EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 896747
Filing Year: 2023
Filename: 896747_10-K_2023_0001654954-23-003260.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
General Development of Business
American Bio Medica Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated on April 2, 1986 under the laws of the State of New York under the name American Micro Media, Inc. On September 9, 1992, we filed an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation and changed our name to American Bio Medica Corporation as we entered into the manufacturing and distribution of lateral flow immunoassay tests, primarily for the immediate detection of drugs in urine and oral fluid. We also distributed a number of other products related to the immediate detection of drugs and alcohol.
In 2002, we began offering certain services on a contract basis to unaffiliated third parties. Such services include, but are not limited to, strip manufacturing, research and development, and product assembly and packaging. We continued to offer products via distribution relationships, especially as the lateral flow drug testing market became commoditized in nature. Beginning in March 2020 and throughout the year ended December 31, 2022, we distributed, on a non-exclusive basis, various Covid-19 rapid tests.
On December 19, 2022, we announced that we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”) with Healgen Scientific Limited Liability Company (“Healgen”). Under the terms of the APA, we agreed, subject to the approval of our shareholders, to sell substantially all of our operating assets to Healgen (excluding cash, accounts receivables and certain other assets). Hereinafter within this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the APA with Healgen may be referred to as “the Asset Sale to Healgen”. See “Asset Sale to Healgen” in “Liquidity and Capital Resources as of December 31, 2022” and Note K to our financial statements for more information on the Asset Sale to Healgen.
Our Products
The products we manufacture are self-contained, cost-effective and user-friendly products that are capable of accurately identifying the presence or absence of drugs in a sample within minutes. The products we manufacture are made 100% in in the United States while our competitors manufacture their products outside the United States, primarily in China.
Products for the Detection of Drugs in Urine. We manufacture a number of products that detect the presence or absence of drugs in urine. We offer a number of standard configurations, custom configurations on special order, and different cut-off levels for certain drugs. Cut-off levels are concentrations of drugs or metabolites that must be present in urine (or oral fluid) specimens before a positive result will be obtained. Our urine drugs tests are either 510(k) cleared, CLIA Waived and/or OTC cleared (see “Government Regulations” for information on the regulations related to the sale of our drug tests). We currently manufacture the following urine drug testing product lines:
Rapid Drug Screen®: The Rapid Drug Screen, or RDS®, is a patented rapid drug test that detects the presence or absence of 2 to 10 drugs simultaneously in a single urine specimen. The RDS is available as a card only, or as part of a kit that includes a collection cup.
RDS InCup®: The patented RDS InCup is a drug-testing cup that detects the presence or absence of 1 to 12 drugs in a urine specimen. The RDS InCup incorporates collection and testing of a urine sample in a single step. Each RDS InCup contains multiple channels, and each channel contains a drug-testing strip that contains the chemistry to detect a single drug.
Rapid TOX®: Rapid TOX is a cost-effective drug test in a cassette platform that simultaneously detects the presence or absence of 1 to 10 drugs in a urine specimen. Each Rapid TOX contains one or two channels, and each channel contains a drug-testing strip that contains the chemistry to detect 1-5 drugs.
Rapid TOX Cup® II: The patented Rapid TOX Cup II is another drug testing cup that detects the presence or absence of 1 to 16 drugs in a urine specimen. The Rapid TOX Cup II also incorporates collection and testing of the urine sample in a single step. Each Rapid TOX Cup II contains multiple channels and each channel contains a single drug-testing strip that contains the chemistry to detect more than one drug. This product is available in two (2) formats; one of which has a smaller cup and testing strips to be more cost competitive.
Private Label Products: We provide a private labeled version of Rapid TOX to an unaffiliated third party for sale globally. In the year ended December 31, 2022 (“Fiscal 2022”), sales of these products were not material.
Products for the Detection of Drugs in Oral Fluid. We manufacture drug tests that detect the presence or absence of drugs in oral fluids. These products are easy to use and provide test results within minutes with enhanced sensitivity and detection. As of the date of this report, our oral fluid drug tests are available “for forensic use only” or for “employment use only” as well as in markets outside the United States; (see “Government Regulations” for information on the regulations related to the sale of our drug tests). We currently offer the following oral fluid drug tests:
OralStat®: OralStat is a patented and patent pending, innovative drug test for the detection of drugs in oral fluids. Each OralStat simultaneously tests for 6 or 10 drugs in an oral fluid specimen. In FY 2022, we did not market this product due to limited financial resources and the limited marketability of the product (i.e. forensic and employment use only).
Product for the Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (“RSV”). We manufacture a test for the detection of RSV; in the United States, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) in children younger than one year old and causes approximately 58,000 hospitalizations among children under five annually. Globally, RSV affects an estimated 64 million people and causes 160,000 deaths each year. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that adults at highest risk for severe RSV infection include older adults, especially those 65 years of age and older, adults with chronic heart or lung disease, and adults with weakened immune systems. Our RSV test does detect RSV in both children under the age of six as well as adults over the age of 60. Sales of our RSV test have not historically accounted for a material portion of our sales, including but not limited to, Fiscal 2022. However, in the latter part of Fiscal 2022, as the number of RSV infections rose significantly, we received significantly larger orders from our current customer and we received a large order from a new customer. We shipped part of the large order from our current customer in the first quarter of the year ending December 31, 2023.These products are being marketed by our customers under each customer’s private label.
Distribution of Products. Throughout Fiscal 2022, we distributed a number of other products related to the immediate detection of drugs in urine and oral fluid, products to detect certain infectious diseases and other diagnostic products. We do not manufacture these products. One of these products is a lower-cost drug test that is manufactured by Healgen. In Fiscal 2022, sales of the Healgen drug tests were 17.5% of our total revenue.
In Fiscal 2022, we continued to market various Covid-19 rapid tests via non-exclusive distribution relationships; one of which is with Healgen. All of the Covid-19 tests we are offering are being marketed in full compliance with an Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and in compliance with each specific product’s EUA issued by FDA. In Fiscal 2022 and in the year ended December 31, 2021 (“Fiscal 2021”), sales of Covid-19 rapid tests were not a material portion of our sales (i.e. they did not account for more than 10% of our total revenue).
Our Markets and Distribution Methods
Rehabilitation/Drug Treatment
The Rehabilitation/Drug Treatment market includes people in both inpatient and outpatient treatment for substance abuse. Drug testing is a positive aspect of treatment as it aids in relapse prevention and encourages honesty both within the patient and with outside interactions. In addition, being able to accurately gauge the current drug use by patients enrolled in a substance abuse program is essential so, urine drug testing is an integral part of treatment programs, including physician office-based programs. There is typically a high frequency of testing in this market. We sell our urine drug tests in this market primarily through our direct sales force and also through a number of distributors.
Pain Management
Drug testing in pain management is one of the major tools of adherence monitoring in the assessment of a patient’s predisposition to, and patterns of, misuse/abuse; a vital first step towards establishing and maintaining the safe and effective use of drugs in the treatment of chronic pain. There are many benefits of using an ABMC drug test; these include reducing the risk for toxicity in patients vulnerable to adverse drug effects, detecting patient non-compliance, reducing the risk of therapeutic failure, and avoiding or detecting drug-drug interaction. Additionally, drug testing enhances the physician’s ability to use drugs effectively and minimize costs. We currently sell our urine drug tests in this market primarily through our direct sales force and also through a number of distributors.
Other Clinical
Other Clinical markets include emergency rooms/hospitals, family physician offices and laboratories. There are a number of medical emergencies associated with adverse reactions, accidental drug ingestions, and misuse or abuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. To address this issue, drug testing is performed so healthcare professionals are able to ascertain the drug status of a patient before they administer pharmaceuticals or other treatment. We currently sell our urine drug tests in this market primarily through our direct sales force and also through a number of distributors. We also have a long-term relationship with one of the world’s largest clinical laboratories.
Government (including law enforcement and criminal justice)
The Government market includes federal, state, county and local agencies, including police departments, adult and juvenile correctional facilities, pretrial agencies, probation, drug courts and parole departments at the federal and state levels. A significant number of individuals on parole or probation, or within federal, state, county and local correctional facilities and jails, have one or more conditions to their sentence, including but not limited to, periodic drug-testing and substance abuse treatment. We sell our products in this market through our direct sales force.
Employment/Workplace
The Workplace market consists of pre-employment testing of job applicants, as well as random, cause and post-accident testing of employees. Many employers recognize the financial and safety benefits of implementing drug-free workplace programs, of which drug testing is an integral part. In some states, there are workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance premium reductions, tax deductions and other incentives for adopting these programs. We sell our products in this market through our direct sales force and through a select network of distributors.
International
The International market consists of various markets outside of the United States. Although workplace testing is not as prevalent outside of the United States as within, the international Government and Clinical markets are somewhat in concert with their United States counterparts. One market that is significantly more prevalent outside of the United States is roadside drug testing. We sell in this market through a select network of distributors.
Contract Manufacturing
We provide strip manufacturing, product assembly and packaging services to an unaffiliated third party related to their malaria (a disease transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes) test. This customer sells their malaria diagnostic test outside the United States. Sales to this customer were not a material portion of our sales in either Fiscal 2022 or Fiscal 2021.
Competition
We compete on the following factors:
Pricing: The pricing structure in our markets is highly competitive. We offer the only drug testing products that contain testing strips that are 100% manufactured in the US and that is 100% assembled in the United States. Price pressure is the greatest when comparing our pricing with pricing of products manufactured outside of the United States.
Quality: We manufacture, assemble and package our testing strips and products completely in the United States in accordance with quality system regulations set forth by FDA. Many companies in our industry claim their products are manufactured in the United States when in fact; their products are only assembled or packaged in the Unites States. The testing strips and in most cases the assembly of the product is done outside of the Unites States; usually in China. Products manufactured outside of the United States are generally manufactured outside of the requirements of quality system regulations set forth by FDA. In our opinion, this results in inferior, sub-par products being offered in the market. Most of our markets require accurate detection near the cut-off level of the test. Our products are manufactured to detect drug use closer to the cut-off level of the test. The majority of the drug tests on the market today are less “aggressive”; meaning they are not as sensitive and they will miss positive results. Missing positive results can be extremely troublesome to customers from both an economic and liability perspective; and in the clinical market, missing positives can be a threat to the health of the individuals being tested. We do offer products manufactured outside of the United States via distribution relationships to those customers that do not require accuracy near or at the cutoff level in their drug testing programs.
Customer and technical support: Our customers often need guidance and assistance with certain issues, including but not limited to, test administration, drug cross reactivity and drug metabolism. We provide our customers with continuous customer and technical support on a 24/7/365 basis; staffed by our employees. We believe that this support gives us a competitive advantage since our competitors do not offer this “employee staffed” extended service to their customers.
Raw Materials and Suppliers
The primary raw materials required for the manufacture of our test strips and our drug tests consist of antibodies, antigens and other reagents, plastic molded pieces, membranes and packaging materials. We maintain an inventory of raw materials. Currently, most raw materials are available from several sources. We own the molds and tooling for our plastic components that are custom and proprietary. The ownership of these molds affords us flexibility and control in managing the supply chain for these components. We do not own the molds and tooling for plastic components that are “stock” items.
Major Customers
One of our customers accounted for 24.3% of net sales in Fiscal 2022 and 57.5% of net sales in Fiscal 2021, respectively.
Patents and Trademarks/Licenses
As of December 31, 2022, we hold 10 patents in the United States and 7 foreign patents issued affording protection in various countries/territories outside the United States and one foreign patent application pending.
As of December 31, 2022, we have 13 trademarks registered in the United States and 10 trademarks registered in various countries/territories outside the United States.
Government Regulations
DOA Products
In certain markets, the development, testing, manufacture and sale of our drug tests, and possible additional testing products for other substances or conditions, are subject to regulation by the United States and foreign regulatory agencies. Pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and associated regulations, the FDA regulates the pre-clinical and clinical testing, manufacture, labeling, distribution and promotion of medical devices. When a product is a medical device, a 510(k) marketing application must be submitted to the FDA. A 510(k) is a premarketing submission made to the FDA to demonstrate that the device to be marketed is safe and effective. Applicants must compare their 510(k) device to one or more similar devices currently being marketed in the United States. Most of our urine-based products are marketed and sold in the Clinical market (in addition to other markets) and therefore, we have obtained 510(k) marketing clearance, CLIA waiver (see below) and/or Over-The-Counter (OTC) marketing clearance on our urine based products. Our oral fluid products are not 510(k) cleared; so we can only market and sell these products to the forensic market, the employment market (under a limited exemption issued by FDA in July 2017) and for export outside the United States.
In order to sell our products in the European Union, we must obtain CE marking (in the European Union, a “CE” mark is affixed to the product for easy identification of quality products). These standards are similar to FDA regulations, and are a reasonable assurance to the customer that our products are manufactured in a consistent manner to help ensure that quality defect-free goods are produced. As of the date of this report, we have received approval and the right to bear the CE mark on our Rapid Drug Screen, Rapid ONE, Rapid TOX, RDS InCup, Rapid TOX Cup II, Rapid Reader, OralStat and RSV product. We are currently certified to I.S. EN ISO 13485:2016 with an expiration date of July 31, 2023.
In order to sell our products in Canada, we must comply with ISO 13485:2003, the International Standards Organization’s Directive for Quality Systems for Medical Devices (MDD or Medical Device Directive). In Fiscal 2020, we decided not to renew our product licenses in Canada due to significant increased costs of licensing compared to the negligible sales we had in Canada.
The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 established quality standards for laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of patient test results regardless of where the test was performed. As a result, those using CLIA waived tests are not subject to the more stringent and expensive requirements of moderate or high complexity laboratories. We have received CLIA waiver from the FDA related to our Rapid TOX product line and OTC clearance on our Rapid TOX Cup II product line (the OTC clearance of the Rapid TOX Cup II product line means they are CLIA waived products).
Due to the nature of the manufacturing of our drug tests, the products we offer through contract manufacturing and the raw materials used for both, we do not incur any material costs associated with compliance with environmental laws, nor do we experience any material effects of compliance with environmental laws.
Covid-19 Testing Products
Covid-19 related testing products are (as of the date of this report), being marketed and sold in the United States under the March 2020 Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) policy set forth by the FDA. An EUA is a mechanism to facilitate the availability and use of medical countermeasures, including testing devices, during public health emergencies, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. In order for a product to be marketed under the EUA policy, a number of requirements must be met. All of the Covid-19 tests we are offering are being marketed in full compliance with the EUA issued by the FDA and in compliance with each specific product’s EUA issued by FDA. In order to sell Covid-19 tests to locations within Europe, the products must be CE marked. All of the Covid-19 testing products we distribute bear CE marking.
Manufacturing and Employees
Our facility in Kinderhook, New York houses assembly and packaging of the products we manufacture (including the products we supply on a contract manufacturing basis and the products we supply to a third party who markets the products under their own private label). Our warehouse, shipping department and administrative offices are also within our New York facility.
In our Logan Township, New Jersey facility, we manufacture our drug test strips and test strips for unaffiliated third parties. We also perform research and development in our New Jersey facility.
Unaffiliated third parties manufacture the adulteration, alcohol and certain forensic drug testing products we offer as well as the Covid-19 testing products we distribute. We continue to primarily outsource the printing of the plastic components used in our products, and we outsource the manufacture of the plastic components used in our products.
As of December 31, 2022, we had 24 employees, of which 16 were full-time and 8 were part-time. None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Before you make a decision to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks described below, together with other information within this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If any of the following events actually occur, our business, operating results, prospects or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks described below are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations and could result in a complete loss of your investment.
Since the Asset Sale to Healgen is contingent upon shareholder approval, most of the risk factors do not consider the Asset Sale to Healgen; rather they assume continued “stand alone” operation in the year ending December 31, 2023. If the Asset Sale to Healgen is approved by shareholders, a number of these factors will cease to be risks because we will not have any operations until/if a new business is brought into the company.
Risks Related to our Financial Condition
As of December 31, 2022, we have a stockholders’ deficit and a gross loss and, we have a history of incurring net losses.
Since our inception and throughout most of our history, we have incurred net losses, including but not limited to, a net loss of $1,410,000 incurred in Fiscal 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we also reported negative stockholders’ equity of $2,339,000 and a gross loss of $103,000. We incur substantial expenditures related to manufacturing products in the United States, sales and marketing, general and administrative and research and development purposes. Our ability to achieve profitability in the future will primarily depend on our ability to increase sales of our products. Stockholders’ equity improvement will also be dependent on our ability to increase sales which will increase the value of our assets and decrease our liabilities. Future profitability is dependent on our ability to reduce manufacturing costs. However, some manufacturing costs are fixed and cannot be reduced.
Due to the loss of business from our largest customer (See Risk Factor titled, “One of our customers…”), in Fiscal 2022, we were not able to maintain/increase revenues at a rate that equals or exceeds expenditures to absorb the expenses, especially the fixed manufacturing costs. This resulted in a gross loss starting in the second quarter of Fiscal 2022 which continued throughout the rest of Fiscal 2022.
Given the continued gross and net losses and the commoditized nature of our primary markets, it is unlikely that we will be able to increase revenues at profit margins that will sustain our business. This inability to increase revenue will likely result in termination of operations and is why we entered into the Asset Sale to Healgen in December 2022. See “Asset Sale to Healgen” in “Liquidity and Capital Resources as of December 31, 2022” and Note K to our financial statements for more information on the Asset Sale to Healgen.
Our inability to comply with our debt obligations could result in our creditors declaring all amounts owed to them due and payable with immediate effect, or result in the collection of collateral by the creditor, both of which would have an adverse material impact on our business and our ability to continue operations.
We have a loan and security agreement with Cherokee Financial, LLC. (“Cherokee”) which is secured by a first security interest in our real estate and machinery and equipment. We also have an unsecured term loan with Cherokee, an unsecured loan with an individual shareholder and unsecured loans from our sole executive officer, Melissa Waterhouse. We also have a secured loan with Healgen. The Healgen loan is secured by a first security interest in all of our assets with the exception of those assets already encumbered by the Cherokee loan (i.e. the real property and machinery and equipment). Together these parties are referred to as “creditors”.
On June 14, 2022, Cherokee agreed that they would defer the principal amounts due under the Cherokee LSA and the 2019 Term Loan with Cherokee until February 15, 2023 and that any applicable penalties would also be deferred as long as we remain current on the quarterly interest payments. Furthermore, penalties will also be waived if the principal amounts are paid on or prior to February 15, 2023.
In addition to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory, business and other factors beyond our control, our ability to make payments to our creditors will depend primarily upon our future operating performance; which has been negatively impacted by the loss of material contracts and the increased price competition in our core markets for drug testing.
Provided the Asset Sale to Healgen is approved by shareholders, we will be able to make the required payments to the creditors from the proceeds of the sale of our assets. If the Asset Sale to Healgen is not approved by shareholders, we would not be able to pay the amounts due with cash on hand and we would be forced to pursue one or more alternative strategies, such as restructuring or seeking additional equity capital. There can be no assurances that any of these strategies could be implemented on satisfactory terms, if at all, or that future borrowings or equity financing would be available for the payment of any indebtedness we may have.
A failure to repay any of our debt obligations or payments due under our debt obligations could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in the Company being required to pay much higher costs associated with the indebtedness and/or enable our creditors to declare all amounts owed to them due and payable with immediate effect. If we are unable to meet the demand(s) for payment, the secured creditor(s) could take possession of the assets collateralizing their loan thereby making it impossible for the Company to continue operations.
We will need additional funding for our existing and future operations if the sale of substantially of our assets is not approved by shareholders.
On December 19, 2022, we agreed, subject to the approval of our shareholders, to sell substantially all of our operating assets to Healgen (excluding cash, accounts receivables and certain other assets). Our financial statements for Fiscal 2022 were prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern. If shareholders do not approve the asset sale and sales continue to decline, our current cash balances and cash generated from future operations will not be sufficient to fund operations through March 2024. We would therefore be required to sell equity or debt securities or obtain additional credit facilities. There can be no assurance that any of these financings will be available or that we will be able to complete such financing on satisfactory terms. Should additional financing not be available, we would be required to reduce or terminate operations.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on our drug testing markets and our company operations; the degree to which the pandemic will continue to adversely affect our business, revenues, financial condition and results of operations is still uncertain.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 to be a pandemic (“the Pandemic”). To date, the Pandemic has severely impacted levels of economic activity around the world. In response to this Pandemic, governments and public health officials of many countries, states, cities and other geographic regions have taken preventative or protective actions to mitigate the spread and severity of Covid-19. The primary markets for our DOA products continued to be negatively impacted by the Pandemic in Fiscal 2022.
In Fiscal 2022, we continued to experience supply chain issues as a result of the Pandemic; particularly with plastics and other materials that are used to manufacture our dug tests that are also used in the manufacture of lateral flow Covid-19 tests. The lead times for materials increased significantly and in most cases without notice. This impairs our ability to deliver product to our customers within the time frame required and can result in loss of business.
We cannot presently predict possible continued disruptions to our business, but the Pandemic and the resulting economic and commercial disruptions to date have negatively impacted our ability to conduct business in accordance with our plans. Disruptions to our business include, but are not limited to, disruptions in our supply chain and reduced demand and/or suspension of operations by our customers. We cannot predict the degree to which our business will continue to be negatively impacted by the Pandemic as the impact will depend on future developments which are uncertain.
One of our customers accounted for more than 24.3% of our total net sales in Fiscal 2022.
One of our customers accounted for 24.3% and 57.5% of our net sales in Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively. We currently have a contract in place with this long-standing customer. However, in February 2022, the customer informed us that sales to one of their business segments (which we supplied exclusively) would decrease as a result of their desire to have multiple vendors supplying the segment. They indicated this was to ensure uninterrupted supply. They indicated that the other segment we supply would remain unchanged but, even in that particular segment there were declines in sales when comparing sales in Fiscal 2022 to sales in Fiscal 2021. The loss of these sales has had a dramatic negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that this customer will stop ordering products from us completely, or that any of our current customers will continue to place orders, or that orders by existing customers will continue at current or historical levels.
Risks Related to our Operations
We depend on one individual to manage our business effectively.
We are dependent on the expertise and experience of one individual to manage all aspects of our business, the loss of whom could negatively impact our business and results of operations. Melissa A. Waterhouse serves as our sole executive officer. She serves as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Principal Financial Officer. We have an employment agreement in place with Ms. Waterhouse, but there can be no assurance that Ms. Waterhouse will continue her employment. The loss of Ms. Waterhouse could disrupt the business and have a negative impact on business results. We also have a limited number of individuals in senior management positions. There can be no assurance that they too will continue their employment. We do not currently maintain key man insurance on Ms. Waterhouse.
We rely on third parties for raw materials used in our drug test products and in our bulk test strip contract manufacturing processes as well as for supply of products we sell via distribution arrangements.
We currently have approximately 42 suppliers that provide us with the materials necessary to manufacture our drug-testing strips, our drug test kits and the products we supply third parties on a contract manufacturing basis as well as the products we sell to our customers via distribution arrangements. For most of our raw materials, we have multiple suppliers, but there are a few raw materials for which we only have one supplier. The loss of one or more of these suppliers, the non-performance of one or more of their materials or the lack of availability of raw materials could suspend our manufacturing process for one or more product lines. This interruption of the manufacturing process could impair our ability to fill customers’ orders as they are placed, putting us at a competitive disadvantage. The inability to secure supplies of products that we sell via distribution would also prohibit us from supplying our customers and put us at a competitive disadvantage.
We have raw material and “work in process” inventory on hand that may not be used in the year ending December 31, 2023 if the expected configuration of sales orders is not received at projected levels.
We had approximately $444,000 in raw material components for the manufacture of our products at December 31, 2022. The non-chemical raw material components may be retained and used in production indefinitely and the chemical raw materials components have lives in excess of 20 years. In addition to the raw material inventory, we had approximately $110,000 in “work in process” (manufactured testing strips) inventory at December 31, 2022. The components for much of this “work in process” inventory have lives of 12-36 months. If sales orders received are not for products that would utilize the raw material components, or if product developments make the raw materials obsolete, we may be required to dispose of these unused raw materials. In addition, since the components for much of the “work in process” inventory have lives of 12-36 months, if sales orders within the next 12-36 months are not for products that contain the components of the “work in process” inventory, we may need to discard this expired “work in process” inventory. We have established an allowance for obsolete or slow moving inventory. At December 31, 2022, this allowance was $235,000. There can be no assurance that this allowance will continue to be adequate for the year ending December 31, 2023 or that it will not have to be adjusted in the future.
We may not be able to hire and retain qualified personnel in several important areas which could negatively impact our growth strategy.
We need skilled sales and marketing, technical and production personnel to maintain and/or grow our business. If we fail to retain our present staff or hire additional qualified personnel our business could suffer, specifically in the case of sales personnel. Recently, we have found it to be increasingly difficult to locate and hire individuals that have the experience required to sell toxicology and diagnostic products. An inability to find qualified sales representatives has already negatively impacted our ability to maintain and/or grow sales.
We incur costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance initiatives.
We incur legal, accounting and other expenses as a result of our required compliance with certain regulations implemented by the SEC. Our executive management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance requirements, including but not limited to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Our management is required to perform system and process evaluation and testing of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, as required by Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (as a smaller reporting company, we are exempt from the requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring auditor’s attestation related to internal controls over financial reporting). If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404(a), if we identify deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting, or if we are unable to comply with any other SEC regulations or requirements, the market price of our common stock could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
We have only extended the lease of our New Jersey facility until February 28, 2023.
The lease of our New Jersey facility was set to expire on December 31, 2022. Considering the intention to sell substantially all of our assets to Healgen, we did not wish to enter into another multi-year lease of the facility as it would result in the Company paying significant lease pay out amounts. Therefore, on October 27, 2022, we extended the lease of the New Jersey facility until February 28, 2023. If the Asset Sale to Healgen is not approved by shareholders, we would have to negotiate another lease extension and there can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain the extension and/or that the terms of the extension would be favorable to the Company. An inability to enter into another lease extension would mean that operations in our New Jersey facility could not continue and that would require us to seek another source of testing strips which would require significant actions to be taken to address regulatory requirements. There can be no assurance that we could obtain another source of testing strips and/or take the actions necessary to address regulatory requirements. There can also be no assurance that we would be able to incur the costs related to such actions. If we were unable to seek an additional source of testing strips, our operations would be disrupted and we would be unable to supply products to our customers for a period of time that is difficult to determine. This would negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Selling and Marketing
The drug testing market is highly competitive and commoditized and, we may not be able to compete successfully against lower cost producers.
The market for rapid onsite drug tests is highly competitive and saturated with lower cost products made outside of the United States; primarily products made in China. This has resulted in a commoditization of the onsite drug testing market at a time when costs associated with manufacturing in the United States; costs such as labor, utilities, materials, insurance, etc., keep rising. Customers are typically seeking the lowest cost product and if they are considering our products and products made outside the United States, it is likely we will be unable to obtain the sale due to pricing. The extent to which the commoditized nature of our markets will continue to impact our business, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which cannot be predicted. Our inability to successfully address any competitive risk factor could negatively impact sales and our ability to continue operations and/or achieve profitability.
Any adverse changes in our regulatory framework could negatively impact our business, and costs to obtain regulatory clearance are material.
Although we are unaware of any recent or upcoming changes in regulatory standards related to the marketing of our drug tests, changes in regulatory requirements could negatively impact our business if we are unable to comply with the changes. Typically, the cost to comply with regulatory changes is significant, especially if additional applications for marketing clearance from the FDA are required. The cost of filing a 510(k) marketing clearance with the FDA is material and can have a negative impact on efforts to improve our financial performance. If regulatory standards change in the future, there can be no assurance that we will receive marketing clearances from FDA, if and when we apply for them.
We are marketing the Covid-19 tests we are distributing under the FDA EUA policy and each product’s individual EUA issued by FDA. Revocation of individual product’s EUA could negatively impact our business and stop sales of the Covid-19 test(s). In addition, when/if the EUA policy is revoked by FDA (due to a downturn in the pandemic), the Covid-19 tests we are marketing would no longer be able to be sold in the United States since none of the tests we are distributing are 510(k) cleared.
We rely on intellectual property rights and contractual non-disclosure obligations to protect our proprietary information (including customer information). These rights and obligations may not adequately protect our proprietary information, and an inability to protect our proprietary information can harm our business.
We rely on confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our confidential and proprietary information. Confidential and proprietary information (such as components and product costing, customer pricing structures, customer information, vendor information, internal financial information, production processes, new product developments, product enhancements and other material, non-public information) is protected under non-disclosure agreements with our personnel and consultants. If these individuals do not comply with their obligations under these agreements, we may be required to incur significant costs to protect our confidential information and the use of this information by the breaching individual may cause harm to our business.
We also rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products, dilute our trademarks, or otherwise infringe upon our rights. We may be required to incur significant costs to protect our intellectual property right under laws of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not ensure that our means of protecting our proprietary rights in the United States or abroad will be adequate. Policing and enforcement against the unauthorized use of our intellectual property and other confidential proprietary information could entail significant expenses and could prove difficult or impossible. Such significant expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Risks Related to our Securities
Potential issuance and exercise of new options and warrants and exercise of outstanding options could adversely affect the value of our securities.
We currently have two non-statutory stock option plans, the Fiscal 2001 Non-statutory Stock Option Plan (the “2001 Plan”) and the 2013 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2013 Plan”). Both plans have been adopted by our Board of Directors and approved by our shareholders. The shares of common stock underlying the exercise of the stock options under the 2001 Plan have been registered with the SEC making them freely tradeable when/if exercised by the holder; however, the shares underlying the exercise of the stock options under the 2013 Plan have not been registered with the SEC.
Both the 2001 Plan and the 2013 Plan have options available for future issuance. As of December 31, 2022, there were 1,736,000 options issued and outstanding under the 2001 Plan. There were no options issued under the 2013 Plan, making the total issued and outstanding options 1,736,000 as of December 31, 2022. Of the total options issued and outstanding, 1,736,000 are fully vested as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, there were 1,981,000 options available for issuance under the 2001 Plan and 4,000,000 options available for issuance under the 2013 Plan. As of December 31, 2022, we had 0 warrants issued and outstanding.
If outstanding stock options are exercised, the common stock issued will be freely tradable, increasing the total number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding. If these shares are offered for sale in the public market, the sales could adversely affect the prevailing market price by lowering the bid price of our securities. The exercise of these stock options could also materially impair our ability to raise capital through the future sale of equity securities because issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the stock options would cause further dilution of our securities. In addition, in the event of any change in the outstanding shares of our common stock by reason of any recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization consolidation, combination or exchange of shares, merger or any other changes in our corporate or capital structure or our common stock, the number and class of shares covered by the stock options and/or the exercise price of the stock options may be adjusted as set forth in their plans.
Substantial resales of restricted securities may depress the market price of our securities.
There are 6,135,986 shares of common stock presently issued and outstanding as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are “restricted securities” as that term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”). These securities may be sold in compliance with Rule 144 of the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), or pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act. Rule 144 addresses sales of restricted securities by affiliates and non-affiliates of an issuer. An “affiliate” is a person, such as an officer, director or large shareholder, in a relationship of control with the issuer. “Control” means the power to direct the management and policies of the company in question, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. If someone buys securities from a controlling person or an affiliate, they take restricted securities, even if they were not restricted in the affiliate's hands.
A person who is not an affiliate of the issuer (and who has not been for at least three months) and has held the restricted securities for at least one year can sell the securities without regard to restrictions. If the non-affiliate had held the securities for at least six months but less than one year, the securities may be sold by the non-affiliate as long as the current public information condition has been met (i.e. that the issuer has complied with the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).
We are subject to reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. Under Rule 144, if a holder of securities is an affiliate of an issuer subject to Exchange Act reporting requirements, the securities must be held for at least six months. In addition, the number of equity securities sold during any three-month period cannot exceed 1% of the outstanding shares of the same class being sold. The securities must be sold in unsolicited, routine trading transactions and brokers may not receive more than normal commission. Affiliates must also file a notice with the SEC on Form 144 if a sale involves more than 5,000 shares or the aggregate dollar amount is greater than $50,000 in any three-month period. The sale must take place within three months of filing the Form 144 and, if the securities have not been sold, an amended notice must be filed. Investors should be aware that sales under Rule 144 or pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act might depress the market price of our securities in any market for such shares.
Our shares are quoted on the OTC Markets Group Pink Open Market (“OTC Pink”) and are currently subject to SEC “penny stock,” rules, which could make it more difficult for a broker-dealer to trade our shares of common stock, for an investor to acquire or dispose of our shares in the secondary market and for us to retain or attract market makers.
The SEC has adopted regulations that define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price per share of less than $5.00, subject to certain exceptions, such as any securities listed on a national securities exchange or securities of an issuer in continuous operation for more than three years whose net tangible assets are in excess of $2 million, or an issuer that has average revenue of at least $6 million for the last three years. Our shares of common stock are currently being quoted on the OTC Pink. As of Fiscal 2022, our net tangible assets did not exceed $2 million, and our average revenue for the last three years was only $2,426,000, so our securities do not currently qualify for exclusion from the “penny stock” definitions. Therefore, our shares of common stock are subject to “penny stock” rules. For any transaction involving a “penny stock,” unless exempt, the rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers, subject to certain exceptions. For these reasons, a broker-dealer may find it more difficult to trade our common stock and an investor may find it more difficult to acquire or dispose of our common stock on the secondary market. Therefore, broker-dealers may be less willing or able to sell or make a market in our securities because of the penny stock disclosure rules. Not maintaining a listing on a major stock market may result in a decrease in the trading price of our securities due to a decrease in liquidity and less interest by institutions and individuals in investing in our securities, and could also make it more difficult for us to raise capital in the future. Furthermore, quotation on the OTC Pink may make it more difficult to retain and attract market makers. In the event that market makers cease to function as such, public trading of our securities will be adversely affected or may cease entirely.
An active trading market for our common stock may not be sustained.
Although our common stock is currently quoted on the OTC Pink, the market for our shares has demonstrated varying levels of trading activity. Furthermore, the current level of trading may not be sustained in the future. The lack of an active market for our common stock may impair investors’ ability to sell their shares at the time they wish to sell them or at a price that they consider reasonable, may reduce the fair market value of their shares and may impair our ability to raise capital to continue to fund operations by selling shares.
We do not anticipate paying dividends on our common stock and, accordingly, stockholders must rely on stock appreciation for any return on their investment.
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and limitations under applicable law, and will depend on various factors, including our operating results, financial condition, future prospects and any other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. You should not rely on an investment in our company if you require dividend income from your investment in our company. The success of your investment will likely depend entirely upon any future appreciation of the market price of our common stock, which is uncertain and unpredictable. There is no guarantee that our common stock will appreciate in value.
We may require additional financing to sustain our operations, without which we may not be able to continue operations, and the terms of subsequent financings may adversely impact our shareholders.
Given the current financial condition and our results of operations in Fiscal 2022, if the Asset Sale to Healgen is not approved by our shareholders, we will need to secure another source of funding in order to satisfy our working capital needs. Depending on the type and the terms of any financing we pursue, stockholders’ rights and the value of their investment in our common stock could be reduced. A financing could involve one or more types of securities including common stock, convertible debt or warrants to acquire common stock. These securities could be issued at or below the then prevailing market price for our common stock. In addition, we currently have secured debt facilities, the holders of which have a claim to our assets that are prior to the rights of shareholders until the debt is paid. Interest on these debt facilities already increases operational costs and negatively impacts operating results. If we have to obtain additional debt facilities, this would further negatively impact operating results. Should the financing we require to sustain our working capital needs be unavailable or prohibitively expensive when we require it, the consequences would have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue operating our business.
Risks Related to the Asset Sale to Healgen
Other risks more specific to the Asset Sale with Healgen include, but are not limited to:
·
The Asset Sale to Healgen, even if approved by our Shareholders, may not be completed.
·
If Shareholders do not approve the Asset Sale to Healgen, the loans from Healgen would become due and payable. Given our current financial condition, it is unlikely we could make the required payments. This inability could result in the Healgen taking possession of the assets collateralizing the loan thereby making it impossible for the Company to continue operations.
·
Shareholders could vote against the Asset Sale to Healgen, thereby making the Asset Sale to Healgen impossible and adding great uncertainty as to the ability of the Company to continue operations.
·
Any delay in the closing of the Asset Sale to Healgen will result in our inability to pay off our existing debt with Cherokee that is due on February 15, 2023. This inability could result in Cherokee taking possession of our facility in Kinderhook, NY and all machinery and equipment, thereby making it impossible for the Company to continue operations.
·
Any delay in the closing of the Asset Sale to Healgen could decrease the funds available to pay off our other creditors because we will continue to be subject to ongoing operating expenses.
·
The occurrence of certain events, changes or other circumstance could give rise to the termination of the Asset Sale to Healgen, which would result in the Asset Sale to Healgen not being consummated.
·
The Asset Sale to Healgen process may disrupt current plans and operations and we may face difficulties in employee retention.
·
We will continue to incur the expenses of complying with public company reporting requirements.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We own our property in Kinderhook, New York. The property currently consists of a 30,000 square foot facility with approximately 22 surrounding acres. Our Kinderhook facility houses administration, customer service, inside sales, assembly and packaging, shipping and our warehouse. Our New York facility is encumbered by a lien by Cherokee (as it is collateral for the Loan and Security Agreement with Cherokee).
We lease 5,200 square feet of space in Logan Township, New Jersey that houses our bulk test strip manufacturing and research and development. On October 27, 2022, we amended the term of our lease by extending it through February 28, 2023.
Both facilities are currently adequate and meet the needs of all areas of the Company.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we may be involved in immaterial legal proceedings in connection with matters that arise during the normal course of business. While the ultimate outcome of any such immaterial litigation cannot be predicted, if we are unsuccessful in defending any such litigation, the resulting financial losses are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
Property Taxes: We are currently delinquent in paying our property and school taxes. We have been communicating with the county over the past several months to discuss options for payment of the delinquent taxes; including, but not limited to, entering into a payment plan offered by the county. On November 28, 2022, using proceeds from a loan from Healgen, we made a payment in the amount of $35,000 to the county for our taxes.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not Applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Since June 1, 2022, our shares of common stock are quoted on the OTC Pink market under the symbol “ABMC”. From December 3, 2020 until June 1, 2022 our shares of common stock were quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market under the same symbol.
The following table sets forth the high and low closing bid prices of our securities as reported by the OTCQB Venture Market and the OTC Pink market in Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021. The prices quoted reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown, or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Year ended December 31, 2022
High
Low
Quarter ended December 31, 2022
$ 0.02
$ 0.01
Quarter ended September 30, 2022
$ 0.03
$ 0.02
Quarter ended June 30, 2022
$ 0.03
$ 0.02
Quarter ended March 31, 2022
$ 0.04
$ 0.03
Year ended December 31, 2021
High
Low
Quarter ended December 31, 2021
$ 0.08
$ 0.03
Quarter ended September 30, 2021
$ 0.06
$ 0.04
Quarter ended June 30, 2021
$ 0.12
$ 0.06
Quarter ended March 31, 2021
$ 0.26
$ 0.11
Holders
Based upon the number of registered holders and individual participants in security position listings, as of March 21, 2023, there were approximately 2,100 holders of our securities. As of March 21, 2023, there were 48,098,476 common shares outstanding.
Dividends
We have not declared any dividends on our common shares and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future. Future earnings, if any, will be retained for use in our business.
Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans previously approved by security holders
We currently have 2 Non-statutory Stock Option Plans (the 2001 Plan and the 2013 Plan, collectively the “Plans”) that have been adopted by our Board of Directors and subsequently approved by our shareholders. The Plans provide for the granting of options to employees, directors, and consultants (see Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factor titled, “Potential issuance and exercise…”).
Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans not previously approved by security holders
None.
The following table summarizes information as of December 31, 2022, with respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which our common stock is authorized for issuance:
Plan Category
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
Equity Compensation Plans approved by security holders*
1,736,000
$ 0.12
5,981,000
*All securities are related to individual compensation arrangements.
Performance Graph
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information required under this item.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities, Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers
None that have not been previously reported in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or a Current Report on Form 8-K.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. RESERVED

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis provides information, which we believe is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes to the financial statement contained within this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including, without limitation, statements containing the words“believes”,“anticipates”,“estimates”,“expects”,“intends”,“projects”, and words of similar import, are forward-looking as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“1995 Act”), and in releases issued by the SEC. These statements are being made pursuant to the provisions of the 1995 Act and with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the“Safe Harbor”provisions of the 1995 Act. We caution that any forward-looking statements made within this Annual Report on Form 10-K are not guarantees of future performance and in fact, actual results may differ materially from those results discussed in such forward-looking statements. This material difference can be a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, any risks detailed herein, including the“Risk Factors”section contained in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K, or detailed in our most recent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K and from time to time in our other filings with the SEC and amendments thereto.Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we are not undertaking any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Overview
Throughout Fiscal 2022, sales of drug tests continued to be negatively impacted as customer pricing continues to decrease as a result of our markets being saturated with products made outside of the United States; primarily products made in China. This has resulted in a commoditization of the onsite drug testing market at a time when costs associated with labor, utilities, materials, insurance, etc. keep rising. In attempts to retain current customers and/or attract new customers that require lower pricing, we are offering two drug test product lines that are manufactured in China.
In addition to the marketing of drug tests, we continue to market various Covid-19 rapid tests. All of the Covid-19 tests we are offering are being marketed in accordance with the March 2020 Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) policy set forth by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in accordance with the individual EUAs issued for the products. We are currently offering a number of different rapid antigen tests and rapid antibody tests that can be used in various different settings, including home use; depending on their specific EUA issuance.
In addition to increased costs, the materials used in the manufacture of our drug test products are the same materials used in the manufacture of lateral flow Covid-19 tests as well as lateral flow tests for Influenza and RSV, both of which surged in the latter part of Fiscal 2022. This increased need for the same materials has resulted in supply chain delays; some of which have negatively impacted our customer relationships.
Due to limited financial and personnel resources, we are still not marketing our oral fluid drug test (OralStat®) in the employment and insurance markets in the United States (under a limited exemption set forth by the FDA). We continue to believe that OralStat can be effectively marketed in the United States markets given its superior sensitivity and accuracy if the resources are available to market the product.
In 2019 we expanded our contract manufacturing operations with two new customers. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic halted sales to these customers throughout 2020 and into 2021 but, in Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2022, we started to ship orders to these customers again as their business started to return to normal. In the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2022, as the number of RSV infections rose significantly, we received significantly larger orders from our current customer and we received a large order from a new customer. These orders are expected to start shipping in the first quarter of the year ending December 31, 2023. These products are being marketed by our customers under each customer’s private label.
Gross margin has been declining due to the increased costs of manufacturing in the United States and the fact that overhead costs associated with both of our facilities cannot be decreased any further. As sales continue to decline, and these costs cannot be adjusted downward, greater manufacturing inefficiencies occur. The manufacturing inefficiencies are increasing despite our efforts to mitigate them. We are also taking steps to obtain materials at the best available pricing. However, in many cases, we are purchasing at much lower volumes than the larger diagnostic companies and that results in higher per piece pricing. We have also been looking into possible production alternatives in attempts to address these fixed costs.
Operating expenses declined in Fiscal 2022 when compared to Fiscal 2021. We continuously make efforts to control operational expenses to ensure they are in line with sales including, but not limited to, consolidating job responsibilities in certain areas of the Company, securing more cost effective service providers and reduction of facility hours so they are more in line with production and administrative needs.
From August 2013 until June 2020 and from April 2022 through the date of this report, we maintained a salary deferral program for our sole executive officer, our Chief Executive Officer/Principal Financial Officer Melissa Waterhouse. The salary deferral program was initiated by Ms. Waterhouse voluntarily in both August 2013 and April 2022. Another member of senior management participated in the voluntary 2013 program until his retirement in November 2019. After the member of senior management retired, we had to make payments on the deferred compensation (i.e. deferred salary) owed to this individual. In Fiscal 2021, we made payments totaling $20,000 to this individual and his deferred compensation was paid in full in May 2021.
Once the deferred compensation was paid in full to this individual in May 2021, we began to make payments at the same rate to Ms. Waterhouse given the length of time the amount had been owed and that Ms. Waterhouse had not received any payments on her deferred compensation since August 2017. We made payments totaling $10,000 to Ms. Waterhouse in Fiscal 2022 and $33,000 in payments in Fiscal 2021. We stopped making payments on Ms. Waterhouse’s deferred compensation in April 2022 when Ms. Waterhouse again voluntarily deferred her salary by 20%. As of December 31, 2022, we had deferred compensation owed to Ms. Waterhouse in the amount of $87,000 and $7,000 in payroll taxes that are due as payments are made to Ms. Waterhouse; for a total of $94,000 in deferred compensation owed to Ms. Waterhouse. In addition, as of December 31, 2022, we owe Ms. Waterhouse $32,000 in current salary that was not paid.
Beginning in April 2022, another member of senior management participated in the salary deferral program. As of December 31, 2022, we had deferred compensation owed to this individual in the amount of $14,000 and $1,000 in payroll taxes that are due as payments are made to this individual; for a total of $15,000 in deferred compensation. This individual ceased participating in the salary deferral program on December 9, 2022 and is receiving their full salary (which continues through the date of this report).
Our continued existence is dependent upon several factors, including our ability to: 1) raise revenue levels even though the drug testing market continues to be infiltrated by product manufactured outside of the United States as well as being impacted by supply chain issues and increased costs of material and labor 2) further penetrate the markets (in and outside of the United States) for the products we manufacture as well as products we offer via distribution, 3) secure new contract manufacturing customers, 4) control operational costs and manufacturing inefficiencies to generate positive cash flows, 5) maintain our current credit facilities or refinance our current credit facilities if necessary, and 6) if needed, obtain working capital by selling additional shares of our common stock. Should the Company not be able to achieve positive cash flows from operations or obtain additional funding, it may be required to further reduce or terminate operations.
Plan of Operations
We believe the losses we have reported over the last several years and most recently the significant loss reported for Fiscal 2022 will continue as (i) our primary business (onsite drugs of abuse tests) has become a commoditized market where price is the primary consideration for purchase and we cannot compete with the low pricing offered by our competitors who manufacture outside of the U.S. when we manufacture our drug testing products completely in the U.S. and (ii) we have not been able to obtain new business to replace the significant loss of business (which began in late 2021) from our largest customer. These two issues are further exacerbated by the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Part of the inability to attain new customers is due to expense reductions that we have undertaken over the last several years to combat losses. Many of these expense reductions, such as reduced selling and marketing and research and development expenditures, along with reduced and deferred salaries of a number of employees, are incompatible with growing or even maintaining our business both in the short and the long term. In addition, our cash position has deteriorated, and continues to deteriorate, due to operating losses and payments required under our debt facilities.
Over the last several years, we have been able to access loans from shareholders and raise funds via private equity financings. As time goes on and the financial results continue to deteriorate, these options are no longer available to the Company. Ms. Waterhouse has also extended loans to the Company and in addition to salary deferral; Ms. Waterhouse is owed currently salary.
Given the above, our results of operations and our current financial condition, on December 19, 2022, we agreed, subject to the approval of our shareholders, to sell substantially all of our operating assets to Healgen (excluding cash, accounts receivables and certain other assets).
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or “U.S. GAAP”. Part IV, Item 15, Note A to our financial statements describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our financial statements. The accounting policies that we believe are most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating the financial statements include the following:
Inventory and Allowance for Slow Moving and Obsolete Inventory:We maintain an allowance for slow moving and obsolete inventory. If necessary, actual write-downs to inventory are made for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the net realizable value based on historical demand and past sales history of the products which utilize the inventory. We have reviewed all items within the allowance at December 31, 2022 and based upon that review, we do not expect any future additions to the allowance based on obsolescence, however if actual market conditions are less favorable for our products, additional inventory allowances or write-downs may be required to address slow-moving materials.
Valuation of Receivables:We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts based on facts, circumstances and judgments regarding each receivable. Customer payment history and patterns, length of relationship with the customer, historical losses, economic and political conditions, trends and individual circumstances are among the items considered when evaluating the collectability of the receivables. Accounts are reviewed regularly for collectability and those deemed uncollectible are written off. If our customers’ economic condition changes, we may need to increase our allowance for doubtful accounts.
Estimates of the fair value of stock options and warrants at date of grant:The fair value of stock options (share-based payment expense) issued to employees, members of our Board of Directors and consultants is estimated (on the date of grant) based on the Black-Scholes options-pricing model utilizing certain assumptions for a risk free interest rate; volatility; and expected remaining lives of the awards. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based payment awards represent management's best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management judgment. Our share-based payment expense in Fiscal 2022 and in Fiscal 2021 was $0. However, we may issue stock options in the future. If factors change and we use different assumptions, our equity-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. In addition, we are required to estimate the expected forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those shares expected to vest. In estimating our forfeiture rate, we analyzed our historical forfeiture rate, the remaining lives of unvested options (if applicable), and the amount of vested options as a percentage of total options outstanding. If our actual forfeiture rate is materially different from our estimate, or if we reevaluate the forfeiture rate, equity-based compensation expense could be significantly different from what we have recorded in the current period.
Use of Estimates:We make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Results of operations for FISCal 2022 compared to Fiscal 2021
Net Sales:Net sales decreased 58.8%, or $1,305,000, in Fiscal 2022 when compared to Fiscal 2021; primarily as a result in a decline in sales of drugs of abuse (“DOA”) tests that we manufacture. The decline in DOA sales stems almost entirely from decreased sales to our largest customer who has historically been a significant portion of our revenues. This customer has two segments of their business for which we supply products. They informed us in February 2022 that sales to one of those segments (which we supplied exclusively) would decrease as a result of their desire to have multiple vendors supplying the segment. They indicated this was to ensure uninterrupted supply as they had experienced periodic supply interruptions with us in 2021 (as a result of the supply chain issues we experienced in 2021 and continued to experience into 2022; particularly with plastics and other materials that are used to manufacture our drug tests; materials that are also used in the manufacture of lateral flow Covid-19 and other infectious disease tests). They indicated that the other segment we supply would remain unchanged but, even in that particular segment; we saw a decline in sales when comparing Fiscal 2022 to Fiscal 2021. In addition to the decline in sales to this customer, international sales also declined; the majority of which is due to lower sales to three of our distributors (two of which have cited our pricing as being too high as the reason they did not order from us in Fiscal 2022) that were partially offset by increased sales to another distributor.
Contract manufacturing sales also declined when comparing Fiscal 2022 to Fiscal 2021; primarily due to decreased sales of the malaria product we manufacture. RSV test sales decreased also; there was increased demand in early 2022 (which was connected to the Pandemic) but, as Fiscal 2022 continued, demand decreased; until late in Fiscal 2022 when we received two large orders due to the surge in RSV. However, these orders will not ship until the year ending December 31, 2023.
Distribution sales also decreased in Fiscal 2022 when compared to Fiscal 2021. Most of the decline stems from decreased sales of rapid Covid-19 tests. Sales of lower cost DOA tests we sell via distribution also declined slightly when comparing Fiscal 2022 to Fiscal 2021 along with smaller declines in other products we distribute.
Gross (Loss) / profit: We recorded a gross (loss) of $103,000 in Fiscal 2022; this is compared to gross profit of $548,000 in Fiscal 2021. Gross profit began to dramatically decline in the first quarter of Fiscal 2022 and continued to decline through the rest of Fiscal 2022 due to even further reduced sales. This change to a gross (loss) from a gross profit is almost entirely due to decreased sales to our largest customer in one of their segments (previously discussed in net sales). In addition, the two segments we were supplying were comprised of one with low margin sales and one with higher margin sales. This allowed the Company to maintain an appropriate blended gross profit margin on the sales to the customer. The segment in which sales have decreased significantly is the segment in which products were sold at a higher profit margin and this has significantly reduced the blended gross profit margin on the account. At the same time, this decline in sales has resulted in greater inefficiencies in manufacturing. Manufacturing inefficiencies occur when production levels decrease but, not all costs can be reduced to be in line with production levels because they are fixed; these costs include but, are not limited to, depreciation, insurance, interest, taxes, utilities and other costs associated with running our two facilities.
We have taken steps to reduce manufacturing costs, including but not limited to, costs associated with labor, to mitigate these inefficiencies; however, the previously discussed fixed costs cannot easily be decreased. Given the price sensitivity in our markets and the commoditized nature of drug testing products, customer pricing is challenging; however, we did implement a price increase to non-contractual customers in July 2021 however, the customer previously discussed has a contracted price in place that is not as easily increased.
Operating Expenses:Operating expenses for Fiscal 2022 decreased 34%, or $588,000, when compared to operating expenses in Fiscal 2021. Selling and Marketing and General and Administrative expenses decreased, while Research and Development costs were unchanged. More specifically:
Research and development (“R&D”)
R&D expenses for Fiscal 2022 were unchanged, when compared to R&D expenses incurred in Fiscal 2021. All expenses remained relatively consistent year over year. Throughout Fiscal 2022, our R&D department continued to focus their efforts on enhancement of our current products and validations related to drug testing product components.
Selling and marketing
Selling and marketing expenses for Fiscal 2022 decreased by 54.9%, or $167,000, when compared to selling and marketing expenses in Fiscal 2021. Reductions in sales salary expense and benefits (due to the termination of personnel for performance reasons as well as an employee departure), commissions (due to decreased sales and no commissions paid on Covid-19 rapid test sales in Fiscal 2022), auto expense, reductions in costs associated with shipping and promotional expense (due to Fiscal 2021 including fees paid to OTC Markets which were not paid in Fiscal 2022) were the primary reasons for the decline in expenses. All other expenses remained relatively consistent when comparing Fiscal 2022 to Fiscal 2021.
In Fiscal 2022, we continued selling and marketing efforts related to the drug tests we manufacture and lower cost alternatives for onsite drug testing via distribution relationships. We also marketed and sold rapid Covid-19 tests via distribution relationships. These offerings did not result in increased selling and marketing expenses when comparing Fiscal 2022 with Fiscal 2021. Terminations of sales personnel have been due to poor performance. While we have taken efforts to increase the size of our sales team to further penetrate our markets; no new sales reps were hired in Fiscal 2022 due to lack of qualified candidates and limited financial resources. We continue to look for contract manufacturing opportunities or situations in which we can leverage our U.S. based manufacturing operations.
General and administrative (“G&A”)
G&A expense decreased 31.5%, or $421,000, in Fiscal 2022 when compared to G&A expense in Fiscal 2021. A significant portion of this decrease is due to bank service fees, which decreased $151,000 when comparing Fiscal 2022 to Fiscal 2021; of which $149,000 was associated with our loans with Cherokee and were in connection with a penalty related to extension of the Cherokee loans in February 2021.
In addition, quality assurance salaries declined (due to retirement of an employee, departure of another employee as well as a reduced work week implemented early in April 2022), general and administrative and manufacturing and production salaries and benefits declined (due to fewer employees and the reduced work week implemented in April 2022), accounting fees declined (due to lower costs from our new accounting firm), expenses associated with intellectual property declined (due to less international patent maintenance fees paid and less legal fees incurred), director fees and expenses declined (due to board members waiving fees for meeting attendance) and payroll service fees declined (due to change in vendor) along with other smaller declines in other expenses.
These declines were partially offset by increased costs related to: 1) consulting fees (due to the execution of the Financial Advisory Agreement with Landmark Pegasus, Inc. in early Fiscal 2022), 2) legal fees (due to activities required related to the Asset Sale to Healgen), 3) rent expense (due to increased rental costs of the New Jersey facility throughout Fiscal 2022 and a further increase in November 2022) and 4) repairs and maintenance (related to repairs needed for systems in the New York facility.
There was no expense related to share based payments in either Fiscal 2022 or Fiscal 2021.
Other income and expense:
Other expense of $166,000 in Fiscal 2022 consisted of interest expense associated with our credit facilities (our line of credit which was in place until November 2022), our two loans with Cherokee Financial, LLC and shareholder loans) partially offset by other income (related to gains on certain liabilities) and interest income of $3,000 (most of which is interest received in connection with the ERC refund we received in June 2022).
Other income of $718,000 in Fiscal 2021 consisted of income related to the forgiveness of our PPP loan in the amount of $335,000, other income of $58,000; which is $50,000 related to certain non-refundable prepayments (customer deposits) that were forfeited when the customer did not remit the remaining amounts due on the order and $8,000 in income related to gains on certain liabilities, $619,000 in income from the Employee Retention Credit recognized in Fiscal 2021 (which is $44,000 in credits taken in Q3 2021, $38,000 in credit taken in Q4 2021 and $537,000 in refunds filed for credits in the first three quarters of 2021). This income was offset by interest expense associated with our credit facilities (our line of credit, our two loans with Cherokee Financial, LLC and a shareholder loan) and a charge related to the impairment of our patent asset.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022
Our cash requirements depend on numerous factors, including but not limited to manufacturing costs (such as labor and overhead costs, raw materials, equipment, etc.), selling and marketing initiatives, product development activities, regulatory costs, legal costs, and effective management of inventory levels and production levels in response to sales history and forecasts (if available). Given our current and historical cash position, such activities would need to be funded from the issuance of additional equity or additional credit borrowings, subject to market and other conditions and if available to us.
The following transactions materially impacted our liquidity and cash flow in Fiscal 2022 and/or Fiscal 2021 or are expected to have an impact on our cash flow in the year ending December 31, 2023:
Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”)
On June 2, 2022, we received a refund for the second quarter of 2021 in the amount of $199,000. This amount represented the $198,000 claimed as a refund and $1,000 in interest. We are still expecting to receive one more ERC refund in the amount of $202,000.
Shareholder Loans
We currently have two shareholder loan facilities; the November 2020 Shareholder Loan and the December 2021 Shareholder Loan, which consists of two separate notes with two different shareholders. (See Note E - Line of Credit and Debt). In Fiscal 2022, we received additional proceeds (through amendment of the facility with one shareholder) totaling $240,000 under the December 2021 Shareholder Loan and we made payments totaling $90,000 on the December 2021 Shareholder Loan; one of which paid off one of the two notes. We did not receive any additional proceeds or make any payments on the November 2020 loan.
Healgen Loan Promissory Note
On September 28, 2022, we entered into a Loan Promissory Note with Healgen (the “Healgen Loan”) and received gross/net proceeds of $400,000. We utilized $34,000 of the loan proceeds to pay off the Crestmark Line of Credit. On November 15, 2022, we amended the Healgen Loan to address an additional $300,000 in principal received under the Healgen Loan; bringing the total principal due under the Healgen Loan to $700,000. The Healgen Loan was further amended on December 19, 2022 to address an additional $15,000 in principal received under the Healgen Loan; bringing the total principal due under the Healgen Loan to $715,000. (See Note E - Line of Credit and Debt and Note L - Subsequent Events)
Loans from CEO Melissa Waterhouse
Over the course of Fiscal 2022, via expense reports, Ms. Waterhouse extended various amounts to the Company for expenses including, but not limited to, amounts for manufacturing materials, services, patent maintenance fees, office supplies, and equipment. At December 31, 2022, $70,000 was not yet reimbursed to Ms. Waterhouse in connection with these expenses.
In addition, at December 31, 2022, we owed Ms. Waterhouse $32,000 in current salary (which is 13 weeks of her non-deferred salary).
Lincoln Park Equity Line
On December 9, 2020, we entered into a Purchase Agreement and a Registration Rights Agreement with Lincoln Park under which Lincoln Park agreed to purchase from the Company, from time to time, up to $10,250,000 of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Purchase Agreement, over a two year period. On December 29, 2020 we filed a Form S-1 Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”). We amended the Registration Statement on January 7, 2021 and the SEC declared the Registration Statement effective on January 11, 2021. In Fiscal 2021, the Company sold 6,500,000 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park (including 500,000 shares required as an initial purchase under the Purchase Agreement) as Regular Purchases and received proceeds of $639,000. We were not able to sell any shares to Lincoln Park in Fiscal 2022 due to our stock price being below $0.05. The agreements with Lincoln Park expired on December 9, 2022.
Securities Purchase Agreement - October 2021
On October 18, 2021, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with a non-affiliated, accredited investor (the “Investor”), pursuant to which we sold to the Investor in a private placement (the “Private Placement”), 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Share”), at a price per Common Share of $0.04 (the “Purchase Price”) for gross (and net) proceeds of $100,000 as there were no costs associated with the Private Placement.
Going Concern
Our financial statements for Fiscal 2022 were prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern, which assumes the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Our current cash balances, together with cash generated from future operations, ERC refunds already received and one ERC refund yet to be received, and recent loans from shareholders and Healgen will not be sufficient to fund operations through March 2024. At December 31, 2022, we have Stockholders’ Deficit of $(2,339,000). If we are not able to increase sales to generate positive cash flows or obtain additional financing in the form of additional loans or sale of equity, and/or if shareholders do not approve the Asset Sale to Healgen, we will be required to reduce or terminate operations.
Debt
Our loan and security agreement and 2019 Term Note with Cherokee for $1,000,000 and $240,000, respectively, expired on February 15, 2022. On June 14, 2022, Cherokee agreed that they would defer the principal amounts due under the Cherokee LSA until February 15, 2023 and that any applicable penalties would also be deferred as long as the Company remains current on the quarterly interest payments. Furthermore, any penalties will also be waived if the principal amounts are paid on or prior to February 15, 2023.
Given the maturity date of these facilities is February 15, 2023, cash from operations will not be sufficient to pay the amounts due to Cherokee. We intend to use proceeds from the Asset Sale to Healgen to pay off the Cherokee facilities when they are due. If shareholders do not approve the Asset Sale to Healgen, we will be required to refinance the facilities either via a new debt facility or raising capital through some other means. There is no assurance that such financing will be available or that we will be able to complete financing on satisfactory terms, if at all or that we would be able to raise capital via other means in time to satisfy the Cherokee liabilities and avoid Cherokee taking possession of the facility in Kinderhook, NY and all of ABMC’s machinery and equipment, thereby making it impossible for ABMC to continue operations.
On September 28, 2022, we entered into a Loan Promissory Note with Healgen (the “Healgen Loan”). Through a number of amendments, the total principal due under the Healgen Loan was $715,000 as of December 31, 2022 (see Note L - Subsequent Event for more information on the Healgen Loan). The first payment under the Healgen Loan is due on February 15, 2023 (to coincide with the Closing of the Asset Sale to Healgen). If shareholders do not approve the Asset Sale to Healgen on February 15, 2023, the Asset Sale to Healgen will not occur at that time (although the meeting to approve the Asset Sale to Healgen would likely be adjourned so we could gather more votes in favor of the Asset Sale to Healgen) but, the first payment under the Healgen Loan will still be due and payable to Healgen. Given our current financial condition, it is unlikely we could make the required payment. This inability could result in the Healgen taking possession of the assets collateralizing the Healgen Loan thereby making it impossible for the Company to continue operations.
Throughout most of Fiscal 2022, we had a line of credit with Crestmark Bank. The maximum availability on the line of credit was $1,000,000. However, because the amount available under the line of credit was based upon our accounts receivable, the amounts actually available under our line of credit (historically) have been significantly less than the maximum availability. When sales levels declined, we had reduced availability on our line of credit due to decreased accounts receivable balances. On September 29, 2022, using proceeds from the Healgen Loan, we made a payment to Crestmark Bank in the amount of $34,000 which paid off the balance on the Crestmark LOC. The payoff of the Crestmark Line of Credit will result lower interest costs.
As of December 31, 2022, we had the following debt/credit facilities:
Facility
Debtor
Balance as of
December 31, 2022
Due Date
Loan and Security Agreement
Cherokee Financial, LLC
$ 1,000,000
February 15, 2023
Term Loan
Cherokee Financial, LLC
240,000
February 15, 2023
Term Loan
Individual
50,000
May 4, 2023(1)
Term Loan
Individual
225,000
NA(2)
Term Loan
Healgen
715,000
February 15, 2023
Total Debt
$ 2,230,000
(1) The loan agreement was amended on November 4, 2022 to change the maturity date to May 4, 2023.
(2) The loan agreement was amended on July 13, 2022; one of the revisions made was changing the maturity date from June 15, 2022 to no specific maturity date.
Working Capital Deficit
At December 31, 2022, we were operating at a working capital deficit of $2,826,000. This compares to a working capital deficit of $1,484,000 at December 31, 2021. The increase in the working capital deficit is primarily due to the decline in cash balances and accounts receivable (both of which are due to decreased sales) along with a decline in the ERC tax receivable (due to the receipt of one of the refunds in Fiscal 2022). We have historically satisfied working capital requirements through cash from operations, bank debt and equity financings.
Dividends
We have never paid any dividends on our common shares and we anticipate that all future earnings, if any, will be retained for use in our business.
Cash Flow, Outlook/Risk
In Fiscal 2022, we had a net loss of $1,410,000 and net cash used in operating activities of $768,000.
Our cash position increased to $33,000 at December 31, 2022 from $10,000 at September 30, 2022 but, decreased when compared to $115,000 at December 31, 2021. Cash at December 31, 2021 was positively impacted by an ERC refund in December 2021 (in the amount of $137,000). We did receive an ERC refund in the amount of $198,000 in early June 2022 and we received proceeds from several loans in Fiscal 2022 but, the significant loss of sales from our largest customer (previously discussed in our MD&A) and the resulting decline in gross profit is negatively impacting cash flows. We also continue to be impacted by material delays and cost increases (in both manufacturing and other business costs).
Over the last several years and throughout Fiscal 2022, we have decreased cash requirements by implementing cost cutting initiatives. This included expense reductions in selling and marketing (which included reduced and deferred salaries of a number of employees) and no additional contributions in research and development to develop new products. Such reductions, although necessary to maintain operations, are not compatible with growing or even maintaining our business both in the short and the long term. Our cash position has deteriorated, and continues to deteriorate, due to gross losses, fixed labor and overhead costs and payments required under our debt facilities.
We will continue to take steps to ensure that operating expenses remain in line with sales levels and make every effort to control manufacturing costs, although as previously discussed herein; certain overhead costs are fixed and cannot be reduced to be in line with sales levels. We have consolidated job responsibilities in multiple areas of the Company and this has enabled us to implement personnel reductions. We are also promoting alternative products and service offerings to diversify our revenue stream.
We believe the losses we have reported over the last several years and most recently the significant loss reported for Fiscal 2022 will continue as (i) our primary business (onsite drugs of abuse tests) has become a commoditized market and we cannot compete with the low pricing offered by our competitors who manufacture outside of the U.S. and (ii) we have not been able to obtain new business to replace the significant loss of business from our largest customer.
The extent to which the commoditized nature of our markets will continue to impact our business, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are still uncertain and cannot be predicted. Current levels of sales declines are impacting our business, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to access the capital markets may also be limited.
Prior to the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2021, we were able to utilize the Lincoln Park Equity Line; however, the downturn of our common stock prevented any sales to be initiated in Fiscal 2022 and the Lincoln Park Equity Line expired on December 9, 2022. Over the last several years, we have been able to access loans from shareholders and raise funds via private equity financings. As time goes on and the financial results continue to deteriorate, these options are no longer available to the Company. Ms. Waterhouse has also extended loans to the Company and in addition to salary deferral; Ms. Waterhouse is owed currently salary.
The maturity date of our facilities with Cherokee is February 15, 2023 and cash from operations will not be sufficient to pay the amounts due to Cherokee. We have not been able to find alternative debt facilities due to our results of operations and our deteriorating financial condition.
Given the above, our results of operations and our current financial condition, on December 19, 2022, we agreed, subject to the approval of our shareholders, to sell substantially all of our operating assets to Healgen (excluding cash, accounts receivables and certain other assets).
We intend to use proceeds from the Asset Sale to Healgen to pay off the Cherokee facilities when they are due. If shareholders do not approve the Asset Sale to Healgen, we will be required to refinance the facilities either via a new debt facility or raising capital through some other means. To date, we have not been successful in obtaining an alternative debt facility or raising capital via other means. Therefore, it is unlikely we would be able to find an alternative in time to satisfy the Cherokee liabilities and avoid Cherokee taking possession of the facility in Kinderhook, NY and all of ABMC’s machinery and equipment, thereby making it impossible for ABMC to continue operations.
We have also entered into a Loan Promissory Note with Healgen.
Asset Sale to Healgen
Over the last several years, we have retained financial consultants to seek out alternative solutions; most recently in early Fiscal 2022. The consultants were seeking solutions including but not limited to potential mergers, acquisitions, investment in the Company, and strategic relationships. Simultaneously, our management was seeking alternative solutions and began discussions with Healgen. With the current financial condition of the Company, we were not able to find a suitable alternative apart from the Asset Sale to Healgen.
After carefully weighing the facts and circumstances associated with the Asset Sale to Healgen as well as alternative courses of action, our Board unanimously concluded that the proposed sale of substantially all of our assets is the best available alternative to maximize value for shareholders.
Our Board believes our status as a fully reporting public company is an asset which may be sufficiently attractive to induce others to enter into business combinations with us. We are exploring strategic transactions which may result in entering into a new line of business (subject to specific competitive limitations under the Asset Sale to Healgen). We believe strategic acquisitions using our publicly traded stock as transaction consideration could enhance shareholder value. Nonetheless, our Board may later determine to dissolve the Company and distribute any remaining assets to our shareholders if we are unable to make any strategic acquisitions.
On December 19, 2022, we entered into an APA with Healgen, pursuant to which we agreed, subject to the approval of our shareholders, to sell substantially all of our operating assets (excluding our cash, accounts receivables arising prior to the closing date, and certain other assets).
Under the New York Business Corporation Law, the Asset Sale to Healgen requires approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of common stock. Accordingly, we submitted the Asset Sale to Healgen to a shareholder vote via a preliminary Proxy Statement filed on December 22, 2022 (See Note X - Subsequent Event for more information on the Proxy Statement filing). The Closing of the Asset Sale to Healgen would occur when/if the required number of affirmative shareholder votes is received and customary closing conditions are satisfied (the “Closing”).
The total consideration for the Asset Sale to Healgen is $3 million in cash (the “Purchase Price”), plus the assumption by Healgen of certain limited liabilities relating to the business. $300,000 of the Purchase Price will be held back in a retention fund to cover potential indemnification claims during the six months following the Closing. The amount of consideration paid in connection with Asset Sale to Healgen was determined in arm’s-length negotiations between the Company and Healgen.
Through December 31, 2022, Healgen has already advanced $715,000 of the Purchase Price to us in the form of loans (See Note L - Subsequent Event for more information on the Healgen Loan). Provided the Asset Sale to Healgen is completed, at Closing, Healgen will waive any interest that may be due on the loans. Therefore, excluding the $300,000 hold back, the remaining $2.7 million of the Purchase Price, less any loans advanced prior to Closing will be paid to the Company at Closing.
In connection with the Asset Sale to Healgen, Melissa Waterhouse, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has agreed to enter into an employment agreement with the Healgen effective upon Closing.
The business being acquired by Healgen is the only area of operations in which we are engaged. If the Asset Sale to Healgen is approved by shareholders and the sale of the business is completed, we will no longer engage in the development, manufacturing and selling of point of collection diagnostic products, including onsite drug test products (the “Business”) and instead we intend to pursue opportunities in other areas. Upon the consummation of the Asset Sale to Healgen, we will no longer be engaged in the Business, which accounted for all of our revenues, costs and expenses (with the exception of costs associated with being a public entity), for Fiscal 2022 and all years prior.
For a more complete description of the terms of the Asset Sale to Healgen and the Healgen Loan, see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 21, 2022, our preliminary Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on December 22, 2022 and our definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on January 11, 2023.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information required under this item.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our Financial Statements are set forth beginning on page.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management has reviewed the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report and have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported in a timely manner.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
(i)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
(ii)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorization of Management; and
(iii)
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organization of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on that assessment, Management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the last quarterly period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that exempt smaller reporting companies from this requirement.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement with respect to our Annual Meeting of Shareholders for Fiscal 2022, under the captions “Information about the Board of Directors” “Executive Officer”, “Additional Senior Management”, “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance”, “Code of Ethics”, “Nominating Committee”, “Audit Committee” and “Audit Committee Financial Expert” and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement with respect to our Annual Meeting of Shareholders for Fiscal 2022, under the captions “Executive Compensation”, “Compensation of Directors”, “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation”, and “Compensation Committee Report”, and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this item is contained within Part II, Item 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholders Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities earlier in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our definitive Proxy Statement with respect to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders for Fiscal 2022, under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement with respect to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders for Fiscal 2022, under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Independent Directors”, and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement with respect to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders for Fiscal 2022, under the caption “Independent Public Accountants”, and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
(1)
Our financial statements
PAGE
Report of Current Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Rosenfield & Co., PLLC - (PCAOB id 5905)
Balance Sheets
Statements of Operations
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit
Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Financial Statements
(2)
Financial Statement Schedule
As a smaller reporting company, we are only required to provide financial statements required by Article 8 of Regulation S-X in lieu of financial statements that may be required under Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and these financial statements are noted under Item 15(a)(1).
(3)
See Item 15(b) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.