EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1413754
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1413754_10-K_2024_0001493152-24-018935.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Company Overview
Marizyme, Inc. (“Marizyme” or the “Company”) is a medical technology company changing the landscape of cardiac care by delivering innovative solutions for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
Since October 2023, DuraGraft has been authorized for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for use as an intra-operative vascular conduit storage and flushing solution used during CABG surgeries in the United States, subject to applicable risks, mitigation requirements, and control provisions. Since August 2014, DuraGraft has also had the CE marking required to be sold in the EEA, and DuraGraft has therefore been assessed as meeting the EEA safety, health, and environmental protection requirements.
With DuraGraft receiving its FDA clearance, Marizyme is now working toward its utilization and revenue generation in the United States. The U.S. commercialization plan is focused on penetrating and driving utilization in hospital integrated networks and the cardiac suite, utilizing a small targeted and efficient direct sales force, direct sales targeting with patient focus on diabetics, and high-risk patients and utilizing digital marketing. The Company intends to generate revenues based on its persuasive clinical data and indication for use.
As part of its U.S. commercialization plan, Marizyme has been working with a large hospital integrated network to execute on a strategic collaboration for a planned multi-center randomized DuraGraft™ clinical trial in the U.S. and a utilization agreement to use DuraGraft™ across a large network of hospitals.
These initiatives will be in addition to continued efforts to expand DuraGraft™ sales in Europe and Asia. The Company continues to work closely with distributors in Austria, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Singapore, Turkey, and the Philippines, among others.
We also continue to focus on the development of MAR-FG-001, a technology for use in fat grafting procedures formulated as a tumescent solution base for protecting adipose tissue during adipose tissue harvesting and storage.
We have either paused or significantly slowed down the development of our other pipeline technologies, including Krillase, and MATLOC. Our MATLOC CKD point-of-care device is still being developed through a Sponsored Research Agreement, or SRA. An SRA is an agreement (which may be classified as a grant, contract or cooperative agreement) under which one party (the “Sponsor”) provides funding to a second party to support the performance of a specified research project or related activity. The Sponsor may be a foundation, government agency, for-profit entity, research institute, or another university. Apart from the SRA, no additional capital is going to the Krillase or MATLOC pipeline technologies.
In the near term, we expect to generate revenue primarily from the sale of DuraGraft through the expansion of our international marketing efforts by our distribution partners in Europe and in other countries that accept CE marking. We intend to commercialize DuraGraft in the U.S. primarily through hospital integrated networks using our own direct sales force. We anticipate that once we commence marketing and sales operations for DuraGraft in the U.S., we will be able to generate sustainable revenue growth and continue the expansion od DuraGraft and expedite the development of MAR-FG-001 into medical products.
Our Corporate History and Structure
Marizyme, Inc. is a Nevada corporation that was incorporated on March 20, 2007. From 2007 to early 2018, we operated under a number of different names with different management teams and in different industries. We changed our name to Marizyme, Inc. on March 21, 2018, to reflect our new life science focus, and at that time we also changed our common stock ticker symbol to “MRZM.”
In September 2018, we acquired assets relating to Krillase®, a technology intended for the treatment of certain harmful blockages, plaque and biofilms, from ACB Holding AB, Reg. No. 559119-5762, a company incorporated and organized under the laws of Sweden (“ACB Holding”). In July 2020, we acquired from Somahlution, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Somahlution, Inc.”), Somahlution, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Somahlution, LLC”), and Somaceutica LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Somaceutica LLC”), which we refer to together as “Somahlution,” all of the assets of Somahlution, including our DuraGraft-related assets, as well as the outstanding capital stock of Somahlution, Inc., which we refer to as the “Somahlution Assets.” In December 2021, we acquired My Health Logic and assets relating to MATLOC®, a technology intended for the screening of biomarkers relating to CKD, from Health Logic Interactive Inc. (“HLII”). In connection with the My Health Logic acquisition, David Barthel, former chief executive officer of HLII and My Health Logic, became our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors; George Kovalyov, previously the chief operating officer and a director of HLII, became our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and Harrison Ross, previously the Chief Financial Officer of HLII, became our Vice President of Finance.
The Company previously planned to develop and commercialize FDA-approved products based on the Krillase assets. We suspended these plans due to our determination to prioritize the completion of regulatory processes to obtain FDA authorization for the commercialization of DuraGraft in the United States and the development of a functional MATLOC device prototype and MAR-FG-001-based viable products. We intend to maintain the Krillase assets for potential future development and commercialization or disposition. Any determination as to these matters would be based on a number of factors. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Principal Factors Affecting Our Financial Performance” for a summary of factors that we may consider in this respect.
There is no assurance that any of our intellectual property assets will ever be developed and fully commercialized and generate significant revenues or will ever attract significant interest from potential buyers or investors. See “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business - We may not be able to monetize intangible assets, which may result in the need to record an impairment charge.”
Our Products
DuraGraft®
Through our acquisition of the Somahlution Assets in July 2020, we acquired key intellectual assets based on a patent-protected cytoprotective platform technology designed to reduce ischemic injury to organs and tissues in grafting and transplantation surgeries. These assets include DuraGraft, a first-in-class, De Novo granted and CE marked intra-operative vascular graft storage and flushing solution used during CABG surgeries.
DuraGraft is the first and only medical product that has received authorization by the FDA for marketing for use as an intra-operative vascular conduit storage and flushing solution used during CABG surgeries.
Further, DuraGraft carries CE marking and is approved for marketing in 36 countries outside the United States on three continents, including all countries in the European Union, or the EU, including Spain, Austria, Ireland, Germany, and Italy, as well as countries outside the EU including the United Kingdom, or the UK, Turkey, Switzerland, Chile, and the Philippines. DuraGraft is also the only patented product for this indication. The DuraGraft patent portfolio includes granted patents and pending applications in over 30 countries throughout the world, including patents granted in the United States, Europe, Australia, India, Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, and several Asian countries.
Cardiac care is a large and growing industry. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, the estimated average annual US cost of coronary heart disease is $219 billion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Policy, Performance, and Evaluation, “Health Topics - Heart Disease and Heart Attack.” POLARIS, August 17, 2021). According to a market analysis report, the size of the CABG procedures market globally was approximately $10.2 billion as of 2022 (Rahul Gotadki, Market Research Future, “Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Market Research Report Information By Type (Off-Pump, On-Pump, Minimally Invasive Direct CABG, Endoscopic Vein Harvesting and Others), By Procedure (Single CABG Surgery, Double CABG Surgery, Triple CABG Surgery, Quadruple CABG Surgery and Others), By End-User (Hospitals, Cardiology Clinics, Research Institutes and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) - Market Forecast Till 2030.”, July 2023). The same source reports that this market is forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 8.20% between 2023 and 2030. Globally, it is estimated that more than 1 million CABG procedures are performed worldwide each year (Gaudino, Mario, Weill Cornell Medicine, “Method Using Artery for Coronary Artery Bypass Linked to Better Long-term Outcomes Than Using Vein,” July 14, 2020), with procedures performed in the U.S. being a substantial percentage of the total global procedures performed. According to the American Heart Association, CABG is the most common type of open-heart surgery in the United States with more than 500,000 surgeries performed each year (The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, “Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG).” The Patient Guide to Heart, Lung, and Esophageal Surgery, May 2019).
DuraGraft™ is the first and only FDA cleared medical device for use as an intra-operative vascular conduit storage and flushing solution used during CABG surgeries and is intended for the flushing and storage of the saphenous vein grafts used in CABG surgery.
This is important because 30% of vein grafts fail in the first year following CABG surgery and ~ 49% fail at the patient level (due to a patient having multiple vein grafts). This means repeat CABG surgery procedures, increasing the risk of additional vein graft failures and putting financial strain on hospital systems.
With DuraGraft™, patients can benefit through:
● Reduced wall thickening, which is the earliest detectable sign of vein graft disease.
● Prevention of oxidative damage, therefore slowing the progression of vein graft failure.
○ Oxidative damage is the primary mediator of ischemic injury.
○ The reduction of oxidative damage maintains the structural and functional integrity of vascular conduits.
● Reduced mortality - DuraGraft was shown to reduce mortality at 3 years post-CABG.
Hospitals and Physicians receive benefits through:
● Increased storage time (four hours)
● No change in training or the surgical procedure
● Increased savings through the reduction of repeat procedures and hospital stays.
The mechanism of action for DuraGraft is through the reduction of oxidative damage which maintains the structural and functional integrity of vascular conduits.
Marketing DuraGraft
Having received FDA authorization for marketing of DuraGraft, we are proceeding with our plans to commercialize DuraGraft in the United States and continue to generate international revenue growth from sales of DuraGraft. In the U.S. marketplace, we intend to employ a small direct sales force focusing on marketing and sales to hospital integrated networks. We have also begun the process of developing the U.S. CABG market for DuraGraft with select clinical studies, the development of known opinion leaders, or KOLs, the promotion of existing publications, and digital marketing. We will also seek to develop and commercialize additional applications for the technology underlying DuraGraft.
Our DuraGraft commercialization plan using its CE marking and existing distribution partners in select European and Asian countries resumed in the second quarter of 2022, with a targeted approach based on market access, existing KOLs, clinical data and revenue penetration. In Europe and elsewhere, we will continue our DuraGraft marketing efforts relying on our DuraGraft CE marking and our distribution partners. The CE marking signifies that DuraGraft may be sold in the EEA and that DuraGraft has been assessed as meeting safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. We are currently working with local distributors of cardiovascular disease-related products, in accordance with local regulatory requirements, to sell and increase the market share of DuraGraft in Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Chile, Turkey, Italy, and the UK among others.
MATLOC®
In December 2021, we acquired My Health Logic, its lab-on-chip technology platform and its in-development patient-centric, digital point-of-care screening and diagnostic device, MATLOC. Our MATLOC CKD point-of-care device is still being developed through a Sponsored Research Agreement, otherwise all capital and effort toward the project has been paused due to the capital position of the Company.
MAR-FG-001
In November 2021, we reinitiated the development of MAR-FG-001, our fat grafting technology. MAR-FG-001 is a tumescent solution base for fat grafting procedures that may be used for plastic and cosmetic surgeries. The Company intends to develop MAR-FG-001 for use during these and other fat grafting procedures.
Fat grafting is a surgical process used in medical reconstructive and other plastic surgery procedures in which fat is transferred from one area of the body to another (known as “autologous fat grafting” or simply “fat grafting”) to correct a defect, replace injured tissue, or to make cosmetic enhancements.
Compared to standard solutions, we believe that MAR-FG-001 could better protect adipose tissue from ischemic and oxidative injury and increase adipocyte and stromal cell viability, which is key to improving retention of fat volume thereby improving patient outcomes following fat grafting procedures.
The global market for autologous fat grafting was estimated to be $699.96 million in 2021 and was projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.62% until 2028 (“Global Autologous Fat Grafting Market - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028,” Data Bridge Market Research, December 2020). Growing preference for the use of non-invasive aesthetic techniques in skin rejuvenation, more rapid recovery with lesser allergic risks and reduced downtime compared to other procedures are some of the factors contributing to increasing demand. The adoption rate for autologous fat grafting procedures in the United States was 2.2% of all augmentation and reconstruction procedures as of 2018, suggesting significant potential for growth of adoption of these procedures (“Autologous Fat Grafting Market Analysis By Product (Integrated Fat Transfer Systems, Aspiration and Harvesting Systems, Liposuction Systems, Fat Processing Systems, De-epithelialization Devices), By Application & Region - Global Market Insights 2021 to 2031,” Fact.MR, March 2022). With approximately 22.4 million plastic surgeries performed in the United States in 2020 (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, “Plastic Surgery Statistics Report - 2020,” April 27, 2021), there is potential for widespread implementation of innovative fat grafting systems.
MAR-FG-001 is currently in development and is not yet available for sale in any markets.
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe that the following competitive strength will enable us to compete effectively:
● Superior, first-in-class vascular graft storage and flushing solution. DuraGraft is the first and only medical product that has received authorization by the FDA for marketing for use as an intra-operative vascular conduit storage and flushing solution used during CABG surgeries. DuraGraft is also the only product certified for marketing in Europe and other jurisdictions for this indication.
Our Growth Strategies
We will strive to grow our business by pursuing the following key growth strategies:
● Commercialize DuraGraft.
● Develop MAR-FG-001 fat grafting technology and related products.
The strategic plans described above will require capital. We will not receive any of the required capital in this offering except upon the exercise of warrants held by the selling stockholders for issuance of the shares of common stock that are being registered for resale by the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. There can be no assurances that we will be able to raise the capital that we need to execute our plans or that capital, whether through securities offerings, either private or public, will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. An inability to raise sufficient funds could cause us to scale back our development and growth plans or discontinue them altogether. IIn addition, the Company is dependent upon certain contract manufacturers and suppliers and their ability to reliably and efficiently fulfill its orders is critical to the Company’s business success. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and may continue to impact certain of the Company’s manufacturers and suppliers. As a result, the Company has faced and may continue to face delays or difficulty sourcing certain products, which could negatively affect the Company’s business and financial results.
While it is not possible at this time to estimate the total impact that COVID-19 could have on our business in the future, the continued spread of COVID-19 and variants of the virus, the rate of vaccinations regionally and globally and the measures taken by the government authorities, and any future epidemic disease outbreaks, could: Disrupt the supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of products and supplies for use by us in our research activities and by strategic partners for their distribution and sales activities; delay, limit or prevent us in our research activities and strategic partners in their distribution and sales activities; impede our negotiations with strategic partners; impede testing, monitoring, data collection and analysis and other related activities by us; interrupt or delay the operations of the FDA or other regulatory authorities, which may impact review and approval timelines for initiation of clinical trials or marketing; or impede the launch or commercialization of any approved products; any of which could delay our strategic partnership plans, increase our operating costs, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
For further discussion of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business - The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the Company’s supply chain and could materially and adversely affect our ability to conduct clinical trials and engage with our third-party vendors and thereby have a material adverse effect on our financial results.”
Our Growth Strategies
We will strive to grow our business by pursuing the following key growth strategies:
● Commercialize DuraGraft and related products. Continue (i) the distribution of DuraGraft, in Europe and other countries that accept the CE marking and (ii) the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of DuraGraft in the United States. Having received FDA authorization for marketing of DuraGraft, we are proceeding with our plans to commercialize DuraGraft in the United States and continue to generate international revenue growth from sales of DuraGraft
● Develop MAR-FG-001 fat grafting technology and products. Continue with the development of MAR-FG-001 to validate its protective abilities and its improvements to the retention of fa
The strategic plans described above will require capital. There can be no assurances that we will be able to raise the capital that we need to execute our plans or that capital, whether through securities offerings, either private or public, or other sources, will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. An inability to raise sufficient funds could cause us to scale back our development and growth plans or discontinue them altogether.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
The Company has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply chain shortages and other economic conditions, and some of its earlier plans to diversify and expand its operations were delayed as a result. Moreover, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s supply chain and its ability to produce DuraGraft inventory was a primary reason that we did not generate substantial revenue from sales of DuraGraft during 2021 and 2022. The Company’s inventory production of DuraGraft returned to its pre-pandemic level at the end of the second quarter of 2022, but lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to depress demand for DuraGraft and cause revenues from DuraGraft during the first and second quarters of 2023 to be minimal. There can be no assurance that future supply chain disruptions and other effects of COVID-19 outbreaks will not adversely impact our revenues.
In addition, the Company is dependent upon certain contract manufacturers and suppliers and their ability to reliably and efficiently fulfill its orders is critical to the Company’s business success. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and may continue to impact certain of the Company’s manufacturers and suppliers. As a result, the Company has faced and may continue to face delays or difficulty sourcing certain products, which could negatively affect the Company’s business and financial results.
While it is not possible at this time to estimate the total impact that COVID-19 could have on our business in the future, the continued spread of COVID-19 and variants of the virus, the rate of vaccinations regionally and globally and the measures taken by the government authorities, and any future epidemic disease outbreaks, could: Disrupt the supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of products and supplies for use by us in our research activities and by strategic partners for their distribution and sales activities; delay, limit or prevent us in our research activities and strategic partners in their distribution and sales activities; impede our negotiations with strategic partners; impede testing, monitoring, data collection and analysis and other related activities by us; interrupt or delay the operations of the FDA or other regulatory authorities, which may impact review and approval timelines for initiation of clinical trials or marketing; or impede the launch or commercialization of any approved products; any of which could delay our strategic partnership plans, increase our operating costs, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
For a further discussion of the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, please see “Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business - The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the Company’s supply chain and could materially and adversely affect our ability to conduct clinical trials and engage with our third-party vendors and thereby have a material adverse effect on our financial results.”
Corporate Information
Our principal executive office is located at 555 Heritage Drive, Suite 205, Jupiter, Florida 33458 and our telephone number is (561) 935-9955. We maintain a website at www.marizyme.com. Information available on this website is not incorporated by reference in and is not deemed a part of this report. Our filings with the SEC are available for inspection through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Competition
Competition in the medical device and life science industries is intense. Our competitors include pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies, as well as universities and public and private research institutions. In addition, companies that are active in different but related fields represent substantial competition for us. Many of our competitors have significantly greater capital resources, larger research and development staffs and facilities and greater experience in medical device development, regulation, manufacturing and marketing than we do. These organizations also compete with us to recruit qualified personnel, attract partners for joint ventures or other collaborations, and license technologies that are competitive with ours. To compete successfully in this industry, we must identify novel and unique medical devices or methods of treatment and then complete the development of those medical devices as treatments.
The medical devices that we are attempting to develop will have to compete with existing therapies. In addition, a large number of companies are pursuing the development of medical devices that target the same conditions that we are targeting, and other companies have existing products or medical devices in various stages of pre-clinical or clinical development.
Intellectual Property
Patents, Trademarks, Franchises, Concessions, Royalty Agreements, or Labor Contracts
We own, through the acquisitions of MATLOC, Krillase, DuraGraft, and other assets, various patents, trademarks and other intangibles.
Patent Portfolio
Upon our acquisition of the Somahlution Assets, we acquired all of the Somahlution intellectual property relating to the Somahlution products, including patents rights and trademarks relating to DuraGraft. In addition, prior to the closing of the acquisition of the Somahlution Assets, in certain countries, we paid the costs relating to the filing and registration of patent applications and we were granted ownership rights to DuraGraft patents issued in those countries.
As a result of the My Health Logic acquisition, we received the exclusive patent rights to all of My Health Logic’s intellectual property, including patents rights and trademarks relating to the MATLOC platform and products.
Upon the acquisition of the Krillase platform assets from ACB Holding AB, a Swedish corporation, we acquired patents and patent applications relating to the Krillase technology.
As of May 13, 2024, we own the following patents:
Product Type
Country/ Jurisdiction
Official No.
Status
Title
DuraGraft®
Argentina
AR098508 B1
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Australia
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Austria
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Austria
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Austria
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Belgium
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Belgium
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Belgium
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Brazil
BR112016006512-3
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Canada
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
China
201480024203.2
Pending
FORMULATIONS CONTAINING POLY (0-2-HYDROXYETHYL) STARCH FOR INCREASING THE OXYGEN-CONTENT, STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
China
ZL201480061943.3
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Czechia
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Denmark
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Denmark
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Denmark
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
EPO
EP Granted
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
EPO
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
EPO
EP Granted
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
France
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
France
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
France
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Germany
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Germany
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Germany
602014048320.8
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
India
5238/DELNP/2015
Pending
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
India
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
India
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Indonesia
P00201603372
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Ireland
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Ireland
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Israel
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Italy
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Italy
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Italy
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Japan
2016-525916
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Jordan
334/2014
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Kuwait
159PA/2014
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Malaysia
MY-181282-A
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Mexico
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Mexico
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Netherlands
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Netherlands
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Netherlands
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
New Zealand
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Norway
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Norway
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Norway
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Philippines
1-2016-500909
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Republic of Korea
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Republic of Korea
2022-7026130
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Singapore
10201709595W
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Singapore
10202204548W
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Singapore
11201604002V
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
South Africa
2015/04103
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
South Africa
2015/04284
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
South Africa
2016/02253
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Spain
ES2724238
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Spain
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Spain
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Sri Lanka
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Sweden
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Sweden
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Sweden
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Switzerland
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
Switzerland
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Switzerland
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Taiwan
TW103115212
Pending
FORMULATIONS CONTAINING POLY (0-2-HYDROXYETHYL) STARCH FOR INCREASING THE OXYGEN-CONTENT, STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Taiwan
TW103114889
Pending
FORMULATIONS FOR INCREASING THE OXYGEN-CONTENT, STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Taiwan
I540961
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Taiwan
I524843
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Taiwan
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Thailand
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Turkey
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
Turkey
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
United Kingdom
Registered
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
United Kingdom
Registered
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
United Kingdom
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
United States
14/654168
Petition to Revive pending
ORGAN AND TISSUE PRESERVATION FORMULATIONS WITH INCREASED STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE
DuraGraft®
United States
14/654170
Pending
SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING VASCULAR CONDUITS
DuraGraft®
United States
63/285386
Pending
METHOD OF PROVIDING POSTOPERATIVE PROTECTION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT SURGERY
DuraGraft®
United States
17/684,495
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
United States
11,291,201
Registered
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
United States
63/331,777
Pending
POWDER FORMULATIONS AND USE THEREOF IN MEDICAL AND/OR SURGICAL PROCEDURES
DuraGraft®
United States
63/333,122
Pending
FORMULATION FOR PRESERVATION OF VEINOUS AND ARTERIAL GRAFTS IN DIABETIC PATIENTS
DuraGraft®
United States
63/333,123
Pending
FORMULATION FOR INHIBITION OF ENDOTHELIAL DAMAGE
DuraGraft®
United States
63/333,505
Pending
FORMULATION FOR PRESERVING TISSUES OR ORGANS IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT LEFT MAIN DISEASE UNDERGOING ISOLATED CABG
DuraGraft®
United States
63/333,510
Pending
FORMULATION FO RMYOCARDIAL PROTECTION DURING GRAFTING
DuraGraft®
United States
63/333,514
Pending
FORMULATION FOR STORING VEIN GRAFTS
DuraGraft®
United States
63/342,370
Pending
USE OF CYTOPROTECTANT FORMULATIONS IN CELL OR TISSUE TRANSPORT AND/OR STORAGE
DuraGraft®
United States
63/401,486
Pending
ANTIOXIDANT-CONTAINING EYE DROP FORMULATIONS AND METHODS OF TREATMENT USING SAME
DuraGraft®
Vietnam
1-2016-01625
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
DuraGraft®
Vietnam
1-2022-04720
Pending
SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY AND SHELF LIFE OF AN ORGAN TISSUE PRESERVATION SOLUTION
Krillase®
Australia
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
Brazil
BR1120210048090
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
Canada
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
China
201980057015.2
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
Costa Rica
2021-0059
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
EAPO
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
EPO
07865205.4
Pending
A CONTROLLED RELEASE ENZYMATIC COMPOSITION AND METHODS OF USE
Krillase®
EPO
21217552.5
Pending
A CONTROLLED RELEASE ENZYMATIC COMPOSITION AND METHODS OF USE
Krillase®
EPO
13712728.8
Pending
MIXTURE OF ENZYMES FROM ANTARCTIC KRILL FOR USE IN THE REMOVAL OF A BIOFILM
Krillase®
EPO
19824845.2
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
Hong Kong
62021038660.8
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
Indonesia
P00202102501
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
Japan
2021-517700
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
South Africa
2021/00693
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Krillase®
United States
16/457291
Pending
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS AND DELIVERY BY MEDICAL DEVICES
Somaceutica
United States
17/261929
Pending
DERMATOLOGICAL COMPOSITIONS FOR PROVIDING NUTRIENTS TO SKIN AND METHODS THEREOF
As of May 13, 2024, we are the licensee of the following patents:
Product Type
Country/ Jurisdiction
Official No.
Status
Title
Owner/Licensee
MATLOC™
EPO
19867662.9
Pending
A PASSIVE MIXING MICROFLUIDIC URINARY ALBUMIN CHIP (UAL-CHIP) FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE ASSESSMENT
Owned by University of Manitoba. Marizyme is an exclusive licensee.
MATLOC™
Canada
3,108,813
Pending
A PASSIVE MIXING MICROFLUIDIC URINARY ALBUMIN CHIP (UAL-CHIP) FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE ASSESSMENT
Owned by University of Manitoba. Marizyme is an exclusive licensee.
MATLOC™
United States
17/266,217
Pending
A PASSIVE MIXING MICROFLUIDIC URINARY ALBUMIN CHIP (UAL-CHIP) FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE ASSESSMENT
Owned by University of Manitoba. Marizyme is an exclusive licensee.
MATLOC™
EPO
19852466.2
Pending
METHOD FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MICROFLUIDIC ASSAY DEVICE PROTOTYPE
Owned by University of Manitoba. Marizyme is exercising its option for exclusive license.
MATLOC™
Canada
Pending
METHOD FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MICROFLUIDIC ASSAY DEVICE PROTOTYPE
Owned by University of Manitoba. Marizyme is exercising its option for exclusive license.
MATLOC™
United States
17/266204
Pending
METHOD FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MICROFLUIDIC ASSAY DEVICE PROTOTYPE
Owned by University of Manitoba. Marizyme is exercising its option for exclusive license.
MATLOC™
United States
63/333,054
Pending
MICROFLUIDIC URINE ALBUMIN/CREATININE CHIP (uARC-CHIP) FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE EVALUATION
Owned by University of Manitoba. Marizyme is an exclusive licensee.
MATLOC™
United States
63/322,958
Pending
PAPER-BASED MICROFLUIDIC CHIP FOR MEASUREMENT OF CYSTATIN C IN PLASMA AND SERUM (CYS-C PAPER CHIP)
Owned by University of Manitoba. Marizyme is an exclusive licensee.
Trademarks
As of May 13, 2024, we own the following trademarks:
Application No.
Registration No.
Country/ Jurisdiction
Case Status
Title
97/401623
United States
Pending
CYTOPRO
Argentina
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Bangladesh
Registered
DURAGRAFT
5285-2015
164842C
Bolivia
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Brazil
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Brunei Darussalam
Registered
DURAGRAFT
TMA969008
Canada
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Chile
Registered
DURAGRAFT
2015-11331
Costa Rica
Registered
DURAGRAFT
2015-32539
Dominican Republic
Registered
DURAGRAFT
2015-21165
IEPI/2017/TI/2587
Ecuador
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Guatemala
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Hong Kong
Registered
DURAGRAFT
D002015022001
IDM000591043
Indonesia
Registered
DURAGRAFT
JO/T/1/120445
Jordan
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Kuwait
Registered
DURAGRAFT
A0040426
Madrid Protocol (TM)
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Malaysia
Registered
DURAGRAFT
2015-001717
Nicaragua
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Pakistan
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Panama
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Paraguay
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Peru
Registered
DURAGRAFT
2015/13465
2015/13465
South Africa
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Sri Lanka
Registered
DURAGRAFT
AE246475
United Arab Emirates
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Uruguay
Registered
DURAGRAFT
97/271792
United States
Pending
DURAGRAFT
UK00801197989
United Kingdom
Registered
DURAGRAFT
African IPO
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Australia
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Belarus
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Colombia
Registered
DURAGRAFT
CMA11197989
CMA11197989
Cuba
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Egypt
Registered
DURAGRAFT
European Union
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Finland
Pending
DURAGRAFT
V0095738
V0095738
Iceland
Registered
DURAGRAFT
India
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Israel
Registered
DURAGRAFT
2014-353219
Japan
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Kazakhstan
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Kenya
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Kyrgyzstan
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Liechtenstein
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Morocco
Registered
DURAGRAFT
New Zealand
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Norway
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Oman
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Philippines
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Republic of Korea
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Russian Federation
Registered
DURAGRAFT
T1405531A
Singapore
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Switzerland
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Tunisia
Registered
DURAGRAFT
2014/35608
Turkey
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Ukraine
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Uzbekistan
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Vietnam
Registered
DURAGRAFT
Australia
Registered
GALA
Brazil
Registered
GALA
China
Registered
GALA
European Union
Registered
GALA
Israel
Registered
GALA
New Zealand
Registered
GALA
2013/101481
Turkey
Registered
GALA
UK00911866902
United Kingdom
Registered
GALA
T1314119B
T1314119B
Singapore
Registered
GALA
2013-070195
Japan
Registered
GALA
Madrid Protocol (TM)
Registered
KRILLASE
1994/09732
Sweden
Registered
KRILLASE
Finland
Registered
KRILLASE
France
Registered
KRILLASE
Germany
Registered
KRILLASE
Norway
Registered
KRILLASE
Portugal
Registered
KRILLASE
Spain
Registered
KRILLASE
WO0000000690472
United Kingdom
Registered
KRILLASE
97/332349
United States
Pending
KRILLASE
97/332345
United States
Pending
MARIZYME
90/460461
United States
Allowed
MATLOC
Canada
Pending
MATLOC
European Union
Pending
MATLOC
United Kingdom
Pending
MATLOC
A0070668
Madrid Protocol (TM)
Registered
SOMACEUTICA
TMA1084929
Canada
Registered
SOMACEUTICA
European Union
Registered
SOMACEUTICA
India
Registered
SOMACEUTICA
2017-366542
Japan
Registered
SOMACEUTICA
Liechtenstein
Registered
SOMACEUTICA
Norway
Registered
SOMACEUTICA
UK00801379788
United Kingdom
Registered
SOMACEUTICA
Brunei Darussalam
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Hong Kong
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
JO/T/1/142669
Jordan
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
2018-4350
Kuwait
Pending
SOMAHLUTION
A0043179
Madrid Protocol (TM)
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Malaysia
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
86/248574
United States
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
UK00801218320
United Kingdom
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Australia
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
China
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Egypt
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
European Union
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Iceland
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
India
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Iran
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Israel
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Japan
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Liechtenstein
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Mexico
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
New Zealand
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Norway
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Russian Federation
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
T1416296G
Singapore
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Switzerland
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
2014/84799
2014/84799
Turkey
Registered
SOMAHLUTION
Other Intellectual Property
We own the internet domain names www.marizyme.com and www.somahlution.com, which are our primary operating websites. We own additional websites which are reserved for future operations. The information contained in our websites is not incorporated by reference in this report.
We generally control access to and use of our proprietary technology and other confidential information through the use of internal and external controls, including contractual protections with employees, contractors, customers, and partners, and our software is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. In this regard, we have signed confidentiality agreements with all of our current and former employees and consultants. Despite our efforts to protect our trade secrets and proprietary rights through intellectual property rights, licenses, and confidentiality agreements, unauthorized parties may still copy or otherwise obtain and use our software and technology. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries in which we sold products do not protect our proprietary rights as fully as do the laws of the United States. There can be no assurance that our means of protecting our proprietary rights in the United States or abroad were adequate or that competition will not independently develop similar technology.
Manufacturing, Distribution and Marketing
We do not own or operate, and currently have no plans to establish, any manufacturing or distribution facilities. We expect to rely on third parties for the manufacture and distribution of the medical technology devices that we commercialize.
Having received FDA authorization for marketing of DuraGraft, we are proceeding with our plans to commercialize DuraGraft in the United States and continue to generate international revenue growth from sales of DuraGraft. In the U.S. marketplace, we intend to employ a small direct sales force focusing on marketing and sales to hospital integrated networks. We have also begun the process of developing the U.S. CABG market for DuraGraft with select clinical studies, the development of KOLs, the promotion of existing publications, and digital marketing. We will also seek to develop and commercialize additional applications for the technology underlying DuraGraft. In Europe and elsewhere, we will continue our DuraGraft marketing efforts relying on our DuraGraft CE marking and our distribution partners. The CE marking signifies that DuraGraft may be sold in the EEA and that DuraGraft has been assessed as meeting safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. We are currently working with local distributors of cardiovascular disease-related products, in accordance with local regulatory requirements, to sell and increase the market share of DuraGraft in Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Chile, Turkey, Italy, and the UK among others.
After the development of a functional MATLOC prototype and further development of MAR-FG-001, we intend to enter into a commercialization arrangement with strategic and distribution partners who will be responsible for the marketing and sales of these technology platforms. If we are not able to find appropriate strategic and distribution partners or our partners are unable to achieve our sales goals, we will need to develop our own marketing and sales capabilities, which we expect would require more time and resources. As we do not anticipate obtaining FDA marketing authorization for MATLOC and MAR-FG-001 products within the near-term future, we intend to market MATLOC and MAR-FG-001 in other jurisdictions in which we may sell related products.
Our marketing and sales strategies in non-U.S. markets integrate a digital and social marketing campaign, and we also plan to use this type of marketing in the United States for any product that receives FDA approval.
Seasonality and Cyclicality
Our operating results and operating cash flows have not been subject to significant seasonal variations. We do not expect this pattern to change in the near term.
Employees
As of May 13, 2024, the Company had 11 full-time employees and two full-time consultants.
Environmental Regulations
We do not believe that we are or will become subject to any environmental laws or regulations of the United States, Europe or Asia other than laws or regulations applicable to U.S. publicly-traded companies in general. However, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks Related to Government Regulation - Climate change and increased focus by governments, stockholders and customers on sustainability issues, including those related to climate change, may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.” for discussion of material related risks. While we believe that our products and business activities do not currently violate any laws, any regulatory changes that impose additional restrictions or requirements on us or on our products or potential customers could adversely affect us by increasing our operating costs or decreasing demand for our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Reorganizations, Purchase or Sale of Assets
Other than as described above, there have been no other material reclassifications, mergers, consolidations, purchases or sales of a significant amount of assets not done in the ordinary course of business pertaining to the Company.
Regulation
The FDA, European Union competent authorities and comparable regulatory authorities in state and local jurisdictions and in other countries impose substantial and burdensome requirements upon companies involved in the clinical development, manufacture, marketing and distribution of medical device products such as those the Company has developed and is developing. These agencies and federal, state and local entities regulate, among other things, the research and development, testing, manufacture, quality control, safety, effectiveness, labelling, storage, record keeping, approval, advertising and promotion, distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting, sampling and export and import of the Company’s medical device medical devices. To comply with the regulatory requirements in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company is marketing or seeking to market and subsequently sell its products, the Company is establishing processes and resources to provide oversight of the development, approval processes and launch (including post market surveillance) of its products and to position those products in order to gain market share.
We believe that we are and will continue to be in compliance in all material respects with applicable statutes and the regulations passed in the United States. There are no current orders or directions relating to our company with respect to the foregoing laws and regulations.
U.S. Government Regulation
In the United States, the FDA approves and regulates medical devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and its implementing regulations.
The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations requires the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply with the applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval, may subject an applicant to a variety of administrative or judicial sanctions, such as the FDA’s refusal to approve pending Market Authorizations, withdrawal of an approval, imposition of a clinical hold, issuance of warning letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement or civil or criminal penalties.
The process required by the FDA before a medical device may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:
● completion of design control activities (including design verification activities such as pre-clinical laboratory tests, engineering tests, animal studies and formulation studies in compliance with the FDA’s good laboratory practice, or good laboratory practices (“GLPs”) regulations and 21 CFR part 820 regulations;
● Submission to the FDA of an investigational device exemption, or IDE, which must become approved before human clinical trials may begin;
● approval by an institutional review board, or IRB, of the study protocol and informed consent forms for the clinical site before each trial may be initiated. Multiple sites may necessitate the involvement of multiple IRBs and submissions;
● performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials in accordance with good clinical practices (“GCPs”), requirements to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed medical device product for each indication;
● submission to the FDA of a Marketing Application (510(k), De Novo, Premarket Approval (PMA), etc.) which would include the study reports of the clinical trials, pre-clinical testing, design verification and validation activities, labeling, etc. as well as other required sections to be included in the Marketing Authorization;
● satisfactory completion of an FDA advisory committee review, if applicable;
● satisfactory completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the product is produced to assess compliance with current good manufacturing practices (“cGMPs”) or PAI (Pre-approved Inspection) requirements and to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the medical device’s identity, quality; and
● FDA clearance of the medical device.
Pre-clinical Studies and Clinical Trials for Medical Devices
Pre-clinical studies include laboratory evaluation of the medical device product’s chemistry, engineering testing, stability, biocompatibility (including toxicity) and shipping (container closure), as well as animal studies to assess potential safety and efficacy. An IDE sponsor must submit the results of the pre-clinical tests, together with manufacturing information, testing, data and any available clinical data or literature, among other things, to the FDA as part of an IDE. Some pre-clinical testing may continue even after the IDE is submitted. An IDE automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless before that time the FDA raises concerns or questions related to one or more proposed clinical trials and places the clinical trial on a clinical hold. In such a case, the IDE sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin. As a result, submission of an IDE may not result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to commence.
Clinical trials involve the use of the investigational device to human subjects pursuant to a clinical protocol, under the supervision of qualified investigators in accordance with GCPs requirements, which include the requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent in writing for their participation in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives or endpoints of the trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety, and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. A protocol for each clinical trial and any subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA under the IDE. In addition, an IRB (central or at each institution participating in the clinical trial) must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial before it commences at that institution. Information about certain clinical trials must be submitted within specific timeframes to the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) for public dissemination on their www.clinicaltrials.gov website.
Progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials must be submitted at least annually to the FDA and more frequently if serious adverse events occur. Furthermore, the FDA or the sponsor may suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the medical device has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.
FDA Approval of Medical Devices
The results of the pre-clinical studies and engineering testing, together with detailed information relating to the product’s composition, manufacture, quality controls and proposed labeling, among other things, and assuming successful completion of clinical testing (if required) are submitted to the FDA as part of a market approval application, requesting clearance to market the product for one or more indications. In most cases, the submission of a market approval application is subject to a substantial application user fee. Under the Medical Device User Fee Act (“MDUFA”), guidelines that are currently in effect are dependent on type of submission, and typically the FDA has a goal that ranges between 100 - 300 days from the date of “filing” of a standard market approval application for the substantive review. This total review typically takes longer from the date of submission because the FDA has approximately 15 days to make a “filing” decision. Additionally, if during the filing decision or the substantive review the FDA determines a sponsor must provide additional information (AI), the sponsor has 180 days to provide requested information and during such time, the FDA review clock is halted.
Before clearing a market approval application, the FDA typically will inspect the facility or facilities where the product is manufactured. The FDA will not clear an application unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMPs requirements and adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. Additionally, before clearing a market approval application, the FDA may inspect one or more clinical trial sites to assure compliance with GCPs requirements.
After evaluating the market approval application and all related information, including the advisory committee recommendation, if any, and inspection reports regarding the manufacturing facilities and clinical trial sites, the FDA may issue clearance in a form consistent with the type of application. A complete response letter must contain a statement of specific items that prevent the FDA from approving the application and will also contain conditions that must be met in order to secure final approval of the market approval application and may require additional clinical or pre-clinical testing in order for FDA to reconsider the application. Even with submission of this additional information, the FDA ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the regulatory criteria for approval. If and when those conditions have been met to the FDA’s satisfaction, the FDA will typically issue an approval letter. An approval letter authorizes clearance to commercially market the medical device product with specific instructions for use for specific indications.
The FDA De Novo Classification request provides a marketing pathway to classify novel medical devices for which no legally marketed predicate device exists and general controls or general and special controls provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness for the intended use. The De Novo classification is a risk-based classification process and devices that are classified into Class I or Class II through a De Novo classification request may be marketed and used as predicates for future premarket notification submissions. With the granting by the FDA of a De Novo request, the new device is authorized to be marketed in the United States and a new classification regulation for the device type is established.
A 510(k) application is another premarket submission process made available by the FDA which may be used by itself or in combination with a De Novo classification request to demonstrate that the device to be marketed is at least as safe and effective (substantially equivalent) to a legally marketed device that is not otherwise subject to pre-market approval requirements. Submitters under a 510(k) application must compare their device to one or more similar legally marketed devices (predicates) and make and support their substantial equivalency claims. Until the submitter receives an order declaring a device substantially equivalent, the submitter may not proceed to market the device. Once the device is determined to be substantially equivalent, it can then be marketed in the United States.
Even if the FDA clears a product, it may limit the approved indications for use of the product, require that contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling, require that post-approval studies be conducted to further assess safety after approval, require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the product after commercialization, or impose other conditions, including distribution and use restrictions or other risk management mechanisms which can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the product. The FDA may prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of post-marketing studies or surveillance programs. After approval, some types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications, manufacturing changes, and additional labeling claims, are subject to further testing requirements and FDA review and approval.
U.S. Post-Approval Requirements for Medical Devices
Medical device products manufactured or distributed pursuant to FDA clearance are subject to pervasive and continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, requirements relating to recordkeeping, periodic reporting, product sampling and distribution, advertising and promotion and reporting of adverse experiences with the product. After approval, most changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications or other labeling claims are subject to prior FDA review and approval. There are also continuing, annual user fee requirements for any marketed products and the establishments at which such products are manufactured, as well as new application fees for supplemental applications with clinical data.
The FDA may impose a number of post-approval requirements as a condition of approval of a MA. For example, the FDA may require post-marketing testing and surveillance to further assess and monitor the product’s safety and effectiveness after commercialization.
In addition, medical device manufacturers and other entities involved in the design, manufacture and distribution of approved products are required to register their establishments with the FDA and state agencies and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and these state agencies for compliance with cGMPs requirements. Changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated and often require prior FDA approval before being implemented. FDA regulations also require investigation and correction of any deviations from cGMPs requirements and impose reporting and documentation requirements upon the sponsor and any third-party manufacturers that the sponsor may decide to use. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMPs compliance.
Once approval is granted, the FDA may withdraw the approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in mandatory revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information; imposition of post-market studies or clinical trials to assess new safety risks; or imposition of distribution or other restrictions. Other potential consequences include, but are not limited to:
● restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market or product recalls;
● fines, warning letters or holds on post-approval clinical trials;
● refusal of the FDA to approve pending sponsor MAs or supplements to approved MAs, or suspension or revocation of product approvals;
● product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; or
● injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
The FDA strictly regulates marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of products that are placed on the market. Devices may be promoted only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability. In addition, products, if deemed adulterated, can lead to serious consequences as set forth above as well as civil and criminal penalties.
U.S. Medical Regulatory Matters Relating to Medical Devices
Manufacturing, sales, promotion and other activities of medical devices following product approval, where applicable, or commercialization are also subject to regulation by numerous regulatory authorities in the United States in addition to the FDA, which may include the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, other divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and state and local governments and governmental agencies.
Other U.S. Healthcare Laws Governing Medical Devices
In addition to FDA restrictions on marketing of medical devices, other U.S. federal and state healthcare regulatory laws restrict business practices in the medical industry, which include, but are not limited to, state and federal anti-kickback, false claims, data privacy and security and physician payment and medical device pricing transparency laws.
The U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, any person or entity from knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting, receiving or providing any remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, to induce or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for or recommending the purchase, lease, or order of any good, facility, item or service reimbursable, in whole or in part, under Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs. The term “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value. The Anti-Kickback Statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between device manufacturers on the one hand and prescribers, purchasers, formulary managers and beneficiaries on the other. Although there are a number of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting some common activities from prosecution, the exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly. Practices that involve remuneration that may be alleged to be intended to induce prescribing, purchases, or recommendations may be subject to scrutiny if they do not meet the requirements of a statutory or regulatory exception or safe harbor. Failure to meet all of the requirements of a particular applicable statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor does not make the conduct per se illegal under the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Instead, the legality of the arrangement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on a cumulative review of all its facts and circumstances. Several courts have interpreted the statute’s intent requirement to mean that if anyone purpose of an arrangement involving remuneration is to induce referrals of federal healthcare covered business, the statute has been violated.
Additionally, the intent standard under the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute was amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively, the ACA, to a stricter standard such that a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. In addition, the ACA codified case law that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal civil False Claims Act. The majority of states also have anti-kickback laws, which establish similar prohibitions and, in some cases, may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers.
The federal false claims and civil monetary penalties laws, including the civil False Claims Act, prohibit any person or entity from, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false, fictitious or fraudulent claim for payment to, or approval by, the federal government, knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim to the federal government, or from knowingly making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the U.S. federal government. A claim includes “any request or demand” for money or property presented to the U.S. government. Actions under the civil False Claims Act may be brought by the Attorney General or as a qui tam action by a private individual in the name of the government. Violations of the civil False Claims Act can result in very significant monetary penalties and treble damages. Several healthcare companies have been prosecuted under these laws for, among other things, allegedly providing free product to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal programs for the product. Other companies have been prosecuted for causing false claims to be submitted because of the companies’ marketing of products for unapproved, or off-label, uses. Companies also have been prosecuted for allegedly violating the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act as a result of impermissible arrangements between companies and healthcare practitioners or as a result of the provision of remuneration by the companies to the healthcare practitioners. In addition, the civil monetary penalties statute imposes penalties against any person who is determined to have presented or caused to be presented a claim to a federal health program that the person knows or should know is for an item or service that was not provided as claimed or is false or fraudulent. Many states also have similar fraud and abuse statutes or regulations that apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor.
Violations of fraud and abuse laws, including federal and state anti-kickback and false claims laws, may be punishable by criminal and civil sanctions, including fines and civil monetary penalties, the possibility of exclusion from federal healthcare programs (including Medicare and Medicaid), disgorgement and corporate integrity agreements, which impose, among other things, rigorous operational and monitoring requirements on companies. Similar sanctions and penalties, as well as imprisonment, also can be imposed upon executive officers and employees of such companies. Given the significant size of actual and potential settlements, it is expected that the government authorities will continue to devote substantial resources to investigating healthcare providers’ and manufacturers’ compliance with applicable fraud and abuse laws.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, created additional federal criminal statutes that prohibit, among other actions, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors, knowingly and willfully embezzling or stealing from a healthcare benefit program, willfully obstructing a criminal investigation of a healthcare offense and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services. Similar to the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the ACA broadened the reach of certain criminal healthcare fraud statutes created under HIPAA by amending the intent requirement such that a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation.
In addition, there has been a recent trend of increased federal and state regulation of payments made to physicians and certain other healthcare providers. The ACA imposed, among other things, new annual reporting requirements through the Physician Payments Sunshine Act for covered manufacturers for certain payments and “transfers of value” provided to physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Failure to submit timely, accurately and completely the required information for all payments, transfers of value and ownership or investment interests may result in civil monetary penalties of up to an aggregate of $150,000 per year and up to an aggregate of $1 million per year for “knowing failures.” Covered manufacturers must submit reports by the 90th day of each subsequent calendar year. In addition, certain states require the implementation of compliance programs and compliance with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, impose restrictions on marketing practices and/or tracking and reporting of gifts, compensation and other remuneration or items of value provided to physicians and other healthcare professionals and entities.
The Company may also be subject to data privacy and security regulation by both the federal government and the states in which the Company conducts its business. HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, and their respective implementing regulations, including the Final HIPAA Omnibus Rule, published on January 25, 2013, impose specified requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information held by covered entities and their business associates. Among other things, HITECH made HIPAA’s security standards directly applicable to “business associates,” defined as independent contractors or agents of covered entities that create, receive, maintain or transmit protected health information in connection with providing a service for or on behalf of a covered entity. HITECH also increased the civil and criminal penalties that may be imposed against covered entities, business associates and possibly other persons, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorney’s fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. In addition, state laws govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same requirements, thus complicating compliance efforts. In the European Union (“EU”), similar privacy requirements have been implemented under EU Law General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR 2016/679). These requirements include provisions related to the processing of personal data of individuals within the EEA and also addresses the transfer of personal data outside the EU and EEA areas.
Coverage and Reimbursement
Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any products for which the Company obtains regulatory approval. In the United States and markets in other countries, patients who are prescribed treatments for their conditions and providers performing the prescribed services generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the associated healthcare costs. Patients are unlikely to use the Company’s products unless coverage is provided and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of the cost of the Company’s products. Sales of any products for which the Company receives regulatory approval for commercial sale will, therefore depend, in part, on the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors. Third-party payors include government authorities, managed care plans, private health insurers and other organizations. In the United States, the process for determining whether a third-party payor will provide coverage for a product typically is separate from the process for setting the price of such product or for establishing the reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the product once coverage is approved. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, which might not include all of the FDA-approved products for a particular indication. A decision by a third-party payor not to cover the Company’s medical devices could reduce physician utilization of the Company’s products once approved and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s sales, results of operations and financial condition. Moreover, a third-party payor’s decision to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable the Company to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on the Company’s investment in product development. Additionally, coverage and reimbursement for products can differ significantly from payor to payor. One third-party payor’s decision to cover a particular product or service does not ensure that other payors will also provide coverage for the product or service or will provide coverage at an adequate reimbursement rate. As a result, the coverage determination process will require the Company to provide scientific and clinical support for the use of the Company’s products to each payor separately and will be a time-consuming process.
In the EEA, governments influence the price of products through their pricing and reimbursement rules and control of national health care systems that fund a large part of the cost of those products to consumers. Some jurisdictions operate positive and negative list systems under which products may only be marketed once a reimbursement price has been agreed to by the government. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval, some of these countries may require the completion of clinical trials that compare the cost effectiveness of a particular medical device to currently available therapies. Other member states allow companies to fix their own prices for medicines but monitor and control company profits. The downward pressure on health care costs in general, particularly prescription products, has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition, in some countries, cross border imports from low-priced markets exert commercial pressure on pricing within a country.
The containment of healthcare costs has become a priority of federal, state and foreign governments, and the prices of products have been a focus in this effort. Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical products, examining the medical necessity and reviewing the cost-effectiveness of medical products, in addition to questioning safety and efficacy. If these third-party payors do not consider the Company’s products to be cost-effective compared to other available therapies, they may not cover the Company’s products after regulatory approval or clearance, or if they do, the level of payment may not be sufficient to allow the Company to sell its products at a profit.
Healthcare Reform
A primary trend in the U.S. healthcare industry and elsewhere is cost containment. Government authorities and other third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for particular medical products. For example, in March 2010, the ACA was enacted, which, among other things, increased the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by most manufacturers; created a new Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research; creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, once empaneled, will have authority to recommend certain changes to the Medicare program that includes establishment of a Center for Medicare Innovation at the CMS to test innovative payment and service delivery models to lower Medicare and Medicaid spending. Since its enactment, the U.S. federal government has delayed or suspended the implementation of certain provisions of the ACA.
The Company expects that the ACA, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and lower reimbursement and additional downward pressure on the price that the Company receives for any approved product. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government-funded programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. Moreover, recently there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent the Company from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability or commercialize the Company’s drugs and medical devices.
Additionally, on August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This included aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect on April 1, 2013, and due to subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, will stay in effect through 2025 unless additional action is taken by Congress. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several types of providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer treatment centers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. More recently, there has been heightened governmental scrutiny recently over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products, which have resulted in several recent Congressional inquiries and proposed bills designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to product pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for products.
Since its enactment, there have been judicial, executive and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA. On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the most recent judicial challenge to the ACA brought by several states without specifically ruling on the constitutionality of the ACA. Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, President Biden issued an executive order to initiate a special enrollment period from February 15, 2021 through August 15, 2021 for purposes of obtaining health insurance coverage through the ACA marketplace. The executive order also instructed certain governmental agencies to review and reconsider their existing policies and rules that limit access to healthcare, including among others, reexamining Medicaid demonstration projects and waiver programs that include work requirements, and policies that create unnecessary barriers to obtaining access to health insurance coverage through Medicaid or the ACA. It is unclear how other healthcare reform measures of the Biden administration or other efforts, if any, to challenge, repeal or replace the ACA will impact our business.
Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. For example, on March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law, which eliminates the statutory Medicaid drug rebate cap, currently set at 100% of a drug’s average manufacturer price, for single source and innovator multiple source drugs, beginning January 1, 2024. Further, in August 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, included aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year. These reductions went into effect in April 2013 and, due to subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, will remain in effect through 2030, with the exception of a temporary suspension from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021, unless additional action is taken by Congress.
Further, on May 30, 2018, the Right to Try Act was signed into law. The law, among other things, provides a federal framework for certain patients to access certain investigational new drug products that have completed a Phase 1 clinical trial and that are undergoing investigation for FDA approval. Under certain circumstances, eligible patients can seek treatment without enrolling in clinical trials and without obtaining FDA permission under the FDA expanded access program. There is no obligation for a pharmaceutical manufacturer to make its drug products available to eligible patients as a result of the Right to Try Act.
Moreover, there has recently been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products, which has resulted in several Congressional inquiries, proposed and enacted legislation and executive orders designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to product pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for drug products. For example, at a federal level, President Biden signed an Executive Order on July 9, 2021 affirming the administration’s policy to (i) support legislative reforms that would lower the prices of prescription drugs and biologics, including by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, by imposing inflation caps, and, by supporting the development and market entry of lower-cost generic drugs and biosimilars; and (ii) support the enactment of a public health insurance option. Among other things, the Executive Order also directs the HHS to provide a report on actions to combat excessive pricing of prescription drugs, enhance the domestic drug supply chain, reduce the price that the Federal government pays for drugs, and address price gouging in the industry; and directs the FDA to work with states and Indian Tribes that propose to develop section 804 Importation Programs in accordance with the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, and the FDA’s implementing regulations. It is also possible that additional governmental action is taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual states in the United States have also become increasingly active in implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing.
We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could impact the amounts that federal and state governments and other third-party payors will pay for healthcare products and services.
U.S. Data Privacy and Security Laws
Numerous state, federal and foreign laws, including consumer protection laws and regulations, govern the collection, dissemination, use, access to, confidentiality, and security of personal information, including health-related information. In the United States, numerous federal and state laws and regulations, including data breach notification laws, health information privacy and security laws, including HIPAA and federal and state consumer protection laws and regulations (e.g., Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act) that govern the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of health-related and other personal information could apply to our operations or the operations of our partners. In addition, certain state and non-U.S. laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, the California Privacy Rights Act, Australia’s Privacy Act 1988, as amended, and the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, govern the privacy and security of personal information, including health-related information in certain circumstances, some of which are more stringent than HIPAA and many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. Effective January 1, 2023, we also became subject to the California Privacy Rights Act, which expands upon the consumer data use restrictions, penalties and enforcement provisions under the California Consumer Privacy Act, and Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act, another comprehensive data privacy law. Effective July 1, 2023, we will also become subject to the Colorado Privacy Act and Connecticut’s An Act Concerning Personal Data Privacy and Online Monitoring, which are also comprehensive consumer privacy laws. Effective December 31, 2023, we will also become subject to the Utah Consumer Privacy Act, regarding business handling of consumers’ personal data. Failure to comply with these laws, where applicable, can result in the imposition of significant civil and/or criminal penalties and private litigation. Privacy and security laws, regulations, and other obligations are constantly evolving, may conflict with each other to make compliance efforts more challenging, and can result in investigations, proceedings, or actions that lead to significant penalties and restrictions on data processing.
Foreign Government Regulation
In order to market the Company’s products in the EEA (which is comprised of the 27 Member States of the European Union plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and many other foreign jurisdictions (e.g., in Europe, the United Kingdom and Switzerland), a sponsor must obtain separate regulatory approvals. For example, in the EEA, medical device products can only be commercialized after obtaining a Marketing Authorization, or MA. As of May 26, 2021, new Marketing Authorizations in the EU must meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/745. The activities associated with MA approval are conducted by authorized Notified Bodies (NB) on behalf of the EU competent authorities. Before granting the MA, the NB makes an assessment of the risk-benefit balance of the product on the basis of scientific criteria concerning its quality, safety and efficacy. In order to make this determination, a sponsor must submit an application for approval.
To the extent that any of the Company’s medical devices are to be approved and sold in a foreign country other than those countries comprising the EEA or other countries that accept CE marking, the Company may be subject to similar laws and regulations, which may include, for instance, applicable post-marketing requirements, including safety surveillance, anti-fraud and abuse laws and implementation of corporate compliance programs and reporting of payments or other transfers of value to healthcare professionals.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” before making a decision to purchase or sell shares of our common stock. We cannot assure you that any of the events discussed in the risk factors below will not occur. These risks could have a material and adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects. If that were to happen, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations or financial condition. In this section, we first provide a summary of the more significant risks and uncertainties we face and then provide a full set of risk factors and discuss them in greater detail.
Risks Related to Our Business
We have incurred losses since inception, and we anticipate that we will incur continued losses for the foreseeable future. Moreover, our independent registered public accounting firm’s report, contained herein, includes an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, indicating the possibility that we may not be able to operate in the future.
As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $151.34 million and $86.0 million, respectively. We expect to incur significant and increasing operating losses for the next several years as we expand our acquisition efforts, continue clinical trials, acquire, or license technologies, advance other medical devices into clinical development, complete clinical trials, seek regulatory approval and, if we receive FDA approval, commercialize our products. Primarily because of our losses incurred to date, our expected continued future losses, and limited cash balances, our independent registered public accounting firm has included in its report an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern is contingent upon, among other factors, the sale of the shares of common stock or obtaining alternate financing. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to raise additional capital.
If we are unable to secure additional capital, we may be required to curtail our research and development initiatives and take additional measures to reduce costs in order to conserve our cash in amounts sufficient to sustain operations and meet our obligations. These measures could cause significant delays in our clinical and regulatory efforts, which are critical to the realization of our business plan. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that may be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern. It is not possible for us to predict currently the potential success of our business. The revenue and income potential of our proposed business and operations are currently unknown. If we cannot continue as a viable entity, you may lose some or all your investment in our company.
We defaulted under the Convertible Notes and, as a result, the Convertible Note holders may accelerate amounts owed under such Convertible Notes and seek to take possession the assets securing our obligations. Our other indebtedness could also expose us to risks that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We defaulted under the Convertible Notes due to a cross-default provision that was triggered by the non-repayment of principal under a promissory note on May 7, 2023. Under the terms of the Convertible Notes, the aggregate amount that may be due is $14.3 million, or approximately $5.7 million more than would otherwise have been due under the Convertible Notes. Under the unit purchase agreement entered into on May 27, 2021 with certain holders of several of the Convertible Notes, each of the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a guaranty to guarantee the repayment of the Company’s obligations under the Convertible Notes, and the Company and its subsidiaries entered into security agreements granting security interests in all of their respective assets for up to the dollar value owed under the respective Convertible Notes. The respective Convertible Notes were issued for aggregate principal of approximately $1.2 million. Under each unit purchase agreement entered into with respect to subsequent issuances of the Convertible Notes, the Company and its subsidiaries were obligated to enter into similar security agreements and guaranties, but did not do so.
The holders of the Convertible Notes have not exercised any remedies applicable to the Convertible Notes or given notice of any intention to do so as of the date of this prospectus. If Univest Securities, LLC (“Univest”), as the appointed representative of the Convertible Note holders, remains so appointed, no investor other than Univest may pursue any remedy with respect to the Convertible Notes. However, if the amount owed due to the default is not repaid upon demand, the holders of the Convertible Notes may nonetheless seek to remove Univest from this appointed position, take possession of some or all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ assets, force the Company and its subsidiaries into bankruptcy proceedings, or seek other legal remedies against the Company and its subsidiaries. In such event, the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
In addition to the Convertible Notes, we have incurred indebtedness under the OID Convertible Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $7.0 million. The OID Convertible Notes accrue interest at 10% and will mature on various dates from February 12, 2024 to August 6, 2024. We have also incurred trade debts to various vendors. In the future, we may incur additional indebtedness.
Even if the holders of the Convertible Notes do not pursue remedies in response to our default under the Convertible Notes, our indebtedness could have significant negative consequences for our security holders, business, results of operations and financial condition by, among other things:
● increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;
● limiting our ability to obtain additional financing;
● requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our indebtedness, which will reduce the amount of cash available for other purposes;
● limiting our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in our business; and
● placing us at a possible competitive disadvantage with competitors that are less leveraged than us or have better access to capital.
Our business may not generate sufficient funds, and we may otherwise be unable to maintain sufficient cash reserves to pay any indebtedness that we may incur. The OID Convertible Notes contain restrictive covenants, including cross-default provisions, that are similar to the Convertible Notes. In addition, any future indebtedness that we may incur may also contain financial and other restrictive covenants that will limit our ability to operate our business, raise capital or make payments under our indebtedness. If we fail to comply with such covenants or to make payments under any of our indebtedness when due, then we would be in default under that indebtedness, which could, in turn, result in that indebtedness becoming immediately payable in full and cross-default or cross-acceleration under our other indebtedness and other liabilities.
Management has determined that disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting were not effective, identified a material weakness in our internal controls, and a failure to remediate it or any future ineffectiveness of internal controls could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and the price of its securities.
Our management determined that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, or ICFR, were not effective due to a material weakness in ICFR as of December 31, 2023.
A “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in ICFR, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. As previously reported, we have taken, and plan to continue to take, measures to remediate the Company’s internal weaknesses in ICFR. However, the implementation of these measures may not address any control deficiencies in our ICFR. Our failure to address any control deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. Moreover, effective ICFR is important to prevent fraud. Failure to report its financial information on an accurate or timely basis may thereby subject the Company to adverse regulatory consequences, including sanctions by the SEC or violations of applicable securities exchange or quotation service listing rules. There could also be a negative reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of investor confidence in the Company and the lack of timeliness or reliability of its financial statements. Confidence in the reliability of the Company’s financial statements may suffer due to the Company’s reporting of a material weakness in its ICFR. This could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and lead to a decline in the price of its common stock.
If we continue to fail to comply with the rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 related to disclosure controls and procedures, or, if we discover additional material weaknesses and other deficiencies in our internal control and accounting procedures, our securities’ prices could decline significantly and raising capital could be more difficult.
If we continue to fail to comply with the rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) related to disclosure controls and procedures, or, if we discover additional material weaknesses and other deficiencies in our internal control and accounting procedures, the prices of our securities could decline significantly and raising capital could be more difficult. Moreover, effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to help prevent financial fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading prices of our securities could drop significantly. In addition, we cannot be certain that additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls will not be discovered in the future.
As a non-accelerated filer, we are not required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
We are not an “accelerated filer” or a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act. Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act defines an “accelerated filer” to mean any company that first meets the following conditions at the end of each fiscal year: The company had a public float of $75 million or more, but less than $700 million, as of the last business day of the company’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter; the company has been subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least twelve calendar months; the company has filed at least one annual report under the Exchange Act; the company did not have annual revenues of less than $100 million and either no public float or a public float of less than $700 million; and, once the company determines that it does not qualify for “smaller reporting company” status because it exceeded one or more of the current thresholds for such status, is not eligible to regain “smaller reporting company” status under the test provided under paragraph (3)(iii)(B) of the “smaller reporting company” definition in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act defines a “large accelerated filer” in the same way except that the company meeting the definition must have a public float of $700 million or more as of the last business day of the company’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
A non-accelerated filer is not required to file an auditor attestation report on internal control over financial reporting that is otherwise required under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Therefore, our ICFR does not receive the level of review provided by the process relating to the auditor attestation included in annual reports of issuers that are subject to the auditor attestation requirements. In addition, we cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive because we are not required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and trading prices for our securities may be negatively affected.
We are a “smaller reporting company” within the meaning of the Exchange Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act defines a “smaller reporting company” as an issuer that is not an investment company, an asset-backed issuer, or a majority-owned subsidiary of a parent that is not a smaller reporting company and that:
● had a public float of less than $250 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of shares of its voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates by the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average of the bid and asked prices of common equity, in the principal market for the common equity; or
● in the case of an initial registration statement under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act for shares of its common equity, had a public float of less than $250 million as of a date within 30 days of the date of the filing of the registration statement, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of such shares held by non-affiliates before the registration plus, in the case of a Securities Act registration statement, the number of such shares included in the registration statement by the estimated public offering price of the shares; or
● in the case of an issuer whose public float as calculated under paragraph (1) or (2) of this definition was zero or whose public float was less than $700 million, had annual revenues of less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available.
If a company determines that it does not qualify for smaller reporting company status because it exceeded one or more of the above thresholds, it will remain unqualified unless when making its annual determination it meets certain alternative threshold requirements which will be lower than the above thresholds if its prior public float or prior annual revenues exceed certain thresholds.
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section in our proxy statements; we may provide only two years of financial statements; and we need not provide the table of selected financial data. We also have other “scaled” disclosure requirements that are less comprehensive than issuers that are not smaller reporting companies which could make our securities less attractive to potential investors, which could make it more difficult for our securityholders to sell their securities.
Even if our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we may utilize an exemption from certain corporate governance requirements for “smaller reporting companies” that could have an adverse effect on our public stockholders.
Under Nasdaq rules, a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, is not subject to certain corporate governance requirements otherwise applicable to companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. For example, a smaller reporting company is exempt from the Nasdaq requirement of having a compensation committee comprised solely of directors meeting certain enhanced independence standards, as long as the compensation committee has at least two members who do meet such standards. Although we have determined not to avail ourselves of this or other exemptions from Nasdaq requirements that are or may be afforded to smaller reporting companies while we seek to obtain and maintain the listing of our shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market, in the future we may elect to rely on any or all of these exemptions. By electing to utilize any such exemptions, our company may be subject to greater risks of poor corporate governance, poorer management decision-making processes, and reduced results of operations from problems in our corporate organization. Consequently, if we were to avail ourselves of these exemptions, our stock price might suffer, and there is no assurance that we would be able to continue to meet all continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq from which we would not be exempt, including minimum stock price requirements.
Misconduct of employees, subcontractors, agents and business partners could cause us to lose existing contracts or customers and adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts and customers and could have a significant adverse impact on our business and reputation.
On January 28, 2022, the Company filed a Complaint in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, case number 50-2022-CA-000859-XXX-MB, against Amy Chandler (the “Chandler Complaint”). The Chandler Complaint sought damages for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, negligence, conversion, and civil theft. The Chandler Complaint alleged that, prior to her resignation in September 2021, Ms. Chandler intentionally and recklessly took actions to cancel the CE certificate required by European Union regulations in order for Marizyme and its subsidiary, Somahlution, Inc., to ship and distribute certain products to/within the European Union. The Chandler Complaint also alleged that Ms. Chandler disregarded her fiduciary duty to Marizyme and responsibilities as the top regulatory and compliance official of Marizyme. As a result, the Chandler Complaint alleged that Ms. Chandler’s actions caused significant disruption and damage to Marizyme’s business, including, but not limited to, financial damages and damage to Marizyme’s reputation and business relationships. The Chandler Complaint further alleged that prior to her last day, Ms. Chandler stole confidential, proprietary files governing Marizyme’s quality management system, which related to internal business operations, and that Marizyme incurred significant costs to recreate these files. The Chandler Complaint alleged damages in excess of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), exclusive of interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
On February 28, 2022, Ms. Chandler filed an Answer, Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaim with the Florida Circuit Court (the “Answer”). The Answer denied the claims in the Chandler Complaint and most of the factual allegations regarding Ms. Chandler’s alleged actions. The Answer also asserted a counterclaim against the Company for defamation per se. The Answer sought to recover monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, and court costs in connection with this litigation. The Answer also demanded a trial by jury on all triable issues.
On March 18, 2022, the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss Ms. Chandler’s Counterclaim with the Florida Circuit Court (the “Motion to Dismiss”). The Motion to Dismiss stated that Ms. Chandler’s Counterclaim for defamation per se should be dismissed with prejudice. On July 13, 2022, the court ruled that the counterclaim of defamation was dismissed with prejudice. Ms. Chandler’s deposition was taken on September 21, 2022. On November 21, 2022, the Company filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice of its complaint and the case was dismissed.
Although we obtained a CE certificate to market DuraGraft in the European Union under the Company’s name in May 2021, prior to the cancellation of the CE certificate to market DuraGraft in the European Union under the name of our subsidiary, we were not able to make the necessary labeling changes which were required to reinitiate the marketing and distribution of DuraGraft products under the Company’s name until June 2022, due primarily to supply chain and production interruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of having to restore our quality management system and relabel DuraGraft, we were compelled to hire, at significant cost, two full-time quality consultants in November 2021. Fulfillment of orders of our DuraGraft product was delayed for more than nine months during the relabeling process. We believe that at least some of our distributors may have lost trust in our ability to deliver DuraGraft as a result. Although no orders have been cancelled, we suffered delayed and lost revenue until the relabeling process could be completed. Since June 2022, we have resumed shipments of correctly-labeled DuraGraft to our distributors, but may not have fully restored the trust of our distributors and recaptured market momentum.
Future potential misconduct could include fraud, theft of trade secrets, corporate sabotage, or other improper activities such as falsifying time or other records and violations of laws. Other examples could include the failure to comply with our policies and procedures or with foreign, federal, state or local government procurement regulations, regulations regarding the use and safeguarding of classified or other protected information, legislation regarding the pricing of labor and other costs in government contracts, laws and regulations relating to environmental, health or safety matters, bribery of foreign government officials, import-export control, lobbying or similar activities, and any other applicable laws or regulations. Any such misconduct could result in claims, remediation costs, regulatory sanctions against us, loss of current and future customers or contracts and serious harm to our reputation. Although we have implemented policies, procedures and controls to prevent and detect these activities, these precautions have not in the past and may not prevent all misconduct, and as a result, we could face unknown risks or losses. Our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations as a result of the misconduct by any of our employees, subcontractors, agents or business partners could damage our reputation, force us to expend significant resources to address and cure such misconduct, delay, disrupt or fatally undermine our business plans and operations, and subject us to fines and penalties, restitution or other damages, loss of regulatory clearance, loss of current and future customer contracts, any of which could irreparably and materially adversely affect our business, reputation and our future results.
We have negative working capital.
The Company had negative working capital (current assets less current liabilities) of approximately $19.6 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to working capital of $1.0 million as of December 31, 2022. Any significant declines in our revenues could result in decreases in our working capital, which would reduce our cash balances. Our failure to generate sufficient revenues or profits or to obtain additional financing or raise additional capital could have a material adverse effect on our operations and on our ability to meet our obligations as they become due. The occurrence of any of the foregoing risks would have a material adverse effect on our financial results, business and prospects.
We have a limited operational history.
We have a limited history upon which an evaluation of our prospects and future performance can be made. Our ongoing and proposed operations are subject to all business risks associated with new enterprises. The likelihood of our success must take into consideration the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications, and delays frequently encountered in connection with the expansion of a business operation in an emerging industry, and the continued development of advertising, promotions, and a corresponding customer base. There is a possibility that we could sustain losses in the future, and there are no assurances that we will ever operate profitably.
We will need to increase the size of our organization.
We are a small company with 11 full-time employees and two full-time consultants as of May 13, 2024. To execute our business plan, including the future conducting of clinical trials and the expected commercialization of our medical devices, we will need to expand our employee base for managerial, operational, financial, and other resources. Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including the need to identify, recruit, maintain and integrate additional employees. Over the next 12 months, depending on the progress of our acquisition efforts and future planned business development and capital raising efforts, we plan to add additional employees to assist us with our development programs. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our products and devices and to compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to manage any future growth effectively. To that end, we must be able to:
● manage development efforts effectively;
● manage any future clinical trials effectively;
● integrate additional management, administrative, manufacturing and sales and marketing personnel;
● maintain sufficient administrative, accounting and management information systems and controls; and
● hire and train additional qualified personnel.
We may not be able to accomplish these tasks, and our failure to accomplish any of them could harm our financial results and impact our ability to achieve development milestones.
If we fail to retain current members of our senior management, or to identify, attract, integrate and retain additional key personnel, our business will be harmed.
In order to develop our medical devices, we need to retain or attract certain personnel, consultants or advisors with experience in medical device development activities that include a number of disciplines, including research and development, clinical trials, medical matters, government regulation medical devices, manufacturing, formulation and chemistry, business development, accounting, finance, regulatory affairs, human resources and information systems. We are highly dependent upon our senior management and consultants. The loss of services of one or more of our members of senior management could delay or prevent the successful completion of our planned product development or the commercialization of medical devices.
Our success depends in part on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified management, clinical and scientific personnel and on our ability to develop and maintain important relationships with leading academic institutions, clinicians, and scientists. The competition for qualified personnel in medical device field is intense. We will need to hire additional personnel as we expand our product development and commercial activities. While, generally, we have not had difficulties recruiting qualified individuals, to date, we may not be able to attract and retain quality personnel on acceptable terms given the competition for such personnel among medical device and other life science companies. In connection with the acquisition of My Health Logic, we engaged a new Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance. If we are not able to retain these individuals in their current functions, we may not be able to execute our business plan and maximize our growth strategy, to the detriment of our business. Additionally, the Company does not carry key person life insurance. If we lose any key managers or employees or are unable to attract and retain qualified key personnel, directors, advisors or consultants, the development of our medical devices could be delayed or terminated, and our business may be harmed.
If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the future, we may not be able to fund our product development efforts and acquisitions or fulfill our future obligations.
Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to fund our operations and product development efforts, including the payment of cash consideration in acquisitions and the payment of our other obligations, depends on a range of economic, competitive, and business factors, many of which are outside of our control. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that we will be able to liquidate our investments, repatriate cash and investments held in our overseas subsidiaries, sell assets, or raise equity or debt financings when needed or desirable. An inability to fund our operations or fulfill outstanding obligations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. For further information, please refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
We will require substantial additional funding which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Failing to raise the necessary additional capital could force us to delay, reduce, eliminate or abandon growth initiatives, development or commercialization of our technologies and products.
We are currently preparing to make a public offering of equity securities intended to raise sufficient net proceeds for us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through December 2024. Without giving effect to the anticipated net proceeds from the Company’s proposed public offering, our existing capital resources will not be sufficient to meet our projected operating requirements beyond April 16, 2025, and there will remain substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern unless we receive substantial financing. We have estimated that the expected net proceeds from the Company’s proposed public offering may remove such doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect.
We expect to significantly increase our spending to advance the development of our medical devices and launch and commercialize any medical devices for which we receive regulatory approval. This might include the possibility of building our own marketing and sales organizations to address certain markets if we fail to identify and engage third-party organizations that can perform these services for us. We will also require additional capital to fund our other operating expenses and capital expenditures. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
● the progress of our product development programs;
● the number of technologies and products we pursue;
● the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals;
● the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and enforcing or defending patent claims;
● our plans to establish sales, marketing and/or manufacturing capabilities;
● the effect of competing technological and market developments;
● the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing, and other arrangements that we may establish;
● general market conditions for offerings from life science companies;
● our ability to establish, enforce and maintain selected strategic alliances and activities required for technology and product commercialization; and
● our revenues, if any, from successful development and commercialization of our technologies and products.
In order to carry out our business plans and implement our strategy beyond 2023, we anticipate that we will need to obtain additional financing from time to time and may choose to raise additional funds through strategic collaborations, licensing arrangements, additional public or private equity or debt financing, bank lines of credit, asset sales, government grants, or other arrangements. We cannot be sure that any additional funding, if needed, will be available on terms favorable to us or at all. Furthermore, any additional equity or equity-related financing may be dilutive to our stockholders, and debt or equity financing, if available, may subject us to restrictive covenants and significant interest costs. If we obtain funding through a strategic collaboration or licensing arrangement, we may be required to relinquish our rights to certain of our medical device or marketing territories. Our inability to raise capital when needed would harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and could cause the price of our common stock to decline or require that we wind down our operations altogether.
We may not be able to monetize intangible assets, which may result in the need to record an impairment charge.
As part of our acquisition of assets from ACB Holding, completed on September 12, 2018, Marizyme acquired all rights, titles, and interest in the Krillase technology, a group of intangible assets which at that time was valued at $28.6 million. The useful lives of the intangible assets are based on the life of the patent and related technology. The patents and related technology for Krillase have not been amortized since the acquisition, as they have not yet been put into operation. At December 31, 2023, management determined that the carrying value of Krillase exceeded its recoverable amount. Impairment of $4,250,000 (2022 - $24,350,000) was recognized on Krillase intangible assets and recorded in the impairment of intangible assets in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The recoverable amount of Krillase intangible assets was estimated at $Nil as of December 31, 2023 (2022 - $4,250,000).
The Company previously planned to develop and commercialize FDA-approved products based on the Krillase assets. We suspended these plans due to our determination to prioritize the completion of regulatory processes to obtain FDA authorization for the commercialization of DuraGraft in the United States and the development of a functional MATLOC device prototype and MAR-FG-001-based viable products. We intend to maintain the Krillase assets for potential future development and commercialization or disposition. Any determination as to these matters would be based on a number of factors. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Principal Factors Affecting Our Financial Performance” for a summary of factors that we may consider in this respect.
Additionally, in December 2021, we acquired My Health Logic, its lab-on-chip technology platform and its in-development patient-centric, digital point-of-care screening and diagnostic device, MATLOC. Our MATLOC CKD point-of-care device is still being developed through a Sponsored Research Agreement, otherwise all capital and effort toward the project has been paused due to the capital position of the Company. Therefore, at December 31, 2023, management determined that the carrying value of MATLOC intangible assets and goodwill exceeded its recoverable amounts. Impairment of $7,552,376 (2022 - $Nil) was recognized on MATLOC and recorded in the impairment expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The recoverable amount of MATLOC intangible assets and goodwill was estimated at $Nil and $Nil as of December 31, 2023, respectively (2022 - $6,600,000 and $1,774,656, respectively).
Following the Somahlution acquisition in 2020, Marizyme acquired $18,170,000 of intangible assets tied to the DuraGraft® technology. Presently, our emphasis is on advancing FDA pre-approved products, resulting in a slower-than-expected progress on the development of DuraGraft IPR&D - Cyto Protectant Life Sciences. Therefore, at December 31, 2023, management determined that the carrying value of DuraGraft IPR&D - Cyto Protectant Life Sciences intangible assets exceeded its recoverable amounts. Impairment of $2,442,000 (2022 - $Nil) was recognized on Cyto Protectant Life Sciences and recorded in the impairment expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The recoverable amount of Cyto Protectant Life Sciences intangible assets was estimated at $10,164,000 as of December 31, 2023 (2022 - $12,606,000).
There is no assurance that any of our intellectual property assets will ever be developed and fully commercialized and generate significant revenues or will ever attract significant interest from potential buyers or investors. See “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business - We may not be able to monetize intangible assets, which may result in the need to record an impairment charge.”
Our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 contains approximately $14.4 million of intangible assets and approximately $5.4 million in goodwill. The risk of failure to monetize intangible assets and goodwill is significant, and there can be no certainty that these assets ultimately will yield successful products. The nature of our business is high-risk and requires that we invest in a large number of projects in an effort to achieve a successful portfolio of approved products. Our ability to realize value on these significant investments is often contingent upon, among other things, regulatory approvals, availability of resources, and market acceptance. These intangible and goodwill assets may become impaired and be written off at some time in the future, which can have a material adverse effect on the financial statements.
Acquisitions present many risks, and we may not realize the financial and strategic goals we anticipate at the time of an acquisition.
Our growth is dependent upon market growth, our ability to enhance existing products, and our ability to introduce new products and services on a timely basis. In recent years, we have addressed and intend to continue to address the need to develop new products and services and enhance existing products through acquisitions of other companies, product lines and/or technologies. However, acquisitions, including those of high-technology companies, are inherently risky. We cannot provide any assurance that any of our acquisitions or future acquisitions will be successful in helping us reach our financial and strategic goals. The risks we commonly encounter in undertaking, managing, and integrating acquisitions are:
● an uncertain revenue and earnings stream from the acquired company, which could dilute our earnings;
● difficulties and delays in integrating the personnel, operations, technologies, products, and systems of the acquired companies;
● our ongoing business may be disrupted, and our management’s attention may be diverted by acquisition, transition, or integration activities;
● the need to implement controls, procedures, and policies appropriate for a larger public company at companies that prior to acquisition had lacked such controls, procedures, and policies;
● difficulties managing or integrating an acquired company’s technologies or lines of business;
● potential difficulties in completing projects associated with purchased in-process research and development;
● entry into markets in which we have no or limited direct prior experience and where competitors have stronger market positions, and which are highly competitive;
● the potential loss of key employees of the acquired company;
● potential difficulties integrating the acquired products and services into our sales channel;
● assuming pre-existing contractual relationships of an acquired company that we would not have otherwise entered the termination or modification of which may be costly or disruptive to our business;
● being subject to unfavorable revenue recognition or other accounting treatment because of an acquired company’s practices; and
● intellectual property claims or disputes.
Our failure to manage growth effectively and successfully integrate acquired assets and/or companies due to these or other factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we may not have the opportunity to make suitable acquisitions on favorable terms in the future, which could negatively impact the growth of our business. We expect that other companies in our industry will compete with us to acquire compatible businesses. This competition could increase prices for businesses and technologies that we would likely pursue, and our competitors may have greater resources than we do to complete these acquisitions.
The medical device market is highly competitive, and we may not be able to effectively compete against other providers of medical devices, particularly those with greater resources.
We expect to face intense competition from companies with dominant market positions in the medical device industry. These competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we have and may be better able to:
● respond to new technologies or technical standards;
● react to changing customer requirements and expectations;
● acquire other companies to gain new technologies or products that may displace our products;
● manufacture, market and sell products;
● acquire, prosecute, enforce and defend patents and other intellectual property;
● devote resources to the development, production, promotion, support and sale of products; and
● deliver a broad range of competitive products at lower prices.
We expect competition in the markets in which we participate to continue to increase as existing competitors improve or expand their product offerings.
Our future performance may depend on the success of products we have not yet developed or acquired.
Technology is an important component of our business and growth strategy, and our success depends on the development, implementation and acceptance of our products. Commitments to develop new products must be made well in advance of any resulting sales, and technologies and standards may change during development, potentially rendering our products outdated or uncompetitive before their introduction. Our ability to develop products to meet evolving industry requirements and at prices acceptable to our customers will be significant factors in determining our competitiveness. We may expend considerable funds and other resources on the development of our products without any guarantee that these products will be successful. If we are not successful in bringing one or more products to market, whether because we fail to address marketplace demand, fail to develop viable technologies or otherwise, our revenues may decline and our results of operations could be seriously harmed.
Our products may never achieve market acceptance.
Our ability to generate revenues from product sales and to achieve profitability will depend upon our ability to successfully commercialize our products. Because we have not yet begun to offer any of our products for sale in the U.S. and have limited sales of DuraGraft overseas, we have no basis to predict whether any of our products will achieve market acceptance. A number of factors may limit the market acceptance of any of our products, including:
● the timing of regulatory approvals of our products and market entry compared to competitive products;
● the effectiveness of our products, including any potential side effects, as compared to alternative treatments;
● the rate of adoption of our products by hospitals, doctors and nurses and acceptance by the health care community;
● the competitive features of our products, including price, as compared to other similar products;
● the availability of insurance or other third-party reimbursement, such as Medicare, for patients using our products;
● the extent and success of our marketing efforts and those of our collaborators; and
● unfavorable publicity concerning our products or similar products.
We may delay or terminate the development or acquisition of a product at any time if we believe the perceived market or commercial opportunity does not justify further investment, which could materially harm our business.
Even though the results of preclinical studies and clinical trials that we have conducted or may conduct in the future may support further development of one or more of our products, we may delay, suspend or terminate the future development or acquisition of a product at any time for strategic, business, financial or other reasons, including the determination or belief that the emerging profile of the product is such that it may not receive FDA approval, gain meaningful market acceptance, generate a significant return to stockholders, or otherwise provide any competitive advantages in its intended indication or market.
Any products we may develop or acquire may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives, thereby harming our business.
The regulations that govern marketing approvals, pricing and reimbursement for new products vary widely from country to country. Some countries require approval of the sale price of a product before it can be marketed. In many countries, the pricing review period begins after marketing approval is granted. In some foreign markets, pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted. As a result, we might obtain regulatory approval for a product in a particular country, but then be subject to price regulations that delay our commercial launch of the product and negatively impact the revenue we are able to generate from the sale of the product in that country. Adverse pricing limitations may hinder our ability to recoup our investment in one or more other products we may develop, even if other products we may develop or acquire obtain regulatory approval. Pressure from social activist groups and future government regulations, whose goal it is to reduce the cost of medical devices, particularly in less developed nations, also may result in downward pressure on the prices of our product.
Our ability to commercialize any products we may develop or acquire successfully also will depend in part on the extent to which reimbursement for these products and related treatments becomes available from government health administration authorities, private health insurers and other organizations. Government authorities and third-party payors, such as private health insurers and health maintenance organizations, decide which treatments they will pay for and establish reimbursement levels. A primary trend in the U.S. healthcare industry and elsewhere is cost containment. Government authorities and these third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for particular treatments. We cannot be sure that reimbursement will be available for any product that we commercialize and, if reimbursement is available, what the level of reimbursement will be. Reimbursement may impact the demand for, or the price of, any product for which we obtain marketing approval. If reimbursement is not available or is available only to limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize any product that we successfully develop.
Moreover, eligibility for reimbursement does not imply that any product will be paid for in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including research, development, acquisition, manufacture, sale and distribution. Payment rates may vary according to the use of the product and the clinical setting in which it is used, may be based on payments allowed for lower cost products that are already reimbursed and may be incorporated into existing payments for other services. Net prices for products may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government healthcare programs or private payors and by any future relaxation of laws that presently restrict imports of products from countries where they may be said at lower prices than in the U.S. Third-party payors often rely upon Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement policies. Our inability to promptly obtain coverage and profitable payment rates from both government funded and private payors could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, our ability to raise capital needed to commercialize products and our overall financial condition. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our product to other available therapies. Our business could be materially harmed if reimbursement of any products we may develop, if any, is unavailable or limited in scope or amount or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels.
Product liability lawsuits against us could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and to limit commercialization of any products that we may develop or acquire.
We face an inherent risk of product liability exposure related to the sale of any products we may develop or acquire. The marketing, sale and use of any products we may develop or acquire could lead to the filing of product liability claims against us if someone alleges that our products failed to perform as designed. We may also be subject to liability for a misunderstanding of, or inappropriate reliance upon, the information we provide. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against claims that any product we may develop or acquire caused injuries, we may incur substantial liabilities. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
● decreased demand for our products;
● injury to our reputation and significant negative media attention;
● withdrawal of patients from clinical studies or cancellation of studies;
● significant costs to defend the related litigation and distraction to our management team;
● substantial monetary awards to patients;
● loss of revenue; and
● the inability to commercialize any products that we may develop or acquire.
In addition, insurance coverage is increasingly expensive. We may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in an amount adequate to satisfy any liability that may arise.
We may not be able to protect or enforce our intellectual property rights, which could impair our competitive position.
Our success depends significantly on our ability to protect our rights to the patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and all the other intellectual property rights used, or expected to be used, in our products. Protecting intellectual property rights is costly and time consuming. We rely primarily on patent protection and trade secrets, as well as a combination of copyright and trademark laws and nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements to protect our technology and intellectual property rights. However, these legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or maintain any competitive advantage. Despite our intellectual property rights practices, it may be possible for a third party to copy or otherwise obtain and use our technology without authorization, develop similar technology independently or design around our patents.
We cannot be assured that any of our pending patent applications will result in the issuance of a patent to us. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or PTO, may deny or require significant narrowing of claims in our pending patent applications, and patents issued as a result of the pending patent applications, if any, may not provide us with significant commercial protection or be issued in a form that is advantageous to us. We could also incur substantial costs in proceedings before the PTO. Patents that may be issued to or licensed by us in the future may expire or may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, which could limit our ability to stop competitors from marketing related technologies. Upon expiration of our issued or licensed patents, we may lose some of our rights to exclude others from making, using, selling or importing products using the technology based on the expired patents. There is no assurance that competitors will not be able to design around our patents. We also rely on unpatented proprietary technology. We cannot assure you that we can meaningfully protect all our rights in our unpatented proprietary technology or that others will not independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary products or processes or otherwise gain access to our unpatented proprietary technology.
Further, we may not be able to obtain patent protection or secure other intellectual property rights in all the countries in which we operate, and under the laws of such countries, patents and other intellectual property rights may be unavailable or limited in scope. If any of our patents fails to protect our technology, it would make it easier for our competitors to offer similar products. Our trade secrets may be vulnerable to disclosure or misappropriation by employees, contractors and other persons. Any inability on our part to adequately protect our intellectual property may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We seek to protect our know-how and other unpatented proprietary technology with confidentiality agreements and/or intellectual property assignment agreements with our team members, independent distributors and consultants. However, such agreements may not be enforceable or may not provide meaningful protection for our proprietary information in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure or other breaches of the agreements or in the event that our competitors discover or independently develop similar or identical designs or other proprietary information. In addition, we intend to rely on the use of registered and common law trademarks with respect to the brand names of some of our products. Common law trademarks provide less protection than registered trademarks. Loss of rights in our trademarks could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Confidentiality agreements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information and may not adequately protect our intellectual property.
We rely on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not believe patent protection is obtainable, or prior to us filing patent applications on inventions we may make from time to time. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. In order to protect our proprietary technology and processes, we also rely in part on confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with our corporate partners, employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators and sponsored researchers and other advisors. These agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of confidential information nor result in the effective assignment to us of intellectual property and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information or other breaches of the agreements. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and proprietary information, and in such case, we could not assert any trade secret rights against such party. Enforcing a claim that a third-party illegally obtained and is using our trade secrets is difficult, expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the U.S. may be less willing to protect trade secrets. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to seek to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.
We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims by third parties which could be costly to defend, divert management’s attention and resources, and may result in liability.
The medical device and life science industry is characterized by vigorous protection and pursuit of intellectual property rights. Companies in the medical device and life science industry have used intellectual property litigation to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. From time to time, third parties may assert against us their patent, copyright, trademark and other intellectual property rights relating to technologies that are important to our business. Searching for existing intellectual property rights may not reveal important intellectual property and our competitors may also have filed for patent protection, which is not publicly-available information, or claimed trademark rights that have not been revealed through our availability searches. We may be subject to claims that our team members have disclosed, or that we have used, trade secrets or other proprietary information of our team members’ former employers. Our efforts to identify and avoid infringing on third parties’ intellectual property rights may not always be successful. Any claims that our products or processes infringe these rights, regardless of their merit or resolution, could be costly, time consuming and may divert the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel. In addition, we may not prevail in such proceedings given the complex technical issues and inherent uncertainties in intellectual property litigation.
Any claims of patent or other intellectual property infringement against us, even those without merit, could:
● increase the cost of our products;
● be expensive and/or time consuming to defend;
● result in our being required to pay significant damages to third parties;
● force us to cease making or selling products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property;
● require us to redesign, reengineer or rebrand our products and technologies;
● require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements in order to obtain the right to use a third party’s intellectual property on terms that may not be favorable or acceptable to us;
● require us to develop alternative non-infringing technology, which could require significant effort and expense;
● require us to indemnify third parties pursuant to contracts in which we have agreed to provide indemnification for intellectual property infringement claims;
● result in our customers or potential customers deferring or limiting their purchase or use of the affected products impacted by the claims until the claims are resolved; and
● otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any of the foregoing could affect our ability to compete or have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Competitors may violate our intellectual property rights, and we may bring litigation to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights, which may result in substantial expense and may divert our attention from implementing our business strategy.
We believe that the success of our business will depend, in significant part, on obtaining patent protection for our products and technologies, defending our patents and preserving our trade secrets. Our failure to pursue any potential claim could result in the loss of our proprietary rights and harm our position in the marketplace. Therefore, we may be forced to pursue litigation to enforce our rights. Future litigation could result in significant costs and divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations and the implementation of our business strategy.
We will be dependent on third-party manufacturers since we will not initially directly manufacture our products.
Initially, we will not directly manufacture our products and will rely on third parties to do so for us. If our manufacturing and distribution agreements are not satisfactory, we may not be able to develop or commercialize products as planned. In addition, we may not be able to contract with third parties to manufacture our products in an economical manner. Furthermore, third-party manufacturers may not adequately perform their obligations, may delay clinical development or submission of products for regulatory approval or otherwise may impair our competitive position. We may not be able to enter into or maintain relationships with manufacturers who have the capacities to meet our manufacturing needs, master the manufacturing processes required for our products, and comply with good manufacturing practices. If a product manufacturer fails to comply with good manufacturing practices, we could experience significant time delays or we may be unable to commercialize or continue to market the products. Changes in our manufacturers could require costly new product testing and facility compliance inspections. In the United States, failure to comply with good manufacturing practices or other applicable legal requirements can lead to federal seizure of violative products, injunctive actions brought by the federal government, and potential criminal and civil liability on the part of a company and its officers and employees. Because of these and other factors, we may not be able to replace our manufacturing capacity quickly or efficiently in the event that our manufacturers are unable to manufacture our products at one or more of their facilities.
We have no experience in large-scale product manufacturing, nor do we have the resources or facilities to manufacture our products. We cannot guarantee that we or our third-party manufacturers will be able to increase capacity in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all. Delays in providing or increasing production or processing capacity could result in additional expense or delays in our clinical trials, regulatory submissions and commercialization of our products.
As a result of these factors, the sale and marketing of our products could be delayed or we could be forced to develop our own manufacturing capacity, which could require substantial additional funds and personnel and compliance with extensive regulations.
We currently have no marketing and sales organization and have limited experience as a company in commercializing products, and we may need to invest significant resources to develop these capabilities. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities in the United States, we may not be able to generate substantial product revenue.
We have no internal sales, marketing or distribution capabilities, and have only limited experience with commercializing a product. Although our medical device product DuraGraft has received regulatory authorization in the United States, we must build a marketing and sales organization with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to commercialize this product in the U.S. market, which may be expensive or time-consuming. We have only limited experience as a company with the marketing, sale or distribution of biopharmaceutical products and there are significant risks involved in the building and managing of a sales organization, including our ability to hire, retain and incentivize qualified individuals, generate sufficient sales leads, provide adequate training to sales and marketing personnel and effectively manage a sales and marketing team. Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of our products in the United States. If we are not successful in commercializing our product in the U.S., we may not be able to generate substantial future product revenue and we would incur significant additional losses.
We may be dependent on the sales and marketing efforts of third parties, both domestically and internationally, if we choose not to develop an extensive sales and marketing staff.
Initially, we will depend on the efforts of third parties (including sales agents and distributors) to carry out the sales and marketing of our products, both domestically and internationally. We currently have distribution partners internationally for DuraGraft, which we expect to continue to work with in the future. We anticipate that each third party will control the amount and timing of resources generally devoted to these activities. However, these third parties may not be able to generate demand for our products. In addition, there is a risk that these third parties will develop products competitive to ours, which would likely decrease their incentive to vigorously promote and sell our products. If we are unable to enter into co-promotion agreements or to arrange for third-party distribution of our products, we will be required to expend time and resources to develop an effective internal sales force. However, it may not be economical for us to market our own products or we may be unable to effectively market our products. Therefore, our business could be harmed if we fail to enter into arrangements with third parties for the sales and marketing of our products or otherwise fail to establish sufficient marketing capabilities.
Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.
In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, our proprietary business information and that of our suppliers and business partners, as well as personally identifiable information of clinical trial participants and employees. Similarly, our business partners and third-party providers possess certain of our sensitive data. The secure maintenance of this information is critical to our operations and business strategy. Despite our security measures, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance, or other disruptions. Any such breach could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost, or stolen. Any such access, disclosure, or other loss of information, including our data being breached at our business partners or third-party providers, could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, disrupt our operations, and damage our reputation which could adversely affect our business.
Our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from a serious disaster.
Natural disasters could severely disrupt our operations or the operations of manufacturing facilities and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. If a natural disaster, power outage or other event occurred that prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our headquarters, that damaged critical infrastructure, such as manufacturing facilities, or that otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity plans that we have in place currently are limited and may not prove adequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar event. We are in the early stages of constructing an additional manufacturing facility and establishing a relationship with a third-party contract manufacturer as a back-up supplier for the commercial supply of our products, if necessary, but there is no assurance that we will establish such a relationship in a timely manner, on acceptable terms, or at all. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited nature of our disaster recovery and business continuity plans, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the Company’s supply chain and could materially and adversely affect our ability to conduct clinical trials and engage with our third-party vendors and thereby have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
The Company has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply chain shortages, and some of its earlier plans to further diversify its operations and expand its operating subsidiaries were delayed as a result. During 2021 and 2022, the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s supply chain and its ability to produce DuraGraft inventory was a primary reason that we did not generate substantial revenue from sales of DuraGraft during 2021 and the first two quarters of 2022. There can be no assurance that future supply chain problems due to COVID-19 outbreaks will not adversely impact our revenues.
In addition, the Company is dependent upon certain contract manufacturers and suppliers and their ability to reliably and efficiently fulfill its orders is critical to the Company’s business success. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and may continue to impact certain of the Company’s manufacturers and suppliers, which could result in unavoidable delays and/or increases in our operating costs. If we are unable to obtain our devices in sufficient quantity and in a timely manner, the development and testing of our medical devices may be delayed or become infeasible, and regulatory approval or commercial launch of any of our medical devices may be delayed or not obtained. As a result, the Company has faced and may continue to face additional delays, costs or difficulty sourcing certain products, which could negatively affect the Company’s business and financial results.
While it is not possible at this time to estimate the total impact that COVID-19 could have on our business in the future, the continued spread of COVID-19 and variants of the virus, the rate of vaccinations regionally and globally and the measures taken by the government authorities, and any future epidemic disease outbreaks, could: Disrupt the supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of products and supplies for use by us in our research activities and by strategic partners for their distribution and sales activities; delay, limit or prevent us in our research activities and strategic partners in their distribution and sales activities; impede our negotiations with strategic partners; impede testing, monitoring, data collection and analysis and other related activities by us; interrupt or delay the operations of the FDA or other regulatory authorities, which may impact review and approval timelines for initiation of clinical trials or marketing; or impede the launch or commercialization of any approved products; any of which could delay our strategic partnership plans, increase our operating costs, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by the political and economic conditions of the countries in which we conduct business.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by the political and economic conditions of the countries in which we conduct business. These factors include:
● challenges associated with cultural differences, languages and distance;
● differences in clinical practices, needs, products, modalities and preferences;
● longer payment cycles in some countries;
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credit risks of many kinds;
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legal and regulatory differences and restrictions;
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currency exchange fluctuations;
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foreign exchange controls that might prevent us from repatriating cash earned in certain countries;
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political and economic instability and export restrictions;
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variability in sterilization requirements for multi-usage surgical devices;
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potential adverse tax consequences;
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higher cost associated with doing business internationally;
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challenges in implementing educational programs required by our approach to doing business;
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negative economic developments in economies around the world and the instability of governments, including the threat of war, terrorist attacks, epidemic or civil unrest;
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adverse changes in laws and governmental policies, especially those affecting trade and investment;
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pandemics, such as COVID-19, the Ebola virus, the enterovirus and the avian flu, which may adversely affect our workforce as well as our local suppliers and customers;
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import or export licensing requirements imposed by governments;
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differing labor standards;
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differing levels of protection of intellectual property;
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the threat that our operations or property could be subject to nationalization and expropriation;
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varying practices of the regulatory, tax, judicial and administrative bodies in the jurisdictions where we operate; and
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potentially burdensome taxation and changes in foreign tax.
Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults, or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect our current and projected business operations and our financial condition and results of operations.
Actual events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. For example, on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”), was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the FDIC as receiver. Similarly, on March 12, 2023, Signature Bank Corp. (“Signature”), and Silvergate Capital Corp. were each swept into receivership. Although a statement by the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC indicated that all depositors of SVB would have access to all of their money after only one business day of closure, including funds held in uninsured deposit accounts, borrowers under credit agreements, letters of credit and certain other financial instruments with SVB, Signature or any other financial institution that is placed into receivership by the FDIC may be unable to access undrawn amounts thereunder. In addition, on May 1, the FDIC announced that First Republic had been closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and its assets seized by the FDIC. JPMorgan Chase eventually won the auction, paying the FDIC $10.6 billion for nearly all of First Republic’s assets. Although we are not a borrower under or party to any material letter of credit or any other such instruments with SVB, Signature or any other financial institution currently in receivership, if we enter into any such instruments and any of our lenders or counterparties to such instruments were to be placed into receivership, we may be unable to access such funds. In addition, if any of our customers, suppliers or other parties with whom we conduct business are unable to access funds pursuant to such instruments or lending arrangements with such a financial institution, such parties’ ability to pay their obligations to us or to enter into new commercial arrangements requiring additional payments to us could be adversely affected. In this regard, counterparties to credit agreements and arrangements with these financial institutions, and third parties such as beneficiaries of letters of credit (among others), may experience direct impacts from the closure of these financial institutions and uncertainty remains over liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry. Similar impacts have occurred in the past, such as during the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
Inflation and rapid increases in interest rates have led to a decline in the trading value of previously-issued government securities with interest rates below current market interest rates. Although the U.S. Department of Treasury, FDIC and Federal Reserve Board have announced a program to provide up to $25 billion of loans to financial institutions secured by certain of such government securities held by financial institutions to mitigate the risk of potential losses on the sale of such instruments, widespread demands for customer withdrawals or other liquidity needs of financial institutions for immediately liquidity may exceed the capacity of such program.
Our access to funding sources and other credit arrangements in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our current and projected future business operations could be significantly impaired by factors that affect us, any financial institutions with which we enter into credit agreements or arrangements directly, or the financial services industry or economy in general. These factors could include, among others, events such as liquidity constraints or failures, the ability to perform obligations under various types of financial, credit or liquidity agreements or arrangements, disruptions or instability in the financial services industry or financial markets, or concerns or negative expectations about the prospects for companies in the financial services industry. These factors could involve financial institutions or financial services industry companies with which we have financial or business relationships, but could also include factors involving financial markets or the financial services industry generally.
The results of events or concerns that involve one or more of these factors could include a variety of material and adverse impacts on our current and projected business operations and our financial condition and results of operations. These risks include, but may not be limited to, the following:
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delayed access to deposits or other financial assets or the uninsured loss of deposits or other financial assets;
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inability to enter into credit facilities or other working capital resources;
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potential or actual breach of contractual obligations that require us to maintain letters of credit or other credit support arrangements; or
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termination of cash management arrangements and/or delays in accessing or actual loss of funds subject to cash management arrangements.
In addition, investor concerns regarding the U.S. or international financial systems could result in less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or costs and tighter financial and operating covenants, or systemic limitations on access to credit and liquidity sources, thereby making it more difficult for us to acquire financing on acceptable terms or at all. Any decline in available funding or access to our cash and liquidity resources could, among other risks, adversely impact our ability to meet our operating expenses or other obligations, financial or otherwise, result in breaches of our financial and/or contractual obligations, or result in violations of federal or state wage and hour laws. Any of these impacts, or any other impacts resulting from the factors described above or other related or similar factors, could have material adverse impacts on our liquidity and our current and/or projected business operations and financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, any further deterioration in the economy or financial services industry could lead to losses or defaults by our distribution partners, sponsors, vendors, or suppliers, which in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our current and/or projected business operations and results of operations and financial condition. For example, a distribution partner may fail to make payments when due, default under their agreements with us, become insolvent or declare bankruptcy, or a supplier may determine that it will no longer deal with us as a customer. In addition, a vendor or supplier could be adversely affected by any of the liquidity or other risks that are described above as factors that could result in material adverse impacts on us, including but not limited to delayed access or loss of access to uninsured deposits or loss of the ability to draw on existing credit facilities involving a troubled or failed financial institution. The bankruptcy or insolvency of any distribution partners, sponsor, vendor or supplier, or the failure of any distribution partner to make payments when due, or any breach or default by a distribution partner, sponsor, vendor, or supplier, or the loss of any significant supplier relationships, could cause us to suffer material losses and may have a material adverse impact on our business.
Climate change impacts including supply chain disruptions, operational impacts, and geopolitical events may impact our business operations.
We source a large number of raw materials from third-party suppliers globally. These products include both natural and synthetic materials derived from plants, animal products, and organic and petroleum-based raw materials. Disruptions to the global supply chain due to climate-related impacts or geopolitical events are possible and exist as external risk factors that the Company can respond to but not control. These events could limit the supply of key raw materials to the Company, or could have significant impacts to pricing. We work with multiple raw material suppliers to mitigate lack of availability from a single supplier, however in some cases products with limited numbers of suppliers may become difficult to obtain.
Some of our vendors have manufacturing operations in areas vulnerable to coastal storms which may increase in magnitude and impact due to climate change. Increasingly large and unprecedented weather events may pose a risk to business operations in vulnerable areas. Storms could cause business interruptions, incur additional restoration costs, and impact product availability and pricing.
Risks Related to Government Regulation
Only one of our products has been authorized for marketing in the United States, other products may not be granted authorization, and any authorization may be subject to limitations.
The Company’s medical device, DuraGraft, has been authorized for marketing in the United States by the FDA for use as an intra-operative vascular conduit storage and flushing solution used during CABG surgeries in the United States, subject to applicable risks, mitigation requirements, and control provisions. However, none of our other current or future products have been approved for sale in the United States. Neither we nor any future collaboration partner can commercialize any products we may develop in the U.S. without first obtaining regulatory approval for the product from the FDA. The regulatory route in the U.S. for any products we may develop will be through a De Novo process. The De Novo grant process may take several years to complete, and De Novo grants may never be obtained for most of our products. Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of any product we may develop in the U.S., we must demonstrate with substantial evidence, gathered in preclinical and well-controlled clinical studies, that the planned product is safe and effective for use for that target indication. We may not have the resources or ability to conduct such a trial or may not successfully enroll or complete any such trial. Any products we may develop may not achieve the required primary endpoint in the clinical trial and may not receive regulatory approval. We must also demonstrate that the manufacturing facilities, processes and controls for any products we may develop are adequate.
To the extent that we or any future collaboration partner has or seeks to successfully obtain a regulatory approval for any product we may develop for sale in the United States, any approval might contain significant limitations related to use restrictions for specified age groups, warnings, precautions or contraindications, or may be subject to burdensome post-approval study or risk management requirements. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for any products we may develop in the United States, or any approval contains significant limitations, we may not be able to obtain sufficient revenue to justify commercial launch. Also, any regulatory approval of a product, once obtained, may be withdrawn. If we are unable to successfully obtain regulatory approval to sell any products we may develop in the U.S., our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects could be adversely affected.
Failure to obtain regulatory approvals in foreign jurisdictions will prevent us from marketing our products internationally.
Our current overseas distribution and marketing partners for DuraGraft, and any other distribution and marketing partners for this and other products we may seek to market in foreign countries, must comply with the regulations of the foreign countries in which they operate. The approval procedures vary among countries and can involve additional clinical testing, and the time required to obtain approval may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. Moreover, clinical studies or manufacturing processes conducted in one country may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other countries. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries, and approval by one or more foreign regulatory authorities does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA. However, a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may have a negative effect on the regulatory process in others. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. We may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all. We may not be able to file for regulatory approvals and even if we file we may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any market.
Even if we receive regulatory approval for any product we may develop or acquire, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense and subject us to penalties if we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
Once regulatory approval has been obtained, the approved product and its manufacturer are subject to continual review by the FDA or non-U.S. regulatory authorities. Our regulatory approval for any products we may develop or acquire may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which the product may be marketed. Future approvals may contain requirements for potentially costly post-marketing follow-up studies to monitor the safety and efficacy of the approved product. In addition, we are subject to extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements by the FDA and other regulatory authorities with regard to the labeling, packaging, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion and recordkeeping for our products. In addition, we are required to comply with cGMP regulations regarding the manufacture of any products we may develop or acquire, which include requirements related to quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and documentation. Further, regulatory authorities must approve these manufacturing facilities before they can be used to manufacture products, and these facilities are subject to continual review and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory authorities for compliance with cGMP regulations. If we or a third party discover previously unknown problems with a product, such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, a regulatory authority may impose restrictions on that product, the manufacturer or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product from the market or suspension of manufacturing.
Inadequate funding for the FDA and other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, prevent new products and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from performing normal business functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory, and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of the SEC and other government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.
Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new product candidates to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the SEC, have had to furlough critical FDA, SEC and other government employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
If a prolonged government shutdown or other disruption occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Future shutdowns or other disruptions could also affect other government agencies such as the SEC, which may also impact our business by delaying review of our public filings, to the extent such review is necessary, and our ability to access the public markets.
Healthcare reform measures could hinder or prevent our products’ commercial success.
In the U.S., there have been, and we expect there will continue to be, ongoing legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system which could affect our future revenue and profitability. Federal and state lawmakers regularly propose and, at times, enact legislation that could result in significant changes to the healthcare system, some of which are intended to contain or reduce the costs of medical products and services. For example, one of the most significant healthcare reform measures in decades, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, or “ACA,” was enacted in 2010. The ACA contains a number of provisions, including those governing enrollment in federal healthcare programs, reimbursement changes and fraud and abuse measures, all of which will impact existing government healthcare programs.
While the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the constitutionality of most elements of the ACA, other legal challenges are still pending final adjudication in several jurisdictions. Although efforts in Congress to repeal the ACA have repeatedly fallen short, there are a number of ongoing legislative initiatives to modify it. At this time, it remains unclear whether there will be any changes made to the ACA. We cannot assure you that the ACA, as currently enacted or as amended in the future, will not adversely affect our business and financial results and we cannot predict how future federal or state legislative or administrative changes relating to healthcare reform will affect our business.
In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. There likely will continue to be legislative and regulatory proposals at the federal and state levels directed at containing or lowering the cost of health care. Medicare reimbursement for all products and services, including ours, remains highly susceptible to threats of automatic reductions triggered by budgetary shortfalls. Such payments are subject to recovery of purported overpayment for several years. We cannot predict the initiatives that may be adopted in the future or their full impact. We cannot predict whether any additional legislative changes will affect our business.
The continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed care organizations and other payors of healthcare services to contain or reduce costs of health care may adversely affect:
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our ability to set a price that we believe is fair for our products;
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our ability to generate revenue and achieve or maintain profitability; and
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the availability of capital.
Further, changes in regulatory requirements and guidance may occur, both in the United States and in foreign countries, and we may need to amend clinical study protocols to reflect these changes. Amendments may require us to resubmit our clinical study protocols to an IRB for reexamination, which may impact the costs, timing or successful completion of a clinical study. In light of widely publicized events concerning the safety risk of certain drug and medical device products, regulatory authorities, members of Congress, the Governmental Accounting Office, medical professionals and the general public have all raised concerns about potential safety issues. These events have resulted in the recall and withdrawal of medical device products, revisions to product labeling that further limit use of products and establishment of risk management programs that may, for instance, restrict distribution of certain products or require safety surveillance or patient education. The increased attention to safety issues may result in a more cautious approach by the FDA or other regulatory authorities to clinical studies and the medical device approval process. Adverse event data from clinical studies may receive greater scrutiny with respect to product safety, which may make the FDA or other regulatory authorities more likely to terminate or suspend clinical studies before completion, or require longer or additional clinical studies that may result in substantial additional expense and a delay or failure in obtaining approval or approval for a more limited indication than originally sought.
Given the serious public health risks of high profile adverse safety events with certain products, the FDA or other regulatory authorities may require, as a condition of approval, costly risk evaluation and mitigation strategies, which may include safety surveillance, restricted distribution and use, patient education, enhanced labeling, special packaging or labeling, expedited reporting of certain adverse events, preapproval of promotional materials and restrictions on direct-to-consumer advertising.
If we fail to comply with healthcare regulations, we could face substantial penalties and our business, operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Even though we do not and will not control referrals of healthcare services or bill directly to Medicare, Medicaid or other third-party payors, certain federal and state healthcare laws and regulations pertaining to fraud and abuse and patients’ rights are and will be applicable to our business. The regulations that may affect our ability to operate include, without limitation:
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the federal healthcare program Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, any person from knowingly and willfully offering, soliciting, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good or service for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;
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the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits payments or the provision of anything of value to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping business;
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the federal False Claims Act (“FCA”), which prohibits, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false claims, or knowingly using false statements, to obtain payment from the federal government, and which may apply to entities like us which provide coding and billing advice to customers;
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federal criminal laws that prohibit executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters;
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the federal transparency requirements under the ACA requires manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies to report to the Department of Health and Human Services information related to physician payments and other transfers of value and physician ownership and investment interests;
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HIPAA, as amended by HITECH, which governs the conduct of certain electronic healthcare transactions and protects the security and privacy of protected health information, and
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state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers.
The ACA, among other things, amends the intent requirement of the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute and criminal healthcare fraud statutes. A person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it. In addition, the ACA provides that the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the FCA.
If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. Any penalties, damages, fines, curtailment or restructuring of our operations could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business. Moreover, achieving and sustaining compliance with applicable federal and state privacy, security and fraud laws may prove costly.
Climate change and increased focus by governments, stockholders and customers on sustainability issues, including those related to climate change, may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
Foreign, federal, state and local governments, as well as some of our vendors and customers, are beginning to respond to climate change issues. This increased focus on sustainability may result in new legislation or regulations and vendor and customer requirements that could negatively affect us as we may incur additional costs or be required to make changes to our operations in order to comply with any new regulations or vendor, customer, or stockholder requirements. Legislation or regulations that potentially impose restrictions, caps, taxes, or other controls on emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, may have a material adverse effect on our business and operation. For example, if the vendors we contract with to produce and ship our products become subject to increasingly restrictive laws protecting the environment, including those relating to climate change, we expect that they would incur increased costs and may pass such costs on to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. If our customers or stockholders were to require us to use vendors that source, manufacture, or supply their products in accordance with certain sustainability standards, we expect that such standards would likewise force us to incur additional costs and we may fail to pass such additional costs on to our customers, which could also have a material adverse effect on our business.
In addition, on March 21, 2022, the SEC proposed new rules requiring a range of climate-related disclosure that would be applicable to all companies that are required to file annual reports or that file registration statements with the SEC, including the Company. The proposed climate-related disclosure framework is modeled in part on the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures’ recommendations, and also draws upon the Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) Protocol (“GHG Protocol”). In particular, the proposed rules would require a registrant to disclose information about: The oversight and governance of climate-related risks by the registrant’s board and management; how any climate-related risks identified by the registrant have had or are likely to have a material impact on its business and consolidated financial statements, which may manifest over the short-, medium-, or long-term; how any identified climate-related risks have affected or are likely to affect the registrant’s strategy, business model, and outlook; the registrant’s processes for identifying, assessing, and managing climate-related risks and whether any such processes are integrated into the registrant’s overall risk management system or processes; the impact of climate-related events (severe weather events and other natural conditions as well as physical risks identified by the registrant) and transition activities (including transition risks identified by the registrant) on the line items of a registrant’s consolidated financial statements and related expenditures, and disclosure of financial estimates and assumptions impacted by such climate-related events and transition activities; “Scope 1” and “Scope 2” (as defined by the SEC’s proposed rule) GHG emissions metrics, separately disclosed, expressed both by disaggregated constituent greenhouse gases and in the aggregate, and in absolute and intensity terms; “Scope 3” (as defined by the SEC’s proposed rule) GHG emissions and intensity, if material, or if the registrant has set a GHG emissions reduction target or goal that includes its Scope 3 emissions; and the registrant’s climate-related targets or goals, and transition plan, if any. The proposed rules would be subject to certain accommodations and phase-in periods. For example, companies meeting the definition of “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, which currently includes the Company (see below, “-We are a ‘smaller reporting company’ within the meaning of the Exchange Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.” and “-As a ‘smaller reporting company,’ we may at some time in the future choose to exempt our company from certain corporate governance requirements that could have an adverse effect on our public stockholders.”), would be exempt from the Scope 3 emissions disclosure requirement. The proposed rules would also require an attestation report provided by a third-party attestation service provider that satisfies a minimum level of attestation services for a company that meets the definition of “accelerated filer” or “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, including: (1) limited assurance for Scopes 1 and 2 emissions disclosure that scales up to reasonable assurance after a specified transition period; (2) minimum qualifications and independence requirements for the attestation service provider; and (3) minimum requirements for the accompanying attestation report. A company that is not an “accelerated filer” or “large accelerated filer”, which currently includes the Company, would not be subject to this attestation requirement (see below “-As a non-accelerated filer, we are not required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.”).
Although we cannot predict the costs of implementation or any potential adverse impacts resulting from the proposed rule, the SEC estimated that compliance costs for a “smaller reporting company” in the first year of compliance would be $490,000 ($140,000 for internal costs and $350,000 for outside professional costs), while annual costs in the subsequent five years were estimated to be $420,000 ($120,000 for internal costs and $300,000 for outside professional costs). For non-”smaller reporting company” registrants, the costs in the first year of compliance were estimated to be $640,000 ($180,000 for internal costs and $460,000 for outside professional costs), while annual costs in the subsequent five years were estimated to be $530,000 ($150,000 for internal costs and $380,000 for outside professional costs). To the extent that this rule is finalized as proposed, we could therefore incur significant increased costs relating to the assessment and disclosure of climate-related matters.
These potential additional costs forced changes in operations, or loss of revenues may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
We have and may incur again substantial net operating losses (NOLs) during our history. Unused NOLs may carry forward to offset future taxable income if we achieve profitability in the future, unless such NOLs expire under applicable tax laws. However, under the rules of Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its NOLs and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change taxable income or taxes may be limited. The applicable rules generally operate by focusing on changes in ownership among stockholders considered by the rules as owning, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the stock of a company, as well as changes in ownership arising from new issuances of stock by the company. As a result of these rules, in the event that we experience one or more ownership changes as a result of the Company’s proposed public offering or future transactions in our stock, then we may be limited in our ability to use our NOL carryforwards to offset our future taxable income, if any. In addition, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 imposes certain limitations on the deduction of NOLs generated in tax years that began on or after January 1, 2018, including a limitation on use of NOLs to offset only 80% of taxable income and the disallowance of NOL carrybacks. Although NOLs generated in tax years before 2018 may still be used to offset future income without limitation, the recent legislation may limit our ability to use our NOLs to offset any future taxable income.
As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company had NOL carryforwards of $46,255,000 and $41,733,000, respectively. The NMOL carryforwards are expected to expire at various times through 2041. As discussed above, the Company’s NOL carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations, which could reduce or defer the utilization of the losses as a result of an “ownership change” as described above.
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
The market prices of our securities may fluctuate, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
During and after this offering, the market prices for our securities may be volatile. The price of our common stock has been volatile and has fluctuated significantly in the past on the OTCQB. Our common stock may fluctuate or continue to fluctuate widely in price during and after this offering in response to various factors after this offering, even if our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, which is not assured and which is not a condition to the commencement of this offering. Many of these factors are beyond our control, including: Technological innovations or new products and services by us or our competitors; additions or departures of key personnel; sales of our shares of common stock; our ability to integrate operations, technology, products and services; our ability to execute our business plan; operating results below expectations; loss of any strategic relationships; industry developments; economic and other external factors; and period-to-period fluctuations in our financial results. Because we have a very limited operating history with limited revenues to date, you may consider any one of these factors to be material. In addition, the securities markets have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Your investment in our common stock could lose some or all its value as a result.
We cannot predict the extent to which an active public trading market for our common stock will develop or be sustained. If an active public trading market for our common stock does not develop or cannot be sustained, you may be unable to liquidate your investment in our common stock.
At present, there is minimal public trading in our common stock. We cannot predict the extent to which an active public market for our common stock will develop or be sustained due to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors, and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our securities until such time as we became more seasoned and viable. As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our common stock is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on market price. We cannot give you any assurance that an active public trading market for our common stock will develop or be sustained. If such a market cannot be sustained, you may be unable to liquidate your investment in our common stock.
Our efforts to obtain and maintain a listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market may fail and may not prevent, or may cause, the decline of the value of your common stock.
In connection with a proposed public offering that we no longer intend to pursue, we previously applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market tier of Nasdaq. In April 2023, we withdrew the registration statement relating to the proposed public offering because we no longer intended to pursue the proposed public offering. We intend to resume the listing process with Nasdaq or another national securities exchange when the Company is able to meet securities exchange listing requirements and standards. We believe that such a listing may be important to the Company’s efforts to gain sufficient financing to fund its operations in the short-term and long-term.
In connection with the proposed listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we may effect, subject to processing by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), a reverse stock split of our common stock at the ratio we believe necessary to allow us to obtain listing approval of our common stock. Even if such a reverse stock split achieves the requisite increase in the market price of our common stock for listing of our common stock, there can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock following the reverse stock split will remain at the level required for continuing compliance with such requirements. It is not uncommon for the market price of a company’s common stock to decline in the period following a reverse stock split. On August 3, 2022, January 5, 2023, and January 13, 2023, we made certain filings with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada (the “Nevada Secretary of State”) providing for reverse stock splits and stock splits of our common stock that in aggregate would have effected a reverse stock split of our common stock on a 1-for-15 ratio. From August 3, 2022 to the date of this prospectus, our common stock has continued to trade on the OTCQB on a pre-split basis pending FINRA’s processing of such a reverse stock split. On May 15, 2023, we made a filing with the Nevada Secretary of State providing for a 15-for-1 forward stock split, which effectively returned the number of outstanding shares to the amount existing prior to the initial filing on August 3, 2022. In addition, FINRA did not process any of the reverse or forward stock splits and they were not reflected in the price or other information relating to our stock quoted on the OTCQB. Nevertheless, our stock price declined from $2.39 per share based on the last reported price on the OTCQB on August 3, 2022 to $0.10 per share based on the last reported price on the OTCQB on May 13, 2024. It is possible that, if we effect a new reverse stock split, even if FINRA does not process it, it may contribute to the further decline of our common stock. In any event, other factors unrelated to the number of shares of our common stock outstanding, such as negative financial or operational results, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and thus jeopardize our ability to meet or maintain Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement.
If we are unable to satisfy Nasdaq’s listing requirements or standards, we will not be able to meet Nasdaq’s initial listing application requirements. We can provide no assurance that any action taken by us would allow our common stock to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent the price of our common stock from dropping below Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement, or prevent future non-compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements. If we are unable to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we may experience heightened difficulty in raising sufficient funding to meet our capital and cash requirements over the 12 months ended June 30, 2024 and any period beyond that date.
Assuming that our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we must continue to meet certain financial and liquidity criteria to maintain such listing. If we violate applicable Nasdaq listing requirements, or fail to meet any applicable listing standards, our common stock may be delisted. In addition, our board of directors may determine that the cost of maintaining our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market outweighs the benefits of such listing.
The Company’s common stock currently trades on the OTCQB, an over-the-counter market. Our common stock will no longer trade on the OTCQB in the event we list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The failure to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or the delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market, would cause our common stock to continue to, or become able to, trade in the United States only on the over-the-counter market. The over-the-counter market is a significantly more limited market than the Nasdaq Capital Market and other national securities exchange markets. The quotation of our common stock on the over-the-counter market may result in a less liquid market available for existing and potential stockholders to trade shares of our common stock, could depress the trading prices of our common stock and could have a long-term adverse impact on our ability to raise capital in the future. As a result, investors may find it difficult to buy or sell or obtain accurate quotations for our common stock, and the liquidity of our common stock may remain limited. The failure to list or the delisting of our common stock may therefore materially impair our stockholders’ ability to buy and sell our common stock and could have an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for, our common stock. The failure to list or the delisting of our common stock could also significantly impair our ability to raise capital and the value of your investment.
In the event that our common stock is not listed or is delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market, U.S. broker-dealers may be discouraged from effecting transactions in shares of our common stock because they may be considered penny stock and thus be subject to the penny stock rules.
The SEC has adopted a number of rules to regulate “penny stock” that restricts transactions involving securities which are deemed to be penny stock. Such rules include Rules 3a51-1, 15g-1, 15g-2, 15g-3, 15g-4, 15g-5, 15g-6, 15g-7, and 15g-9 under the Exchange Act. These rules may have the effect of reducing the liquidity of “penny stocks”. “Penny stocks” generally are equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 per share other than securities registered on the Nasdaq Capital Market and certain national securities exchanges if current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system. Our shares of common stock have in the past constituted, currently constitute, and in the future may continue to constitute, “penny stock” within the meaning of the rules. The additional sales practice and disclosure requirements imposed upon U.S. broker-dealers may discourage such broker-dealers from effecting transactions in shares of our common stock, which could severely limit the market liquidity of such shares of common stock and impede their sale in the secondary market.
A U.S. broker-dealer selling “penny stock” to anyone other than an established customer or “accredited investor” (generally, an individual with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or an annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with the individual’s spouse) must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and must receive the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to sale, unless the broker-dealer or the transaction is otherwise exempt. In addition, the “penny stock” regulations require the U.S. broker-dealer to deliver, prior to any transaction involving a “penny stock”, a disclosure schedule prepared in accordance with SEC standards relating to the “penny stock” market, unless the broker-dealer or the transaction is otherwise exempt. A U.S. broker-dealer is also required to disclose commissions payable to the U.S. broker-dealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Finally, a U.S. broker-dealer is required to submit monthly statements disclosing recent price information with respect to the “penny stock” held in a customer’s account and information with respect to the limited market in “penny stocks”.
Stockholders should be aware that, according to the SEC, the market for “penny stocks” has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include (i) control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (ii) manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases; (iii) “boiler room” practices involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons; (iv) excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differentials and markups by selling broker-dealers; and (v) the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, resulting in investor losses. Our management is aware of the abuses that have occurred historically in the “penny stock” market. Although we do not expect to be in a position to dictate the behavior of the market or of broker-dealers who participate in the market, management will strive within the confines of practical limitations to prevent the described patterns from being established with respect to our common stock.
We have never paid cash dividends on our stock and do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
We have paid no cash dividends on any class of our stock to date and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the near term. For the foreseeable future, we intend to retain any earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock. Accordingly, investors must be prepared to rely on sales of their securities after price appreciation to earn an investment return, which may never occur. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our board deems relevant.
Raising additional capital may adversely affect your rights as stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or medical devices.
We expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings, government or other third-party funding, and collaboration arrangements or acquisitions. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders may be materially diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the interests of our stockholders. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends, that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. Securing additional financing could require a substantial amount of time and attention from our management and may divert a disproportionate amount of their attention away from day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our management’s ability to oversee the development or acquisition of products.
If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution, or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or medical devices or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market medical devices that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
We may be at risk of securities class action litigation.
We may be at risk of securities class action litigation. In the past, life sciences, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have experienced significant stock price volatility, particularly when associated with binary events such as clinical trials and product approvals. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business and results in a decline in the market prices of our securities.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they change their recommendations regarding our common stock adversely, the market price and trading volume of our common stock could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by industry or financial analysts. If no or few analysts commence coverage of us, the trading prices of our securities would likely decrease. Even if we do obtain analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our securities, the price of our common stock would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the price of our common stock or trading volume to decline.
Our articles of incorporation, bylaws and Nevada law have anti-takeover provisions that could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control, which may cause the prices of our securities to decline.
Our articles of incorporation, bylaws and Nevada law contain provisions which could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if closing such a transaction would be beneficial to our stockholders. We are currently authorized to issue up to 25,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock. This preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, the terms of which may be determined at the time of issuance by our board of directors without further action by stockholders. The terms of any series of preferred stock may include voting rights (including the right to vote as a series on particular matters), preferences as to dividend, liquidation, conversion and redemption rights and sinking fund provisions. No shares of our preferred stock are currently outstanding. The issuance of any preferred stock could materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of our securities, and therefore, reduce the value of our securities. In particular, specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock could be used to restrict our ability to merge with, or sell our assets to, a third party and thereby preserve control by current management.
Our articles of incorporation, bylaws or Nevada law contain provisions that are intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids by making such practices or bids unacceptably expensive to the raider and to encourage prospective acquirers to negotiate with our board of directors rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions include, among others:
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the inability of our stockholders to call a special meeting;
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rules regarding how stockholders may present proposals or nominate directors for election at stockholder meetings;
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the right of our board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval; and
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the ability of our directors, and not stockholders, to fill vacancies on our board of directors.
Provisions of our articles of incorporation, bylaws or Nevada law also could have the effect of discouraging potential acquisition proposals or making a tender offer or delaying or preventing a change in control, including changes a stockholder might consider favorable. Such provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. In particular, our articles of incorporation, our bylaws or Nevada law, as applicable, among other things, may provide our board of directors with the ability to alter our bylaws without stockholder approval, and provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled by a majority of directors in office, although less than a quorum.
In addition, we are subject to Nevada’s Combination with Interested Stockholders Statute (Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) Sections 78.411 - 78.444), which prohibits an interested stockholder from entering into a “combination” with the corporation, unless certain conditions are met. These provisions are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with our board of directors. These provisions may delay or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us, which may cause the market prices of our securities to decline.
We have elected out of Nevada’s Acquisition of Controlling Interest Statute (NRS Sections 78.378 - 78.3793), which prohibits an acquirer, under certain circumstances, from voting shares of a corporation’s stock after crossing specific threshold ownership percentages. The election out of the Acquisition of Controlling Interest Statute can be reversed by an amendment to our bylaws by the stockholders or our board of directors, which would also have the effect of discouraging or delaying from acquiring or merging with us.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
From the date of our acquisition of the Somahlution Assets in July 2020 through December 2020, we leased approximately 20,000 square feet in a building located at 225 Chimney Corner Lane, Jupiter, Florida 33458, which is owned by the Chairman of our board of directors and the former owner of Somahlution. On December 11, 2020, we entered into a five-and-a-half-year lease for approximately 10,300 square feet at 555 Heritage Drive, Jupiter, Florida 33458, which includes office and laboratory space. Our principal executive office is located at this Jupiter, Florida address. Effective April 1, 2022, the Company amended the lease agreement to add additional space for administrative office and laboratories. Under the amended lease, our office and laboratory space increased to 13,353 square feet. The monthly cost of total expanded lease space during 2022 was approximately $15,260 increasing to $15,641 in 2023 and will increase by 2.5% annually thereafter until the end of the term. As of April 1, 2022, monthly operating expenses for total expanded premises increased from approximately $12,000 to $17,500 per month. The lease term is currently scheduled to end on July 31, 2026.
For additional information, see Note 2, Leases, included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. Except as described below, we are not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims against us.
DeVito Litigation
On June 7, 2022, Nicholas DeVito, a former Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company, filed a Complaint in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, Case No. 50-2022-CA-005437 (the “Florida Circuit Court”), against the Company (the “DeVito Complaint”). The DeVito Complaint claimed breach of contract, declaratory relief, specific performance, breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment against the Company with respect to the Company’s alleged breach of the common stock issuance requirements of an Incentive Stock Option Agreement between Mr. DeVito and the Company, dated as of July 13, 2019 (the “DeVito ISO”). Under the DeVito ISO, on July 13, 2019, the Company granted an option to Mr. DeVito to purchase 33,333shares of common stock at $15.15 per share, subject to certain vesting terms. The DeVito ISO provided that it would terminate twelve (12) months after the end of Mr. DeVito’s “Continuous Service,” which was not defined by the DeVito ISO. On August 27, 2020, as part of a Mutual Release of Claims Agreement between Mr. DeVito and the Company dated as of that date (the “DeVito Release”), the Company agreed to immediately vest the unvested portion of the DeVito ISO such that the DeVito ISO became fully vested, to pay Mr. DeVito $20,000 to add in the transition during the month of September 2020, and that Mr. DeVito would retain all of his rights under the DeVito ISO. Under the DeVito Release, Mr. DeVito agreed to step down from his positions as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer on September 1, 2020, to assist Marizyme with its transition to a new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the month of September 2020, and effective as of September 1, 2020 would no longer act as an officer of Marizyme in any capacity. The DeVito Release also recited that the Company requested that Mr. DeVito be available for additional consulting going forward as the needs of the business dictate. The DeVito Release also provided for a general mutual release of claims by the Company and Mr. DeVito apart from continuing employment obligations and corporate officer indemnification obligations of Marizyme. The DeVito Complaint alleged that Mr. DeVito continued his role as an advisor and consultant to the Company. Due to the Company’s alleged nonperformance of Mr. DeVito’s exercise rights under the DeVito ISO, the DeVito Complaint sought declaratory relief, specific performance, direct and consequential damages in an unspecified amount of more than $30,001.00, damages prescribed by the DeVito ISO, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, prejudgment interest, and such other relief as the court deems equitable. On July 21, 2022, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the claims of declaratory relief, specific performance, and breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in the DeVito Complaint. On August 3, 2022, Mr. DeVito filed an amended complaint without a hearing (the “Amended DeVito Complaint”). The Amended DeVito Complaint includes two claims, for breach of contract and unjust enrichment, and otherwise realleges substantially all of the factual allegations of the DeVito Complaint. On August 26, 2022, the Company filed an Answer to the Amended DeVito Complaint denying substantially all of the allegations.
Under a Confidential Settlement Agreement, dated November 18, 2022 (the “DeVito Settlement Agreement”), the Company and Mr. DeVito agreed that Mr. DeVito would dismiss the DeVito Complaint. The parties also agreed that following an anticipated reverse split, the Company was required to issue Mr. DeVito 60,000 “post-split” shares to be delivered in paper certificate form within three (3) business days of the reverse split. The DeVito Settlement Agreement further provided that the delivered shares would be subject to normal and customary restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 of the SEC. In the event no split occurred by December 12, 2022, the Company was required to issue Mr. DeVito 240,000 “pre-split” shares. In addition, the parties agreed that no further continuous service is required pursuant to Section 2 of the DeVito Release. Pursuant to the agreement, on January 4, 2023, the Company issued 240,000 shares of common stock to Mr. DeVito.
Chandler Litigation
On January 28, 2022, the Company filed a Complaint in the Florida Circuit Court, case number 50-2022-CA-000859-XXX-MB, against Amy Chandler (the “Chandler Complaint”). The Chandler Complaint sought damages for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, negligence, conversion, and civil theft. The Chandler Complaint alleged that, prior to her resignation in September 2021, Ms. Chandler intentionally and recklessly took actions to cancel the CE certificate required by European Union regulations in order for Marizyme and its subsidiary, Somahlution, Inc., to ship and distribute certain products to/within the European Union. The Chandler Complaint also alleged that Ms. Chandler disregarded her fiduciary duty to Marizyme and responsibilities as the top regulatory and compliance official of Marizyme. As a result, the Chandler Complaint alleged that Ms. Chandler’s actions caused significant disruption and damage to Marizyme’s business, including, but not limited to, financial damages and damage to Marizyme’s reputation and business relationships. The Chandler Complaint further alleged that prior to her last day, Ms. Chandler stole confidential, proprietary files governing Marizyme’s quality management system, which related to internal business operations, and that Marizyme incurred significant costs to recreate these files. The Chandler Complaint alleged damages in excess of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00), exclusive of interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
On February 28, 2022, Ms. Chandler filed an Answer, Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaim with the Florida Circuit Court (the “Answer”). The Answer denied the claims in the Chandler Complaint and most of the factual allegations regarding Ms. Chandler’s alleged actions. The Answer also asserted a counterclaim against the Company for defamation per se. The Answer sought to recover monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, and court costs in connection with this litigation. The Answer also demanded a trial by jury on all triable issues.
On March 18, 2022, the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss Ms. Chandler’s Counterclaim with the Florida Circuit Court (the “Motion to Dismiss”). The Motion to Dismiss stated that Ms. Chandler’s Counterclaim for defamation per se should be dismissed with prejudice. On July 13, 2022, the court ruled that the counterclaim of defamation was dismissed with prejudice. Ms. Chandler’s deposition was taken on September 21, 2022. On November 21, 2022, the Company filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice of its complaint and the case was dismissed.
Campbell/Harmon Litigation
On August 19, 2021, Dr. Neil Campbell, former President, Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company, and Bruce Harmon, former Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, each filed a Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, case numbers No. 50-2021-CA-009938 and No. 50-2021-CA-009954, respectively, against the Company and Insperity Peo Services, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Insperity”), a joint employer of Dr. Campbell and Mr. Harmon with the Company under a Client Service Agreement, dated November 30, 2020 (collectively, the “Campbell/Harmon Complaints”). Both Campbell/Harmon Complaints alleged that the Company and Insperity violated Section 448.105 of the Florida Private Whistleblower Act as a result of the constructive terminations of Dr. Campbell and Mr. Harmon after the occurrence of violations of federal and state law, including federal securities law, at the Company that exposed Dr. Campbell and Mr. Harmon to civil and criminal forms of liability and that the Company was not addressing to their satisfaction. Both of the Campbell/Harmon Complaints demanded approximately $30,000-$50,000 in back pay and benefits, interest on back pay, front pay and/or lost earning capacity, compensatory damages, costs and attorney’s fees, and such other relief as the court deems equitable.
Pursuant to a Joint Stipulation of Voluntary Dismissal With Prejudice filed in each of these cases, the arbitrator of these cases dismissed Dr. Campbell and Mr. Harmon’s actions with prejudice on April 18, 2022 and April 14, 2022, respectively, and the court subsequently dismissed Dr. Campbell and Mr. Harmon’s actions with prejudice on April 22, 2022 and April 14, 2022, respectively.
Bankruptcy or Similar Proceedings
There has been no bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceeding pertaining to the Company.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
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
Our common stock is listed on the OTCQB tier of OTC Markets Group, Inc. under the symbol “MRZM”.
Holders of Common Stock
As of May 13, 2024, there were 131,793,088 shares of our common stock outstanding held by approximately 401 holders of record of our common stock. This number was derived from our stockholder records and does not include beneficial owners of our common stock whose shares are held in the name of various dealers, clearing agencies, banks, brokers and other fiduciaries.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future. We may also enter into credit agreements or other borrowing arrangements in the future that will restrict our ability to declare or pay cash dividends on our common stock. Any future determination to declare dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We did not sell any equity securities during the 2023 fiscal year that were not previously disclosed in a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or a current report on Form 8-K that was filed during the 2023 fiscal year.
Repurchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
We did not purchase any of our registered securities during the period covered by this Annual Report.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
See “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters - Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans.”

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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 of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and financing needs, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties and should be read together with “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report and in other reports we file with the SEC, particularly those under “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.
Overview
Marizyme is a medical technology company changing the landscape of cardiac care by delivering innovative solutions for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
Since October 2023, DuraGraft has been authorized for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for use as an intra-operative vascular conduit storage and flushing solution used during CABG surgeries in the United States, subject to applicable risks, mitigation requirements, and control provisions. Since August 2014, DuraGraft has also had the CE marking required to be sold in the EEA, and DuraGraft has therefore been assessed as meeting the EEA safety, health, and environmental protection requirements.
Having received FDA authorization for marketing of DuraGraft, we are proceeding with our plans to commercialize DuraGraft in the United States and continue to generate international revenue growth from sales of DuraGraft. In the U.S. marketplace, we intend to employ a small direct sales force focusing on marketing and sales to hospital integrated networks. We have also begun the process of developing the U.S. CABG market for DuraGraft with select clinical studies, the development of known opinion leaders, or KOLs, the promotion of existing publications, and digital marketing. We will also seek to develop and commercialize additional applications for the technology underlying DuraGraft.
Our DuraGraft commercialization plan using its CE marking and existing distribution partners in select European and Asian countries resumed in the second quarter of 2022, with a targeted approach based on market access, existing KOLs, clinical data and revenue penetration. In Europe and elsewhere, we will continue our DuraGraft marketing efforts relying on our DuraGraft CE marking and our distribution partners. The CE marking signifies that DuraGraft may be sold in the EEA and that DuraGraft has been assessed as meeting safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. We are currently working with local distributors of cardiovascular disease-related products, in accordance with local regulatory requirements, to sell and increase the market share of DuraGraft in Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Chile, Turkey, Italy, and the UK among others.
We also continue to focus on the development of MAR-FG-001, a technology for use in fat grafting procedures formulated as a tumescent solution base for protecting adipose tissue during adipose tissue harvesting and storage.
We have either paused or significantly slowed down the development of our other pipeline technologies, including Krillase and MATLOC. Our MATLOC CKD point-of-care device is still being developed through a Sponsored Research Agreement, or SRA. An SRA is an agreement (which may be classified as a grant, contract or cooperative agreement) under which one party (the “Sponsor”) provides funding to a second party to support the performance of a specified research project or related activity. The Sponsor may be a foundation, government agency, for-profit entity, research institute, or another university. Apart from the SRA, no additional capital is going to the Krillase or MATLOC pipeline technologies.
In the near term, we expect to generate revenue primarily from the sale of DuraGraft through the expansion of our international marketing efforts by our distribution partners in Europe and in other countries that accept CE marking. We anticipate that once we commence marketing and sales operations for DuraGraft in the U.S., we will be able to generate sustainable revenue growth and continue the expansion of DuraGraft and expedite the development of MAR-FG-001 into medical products.
Our primary products and medical devices, DuraGraft and MAR-FG-001, and other aspects of our business, are described in the section “Item 1 - Business” of this Annual Report.
Principal Factors Affecting Our Financial Performance
Our operating results are primarily affected by the following factors:
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our ability to generate revenue from sales of our products;
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our ability to obtain FDA approval for our products;
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our ability to access additional capital and the size and timing of subsequent financings, if any;
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the costs of acquiring and utilizing data, technology, and/or intellectual property to successfully reach our goals and to remain competitive;
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personnel and facilities costs in any region in which we seek to introduce and market our products;
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the costs of sales, marketing, and customer acquisition;
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the average price for our products that will be paid by consumers;
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the number of our products ordered per quarter;
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costs to manufacture our products;
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the costs of compliance with any unforeseen regulatory obstacles or governmental mandates in any states or countries in which we seek to operate; and
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the costs of any additional clinical studies which are deemed necessary for us to remain viable and competitive in any region of the world.
Smaller Reporting Company
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30th, or (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th.
Results of Operations
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Revenue represents gross product sales less service fees and product returns. For our distribution partner channel, we recognize revenue for product sales at the time of delivery of the product to our distribution partner. As our products have an expiration date, if a product expires, we will replace the product at no charge. Currently, all of our revenue is generated from the sale of DuraGraft in European and Asian markets where the product has the required regulatory approvals.
Direct Costs of Revenue
Direct costs of revenue include primarily product costs, which include all costs directly related to the purchase of raw materials, charges from our contract manufacturing organizations, and manufacturing overhead costs, as well as shipping and distribution charges. Direct costs of revenue also include losses from excess, slow-moving or obsolete inventory and inventory purchase commitments, if any.
Research and Development
All research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred and consist primarily of salaries, payroll taxes, and employee benefits, those individuals involved in research and development efforts, external research and development costs incurred under agreements with contract research organizations and consultants to conduct and support the Company’s ongoing clinical trials of DuraGraft, and costs related to manufacturing DuraGraft for clinical trials. The Company has entered into various research and development contracts with various organizations and other companies.
Professional Fees
Professional fees include legal fees relating to intellectual property development, due diligence and corporate matters, and consulting fees for accounting, finance, and valuation services. Professional fees paid related parties relate to certain consulting services. We anticipate increased expenses related to audit, legal, regulatory, and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with SEC requirements, and with listing and maintaining compliance with Nasdaq.
Salaries and Stock-Based Compensation
Salaries consist of compensation and related personnel costs. Stock-based compensation represents the fair value of equity-settled share awards on stock options granted by the Company to its employees, officers, directors, and consultants. The fair value of awards is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which considers the following factors: exercise price, current market price of the underlying shares, expected life, risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, dividend yield, and forfeiture rate.
Other General and Administrative Expenses
Other general and administrative expenses consist principally of marketing and selling expenses, facility costs, administrative and office expenses, director and officer insurance premiums, and investor relations costs associated with operating a public company.
Other Income (Expenses)
Other income and expenses consist of mark-to-market adjustments on contingent liabilities assumed on the acquisition of the Somahlution Assets, interest and accretion expenses related to our Convertible Notes, gain on debt extinguishment, and cancellation of common stock pursuant to the October 2022 Letter Agreement.
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Years Ended December 31,
Change
Revenue $ 645,810 $ 233,485 $ 412,325
Cost of goods sold 188,108 54,319 133,789
Gross profit 457,702 179,166 278,536
Operating expenses: 71 % 77 %
Direct costs of revenue
Professional fees 2,300,384 2,082,079 218,305
Salary expenses 1,317,581 2,421,969 (1,104,388 )
Research and development 2,176,740 3,978,826 (1,802,086 )
Stock-based compensation 526,597 1,905,948 (1,379,351 )
Depreciation and amortization 841,217 841,444 (227 )
Royalty expense 218,794 - 218,794
Impairment of intangible assets 14,244,375 24,350,000 (10,105,625 )
Other general and administrative expenses 12,918,530 1,922,696 10,995,834
Total operating expenses 34,544,218 37,502,962 (2,958,744 )
Total operating loss $ (34,086,516 ) $ (37,323,796 ) $ 3,237,280
Other income (expenses):
Interest and accretion expense (30,224,223 ) (2,789,255 ) (27,434,968 )
Change in fair value of contingent liabilities 4,301,000 1,606,000 2,695,000
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities 795,934 - 795,934
Gain on debt extinguishment 755,364 338,181 417,183
Loss on issuance of debt (6,888,475 ) - (6,888,475 )
Gain on share redemption - 3,000 (3,000 )
Net loss $ (65,346,916 ) $ (38,165,870 ) $ (27,181,046 )
Revenue
We recognized revenue of approximately $0.65 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to approximately $0.23 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company experienced a lack of significant revenue due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its supply chain and the production of DuraGraft inventory. However, with the Company’s inventory production returning to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the second quarter of 2022 and subsequent sales resumption, there has been a notable increase in revenue year over year.
Direct Costs of Revenue
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred approximately $0.19 million in direct costs of revenue, representing a increase of $0.13 million, or 246.3%, compared to approximately $0.05 million in direct costs of revenue incurred during the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in cost of goods sold was due to increased sales during December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022.
Professional Fees
Professional fees increased by $0.22 million, or 10.5%, to approximately $2.30 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to approximately $2.08 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company saw a reduction in legal and placement agent fees, however, this decrease was offset by the increase in spending on consulting for DuraGraft FDA regulatory and clinical support.
Salary Expenses
Salary expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were approximately $1.32 million, a $1.10 million, or 45.6%, decrease, from approximately $2.42 million in the comparative year. The decrease was attributable to reductions in employee salaries as part of efforts to streamline the Company’s operations during the current year.
Research and Development Expenses
During the year ended December 31, 2023, Marizyme incurred approximately $2.18 million in research and development expenses compared to approximately $3.98 million in the previous year ended December 31, 2022, or 45.3% less than the previous year. This reduction in research and development expenses is primarily attributed to the Company’s suspension of European study on DuraGraft as well Company’s decision to suspend expenditures related to FDA approvals for MATLOC and Krillase-related assets during the third quarter of 2023.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation decreased to approximately $0.53 million in fiscal 2023 from approximately $1.91 million in fiscal year 2022, which represents 72.4% decrease year over year. A significant portion of options have completed their vesting period during the year ended December 31, 2022 and no options have been granted during the current year ended December 31, 2023, which explains the decrease in stock-based compensation year over year.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization remained relatively constant at approximately $0.84 million in the year ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Impairment of intangible assts
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $14.24 million related to My Health Logic, Krillase, and DuraGraft IPR&D intangible assets, where the carrying value exceeded their respective recoverable amounts. This contrasts with the impairment loss of $24.35 million recognized as of December 31, 2022, pertaining specifically to Krillase intangible assets, where the carrying value surpassed its recoverable amount.
Royalty Expense
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $0.22 million in royalty expense - $0.07 million in royalties payable was incurred on sales of DuraGraft outside of the U.S.; the remaining $0.15 million in royalty expense was recorded as a 50% reduction of the prepaid royalty balance owed to the former beneficial owners of Somahlution. No royalties were accrued during the year ended December 31, 2022 as minimal sales of DuraGraft occurred during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Other General and Administrative Expenses
Other general and administrative expenses increased $11.0 million, or 571.9%, to approximately $12.92 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 from approximately $1.92 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. Approximately $0.5 million of the increase can be attributed to the deferred offering costs expensed as a result of adjustments to the Convertible Notes and $0.7 million of the deferred offering costs that were expensed due to the Company’s withdrawal of its registration statement for a public offering in April 2023. Additionally, $1.3 million of other general and administrative expenses can be attributed to the valuation of Class E and F Warrants issued on May 22, 2023 in connection with the First OID Units Closing pursuant to the terms of the Hexin Promissory Note. In addition, approximately $8.7 million of the increase can be attributed to the valuation of Replacement Placement Agent Warrants and OID Units Placement Agent Warrants issued in the year ended December 31, 2023.
Other Income (Expenses)
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred approximately $30.22 million in interest and accretion costs related to securities issued at a discount in connection with the Units Private Placement and the OID Units Private Placement. This contrasts with $2.79 million recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022, attributed to interest and accretion costs associated with Convertible Notes. Furthermore, the Company defaulted on the initial principal amount of $1.0 million under the Walleye Promissory Note, which matured on May 7, 2023. Consequently, a default amount of $7.4 million was accreted to the principal of the Convertible Notes on the same date. This represents a significant increase of approximately $27.43 million or 983.6% compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Additionally, the Company recognized $4.30 million of fair value gain from mark-to-market adjustments on the contingent liabilities assumed on the acquisition of the Somahlution assets due to the change of the fair value of the contingent consideration compared to $1.61 million in the year ended December 31, 2022 - an increase of $2.7 million or 167.8% year over year.
The Company recognized a $0.80 million increase in fair value of the detachable warrants issued in the OID Convertible Notes transactions during the period ended December 31, 2023. No such warrants were issued in the year ended December 31, 2022.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a gain of approximately $0.76 million on the extinguishment of Convertible Notes due to the substantial reduction of the conversion price and amendment of certain terms. In comparison, for the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized a $0.34 million gain on debt extinguishment resulting from the extinguishment of obligations under Mr. Richmond’s and Univest’s Convertible Notes and Class C Warrants pursuant to the October 2022 Letter Agreement. The Company also recorded a loss of $6.89 million on issuance of OID Convertible Notes due to the fair value of Class E and Class F Warrants exceeding the value of the debt principal.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
To date, we have incurred significant net losses and negative cash flows from operations. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had available cash of approximately $0.15 million and $0.51 million, respectively, and accumulated deficit of $151.3 million and $85.99 million respectively. We fund our operations through capital raises.
Debt
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had outstanding convertible notes with varying maturities for an aggregate principal amount of $17.0 million, all payable within 12 months. Future interest payments associated with the convertible notes total $9.0 million.
The Company also issues unsecured short-term promissory notes for operational purposes. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $0.7 of promissory notes outstanding, all of which was payable within 12 months.
Leases
The Company has lease arrangements for office and laboratories facilities. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had fixed lease payment obligations of $1.1 million, with $0.4 million payable within 12 months.
Funding Requirements and Other Liquidity Matters
The Company expects to continue to incur expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future. We anticipate that our expenses will increase as a result of the following operational and business development efforts:
● Increase our expertise and knowledge through hiring and retaining qualified operational, financial and management personnel, who are expected to develop an efficient infrastructure to support development and commercialization of therapies and devices;
● Increase in research and development and legal expenses as we continue to develop our products, conduct clinical trials and pursue FDA clearances;
● Expand our product portfolio through the identification and acquisition of additional life science assets; and
● Seek to increase awareness about our products to boost sales and distributions internationally.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues to support our cost structure, the Company will continue to have to raise funds beyond its current working capital balance in order to finance future development of products, potential acquisitions, and meet its debt obligations until such time as future profitable revenues are achieved.
We expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings, government or other third-party funding, and collaborations, arrangements or acquisitions. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders may be materially diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the interests of our stockholders. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends, that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. Securing additional financing could require a substantial amount of time and attention from our management and may divert a disproportionate amount of their attention away from day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our management’s ability to oversee the development or acquisition of product.
If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution, or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Cash Flows
The following table sets forth a summary of the net cash flow activity for each of the periods indicated:
Years Ended December 31,
$ Change
Net cash provided by/(used in):
Operating activities $ (4,684,835 ) $ (10,852,148 ) $ 6,167,313
Financing activities 4,322,435 7,290,674 (2,968,239 )
Net change in cash $ (362,400 ) $ (3,561,474 ) $ 3,199,074
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $4.68 million and $10.85 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was due to approximately $2.2 million spent on research and development, approximately $1.32 million spent on salaries and related compensation expenses, $12.98 million in other general and administrative expenses and approximately $2.30 million spent on professional fees. The net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 was due to approximately $3.98 million spent on research and development, approximately $2.42 million spent on salaries and related compensation expenses, $1.92 million in other general and administrative expenses and approximately $2.08 million spent on professional fees.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was due to approximately $2.84 million, net of issuance cost, of funds raised from issuance of private placements. During 2023 the Company also received $0.27 million from exercise of warrants previously granted. The Company also issued several promissory notes in exchange for $1.38 million. During 2023 the Company also repaid approximately $0.2 million in aggregate notes payable. Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 was due to approximately $6.5 million of funds raised from the issuance of convertible notes in the Units Private Placement, net of issuance costs, and $0.78 million received from the issuance of other promissory notes, net of repayments. During 2022 the Company also repaid approximately $0.1 million in aggregate notes payable as part of the Units Private Placement issuances and repaid approximately $0.1 million in notes payable assumed on the acquisition of My Health Logic.
Going Concern
The Company had a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 of approximately $65.3 million, negative working capital as of December 31, 2023 of approximately $19.6 million, and had cash used in operations of approximately $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Without further funding, these conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern and the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The ability of the Company to continue its operations is dependent on the execution of management’s plans, which include the raising of capital through the debt and/or equity markets, until such time that funds provided by operations are sufficient to fund working capital requirements. If the Company were not to continue as a going concern, it would likely not be able to realize its assets at values comparable to the carrying value or the fair value estimates reflected in the balances set out in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
There can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in generating additional cash from the equity/debt markets or other sources to be used for operations. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and classification of assets and liabilities that might be necessary. Based on the Company’s current resources, the Company will not be able to continue to operate without additional immediate funding. Should the Company not be successful in obtaining the necessary financing to fund its operations, the Company would need to curtail certain or all operational activities and/or contemplate the sale of its assets, if necessary.
The Company has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply chain shortages and other economic conditions, and some of its earlier plans to further diversify its operations and expand its operating subsidiaries were delayed as a result. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic”.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2023, the Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements and accompanying notes. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1, Organization, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that the following accounting policies are the most critical for fully understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations.
Impairment
●
Impairment of long-lived assets: The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are less than the carrying amount. The impairment loss, if recognized, would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset over its respective fair value.
●
Goodwill: Goodwill is recorded at the time of purchase for the excess of the amount of the purchase price over the fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value is determined using the estimated discounted future cash flows of the reporting unit. Goodwill is not amortized and instead is tested at least annually for impairment, or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. This impairment test is performed annually at December 31. Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of underlying assets could result in an inability to recover the carrying value of the goodwill, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge.
●
In-process research and development assets: IPR&D assets are reviewed for impairment annually, or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, and upon establishment of technological feasibility or regulatory approval. An impairment loss, if any, is calculated by comparing the fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference and its carrying value is reduced accordingly. Similar to the impairment test for goodwill, the Company may perform a qualitative approach for testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment.
Fair Value of Derivative and Contingent Liabilities
Our derivative and contingent liabilities are revalued at each reporting period with changes in the fair value of the liabilities recorded as a component of other income (expense) in the statements of operations. There are significant judgments and estimates inherent in the determination of the fair value of these liabilities. If we had made different assumptions including, among others, those related to the timing and probability of various corporate scenarios, discount rates, volatilities and exit valuations, the carrying values of our derivative and contingent liabilities, and our net loss and net loss per common share could have been significantly different.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Stock-based compensation expense for employees and directors is recognized in the Statement of Operations based on estimated amounts, including the grant date fair value and the expected service period. For stock options, we estimate the grant date fair value using a Black-Scholes valuation model, which requires the use of multiple subjective inputs including estimated future volatility, expected forfeitures and the expected term of the awards. We estimate the expected future volatility based on the stock’s historical price volatility. The stock’s future volatility may differ from the estimated volatility at the grant date. For restricted stock unit (“RSU”) equity awards, we estimate the grant date fair value using our closing stock price on the date of grant. We recognize the effect of forfeitures in compensation expense when the forfeitures occur. The estimated forfeiture rates may differ from actual forfeiture rates which would affect the amount of expense recognized during the period. We recognize the value of the awards over the awards’ requisite service or performance periods. The requisite service period is generally the time over which our share-based awards vest.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 to the Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
MARIZYME, INC.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 100)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Marizyme, Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Marizyme, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations, has experienced cash used from operations in excess of its current cash position, and has an accumulated deficit, that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Impairment Evaluation of Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Critical Audit Matter Description
As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company reviews long-lived intangible assets and goodwill, for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are less than the carrying amount. In order to estimate the fair value of the assets, management is required to make significant estimates and assumptions related to the potential future benefits of these intangible assets. Changes in these assumptions could have a significant impact on the fair value of the reporting unit, the amount of any intangible asset impairment charge, or both. As a result of management’s assessments, the Company recognized impairment charges of approximately $14,244,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023, of which $4,250,000 was related to the Krillase technology originally acquired on September 12, 2018, $7,553,000 was related to MATLOC technology originally acquired on November 1, 2021, and $2,442,000 was related to DuraGraft technology originally acquired on December 19, 2019.
We identified the impairment evaluation of intangible assets and goodwill as a critical audit matter because of the inherent subjectivity involved in management’s estimates and assumptions related to the future potential benefits attributable to intangible assets. The audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimates and assumptions related to the potential future benefits of these intangible assets required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists.
How the Critical Matter was Addressed in the Audit
We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s forecasts by comparing the forecasts to historical results, internal communications to management and those charged with governance of Marizyme, and forecasted information included in analyst and industry reports for the Company and its peer companies. With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the impairment by evaluating methodologies used by management, determining the completeness and accuracy of information, sensitivity analyses, testing the source information underlying the determination of the impairment, testing the mathematical accuracy of the calculations, and developing a range of independent estimates and comparing those to the impairment amount enacted by management.
Fair Value of the Contingent Liabilities for Duragraft Acquisition
Critical Audit Matter Description
As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company had $6,863,000 of contingent liabilities as of December 31, 2023 related to the 2019 acquisition of Duragraft. The contingent consideration payments are subject to the Company’s achievement of certain revenue targets and achievement of certain FDA milestones. Management determines the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration liability using a combination of monte carlo and scenario-based valuation methods. The unobservable inputs used by management to determine the fair value of the contingent consideration liability include projected revenues, volatility, cost of debt, discount rates and various holding periods and exit terms.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the fair value of the contingent liabilities as a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when determining the fair value, (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence relating to the monte carlo and scenario-based valuation methods and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to the projected revenues, volatility, and discount rates, and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
How the Critical Matter was Addressed in the Audit
To test the estimated fair value of contingent consideration liabilities at year end, our audit procedures included evaluating methodologies used by management, determining the completeness and accuracy of information, sensitivity analyses, inspecting the terms of the executed agreement, assessing the Monte Carlo and Scenario-Based simulation models used and testing the key contractual inputs and significant assumptions discussed above. We evaluated the assumptions and judgments considering observable industry and economic trends and standards, external data sources and regulatory factors. Estimated amounts of future revenues were evaluated for reasonableness in relation to internal and external analyses, clinical development progress and timelines, probability of success benchmarks, and regulatory notices. Our procedures included evaluating the data sources used by management in determining its assumptions and, where necessary, included an evaluation of available information that either corroborated or contradicted management’s conclusions. We also assessed the professional competence, experience, and objectivity of the Company’s external valuation specialist. We involved a valuation specialist to assess the Company’s Monte Carlo and Scenario Based simulation models and to perform corroborative fair value calculations.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC.
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
May 13, 2024
PCAOB ID Number 100
MARIZYME, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
ASSETS:
Current
Cash $ 148,465 $ 510,865
Accounts receivable 60,284 87,801
Other receivables 35,797 15,310
Prepaid expenses 699,377 1,125,761
Inventory 24,855 215,566
Total current assets 968,778 1,955,303
Non-current
Property, plant and equipment, net 12,500 12,545
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 1,101,211 1,485,023
Intangible assets, net 14,364,129 27,675,020
Prepaid royalties, non-current 122,457 339,091
Deposits 30,000 30,000
Goodwill 5,416,000 7,190,656
Total non-current assets 21,046,297 36,732,335
Total assets $ 22,015,075 $ 38,687,638
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT):
Current
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 2,322,064 $ 1,365,443
Notes payable 633,692 1,132,829
Due to related parties 230,153 -
Convertible notes - Units Private Placement 14,288,335 -
Convertible notes - OID 2,694,256 -
Operating lease obligations 434,082 423,495
Total current liabilities 20,602,582 2,921,767
Non-current
Operating lease obligations, net of current portion 667,129 1,061,528
Convertible notes - Units Private Placement - 2,751,633
Derivative liabilities - 4,823,725
Contingent liabilities 5,406,000 9,707,000
Total non-current liabilities 6,073,129 18,343,886
Total liabilities 26,675,711 21,265,653
Commitments and contingencies - -
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and - -
Common stock, par value $0.001, 2,000,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding shares - 131,793,088 at December 31, 2023 and 40,528,191 at December 31, 2022 131,792 40,528
Additional paid-in capital 146,543,921 103,370,890
Accumulated deficit (151,336,349 ) (85,989,433 )
Total stockholders’ equity (4,660,636 ) 17,421,985
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit) $ 22,015,075 $ 38,687,638
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MARIZYME, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Years Ended December 31,
Revenue $ 645,810 $ 233,485
Direct cost of revenue 188,108 54,319
Gross profit 457,702 179,166
Operating expenses:
Professional fees (includes related party amounts of $288,000 and $172,800 respectively) 2,300,384 2,082,079
Salary expenses 1,317,581 2,421,969
Research and development 2,176,740 3,978,826
Stock-based compensation 526,597 1,905,948
Depreciation and amortization 841,217 841,444
Royalty expense 218,794 -
Impairment 14,244,375 24,350,000
Other general and administrative expenses 12,918,530 1,922,696
Total operating expenses 34,544,218 37,502,962
Total operating loss (34,086,516 ) (37,323,796 )
Other income (expense)
Interest and accretion expenses (30,224,223 ) (2,789,255 )
Change in fair value of contingent liabilities 4,301,000 1,606,000
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities 795,934 -
Gain on debt extinguishment 755,364 338,181
Loss on issuance of debt (6,888,475 ) -
Other income - 3,000
Total other income (expense) (31,260,400 ) (842,074 )
Net loss $ (65,346,916 ) $ (38,165,870 )
Loss per share - basic and diluted $ (1.44 ) $ (0.94 )
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - basic and diluted 45,473,190 40,727,092
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MARIZYME, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity
Common Stock Additional
Paid-in
Accumulated Total
Stockholders’
Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity (Deficit)
Balance, December 31, 2021 40,528,191 $ 40,528 $ 95,473,367 $ (47,823,563 ) $ 47,690,332
Stock-based compensation expense - - 1,905,948 - 1,905,948
Issuance of warrants - - 6,191,575 - 6,191,575
Exercise of warrants 300,000 2,700 - 3,000
Common stock repurchased and cancelled (300,000 ) (300 ) (2,700 )
(3,000 )
Warrants repurchased and retired -
(200,000 )
(200,000 )
Net loss - - - (38,165,870 ) (38,165,870 )
Balance, December 31, 2022 40,528,191 $ 40,528 $ 103,370,890 $ (85,989,433 ) $ 17,421,985
Balance 40,528,191 $ 40,528 $ 103,370,890 $ (85,989,433 ) $ 17,421,985
Stock-based compensation expense - - 526,597 - 526,597
Issuance of shares 3,486,410 3,486 583,600 - 587,086
Issuance of shares on debt conversion 85,126,328 85,126 9,255,647 - 9,340,773
Issuance of warrants on debt extinguishment - - 19,058,426 - 19,058,426
Issuance of warrants on promissory note - - 1,333,128 - 1,333,128
Issuance of warrants for services provided - - 9,083,295 - 9,083,295
Exercise of warrants 2,652,159 2,652 262,564 - 265,216
Warrants cancelled in debt extinguishment - - (8,426,927 ) - (8,426,927 )
Reclassification of warrants from derivative liability to equity - - 11,496,701 - 11,496,701
Net loss - - - (65,346,916 ) (65,346,916 )
Balance, December 31, 2023 131,793,088 $ 131,792 $ 146,543,921 $ (151,336,349 ) $ (4,660,636 )
Balance 131,793,088 $ 131,792 $ 146,543,921 $ (151,336,349 ) $ (4,660,636 )
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MARIZYME, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss $ (65,346,916 ) $ (38,165,870 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 841,217 841,444
Stock-based compensation 526,597 1,905,948
Interest and accretion on convertible notes and notes payable 30,224,223 2,789,255
Issuance of warrants for services 9,083,295 1,850,533
Change in fair value of contingent liabilities (4,301,000 ) (1,606,000 )
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities (795,934 ) -
Gain on debt extinguishment (755,364 ) (338,181 )
Loss on issuance of debt 6,888,475 -
Shares issued as part of the Confidential Settlement Agreement 153,600 -
Shares issued for services 168,000 -
Warrants issued as part of promissory note agreement 1,333,128 -
Impairment 14,244,375 24,350,000
Other income - (3,000 )
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivable 7,030 (53,154 )
Prepaid expenses 426,384 (868,592 )
Inventory 190,711 (193,213 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 2,197,191 (228,684 )
Due to related parties 230,153 (1,132,634 )
Net cash used in operating activities (4,684,835 ) (10,852,148 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from financing, net of issuance cost 2,840,000 6,500,743
Proceeds from shares issued for exercise of warrants 265,216 3,000
Proceeds from promissory notes 1,381,469 954,767
Repayments of promissory notes (164,250 ) (167,836 )
Net cash provided by financing activities 4,322,435 7,290,674
Net change in cash (362,400 ) (3,561,474 )
Cash at beginning of year 510,865 4,072,339
Cash at end of year $ 148,465 $ 510,865
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest $ - $ -
Cash paid for taxes $ - $ -
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Derivative liabilities and debt discount issued in connection with convertible notes $ 27,528,235 $ 2,338,379
Warrants and debt discount issued in connection with convertible notes $ 19,403,385 $ 4,341,042
Settlement of debt with convertible notes $ 2,264,133 $ 278,678
Warrants cancelled in debt extinguishment $ 8,426,927 $ -
Shares issued on debt conversion $ 9,424,914 $ -
Warrants repurchased and retired $ - $ 200,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MARIZYME, INC.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023
1. Organization, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization
Maryzime, Inc. (the “Company” or “Marizyme”) is a Nevada corporation originally incorporated on March 20, 2007, under the name SWAV Enterprises, Ltd. On September 6, 2010, the Company name was changed to GBS Enterprises Inc. and from 2010 to September 2018 the Company was in the software products and advisory services business for email and instant messaging applications. The Company divested that business between December 2016 and September 2018 and focused on the acquisition of life science technologies.
On March 21, 2018, the Company’s name was changed to Marizyme, Inc., to reflect the new life sciences focus. Marizyme’s common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB tier of OTC Markets Group, Inc. under the symbol “MRZM”.
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Somahlution, Inc. (“Somahlution”), Somaceutica, Inc. (“Somaceutica”), Marizyme Sciences, Inc. (“Marizyme Sciences”), and My Health Logic, Inc. (“My Health Logic”). All intercompany transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.
Going Concern
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared using GAAP as applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. However, the Company does not have an established source of revenues sufficient to cover its operating costs and to allow it to continue as a going concern. The Company, since its inception, has incurred recurring operating losses and negative cash flows from operations and has an accumulated deficit of $151,336,349 at December 31, 2023. Additionally, the Company has negative working capital of $19,633,804 and $148,465 of cash on hand, which may not be sufficient to fund operations for the next twelve months. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Under the going concern assumption, an entity is ordinarily viewed as continuing its business for the foreseeable future with neither the intention or necessity of liquidation, ceasing trading, or seeking protection from creditors pursuant to the laws and regulations. Accordingly, assets and liabilities are recorded on the basis that the entity will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.
The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to continue to successfully develop its intangible assets, meet its debt obligations until such time future profitable revenues are achieved, and raise funds beyond its working capital balance in order to finance future development of its intangible assets.
During the next twelve months from the date the consolidated financial statements were issued, the Company’s foreseeable cash requirements will relate to continuous operations of its business, maintaining its good standing and making the required filing with the SEC, and the payment of expenses associated with its product development. The Company may experience a cash shortfall and be required to raise additional capital. Management intends to raise additional funds by way of a private or public offering. In April of 2024, the Company engaged in a Co-Development Agreement with Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. (“Qualigen”) aimed at furthering the commercialization efforts of DuraGraft™. Pursuant to the Agreement, Qualigen has committed to providing up to $1,500,000 in funding over the next few months to support the commercial launch of DuraGraft™ in the United States, including funding for post-clearance clinical studies. While the Company has been successful in raising capital in the past and believes in the viability of its strategy to continue to develop and expand its products and generate sufficient revenue and in its ability to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances to that effect. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the Company’s ability to further implement its business plan and generate sufficient revenue and its ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering.
The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make use of certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported periods. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates are related to recoverability of long-term assets including intangible assets and goodwill, amortization expense, valuation of warrants, stock-based compensation, derivative liabilities, contingent liabilities, and deferred tax valuations.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company uses the fair value hierarchy to measure the value of its financial instruments. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon its own market assumptions. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below:
●
Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
●
Level 2 - Quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other model-derived valuations whose inputs are directly or indirectly observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
●
Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable and for which assumptions are used based on management estimates.
The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.
The carrying amounts of certain cash, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses, notes payable, and amounts due to related parties approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
The fair value of lease obligations is determined using discounted cash flows based on the expected amounts and timing of the cash flows discounted using a market rate of interest adjusted for appropriate credit risk.
The contingent liabilities assumed on the acquisition of Somahlution consist of present values of royalty payments, performance warrants and pediatric voucher warrants, future rare pediatric voucher sales, and liquidation preference. Management measured these contingencies in accordance with Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
i.
The performance warrants and pediatric vouchers warrants liabilities were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation model utilizing the following weighted average assumptions: risk free rate of 1.19%, expected volatility of 69.62%, expected dividend of $0, and expected life of 6.21 years. For the year ended December 31, 2023, changes in these assumptions resulted in $1,202,000 decrease in fair value of these liabilities. The decrease was driven by a decrease in the Company’s stock price year over year. At December 31, 2023 the fair market value of performance warrants and pediatric vouchers warrants liabilities was $225,000 (2022 - $1,427,000).
ii.
The present value of royalty payments was measured using the scenario-based methodology. In assessing the value attributed to the royalty payments, the estimated future cash flows were discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the revenue from net sales of the product. The cash flows derived from the Company’s fifteen-year strategic plan are based on managements’ expectations of market growth, industry reports and trends, and past performances. The discounted cash flow model included projections surrounding revenue, discount rates, and growth rates. The discount rates used to calculate the present value of royalty payments reflect specific risks of the Company and market conditions and the mid-range was estimated at 20.6%. For the year ended December 31, 2023, changes in these assumptions resulted in $2,044,000 decrease in fair value of these liabilities. At December 31, 2023, the fair market value of royalty payments was $3,358,000 (2022 - $5,402,000).
iii.
Rare pediatric voucher sales liability was valued based on the scenario-based methodology where the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset - 20.6%. For the year ended December 31, 2023, changes in these assumptions resulted in $1,055,000 decrease in fair value of this liability. At December 31, 2023 the fair market value of rare pediatric vouchers was $Nil (2022 - $1,055,000).
iv.
The present value of liquidation preference liability, included in the contingent consideration, was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing method and represents the fair value of the maximum payment amount according to the Agreement. The following assumptions were used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model: risk free rate of 0.21%, expected volatility of 78.93%, expected dividend of $0, and expected life of 5 years. No changes to the fair value of liquidation preference liability were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair market value of liquidation preference was $1,823,000.
The derivative liabilities consisted of optional and automatic conversion features and the share redemption feature attached to the convertible notes, issued pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement (see Note 6).
The Company has no financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis. None of the Company’s non-financial assets or liabilities are recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis. No transfers between levels have occurred during the periods presented.
Marizyme measures the following financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair values of these financial instruments were as follows:
Schedule of Fair Values of Financial Instruments
December 31, 2023 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Fair Value Hierarchy
December 31, 2023 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities $ - $ - $ -
Contingent liabilities - - 5,406,000
Total $ - $ - $ 5,406,000
December 31, 2022 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Fair Value Hierarchy
December 31, 2022 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities $ - $ - $ 4,823,725
Contingent liabilities - - 9,707,000
Total $ - $ - $ 14,530,725
The following table provides a roll forward of all liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 significant unobservable inputs:
Schedule of Liabilities Fair Value Measured
Derivative and Contingent Liabilities Derivative
Liabilities
Contingent
Liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2022 $ 4,823,725 $ 9,707,000
Change in fair value of contingent liabilities - (4,301,000 )
Derivative liabilities extinguished pursuant to Unit Purchase Agreement (Note 6) (4,823,725 ) -
Derivative liabilities issued pursuant to OID Purchase Agreement (Note 6) 12,292,635 -
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities (795,934 ) -
Derivative liabilities reclassified to equity (Note 6) (11,496,701 )
Balance at December 31, 2023 $ - $ 5,406,000
Cash
Cash includes cash in readily available checking accounts.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
The Company had significant cash balances at financial institutions which throughout the year regularly exceed the federally insured limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Inventory
Inventory consisted of primarily finished goods and is valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first out method. The Company decreases the value of inventory for estimated obsolescence equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value, based upon an aging analysis of the inventory on hand, specifically known inventory-related risks, and assumptions about future demand and market conditions. The Company has determined that no inventory reserve was necessary as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Accounts Receivable
Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold in the ordinary course of business. Accounts receivable are non-interest bearing and are due for settlement in full within 30 days. Trade receivables are shown net of allowance for credit losses.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Effective the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, the Company adopted the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) model as per FASB ASU No. 2016-13. This transition had no material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Management believes the allowance for credit losses adequately reflects estimated credit losses. Future adjustments will be made as necessary based on economic conditions.
Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the useful life of the asset. Machinery, computer equipment and related software are depreciated over five to seven years. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over four to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance of assets are charged to expense as incurred. Upon retirement or sale, the cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets disposed of are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in loss from operations.
Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Intangible assets are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses. Intangible assets acquired as a result of an acquisition or in a business combination are measured at fair value at the acquisition date.
The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed as either finite or indefinite. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the estimated useful economic life and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The estimated useful life and amortization method are reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with the effect of any changes in estimates being accounted for on a prospective basis.
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid for the acquisition of subsidiaries over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Following the initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
In-Process Research and Development
The Company evaluates whether acquired intangible assets are a business under applicable accounting standards. Additionally, the Company evaluates whether the acquired assets have a future alternative use. Intangible assets that do not have future alternative use are considered acquired in-process research and development (“IPR&D”). When the acquired in-process research and development assets are not part of a business combination, the value of the consideration paid is expensed on the acquisition date. Future costs to develop these assets are recorded to research and development expense as they are incurred.
Impairment
●
Impairment of long-lived assets: The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are less than the carrying amount. The impairment loss, if recognized, would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset over its respective fair value.
●
Goodwill: Goodwill is recorded at the time of purchase for the excess of the amount of the purchase price over the fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value is determined using the estimated discounted future cash flows of the reporting unit. Goodwill is not amortized and instead is tested at least annually for impairment, or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. This impairment test is performed annually at December 31. Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of underlying assets could result in an inability to recover the carrying value of the goodwill, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge.
●
In-process research and development assets: IPR&D assets are reviewed for impairment annually, or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, and upon establishment of technological feasibility or regulatory approval. An impairment loss, if any, is calculated by comparing the fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference and its carrying value is reduced accordingly. Similar to the impairment test for goodwill, the Company may perform a qualitative approach for testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment.
Leases
At the inception of a contractual arrangement, the Company determines whether the contract contains a lease by assessing whether there is an identified asset and whether the contract conveys the right to control the use of the identified asset in exchange for consideration over a period of time. If both criteria are met, the Company records the associated lease liability and corresponding right-of-use asset upon commencement of the lease using the implicit rate or a discount rate based on a credit-adjusted secured borrowing rate commensurate with the term of the lease. The Company additionally evaluates leases at their inception to determine if they are to be accounted for as an operating lease or a finance lease. A lease is accounted for as a finance lease if it meets one of the following five criteria: the lease has a purchase option that is reasonably certain of being exercised, the present value of the future cash flows is substantially all of the fair market value of the underlying asset, the lease term is for a significant portion of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset, the title to the underlying asset transfers at the end of the lease term, or if the underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative uses to the lessor at the end of the term. Leases that do not meet the finance lease criteria are accounted for as an operating lease. Operating lease assets represent a right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease liabilities with a term greater than one year and their corresponding right-of-use assets are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term. Certain adjustments to the right-of-use asset may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid or incentives received. As the Company’s leases do not typically provide an implicit rate, the Company utilizes the appropriate incremental borrowing rate, determined as the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term and in a similar economic environment. Lease cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and variable lease payments are recognized as operating expenses in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Variable lease payments primarily include common area maintenance, utilities, real estate taxes, insurance, and other operating costs that are passed on from the lessor in proportion to the space leased by the Company. The Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate between lease and non-lease components.
Revenue Recognition
Pursuant to Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principle, Topic 606 outlines a five-step process for recognizing revenue from customer contracts that includes i) identification of the contract with a customer, ii) identification of the performance obligations in the contract, iii) determining the transaction price, iv) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations in the contract, and v) recognizing revenue associated with performance obligations as they are satisfied.
At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct and determines those that are performance obligations. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when the performance obligation is satisfied.
The Company has identified one performance obligation which is related to DuraGraft product sales. For the Company’s distribution partner channel, the Company recognizes revenue for product sales at the time of shipment of the product to its distribution partner (customer). As products have an expiration date, if a product expires, the Company will replace the product at no charge. There were no significant judgements made in applying this topic.
Direct Cost of Revenue
Cost of sales includes the actual cost of merchandise sold, and the cost of transportation of merchandise from the Company’s third-party vendor to its distributor.
Research and Development Expenses and Accruals
All research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred and consist primarily of salaries, payroll taxes, and employee benefits, those individuals involved in research and development efforts, external research and development costs incurred under agreements with contract research organizations and consultants to conduct and support the Company’s ongoing clinical trials of DuraGraft, and costs related to manufacturing DuraGraft for clinical trials. The Company has entered into various research and development contracts with various organizations and other companies. Payments of these activities are based on the terms of the individual agreements which match to the pattern of costs incurred. Payments made in advances are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as prepaid expenses. The Company records accruals for estimated costs incurred for ongoing research and development activities. When evaluating the adequacy of the accrued liabilities, the Company analyzes progress of the services, including the phase or completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Significant judgments and estimates may be made in determining the prepaid or accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation expense for employees and directors is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations based on estimated amounts, including the grant date fair value and the expected service period. For stock options, the Company estimates the grant date fair value using a Black-Scholes valuation model, which requires the use of multiple subjective inputs including estimated future volatility, expected forfeitures and the expected term of the awards. The Company estimates the expected future volatility based on the stock’s historical price volatility. The stock’s future volatility may differ from the estimated volatility at the grant date. For restricted stock unit (“RSU”) equity awards, the Company estimates the grant date fair value using its closing stock price on the date of grant. The Company recognizes the effect of forfeitures in compensation expense when the forfeitures occur. The estimated forfeiture rates may differ from actual forfeiture rates which would affect the amount of expense recognized during the period. The Company recognizes the value of the awards over the awards’ requisite service or performance periods. The requisite service period is generally the time over which the Company’s share-based awards vest.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the consolidated financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company recognizes net deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If management determines that the Company would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, management would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.
The Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby (i) management determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (ii) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, management recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. Any accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability. There was no interest or penalties as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Segment Reporting
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock and if-converted methods. Dilutive common stock equivalents are comprised of unvested common stock, options and warrants. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding as inclusion of the potentially dilutive securities (warrants, stock options, and common shares subject to repurchase) would be antidilutive.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
The Company assesses the adoption impacts of recently issued accounting standards by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard setting bodies on the Company’s financial statements as well as material updates to previous assessments. There were no new material accounting standards issued or adopted in the year 2023 that impacted the Company, other than indicated below.
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326). The new standard amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities. In February 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-02, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) and Leases (Topic 842) - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119 and Update to SEC Section on Effective Date Related to Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which amends the effective date of the original pronouncement for smaller reporting companies. ASU 2016-13 and its amendments will be effective for the Company for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. CECL estimates of expected credit losses on trade receivables over their life will be required to be recorded at inception, based on historical information, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company adopted the standard in its first quarter of 2023. There was no material impact on the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
ASU 2020-06
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. ASU 2020-06 will simplify the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. Limiting the accounting models results in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract as compared with current GAAP. Convertible instruments that continue to be subject to separation models are (i) those with embedded conversion features that are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, that meet the definition of a derivative, and that do not qualify for a scope exception from derivative accounting and (ii) convertible debt instruments issued with substantial premiums for which the premiums are recorded as paid-in capital. ASU 2020-06 also amends the guidance for the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity to reduce form-over-substance-based accounting conclusions. ASU 2020-06 will be effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact adoption of ASU 2020-06 will have on its financial statements and disclosures.
2. Leases
On December 11, 2020, the Company entered into a five-and-a-half-year lease agreement for approximately 10,300 square feet of administrative office and laboratories space, which commenced in December 2020 at a monthly rent of approximately $10,800, increasing by 2.5% annually beginning in the second year of the lease until the end of the term. Additionally, pursuant to the agreement, the Company would pay approximately $12,000 per month in operating expenses.
Effective April 1, 2022, the Company amended its lease agreement for administrative office and laboratories to add additional 3,053 square feet of space. The monthly cost of total expended lease space is approximately $15,641 increasing to $16,032 in 2024 and will continue to increase by 2.5% annually thereafter until the end of the term. The monthly operating expenses for total expanded premises have increased from approximately $12,000 to $17,500 per month. The term of the lease remains unchanged. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining lease term was 2.58 years. The lease has been classified as an operating lease.
The assets and liabilities from the lease were recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term using the discount rate of 3.95%, which is the average commercial interest available at the time.
The total rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $356,309 and $370,945, respectively.
The following table summarizes supplemental balance sheet information related to the operating lease as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Schedule of Right-of-Use Asset and Related Lease Liabilities
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Right-of-use asset $ 1,101,211 $ 1,485,023
Operating lease liabilities, current $ 434,082 $ 423,495
Operating lease liabilities, non-current 667,129 1,061,528
Total operating lease liabilities $ 1,101,211 $ 1,485,023
As of December 31, 2023, the maturities of the lease liabilities for years ended December 31 are as follows:
Schedule of Maturities of Lease Liabilities
$ 434,082
444,934
266,034
Total lease payments $ 1,145,050
Less: Present value discount (43,839 )
Total $ 1,101,211
3. Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Krillase
As part of the asset acquisition of ACB Holding AB, Reg. No. 559119-5762, completed on September 12, 2018, Marizyme acquired all rights, titles, and interest in the Krillase technology, a group of intangible assets worth $28,600,000. Krillase is a naturally occurring enzyme that acts to break protein bonds and has applications in wound debridement, wound healing, dental care and thrombosis. The useful lives of the intangible assets are based on the life of the patent and related technology. The patents and related technology for Krillase have not been amortized since the acquisition, as they have not yet been put into operations.
At December 31, 2023, management determined that the carrying value of Krillase exceeded its recoverable amount. Impairment of $4,250,000 (2022 - $24,350,000) was recognized on Krillase intangible assets and recorded in the impairment of intangible assets in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The recoverable amount of Krillase intangible assets was estimated at $Nil as of December 31, 2023 (2022 - $4,250,000).
DuraGraft
As part of the Somahlution acquisition in 2020, Marizyme purchased $18,170,000 of intangible assets related to the DuraGraft® technology.
At December 31, 2023, management determined that the carrying value of DuraGraft intangible assets exceeded its recoverable amount. Impairment of $2,442,000 (2022 - $Nil) was recognized on DuraGraft intangible assets and recorded in the impairment of intangible assets in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The recoverable amount of DuraGraft intangible assets was estimated at $14,241,384 as of December 31, 2023 (2022 - $18,170,000).
My Health Logic
As part of the My Health Logic acquisition in 2021, Marizyme purchased MHL’s lab-on-chip technology platform and its patient-centric, digital point-of-care diagnostic device, MATLOC, fair valued at an aggregate amount of $6,600,000. At December 31, 2023, management determined that fair value of assets exceeded its recoverable amount. Impairment of $5,777,720 was recognized on MHL’s intangible assets and recorded in the impairment of intangible assets in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 - $Nil).
Additionally, as part of the My Health Logic acquisition in 2021, the Company recognized goodwill of $1,774,656. At December 31, 2023, management determined that the carrying value of goodwill exceeded its recoverable amount. As a result, the Company recognized an impairment of $1,774,656, which was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 - $Nil).
Schedule of Intangible Assets Amortization Expense
December 31, 2023
Gross Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Impairment Net Carrying
Amount
Krillase intangible assets $ 4,250,000 $ - $ (4,250,000 ) $ -
Patents in process 122,745 - - 122,745
DuraGraft patent 5,256,000 (1,381,383 ) - 3,874,617
DuraGraft - Distributor relationship 308,000 (105,233 ) - 202,767
DuraGraft IPR&D - Cyto Protectant Life Sciences 12,606,000 - (2,442,000 ) 10,164,000
My Health Logic - Trade name 450,000 (65,090 ) (384,910 ) -
My Health Logic - Biotechnology 4,600,000 (547,941 ) (4,052,059 ) -
My Health Logic - Software 1,550,000 (209,249 ) (1,340,751 ) -
Total intangibles $ 29,142,745 $ (2,308,896 ) $ (12,469,720 ) $ 14,364,129
December 31, 2022
Gross Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Impairment Net Carrying
Amount
Krillase intangible assets $ 28,600,000 $ - $ (24,350,000 ) $ 4,250,000
Patents in process 122,745 - - 122,745
DuraGraft patent 5,256,000 (977,076 ) - 4,278,924
Duragraft - Distributor relationship 308,000 (74,433 ) - 233,567
Duragraft IPR&D - Cyto Protectant Life Sciences 12,606,000 - - 12,606,000
My Health Logic - Trade name 450,000 (32,947 ) - 417,053
My Health Logic - Biotechnology 4,600,000 (277,353 ) - 4,322,647
My Health Logic - Software 1,550,000 (105,916 ) - 1,444,084
Total intangibles $ 53,492,745 $ (1,467,725 ) $ (24,350,000 ) $ 27,675,020
Schedule of Goodwill
Goodwill DuraGraft My Health Logic Total
Balance, December 31, 2022 $ 5,416,000 $ 1,774,656 $ 7,190,656
Impairment - (1,774,656 ) (1,774,656 )
Balance, December 31, 2023 $ 5,416,000 $ - $ 5,416,000
The following changes to the Company’s intangible assets had taken place in the periods indicated:
Schedule of Intangible Assets
Balance, December 31, 2021 $ 52,866,192
Impairment (24,350,000 )
Amortization expense (841,172 )
Balance, December 31, 2022 $ 27,675,020
Impairment (12,469,720 )
Amortization expense (841,171 )
Balance, December 31, 2023 $ 14,364,129
Future amortizations for DuraGraft intangible assets for the next five years will be $435,108 for each year from 2024 through 2028 and $1,901,843 for 2029 and thereafter. Amortization related to in process research and development will be determined upon the Company achieving commercialization.
4. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses, summarized by major category, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 consist of the following:
Schedule of Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Trade accounts payable $ 2,216,386 $ 1,224,542
Accrued expenses -
Accrued compensation expenses 105,678 140,204
Total accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 2,322,064 $ 1,365,443
5. Notes Payable
a) On October 23, 2023, the Company issued a note payable to Hub International for $165,469 bearing interest at the annual rate of 8% per annum, due August 23, 2024, payable monthly starting November 23, 2023. Failure to pay past due amounts and monthly installments may result in cancellation of the Company’s insurance.
b) On December 28, 2022, the Company issued a promissory note to Hexin for the principal amount of $750,000 bearing interest at the annual rate of 20% per annum, due June 28, 2023 (the “Hexin Promissory Note”). For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company accrued $64,133 in interest on the promissory note (2022 - $Nil). Hexin agreed to cancel the Hexin Promissory Note with the outstanding balance of $814,133 (the aggregate amount of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest as of May 30, 2023) in exchange for the issuance of 9,578,040 OID Units (see Note 6), which the Company issued to Hexin on May 30, 2023.
c) On February 2, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to Walleye Opportunities Master Fund Ltd. (the “Walleye Promissory Note”) for $1,000,000 with a maturity date of May 7, 2023. The note carried no interest and the principal amount was required to be repaid in full on the maturity date. In the event that the principal amount was not repaid in full on maturity date, the principal amount required to be increased to $1,250,000. At the maturity date of the Walleye Promissory Note, the principal amount remained unpaid, resulting in an increase from $1,000,000 to $1,250,000. Of this increment, $250,000 was recognized as interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. Walleye agreed to cancel the promissory note, with the outstanding balance of $1,250,000 in exchange for the issuance of 14,705,890 OID Units (see Note 6), which were issued to Walleye on May 30, 2023.
d) As part of the My Health Logic Inc. acquisition, completed in November 2021, Marizyme assumed an aggregate of $468,137 in notes payable, the notes were unsecured, bore interest at a rate of 9% per annum with no maturity date. The Company settled an aggregate of $278,678 of these notes payable as part of Unit Purchase Agreement issuances during the year ended December 31, 2022 (see Note 6). For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company accrued $29,304 in interest on the notes payable (2022 - $15,124) for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 - $Nil). As of December 31, 2023, balance of the remaining note payable was $252,223 (2022 - $218,100).
e) As of December 31, 2023, the Company has outstanding borrowings under a note payable to Mr. Richmond in the principal amount of $151,000. The note payable bears no interest and is due on demand.
f) As of December 31, 2023, the Company has outstanding borrowings under a note payable to Santander Bank: Sullivan & Worcester LLP in the principal amount of $65,000. The note payable bears no interest and is due on demand.
6. Convertible Promissory Notes and Warrants
Convertible Notes and Warrants
From May 2021 to August 2022, the Company conducted a private placement (the “Units Private Placement”) of units (the “Units”) consisting of 10% secured convertible promissory notes (the “Convertible Notes”) and accompanying warrants (the “Class C Warrants”), as were modified or amended from time to time. The most recent terms of the Convertible Notes and Class C Warrants were as follows:
Convertible Notes Terms
The Convertible Notes mature in 24 months from the initial closing date and accrue 10% of simple interest per annum on the outstanding principal amount. The Convertible Notes principal and accrued interest can be converted at any time at the option of the holder at a conversion price of $1.75 per share. In the event the Company consummates, while the Convertible Note is outstanding, an equity financing with a gross aggregate amount of securities sold of not less than $10,000,000 (“Qualified Financing”), then all outstanding principal, together with all unpaid accrued interest under the Convertible Notes, shall automatically convert into shares of the equity financing at the lesser of (i) 75% of the cash price per share paid in the financing and the conversion price of $1.75 per unit.
In the event that the Company consummates, while the Convertible Note is outstanding, an equity financing with a gross aggregate amount of securities sold less than $10,000,000 (“Unqualified Financing”), then the conversion price of the Convertible Notes of $1.75 per share and the exercise price of Class C warrants of $2.25 per share will change to the equity offering price. Moreover, in that event, the Class C Warrant holders may also apply a most-favored-nations clause in their warrants to request that their Class C Warrants provide that their warrant exercise rights should be further adjusted to allow them to purchase a proportionately higher number of additional shares equal to the initial number of shares which may be purchased by exercise of their Class C Warrants, multiplied by a fraction equal to the current exercise price divided by the adjusted exercise price, which would allow such Class C Warrant holders to purchase the same aggregate dollar amount of shares as initially provided such Class C Warrants. If the Convertible Notes and Class C Warrants’ conversion or exercise rights become so adjusted as a result of such an equity financing, then the Company would be required to register the additional shares of common stock that these securities may be converted into or exercised to purchase for resale. The Convertible Notes are secured by a first priority security interest in all assets of the Company.
Class C Warrants Terms
● Exercise price is the lower of (i) $2.25 per share, or (ii) the Automatic Conversion Price (the lesser of (i) 75% of the cash price per share paid by the other purchasers of next round securities in the Qualified Financing and (ii) the Conversion Price ($2.25, subject to Customary Antidilution Adjustments).
● Exercisable for a period of 5 years from issuance.
● Warrant Coverage: 200%.
The Company determined that the optional and automatic conversion feature and the share redemption feature attached to the Convertible Notes met the definition of derivative liabilities and that the detachable warrants issued did not meet the definition of a liability and therefore was accounted for as an equity instrument.
The fair value of the warrants and the fair value of derivative liabilities issued have been recorded as debt discount and are being amortized to interest and accretion expense using the effective interest method over the term of the Convertible Notes.
In 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,260,594 Units for the proceeds of $6,692,765 net of issuance costs. In 2022, the Company issued additional 4,180,071 units for the proceeds of $6,500,743 net of issuance cost.
Adjustment to Conversion Price of Convertible Notes and Exercise Price of Class C Warrants
On April 13, 2023, the Company obtained exercise and conversion rights waivers and amendments from holders of the Convertible Notes and Class C Warrants (“Original Securities”), pursuant to which, the conversion price of the Convertible Notes and the exercise price of the Class C Warrants was adjusted to $0.10 per share (“New Securities”) and all other terms remained the same. On April 13, 2023, outstanding Convertible Notes had underlying principle of $14,432,996, and outstanding Class C Warrants were exercisable to purchase a total of 16,538,486 shares of common stock.
The Company determined that the terms of the New Securities were substantially different from the Original Securities, and, as such the exchange of the Original Securities for the New Securities was accounted for as an extinguishment of debt on April 13, 2023, and the New Securities accounted for as a new debt issuance.
As a result of this substantial modification, a total of 8,269,237 Units outstanding were replaced with an aggregate of 190,584,260 pro rata Units, and a loss on debt extinguishment of $684,682 was recorded in consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 - $Nil).
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued Convertible Notes (the “Replacement Placement Agent Notes”) to Univest Securities, LLC (“Univest”) and Mr. Bradley Richmond. The principal amounts of these notes were $137,984 and $206,975, respectively, with maturity dates set for July 25, 2025. These notes are convertible into up to 1,683,131 and 2,524,697 shares of common stock, respectively, if held to maturity. These notes were issued in replacement of Convertible Notes that had been previously issued and subsequently cancelled, pursuant to an October 2022 Letter Agreement. The Company recorded a $338,181 gain on debt extinguishment related to the cancellation of the previous Convertible Notes in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The Company determined that the optional conversion feature attached to the Convertible Notes did not meet the definition of derivative liabilities and that the detachable warrants issued did not meet the definition of a liability and therefore was accounted for as an equity instrument. The fair value of $19,403,385 of the warrants issued has been recorded as a component of equity and a debt discount and is being amortized to interest and accretion expense using the effective interest method over the term of the Convertible Notes.
Each of the Convertible Notes provides that any default on indebtedness of more than $100,000, other than indebtedness under the respective Convertible Notes, will also result in default under the Convertible Notes. Due to the non-repayment of the initial principal amount of $1,000,000 under the Walleye Promissory Note by its maturity date of May 7, 2023 (see Note 5), the Company also defaulted under the Convertible Notes on the same date. The Convertible Notes provide that due to this default, the Company became obligated to pay 135% of the outstanding principal amount under each of the Convertible Notes on the date on which the default occurred (the “Mandatory Default Amount”). The Mandatory Default Amount may be declared due by each holder immediately. The aggregate Mandatory Default Amount that may be due under the Convertible Notes was $28,461,827 on the date of the default, or $7,378,993 more than would otherwise have been due under the Convertible Notes on the date of the default. Therefore, as a result of the event of the default, the Company accreted $7,378,993 to the value of the Convertible Notes and included this amount in interest and accretion expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.
Conversion of Convertible Notes
In December 2023, several note holders exercised their right to convert Convertible Notes, resulting in an aggregate of $9,340,774 worth of Convertible Notes being converted into common stock of the Company.
Amendment to Remaining Convertible Notes
Additionally, subsequent to the conversion, the Company extended the terms of the outstanding Convertible Notes with an original maturity date of December 21, 2023, to extend their term until December 21, 2024. In connection with the extension of the maturity dates for the outstanding Convertible Notes, the Company executed a substantial modification that led to the extinguishment of the existing Convertible notes and the issuance of new Convertible Notes. This modification resulted in a gain on extinguishment of $1,520,047, which has been recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized interest and accretion expense of $19,691,390, on the Original and New Securities in aggregate (2022 - $2,763,749) in the consolidated statements of operations.
The following table summarizes supplemental balance sheet information related to the convertible notes, net of debt discount outstanding, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Schedule of Convertible Notes
Convertible Notes, Net of Debt Discount
Balance, December 31, 2021 $ 26,065
Convertible notes issued - new securities 7,315,138
Issuance costs (535,717 )
Debt discount (6,479,421 )
Debt accretion 2,763,749
Debt extinguishment (338,181 )
Balance, December 31, 2022 $ 2,751,633
Debt accretion on Original securities 1,835,741
Debt extinguishment (4,587,374 )
Convertible notes issued - new securities 19,403,385
Debt discount (19,403,385 )
Debt accretion on New Securities 17,792,071
Mandatory Default Amount 7,378,993
Conversion of debt (9,426,260 )
Extinguishment of debt (10,518,069 )
Convertible notes issued with extended maturity date 10,518,069
Debt discount (1,520,047 )
Debt accretion 63,578
Balance, December 31, 2023 $ 14,288,335
Schedule of Convertible Notes Net of Debt Discount
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Convertible notes - total principal $ 18,955,174 $ 14,432,996
Unamortized issuance costs and discount (4,666,839 ) (11,681,363 )
Convertible Notes, Net of Debt Discount $ 14,288,335 $ 2,751,633
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Current portion $ 14,288,335 $ -
Non-current portion - 2,751,633
Convertible Notes, Net of Debt Discount $ 14,288,335 $ 2,751,633
Convertible Notes and Warrants
I. On May 12, 2023, the Company conducted the initial closing (the “OID Units Initial Closing”) of a private placement of up to $10,000,000 for an aggregate of up to 100,000,000 units (the “OID Units”) under a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of the same date, with accredited investors (the “OID Purchase Agreement”), each consisting of (i) a 15% original issue discount unsecured subordinated convertible promissory note (each, a “OID Convertible Note” and collectively, the “OID Convertible Notes”), convertible into shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share, subject to adjustment, (ii) a warrant for the purchase of 125% of the shares of common stock into which the related OID Convertible Notes may be converted at $0.10 per share, subject to adjustment (the “Class E Warrant”), and (iii) a warrant for the purchase of 125% of the shares of common stock into which the related OID Convertible Note may be converted at $0.20 per share, subject to adjustment (each, a “Class F Warrant,” and each Class F Warrant together with each Class E Warrant collectively, the “OID Warrants”).
As part of the OID Units Initial Closing and on the same date, Walleye Opportunities Master Fund Ltd. (“Walleye”) paid a subscription amount of $1,000,000 and the Company issued Walleye 11,764,710 OID Units consisting of (i) an OID Convertible Note in the principal amount of $1,176,471, convertible into 11,764,710 shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share, (ii) a Class E Warrant for the purchase of 14,705,880 shares of common stock, and (iii) a Class F Warrant for the purchase of 14,705,880 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share.
II. On May 30, 2023, the Company conducted the second closing (the “OID Units Second Closing”) of the OID Units Private Placement. In the OID Units Second Closing, Hexin Global Ltd. (“Hexin”) and Walleye agreed to the cancellation of the Hexin Promissory Note and the Walleye Promissory Note (see Note 5), respectively, and Frank Maresca (“Maresca”), a consultant to the Company, agreed to the cancellation of certain indebtedness, in exchange for OID Units and related agreements, as described below.
First, under a Cancellation and Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2023, between the Company and Hexin (the “Hexin Cancellation Agreement”), Hexin agreed to cancel the Hexin Promissory Note (see Note 5) in exchange for the issuance of 9,578,040 OID Units consisting of (a) an OID Convertible Note in the principal amount of $957,804 for a subscription equal to $814,133, convertible into 9,578,040 shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share, (b) a Class E Warrant for the purchase of 11,972,550 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share, and (c) a Class F Warrant for the purchase of 11,972,550 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share.
Second, under a Cancellation and Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2023, between the Company and Walleye (the “Walleye Cancellation Agreement”), Walleye agreed to cancel the Walleye Promissory Note (see Note 5) in exchange for the issuance of 14,705,890 Units consisting of (a) an OID Convertible Note in the principal amount of $1,470,589 for a subscription equal to $1,250,000, convertible into 14,705,890 shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share, (b) a Class E Warrant for the purchase of 18,382,362 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share, and (c) a Class F Warrant for the purchase of 18,382,362 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share.
Third, under a Cancellation and Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2023, between the Company and Maresca (the “Maresca Cancellation Agreement” and together with the Hexin Cancellation Agreement and the Walleye Cancellation Agreement, the “Cancellation and Exchange Agreements”), Maresca agreed to cancel $150,000 of the aggregate short-term indebtedness to Maresca, which arose in the ordinary course of business for certain consulting services provided by Maresca to the Company, in exchange for the issuance of 1,764,710 Units consisting of (a) an OID Convertible Note in the principal amount of $176,471 for a subscription equal to $150,000 (the amount of the indebtedness being cancelled), convertible into 1,764,710 shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share, (b) a Class E Warrant for the purchase of 2,205,887 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share, and (c) a Class F Warrant for the purchase of 2,205,887 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share.
III. On July 10, 2023, Marizyme conducted the third closing (the “Third OID Units Closing”) of the private placement. In connection with the Third OID Units Closing Hexin paid a subscription amount of $1,000,000, and the Company issued 11,764,710 OID Units consisting of (i) an OID Convertible Note in the principal amount of $1,176,471, convertible into 11,764,710 shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share, (ii) a Class E Warrant for the purchase of 14,705,887 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share, and (iii) a Class F Warrant for the purchase of 14,705,880 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share.
IV. On August 30, 2023, the Company conducted the fourth closing (the “Fourth OID Units Closing”) of the private placement of up to $10,000,000 for an aggregate of up to 100,000,000 units, under a unit purchase agreement between the Company and each of 13 investors (the “August 2023 OID Units Purchase Agreement”). In connection with the Fourth OID Units Closing, 12 of the investors paid an aggregate subscription amount of $825,000, and the Company issued to these investors 9,705,960 OID Units consisting of (i) OID Convertible Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $970,596, convertible into 9,705,960 shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share, (ii) Class E Warrants for the purchase of 12,132,448 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share, and (iii) Class F Warrants for the purchase of 12,132,448 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share.
Also in connection with the Fourth OID Units Closing, under a Cancellation and Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2023, between the Company and Frank Maresca (the “August 2023 Maresca Cancellation Agreement”), Mr. Maresca agreed to cancel $200,000 of aggregate short-term indebtedness to Mr. Maresca, which arose in the ordinary course of business for certain consulting services provided by Mr. Maresca to the Company, in exchange for: (i) the issuance of 2,352,950 OID Units consisting of (a) an OID Convertible Note in the principal amount of $235,295 for a subscription equal to $200,000, convertible into 2,352,950 shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share (the “August 2023 Maresca OID Convertible Note”), (b) a Class E Warrant for the purchase of 2,941,187 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share, and (c) a Class F Warrant for the purchase of 2,941,187 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share. The August 2023 Maresca Cancellation Agreement contains a release of claims against the Company relating to the cancelled indebtedness.
V. On November 20, 2023, the Company conducted the fifth closing (the “Fifth OID Units Closing”) of a private placement of up to $10,000,000 for an aggregate of up to 100,000,000 units, under a unit purchase agreement between the Company and each of nine investors (the “November 2023 OID Unit Purchase Agreement”). In connection with the Fifth OID Units Closing, on November 20, 2023, six of the investors paid an aggregate subscription amount of $550,000, and the Company issued to these investors 6,470,620 OID Units in aggregate consisting of (i) OID Convertible Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $647,062, convertible into 6,470,620 shares of common stock plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share (ii) Class E Warrants for the purchase of 8,088,275 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share and (iii) Class F Warrants for the purchase of 8,088,275 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share.
Also in connection with the Fifth OID Units Closing, three of the investors each signed a separate Cancellation and Exchange Agreement with the Company, agreeing to cancel aggregate short-term indebtedness of $150,319, which arose in the ordinary course of business for certain consulting services provided to the Company, in exchange for the issuance of 1,768,470 OID Units in aggregate consisting of (a) three OID Convertible Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $176,847 for a subscription equal to $150,319 (the amount of the indebtedness being cancelled), convertible into 1,768,470 shares of common stock in aggregate plus additional shares based on accrued interest at $0.10 per share, (b) three Class E Warrants for the purchase of 2,210,587 shares of common stock in aggregate at $0.10 per share, and (c) three Class F Warrants for the purchase of 2,210,587 shares of common stock in aggregate at $0.20 per share.
The Company determined that the optional conversion feature attached to the OID Convertible Notes did not meet the definition of derivative liability and that the detachable warrants issued met the definition of a liability and therefore was accounted for as a derivative liability instrument. The warrants were fair valued at $12,292,635 and recorded as derivative liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As a result of the warrant liability exceeding the value of the debt principal, the Company recorded a $6,888,475 loss on issuance of debt that was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 - $Nil). These warrants were valued using the Black-Scholes pricing method. The changes in the assumptions used to value the warrants as of December 11, 2023, resulted in a $795,934 decrease in fair value of this liability. At December 11, 2023, the fair market value of detachable warrant liability was $11,496,701 (2022 - $Nil).
Additionally, on December 11, 2023, the Company amended the OID Convertible Notes contracts, resulting in a change in the accounting treatment for the detachable warrants. Following the amendment, the warrants no longer met the definition of liability and were consequently accounted for as equity instruments. This adjustment led to a reclassification of $11,496,701 from derivative liabilities to equity in the Company’s financial statements.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized interest and accretion expense of $2,694,256 (2022 - $Nil), in the consolidated statements of operations.
The following table summarizes supplemental balance sheet information related to the OID Convertible Notes, net of debt discount outstanding, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Schedule of Convertible Notes
OID Convertible Notes, Net of Debt Discount
Balance, December 31, 2022 $ -
Issuance of convertible notes 6,987,606
Issuance cost (1,583,154 )
Debt discount (5,404,452 )
Debt accretion 2,694,256
Balance, December 31, 2023 $ 2,694,256
Schedule of Convertible Notes Net of Debt Discount
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Convertible notes - total principal $ 6,987,606 $ -
Unamortized issuance costs and discount (4,293,350 ) -
Convertible Notes, Net of Debt Discount $ 2,694,256 $ -
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Current portion $ 2,694,256 $ -
Non-current portion $ - $ -
Convertible Notes, Net of Debt Discount $ 2,694,256 $ -
Convertible Notes Terms
The OID Convertible Notes will mature in nine months from the date of the OID Units Initial Closing and accrue 10% of interest per annum on the outstanding principal amount. The OID Convertible Notes will be unsecured and subordinated to any senior indebtedness of the Company. The OID Convertible Notes’ principal and accrued interest may generally be converted at any time at a conversion price of $0.10 per share, subject to adjustment, at the option of the holder, into shares of common stock, subject to certain limitations: (i) conversion would not cause the holder to beneficially own more than 4.99% of the Company’s common stock, or more than 9.99% if the holder beneficially owns more than 4.99% of common stock based on ownership of equity securities of the Company other than the OID Convertible Notes or the respective warrants; and (ii) the Company’s articles of incorporation have been amended to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock to a sufficient amount to permit the full conversion of the OID Convertible Notes (the “Capital Event Amendment”).
Warrants Terms
The Class E Warrants and Class F Warrants are generally exercisable for a period from the date of the Capital Event Amendment until five years from the date of issue. The exercise right is subject to a similar beneficial ownership limitation that applies to conversion of the OID Convertible Notes above, i.e., exercise is permitted only if it would not cause the holder to beneficially own more than 4.99% of the Company’s common stock, or more than 9.99% if the holder beneficially owns more than 4.99% of common stock based on ownership of equity securities of the Company other than the OID Convertible Notes or the Class E Warrants and Class F Warrants.
7. Stockholders’ Equity
a) Preferred stock
The Company is authorized to issue a total number of 25,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock with a par value of $0.001. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
b) Common stock
The Company is authorized to issue a total number of 2,000,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001.
As of December 31, 2023, there were 131,793,088 (2022 - 40,528,191) shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company completed the following issuances:
● The Company issued 240,000 shares of common stock to Nicholas DeVito as part of the Confidential Settlement Agreement, dated November 18, 2022 (see Note 9).
● The Company issued 2,652,159 shares of common stock on exercise of warrants granted as part of the Somahlution acquisition, completed on July 30, 2020.
● The Company issued 600,000 shares to Mr. Frank Maresca in order to reimburse Mr. Maresca for the shares of Common Stock that were previously cancelled.
● The Company issued 1,346,410 shares on conversion of the debt (see Note 6).
● The Company issued 300,000 shares to Mr. Richmond in order to reimburse Mr. Richmond for the shares of Common Stock that were cancelled in previous years.
● The Company settled trade payables of $100,000 through issuance of 1,000,000 shares. The common shares were valued at $180,000, resulting in a loss of $80,000 on settlement of debt.
● The Company issued 85,126,328 shares on conversion of the debt (see Note 6).
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company had the following share issuances:
● On March 1, 2022, the Company issued 300,000 upon exercise of warrants.
● On October 29, 2022, the Company repurchased and cancelled 300,000 shares of common stock.
c) Options
On May 18, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the Marizyme, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (“SIP”). The SIP incorporates stock options issued prior to May 18, 2021. The SIP authorized 5,300,000 options for issuance. On December 27, 2022, the Board of Directors requested that stockholders ratify an amendment to the SIP to increase the maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the SIP by 1,900,000 to 7,200,000, which was approved by the stockholders. As of December 31, 2023, there remains 2,924,057 options available for issuance.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company granted Nil (2022 - 400,000) share purchase options to directors, officers, employees, and consultants of the Company. The weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option valuation model were as follows:
Schedule of Share Based Stock Option Valuation Assumptions
Risk-free interest rate - 2.98 %
Volatility - 117.58 %
Exercise price - $ 2.20
Dividend yield - 0 %
Forfeiture rate - 0 %
Expected life (years) - 9.95
The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
The summary of option activity for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:
Schedule of Stock Option Activity
Number of Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Contractual Life Total Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2021 3,650,943 $ 1.24 8.34
Granted 400,000 2.20
Expired (62,502 ) 1.25
Forfeited (62,498 ) 1.25
Outstanding at December 31, 2022 3,925,943 $ 1.33 6.06 $ -
Granted/forfeited - - - -
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 3,925,943 1.33 5.06 -
Exercisable at December 31, 2023 3,685,943 1.29 4.85 -
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had the following options issued and outstanding:
Schedule of Options Outstanding and Exercisable
Exercise Price Number of Options
Outstanding
Number of Options
Exercisable
Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Years
Intrinsic Value
$ 1.01 1,985,943 1,985,943 2.49 $ -
1.25 540,000 540,000 7.16 -
1.37 200,000 200,000 6.63 -
1.75 800,000 680,000 7.91 -
2.20 400,000 280,000 8.44 -
$ 1.33 3,925,943 3,685,943 5.06 -
d) Restricted Share Units
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company granted restricted share awards totaling 350,000 shares of common stock to directors, senior officers, and consultants, contingent upon underlying performance conditions. As of December 31, 2023, the Company determined that only two out of four performance conditions have been met. No compensation cost was recognized for the restricted share awards for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022- $295,750).
The following performance conditions attached to the restricted share awards were achieved:
● The Company will raise financing for the gross proceeds that equal or exceed $5,000,000, and
● The Company will complete valuation reports for acquisition of Somahlution and My Health Logic.
e) Warrants
Schedule of Warrants Outstanding
Number Weighted Average Price
Balance, December 31, 2021 12,144,838 $ 2.90
Issued pursuant to Unit Purchase Agreement 8,360,152 2.25
Issued 878,398 1.16
Exercised (300,000 ) 0.01
Expired (113,637 ) 3.00
Cancelled pursuant to FINRA (578,398 ) 1.75
Cancelled as part of debt extinguishment (342,856 ) 2.25
Balance, December 31, 2022 20,048,497 $ 2.64
Warrants modified pursuant to debt extinguishment (Note 6) 355,577,447 0.10
Issued pursuant to debt agreements (Note 6) 183,560,497 0.15
Issued 79,949,352 0.11
Exercised (2,652,159 ) 0.10
Balance, December 31, 2023 636,483,634 $ 0.12
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued the following:
● On April 13, 2023, the Company delivered offer letter agreements (the “Somahlution Warrant Offer Letter Agreements”) to the Former Somahlution Owners, which offered to allow the Former Somahlution Owners to exercise the Somahlution Warrants to purchase the number of restricted shares of common stock issuable under the Somahlution Warrants at an exercise price reduced by the Company from $5.00 per share to $0.10 per share, on or prior to April 21, 2023, for maximum total cash proceeds of $299,996. As of the conclusion of this offer period, four of the Former Somahlution Owners had entered into Somahlution Warrant Offer Letter Agreements and had exercised their Somahlution Warrants to purchase a total of 2,652,159 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $265,216 (the “Somahlution Warrants Exercise”).
As a result of this warrant exercise, pursuant to the terms applicable to the Convertible Notes and the Class C Warrants (see Note 6), the conversion price of the Convertible Notes adjusted from $1.75 per share to $0.10 per share, the exercise price of the Class C Warrants adjusted from $2.25 per share to $0.10 per share, and the number of shares that the Class C Warrants may be exercised to purchase was increased proportionately. In connection with these developments and the lack of sufficient authorized shares of common stock under the Company’s articles of incorporation to meet its obligations under outstanding convertible or exercisable securities, the Company also obtained additional conversion and exercise rights waivers from Convertible Note and Class C Warrant holders. As a result of these adjustment provisions and the conversion and exercise terms applicable to the Class C Warrants, including the effect of the applicable waivers, the number of shares that the Class C Warrants may be exercised to purchase adjusted from 16,658,486 shares of common stock to 372,115,965 shares.
● Concurrently with the issuance of Replacement Placement Agent Notes (see Note 6), the Company issued to Univest and Mr. Richmond Class C Warrants (the “Replacement Placement Agent Class C Warrants”), such that up to 3,548,148 and 5,322,223 shares of common stock, respectively, are issuable upon exercise thereof. Additionally, to compensate Univest and Mr. Richmond for the cancelled in previous years securities, the Company issued to Univest and Mr. Richmond Placement Agent Warrants (the “Replacement Placement Agent Warrants”), such that up to 4,048,782 and 6,073,182 shares of common stock are issuable upon exercise thereof, respectively. The Replacement Placement Agent Warrants were fair valued at $259,619 and $389,429, respectively, and recorded in other general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
● From May 2023 and through to November 2023, the Company issued OID Convertible Notes for aggregate principal of $6,987,606 and convertible into up to 69,876,060 shares of common stock not including shares convertible from interest under the Convertible Notes, Class E Warrants exercisable for the purchase of 87,345,056 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share, and Class F Warrants for the purchase of 87,345,056 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share. The OID Convertible Notes, Class E Warrants and Class F Warrants will not be convertible or exercisable until the Capital Event Amendment becomes effective. As described in Note 6, Class E and Class F warrants were initially accounted for as a liability but were subsequently reclassified to equity on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2023.
● Pursuant to the Hexin Promissory Note (see Note 5), on May 22, 2023, the Company issued Hexin a Class E Warrant that may be exercised to purchase 7,500,000 shares of common stock for $0.10 per share, and a Class F Warrant that may be exercised to purchase 3,750,000 shares of common stock for $0.20 per share (collectively, the “Hexin Warrants”). The Hexin Warrants will be exercisable in accordance with the exercise terms and conditions of the other Class E and Class F Warrants described above (see Note 6). The warrants issued had an average term of 5 years, vested immediately, and were fair valued at $1,333,127 and were recorded in other general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
● The Company agreed to issue Placement Agent Warrants (the “OID Units Placement Agent Warrants”) to Univest and/or its designee(s) at each closing of the OID Units Private Placement. The required OID Units Placement Agent Warrants will consist of Placement Agent Warrants for the purchase of 8% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock initially issuable upon conversion of the OID Convertible Notes, 8% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock initially issuable upon exercise of the Class E Warrants at $0.10 per share, and 8% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock initially issuable upon exercise of the Class F Warrants at $0.20 per share, subject to adjustment. Univest notified the Company that the Company would be permitted to defer the issuance of the OID Units Placement Agent Warrants until the final closing of the OID Units Private Placement. Under the terms of the OID Units Placement Agent Warrants, such warrants will be exercisable from the date of issuance until August 16, 2028. In the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 51,289,782 Class E and 7,287,606 Class F warrants, which were fair valued at $7,423,183 and $666,796, respectively, and recorded in other general and administrative expenses in the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company issued the following:
Unit Purchase Agreements Warrants
During the year ended December 31, 2022, pursuant to the applicable Unit Purchase Agreement, the Company issued an aggregate of 8,360,159 additional New Class C Warrants with an exercise price of $2.25 share and a term of five years. However, on October 28, 2022, following the October 2022 Letter Agreement, the Company extinguished convertible promissory notes held by Univest and Mr. Richmond (see Note 6), as well as Class C Warrants, attached to them. As the result the total of 342,857 Class C Warrants were cancelled.
Other Warrants
On January 26 and February 14, 2022, in exchange for services of Mr. Richmond, the Company granted him 300,000 warrants to purchase an aggregate 300,000 shares of Marizyme’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The warrants issued had an average term of 5 years, vested immediately, and were fair valued at $568,677 and recorded in salary expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. On March 15, 2022, Mr. Richmond exercised 300,000 warrants issued to him.
On June 26, 2022, the Company issued an additional 347,039 warrants to Mr. Richmond and 231,359 warrants to Univest to purchase an aggregate 578,398 shares of Marizyme’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.75 per share. The warrants issued had an average term of 5 years, vested immediately, and were fair valued at $1,281,854, of which $769,113 was recorded in salary expense and $512,741 in professional fees in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. On October 28, 2022, following the October 2022 Letter Agreement, the aggregate 578,398 warrants granted to Mr. Richmond and Univest were cancelled.
Stock-based Compensation
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $526,597 in non-cash stock-based compensation (2022 - $1,905,948).
8. Related Party Transactions
As of December 31, 2023, the Company owed an aggregate of $230,153 (2022 - $Nil) to related parties of the Company.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred $288,000 (2022 - $172,800) and settled $280,347 (2022 - $172,800) in professional services rendered by related parties of the Company. The services were provided by entities which are controlled by management and are pursuant to various consulting agreements.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company also incurred $1,293,500 in compensation to Directors and Executive Officers for their services rendered (2022 - $1,064,000) and settled $1,071,000 (2022 - $1,060,000).
Additionally, as part of the Somahlution acquisition in 2020, the Company recorded a prepaid royalty to the stockholders of Somahlution. The former primary beneficial owner is Dr. Vithal Dhaduk, currently a director, and significant stockholder of the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company accrued $65,634 in royalties payable incurred on sales of the DuraGraft product outside of the U.S., respectively. This amount was offset against the prepaid royalty receivable.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company and stockholders of Somahlution agreed to reduce the prepaid royalty balance by 50% or by $151,000. As at December 31, 2023, the Company had $122,457 in prepaid royalties (December 31, 2022 - $339,091) which had been classified as non-current in the consolidated balance sheets.
9. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Matters
Under a Confidential Settlement Agreement, dated November 18, 2022, the Company and Nicholas DeVito agreed that Mr. DeVito would dismiss a Complaint that Mr. DeVito filed on June 7, 2022 in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, Case No. 50-2022-CA-005437. The parties also agreed that following an anticipated reverse split, the Company was required to issue Mr. DeVito 16,000 “post-split” shares to be delivered in paper certificate form within three (3) business days of the reverse split. The settlement agreement further provided that the delivered shares would be subject to normal and customary restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 of the SEC. In the event no split occurred by December 12, 2022, the Company was required to issue Mr. DeVito 60,000 “pre-split” shares. In addition, the parties agreed that no further continuous service is required pursuant to Section 2 of the Mutual Release of Claims Agreement between Mr. DeVito and the Company dated as of August 27, 2020. Pursuant to the agreement, on January 4, 2023, the Company issued 16,000 shares of common stock to Mr. DeVito (see Note 7b).
On August 19, 2021, Dr. Neil Campbell, former President, Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company, and Bruce Harmon, former Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, each filed a Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial against the Company and Insperity Peo Services, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Insperity”), a joint employer of Dr. Campbell and Mr. Harmon with the Company under a Client Service Agreement, dated November 30, 2020 (collectively, the “Campbell/Harmon Complaints”). Both Campbell/Harmon Complaints allege that the Company and Insperity violated Section 448.105 of the Florida Private Whistleblower Act as a result of the constructive terminations of Dr. Campbell and Mr. Harmon after the occurrence of violations federal and state law, including federal securities law, at the Company that exposed Dr. Campbell and Mr. Harmon to civil and criminal forms of liability and that the Company was not addressing to their satisfaction. Both Campbell/Harmon Complaints demand approximately $30,000 - $50,000 in back pay and benefits, interest on back pay, front pay and/or lost earning capacity, compensatory damages, costs and attorney’s fees, and such other relief as the court deems equitable. In the year ended December 31, 2022, both cases were dismissed with prejudice and without any financial impact on the Company.
Contingencies
a) As part of the DuraGraft Acquisition, completed on July 31, 2020, the Company entered into the Agreement with Somahlution stockholders, whereby Marizyme is legally obligated to pay royalties on all net sales for Somahlution, Inc. The royalties associated with the Agreement are calculated as follows:
Royalties on U.S. sales equal to:
● 5% on the first $50,000,000 of net sales,
● 4% on net sales of $50,000,001 up to $200,000,000, and
● 2% on net sales over $200,000,000.
Royalties on sales outside of the U.S.:
● 6% on the first $50,000,000 of net sales,
● 4% on net sales of $50,000,001 up to $200,000,000, and
● 2% on net sales over $200,000,000.
The royalties are in perpetuity. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had not earned any revenues from Krillase, however the Company did incur sales of the DuraGraft products outside of the U.S., on which $65,634 in royalties have been accrued and offset against the prepaid royalties receivable (see Note 8).
Upon receiving FDA clearance for the DuraGraft product and insurance reimbursement approval on the products pursuant to section 2(b) of the Asset Purchase Agreement dated December 15, 2019, the Company will:
● Issue performance warrants with a strike price determined based on the average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock for the 30 calendar days following the date of the public announcement of the FDA approval; and
● Upon liquidation of all or substantially all of the assets relating to DuraGraft, the Company will pay 15% of the net sale proceeds up to $20 million.
b) The Company has entered into arrangements for office and laboratories spaces. As at December 31, 2023, minimum lease payments in relation to lease commitments are payable as described in Note 2.
10. Income Taxes
As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company has federal net operating loss carry forwards of $46,255,000 and $40,733,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company has Florida state net operating loss carry forwards of $21,010,000 and $18,117,000, respectively. The federal and Florida state net operating loss carryforwards are carried forward indefinitely. The Company’s net operating loss carry forwards may be subject to annual limitations, which could reduce or defer the utilization of the losses as a result of an ownership change as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Company’s tax expense differs from the “expected” tax expense for Federal income tax purposes (computed by applying the United States Federal tax rate of 21% to loss before taxes for fiscal year 2023 and 2022), as follows:
Schedule of Income Tax Expenses
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Tax expense (benefit) at the statutory rate $ (13,722,852 ) $ (8,014,646 )
Foreign rate differential (162,869 ) -
State Taxes (125,758 ) (1,658,268 )
Non-deductible items 11,711,809 702,460
Deferred true-ups (2,568,076 ) 40,912
Other (15,548 ) (121,202 )
Change in valuation allowance 4,883,294 9,050,744
Total $ - $ -
The tax effects of the temporary differences between reportable financial statement income and taxable income are recognized as deferred tax assets and liabilities.
We file U.S. and state income tax returns with varying statues of limitation. The tax years from 2018 to 2023 remain open to examination due to the carryover of unused NOL carryforwards and tax credits.
The following is a reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
U.S. statutory federal rate 21.0 % 21.0 %
Foreign rate differential 0.2 % 0.0 %
State Taxes 0.2 % 4.3 %
Non-deductible / non-taxable items -17.9 % -1.8 %
Deferred true-up 3.9 % -0.1 %
Other 0.0 % 0.3 %
Valuation allowance -7.5 % -23.7 %
Total provision 0.0 % 0.0 %
The tax effect of significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2023 and 2022, are as follows:
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carry forward $ 11,735,683 $ 9,551,121
Lease liability 255,178 376,380
Intangible assets 6,212,227 3,618,128
Capitalized research and development costs 1,082,349 974,819
Deferred tax assets 19,285,437 14,520,448
Deferred tax liabilities:
ROU assets (255,178 ) -
Fixed assets (2,897 ) (376,380 )
Deferred tax liabilities (285,075 ) (376,380 )
Total gross deferred tax assets 19,027,362 14,144,068
Less: Deferred tax asset valuation allowance (19,027,362 ) (14,144,068 )
Total net deferred taxes $ - $ -
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.
Because of the historical earnings history of the Company, the net deferred tax assets for 2023 and 2022 were fully offset by a 100% valuation allowance. The valuation allowance for the remaining net deferred tax assets was $19,027,363 and $14,144,068 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company is evaluating the foreign reporting requirements as it relates to revenue from foreign sources and has determined that any accrual would not be material.
It is the Company’s practice to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2023, we had no accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions. We do not expect any material changes to the estimated amount of liability associated with our uncertain tax positions within the next 12 months.
Effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, taxpayers are required to capitalize any expenses incurred that are considered incidental to research and experimentation (R&E) activities under IRC Section 174. While taxpayers historically had the option of deducting these expenses under IRC Section 174, the December 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act mandates capitalization and amortization of R&E expenses for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021. Expenses incurred in connection with R&E activities in the U.S. must be amortized over a 5-year period if incurred, and R&E expenses incurred outside the U.S. must be amortized over a 15-year period. R&E activities are broader in scope than qualified research activities considered under IRC Section 41 (relating to the research tax credit). For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company performed an analysis based on available guidance and determined that it will continue to be in a loss position even after the required capitalization and amortization of its R&E expenses. The Company will continue to monitor this issue for future developments, but it does not expect R&E capitalization and amortization to require it to pay cash taxes now or in the near future.
11. Subsequent Events
Composition of Board of Directors
On January 31, 2024, Julie Kampf submitted written notice of her resignation from the Board of Directors, effective the same date. Concurrently, the independent director agreement between the Company and Ms. Kampf, dated June 7, 2022, expired in accordance with its terms. Ms. Kampf’s decision to resign from the Board of Directors was not the result of any disagreement relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices.
Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2023, and before the date this Annual Report on Form 10-K was issued, Dr. William Hearl passed away.
On April 12, 2024, Michael Stewart submitted written notice of his resignation from the Board of Directors, effective the same date. Concurrently, the independent director agreement between the Company and Mr. Stewart, dated June 7, 2022, expired in accordance with its terms. Mr. Stewart’s decision to resign from the Board of Directors was not the result of any disagreement relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices.
Co-Development Agreement
Subsequent to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and prior to the issuance date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company engaged in a Co-Development Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. (“Qualigen”) aimed at furthering the commercialization efforts of DuraGraft™. Pursuant to the Agreement, Qualigen has committed to providing up to $1,500,000 in funding over the next few months to support the commercial launch of DuraGraft™ in the United States, including funding for post-clearance clinical studies. In exchange, Qualigen will be entitled to a portion of Marizyme’s gross profit from future U.S. sales of the product, subject to a cap of 2 times Qualigen’s invested capital. Additionally, Qualigen has obtained an exclusive negotiation period, which concludes on May 31, 2024, during which it may propose and delineate a broader strategic relationship between the two companies. In accordance with the agreement, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary called DuraGraft, Inc. subsequent to the year end.

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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
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act to mean controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
At the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2023. This conclusion was based on the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as further described below.
Material Weaknesses
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis. The following material weakness was previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and has remained unchanged for the year ended December 31, 2023:
● We did not have sufficient resources with appropriate knowledge, experience and/or training commensurate with our financial reporting requirements to assist us in our timely and efficient preparation and review over our financial reporting
Remediation Efforts to Address Material Weakness
To remediate the material weakness described above, since December 31, 2023, management has added, or intends to add, controls to further enhance and revise the design of the existing controls, including the following:
● Implementing reassessed design and operation of internal controls over financial reporting and reviewing procedures over the preparation of our financial statements.
● Engaging permanent accounting personnel and consultants to provide support during our quarterly and annual preparation, review, and reporting of our financial statements.
● Appointing qualified personnel to the key management roles to provide oversight and develop stronger controls, policies and procedures.
● Maintaining adequate internal qualified personnel to properly supervise and review the information provided by outside consulting technical experts to ensure certain significant complex transactions and technical matters are properly accounted for.
We cannot assure you that these ongoing or planned measures in response to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting will be sufficient to remediate such material weakness or to avoid potential future material weaknesses.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is defined as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the issuer’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the issuer’s board of directors, management and other personnel, 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 and includes those policies and procedures that: (1) Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the issuer; (2) 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 issuer are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the issuer; and (3) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the issuer’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 using the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on our evaluation using those criteria, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective for the reasons discussed above.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm on our internal control over financial reporting because we are a non-accelerated filer and are not subject to auditor attestation requirements under applicable SEC rules.
Changes to Internal Controls and Procedures over Financial Reporting
There were no significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

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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
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and the members of our board of directors.
Name
Age
Position
David Barthel
Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director
Dr. Vithalbhai Dhaduk
Chairman of the Board and Director
George Kovalyov
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Harrison Ross
Vice President of Finance
Dr. Catherine Pachuk
Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President
Terry Brostowin, Esq.
Director
Dr. Nilesh Patel
Director
David Barthel. Mr. Barthel has served as our Chief Executive Officer since November 2021, as a director since December 2021, and as our Secretary since October 2022. From March 2021 to November 2021, Mr. Barthel was Chief Executive Officer of HLII and its wholly owned subsidiary, My Health Logic Inc., a company focused on developing an innovative point-of-care lab-on-chip digital diagnostic device technologies for chronic kidney disease. My Health Logic Inc., which holds the MATLOC 1 device technology and all accompanying agreements, was acquired by Marizyme in December 2021. From July 2019 to February 2021, Mr. Barthel was Managing Director at an affiliate company of Henry Schein, Inc. Mr. Barthel founded The SmartPill Corp. in 2002 and led the company as CEO and President until its acquisition in October 2012 by medical device giant, Medtronic plc (Nasdaq: MDT). After the acquisition, Mr. Barthel served as Area Vice President, Southeast Division, at an affiliate company of Medtronic until July 2019. Mr. Barthel earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in Lake Forest, Illinois. Our board of directors believes that Mr. Barthel is qualified to serve as a member of the board of directors due to his 25 years of executive leadership of early-stage and large corporations in the healthcare and medical devices industries.
Dr. Vithalbhai Dhaduk. Dr. Dhaduk has been a director since February 2021, and as Chairman since June 2021. From July 2021 to November 2021, Dr. Dhaduk was Interim Chief Executive Officer. Upon Mr. Barthel’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer in November 2021, Dr. Dhaduk resigned his position as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Dhaduk also serves as the chairman of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Dr. Dhaduk has more than 30 years’ professional experience as a neurologist who has served as Head of Neurology at Professional Neurological Associates for 20 years and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Commonwealth Medical College. Dr. Dhaduk currently serves as President and Chairman at Professional Neurological Associates (since 1987), Chairman of Dap Dhaduk 1 to 8 (since 1998), Chairman of Caritas International Trading Inc. (since 2011), President and Chairman of Caritas Real Estate Group (since 2011), President and Chairman of Core Hospitality LLC (since 2011), President and Chairman of Star Real Estate LC (since 2012), President and Chairman of Coracias Advanced Technology LLC (since 2016), a directors of The Wright Center (since 2017), and President and Chairman of CorePharma, LLC (since 2018). Previously, Dr. Dhaduk had served as Chairman of Global Pharma Analytics (2012 - 2019), as President and Chairman of Somahlution, LLC (2012 - 2019), President and Chairman of Apicore LLC (2005 - 2016), President and Chairman of R&D Future Aire Tech (2011 - 2013), President and Chairman of Neuron Biotech (2007 - 2013), President and Chairman of Synerx Pharmaceutical (2007 - 2013), and as a director on the board of directors at FNCB Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FNCB, from 2017 to May 2021). Dr. Dhaduk is a managing trustee of charitable trust and past President and Chairman of Saurashtra Patel Cultural Samaj. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Dhaduk is qualified to serve as a member of the board due to his experience as a director on various private company boards, and his more than 35 years in the medical profession and as a business owner.
Dr. Dhaduk received a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1980 from M.P. Shah Medical College in Jamngar, India. Dr. Dhaduk has a Pennsylvania and New Jersey medical licenses (both since 1985), PGY-1 waiver on basis of excellence in post-graduation from the Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (1984), FLEX (Federal Licensing Examination (1984) and ECFMG Certification (1981). Dr. Dhaduk has received the following awards: David Dunn Memorial Award for Outstanding Teaching and Study of Neurology, Medical College of Pennsylvania (1986 - 1987) and Honors in Medicine, M.P. Shah Medical College, India (1980). Dr. Dhaduk has memberships in Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Lackawanna County Medical Society, American Medical Association, MS Society, Parkinson’s Support Group, National Headache Foundation, Alzheimer’s Support Group and Who’s Who Registry.
Dr. Dhaduk has published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry the following: Partial Ataxic Hemiparesis (1988) and Polyneuritis Cranialis in Lyme Disease (1987). He has presented at the following: CT Scan, EEG, and Brain Mapping in Acute Stroke at American Academy of Neurology (April 1987) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Intracranial Vascular Malformations at American Society of Neuroimaging (February 1986).
George Kovalyov. Mr. Kovalyov has been our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since December 2021. Previously he served as the chief operating officer and director of HLII from September 2020 to November 2021, and as HLII’s chief financial officer from December 2021 to September 2022. In addition, Mr. Kovalyov served as a director and audit committee member of Margaret Lake Diamonds Inc. (TSX.V: DIA) from January 2021 to August 2022. From September 2018 to September 2020, Mr. Kovalyov was VP of Finance and director of Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE:VIDA), a premier brand of cannabidiol-infused foods, beverages and clinical products. From October 2016 to September 2020, he was the principal owner of Schindler and Company, an accounting consulting firm. Mr. Kovalyov is a chartered accountant and is a member of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. He graduated from Kwantlen University College with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Accounting.
Harrison Ross. Mr. Ross has been our Vice President of Finance since December 2021. Previously he had served as the chief financial officer of HLII from July 2020 to November 2021, and has served as HLII’s chief executive officer since December 2021. In addition, Mr. Ross has served as a director for Codebase Ventures Inc. (CSE:CODE) (FSE:C5B) (OTCQB:BKLLF) since October 2021. From November 2017 to October 2020, he was CFO of DC Acquisition Corp., a Canadian Capital Pool Company that completed a reverse takeover of a Canada-focused retail company that currently trades on the TSXV. Mr. Ross was simultaneously working part-time for the family-owned company Graymont Limited from January 2017 to December 2019 and before that was an equity analyst at the investment-management firm Duncan Ross and Associates from June 2016 to January 2018. In 2017, Mr. Ross became a CFA Charterholder and in 2013 Mr. Ross received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Ontario in Business and Organizational Studies with a specialization in accounting.
Dr. Catherine Pachuk. Dr. Pachuk has been our Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President since July 2020. Prior to our acquisition of the Somahlution Assets in July 2020, Dr. Pachuk had been Somahlution’s Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President since June 2011. Dr. Pachuk has more than 25 years of research and development leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors with expertise in both drug, device, and vaccine development with significant experience in nucleic acid based therapeutic platforms including ASO, RNAi and nucleic acid-based vaccines. Dr. Pachuk’s key areas of therapeutic focus are viral diseases including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, metabolic disease, HCC, and indications associated with ischemia reperfusion injury. Dr. Pachuk was involved in advancing multiple medical devices into the clinic and market including several first-in-man compounds. Dr. Pachuk received her Ph.D. in molecular virology from the University of Pennsylvania where she studied the molecular biology of coronaviruses. Dr. Pachuk also has a dual Regulatory Affairs Certificate from RAPS (Regulatory Affairs Professional Society) in Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals.
Following a post-doctoral fellowship at SmithKline Beecham, Dr. Pachuk joined Apollon, Inc. to develop programs in oligonucleotide-based therapeutics, and subsequently DNA-based vaccines for both viral and oncology indications. Following the acquisition of Apollon, Inc. by Wyeth-Ayerst Research in 1998, Dr. Pachuk continued to direct several vaccine programs which resulted in several plasmid-based vaccine products being advanced into clinical trials. During this time, Dr. Pachuk worked with FDA’S CBER division in the drafting of a “Points to Consider” document regarding considerations for administration of plasmid DNA compounds in humans. In 2001, Dr. Pachuk co-founded Nucleonics, a biotech focused on the development of RNAi-based therapeutics, one of which was advanced into clinical studies in Chronic Hepatitis B patients. Until April of 2008, Dr. Pachuk was VP of Preclinical Research. Dr. Pachuk then went on to lead biology and preclinical development efforts for Pfizer’s oligonucleotide therapeutic programs (ASO and siRNA) in the areas of oncology and metabolic disease and was a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Dr. Pachuk also has significant experience in nucleic-acid delivery and has led nucleic acid-delivery and formulation development programs for ASO, plasmid-based therapeutics, and siRNA at Apollon/Wyeth Vaccines, Nucleonics and Pfizer. Dr. Pachuk also was responsible for obtaining more than 1.8 million dollars in government and private grants.
Dr. Pachuk is currently a Scientific Advisory Board member for Ocugen Inc. where Dr. Pachuk advises on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and is currently an invited expert curator for the American Society of Microbiology’s COVID-19 research registry. Dr. Pachuk is also an adjunct faculty member at both Florida Atlantic University and Baruch Blumberg Institute.
Terry Brostowin, Esq. Mr. Brostowin has been a member of our board of directors since December 2018. Mr. Brostowin also is a member of its Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Mr. Brostowin is an attorney admitted to the Federal Courts in both the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and the District of New Jersey. Mr. Brostowin has been President of Brostowin & Associates, PC, since December 2016. Mr. Brostowin has extensive expertise in contracts and commercial litigation. Mr. Brostowin has provided his opinion to the New York City Mayor’s office of judicial screening committees on judicial reappointments and was a compliance specialist ensuring the Department of Correction’s compliance with various Federal Court ordered mandates and ensured the financial integrity of various vendors doing business with the Financial Systems Division. Mr. Brostowin has been affiliated with the law firm Brostowin & Associates, PC, since 2009. Our board of directors believes that Mr. Brostowin is qualified to serve as a member of the board due to his experience as a practicing attorney for almost 25 years.
Dr. Nilesh Patel. Dr. Patel has been a member of our board of directors since April 2022. Dr. Patel has been a practicing physician with and Chairman of Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists LLC since August 2013. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Patel is qualified to serve as a member of the board due to his experience as a director, ten years of practice in the medical profession, and as a business owner.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
Except as described below, none of our directors or executive officers has, during the past ten years:
● been convicted in a criminal proceeding or been subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offences);
● had any bankruptcy petition filed by or against the business or property of the person, or of any partnership, corporation or business association of which he was a general partner or executive officer, either at the time of the bankruptcy filing or within two years prior to that time;
● been subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction or federal or state authority, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting, his involvement in any type of business, securities, futures, commodities, investment, banking, savings and loan, or insurance activities, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;
● been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated;
● been the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated (not including any settlement of a civil proceeding among private litigants), relating to an alleged violation of any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or
● been the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26))), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29))), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has the authority to appoint committees to perform certain management and administration functions. On January 26, 2022, the Board restructured its committees and established or reestablished an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The board also adopted a committee charter for the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The committee charters are available on our website at https://www.marizyme.com.
In addition, our board of directors may, from time to time, designate one or more additional committees, which shall have the duties and powers granted to it by our board of directors.
Audit Committee Members
Michael Stewart, Terry Brostowin, and Dr. William Hearl, each of whom satisfies the “independence” requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and Nasdaq’s rules, were selected to serve on our Audit Committee, with Mr. Stewart serving as the chairman. Mr. Stewart has been determined by our board to be qualified as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under Item 407(d)(5)(ii) and (iii) of Regulation S-K.
Material Changes to Director Nomination Procedures
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our board of directors since such procedures were last disclosed.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Such Code of Business Conduct and Ethics addresses, among other things, honesty and ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, compliance with laws, regulations and policies, including disclosure requirements under the federal securities laws, and reporting of violations of the code.
A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics has been filed as an exhibit to this report. The full text of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is also posted on our website at https://www.marizyme.com/. We are required to disclose any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our code of ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, or persons performing similar functions. We intend to use our website as a method of disseminating this disclosure as well as by SEC filings, as permitted or required by applicable SEC rules. Any such disclosure will be posted to our website within four (4) business days following the date of any such amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors, executive officers and persons who beneficially own 10% or more of a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act to file reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership with the SEC. Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% stockholders are required by the rules and regulations of the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all reports filed by them in compliance with Section 16(a).
Based solely on our review of certain reports filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or Section 16(a), the reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or in prior years, were timely filed except as otherwise disclosed in our previous filings with the SEC.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table presents information regarding the total compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to each person serving as Chief Executive Officer during the year ended December 31, 2023 and other individuals as required by Item 402(m)(2) of Regulation S-K, during the noted periods. These individuals are our named executive officers for 2022.
The following table sets forth information concerning all cash and non-cash compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to all individuals who served as the Company’s principal executive officer or acting in similar capacity during the last two completed fiscal years, regardless of compensation level, and other individuals as required by Item 402(m)(2) of Regulation S-K, during the noted periods.
Name and Principal Position
Year
Salary
Bonus
Stock Awards
Option Awards
All Other Compensation
Total
David Barthel, Chief
$ 350,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 350,000
Executive Officer
$ 350,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 350,000
Dr. Catherine Pachuk, Chief
$ 325,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 325,000
Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President
$ 325,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 325,000
Dr. Steven Brooks, Chief
$ 262,500
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 262,500
Medical Officer
$ 300,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 300,000
George Kovalyov, Chief
$ 168,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 168,000
Financial Officer
$ 86,400
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 86,400
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End of Named Executive Officers
As of December 31, 2023, the following named executive officers had the following unexercised options, stock that has not vested, and equity incentive plan awards:
Name and Principal Position Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options (#)
Unexercisable Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) Option
Exercise Price
$ Option
Expiration
Date Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) Market Value of Shares or Units not Vested Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of
Unearned
Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)
David Barthel, Chief Executive Officer 280,000 (1) 120,000 (1) - $ 1.75 10/31/2031 - - - -
Dr. Catherine Pachuk, Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President
Dr. Steven Brooks, Chief Medical Officer 40,000 (2)
$ 1.25 11/30/2030
George Kovalyov, Chief Financial Officer 200,000 (3)
$ 1.75 12/21/2031
(1) David Barthel was granted an option to purchase 400,000 shares of common stock on October 31, 2021. The option vested as to 40,000 shares upon grant, and the balance of 360,000 shares will vest quarterly over a three-year period in equal 30,000-share installments.
(2) Dr. Steven Brooks was granted an option to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock on December 1, 2020. The option was subject to vesting in quarterly equal installments over three years.
(3) Geore Kovalyov was granted an option to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock on December 21, 2021. The option was subject to vesting in monthly equal installments over two years.
Executive Compensation Agreements
David Barthel
On October 31, 2021, the Company entered into an executive employment agreement (the “CEO Employment Agreement”), with Mr. Barthel setting forth the terms of the compensation for his services as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the CEO Employment Agreement, Mr. Barthel is entitled to an annual fixed gross salary of $350,000. Upon execution of the CEO Employment Agreement, Mr. Barthel received incentive stock options, or ISOs, to purchase 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at the agreed upon fair market price of $2.25 per share. On February 8, 2022, the board of directors determined to approve an amendment to the CEO Employment Agreement to provide that the fair market price of the ISOs be amended to $1.75 per share of common stock. The board of directors made this determination in part based on recent arms’-length transactions with certain private placement investors in the Units Private Placement, in which such investors purchased units comprised of a secured Convertible Note, convertible into common stock at a price per share of $1.75, subject to adjustment, as well as a Class C Warrant to purchase two shares of common stock with an exercise price equal to the lower of (i) $2.25 per share, subject to adjustment, or (ii) 75% of the cash price per share to be paid by the purchasers in a “qualified financing” as defined in the applicable unit purchase agreement. In addition, Mr. Barthel will be eligible to receive certain equity in the form of ISOs of the Company based upon the attainment of certain metrics, as follows: Nasdaq Listing - 100,000 ISOs; FDA approval of DuraGraft - 75,000 ISOs; FDA approval of MATLOC 1 - 75,000 ISOs; Material 3rd Party Partnerships for DuraGraft - 50,000 ISOs; and Material 3rd Party Partnerships for MATLOC 1 - 50,000 ISOs. All ISOs listed above will have 10% vesting upon grant and the balance will vest quarterly over a three (3) year period in equal installments. Mr. Barthel must be employed with the Company in good standing at the time any such ISOs are awarded according to the milestones set forth above. In the event that Mr. Barthel’s employment is terminated prior to any milestone being achieved, he will forfeit his right to receive such ISOs. Mr. Barthel is also eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans, including health insurance, commensurate with his position. Mr. Barthel will receive $3,000 per month to cover healthcare and related expenses. Mr. Barthel’s employment is at-will and may be terminated by him or by the Company at any time. Through October 31, 2022, if the Company had terminated Mr. Barthel’s employment with the Company without Cause (as defined in the CEO Employment Agreement), and if Mr. Barthel had executed a full release in favor of the Company (in a form acceptable to the Company, which would have included non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disparagement provisions), the Company would only have been required to pay Mr. Barthel the total sum equal to six months of his gross annual salary. Beginning November 1, 2022, if the Company terminates Mr. Barthel’s employment with the Company without Cause, and if Mr. Barthel executes a full release in favor of the Company, the Company will only pay Mr. Barthel the total sum equal to 12 months of his annual gross salary. In the event of a termination with Cause, or in the event of a resignation by Mr. Barthel, Mr. Barthel will not be entitled to any separation payment or any other post-termination severance. The CEO Employment Agreement contains customary confidentiality provisions and restrictive covenants prohibiting Mr. Barthel from (i) owning or operating a business that competes with the Company during the term of his employment and for a period of 18 months following the termination of his employment or (ii) soliciting the Company’s employees for a period of 18 months following the termination of his employment.
On August 22, 2022, Mr. Barthel executed a limited waiver and consent agreement waiving his option exercise rights. The limited waiver and consent agreement was to expire on December 31, 2022, or if earlier to occur, upon the approval of an increase in the number of the authorized shares of common stock under the Company’s articles of incorporation by the Company’s stockholders by majority written consent or via stockholder vote at the Company’s next stockholder meeting and the implementation of such increase, which were to occur as soon as practicable after such stockholder approval. On December 27, 2022, we held the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, stockholders holding shares of common stock in the Company representing at least a majority of the voting power approved, among other matters, the Authorized Capital Increase. As a result, the limited waiver and consent agreement expired in accordance with its terms.
George Kovalyov
On December 21, 2021, the Company entered into a consulting agreement (the “CFO Consulting Agreement”), with George Kovalyov, its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and AAT Services Inc., a corporation incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia, Canada and, together with Mr. Kovalyov, the “CFO Consultant”. Under the CFO Consulting Agreement, the Company engaged the CFO Consultant for a 12-month term to provide such services as the Company may from time to time request, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: Proper filing with the SEC of quarterly and annual reports; budgeting, allocation of capital, and payroll processes; assistance in the preparation of a Form S-1 and other Nasdaq listing preparations; assistance with corporate governance creations and procedures; the creation of valuation reports for the Company’s products and medical devices such as DuraGraft, MATLOC 1 and Krillase; preparation of investment material for current and prospective stockholders; general business development; and seeking potential partners and financing opportunities.
Under the CFO Consulting Agreement, the Company will pay the CFO Consultant a monthly base salary of $7,143 and reimburse all reasonable business-related travel and other business expenses. Notwithstanding this provision, the Company has paid the CFO Consultant $14,000 per month starting January 1, 2023. The Company will also grant the following equity compensation: (i) cashless warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock of the Company, with an exercise price of $1.26 per share, expiring on December 21, 2026; (ii) options to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock of the Company, vesting monthly over two years, with an exercise price of $1.75 per share, expiring on December 21, 2031; and (iii) 175,000 restricted shares of common stock of the Company, subject to the following milestone vesting schedule: (a) 75,000 restricted shares will vest upon the Company successfully listing its common stock on Nasdaq or the NYSE; 50,000 restricted shares will vest upon any Company financing after January 1, 2022 of debt or equity in which the gross proceeds equal or exceed $5,000,000; (c) 25,000 restricted shares will vest upon the completion of valuation reports for both Somahlution LLC and HLII; and (d) 25,000 restricted shares will vest upon a material commercial partnership for MATLOC 1. The CFO Consultant will not receive any other employee benefits from the Company. AAT Services Inc. is subject to a side agreement, under which the granting of its restricted shares will occur upon vesting. Under a limited waiver and consent agreement, AAT Services Inc. waived its exercise rights under its options until certain conditions were met or December 31, 2022, whichever were to occur first. On December 27, 2022, such conditions were met, and as a result, the limited waiver and consent agreement expired in accordance with its terms.
The CFO Consulting Agreement automatically renews for additional six-month terms and may be terminated by either party upon 30 days’ notice. If the CFO Consultant is terminated without cause prior to the end of the term, the Company must pay the CFO Consultant $21,429.00 in severance as well as any other due and unpaid compensation. The CFO Consulting Agreement provides for customary confidentiality and non-solicitation terms.
On March 3, 2022, we designated Mr. Kovalyov as a recipient of part of the unexercised portion of a fully-vested option to purchase 1,100,000 shares of common stock at $1.01 that we and our designees purchased from a former executive. The designated option is exercisable to purchase 273,750 shares of common stock. The option was granted on March 17, 2022, and expires on March 16, 2024. In connection with this stock option designation, Mr. Kovalyov paid the former executive $25,000. The Company recorded the change in ownership upon proof of Mr. Kovalyov’s payment for such option and the Company did not pay or receive cash or other consideration for the repurchase and designation of the stock option.
Dr. Steven Brooks
On December 1, 2020, Dr. Steven Brooks signed an offer letter from us accepting the position as our Chief Medical Officer effective as of that date. This position provides annual compensation of $300,000, an annual discretionary bonus of potentially 25% of base salary based upon discretionary objectives to be outlined, and options to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock. We also provided Dr. Brooks a benefit package to include insurance coverage. Dr. Brooks’s employment was terminated on October 18, 2023.
Catherine Pachuk
Under an Executive Employment Agreement, dated July 26, 2021, with Dr. Catherine Pachuk, we agreed to appoint Dr. Pachuk as our Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President. Under the agreement, Dr. Pachuk’s annual salary is $325,000. If terminated without cause through August 31, 2022, Dr. Pachuk is entitled to eight months’ severance payments. If terminated without cause after August 1, 2022, Dr. Pachuk is entitled to six months’ severance payments. If terminated with cause, Dr. Pachuk is not entitled to any post-termination or severance compensation. Dr. Pachuk is eligible for all standard employee benefits and certain holiday and leave allowances. The agreement contains standard intellectual property assignment, non-competition, non-solicitation, non-association, non-disparagement, and confidentiality provisions. Dr. Pachuk’s employment is at-will, and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, provided that in the case of termination with cause based solely on a finding of breach of her agreement, Dr. Pachuk will be given written notice of such breach and 15 days in which to cure it.
Other Management Compensation
Bradley Richmond
Bradley Richmond was appointed our Acting Vice President of Finance on July 19, 2021. Mr. Richmond resigned from this position upon the appointment of Harrison Ross as Vice President of Finance on December 21, 2021. Previously, on September 30, 2020, we entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Richmond pursuant to which we engaged Mr. Richmond to act as a licensing and market advisor providing services to us relating to the introduction of licensing, joint venture, and other business development transactions. Under this agreement, Mr. Richmond specifically agreed that he would not solicit investments, make any recommendations regarding investments or provide any analysis or advice regarding investments. Under the agreement, Mr. Richmond received a non-refundable retainer of $50,000 paid as follows: $25,000 in 20,000 shares of common stock issued on December 29, 2020, with an estimated value of $1.25 per share; $12,500 on October 1, 2020; and $12,500 on November 1, 2020. Also pursuant to the agreement, we issued Mr. Richmond a warrant to purchase up to 36,364 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $1.375 per share and an expiration date of October 2, 2026. In addition, we agreed to pay Mr. Richmond a fee on any “revenue or value” to the Company from his consulting activities outlined as follows, but to be memorialized under a separate written agreement: A cash payment equal to 5% on the first $10 million of value, 3% on the next $90 million of value, and 1.5% on any value above $90 million. Mr. Richmond was also entitled to receive 100% warrant coverage on the same scale. “Revenue or value” are defined in the agreement to mean net revenue, which will include any royalty that is paid out, net of the cost of the product. The consulting agreement terminated according to its terms on September 30, 2022.
In exchange for services that Mr. Richmond rendered to us under his consulting agreement, on each of January 26, 2022 and February 14, 2022, we granted Mr. Richmond a warrant to purchase up to 150,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, issuable immediately. Mr. Richmond fully exercised both of the warrants in March 2022 for 300,000 shares. Pursuant to the October 2022 Letter Agreement entered into with the Company, Mr. Richmond, a registered representative of Univest, agreed to forego his rights to such shares of common stock, as the FINRA Staff determined that such shares constituted underwriting compensation in connection with this public offering based on the FINRA Staff’s interpretation of FINRA Rule 5110 (see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Key Highlights of Fiscal Year 2022 - October 2022 Letter Agreement”).
After Mr. Richmond’s resignation from the position as Acting Vice President of Finance upon the appointment of Harrison Ross as Vice President of Finance on December 21, 2021, Mr. Richmond continued to serve as an employee of Marizyme until September 24, 2022. During his employment with us, Mr. Richmond assisted in management of our compliance, personnel and human resources departments as well as our management team, in filling the gap created by a continuing lack of human and financial resources to enable us to advance our operations. Mr. Richmond significantly decreased such services by the end of 2021 and ceased providing such services as of September 24, 2022. Mr. Richmond’s services to us in this capacity were not related to his role as a registered representative of Univest and the services Univest provides to us in connection with its position as the representative of the underwriters for the Company’s proposed public offering. From July 2021 to June 2022, we paid Mr. Richmond $5,000 per month as employment compensation for his services to us in this capacity and from July 2022 to September 24, 2022, we paid Mr. Richmond $2,000 per month.
On March 3, 2022, we designated Mr. Richmond as a recipient of part of the unexercised portion of a fully-vested option to purchase 1,100,000 shares of common stock at $1.01 that we purchased from a former executive. The designated option is exercisable to purchase 273,750 shares of common stock. The option was granted on March 17, 2022, and expires on March 16, 2024. The Company recorded the change in ownership upon proof of Mr. Richmond’s payment for such option and the Company did not pay or receive cash or other consideration in connection with the purchase of such option. Pursuant to the October 2022 Letter Agreement entered into with the Company, Mr. Richmond agreed to forego his rights to such option, effectively unwinding such transaction, and we and Mr. Richmond agreed to the transfer of such option to a Company designee who is unaffiliated with Mr. Richmond, in accordance with the FINRA Staff’s interpretation of Rule 5110 (see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Key Highlights of Fiscal Year 2022 - October 2022 Letter Agreement”).
Harrison Ross
On December 21, 2021, the Company entered into a consulting agreement (the “VP-Finance Consulting Agreement”), with Harrison Ross, its Vice President of Finance, and Rydra Capital Corp., a corporation incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia, Canada and, together with Mr. Ross, the “VP-Finance Consultant”. Under the VP-Finance Consulting Agreement, the Company engaged the VP-Finance Consultant for a 12-month term to provide such services as the Company may from time to time request, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: Budgeting, allocation of capital, and payroll processes; assistance in the preparation of a Form S-1 and other Nasdaq listing preparations; assistance with corporate governance creations and procedures; the creation of valuation reports for the Company’s products and medical devices such as DuraGraft, MATLOC and Krillase; and assistance in the preparation of investment material for current and prospective stockholders.
Under the VP-Finance Consulting Agreement, the Company will pay the VP-Finance Consultant a monthly base salary of $7,200 and reimburse all reasonable business-related travel and other business expenses. The Company will also grant the following equity compensation: (i) cashless warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock of the Company, with an exercise price of $1.26 per share, expiring on December 21, 2026; (ii) options to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock of the Company, vesting monthly over two years, with an exercise price of $1.75 per share, expiring on December 21, 2031; and (iii) 175,000 restricted shares of common stock of the Company, subject to the following milestone vesting schedule: (a) 75,000 restricted shares will vest upon the Company successfully listing its common stock on Nasdaq or the NYSE; 50,000 restricted shares will vest upon any Company financing after January 1, 2022 of debt or equity in which the gross proceeds equal or exceed $5,000,000; (c) 25,000 restricted shares will vest upon the completion of valuation reports for both Somahlution LLC and HLII; and (d) 25,000 restricted shares will vest upon a material commercial partnership for MATLOC. The VP-Finance Consultant will not receive any other employee benefits from the Company. Rydra Capital Corp. is subject to a side agreement, under which the granting of its restricted shares will occur upon vesting. Under a limited waiver and consent agreement, Rydra Capital Corp. waived its exercise rights under its options until certain conditions were met or December 31, 2022, whichever occurs first. On December 27, 2022, such conditions were met, and as a result, the limited waiver and consent agreement expired in accordance with its terms.
The VP-Finance Consulting Agreement automatically renews for additional six-month terms and may be terminated by either party upon 30 days’ notice. If the VP-Finance Consultant is terminated without cause prior to the end of the term, the Company must pay the VP-Finance Consultant $21,600 in severance as well as any other due and unpaid compensation. The VP-Finance Consulting Agreement provides for customary confidentiality and non-solicitation terms.
On March 3, 2022, we designated Mr. Ross as a recipient of part of the unexercised portion of a fully-vested option to purchase 73,333 shares of common stock at $15.15 that we purchased from a former executive. The designated option is exercisable to purchase 18,249 shares of common stock. The option was granted on March 17, 2022, and expires on March 16, 2024. In connection with this stock option designation, Mr. Ross paid the former executive $25,000. The Company did not pay or receive cash or other consideration for the repurchase and designation of the stock option.
Retirement
There are no annuity, pension or retirement benefits proposed to be paid to officers, directors or employees in the event of retirement at normal retirement date pursuant to any presently existing plan provided or contributed to by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, if any.
Director Compensation
The table below provides information concerning compensation for services as a director paid to all persons who served as members of our board of directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, except for those persons who served as a director and are included in our executive compensation table above:
Name Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (1) Stock Awards Option Awards Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation Earnings Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings All Other Compensation Total
Dr. Vithalbhai Dhaduk $ 76,000 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 76,000
Dr. William Hearl $ 66,000 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 66,000
Julie Kampf $ 66,000 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 66,000
Terry Brostowin $ 56,000 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 56,000
Dr. Nilesh Patel $ 36,000 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 36,000
Michael Stewart $ 56,000 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 56,000
(1) On April 22, 2022, the board of directors adopted resolutions that provided for directors to receive $5,000 as a member of any board committee.
(2) Each of Dr. Dhaduk, Dr. Hearl, Ms. Kampf, and Mr. Brostowin held a fully vested option to purchase 125,000 shares of common stock and an option to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock subject to vesting conditions as of December 31, 2023.
Director Agreements
Our independent director agreements with our non-executive directors provide that they will receive annual cash fees and equity compensation in the form of options at fair market value for their service to the board of directors.
Under their independent director agreements, dated June 7, 2022, each non-executive director will receive an annual cash fee and an annual award of stock options. We will pay the annual cash compensation fee to each independent director in four equal installments no later than the fifth business day of each calendar quarter commencing in the quarter ending September 30, 2022. We granted the stock options to the non-executive directors on July 7, 2022. The annual cash fee paid to each non-executive director will be $28,000 as to Dr. Dhaduk; $28,000 as to Mr. Brostowin; $33,000 as to Dr. Hearl; $33,000 as to Ms. Kampf; $18,000 as to Dr. Patel; and $28,000 as to Mr. Stewart. On August 26, 2022, the board of directors adopted resolutions providing that the cash compensation to the independent directors began to accrue as of April 1, 2022. Under the independent director agreements, the annual award of stock options granted to Dr. Dhaduk, Mr. Brostowin, Dr. Hearl and Ms. Kampf may be exercised to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock. The exercise price of the initial grant is $2.20 per share. These stock options vest and become exercisable in 12 equal monthly installments over the first year following the date of grant, subject to the respective director continuing in service on our board of directors through each such vesting date. The stock options awarded to Dr. Patel and Mr. Stewart may be exercised to purchase 120,000 shares of common stock. These stock options will vest and become exercisable in twelve (12) equal quarterly installments over the first three years following the date of grant, subject to the respective director continuing in service on our board of directors through each such vesting date. The exercise price of the initial grant is $2.20 per share. The term of each stock option is ten (10) years from the date of grant. We will also reimburse each non-executive director for pre-approved reasonable business-related expenses incurred in good faith in connection with the performance of the director’s duties for us. As also required under the independent director agreements, we have separately entered into our standard indemnification agreement for executive officers and directors with each of our non-executive directors.
Pursuant to a previous director agreement, Terry Brostowin, one of our independent directors, received options to purchase 140,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on December 6, 2018, at an exercise price equal to $1.01 per share, and options to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price equal to $1.01 per share, for service on the board. All of these options are fully vested.
Retirement
There are no annuity, pension or retirement benefits proposed to be paid to officers, directors or employees in the event of retirement at normal retirement date pursuant to any presently existing plan provided or contributed to by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, if any.
Long-Term Incentive Plans
There are no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers. We do not have any material bonus or profit-sharing plans pursuant to which cash or non-cash compensation is or may be paid to our directors or executive officers.

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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 following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of May 13, 2024 (i) each of our named executive officers, other executive officers, and directors; (ii) all of our executive officers and directors as a group; and (iii) each other person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. For purposes of this table, a person or group of persons is deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of any shares of common stock that such person or any member of such group has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days of May 13, 2024, except as otherwise disclosed in the footnotes to the table. For purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares of our common stock held by each person or group of persons named above, any shares that such person or persons has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days of May 13, 2024 are deemed to be outstanding for such person, but not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The inclusion herein of any shares listed as beneficially owned does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership by any person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table below is c/o our company, Marizyme, Inc., 555 Heritage Drive, Suite 205, Jupiter, Florida 33458.
Amount and Nature of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Percentage of Shares
Beneficially Owned
Name of Beneficial Owner #(1) %(2)
David Barthel(3) 310,000 (5) 0.2 %
Dr. Catherine Pachuk(3) 349,323 (6) 0.3 %
Terry Brostowin(4) 555,000 (7) 0.4 %
Dr. William Hearl(4) 165,000 (8) *
Dr. Vithalbhai Dhaduk(4) 4,775,548 (9) 3.6 %
Julie Kampf(4) 165,000 (10) *
Dr. Nilesh Patel(4) 70,000 (11) *
Michael Stewart(4) 70,000 (11) *
George Kovalyov(15) 810,136 (12) 0.6 %
Harrison Ross(15) 694,094 (13) 0.5 %
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons) 7,964,101 5.9 %
About Investment Ltd 13,363,034 (14) 9.9 %
Viner Total Investments 13,363,034 (14) 9.9 %
Waichun Logistics Technology Ltd. 13,363,034 (14) 9.9 %
Chaince Capital Fund LP 13,363,034 (14) 9.9 %
* Non-officer director beneficially owning less than 1% of the shares of the Company’s common stock.
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Except as disclosed in the following footnotes, each of the beneficial owners listed above has direct ownership of and sole voting and investment power to the shares of the Company’s common stock.
(2) As of May 13, 2024, a total of 131,793,088 shares of the Company’s common stock are considered to be outstanding. This number does not include shares of common stock issuable upon conversion or exercise of outstanding convertible or exercisable securities. Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13d-3(d)(1), for each beneficial owner listed above, any options, warrants, or other convertible securities that are exercisable within 60 days have also been included for purposes of calculating their percent of class, but not for any other beneficial owner listed above.
(3) Named executive officer.
(4) Director.
(5) Consists of an option to purchase 310,000 shares of common stock within 60 days of May 13, 2024.
(6) Consists of (i) 268,710 shares of common stock, and (ii) a warrant to purchase 80,613 shares of common stock.
(7) Consists of an option to purchase 555,000 shares of common stock within 60 days of May 13, 2024.
(8) Consists of an option to purchase 165,000 shares of common stock within 60 days of May 13, 2024.
(9) Consists of (i) 4,610,548 shares of common stock held indirectly through Dr. Dhaduk’s wife, and (ii) a fully-vested option to purchase 165,000 shares of common stock.
(10) Consists of an option to purchase 165,000 shares of common stock within 60 days of May 13, 2024.
(11) Consists of an option to purchase 70,000 shares of common stock within 60 days of May 13, 2024.
(12) George Kovalyov may be deemed to beneficially own (i) 111,509 shares of common stock held directly; (ii) a fully-vested option to purchase 273,750 shares of common stock held directly; (iii) 124,877 shares of common stock held by AAT Services Inc., of which George Kovalyov is the sole beneficial owner; and (iv) 241,667 shares of common stock beneficially owned through AAT Services Inc., consisting of (a) a cashless warrant to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock; and (b) an option to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock that is exercisable within 60 days of May 13, 2024. AAT Services Inc. was also granted 175,000 restricted shares of common stock, subject to the following milestone vesting schedule: (A) 75,000 restricted shares vesting upon the Company successfully listing its common stock on Nasdaq or the NYSE; (B) 50,000 restricted shares vesting upon any Company financing after January 1, 2022 of debt or equity in which the gross proceeds equal or exceed $5,000,000; (C) 25,000 restricted shares vesting upon the completion of valuation reports for both Somahlution LLC and HLII; and (D) 25,000 restricted shares vesting upon a material commercial partnership for MATLOC 1. AAT Services Inc. is subject to a side agreement, under which the granting of its restricted shares will occur upon vesting, and therefore such restricted shares are not considered to be beneficially owned on May 13, 2024.
(13) Harrison Ross may be deemed to beneficially own (i) 141,948 shares of common stock held directly; (ii) a fully-vested option to purchase 273,750 shares of common stock held directly; (iii) 11,730 shares of common stock held by Rydra Capital Corp., of which Harrison Ross is the sole beneficial owner; and (iv) 241,667 shares of common stock beneficially owned through Rydra Capital Corp., consisting of (a) a cashless warrant to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock; and (b) an option to purchase 166,666 shares of common stock that is exercisable within 60 days of May 13, 2024. Rydra Capital Corp. was also granted 175,000 restricted shares of common stock, subject to the following milestone vesting schedule: (A) 75,000 restricted shares vesting upon the Company successfully listing its common stock on Nasdaq or the NYSE; (B) 50,000 restricted shares vesting upon any Company financing after January 1, 2022 of debt or equity in which the gross proceeds equal or exceed $5,000,000; (C) 25,000 restricted shares vesting upon the completion of valuation reports for both Somahlution LLC and HLII; and (D) 25,000 restricted shares vesting upon a material commercial partnership for MATLOC 1. Rydra Capital Corp. is subject to a side agreement, under which the granting of its restricted shares will occur upon vesting, and therefore such restricted shares are not considered to be beneficially owned on May 13, 2024.
(14) Consists of (i) 10,200,000 shares of common stock, and (ii) a warrant to purchase 3,163,034 shares of common stock.
(15) Executive officer.
Changes in Control
We do not currently have any arrangements which if consummated may result in a change of control of our company.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table summarizes information about our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023.
Plan Category Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options (a) Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options (b) Number of Options Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders(1) 3,925,943 (2) $ 1.33 2,924,057 (3)
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders - - -
Total 3,925,943 $ 1.33 2,924,057
(1) On May 18, 2021, our board of directors approved the SIP, which was ratified by the Company’s stockholders on September 20, 2021. On August 30, 2022 and October 21, 2022, the board approved an amendment to the SIP to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the SIP, which was ratified by the Company’s stockholders on December 27, 2022. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the SIP is 7,200,000 shares. Cancelled and forfeited stock options and stock awards may again become available for grant under the SIP. For a further description of the SIP, see “Item 11. Executive Compensation - Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan”.
(2) Includes both vested and unvested options to purchase common stock and unvested stock grants under the SIP.
(3) Represents shares available for award grant purposes under the SIP.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Director Independence
Our board of directors currently consists of seven members: David Barthel, Dr. Vithalbhai Dhaduk, Dr. William Hearl, Julie Kampf, Terry Brostowin, Dr. Nilesh Patel, and Michael Stewart. Our board of directors has determined that Dr. Dhaduk, Dr. Hearl, Ms. Kampf, Mr. Brostowin, Dr. Patel, and Mr. Stewart are independent directors as that term is defined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2).
Our independent director agreements with our non-executive directors provide that they will receive annual cash fees and equity compensation in the form of options at fair market value for their service to the board of directors.
Under their independent director agreements, each non-executive director will receive an annual cash fee and an annual award of stock options. We will pay the annual cash compensation fee to each independent director in four equal installments no later than the fifth business day of each calendar quarter commencing in the quarter ending September 30, 2022. We granted the stock options to the non-executive directors on July 7, 2022. The annual cash fee paid to each non-executive director will be $28,000 as to Dr. Dhaduk; $28,000 as to Mr. Brostowin; $33,000 as to Dr. Hearl; $33,000 as to Ms. Kampf; $18,000 as to Dr. Patel; and $28,000 as to Mr. Stewart. On August 26, 2022, the Board adopted resolutions providing that the cash compensation to the independent directors began to accrue as of April 1, 2022. Under the independent director agreements, the annual award of stock options granted to Dr. Dhaduk, Mr. Brostowin, Dr. Hearl and Ms. Kampf may be exercised to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock. The exercise price of the initial grant is $2.20 per share. These stock options vest and become exercisable in 12 equal monthly installments over the first year following the date of grant, subject to the respective director continuing in service on our board of directors through each such vesting date. The stock options awarded to Dr. Patel and Mr. Stewart may be exercised to purchase 120,000 shares of common stock. These stock options will vest and become exercisable in twelve (12) equal quarterly installments over the first three years following the date of grant, subject to the respective director continuing in service on our board of directors through each such vesting date. The exercise price of the initial grant is $2.20 per share. The term of each stock option is ten (10) years from the date of grant. We will also reimburse each non-executive director for pre-approved reasonable business-related expenses incurred in good faith in connection with the performance of the director’s duties for us. As also required under the independent director agreements, we have separately entered into our standard indemnification agreement for executive officers and directors with each of our non-executive directors.
Pursuant to a previous director agreement, Terry Brostowin, one of our independent directors, received options to purchase 140,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on December 6, 2018, at an exercise price equal to $1.01 per share, and options to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price equal to $1.01 per share, for service on the board. All of these options are fully vested.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has the authority to appoint committees to perform certain management and administration functions. On January 26, 2022, the board restructured its committees and established or reestablished an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and also formed a Pricing Committee for this offering. The board also adopted a committee charter for the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The committee charters are available on our website at https://www.marizyme.com.
In addition, our board of directors may, from time to time, designate one or more additional committees, which shall have the duties and powers granted to it by our board of directors.
Audit Committee
Michael Stewart, Terry Brostowin, and Dr. William Hearl, each of whom satisfies the “independence” requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and Nasdaq’s rules, were selected to serve on our Audit Committee, with Mr. Stewart serving as the chairman. Mr. Stewart has been determined by our board to be qualified as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under Item 407(d)(5)(ii) and (iii) of Regulation S-K.
Compensation Committee
Ms. Kampf, Mr. Brostowin, and Dr. Hearl, each of whom satisfies the “independence” requirements of Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act and the Nasdaq Listing Rules, serve on our Compensation Committee, with Ms. Kampf serving as the chairman. The members of the Compensation Committee are also “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Dr. Dhaduk, Dr. Hearl and Ms. Kampf, each of whom satisfies the “independent director” requirements of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, serve on our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with Dr. Dhaduk serving as the chairman.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Principal Accountant Fees
The aggregate fees billed to the Company by the Company’s principal accountant, WithumSmith+Brown, PC, for the indicated services for each of the last two fiscal years were as follows:
Years Ended
December 31,
Audit Fees $ 140,000 $ 124,000
Audit-Related Fees - -
Tax Fees - -
All Other Fees - -
Total $ 140,000 $ 124,000
As used in the table above, the following terms have the meanings set forth below.
Audit Fees
Audit fees consist of fees for professional services performed by the Company’s principal accountant for the audit of the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and review of the financial statements included in our quarterly Form 10-Q filings, reviews of registration statements and issuances of consents, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-related fees consist of fees for assurance and related services performed by the Company’s principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under the paragraph captioned “Audit-Fees” above. We did not engage our principal accountant to provide assurance or related services during the last two fiscal years.
Tax Fees
Tax fees consist of fees for professional services performed by the Company’s principal accountant with respect to tax compliance, tax advice, tax consulting and tax planning. We did not engage our principal accountant to provide tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning services during the last two fiscal years.
All Other Fees
All other fees consist of fees for products and services provided by the Company’s principal accountant, other than for the services reported under the headings “-Audit Fees,” “-Audit-Related Fees” and “-Tax Fees” above. We did not engage our principal accountant to render services to us during the last two fiscal years, other than as reported above.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
All auditing services and permissible non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by our independent auditor must be approved by the Audit Committee in advance, except non-audit services (services other than audit, review or attest services), if such services fall within exceptions established by the SEC. The Chairman of the Audit Committee has been designated and authorized the authority to pre-approve auditing services and permissible non-audit services, but any such delegate or delegates must present their pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next meeting.
None of the services described under “-Audit-Related Fees”, “-Tax Fees” or “-All Other Fees” above for either of the last two fiscal years were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
The percentage of hours expended on the Company’s principal accountant’s engagement to audit the Company’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was not greater than 50%.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Financial Statements and Schedules
The consolidated financial statements are set forth under “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Financial statement schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included.
Exhibit List
(a) List of Documents Filed as a Part of This Report:
(1) Index to Consolidated Financial Statements:
●
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 100)
●
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
●
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
●
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
●
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
●
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Index to Financial Statement Schedules:
All schedules have been omitted because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto, or because it is not required.
(3) Index to Exhibits
See exhibits listed under Part (b) below.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report or incorporated by reference:
Exhibit
Number
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger between GBS Enterprises Incorporated and Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Form 10 (File No. 000-53223) filed on September 12, 2018)
2.2
Arrangement Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021, among Health Logic Interactive Inc., Marizyme, Inc. and My Health Logic Inc.* (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K filed on November 5, 2021)
3.1
Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form SB-2 (File No: 333-146748) filed January 14, 2008)
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, effective September 6, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1(2) to Form 10-K filed on July 16, 2012)
3.3
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, effective November 22, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.2 to Form 10-K/A filed on July 15, 2011)
3.4
Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation regarding 1-for-29 Reverse Stock Split filed March 20, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.4 to Form 10 (File No. 000-53223) filed on September 12, 2018)
3.5
Series A Non-Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation filed May 11, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.6 to Form 10-12G filed on September 12, 2018)
3.6
Certificate of Withdrawal of Certificate of Designation, effective January 25, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
3.7
Articles of Merger between Marizyme, Inc. and GBS Enterprises Incorporated filed May 19, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.5 to Form 10 (File No. 000-53223) filed on September 12, 2018)
3.8
Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Form SB-2/A (File No: 333-146748) filed January 14, 2008)
3.9
Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209 filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on August 3, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed on August 3, 2022)
3.10
Certificate of Amendment Pursuant to NRS 78.380 & 78.390 to the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Nevada Secretary of State on December 30, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2023)
3.11
Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209, as filed by Marizyme, Inc. with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on January 5, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2023)
3.12
Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209, as filed by Marizyme, Inc. with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on January 13, 2023, effective on January 17, 2023 at 4:45 PM Pacific time (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2023)
3.13
Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209, as filed by Marizyme, Inc. with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on January 13, 2023, effective on January 17, 2023 at 5:00 PM Pacific time (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2023)
3.14
Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209, as filed by Marizyme, Inc. with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on January 13, 2023, effective on January 17, 2023 at 5:15 PM Pacific time (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2023)
4.1
Form of Placement Agent Common Stock Purchase Warrant for 2020 Common Stock and Warrant Private Placement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2020)
4.2
Form of Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.75 to Form 10-Q filed on August 23, 2021)
4.3
Form of 10% Secured Convertible Promissory Note issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated December 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2021)
4.4
Form of Class C Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated December 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2021)
4.5+
Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to Bradley Richmond, dated October 2, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
4.6+
Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to AAT Services Inc., dated December 21, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
4.7+
Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to Rydra Capital Corp., dated December 21, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
4.8+
Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to Bradley Richmond, dated January 26, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2022)
4.9+
Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to Bradley Richmond, dated February 14, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2022)
4.10
Form of 10% Secured Convertible Promissory Note issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated March 24, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2022)
4.11
Form of Class C Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated March 24, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2022)
4.12
Form of 10% Secured Convertible Promissory Note issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated May 11, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2022)
4.13
Form of Class C Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated May 11, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2022)
4.14
Form of 10% Secured Convertible Promissory Note issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated August 12, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2022)
4.15
Form of Class C Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated August 12, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2022)
4.16
Promissory Note issued by Marizyme, Inc. to Hexin Global Ltd., dated December 28, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to Form S-1/A filed on February 1, 2023)
4.17
Form of Unit Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to Form S-1/A filed on February 1, 2023)
4.18
Form of Warrant Agent Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to Form S-1/A filed on February 1, 2023)
4.19
Unsecured Subordinated Convertible Promissory Note issued by Marizyme, Inc., dated February 6, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2023)
4.20
Class D Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2023)
4.21
Description of Securities of Marizyme, Inc.
10.1
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated September 12, 2018 between ACB Holding AB, Reg. No. 559119-5762 and Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10 (File No. 000-53223) filed on September 12, 2018)
10.2
Assignment Agreement of Patent Applications (Antarctic krill), dated September 12, 2018, between ACB Holding AB, Reg. No. 559119-5762 and Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10 (File No. 000-53223) filed on September 12, 2018)
10.3
Assignment Agreement of Patent Applications (Enzymatic), dated September 12, 2018, between ACB Holding AB, Reg. No. 559119-5762 and Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10 (File No. 000-53223) filed on September 12, 2018)
10.4
Assignment Agreement of Patent Applications (Thrombosis), dated September 12, 2018, between ACB Holding AB, Reg. No. 559119-5762 and Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10 (File No. 000-53223) filed on September 12, 2018)
10.5
Patent Purchase and Assignment Agreement, dated September 12, 2018, between ACB Holding AB, Reg. No. 559119-5762 and Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Form 10 (File No. 000-53223) filed on September 12, 2018)
10.6+
Director Agreement with Terry Brostowin dated December 6, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Form 10-K filed on March 5, 2019)
10.7
Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant and Somahlution, LLC et al, dated December 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on December 19, 2019)
10.8
Amendment No. 1 dated March 31, 2020, to Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant and Somahlution, LLC et al, dated December 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on June 5, 2020)
10.9
Amendment No. 2 dated May 29, 2020, to Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant and Somahlution, LLC et al, dated December 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed on June 5, 2020)
10.10
Amendment No. 3 dated July 30, 2020, to Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant and Somahlution, LLC et al, dated December 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2020)
10.11
Form of Subscription Agreement for 2020 Private Placement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2020)
10.12
Form of Registration Rights Agreement for 2020 Private Placement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2020)
10.13+
Mutual Release of Claims Agreement by and between Marizyme, Inc. and Nicholas DeVito dated August 27, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.14+
Executive Employment Agreement, dated October 31, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and David Barthel (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to current report on Form 8-K filed on November 15, 2021)
10.15+
Indemnification Agreement dated November 1, 2020 with Terry Brostowin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Form 10-Q filed on November 16, 2020)
10.16+
Marizyme, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.17+
Form of Stock Option Agreement for Marizyme, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.18+
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Marizyme, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.19+
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Marizyme, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.20+
Offer Letter between Marizyme, Inc. and Dr. Steven Brooks dated December 1, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Form 10-K filed on April 15, 2021)
10.21
Form of Placement Agency Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.74 to Form 10-Q filed on August 23, 2021)
10.22
Form of Unit Purchase Agreement between Marizyme, Inc. and the investors signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2021)
10.23
Form of Registration Rights Agreement between Marizyme, Inc. and the investors signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2021)
10.24
Form of Exchange Agreement between Marizyme, Inc. and the person executing the signature page thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2021)
10.25
Placement Agency Agreement between Marizyme, Inc. and Univest Securities, LLC, dated December 10, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2021)
10.26
Form of Guarantors Security Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2021, between Marizyme Sciences, Inc., Somaceutica, Inc., and Somahlution, Inc., and the secured parties signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.27
Form of Guaranty, dated as of May 19, 2021, of Marizyme Sciences, Inc., Somaceutica, Inc., and Somahlution, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.28
Form of Security Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and the secured parties signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.29
Form of Trademark Security Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and the secured parties signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.30
Form of Patent Security Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and the secured parties signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.31+
Consulting Agreement, dated December 21, 2021, by and among Marizyme, Inc., AAT Services Inc., and George Kovalyov (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2021)
10.32+
Consulting Agreement, dated September 30, 2020, by and between Marizyme, Inc. and Bradley Richmond (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.33+
Consulting Agreement, dated December 21, 2021, by and among Marizyme, Inc., Rydra Capital Corp., and Harrison Ross (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.34+
Letter Agreement, dated March 5, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and Bruce Harmon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.35
Lease, dated December 11, 2020, between JIC Equities, LLC and Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.36+
Executive Employment Agreement, dated July 26, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and Catherine Pachuk (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.37+
Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of February 8, 2022, between Marizyme, Inc. and David Barthel (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2022)
10.38+
Marizyme Employment Terms and Conditions Agreement, dated January 18, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and Amy Chandler (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.39+
Stock Option Agreement, dated January 29, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and Amy Chandler (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.40+
Marizyme Employment Terms and Conditions Agreement, dated February 25, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and Roger Schaller (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.41+
Employment Offer Letter, dated January 16, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and Roger Schaller (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.42+
Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release, dated September 14, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and Roger Schaller (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.43
Agreement to Transfer Option and Amendatory Agreement, among Marizyme, Inc., James Sapirstein and Bevilacqua PLLC as escrow agent, dated March 3, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.44+
Stock Option Agreement with James Sapirstein dated June 12, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.45+
Stock Option Agreement with Terry Brostowin dated December 6, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.46
Stock Option Agreement with Frank Maresca dated July 13, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.47
Stock Option Agreement with Frank Maresca dated January 9, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.48+
Stock Option Agreement with James Sapirstein dated July 13, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.49+
Stock Option Agreement with Terry Brostowin dated July 13, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.50+
Stock Option Agreement with Nicholas DeVito dated July 13, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2019)
10.51+
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2019)
10.52+
Form of Indemnification Agreement between Marizyme, Inc. and each current officer or director (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.52 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.53+
Form of Independent Director Agreement between Marizyme, Inc. and each current non-executive director (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.54+
Stock Option Agreement, dated January 16, 2021, between Marizyme, Inc. and Roger Schaller (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to Form S-1 filed on February 14, 2022)
10.55
Waiver, dated July 22, 2022, between Marizyme, Inc. and Viner Total Investments Fund (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.55 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.56
Waiver, dated July 22, 2022, between Marizyme, Inc. and Waichun Logistics Technology Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.57
First Amendment to Lease, dated March 16, 2022, between JIC Equities, LLC and Marizyme, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed on August 15, 2022)
10.58
Form of Limited Waiver and Consent between Marizyme, Inc. and certain investors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
10.59
Waiver and Consent between Marizyme, Inc. and Viner Total Investments Fund, dated January 9, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2023)
10.60
Letter Agreement between Marizyme, Inc. and Univest Securities, LLC, dated January 12, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2023)
10.61
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2023, by and between Marizyme, Inc. and Walleye Opportunities Master Fund Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2023)
10.62+
Amendment No. 1 to the Marizyme, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex B to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on November 10, 2022)
14.1
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to Form S-1/A filed on November 2, 2022)
21.1
List of Subsidiaries
31.1
Certifications of Principal Executive Officer filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
Certifications of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
Certifications of Principal Executive Officer furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
Certifications of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.INS
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
* Certain schedules to this agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Marizyme, Inc. agrees to furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission a copy of any omitted schedule upon request.
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.