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Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q2, 2026
Risk Change Over Time
- Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1We may not realize the anticipated benefits from our acquisition of Chimerix.
On April 21, 2025, we completed the acquisition of all the outstanding shares of Chimerix Common Stock. As a result of this, Chimerix became our indirect wholly owned subsidiary. The success of the acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from successfully combining our and Chimerix's operations and we plan on devoting significant management attention and resources to integrating our business practices and operations with Chimerix's so that we can fully realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. In addition, Modeyso, which we acquired in the acquisition, may not be successful or may require significantly greater resources and investments than originally anticipated. As a result, the anticipated benefits of the acquisition may not be realized fully within the expected timeframe or at all or may take longer to realize or cost more than expected, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Risk Highlights Q2, 2026
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 47
- Regulation - Risk 1With respect to our products and product candidates targeting rare indications, relevant regulatory exclusivities such as orphan drug exclusivity or pediatric exclusivity may not be granted or, if granted, may be limited.
The first NDA applicant with an orphan drug designation for a particular active moiety to treat a specific rare disease or condition that receives FDA approval is usually entitled to a seven-year exclusive marketing period in the U.S. for that drug, for that indication. We rely, in part, on this ODE and other regulatory exclusivities to protect Xywav, Epidiolex, Zepzelca, Ziihera and, potentially, our other products and product candidates from competitors, and we expect to continue relying in part on these regulatory exclusivities in the future. The duration of our regulatory exclusivity period could be impacted by a number of factors, including FDA's later determination that our request for orphan designation was materially defective, that the manufacturer is unable to supply sufficient quantities of the drug, that the extension of the exclusivity period for certain new drugs that become controlled substances by the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act does not apply, or the possibility that we are unable to successfully obtain pediatric exclusivity. There is no assurance that we will successfully obtain orphan drug designation for other products or product candidates or other rare diseases or that a product candidate for which we receive orphan drug designation will be approved, or that we will be awarded ODE upon approval as, for example, FDA may reconsider whether the eligibility criteria for such exclusivity have been met and/or maintained. Moreover, a drug product with an active moiety that is different from that in our drug candidate or, under limited circumstances, the same drug product, may be approved by FDA for the same indication during the period of marketing exclusivity. According to FDA, the limited circumstances include a showing that the second drug is clinically superior to the drug with marketing exclusivity through a demonstration of superior safety or efficacy or that it makes a major contribution to patient care. For example, FDA recognized seven years of ODE for Xywav in narcolepsy through July 21, 2027 (which was subsequently extended to January 21, 2028 by pediatric exclusivity), stating that Xywav is clinically superior to Xyrem by means of greater safety due to reduced chronic sodium burden. Even though FDA granted seven-year ODE to Xywav in narcolepsy, FDA also approved Lumryz and granted Lumryz seven-year ODE based on FDA's finding that Lumryz makes a major contribution to patient care and is therefore clinically superior to Xywav and Xyrem. Similarly, even though FDA also granted seven-year ODE to Xywav in IH, FDA also granted Lumryz ODD based on the plausible hypothesis that Lumryz may be clinically superior to Xywav and Xyrem because Lumryz may provide a major contribution to patient care. In addition, if a competitor obtains approval and marketing exclusivity for a drug product with an active moiety that is the same as that in a product candidate we are pursuing for the same indication before us, approval of our product candidate would be blocked during the period of marketing exclusivity unless we could demonstrate that our product candidate is clinically superior to the approved product. Furthermore, if a competitor obtains approval and marketing exclusivity for a drug product with an active moiety that is the same as that in a product candidate we are pursuing for a different orphan indication, this may negatively impact the market opportunity for our product candidate. There have been legal challenges, including from us, to aspects of FDA's regulations and policies concerning the exclusivity provisions of the Orphan Drug Act, including whether two drugs are the same drug product, and our and future challenges could lead to changes that affect the protections potentially afforded our products in ways that are difficult to predict. Moreover, in the future, there is the potential for legislative changes or additional legal challenges to FDA's orphan drug regulations and policies, and it is uncertain how such challenges might affect our business. In the EU, if a marketing authorization is granted for a medicinal product designated as an orphan drug, that product is currently entitled to ten years of marketing exclusivity. We rely in part on this orphan drug exclusivity and other regulatory exclusivities to protect Epidyolex, Ziihera and Vyxeos. During the period of marketing exclusivity, subject to limited exceptions, no similar medicinal product may be granted a marketing authorization for the orphan indication. There is no assurance that we will successfully obtain orphan drug designation for future rare indications or orphan exclusivity upon approval of any of our product candidates that have already obtained designation. In December 2025, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the existing EU pharmaceutical legislation, including the pediatric and orphan regulations. Under new legislation, there are some changes to the regulatory exclusivity periods. The provisional agreement is still pending formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU and subsequent publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Dependent on the final version of the text, the new legislation could impact our ability to secure orphan designation for future products, and would impact the scope and duration of market and orphan exclusivities in the EU. The new legislation could impact our ability to maintain marketing exclusivity for future products in all EU member states if we are unable to meet certain access obligations or if we are unable to supply sufficient quantities of our product in all member states.
- Regulation - Risk 2Disruptions at FDA, the SEC and other government agencies and regulatory authorities including due to a reduction in such agencies' workforces, inadequate funding or the current and potential future government shutdowns, could prevent those agencies from performing normal functions on which our business relies, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of FDA to review and approve new products or review other regulatory submissions can be affected by a variety of factors, including statutory, regulatory and policy changes, inadequate government budget and funding levels, government shutdowns, a reduction in FDA's workforce and its ability to hire and retain key personnel. Disruptions at FDA and other agencies may also increase the time to meet with and receive agency feedback, review and/or approve our submissions, conduct inspections, issue regulatory guidance, or take other actions that facilitate the development, approval and marketing of regulated products, which would adversely affect our business. In addition, government proposals to reduce or eliminate budgetary deficits may include reduced allocations to FDA, the SEC and other government agencies and regulatory authorities on which our operations may rely. For example, in October 2025, the U.S. government shut down for 43 days and certain regulatory agencies, including FDA, had to furlough critical employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs again in the future, it could significantly impact the ability of FDA to review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. It is unclear how these executive actions or other potential actions by the Trump Administration or other parts of the federal government will impact FDA, the SEC or other regulatory authorities that oversee our business. The reductions in FDA's workforce and budgetary pressures could significantly impact the ability of FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions or take other actions critical to the marketing of our products which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
- Regulation - Risk 3We are subject to significant ongoing regulatory obligations and oversight, which may subject us to civil or criminal proceedings, investigations, or penalties and may result in significant additional expense and limit our ability to commercialize our products.
FDA and Equivalent Non-U.S. Regulatory Authorities Our activities are subject to extensive regulation encompassing the entire life cycle of our products, from R&D activities to marketing approval (including specific post-marketing obligations), manufacturing, labeling, packaging, adverse event and safety reporting, storage, advertising, promotion, sale, pricing and reimbursement, recordkeeping, distribution, importing and exporting. The failure by us or any of our third party partners, including our corporate development and collaboration partners, clinical trial sites, suppliers, distributors and our central pharmacy for Xywav and Xyrem, to comply with applicable requirements could subject us to administrative or judicial sanctions or other negative consequences, such as delays in approval or refusal to approve a product candidate, restrictions on our products, our suppliers, our other partners or us, the withdrawal, suspension or variation of product approval or manufacturing authorizations, untitled letters, warning letters, fines and other monetary penalties, unanticipated expenditures, product recall, withdrawal or seizure, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, interruption of manufacturing or clinical trials, operating restrictions, injunctions, debarment, suspension of licenses, import detentions and bans, civil penalties and/or criminal prosecution, any of which could result in a significant drop in our revenues from the affected products and harm to our reputation and could have a significant impact on our sales, business and financial condition. We monitor adverse events resulting from the use of our products, as do the related regulatory authorities, and we file periodic reports with the authorities concerning adverse events. The authorities review these events and reports and, if they determine that any events and/or reports indicate a trend or signal, they can require a change in a product label, restrict sales and marketing and/or require conduct or other actions, potentially including variation, withdrawal or suspension of the marketing authorization, any of which could result in reduced market acceptance and demand for our products, could harm our reputation and our ability to market our products in the future, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. FDA, the competent authorities of the EU member states on behalf of EMA, and the competent authorities of other European countries, also periodically inspect our records related to safety reporting. EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee may propose to the CHMP that the marketing authorization holder be required to take specific steps or advise that the existing marketing authorization be varied, suspended or revoked. Failure to adequately and promptly correct the observation(s) can result in further regulatory enforcement action, which could include the variation, suspension or withdrawal of marketing authorization or imposition of financial penalties or other enforcement measures. Epidyolex, Rylaze, Ziihera, Modeyso, Vyxeos and Defitelio are available on a named patient basis or through a compassionate use process in many countries where they are not commercially available. If any such country's regulatory authorities determine that we are promoting such products without proper authorization, we could be found to be in violation of pharmaceutical advertising laws or the regulations permitting sales under named patient programs. In that case, we may be subject to financial or other penalties. Any failure to maintain revenues from sales of products on a named patient basis and/or to generate revenues from commercial sales of these products exceeding historical sales on a named patient basis could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. FDA, the competent authorities of the EU member states and other European countries, and other governmental authorities require advertising and promotional materials to be truthful and not misleading, and products to be marketed only for their approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. Regulatory authorities actively investigate allegations of off-label promotion in order to enforce regulations prohibiting these types of activities. A determination that we have promoted an approved product for off-label uses could subject us to significant liability, including civil and administrative financial penalties and other remedies as well as criminal financial penalties, other sanctions and imprisonment. Even if we are not determined to have engaged in off-label promotion, an allegation that we have engaged in such activities could have a significant impact on our sales, business and financial condition. The U.S. government has also required companies to enter into complex corporate integrity agreements and/or non-prosecution agreements that impose significant reporting and other burdens on the affected companies. Failure to maintain a comprehensive and effective compliance program, and to integrate the operations of acquired businesses into a combined comprehensive and effective compliance program on a timely basis, could subject us to a range of regulatory actions and/or civil or criminal penalties that could affect our ability to commercialize our products and could harm or prevent sales of the affected products, or could substantially increase the costs and expenses of commercializing and marketing our products. Other Regulatory Authorities We are also subject to regulation by other regional, national, state and local agencies, including the DEA, the DOJ, the FTC, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the OIG, and other regulatory bodies, as well as similar governmental authorities in those non-U.S. countries in which we commercialize our products. We are subject to numerous fraud and abuse laws and regulations globally and our sales, marketing, patient support and medical activities may be subject to scrutiny under these laws and regulations. These laws are described in "Business-Government Regulation" in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. While we maintain a comprehensive compliance program to try to ensure that our practices and the activities of our third party contractors and employees fall within the scope of available statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors whenever possible, and otherwise comply with applicable laws, regulations or guidance, regulators and enforcement agencies may disagree with our assessment or find fault with the conduct of our employees or contractors. In addition, existing regulations are subject to regulatory revision or changes in interpretation by the DOJ or OIG. For example, in November 2020, the OIG issued a Special Fraud Alert to highlight certain inherent risks of remuneration related to speaker programs sponsored by drug and medical device companies, which may not in all circumstances qualify under either safe harbor or statutory exception protection. The Special Fraud Alert sent a clear signal that speaker programs will be subject to potentially heightened enforcement scrutiny, in particular for those programs with certain characteristics identified as risk factors by the OIG. Many companies have faced government investigations or lawsuits by whistleblowers who bring a qui tam action under the False Claims Act on behalf of themselves and the government for a variety of alleged improper marketing activities, including providing free product to customers expecting that the customers would bill federal programs for the product,providing consulting fees, grants, free travel and other benefits to physicians to induce them to prescribe the company's products, and inflating prices reported to private price publication services, which are used to set drug reimbursement rates under government healthcare programs. For example, we were subject to a qui tam whistleblower lawsuit originally filed under seal on May 27, 2021. For additional information see "Qui Tam Matters" in Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies-Legal Proceedings of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, the government and private whistleblowers have pursued False Claims Act cases against pharmaceutical companies for causing false claims to be submitted as a result of the marketing of their products for unapproved uses or violations of the federal anti-kickback statute. If we become the subject of a government False Claims Act or other investigation or whistleblower suit, we could incur substantial legal costs (including settlement costs) and business disruption responding to such investigation or suit, regardless of the outcome. Any investigations or litigation may result in damages, fines, penalties or administrative sanctions against us, negative publicity or other negative actions that could harm our reputation, reduce demand for our products and/or reduce coverage of our products, including by federal health care programs and state health care programs. If we are found to have violated one of these laws, we could be excluded from participation in federal health care programs. If any or all of these events occur, our business and stock price could be materially and adversely affected. Public reporting under the Sunshine provisions, and other similar state laws, the requirements of which are discussed in "Business-Government Regulation" in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has resulted in increased scrutiny of the financial relationships between industry, teaching hospitals, physicians and other health care providers. Such scrutiny may negatively impact our ability to engage with physicians and other health care providers on matters of importance to us. In addition, government agencies and private entities may inquire about our marketing practices or pursue other enforcement activities based on the disclosures in those public reports. If the data reflected in our reports are found to be in violation of any of the Sunshine provisions or any other U.S. federal, state or local laws or regulations that may apply, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the Sunshine provisions or similar requirements of state or local regulators, we may be subject to significant civil and administrative penalties, damages or fines. We have various programs to help patients access our products, including patient assistance programs, which include co-pay coupons for certain of our products, assistance to help patients determine their insurance coverage for our products, and a free product program. Co-pay coupon programs for commercially insured patients, including our program for Xyrem, have received negative publicity related to allegations regarding their use to promote branded pharmaceutical products over other less costly alternatives, and some states have imposed restrictions on manufacturer co-pay programs when therapeutic equivalents are available. In September 2014, the OIG issued a Special Advisory Bulletin warning manufacturers that they may be subject to sanctions under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and other laws if they do not take appropriate steps to exclude Medicare Part D beneficiaries from using co-pay coupons. It is possible that changes in insurer policies regarding co-pay coupons and/or the introduction and enactment of new legislation or regulatory action could restrict or otherwise negatively affect these patient support programs, which could result in fewer patients using affected products, including Xyrem, and therefore could have a material adverse effect on our sales, business and financial condition. We have established programs to consider grant applications submitted by independent charitable organizations, including organizations that provide co-pay support to patients who suffer from the diseases treated by our drugs. The OIG has issued guidance for how pharmaceutical manufacturers can lawfully make donations to charitable organizations who provide co-pay assistance to Medicare patients, provided that such organizations, among other things, are bona fide charities, are entirely independent of and not controlled by the manufacturer, provide aid to applicants on a first-come basis according to consistent financial criteria, and do not link aid to use of a donor's product. As of August 2024, we have fulfilled the terms and the OIG closed out our corporate integrity agreement that required us to maintain our ongoing corporate compliance program. Although we are continuing to implement our corporate compliance program and have structured our programs to follow available guidance, if we or our vendors or donation recipients are deemed to fail to comply with relevant laws, regulations or evolving government guidance in the operation of these programs, such facts could be used as the basis for an enforcement action against us by the federal government or other enforcement agencies or private litigants, or we could become liable for payment of certain stipulated penalties or could be excluded from participation in federal health care programs, which would have a material adverse effect on our sales, business and financial condition. Our business activities outside of the U.S. are subject to the FCPA, and similar anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, regulations or rules of other countries in which we operate, including the U.K. Bribery Act. In certain countries, the health care 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 may be subject to regulation under the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act and equivalent national laws in other countries. Violation of these laws by us or our suppliers and other third party agents for which we may be liable may result in civil or criminal sanctions, which could include monetary fines, criminal penalties, and disgorgement of past profits, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and financial condition. Outside the U.S., interactions between pharmaceutical companies and physicians are also governed by strict laws, such as national anti-bribery laws of European countries, national sunshine rules, regulations, industry self-regulation codes of conduct and physicians' codes of professional conduct. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in reputational risk, public reprimands, administrative penalties, fines or imprisonment. We are also subject to federal, state, national and international laws and regulations governing the privacy and security of health-related and other personal data we collect and maintain, including, but not limited to, Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Health Breach Notification Rule, the DOJ's Bulk Sensitive Data Transfer Rule, HIPAA, the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, as well as other similar state privacy laws. Additionally, the EU's and U.K.'s GDPR imposes restrictions on the processing (e.g., collection, use and disclosure) of personal data in the EU and the U.K. and also imposes strict restrictions on the transfer of personal data out of the EU to the U.S. The GDPR imposes penalties of up to 20 million Euros or up to 4% of annual global revenue. HIPAA imposes privacy and security obligations on covered entity health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses, as well as their "business associates" – certain persons or entities that create, receive, maintain, or transmit protected health information in connection with providing a specified service or performing a function for or on behalf of a covered entity. Although we are not generally subject to HIPAA, we could potentially be subject to criminal penalties if we, our affiliates, or our agents knowingly receive individually identifiable health information maintained by a HIPAA-covered entity in a manner that is not authorized or permitted by HIPAA. The FTC also sets expectations for failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers' personal information secure or failing to provide a level of security commensurate to promises made to an individual about the security of their personal information (such as in a privacy notice); such failures may constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The FTC expects a company's data privacy and security measures to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and complexity of its business, and the cost of available tools to improve security and reduce vulnerabilities. Additionally, DOJ's Bulk Sensitive Data Transfer Rule restricts cross-border access to bulk sensitive personal data, which includes personal health data, by specific foreign governments and related covered persons. The Rule governs specific types of transactions identified in the Rule. Failure to comply with the DOJ Rule may result in civil and criminal penalties. Compliance with these laws requires a flexible privacy framework and substantial resources, and compliance efforts will likely be an increasing and substantial cost in the future. If we or our third party partners fail to comply or are alleged to have failed to comply with these or other applicable data protection and privacy laws and regulations, or if we were to experience a data breach involving personal data, we could be subject to government enforcement actions or private lawsuits. Any associated claims, inquiries, or investigations or other government actions could lead to unfavorable outcomes that have a material impact on our business including through significant penalties or fines, monetary judgments or settlements including criminal and civil liability for us and our officers and directors, increased compliance costs, delays or impediments in the development of new products, negative publicity, increased operating costs, diversion of management time and attention, or other remedies that harm our business, including orders that we modify or cease existing business practices. Moreover, as a result of the broad scale release and availability of AI technologies such as generative AI, there is a global trend towards more regulation (e.g., the EU AI Act and AI laws passed in U.S. states) to ensure the ethical use, privacy, and security of AI and the data that it processes. Compliance with such laws will likely be an increasing and substantial cost in the future.
- Regulation - Risk 4Our future success depends on our ability to successfully obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our late-stage product candidates and, if approved, to successfully launch and commercialize those product candidates.
The testing, manufacturing and marketing of our products require regulatory approvals, including approval from FDA and similar bodies in Europe and other countries. If FDA, EMA, the EC or the competent authorities of the EU member states or other European countries determine that our quality, safety or efficacy data do not warrant marketing approval for a product candidate, we could be required to conduct additional clinical trials as a condition to receiving approval, which could be costly and time-consuming and could delay or preclude the approval of our application. Our inability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates in the U.S. and internationally and to successfully commercialize new products that are approved would prevent us from receiving a return on our investments and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Even if we receive regulatory approval of a product, regulatory authorities may impose significant labeling restrictions or requirements, including limitations on the dosing of the product, requirements around the naming or strength of a product, restrictions on indicated uses for which we may market the product, the imposition of a boxed warning or other warnings and precautions, and/or the requirement for a REMS or equivalent obligation imposed in a European or other foreign country to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks. FDA requires a REMS and a boxed warning for Xywav and Xyrem, and similar restrictions could be imposed on other products in the future. Our receipt of approval for narrower indications than sought, restrictions on marketing through a REMS or equivalent obligation imposed in a European or other foreign country, or significant labeling restrictions or requirements in an approved label such as a boxed warning, could have a negative impact on our ability to recoup our R&D costs and to successfully commercialize that product, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Regulatory authorities may also impose post-marketing obligations as part of their approval, which may lead to additional costs and burdens associated with commercialization of the product and may pose a risk to maintaining approval of the product. We are subject to certain post-marketing requirements and commitments in connection with the approval of certain of our products, including Epidiolex/Epidyolex, Zepzelca, Rylaze, Ziihera, Modeyso, Vyxeos and Defitelio. These post-marketing requirements and commitments include satisfactorily conducting multiple post-marketing trials and safety studies. Failure to comply with these post-marketing requirements could result in withdrawal of our marketing approvals for the applicable product and/or other civil or criminal penalties. If a product is approved under accelerated approval, continued approval may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. For example, FDA granted accelerated approval to Zepzelca for relapsed SCLC based on data from a Phase 2 trial, which approval is contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a post-marketing clinical trial. In addition, FDA granted accelerated approval to Ziihera for previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive BTC based on data from a Phase 2 trial. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. While a Phase 3 confirmatory trial is ongoing to evaluate zanidatamab in combination with standard-of-care therapy versus standard-of-care therapy alone in the first-line setting for patients with HER2-positive BTC, our inability to confirm its clinical benefit in the first-line setting for patients with HER2-positive BTC could result in the withdrawal of approval of Ziihera, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Furthermore, FDA granted accelerated approval to Modeyso for adult and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with diffuse midline glioma harboring an H3 K27M mutation with progressive disease following prior therapy based on data from a Phase 2 trial, which approval is contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a post-marketing clinical trial. While the Phase 3 ACTION confirmatory trial is ongoing to evaluate Modeyso in first-line setting for patients with H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma, our inability to confirm its clinical benefit in the first-line setting for patients with diffuse midline glioma harboring an H3 K27M mutation could result in the withdrawal of approval of Modeyso, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In any event, if we are unable to comply with our post-marketing obligations imposed as part of the marketing approvals in the U.S., the EU, or other countries, our approval may be varied, suspended or revoked, product supply may be delayed and our sales of our products could be materially adversely affected. Any new data relating to Epidiolex/Epidyolex, including from adverse event reports and post-marketing studies in the U.S. and Europe, and from other ongoing clinical trials, may result in changes to the product label and/or imposition of a REMS and may adversely affect sales, or result in withdrawal of Epidiolex/Epidyolex from the market. FDA, EMA and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions may also consider the new data in reviewing Epidiolex/Epidyolex MAAs for indications beyond its currently approved uses or impose additional post-approval requirements. If any of these actions were to occur, it could result in significant expense and delay or limit our ability to generate sales of Epidiolex/Epidyolex. If we are not successful in the clinical development of our product candidates, if we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates in a timely manner, or at all, or if sales of an approved product do not reach the levels we expect, in each case including as a result of any executive or judicial actions as described under "-Recent executive and judicial changes and flux in the regulatory landscape creates uncertainty for us and our industry," our anticipated revenue from our product candidates would be negatively affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
- Regulation - Risk 5Xyrem and Xywav are controlled substances and certain product candidates we are developing may be subject to U.S. federal and state controlled substance laws and regulations, and our failure to comply with these laws and regulations, or the cost of compliance with these laws and regulations, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.
Xyrem and Xywav and certain product candidates we are developing contain controlled substances as defined by state law and the federal CSA. Controlled substances are subject to a number of requirements and restrictions under the CSA and implementing regulations, including certain registration, security, recordkeeping, reporting, import, export and other requirements administered by the DEA. The DEA classifies controlled substances into five schedules: Schedule I, II, III, IV or V substances. Schedule I substances by definition have a high potential for abuse, no currently "accepted medical use" in the U.S., lack accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and may not be prescribed, marketed or sold in the U.S. Pharmaceutical products approved for use in the U.S. which contain a controlled substance are listed as Schedule II, III, IV or V, with Schedule II substances considered to present the highest potential for abuse or dependence and Schedule V substances the lowest relative risk of abuse among such substances. Schedule I and II drugs are subject to the strictest controls under the CSA, including manufacturing and procurement quotas, heightened security requirements and additional criteria for importation. In addition, dispensing of Schedule II drugs is subject to additional requirements. For example, they may not be refilled without a new prescription. Drug products approved for medical use by FDA that contain cannabis or cannabis extracts may be controlled substances and, if so, will be rescheduled to Schedules II-V after approval, or, like Epidiolex, removed completely from the schedules by operation of other laws. Individual states have also established controlled substance laws and regulations. Though state-controlled substances laws often mirror federal law, they may separately schedule our products or our product candidates as well. We or our partners may also be required to obtain separate state registrations, permits or licenses in order to be able to manufacture, distribute, administer or prescribe controlled substances for clinical trials or commercial sale, and failure to meet applicable regulatory requirements could lead to enforcement and sanctions by the states in addition to those from the DEA or otherwise arising under federal law. U.S. facilities conducting research, manufacturing, distributing, importing or exporting, or dispensing controlled substances must be registered (licensed) to perform these activities and must comply with the security, control, recordkeeping and reporting obligations under the CSA, DEA regulations and corresponding state requirements. DEA and state regulatory bodies conduct periodic inspections of certain registered establishments that handle controlled substances. Obtaining and maintaining the necessary registrations and complying with the regulatory obligations may result in delay of the importation, manufacturing, distribution or clinical research of our commercial products and product candidates. Furthermore, failure to maintain compliance with the CSA and DEA and state regulations by us or any of our contractors, distributors or pharmacies can result in regulatory action that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. DEA and state regulatory bodies may seek civil penalties, refuse to renew necessary registrations, or initiate proceedings to restrict, suspend or revoke those registrations. In certain circumstances, violations could lead to criminal penalties. Schedule I and II substances are subject to DEA's annual manufacturing and procurement quota requirements. The annual quota allocated to us or our contract manufacturers for the active ingredients in our products may not be sufficient to complete clinical trials or meet commercial demand. Consequently, any delay or refusal by the DEA in establishing our, or our contract manufacturers', procurement and/or production quota for controlled substances could delay or stop our clinical trials or product launches, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.
- Regulation - Risk 6Controlled substance legislation differs between countries and legislation in certain countries may restrict or limit our ability to sell Epidyolex.
Most countries are parties to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, which governs international trade and domestic control of narcotic substances, including cannabis extracts. Countries may interpret and implement their treaty obligations in a way that creates a legal obstacle for us to obtain regulatory approval for Epidyolex in those countries. These countries may not be willing or able to amend or otherwise modify their laws and regulations to permit Epidyolex to be marketed, or achieving such amendments to the laws and regulations may take a prolonged period of time.
- Regulation - Risk 7We are subject to Irish law, which differs from the laws in effect in the U.S. and may afford less protection to holders of our securities.
It may not be possible to enforce court judgments obtained in the U.S. against us in Ireland based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws. In addition, there is some uncertainty as to whether the courts of Ireland would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws or hear actions against us or those persons based on those laws. We have been advised that the U.S. currently does not have a treaty with Ireland providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any U.S. federal or state court based on civil liability, whether or not based solely on U.S. federal or state securities laws, would not automatically be enforceable in Ireland. As an Irish company, we are governed by the Irish Companies Act 2014, which differs in some material respects from laws generally applicable to U.S. corporations and shareholders, including, among others, differences relating to interested director and officer transactions, mergers, amalgamations and acquisitions, takeovers and shareholder lawsuits. The duties of directors and officers of an Irish company are generally owed to the company only. Shareholders of Irish companies generally do not have a personal right of action against directors or officers of the company and may exercise such rights of action on behalf of the company only in limited circumstances. Accordingly, holders of our securities may have more difficulty protecting their interests than would holders of securities of a corporation incorporated in a U.S. jurisdiction.
- Regulation - Risk 8Recent executive and judicial changes and flux in the regulatory landscape creates uncertainty for us and our industry.
The current administration is pursuing policies to reduce regulations and expenditures across government including at HHS, FDA, CMS and related agencies. These actions, primarily directed by executive orders or memoranda from the Office of Management and Budget, may propose policy changes that create additional uncertainty for our business. For example, on September 30, 2025, the current administration announced the first several agreements with major pharmaceutical companies that requires drug manufacturers to offer, through a direct-to-consumer platform, U.S. patients and Medicaid programs prescription drug MFN pricing equal to or lower than those paid in other developed nations, with additional mandates for direct-to-patient discounts and repatriation of foreign revenues, in exchange for tariff relief. Other recent actions, for example, include (1) directing agencies to reduce agency workforce and cut programs; (2) directing HHS and other agencies to lower prescription drug costs through a variety of initiatives, including by improving upon the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and establishing MFN pricing for pharmaceutical products; (3) imposing tariffs on imported pharmaceutical products; and (4) as part of the MAHA Commission's Strategy Report released in September 2025, working across government agencies to increase enforcement on direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. Additionally, the current administration recently called on U.S. Congress to enact "The Great Healthcare Plan," to codify and expand MFN pricing, lower government subsidies to private insurance companies, increase healthcare price transparency, expand pharmaceutical drugs available for over-the-counter purchase, and enact restrictions on PBM payment methodologies, among other things. These actions and policies may significantly reduce U.S. drug prices, potentially impacting manufacturers' global pricing strategies and profitability, while increasing their operational costs and compliance risks. In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision greatly reduced judicial deference to regulatory agencies, which could increase successful legal challenges to federal regulations affecting our operations. Finally, U.S. Congress may introduce and ultimately pass health care related legislation that could impact the drug approval process and make changes to the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program created under the IRA as well as PBMs. We cannot predict which additional measures may be adopted or the impact of current and additional measures on the marketing, pricing and demand for our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
- Regulation - Risk 9The distribution and sale of our oxybate products are subject to significant regulatory restrictions, including the requirements of a REMS and safety reporting requirements, and these regulatory and safety requirements subject us to risks and uncertainties, any of which could negatively impact sales of Xywav and Xyrem.
The API of Xywav and Xyrem is a form of GHB, a central nervous system depressant known to be associated with facilitating sexual assault as well as with respiratory depression and other serious side effects. As a result, FDA requires that we maintain a REMS with ETASU for Xywav and Xyrem to help ensure that the benefits of the drug in the treatment of cataplexy and EDS in narcolepsy outweigh the serious risks of the drug. The REMS imposes extensive controls and restrictions on the sales and marketing of Xywav and Xyrem that we are responsible for implementing. Any failure to demonstrate our substantial compliance with our REMS obligations, or a determination by FDA that the REMS is not meeting its goals, could result in enforcement action by FDA, lead to changes in our REMS obligations, negatively affect sales of Xywav or Xyrem, result in additional costs and expenses for us and/or require us to invest a significant amount of resources, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. FDA continues to evaluate the Xywav and Xyrem REMS on an ongoing basis and has required, and may in the future require, modifications to the Xywav and Xyrem REMS. In 2023, FDA requested certain modifications to the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, which FDA approved in January 2024 as part of additional modifications to the REMS that we requested. We cannot predict whether FDA will request, seek to require or ultimately require additional modifications to, or impose additional requirements on, the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, including in connection with the submission of new oxybate products or indications, the introduction of AGs, or to accommodate generics, or whether FDA will approve modifications to the Xywav and Xyrem REMS that we consider warranted. Any modifications approved, required or rejected by FDA could change the safety profile of Xywav or Xyrem, and have a significant negative impact in terms of product liability, public acceptance of Xywav or Xyrem as a treatment for cataplexy and EDS in narcolepsy or Xywav as a treatment for IH, and prescribers' willingness to prescribe, and patients' willingness to take, Xywav or Xyrem, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Modifications approved, required or rejected by FDA could also make it more difficult or expensive for us to distribute Xywav or Xyrem, make distribution easier for oxybate competitors, disrupt continuity of care for Xywav or Xyrem patients and/or negatively affect sales of Xywav or Xyrem. We depend on outside vendors, including ESSDS, the central certified pharmacy, to distribute Xywav and Xyrem in the U.S., provide patient support services and implement the requirements of the Xywav and Xyrem REMS. If the central pharmacy fails to meet the requirements of the Xywav and Xyrem REMS applicable to the central pharmacy or otherwise does not fulfill its contractual obligations to us, moves to terminate our agreement, refuses or fails to adequately serve patients, or fails to promptly and adequately address operational challenges or challenges in implementing REMS modifications, the fulfillment of Xywav or Xyrem prescriptions and our sales would be adversely affected. If we change to a new central pharmacy, new contracts might be required with government payors and other insurers who pay for Xywav or Xyrem, and the terms of any new contracts could be less favorable to us than current agreements. In addition, any new central pharmacy would need to be registered with the DEA, and certified under the REMS and would also need to implement the particular processes, procedures and activities necessary to distribute under the Xywav and Xyrem REMS. Transitioning to a new pharmacy could result in product shortages, which would negatively affect sales of Xywav and Xyrem, result in additional costs and expenses for us and/or take a significant amount of time, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In its approval of Hikma's ANDA, FDA waived the requirement of a single shared REMS with the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, approving Hikma's ANDA with a generic high-sodium oxybate REMS separate from the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, except for the requirement that the high-sodium oxybate REMS program pharmacies contact the Xywav and Xyrem REMS by phone to verify and report certain information. The generic high-sodium oxybate REMS was approved with the condition that it be open to all future sponsors of ANDAs or NDAs for high-sodium oxybate products. In its approval of Avadel's high-sodium oxybate product, FDA also approved a separate REMS for that product, also with a requirement that the pharmacies in the Avadel (now Alkermes) -sponsored REMS contact the Xywav and Xyrem REMS to verify and report certain information. Administration of multiple sodium oxybate REMS systems could increase the risks associated with oxybate distribution, could make it more difficult or expensive for us to distribute Xywav and Xyrem and disrupt patient access to Xywav or Xyrem. Because patients, consumers and others may not differentiate other high-sodium oxybate products from our sodium oxybate products or differentiate between the different REMS programs, any negative outcomes, including risks to the public, caused by or otherwise related to a separate high-sodium oxybate REMS, could have a significant negative impact in terms of product liability, our reputation and goodwill, public acceptance of Xywav or Xyrem as a treatment for cataplexy and EDS in narcolepsy or Xywav for the treatment of IH, and prescribers' willingness to prescribe, and patients' willingness to take, Xywav or Xyrem, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. We may face pressure to further modify the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, including sharing data, which may be proprietary, required for the safe distribution of sodium oxybate, in connection with FDA's approval of the generic sodium oxybate REMS or another oxybate REMS that has been approved or may be submitted or approved in the future. We cannot predict the outcome or impact on our business of any future action that we may take with respect to FDA's waiver of the single shared system REMS requirement, its approval and tentative approval of generic versions of sodium oxybate or the consequences of distribution of sodium oxybate through the generic sodium oxybate REMS approved by FDA or another separate REMS. REMS programs have increasingly drawn public scrutiny from the U.S. Congress, the FTC, the USPTO, and FDA, with allegations that such programs are used as a means of improperly blocking or delaying competition. In December 2019, as part of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, U.S. Congress passed legislation known as the CREATES. CREATES is intended to prevent companies from using REMS and other restricted distribution programs as a means to deny potential competitors access to product samples that are reasonably necessary to conduct testing in support of an application that references a listed drug or biologic, and provides such potential competitors a potential private right of action if the innovator fails to timely provide samples upon request. CREATES also grants FDA additional authority regarding generic products with REMS. A further example of continued interest in REMS oversight came from the USPTO in collaboration with FDA in November 2022, when they published an RFC in the Federal Register that asked, "What policy considerations or concerns should the USPTO and FDA explore in relation to the patenting of REMS associated with certain FDA-approved products?" The comments for this RFC closed on February 6, 2023. It is possible that the FTC, FDA or other governmental authorities could claim that, or launch an investigation into whether, we are using our REMS programs in an anticompetitive manner or have engaged in other anticompetitive practices, whether under CREATES or otherwise. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act further states that a REMS ETASU shall not be used by an NDA holder to block or delay generic drugs or drugs covered by an application under Section 505(b)(2) from entering the market. In its 2015 letter approving the Xyrem REMS, FDA expressed concern that we were aware that the Xyrem REMS is blocking competition. From June 2020 to May 2022, we were served with a number of lawsuits that included allegations that we had used the Xyrem REMS to delay approval of generic high-sodium oxybate. In December 2020, these cases were centralized and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where the multidistrict litigation will proceed for the purpose of discovery and pre-trial proceedings. As of October 2025, we have resolved the entirety of the Xyrem Antitrust Litigation. For additional information on these lawsuits, as well as a class settlement agreement with respect thereto, see "Xyrem Antitrust Litigation" (and for other litigation and settlement involving our listing of our REMS patent in the Orange Book), see "Avadel Litigation" in Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies-Legal Proceedings of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. It is possible that additional lawsuits will be filed against us making similar or related allegations or that governmental authorities could commence an investigation. We cannot predict the outcome of any potential additional lawsuits; however, if the plaintiffs were to be successful in their claims, they may be entitled to injunctive relief or we may be required to pay significant monetary damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Pharmaceutical companies, including their agents and employees, are required to monitor adverse events occurring during the use of their products and report them to FDA. The patient counseling and monitoring requirements of the Xywav and Xyrem REMS provide more extensive information about adverse events experienced by patients taking Xywav and Xyrem, including deaths, than is generally available for other products that are not subject to similar REMS requirements. As required by FDA and other regulatory agencies, the adverse event information that we collect for Xywav and Xyrem is regularly reported to FDA and could result in FDA requiring changes to Xywav and/or Xyrem labeling, including additional warnings or additional boxed warnings, or requiring us to take other actions that could have an adverse effect on patient and prescriber acceptance of Xywav and Xyrem. As required by FDA, Xywav's and Xyrem's current labeling includes a boxed warning regarding the risk of central nervous system depression and misuse and abuse. Any failure to demonstrate our substantial compliance with the REMS or any other applicable regulatory requirements to the satisfaction of FDA or another regulatory authority could result in such regulatory authorities taking actions in the future which could have a material adverse effect on oxybate product sales and therefore on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
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