Any clinical trial programs we conduct or research collaborations we enter into in the EEA may subject
us to the GDPR.
If we conduct clinical trials or enter into research collaborations in the EEA, we may be subject to the GDPR. The
GDPR applies extraterritorially and implements stringent operational requirements for processors and controllers of personal data, including, for example, high standards for obtaining consent from individuals to process then personal data, robust
disclosures to individuals, a comprehensive individual data rights regime, data export restrictions governing transfers of data from the EU, to other jurisdictions, short timelines for data breach notifications, limitations on retention of
information, increased requirements pertaining to health data, other special categories of personal data and pseudonymised (i.e., key-coded) data and additional obligations if we contract third-party
processors in connection with the processing of personal data. The GDPR provides that EU member states may establish their own laws and regulations limiting the processing of personal data, including genetic, biometric or health data, which could
limit our ability to use and share personal data or could cause our costs to increase. If our or our partners or service providers privacy or data security measures fail to comply with GDPR requirements, we may be subject to litigation,
regulatory investigations, enforcement notices requiring us to change the way we use personal data and/or fines of up to 20 million Euros or up to 4% of our total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher,
as well as compensation claims by affected individuals, negative publicity, reputational harm and a potential loss of business and goodwill.
We are
subject to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and we may become exposed to liability and substantial expenses in connection with environmental compliance or remediation activities.
Our operations, including our development, testing and manufacturing activities, are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws
and regulations. These laws and regulations govern, among other things, the controlled use, handling, release and disposal of and the maintenance of a registry for, hazardous materials and biological materials, such as chemical solvents, human
cells, carcinogenic compounds, mutagenic compounds and compounds that have a toxic effect on reproduction, laboratory procedures and exposure to blood-borne pathogens. If we fail to comply with such laws and regulations, we could be subject to fines
or other sanctions.
As with other companies engaged in activities similar to ours, we face a risk of environmental liability inherent in
our current and historical activities, including liability relating to releases of or exposure to hazardous or biological materials. Environmental, health and safety laws and regulations are becoming more stringent. We may be required to incur
substantial expenses in connection with future environmental compliance or remediation activities, in which case, the production efforts of our third-party manufacturers or our development efforts may be interrupted or delayed.
We are subject to certain U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, sanctions and other trade laws and regulations. We
can face serious consequences for violations.
Among other matters, U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export
control, sanctions and other trade laws and regulations, which are collectively referred to as Trade Laws, prohibit companies and their employees, agents, clinical research organizations, legal counsel, accountants, consultants, contractors and
other partners from authorizing, promising, offering, providing, soliciting or receiving, directly or indirectly, corrupt or improper payments or anything else of value to or from recipients in the public or private sector. We have direct or
indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or government-affiliated hospitals, universities and other organizations. We also expect our non-U.S. activities to increase in time.
We plan to engage third parties for clinical trials and/or to obtain necessary permits, licenses, patent registrations and other regulatory approvals and we can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of our personnel, agents or
partners, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have prior knowledge of such activities. Additionally, in many other countries, the healthcare providers who prescribe pharmaceuticals are employed by their government, and the purchasers of
pharmaceuticals are government entities; therefore, our dealings with these prescribers and purchasers are subject to regulation under the Trade Laws. Violations of Trade Laws can result in substantial criminal fines and civil penalties,
imprisonment, the loss of trade privileges, debarment, tax reassessments, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm and other consequences.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
If we
fail to comply with our obligations under our existing intellectual property license with BMS and any future intellectual property licenses with third parties, we could lose rights that are important to our business, including the right to develop
and commercialize the AL101 and AL102 product candidates.
We are party to a license agreement with BMS which gives us the right to
practice certain issued patents to develop and commercialize AL101 and AL102. We may enter into additional license agreements in the future. Our existing license agreements impose, and any future license agreements are likely to impose, various
diligence, milestone payment, royalty, insurance and other obligations on us. Any uncured, material breach under these license agreements could result in the loss of our rights to practice such in-licensed
intellectual property and could compromise our development and commercialization efforts for any current product candidates, including requiring us to cease the development and commercialization of AL101 and AL102, or future product candidates.
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