Company: CERO
Filing Date: 2025-04-15
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001213900-25-032134
Chunk: 224

Company: CERO THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-04-15
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1
Chunk 224
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 be held invalid or unenforceable. Similarly,
if any third-party patent were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover aspects of our formulations, processes for manufacture
or methods of use, the holders of any such patent may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the product candidate
unless we were to obtain a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be held invalid or unenforceable. In either
case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain a necessary license to
a third-party patent on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, our ability to commercialize our product candidates may be impaired
or delayed, which could in turn significantly harm our business. Even if we obtain a license, it may be non-exclusive, thereby giving
our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In addition, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our
patents is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize current or future product
candidates.

Parties making claims against
us may seek and obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize
our product candidates. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, could involve substantial litigation expense and would be
a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may
have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement, obtain one or more licenses
from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary
expenditure. We cannot predict whether any such license would be available at all or whether it would be available on commercially reasonable
terms. Furthermore, even in the absence of litigation, we may need or may choose to obtain licenses from third parties to advance our
research or allow commercialization of our product candidates. We may fail to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on
reasonable terms, if at all. In that event, we would be unable to further develop and commercialize our product candidates, which could
harm our business significantly.

77

We could be found liable
for monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed a patent of a third
party. A finding of infringement could