely have the procedure again; 88.4% indicated they would probably or definitely have the procedure again.

Four adverse events (2.4% of all subjects) were rated by the investigator to be definitely device-related and three (1.8%) were probably device-related. Pain related to implant impingement on sacral nerve roots occurred in three cases (including one non-study-related side), all of which resolved with immediate repositioning of implants. In four cases, sacroiliac joint or hip pain was attributed to the presence of an implant or bone growth around the implant. Twenty-six events were rated as probably or definitely related to the placement procedure. The most common events were wound infection, irritation or drainage, sacroiliac joint pain related to implant malposition (described above), and recurrent sacroiliac joint pain related to inadequate device placement. One subject had a deep wound infection that required surgical debridement.

 

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LOIS Clinical Trial

LOIS is a prospective follow-on study, enrolling subjects at a subset of INSITE and SIFI sites who underwent sacroiliac joint fusion. Enrolled subjects will be followed out to five years following surgery. Study outcomes at three years were published in April 2018 in Medical Devices: Evidence and Research. Among 103 enrolled subjects, mean sacroiliac joint pain at three years decreased from 81.5 preoperatively to 26.2 (a 56-point improvement from baseline, p<.0001), as shown in the graph below on the left. A manuscript with results at four years of follow-up was recently accepted for publication. Study data show continued improvements in pain, disability and quality of life sustained at 48 months.

 

 

 

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Subjects in the LOIS study experienced similar improvements in disability and quality of life. As shown in the graph above on the right, average disability prior to treatment as measured on the ODI scale was 56.3 and fell to an average of 28.2 by 36 months following treatment. Average quality of life as measured by the EuroQol-5D prior to treatment was 0.45 and had improved to 0.75 by 36 months following treatment with iFuse.

Additional Published Clinical Studies

We have demonstrated the long-term durability of pain relief resulting from treatment with iFuse in several other published studies. A study published in the Open Orthopedics Journal in 2014, which we financially supported, showed that significant clinical pain relief observed at 12 months was maintained for five years. Similar results with four and one-half year follow-up were published in the Journal of Spine in 2014. A retrospective multicenter analysis of three-year outcomes after sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse showed similar responses.

Of more than 500 patients treated with iFuse in 10 studies we have sponsored or followed in which satisfaction was measured, 91% were satisfied or very satisfied with the result. All of the iFuse studies published as of June 2018 report sacroiliac joint pain using the VAS pain scale are in the graph below. We financially supported nine of these thirteen clinical studies.

To date, several studies, some of which we did not sponsor, have been published on the safety and effectiveness of sacroiliac joint fusion using iFuse. These are prospective or retrospective, single site or multi-

 

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site, and U.S.- or Europe-based. These clinical studies demonstrate the iFuse procedure to be safe and effective. These studies demonstrate pain reduction and/or ODI improvement that is statistically significant and clinically important. The type and rate of reported adverse events were similar to those reported in INSITE, iMIA, and SIFI. These additional studies are consistent with the results of INSITE, iMIA, and SIFI.

A study published in April 2017 in Neurosurgery shows the impact of non-coverage of sacroiliac joint fusion by the healthcare system. In this study, a Spanish neurosurgeon reports the clinical experience of 423 patients seen in his clinic for sacroiliac joint pain. While many patients’ pain resolved without intervention, 152 of the patients (36%) had continued sacroiliac joint pain. Of these patients, 74 did not have access to the procedure due to their insurers’ denial of coverage and instead were only able to pursue continued non-surgical treatment. Of the remaining 78 patients, 51 underwent radiofrequency ablation of lateral branches of sacral nerve roots and 27 underwent sacroiliac joint fusion with iFuse.

The group treated non-surgically had poor outcomes, including increased pain, disability, and opioid use, as well as worsened work status. By contrast, patients who were able to undergo the iFuse procedure had very large improvements in pain and disability, improved work status, and a decreased incidence of opioid use. The differences in all outcomes (pain, disability, work status, and opioid use) were both statistically significant and clinically profound. The graph below shows the pain scores of the three treatment cohorts followed in this study.

 

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The graph below shows the changes in the percentage of subjects using opioids among the iFuse and conservative care groups in the study. Forty-nine percent of subjects who were not able to access treatment with iFuse were using opioids at the beginning of the study, whereas 80% of them were using opioids at the time of their final follow-up. In contrast, 63% of the subjects who were able to obtain treatment with iFuse were using opioids prior to treatment, whereas only 7% were using opioids at their final follow-up visit.

 

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There are several important aspects to this study:

 

   

It can be considered a “pseudorandomized trial” in that insurance denials (which dictated which treatment the patient could receive) was not clearly related to any important predictor of clinical outcomes. This enhances the comparability of groups.

 

   

It is the longest reported cohort of non-surgical treatment of sacroiliac joint pain published to date.

 

   

Non-surgical treatment was clearly associated with poor outcomes, consistent with our experience in the US, in which patients receive repeated, and sometimes expensive, non-surgical treatments but do not derive significant benefit.

In addition to clinical evidence, a number of economic publications we financially supported, including those in ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research, demonstrate that the iFuse procedure provides a cost savings to the healthcare system when compared to non-surgical management over time. One of these studies used data from INSITE to calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness of the iFuse procedure and found it to be similar to that of hip and knee arthroplasty, commonly known as total joint replacement. The two latter procedures are generally accepted as being safe, effective, and highly cost-effective. The incremental cost effectiveness ratio, or ICER, of a procedure or therapy is a common way of quantifying its cost-effectiveness and represents the incremental cost to the healthcare system of providing one additional quality adjusted life-year, obtained by dividing the average cost of the therapy by the average increase in quality-adjusted life years that it achieves. Therapies with ICERs below $50,000 are considered cost-effective and generally gain acceptance. For example, studies have shown that the ICER of total joint replacement surgery for knees is approximately $12,000 and that for hip replacements is approximately $10,000. One study showed the ICER of the iFuse procedure to be $13,000, nearly as cost-effective as knee and hip surgeries, which are both common and well-accepted procedures. The ICER of iFuse derived from data from the INSITE trial is significantly better than the published ICERs of other common spine surgeries derived from one of the few other randomized controlled clinical trials

 

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of spine surgeries. Published analyses of the data from this trial showed the ICER of discectomy to be approximately $21,000, the ICER of standard decompressive laminectomy to be approximately $64,000, and the ICER of posterior decompressive laminectomy to be approximately $59,000. Each of these is a commonly performed spine surgery.

A second study detailed a health economics model examining the cost impact of failing to consider the sacroiliac joint in the diagnosis of patients with low back pain in patients seeking surgery. Taking into account both the prevalence of sacroiliac joint dysfunction and the costs of diagnostic workup and surgical treatment, if a surgeon evaluating a patient with chronic low back pain fails to consider the sacroiliac joint, on average $3,100 more healthcare expenditures will ensue. The study concluded that taking the sacroiliac joint into account can save healthcare systems substantial amounts due primarily to reduction in misdiagnosis and its attendant costs.

A third study used data from our two prospective trials conducted in the United States to examine the impact of sacroiliac joint fusion on worker productivity. Results suggest that sacroiliac joint fusion can increase the productivity of affected workers by an average of $6,900 compared to continued non-surgical care.

A fourth health economic study currently under review for publication examined healthcare costs for low back pain before and after sacroiliac joint fusion in patients in a commercial insurance database. Analysis showed reductions in median low back pain-related healthcare costs after sacroiliac joint fusion compared to before. A break-even analysis for health plan reimbursements for patients undergoing minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion on an outpatient basis showed similar cumulative claims for patients not undergoing the procedure within approximately 2.5 years. Following the procedure, per patient costs related to sacroiliac joint pain decrease to approximately $250 per quarter among the group who underwent sacroiliac joint fusion.

Our Second-Generation Implant

Our second-generation iFuse implant, iFuse-3D, shown on the left below, was cleared for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2017 and the European Union in May 2017. This patented titanium implant combines the triangular cross-section of the iFuse implant with a proprietary 3D-printed porous surface and fenestrated design. This design also allows the surgeon to fill the implant with ground-up bone before implanting it, which some surgeons believe accelerates bone through-growth. iFuse-3D implants have shown positive bony ingrowth in cell culture and animal studies, whether or not ground-up bone is used, as shown in two peer reviewed studies published in June 2017 in the International Journal of Spine Surgery. The image on the right below shows the cross section cut from an iFuse-3D implant removed from an animal as part of the study, and reveals robust growth of bone into the implant.

 

 

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Coverage and Reimbursement

Coverage and reimbursement for iFuse products and related procedures vary by setting of care, payor type, and region. In the United States, healthcare providers that purchase iFuse products look to various third-party payors, such as Medicare, Medicaid, private commercial insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, accountable care organization, or ACOs, and other healthcare-related organizations, to cover and pay for all or part of the costs of these procedures. These providers bill patients for any applicable deductibles or co-payments. Sales volumes and prices of company products will continue to depend in large part on the availability of coverage and reimbursement from such third-party payors.

The Medicare program is commonly used as a model for how private payors and other governmental payors develop their coverage and reimbursement policies for healthcare items and services, including iFuse procedures. Unless a national coverage policy exists for a particular technology, each of the seven regional Medicare Administrative Contractors is permitted to make its own determination of whether that item or service is covered by Medicare.

Medicare’s reimbursement rates for the iFuse procedure vary due to geographic location, the nature of facility in which the procedure is performed (i.e., hospital inpatient department, hospital outpatient department, or ambulatory surgical center) and other factors. Medicare reviews and updates its payment rates and methodologies for these settings of care annually, and rates can change from year to year. In addition, Congress can alter reimbursement rates at any time by mandating changes to Medicare’s payment methodologies.

Similarly, private payor coverage policies and reimbursement rates tend to vary across payors and settings of care. Payors continually review the clinical evidence for new technologies and can change their coverage policies without notice or deny payment if the product was not used in accordance with the payor’s coverage policy. Payors also review and challenge the prices charged for products and procedures.

In the United States, the American Medical Association, or AMA, generally creates specific billing codes for surgical procedures under a coding system known as Current Procedure Terminology, or CPT, which surgeons must use to bill and receive reimbursement for our iFuse procedure. Once the CPT code is established, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, establishes payment levels and coverage rules under Medicare while private payors establish rates and coverage rules independently.

Prior to our launch of iFuse, Medicare and most private insurance companies reimbursed surgeons for sacroiliac joint fusions using either an established Category I CPT code or an unlisted code. A Category I CPT code is typically assigned to procedures that are consistent with contemporary medical practice and are widely performed. Procedures with a longstanding Category I CPT code are usually reimbursed.

However, effective July 1, 2013, the AMA’s CPT Editorial Panel created a new Category III CPT code for fusion of the sacroiliac joint using a minimally invasive or percutaneous approach. Category III CPT codes are used for new and emerging technologies and are reimbursed sporadically. This new code functionally redefined coding for sacroiliac joint fusions because it meant that minimally invasive or percutaneous fusion procedures should not be billed using the general Category I CPT code for sacroiliac fusion surgery. This coding change was accompanied by the establishment of a Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment rate for the new code.

Following the creation of the new Category III CPT code, a number of papers demonstrating the clinical success of the iFuse procedure were published. As a result of these studies, along with the support of several professional medical specialty societies and leading academic surgeons, the AMA CPT Editorial Panel established a new Category I CPT code specifically for sacroiliac joint fusion surgery using a minimally invasive or percutaneous approach. This new Category I CPT code became effective on January 1, 2015. However, the new code did not immediately lead to positive coverage decisions by payors. In many cases, the payors wanted additional published evidence before deciding to cover the procedure. As a result, positive reimbursement decisions covering the procedure have occurred over the last few years, and some payors are still in the process of making decisions based on the most recent evidence.

 

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In March 2015, our INSITE prospective, randomized controlled multi-center clinical trial was published. In June 2015, the largest spine society in the world, the North American Spine Society, or NASS, published a positive coverage recommendation, based on the clinical evidence, advocating to insurance companies and Medicare Administrative Contractors that sacroiliac joint fusion using a minimally invasive surgical approach should be routinely reimbursed. In March 2015, the International Society for Advancement of Spine Surgery, or ISASS, also published a similar, updated positive advocacy document intended to encourage insurance companies in the United States to reimburse for the procedure.

Coverage decisions for this code are made independently by each private insurance company and each of the seven regional Medicare Administrative Contractors that help manage Medicare. The process of obtaining coverage is laborious. As of June 30, 2016, because of the iFuse clinical evidence, all Medicare Administrative Contractors were covering the procedure. At the time, very few private payors were covering. As of December 31, 2016, U.S. payors covering approximately 133 million lives regularly reimbursed for the iFuse procedure, and as of December 31, 2017, U.S. payors covering approximately 162 million lives regularly reimbursed for the iFuse procedure. However, by August 31, 2018, 39 of the largest 65 private payors that we track had positive coverage policies for the procedure, were consistently covering the procedure, or had announced coming future coverage.

Third-party payors, whether governmental or commercial, are also developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling healthcare costs. In addition, in the United States, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for medical device products and services exists among third-party payors. Therefore, coverage and reimbursement for medical device products and services can differ significantly from payor to payor. In addition, payors continually review new technologies for possible coverage and can, without notice, deny coverage for these new products and procedures. As a result, the coverage determination process is often a time-consuming and costly process that requires us to provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our products to each payor separately, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be obtained, or maintained if obtained.

In addition to uncertainties surrounding coverage policies, there are periodic changes to reimbursement. Third-party payors regularly update reimbursement amounts and also from time to time revise the methodologies used to determine reimbursement amounts. This includes annual updates to payments to physicians, hospitals, and ambulatory surgical centers for procedures during which our products are used. An example of payment updates is the Medicare program’s updates to hospital and physician payments, which are done on an annual basis using a prescribed statutory formula.

Specialty benefit managers and companies which perform healthcare technology assessments have significant influence on coverage decisions. In May 2016, the ECRI Institute Health Technology Assessment Information Service published a positive review of the iFuse Implant System, citing our clinical evidence. In January 2018, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the franchisor to all 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurers across the United States, wrote a positive coverage recommendation for minimally invasive sacroiliac fusion, but only when performed with iFuse. In February 2018, Milliman Care Guidelines, a Hearst Company publication, also recommended coverage and in May 2018, AIM Specialty Health, owned by Anthem, established coverage for only iFuse and none of our competitors. In July 2018, eviCore published its draft guidelines to be published in final form in October 2018, recommending our iFuse system exclusively for sacroiliac joint fusion or stabilization.

Private Payors. Private payors also decide whether to cover and how much to pay on an individual basis. We target and track 65 of the largest private payors that cover over 200 million lives in the United States as of December 31, 2017. As of August 31, 2018, 39 of the largest 65 private payors were covering regularly, or had announced coverage for, the iFuse procedure, while the remaining private payors were reevaluating their coverage policies. Of these, 23 private payors have issued positive coverage policies exclusive to iFuse for sacroiliac joint fusion because of the clinical evidence. Seventeen of these exclusive coverage policies have

 

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published since January 1, 2018, which we believe has contributed to our accelerating sales growth in fiscal year 2018. The private payors covering iFuse exclusively are:

 

    BCBS Florida
    BCBS-Illinois (HCSC)
    BCBS-New Mexico (HCSC)
    BCBS-Oklahoma (HCSC)
    BCBS-Texas (HCSC)
    BCBS- Montana (HCSC)
    BCBS-Idaho
    BCBS-Kansas City
    BCBS-Kansas
    BCBS-Louisiana
    BCBS-Massachusetts
    BCBS-Minnesota
    BCBS-Mississippi
    BCBS-New Jersey (Horizon)
    BCBS-NY (HealthNow)
    BCBS-Capital Blue (Pennsylvania)
    BCBS-Independence
    BCBS-Regence
    BCBS-South Carolina
    BCBS-Tennessee
    BCBS-Wyoming
    BCBS-Capital Health (Florida)
    Select Health
 

 

The private payors covering iFuse and other sacroiliac joint fusion products are:

 

    BCBS-Highmark
    BCBS-Michigan
    BCBS-Nebraska
    BCBS-North Dakota
    BCBS-Vermont
    Emblem Health
    Geisinger Health Plan
    Harvard Pilgrim
    Health New England
    Kaiser California
    Kaiser Northwest
    Kern Health Systems
    Network Health
    Priority Health
    United Healthcare
    Utah Public Employee Health Plan
 

 

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As of August 31, 2018, U.S. payors covering 250 million lives reimburse for iFuse, 115 million of which are covered by private payors. The chart below shows the overall coverage as of August 31, 2018:

 

 

 

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Note that because many individuals are covered by more than one health insurance plan or may switch plans during the year, the total number of covered lives reported by the payors represented above may be larger than the number of individuals who have access to the iFuse procedure through their health insurance provider at any given time.

There are a number of large and small private payors, including Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and Anthem, that are not yet reimbursing for the procedure. Some of t