Overview of Corporate Structure
On September 3, 2013, SafeStitch Medical, Inc., a Delaware corporation (SafeStitch) and TransEnterix Surgical, Inc., a Delaware
corporation formerly known as TransEnterix, Inc. (TransEnterix Surgical) consummated a merger transaction whereby TransEnterix Surgical merged with a merger subsidiary of SafeStitch, with TransEnterix Surgical as the surviving entity in the merger
(the Merger). As a result of the Merger, TransEnterix Surgical became a wholly owned subsidiary of SafeStitch. On December 6, 2013, SafeStitch changed its name to TransEnterix, Inc. In this Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 3, when we refer to the
registrant as a combination of SafeStitch and TransEnterix Surgical after giving effect to the Merger, we use the terms TransEnterix, the Company, we, us, and ours. When we refer to the
historic business, operations and corporate status of the parent in the Merger we use the term SafeStitch and when we refer to the historic business, operations and corporate status of the subsidiary in the Merger, we use the term
TransEnterix Surgical.
Overview of the 2013 Merger Transaction
The Merger
On
September 3, 2013, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated August 13, 2013, and amended by a First Amendment dated August 30, 2013 (collectively, the Merger Agreement) by and among SafeStitch, Tweety Acquisition Corp., a
Delaware corporation (Merger Sub) and TransEnterix Surgical, the Merger was consummated and TransEnterix Surgical became a wholly owned subsidiary of SafeStitch.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each share of TransEnterix Surgicals capital stock issued and outstanding immediately preceding the
Merger was converted into the right to receive 1.1533 shares (the Exchange Ratio) of SafeStitchs common stock, par value $0.001 per share, other than those shares of TransEnterix Surgicals common stock held by non-accredited investors,
which shares were instead converted into the right to receive an amount in cash per share of SafeStitch common stock equal to $1.08, without interest, which was the volume-weighted average price of a share of SafeStitch common stock on the OTCBB for
the 60-trading day period ended on August 30, 2013 (one business day prior to the effective date of the Merger). Additionally, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, upon consummation of the Merger, SafeStitch assumed all of TransEnterix
Surgicals options and warrants issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger at the same Exchange Ratio.
All
references to share amounts in this Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 3 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the impact of the Exchange Ratio.
The Private Placement
On September 3, 2013, the Company consummated a private placement (the Private Placement) transaction in which it issued and sold shares
of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Series B Preferred Stock) to provide funding to support the Companys operations following the Merger. The Private Placement was done pursuant to a Securities Purchase
Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with accredited investors (the Investors), pursuant to which the Investors agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,544,704.4 shares of the Companys Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the Series B Preferred Stock), each share of which was convertible, subject to
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certain conditions, into ten (10) shares of common stock (the Conversion Shares and, together with the Series B Preferred Stock, the Private Placement Securities), for a purchase price of
$4.00 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, which was paid in cash, cancellation of certain indebtedness of TransEnterix Surgical or a combination thereof. In accordance with the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued and sold an additional 25,000
shares of Series B Preferred Stock on September 17, 2013. Proceeds from the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs, were $28.2 million.
On December 6, 2013, the Company filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Restated Certificate) to change its name
to TransEnterix, Inc. and to increase the authorized shares of common stock from 225,000,000 to 750,000,000. In accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series B
Preferred Stock automatically converted into ten shares of the Companys common stock upon the filing of the Restated Certificate. An aggregate of 75,697,094 shares of common stock were issued in the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock.
Accounting Treatment
The Merger is treated as a reverse acquisition of SafeStitch for financial accounting and reporting purposes. As such, TransEnterix Surgical is
treated as the acquirer for accounting and financial reporting purposes while SafeStitch is treated as the acquired entity for accounting and financial reporting purposes. Further, as a result, the assets and liabilities and the historical
operations that are reflected in this Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 3 and will be reflected in the Companys future financial statements filed with the SEC will be those of TransEnterix Surgical, and SafeStitch assets, liabilities and results of
operations will be consolidated with the assets, liabilities and results of operations of TransEnterix Surgical.
Smaller
Reporting Company
Following the consummation of the Merger, for 2013 the Company continues to be a smaller reporting
company, as defined in Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Business Description of the Combined Company
Overview
We are a
medical device company that is focused on the development and future commercialization of a robotic assisted surgical system called the SurgiBot System (the SurgiBot System). The SurgiBot System is designed to utilize flexible instruments
through articulating channels controlled directly by the surgeon, with robotic assistance, while the surgeon remains patient-side within the sterile field. The flexible nature of the SurgiBot System would allow for multiple instruments to be
introduced and deployed through a single site, thereby offering room for visualization and manipulation once in the body. The SurgiBot System also integrates three-dimensional (3-D) high definition vision technology. The Company has commercialized
the SPIDER
®
Surgical System, (the SPIDER System) a manual laparoscopic system in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. The SPIDER System utilizes flexible instruments and articulating
channels that are controlled directly by the surgeon, allowing for multiple instruments to be introduced via a single site. The SPIDER System is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared. The Company also manufactures multiple instruments that
can be deployed using the SPIDER System currently, and which are being adapted for use with the SurgiBot System.
Prior to the Merger,
SafeStitch was focused on developing its Gastroplasty Device for the treatment of obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barretts Esophagus. SafeStitch has
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developed other surgical devices, including the SMART Dilator, to be utilized in treating obesity, GERD and esophageal strictures. SafeStitch also developed and was commercializing a
surgical stapler called the AMID Hernia Fixation Device. On a going-forward basis, the Company intends to continue to develop the Gastroplasty Device for the treatment of obesity. The Company has discontinued sales of the AMID Hernia Fixation
Device.
The Company operates in one business segment.
We believe that future outcomes of minimally invasive surgery will be enhanced through our combination of more advanced tools and robotic
functionality which are designed to: (i) empower surgeons with improved precision, dexterity and visualization; (ii) improve patient satisfaction and post-operative recovery; and (iii) provide a cost-effective robotic system, compared
to existing alternatives today, for a potentially wide range of clinical applications. Our strategy is to focus on the development and future commercialization of the SurgiBot System.
Market Overview
TransEnterix Surgical
Over the past two decades laparoscopic surgery has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery. In laparoscopic surgery,
multiple incisions are spread over the body, carbon dioxide gas insufflation is used to create room in the body cavity, and long rigid instruments are introduced through ports placed in the incisions to perform surgical tasks. Millions of
laparoscopic surgical procedures across a broad range of clinical applications are now performed each year worldwide, though many surgeries are still performed in an open fashion.
While laparoscopy has improved the minimally invasive nature of many previously open procedures, it still has many limitations. Traditional,
or rigid, laparoscopy still requires multiple incisions to achieve the visualization and instrument triangulation required to perform successful surgery. Laparoscopy also creates physical challenges by forcing the surgeons hands and arms into
awkward angles, requiring the surgeon to hold instruments in fixed positions for long periods of time, and requiring an assistant to stabilize and move a laparoscopic camera. Another challenge associated with laparoscopic surgery is the creation of
a cumbersome and potentially tissue-damaging fulcrum at the patients abdominal wall where instruments are manipulated. Nearly all laparoscopic instruments are rigid instruments that lack the internal articulation required to enhance dexterity
in complex tasks. Most laparoscopic surgeries are performed with two dimensional (2-D) visualization of a 3-D operative space, making depth perception difficult.
Robotic and computer controlled assistance have developed as technologies that offer the potential to improve upon many aspects of the
laparoscopic surgical experience. Hundreds of thousands of robotic assisted surgical procedures are now performed each year worldwide, but they still represent a small fraction of the number of total laparoscopic procedures performed worldwide.
While initial widespread adoption of robotic assisted surgery was focused on urologic and gynecologic procedures that were primarily performed in an open fashion prior to robotics, recently developed robotic approaches have been applied to many
other clinical applications, in particular general surgery. Despite recent advances, we believe there remain many limitations created by current robotic assisted surgery systems used in connection with laparoscopic surgeries. Existing robotic
systems require a large capital investment. Moreover, existing robotic systems require the surgeon to sit outside the sterile field, therefore removing his or her ability to be patient-side within the sterile field. There are further challenges in
maneuvering the patient once a large, multi-arm robotic system is fixed in place. Existing robotic systems also suffer from the challenges associated with having a fulcrum near the incision in a patients abdominal wall.
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Both traditional laparoscopic surgery and robotic assisted surgery have begun to migrate towards
methods and technologies that may allow for fewer incisions in the patient. The first major attempts at reduced incision or single incision surgery were through access ports that utilized long, rigid instruments. These instruments were usually
crowded in a small space, often at the patients belly button, along with a laparoscopic camera for visualization. This structure resulted in instrument collision, difficulty in establishing triangulation and working space for the instruments,
and often difficulty associated with crossing of instruments. More recent attempts at reduced incision surgery have leveraged robotic technology, but these efforts have diminished the benefits typically offered by robotic surgical systems and are
plagued by some of their limitations.
SafeStitch
SafeStitchs product portfolio and its products under development prior to the Merger were primarily designed to address three market
opportunities: obesity, GERD, and hernia repair. The Company is continuing to develop the Gastroplasty Device for obesity. We believe the Gastroplasty Device could represent an alternative for patients eligible for the common bariatric surgery
procedures currently performed for obesity gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and gastric banding procedures. Bariatric surgery has become more prevalent, an estimated 350,000 to 400,000 bariatric surgical procedures are performed annually
worldwide. Bariatric surgery is usually recommended for those people with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher. Gastric bypass combines the creation of a small stomach pouch to restrict food intake and the construction of a duodenal bypass,
thereby decreasing the bodys ability to absorb nutrients from food. In the gastric sleeve procedure, the stomach volume is significantly reduced, which accelerates the flow of food through the stomach. For gastric banding procedures, a small
inflatable/deflatable band (which allows adjustment to the size of the opening between the pouch and the stomach) is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch, so that the patient feels full sooner.
Combined Company
Following the Merger, the Companys development efforts have been focused on the SurgiBot System. Although the Company currently continues
to sell its SPIDER System pursuant to existing purchase orders and supply agreements entered into in the ordinary course, the Company is in the process of winding down such sales efforts to allow the Company to focus on the SurgiBot System. The
Company also continues to pursue development of the Gastroplasty Device.
Product Overview
We are addressing the challenges in laparoscopy and robotic assisted surgery with innovative products and product candidates that leverage the
best features of both approaches to minimally invasive surgery.
SurgiBot System
The SurgiBot System is currently in development and is designed as a reduced incision, patient-side robotic assisted surgery system. The system
is intended to bring many of the advantages of robotic assistance to single incision laparoscopic surgery while mitigating many of the drawbacks of existing robotic assisted surgery systems.
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The SurgiBot System is composed of four key components:
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The SurgiBot Base
: a reusable robotic base that provides the platform of the system;
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The EndoDrive
: a single port, surgical access device for abdominal surgery that interfaces with the SurgiBot Base, which allows for the insertion of surgical instruments for the surgical procedures being
performed;
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The Positioning Arm
: a reusable arm that supports and repositions the SurgiBot Base at the operating table; and
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The 3-D Vision System
: a three dimensional scope and vision system for laparoscopic surgical visualization that can be viewed by all operating room personnel, not just the surgeon.
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Key design features of the SurgiBot System are:
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Precision with scaling
: The SurgiBot System allows the user to adjust the level of mechanized movement using scaled ratios;
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Strength
: The SurgiBot System features powered motion driven by motors controlled by the surgeon;
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Ergonomics
: The SurgiBot System stabilizes multiple instruments and a laparoscope, and allows the surgeon to reposition their hands in an ergonomic fashion;
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Patient side
: The SurgiBot System is positioned next to the operating table, thereby allowing the surgeon, as operator, to remain in the sterile field next to the patient;
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Internal Triangulation
: The SurgiBot System utilizes a deployment mechanism to achieve triangulation of multiple instruments inside the body as contrasted with other robotic systems that rely on crossing
instruments at the patients abdominal wall. The SurgiBot System allows for triangulation that can be repositioned in the surgical field during a procedure and be maintained at positions throughout a body cavity; and
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Direct surgeon connection to the instruments
: The SurgiBot System allows the surgeon-operator to maintain human tactile feedback along several degrees of motion. Existing robotic systems lack any such tactile
feedback.
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We believe the SurgiBot System will address the needs of the large and growing, yet underserved, population of
physicians and hospitals who wish to offer the benefits of robotic assisted surgery without the functional and economic challenges of current solutions. The SurgiBot System is designed for a potentially wide range of clinical applications, and we
believe the system will be particularly attractive for general, bariatric and gynecologic surgery. In addition, we believe that the SurgiBot System can be offered to hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) at a significant cost advantage
relative to existing robotic surgery systems, and we expect hospitals, ASCs and physicians will be able to utilize existing laparoscopic procedure codes to receive reimbursement for procedures performed with the SurgiBot System.
We currently estimate that we will make the applicable filings for the SurgiBot System with the FDA and other regulatory bodies in the fourth
quarter of 2014.
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SPIDER
®
Surgical System
The SPIDER Surgical System has a unique design that accommodates a range of flexible instruments (manufactured by the Company) through
articulating instrument delivery tubes, and working channels that also allow for the use of rigid instruments. True right and true left instrumentation and triangulation is achieved through a single site. Unlike early single port techniques, the
SPIDER System eliminates awkward crossed arms movement, allowing a single surgeon to operate the device instinctively with true right and left instrument manipulation. Its flexible instruments and intra-abdominal triangulation capability are
technologies not available in any other commercially available surgical system.
Key features of the SPIDER System are:
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Triangulation achieved via single site access through the belly button;
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True left and true right instrumentation for surgeons;
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Flexible, articulating instruments;
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A single-operator platform; and
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An open platform with multiple working channels.
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The SPIDER System is commercially available
in a limited release in select markets worldwide. As of December 31, 2013, we have sold over 3,000 FDA-cleared, CE Marked SPIDER Systems. In the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, TransEnterix Surgical had one customer who accounted
for 37% and 21%, respectively, of the revenue from TransEnterix Surgicals products, including the SPIDER System. That customer, Al Danah Medical Co. W.L.L., was a distributor of such products pursuant to a pre-release distribution agreement
with TransEnterix Surgical dated June 10, 2012. Although this customer was the most significant purchaser of TransEnterix Surgicals commercialized products during 2012 and 2013, the Company does not believe it is dependent on such
customer, as the Company is focused on developing the SurgiBot System, and has reduced its sales and marketing efforts with respect to the other TransEnterix Surgical products, including the SPIDER System.
Surgical Instruments
The
Company has developed and manufactures, or has manufactured, flexible and rigid laparoscopic surgical instruments that are used in abdominal surgery, such as scissors, graspers, clip appliers, and suction and irrigation instruments. Such instruments
are currently being sold in limited volumes in connection with the SPIDER System described below, and are currently being adapted for use with the SurgiBot System. We expect to launch one such instrument in 2014, which we are calling our flexible
energy device. This product has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA, and provides surgeons with a flexible instrument that can be used to perform tissue ligation. We believe the flexibility of our instrument provides the surgeon with the ability
to create proper angles for tissue ligation that cannot be achieved with the rigid products currently being sold.
SafeStitch Product
Overview
With respect to the SafeStitch products and products in development, the Company has focused its efforts since the Merger on
the development of the Gastroplasty Device, and has stopped the commercialization or development of the other SafeStitch products. The product descriptions below reflect activities in 2013 prior to the consummation of the Merger.
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Intralumenal Gastroplasty Device (Gastroplasty Device)
. The Gastroplasty Device consists
of a set of instruments designed to perform incision-less, endoscopic surgery by introduction through the mouth and esophagus. Bariatric and GERD operations are generally performed through an external abdominal incision, and often laparoscopically.
Traditional surgery has the potential for significant complications and often requires an in-patient hospital stay, which is expensive.
The Gastroplasty Device is the most tested of the SafeStitch products under development, and has demonstrated its potential for effectiveness.
In animal tests and ex vivo human testing, the Gastroplasty Devices have been successful in suturing and excising tissue and reducing stomach size. SafeStitch successfully tested its first investigational devices in five patients in Hungary, and
follow up observations were reviewed in September 2012, which was approximately 24 months following the initial procedures. At the 24-month follow-up, it was observed, through endoscopic visualization, that the operative site showed significant scar
tissue as intended, with the scar forming a restrictive ring for weight. SafeStitch also observed that the weight loss and esophageal monitoring was satisfactory and as expected. SafeStitch expanded its in vivo human testing of this device in
Hungary during 2013 and we expect to continue to gather additional data. We are preparing obesity trial protocols for this device in preparation for submitting the final investigational device exemption (IDE) trial plans to the FDA for review.
SafeStitch was developing use of the Gastroplasty Device for the diagnosis and treatment of Barretts Esophagus, which is caused by GERD,
and is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus imitates the stomach mucosa, beginning at the esophageal junction and migrating upward. Barretts esophageal tissue is pre-cancerous and can result in difficulty in swallowing, malignancy
and death. Following the Merger, we ceased such development efforts.
The AMID HFD Stapler
. SafeStitch developed the AMID HFD
stapler in cooperation with Dr. Parviz Amid, a pioneer of and renowned expert in the Lichtenstein Hernia Repair. This stapler uses non-absorbable titanium staples to repair inguinal (groin) or ventral (abdominal) hernias, and for the
approximation of tissue, including skin. The staples are used to fix mesh in place, which helps prevent the recurrence of a hernia. Hernias impact approximately 3% of the worlds population, and roughly 800,000 inguinal hernias are repaired
annually in the United States. Greater than 60% of the inguinal hernia repairs performed in developed countries are performed using the Lichtenstein technique popularized by Dr. Parviz Amid, the inventor of the AMID HFD. During the repair, mesh
is affixed to tissues to prevent hernia recurrence. Hernias are also repaired through open incision without affixing mesh, and laparoscopically with mesh reinforcement.
In November 2009, SafeStitch received FDA clearance to market the AMID HFD in the United States as a Class II device, and, in February 2010,
SafeStitch received CE Mark approval to market the stapler in the European Union and other countries accepting and requiring CE Mark. After SafeStitch commenced production of the AMID HFD in 2010, it voluntarily suspended sales in order to implement
several improvements and a more robust and reliable commercial manufacturing process. Thereafter, SafeStitch submitted a Special 510(k) to the FDA that was cleared in February 2012. SafeStitch began commercial sales in the United States
during the second quarter of 2012. Additionally, SafeStitch supplemented its Technical File for clearance to market the AMID HFD in the European Union. Following the decision to cease sales of the AMID HFD following the Merger, the Company delisted
the AMID HFD Stapler in both the U.S. and European Union.
SMART Dilator
. Dilators are used when an endoscopy procedure
demonstrates the narrowing of the esophagus. Narrowing may be treated by administering GERD medication or by using a dilator to
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expand the esophagus. Approximately 800,000 dilations are performed in the United States each year. According to peer-reviewed literature, dilation results in a 0.5-1.0% perforation rate.
Untreated perforation of the esophagus is fatal, usually within two days. SafeStitchs SMART Dilator product, which was developed to address perforation risk, was expected to be used to treat GERD and GERD-related complications such as
Barretts Esophagus, but following the Merger we have ceased further development.
Bite Blocks
. A bite block is used to
protect the endoscope used in transoral gastrointestinal procedures and is utilized in almost all such procedures. Endoscopies require a bite block to protect the endoscope, the patients teeth and his or her airway. SafeStitch developed a
standard bite block and airway bite block to be used during an endoscopy and intended to prevent a low oxygen level during the procedure due to a restricted airway. The latter problem is commonly encountered in obese patients during upper endoscopy
and if uncorrected can lead to brain damage and cardiac arrest or arrhythmia. A number of bite blocks are on the market. The bite blocks developed by SafeStitch are Class I 510(k)-exempt devices that required no preclearance from the FDA. The
Company is currently developing the bite blocks in connection with the Gastroplasty Device.
Business Strategy
Our strategy is to focus our resources on the development and commercialization of the SurgiBot System. We are planning to make the product
available subject to our obtaining the requisite regulatory and government clearances.
We believe that:
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there are a number of hospitals and an increasing number of ambulatory surgery centers in the U.S. and internationally that could benefit from the addition of robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery at a lower cost
of entry than existing robotic assisted surgery systems;
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surgeons can benefit from the ease of use, 3-D visualization and precision of robotic assisted surgery while remaining patient-side within the sterile field, consistent with current laparoscopic surgery procedures; and
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patients will continue to seek a minimally invasive option offering minimal scarring and fewer incisions for many common general abdominal and gynecologic surgeries.
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Research and Development
We are focusing
our research and development efforts on the SurgiBot System. Our experience with the SPIDER Surgical System has significantly advanced the development of certain components of the SurgiBot System. For example, the EndoDrive device portion of the
SurgiBot System is very similar to the function and form of the SPIDER System that is inserted into the patient and features flexible articulating channels. The instruments used with both the SurgiBot System and the SPIDER System are long and
flexible with many similar instrument tips and performance requirements. In addition to growing our internal expertise, we continue to collaborate extensively with outside experts in robotic systems and visualization technologies.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, TransEnterix Surgical incurred research and development expenses of approximately $6.3
million, while SafeStitch incurred research and development expenses of $2.9 million. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Company
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incurred research and development expenses of approximately $12.7 million, primarily related to the SurgiBot System development. SafeStitch and TransEnterix Surgical funded their respective
research and development expenses prior to the Merger primarily from proceeds raised from equity and debt financing transactions. We expect to continue to use equity and debt financing transactions to fund our research and development activities. As
both TransEnterix Surgical and SafeStitch had limited past revenues from sales of products, no customers were obligated to pay any material portion of such research and development expenses.
Intellectual Property
We believe that
our intellectual property and expertise is an important competitive resource. Our experienced research and development team has created a substantial portfolio of intellectual property, including patents, patent applications, trade secrets and
proprietary know-how. We maintain an active program of intellectual property protection, both to assure that the proprietary technology developed by us is appropriately protected and, where necessary, to assure that there is no infringement of our
proprietary technology by competitive technologies.
The following summarizes our current patent and patent application portfolio.
TransEnterix Surgical
: The Company holds three United States patents, two Japanese patents, and two Australian patents, and it has
filed more than thirty patent applications in the United States and abroad. In each instance, we own all right, title and interest, and no licenses, security interests or other encumbrances have been granted on such patents and patent applications.
Two of our United States patents resulted from filings relating to the SPIDER System and will remain in force until 2027 and 2032, respectively. The Japanese and Australian patents, which also resulted from filings relating to the SPIDER System,
will expire in 2027. The patent applications relate to the SPIDER System, the SurgiBot System, and other instruments and systems for minimally invasive surgical procedures. We intend to seek further patent and other intellectual property protection
in the United States and internationally where available and when appropriate as we continue our SurgiBot System product development efforts.
SafeStitch
: We also have intellectual property from SafeStitch. We have exclusively licensed technology, know-how and patent
applications from Creighton University (Creighton) for the Gastroplasty Device (which was also used in the SMART Dilator and bite blocks products). These patent applications include systems and techniques for minimally invasive gastrointestinal
procedures, a dilator for use with an endoscope, and bite blocks for use with an endoscope and for preserving airways of patients during endoscopy. In addition, we have certain rights to other Creighton intellectual property that we have not yet
defined as products under development. In total, we have one issued patent and eight patent applications pending in the United States, including those that are exclusively licensed from Creighton. The issued patent, owned by Creighton, relates to
the Gastroplasty Device and will expire in 2026. We are also pursuing several of these applications in other countries, and three such foreign patents have been issued.
Pursuant to our exclusive license and development agreement with Creighton (the Creighton Agreement), we own all inventions conceived of and
reduced to practice solely by our employees and agents related to the SafeStitch products, and all patent applications and patents related to the SafeStitch products claiming such inventions developed without the use of any licensed patent rights or
associated know-how from Creighton. Creighton owns all inventions conceived of and reduced to practice solely by Dr. Charles Filipi, or any Creighton employees or agents who work directly with Dr. Filipi in the course of performing duties
for us, and all patent applications and patents claiming such inventions, which inventions, patent applications and all resulting licensed patent rights are subject to the Creighton Agreement. Together with Creighton, we jointly own all inventions
conceived of and reduced to practice
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jointly by Dr. Filipi, and/or any Creighton employees or agents who work directly with him, and our employees or agents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Creighton owns all inventions
conceived of or reduced to practice under its research and development budget, and all patent applications and patents claiming such inventions, even if conceived of solely by our employees or agents, and such inventions, patent applications and all
resulting licensed patent rights are subject to the Creighton Agreement. The Company has seven years after the later of the effective date of the Creighton Agreement or the disclosure and acceptance of a licensed patent and associated know-how (each
as defined in the Creighton Agreement) to commence development of the licensed patent or commercially exploit the licensed products developed. We believe the Companys work in developing the Gastroplasty Device has satisfied this requirement;
however, if necessary, such seven-year term can be extended by the Company by payment, per licensed patent, of a term extension fee. If the Company fails to develop or commercially exploit a licensed patent and associated know-how within such term,
the licensed patent and associated know-how revert back to Creighton. Otherwise, no specific term is established under the Creighton Agreement. Our obligations to pay royalties ends when the last valid claim (as defined in the Creighton Agreement)
expires.
Dr. Filipi was the Chief Medical Officer of SafeStitch prior to the Merger, and he continues to serve as our Chief Medical
Officer following the Merger.
Competition
Our industry is highly competitive, subject to change and significantly affected by new product introductions and other activities of industry
participants. Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial and human resources than we do and have established reputations with our target customers, as well as worldwide distribution channels that are more established and developed
than ours.
There are many competitive offerings in the field of minimally invasive surgery. Several companies have launched devices that
enable reduced incision or single incision laparoscopic surgery with or without robotic assistance. Our surgical competitors include, but are not limited to: Applied Medical, Covidien, Intuitive Surgical, Johnson & Johnson, Olympus America,
Karl Storz and Stryker.
In addition to surgical competitors, there are many products and therapies that are designed to reduce the need
for or attractiveness of surgical intervention. These products and therapies may impact the overall volume of surgical procedures and negatively impact our business.
The table below lists our products, sourced from TransEnterix Surgical and SafeStitch, and the significant competitors in these product
fields:
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Products and Products Under Development
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Significant Competitors
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SPIDER
®
Surgical System
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Applied Medical, Olympus America, Johnson & Johnson and Covidien
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The SurgiBot System
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Intuitive Surgical
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Gastroplasty Device
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USGI Medical, Endo Gastric Solutions, Inc.,
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ValenTx, Inc., GI Dynamics, Inc. and Medigus, Ltd.
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In addition, our ability to compete may be affected by the failure to fully educate physicians in the use of
our products and products in development, or by the level of physician expertise. This may have the effect of making our products less attractive. Among the products with which we will directly compete, we expect to differentiate on the basis of
ease of use, flexibility and sensitivity, access to the patient, enhanced safety, effectiveness, efficiency and visualization, as well as lower cost, in most cases. Several medical device companies are actively engaged in research and development of
robotic systems or other medical devices and tools used in minimally invasive surgery procedures. We cannot predict the basis upon which we will compete with new products marketed by others.
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Government Regulation of our Product Development Activities
The U.S. government regulates the medical device industry through various agencies, including but not limited to, the FDA, which administers
the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the FDCA). The design, testing, manufacturing, storage, labeling, distribution, advertising, and marketing of medical devices are subject to extensive regulation by federal, state, and local governmental
authorities in the United States, including the FDA, and by similar agencies in other countries. Any device product that we develop must receive all requisite regulatory approvals or clearances, as the case may be, before it may be marketed in a
particular country.
Device Development
Medical devices are subject to varying levels of pre-market regulatory controls. The FDA classifies medical devices into one of three classes:
(i) Class I devices are relatively simple and can be manufactured and distributed with general controls; (ii) Class II devices are somewhat more complex and require greater scrutiny; and (iii) Class III devices are new, high risk
devices, and frequently are permanently implantable or help sustain life.
In the United States, a company generally can obtain permission
to distribute a new medical device in one of two ways. The first applies to any device that is substantially equivalent to a device first marketed prior to May 1976, or to another device marketed after that date, but which was substantially
equivalent to a pre-May 1976 device. These devices are either Class I or Class II devices. To obtain FDA clearance to distribute the medical device, a company generally must submit a Section 510(k) notification, and receive an FDA order finding
substantial equivalence to a predicate device (pre-May 1976 device or post-May 1976 device that was substantially equivalent to a pre-May 1976 device) and permitting commercial distribution of that medical device for its intended use. A 510(k)
notification must provide information supporting a claim of substantial equivalence to the predicate device. If clinical data from human experience are required to support the 510(k) notification, these data must be gathered in compliance with
investigational device exemption (IDE) regulations for investigations performed in the United States. The 510(k) process is normally used for products of the type that we are developing and propose to market and sell. The FDA review process for
premarket notifications submitted pursuant to Section 510(k) takes, on average, about 90 days, but it can take substantially longer if the FDA has concerns regarding the application. It is possible for Section 510(k) clearance procedures
to take from six to twenty-four months, depending on the concerns raised by the FDA and the complexity of the device. There is no guarantee that the FDA will clear a medical device for marketing, in which case the device cannot be
distributed in the United States. There is also no guarantee that the FDA will deem the applicable device subject to the 510(k) process, as opposed to the more time-consuming, resource-intensive and problematic, pre-market approval (PMA) process
described below. In 2011, the FDA issued a series of draft guidance documents designed to reform the 510(k) clearance process. Similarly, the Medical Device User Fee Amendments of 2012 authorized the FDA to collect user fees for the review of
certain pre-market submissions received on or after October 1, 2012, including 510(k) notifications. These fees are intended to improve the medical device review process, but the actual impact on the industry is still unknown.
The second, more comprehensive, approval process applies to a new device that is not substantially equivalent to a pre-1976 product or that is
to be used in supporting or sustaining life or preventing impairment. These devices are normally Class III devices. For example, most implantable devices are subject to the approval process. Two steps of FDA approval are generally required before a
company can market a product in the United States that is subject to approval, as opposed to clearance, as a Class III device. First, a company must comply with IDE regulations in connection with any human clinical investigation of the device. These
regulations permit a company to undertake a clinical study of a
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non-significant risk device without formal FDA approval. Prior express FDA approval is required if the device is a significant risk device. Second, the FDA must review the
companys PMA application, which contains, among other things, clinical information acquired under the IDE. Additionally, devices subject to PMA approval may be subject to a panel review to obtain marketing approval and are required to pass a
factory inspection in accordance with the current good manufacturing practices standards in order to obtain approval. The FDA will approve the PMA application if it finds there is reasonable assurance that the device is safe and
effective for its intended use. The PMA process takes substantially longer than the 510(k) process, approximately one to two years or more. However, in some instances the FDA may find that a device is new and not substantially equivalent to a
predicate device but is also not a high risk device as is generally the case with Class III PMA devices. In these instances FDA may allow a device to be down classified from Class III to Class I or II. The de novo classification option is an
alternate pathway to classify novel devices of low to moderate risk that had automatically been placed in Class III after receiving a not substantially equivalent (NSE) determination in response to a 501(k) notification. The FDCA has
also been amended to allow a sponsor to submit a de novo classification request to the FDA for novel low to moderate risk devices without first being required to submit a 510(k) application. These types of applications are referred to as
Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation or de novo. In instances where a device is deemed not substantially equivalent to a Class II predicate device, the candidate device may be filed as a de novo application which may
lead to delays in regulatory decisions by the FDA. FDA review of a de novo application may lead the FDA to identify the device as either a Class I or II device and worthy of either an exempt or 510(k) regulatory pathway.
We believe that the SurgiBot System-related products are Class II devices, and we are in the process of pursuing Section 510(k) clearance
for such products. The FDA might not agree with our assessment that the SurgiBot System is eligible for the 510(k) process or that the SurgiBot System is a Class II device. If that were to occur, we would be required to undertake the more complex
and costly PMA process or perhaps be considered for a de novo reclassification. However, for either the 510(k), de novo, or the PMA process, the FDA could require us to conduct clinical trials, which would take more time, cost more money and pose
certain other risks and uncertainties.
We have participated in discussions with, and intend to continue to engage in discussions with,
the FDA regarding the appropriate regulatory pathway for our products, with primary emphasis directed toward confirming the regulatory pathway for the SurgiBot System. While clinical trial data for Class II devices are generally not required, we
have received information from FDA that clinical trial data may be required for the SurgiBot System to enable market clearance. Should a clinical study be required to support a 510(k) submission, the Company would seek FDA advisement on study
design, endpoints and statistical methods. Additionally, clinical data may be required to support a CE Mark filing. The Company is pursuing regulatory guidance on the requirements related to the clinical evaluation to support a CE Mark.
We believe that our Gastroplasty Device for the treatment of obesity is a Class III device subject to PMA approval by the FDA and that this
device will require clinical trials in order to meet the PMA requirements. Prior to initiation of pilot or pivotal clinical studies in support of a PMA application the Company will file a pre-submission application and meet with FDA to gain approval
on an agreed upon study plan including study population, study objectives, endpoints, means of measure, and statistical methods.
Even
when a clinical study has been approved by the FDA or deemed approved, the study is subject to factors beyond a manufacturers control, including, but not limited to, the fact that the institutional review board (IRB) at a specified clinical
site might not approve the study, might decline to renew approval, or might suspend or terminate the study before its completion. There is no assurance that a clinical study at any given site will progress as anticipated. In addition, there can be
no assurance that
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the clinical study will provide sufficient evidence to assure the FDA that the product is safe and effective, a prerequisite for FDA approval of a PMA, or substantially equivalent in terms of
safety and effectiveness to a predicate device, a prerequisite for clearance under Section 510(k). Even if the FDA approves or clears a device, it may limit its intended uses in such a way that manufacturing and distribution of the device may
not be commercially feasible.
After clearance or approval to market is given, the FDA and foreign regulatory agencies, upon the
occurrence of certain events, are authorized under various circumstances to withdraw the clearance or approval of the device, or require changes to a device, its manufacturing process or its labeling or require additional proof that regulatory
requirements have been met.
A manufacturer of a device approved through the PMA process is not permitted to make changes to the device
which affects its safety or effectiveness without first submitting a supplement application to its PMA and obtaining FDA approval for that supplement, prior to marketing the modified device. In some instances, the FDA may require clinical trials to
support a supplement application. A manufacturer of a device cleared through the 510(k) process must submit a special premarket notification if it intends to make a change or modification in the device that could significantly affect the safety or
effectiveness of the device, such as a significant change or modification in design, material, chemical composition, energy source, labeling or manufacturing process. Any change in the intended uses of a PMA device or a 510(k) device requires an
approval supplement or new cleared premarket notification. Exported devices are subject to the regulatory requirements of each country to which the device is exported, as well as certain FDA export requirements.
A company that intends to manufacture medical devices is required to register with the FDA before it begins to manufacture the device for
commercial distribution. As a result, we and any entity that manufactures products on our behalf will be subject to periodic inspection by the FDA for compliance with the FDAs Quality System Regulation (QSR) requirements and other regulations.
In Europe, we need to comply with the requirements of the Medical Devices Directive, or MDD, and appropriately affix the CE Mark on our products to attest to such compliance. To achieve compliance, our products must meet the Essential
Requirements of the MDD relating to safety and performance and we must successfully undergo verification of our regulatory compliance, or conformity assessment, by a notified body selected by us. The level of scrutiny of such assessment
depends on the regulatory class of the product. We are subject to continued surveillance by our notified body and will be required to report any serious adverse incidents to the appropriate authorities. We also must comply with additional
requirements of individual countries in which our products are marketed. In the European Community, we are required to maintain certain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications in order to sell products. These regulations
require us or our manufacturers to manufacture products and maintain documents in a prescribed manner with respect to design, manufacturing, testing, labeling and control activities. Further, we are required to comply with various FDA and other
agency requirements for labeling and promotion. The FDAs Medical Device Reporting regulations require that we provide information to the FDA whenever there is evidence to reasonably suggest that a device may have caused or contributed to a
death or serious injury or, if a malfunction were to occur, could cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. In addition, the FDA prohibits us from promoting a medical device for unapproved indications.
Impact of Regulation
The FDA, in the course of enforcing the FDCA, may subject a medical device company such as us to various sanctions for violating FDA
regulations or provisions of the FDCA, including requiring recalls, issuing warning letters, seeking to impose civil money penalties, seizing devices that the agency believes are non-compliant, seeking to enjoin distribution of a specific type of
device or other product, seeking to revoke a clearance or approval, and seeking disgorgement of profits.
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Further, the levels of revenues and profitability of medical companies like us may be affected by
the continuing efforts of government and third party payors to contain or reduce the costs of health care through various means. For example, in certain foreign markets, pricing or profitability of products is subject to governmental control. In the
United States, there have been, and we expect that there will continue to be, a number of federal and state proposals to implement similar governmental controls. Therefore, we cannot assure you that any of our products will be considered cost
effective, or that, following any commercialization of our products, reimbursement will be available or sufficient to allow us to manufacture and sell them competitively and profitably.
Health Care Regulation
In the United States, there have been, and we expect there to continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory initiatives, at both the
federal and state government levels, to change the healthcare system in ways that, if approved, could affect our ability to sell our products profitably. At the current time, our products are not defined as durable medical equipment (DME). Non-DME
devices used in surgical procedures are normally paid directly by the hospital or health care provider and not reimbursed separately by third-party payors. Instead, the hospital or health care provider is reimbursed based on the procedure performed
and the inpatient or outpatient stay. As a result, these types of devices are subject to intense price competition that can place a small manufacturer at a competitive disadvantage as hospitals, ASCs and health care providers attempt to negotiate
lower prices for products such as the ones we develop and sell.
In March 2010, President Obama signed into law both the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Affordable Care Act) and the reconciliation law known as Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act (the Reconciliation Act, and, with the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 Health Care Reform
Legislation). The constitutionality of the 2010 Health Care Reform Legislation was confirmed on June 28, 2012 by the Supreme Court of the United States. Specifically, the Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate and included changes
regarding the extension of medical benefits to those who currently lack insurance coverage. Thus, the 2010 Health Care Reform Legislation will change the existing state of the health care system by expanding coverage through voluntary state Medicaid
expansion, attracting previously uninsured persons through the new health care insurance exchanges and by modifying the methodology for reimbursing medical services, drugs and devices, such as our products. These structural changes could entail
modifications to the existing system of third-party payors and government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid or some combination of both, as well as other changes.
The 2010 Health Care Reform Legislation subjects manufacturers of medical devices to an excise tax of 2.3% on certain U.S. sales of medical
devices beginning in January 2013. This excise tax will likely increase our expenses in the future.
Further, the 2010 Health Care Reform
Legislation includes the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which, in conjunction with its implementing regulations, requires manufacturers of certain drugs, biologics, and devices that are reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid and the Childrens
Health Insurance Program to report certain payments or transfers of value provided to physicians and teaching hospitals and to report ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members during the
preceding calendar year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, issued its final rule implementing the Physician Payments Sunshine Act in February 2013, and required data collection commenced as of August 1, 2013.
Manufacturers must report aggregated data for August
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through December of 2013 to CMS in the first quarter of 2014 and more detailed information regarding the specific payments and transfers of value in the second quarter of 2014. CMS will release
the data on a public website by September 30, 2014. The Company is in the process of complying with its obligations under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. The failure to report appropriate data could subject us to significant financial
penalties. Other countries and several states currently have similar laws and more may enact similar legislation.
Regulations under the
2010 Health Care Reform Legislation have been, and are expected to continue to be, drafted, released and finalized throughout the next several years. The full impact of the 2010 Health Care Reform Legislation, as well as laws and other reform
measures that may be proposed and adopted in the future, remains uncertain, but may continue the downward pressure on medical device pricing, especially under the Medicare program, and may also increase our regulatory burdens and operating costs,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business operations.
International Regulation and Potential Impact
The Company intends to pursue continued expansion into international markets. Some of these markets maintain unique regulatory requirements
outside of or in addition to those of the U.S. FDA and the European Union. Due to the variations in regulatory requirements within territories, the Company may be required to perform additional safety or clinical testing or fulfill additional agency
requirements for specific territories. The Company may also be required to apply for registration using third parties within those territories and may be dependent upon the third parties successful regulatory processes to file, register and
list the product applications and associated labeling. These additional requirements may result in delays in international registrations and commercialization of our products in certain countries.
Employees
As of
December 31, 2013, we had 92 employees, including 91 full time employees. The Company considers its relationships with its employees to be good.
Corporate Information
TransEnterix Surgical
TransEnterix Surgical was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 12, 2006. On September 3, 2013,
TransEnterix Surgical merged with and into a SafeStitch merger subsidiary and became a wholly owned subsidiary of SafeStitch.
SafeStitch
SafeStitch was originally incorporated on August 19, 1988 as NCS Ventures Corp. under the laws of the State of Delaware. Its name was
changed to Cellular Technical Services Company, Inc. on May 31, 1991. On September 4, 2007, SafeStitch acquired SafeStitch LLC, and, in January 2008, changed its name to SafeStitch Medical, Inc. On December 6, 2013, SafeStitchs
name was changed to TransEnterix, Inc.
Combined Company
The Companys principal executive offices are located at 635 Davis Drive, Suite 300, Morrisville, NC 27560.
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Available Information
The Company maintains a website at www.transenterix.com. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, as reviewed and updated on February 18,
2014, is available on our website. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are
available free of charge on our website as soon as practicable after electronic filing of such material with, or furnishing it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). This information may be read and copied at the Public Reference
Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. The SEC also maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy statements, and other information about issuers, like TransEnterix, Inc., who file electronically with the SEC. The
address of the site is http://www.sec.gov.