GRAIL Inc (GRAL) Risk Analysis

Our operations have required substantial amounts of cash since inception. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities and capital contributions from Illumina and, to a lesser extent, revenue derived from Galleri sales and precision oncology portfolio revenue. Our product development and clinical study activities are expensive, and we expect to continue to spend substantial amounts as we expand our commercialization efforts with respect to Galleri, including pursuing broader coverage and reimbursement, continue to enhance our core technology platform, broaden the applications of our technology platform, and develop new products in the future. In addition, obtaining any necessary or desirable regulatory approvals, clearances, or certifications, as well as coverage and reimbursement, for our products will require substantial additional funding. As of December 31, 2024, we had $214.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities of $549.2 million. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, and short-term marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our projected operations for at least the next 12 months. Our estimate as to how long we expect our existing cash, cash equivalents, and short-term marketable securities to be available to fund our operations is based on assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. In addition, changing circumstances may cause us to increase our spending significantly faster than we currently anticipate, and we may need to spend more money than currently expected because of circumstances beyond our control. We may need to raise additional funds sooner than we anticipate. We will require additional capital to expand the commercialization of Galleri and our precision oncology portfolio, and for the development and commercialization of future products. Our future capital requirements depend on many additional factors, including: - the cost of development and commercialization activities for our products, including Galleri and our precision oncology portfolio and our future products, including marketing, sales, and distribution costs;- the cost related to continued scaling operations to support demand for our products, including the cost of operating our laboratory in Durham, North Carolina;- the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining any required or desired regulatory approvals, clearances, or certifications for our products;- the timing, scope, progress, results, and costs of developing additional products and conducting clinical studies;- the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, expanding, defending, and enforcing patent and other intellectual property rights and claims, including litigation costs and the outcome of such litigation;- the timing and amount of sales of our products and collection of related receivables;- the extent to which our products are eligible for coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors;- the emergence of new technologies, products, or services and other adverse market developments; and - other potential adverse developments. Additional capital may not be available when we need it, on terms acceptable to us or at all. We have no committed source of additional capital, other than the funds to be committed by Illumina as described above. Furthermore, any additional capital raised through the sale of equity or equity-linked securities will dilute stockholders' ownership interests in us, may require stockholder approval, may have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock, and holders of these securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of our then-existing stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may include restrictive covenants that could limit how we conduct our business and limit our ability to further raise capital, and if available, may be available only on undesirable terms, particularly as we would borrow as an independent company and not a subsidiary of Illumina. If adequate capital is not available to us on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly delay, scale back, or discontinue the commercialization of our products or research and development programs, or be unable to continue or expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects and cause the price of our common stock to decline. As a result of the Spin-Off, we are subject to a number of limitations and risks that may impact our ability to obtain additional financing. For example, certain restrictions under the Tax Matters Agreement limit our ability to obtain additional financing, including offerings of common stock, or otherwise require that we undertake certain procedures with Illumina. In addition, certain terms of the Spin-Off may impact our ability to successfully obtain financing on favorable terms or at all. For example, in connection with the Spin-Off, Illumina provided us with disposal funding in the amount of $932.3 million in accordance of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, subject to a clawback feature in the event that the Company (i) consummates a GRAIL Change of Control, or (ii) (1) pays any dividend on, or makes any other distribution in respect of, any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests (other than a stock dividend or a stock split), or otherwise consummates a return of capital from GRAIL to any of its equity holders or (2) redeems, purchases or otherwise acquires any of its outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests, in each case prior to the 15-month anniversary of the Distribution Date. If the Company consummates a transaction described in the foregoing clause (i) prior to the 15-month anniversary of the Distribution Date, the Company must return to Illumina a cash amount calculated by reference to the number of months which have elapsed since June 24, 2024 at the time of the public announcement of the event giving rise to such transaction. If the Company consummates a transaction described in the foregoing clause (ii) prior to the 15-month anniversary of the Distribution Date, the Company must return to Illumina a cash amount equal to the payments made by the Company in connection with such transaction up to an aggregate maximum amount equal to the amount of the initial disposal funding subject to a clawback feature in the event of a change in control, or the Company (1) pays any dividend on, or makes any other distribution in respect of, any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests (other than a stock dividend or a stock split), or otherwise consummates a return of capital from GRAIL to any of its equity holders or (2) redeems, purchases or otherwise acquires any of its outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests, prior to September 24, 2025. If these clawback features are triggered, we must return to Illumina the aggregate amount of payments to equity holders as a result of or in connection with such a transaction. Additionally, in connection with certain change of control transactions prior to September 24, 2025, we must return to Illumina a cash amount decreasing over time calculated by reference to the number of months which have elapsed since June 24, 2024 at the time of the public announcement of the event giving rise to the change of control. These restrictions under these agreements may impact our ability to obtain additional financing when needed, if at all, and, if we are required to repay any disposal funds to Illumina under the clawback provision, our cash balance will be reduced and we may have greater need for additional financing.

The ability of the FDA, foreign regulatory agencies, and notified bodies to review and clear, approve, or certify new products or changes to existing products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, statutory, regulatory, and policy changes, the FDA's, foreign regulatory agencies', and notified bodies' ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, government shutdowns, and other events that may otherwise affect the FDA's foreign regulatory agencies' and notified bodies' ability to perform routine functions. For example, in January 2025, federal employees were offered the option to make a deferred resignation, which, if a significant number of employees elect, could impact the workforce and resources of the FDA available to review products such as ours. Average review times at the FDA, foreign regulatory agencies, and notified bodies have fluctuated in recent years as a result of these factors. Disruptions at the FDA, other agencies, and notified bodies may also slow the time necessary for new medical devices or modifications to cleared, approved, or certified medical devices to be reviewed and/or approved, or certified by necessary government agencies or notified bodies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, in recent years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical FDA employees and stop critical activities. Recently, In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA postponed most inspections of domestic and foreign manufacturing facilities at various points. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, or if new global health concerns prevent the FDA, other regulatory authorities, or notified bodies from conducting their regular activities, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA, other regulatory authorities, or notified bodies to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. In the EU, for example, notified bodies must be officially designated to certify products and services in accordance with the EU IVDR. Their designation process, which is significantly stricter under the new Regulation, has experienced considerable delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a recent increase in designations, the current number of notified bodies designated under the new Regulation remains significantly lower than the number of notified bodies designated under the previous regime. The current designated notified bodies are therefore facing a backlog of requests as a consequence of which review times have lengthened. This has been one of the reasons for the recent extension of the transitional provisions under the EU IVDR. Despite these recent developments, the way we are conducting or intend to conduct our business in the EU and the EEA and the ability of the applicable notified body to timely review and process our regulatory submissions and perform its audits may still be impacted, and our ability to commercially launch Galleri in the EU and EEA could be delayed.

The global data protection landscape is rapidly evolving and we and our partners are or may be subject to federal, state, and foreign data protection laws and regulations (i.e., laws and regulations that address data privacy and security). Implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, and we cannot yet determine the impact future laws, regulations, standards, or perception of their requirements may have on our business. This evolution may create uncertainty in our business, affect our ability to operate in certain jurisdictions or to collect, store, transfer, use and share personal information,necessitate the acceptance of more onerous obligations in our contracts, result in liability or impose additional costs on us. The cost of compliance with these laws, regulations and standards is high and is likely to increase in the future. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with federal, state or foreign laws or regulations, consents and authorizations, our internal or publicly facing policies and procedures or our contracts governing our processing of personal information could result in negative publicity, government investigations and enforcement actions, claims by third parties and damage to our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation, and financial condition. We receive, store, process and use personal information as part of our business and as our operations and business grow, we may become subject to or affected by new or additional data protection laws and regulations and face increased scrutiny or attention from regulatory authorities. In the United States, numerous state and federal laws and regulations govern the collection, dissemination, use, disclosure, privacy, confidentiality, security, availability and integrity of personal information, including health related information. We are a covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and the regulations that implement both laws (collectively, "HIPAA"). HIPAA establishes, among other things, a set of national privacy and security standards relating to the privacy, security, transmission, and breach reporting of individually identifiable health information, by health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and certain healthcare providers, referred to as covered entities, the business associates with whom such covered entities contract for services that involve creating, receiving, maintaining, or transmitting protected health information, and the subcontractors of such business associates. In addition, we may obtain health information from third parties (including research institutions from which we obtain clinical trial data) that are subject to privacy and security requirements under HIPAA. HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to develop and maintain policies with respect to the protection of, use and disclosure of protected health information ("PHI"), including the adoption of administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect such information, and certain notification requirements in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI. Additionally, under HIPAA, covered entities must report breaches of unsecured PHI to affected individuals without unreasonable delay, not to exceed 60 days following discovery of the breach by a covered entity or its agents. Notification also must be made to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights ("OCR") and, in certain circumstances involving large breaches, to the media. Business associates must report breaches of unsecured PHI to covered entities within 60 days of discovery of the breach by the business associate or its agents. A non-permitted use or disclosure of PHI is presumed to be a breach under HIPAA unless the covered entity or business associate establishes that there is a low probability the information has been compromised consistent with requirements enumerated in HIPAA. Entities that are found to be in violation of HIPAA as the result of a breach of unsecured PHI, a complaint about privacy practices or an audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS"), may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative fines and penalties and/or additional reporting and oversight obligations if required to enter into a resolution agreement and corrective action plan with HHS to settle allegations of HIPAA non-compliance. HIPAA also authorizes state Attorneys General to file suit on behalf of their residents. Courts may award damages, costs and attorneys' fees related to violations of HIPAA in such cases. While HIPAA does not create a private right of action allowing individuals to sue us in civil court for violations of HIPAA, its standards have been used as the basis for duty of care in state civil suits such as those for negligence or recklessness in the misuse or breach of PHI. Certain states have also adopted comparable privacy and security laws and regulations which govern the privacy, processing and protection of health-related and other personal information, such as the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act; these laws are not preempted by HIPAA to the extent that they are more stringent than HIPAA. Such laws and regulations will be subject to interpretation by various courts and other governmental authorities, thus creating potentially complex compliance issues for us and our future customers and strategic partners. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act ("CPRA" and, collectively, the "CCPA") requires covered businesses that process the personal information of California residents to, among other things: (i) provide certain disclosures to California residents regarding the business's collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information; (ii) receive and respond to requests from California residents to access, delete, and correct their personal information, or to opt out of certain disclosures of their personal information; and (iii) enter into specific contractual provisions with service providers that process California resident personal information on the business's behalf. Additional compliance investment and potential business process changes may also be required. Although there are limited exemptions for certain health-related data, including clinical trial data and PHI subject to HIPAA, the CCPA may increase our compliance costs and potential liability. Other states have passed or are considering similar privacy laws and the federal government may seek to enact a similar federal privacy law, reflecting a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the United States. We also expect that there will continue to be new laws, regulations and industry standards concerning privacy, data protection and information security proposed and enacted in various jurisdictions. For example, Washington State has enacted a broadly applicable law to protect the privacy of personal health information known as the "My Health My Data Act," which generally requires affirmative consent for the collection, use, or sharing of any "consumer health data." Consumer health data is defined to include personal information that is linked or reasonably linkable to a consumer and that identifies a consumer's past, present, or future physical or mental health status; consumer health data also includes information that is derived or extrapolated from non-health information, such as algorithms and machine learning. Other states, including Connecticut and Nevada, have also passed consumer health data laws, and given the increased focus on the use of health data by entities that are not subject to HIPAA, additional states are expected to pass consumer health privacy laws. The enactment of such laws could have potentially conflicting requirements that would make compliance challenging. We could be adversely affected if HIPAA, the CCPA and other state or federal legislation or regulations applicable to GRAIL require changes in our business practices, our use, receipt, or transfer of health information, or our privacy policies, or if governing jurisdictions interpret or implement their legislation or regulations in ways that negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") also has authority to initiate enforcement actions against entities that mislead customers about HIPAA compliance, make deceptive statements about privacy and data sharing in privacy policies, fail to limit third-party use of personal health information, fail to implement policies to protect personal health information or engage in other unfair practices that harm customers or that may violate Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC Act"). Even when HIPAA does not apply, according to the FTC, violating consumers' privacy rights or failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers' personal information secure may constitute unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of the FTC Act. The FTC also expects a company's data 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. Personal health information is considered sensitive data that merits stronger safeguards. We strive to comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies and other legal obligations relating to privacy, data protection and information security. However, the various regulatory frameworks for privacy and data protection are, and are likely to remain, uncertain for the foreseeable future, and it is possible that these or other actual or alleged obligations may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and may conflict with other rules and subject our business practices to uncertainty. In addition, the actual or perceived compromise of, lax oversight of, irresponsible or unauthorized use of, or unauthorized access to or release of, patient data or information by GRAIL, our partners, suppliers, contractors, consultants, or vendors, could erode provider, patient, and customer confidence, which could impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In the conduct of clinical research, we seek to utilize biological samples and data from participants in accordance with applicable law, IRB stipulations, and participant permissions (through consent forms and HIPAA authorizations) or IRB approved waivers thereof. If we are unable or significantly restricted in using participant samples and data for secondary research purposes, our ability to develop additional products and/or improve or refine existing products will be limited, which may impact our business and prospects. In addition, we are or may in the future be subject to a range of laws, regulations, and industry standards concerning privacy, data protection, and information security proposed and enacted in various foreign jurisdictions. In Europe, we are subject to the UK GDPR and EU GDPR. The GDPR imposes a comprehensive data privacy compliance regime including: maintaining a record of data processing; providing detailed disclosures about how personal information is collected and processed (in a concise, intelligible and easily accessible form); demonstrating that appropriate legal bases are in place to justify data processing activities; complying with rights for data subjects in regard to their personal information (including data access, erasure (the right to be "forgotten") and portability); ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place where personal information is transferred out of the EEA and the UK; and complying with the principal of accountability and the obligation to demonstrate compliance through policies, procedures, training and audit. The applicability of the specific requirements depends on whether an organization acts as controller or processor. Some of the personal information we process, for example in respect of clinical trial participants, is special category data under the GDPR, and subject to additional compliance obligations and to local law derogations. We may be subject to diverging requirements under national UK laws and EU member state laws, such as the legal basis we can rely on when processing health data of clinical trial participants as controller or the roles, responsibilities and liabilities as between CROs. As these laws develop, we may need to make operational changes to adapt to these diverging rules, which could increase our costs and adversely affect our business. Further, the regulatory landscape of data and digital laws in the UK and EU is under constant development, and in the future we may be required to adapt our processes, or change the way we engage with health data. Among other requirements, the GDPR regulates the transfer of personal information outside of the EEA and the UK. As the regulatory guidance and enforcement landscape in relation to data transfers continue to develop, we could suffer additional costs, complaints and/or regulatory investigations or fines; we may have to stop using certain tools and vendors and make certain operational changes, including to implement other/revised relevant documentation for data transfers within required time frames; and/or it could otherwise affect the manner in which we provide our services, and could adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition. Penalties and fines for failure to comply with the GDPR are significant, including fines of up to €20 million/ £17.5 million or 4% of a noncompliant company's global turnover for the preceding year, whichever is higher. Since we are subject to the supervision of relevant data protection authorities under both the UK GDPR and the EU GDPR, we could be fined under each of those regimes independently in respect of the same non-compliance. As we continue to expand into other foreign countries and jurisdictions, we may be subject to additional laws and regulations that may affect how we conduct business. Noncompliance with applicable foreign privacy laws, such as the GDPR, would also adversely affect public perception of GRAIL's data stewardship practices and policies, which could impair our business and prospects with other foreign health systems and governments.

Any marketing authorization or certification we may receive or obtain for our products by the FDA, comparable foreign regulatory authorities, or notified bodies will include specified indications for use and approved (or certified) labeling. Upon receipt of FDA authorization, or certification, we will continue to train our marketing personnel and direct sales force to not promote our authorized (or certified) tests for uses outside of FDA-authorized (or certified) indications for use, known as "off-label uses." However, we are reliant on physicians and other providers to accurately provide information about our products to patients, including purposes, limitations, risks benefits, and interpretation of results, and we cannot, prevent a provider from using our products off-label, when in the provider's independent professional medical judgment he or she deems it appropriate. There may be increased risk of injury to patients if physicians attempt to use our products off-label, which could harm our reputation in the marketplace among physicians and patients. If, after FDA authorization or certification, the FDA or any foreign regulatory body determines that our promotional materials or training constitute promotion of an off-label use, it could request that we modify our training or promotional materials or subject us to regulatory or enforcement actions, including the issuance or imposition of an untitled letter, which is used for violators that do not necessitate a warning letter, injunction,seizure, civil fine or criminal penalties. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action under other regulatory authority, such as false claims laws, if they consider our business activities to constitute promotion of an off-label use, which could result in significant penalties, including, but not limited to, criminal, civil and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs and the curtailment of our operations. In addition, physicians may misuse our products if they are not adequately trained, potentially leading to injury and an increased risk of product liability. If our devices are misused or used with improper technique, we may become subject to costly litigation by our customers or their patients. As described above, product liability claims could divert management's attention from our core business, be expensive to defend and result in sizeable damage awards against us that may not be covered by insurance. Misleading, untruthful, or unsubstantiated labeling, advertising, marketing, or promotional practices could cause significant harm to our business, operations, and financial conditions. The FTC has instituted enforcement actions against certain healthcare testing companies for making false or misleading advertising claims and for failing to adequately substantiate claims made in advertising. These enforcement actions may result in warning letters, consent decrees, and the payment of civil penalties and/or restitution by the companies involved. Should the FTC determine that our claims are false or misleading or unsubstantiated, we could be subject to FTC enforcement action and may face significant penalties which may result in a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects. The labeling, advertising, marketing, and promotional practices of GRAIL related to our products is governed by numerous state and federal regulators, including the FDA and the FTC, as well as subject to third-party claims. Any statements related to our products that could be construed as misleading, untruthful, or unsubstantiated, could subject GRAIL to regulatory enforcement action, third-party lawsuits, or plaintiffs' complaints. Any of these actions could significantly and negatively affect our reputation, expose us to liability claims, and we could lose customers and experience reduced sales and increased costs.

Our business is subject to risks associated with conducting business internationally. For example, some of our suppliers and parties with whom we have collaborative relationships are located outside the United States, including in the United Kingdom and Israel. We expect to continue to increase our international presence over time, which could increase these risks or introduce new risks. Accordingly, our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including: - economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability, in particular non-U.S. economies and markets;- challenges enforcing our contractual and intellectual property rights, especially in those foreign jurisdictions that do not respect and protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United States;- trade protection measures, import or export controls and licensing requirements (including possible restrictions on licensing intellectual property to certain non-U.S. persons) or other restrictive actions by U.S. or non-U.S. governments;- changes in non-U.S. laws, regulations and customs, tariffs, and trade barriers;- changes in non-U.S. laws, regulations, and policies related to data privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity in the transfer or transmittal of data across boundaries and geographies;- exchange rate risk we may face from denominating a portion of our transactions in currencies other than the U.S. dollar;- changes in a specific country's or region's political or economic environment;- negative consequences from changes in tax laws;- negative consequences from changes in U.S. national security laws, including those governing non-U.S. investors' ownership of U.S. biotech and other technology companies and U.S. companies' ability to enter into joint ventures with non-U.S. entities;- compliance with tax, employment, immigration, and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad;- workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States;- difficulties associated with staffing and managing international operations, including differing labor relations;- potential liability under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") or comparable foreign laws; and - business interruptions resulting from geopolitical actions, including war and terrorism, such as recent conflicts in the Middle East, pandemics, or natural disasters more common in certain regions, including earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and fires. In addition, in recent years, U.S. administrations have publicly supported potential trade proposals that may affect U.S. trade relations with other countries. It is unclear at this point how, if at all, such actions or other potential actions, including under the new U.S. Presidential administration, may impact our business or operations, and the uncertainty surrounding these matters might create difficulties in our efforts to partner with certain healthcare providers, suppliers, and insurance carriers. As of the date of this Annual Report, discussions remain ongoing in respect of certain trade restrictions and tariffs on imports from Canada, China and Mexico, as well as retaliatory tariffs enacted in response to such actions. Should significant tariffs be implemented and sustained for an extended period of time, they could have a material adverse effect on the broader economy, which may be exacerbated by additional tariffs in the United States or retaliatory tariffs imposed by other governments. Moreover, future operational expansion into other geographies will subject us to additional political and regulatory regimes that will require us to invest further in compliance efforts and may result in additional risks, including, among others, exposure to various and potentially conflicting regulations, international sanctions and compliance rules, country-specific requirements for testing, approval, and processing of patient information and biological samples, as well as the risks associated with political and macroeconomic climates in any such geographies. For example, the potential commercialization of Galleri with the NHS, subject to the results of the NHS-Galleri Trial, may be delayed or otherwise impacted if there is a change in the government in the United Kingdom. These and other risks associated with our planned international operations may materially and adversely affect our business, costs and growth prospects. We also face risks from our international operations for Galleri, our precision oncology portfolio and other products we may develop. Our clinical trials to date have been conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom, and use of our tests in populations outside of these regions could result in differences in performance. Any performance differences experienced in screening populations outside of the United States or United Kingdom could result in customer dissatisfaction, reputational harm, real world data or adverse events that would be reportable to the FDA or other regulators, regulatory actions by regulators in international jurisdictions and other risks, all of which could have a material and adverse impact on our business, regulatory pathway, results of operations and growth prospects. Our ability to successfully and efficiently conduct any required in-country studies in other countries or regions in which we seek to expand may also be impacted, or may be impossible, due to the regulatory requirements of such countries. Some countries may require that we carry out testing of our products or future products through government partnerships, which may be difficult to navigate or which may limit our ability to deliver the results we intend. Moreover, the demographics in other countries or regions may differ vastly, such that study results may not appear as successful, due to, for example, a lower incidence of cancer in the local population. Such outcomes may adversely impact demand for our products in other countries. Finally, our ability to expand internationally may be limited by the availability of international laboratory space or requirements that will permit us to store, collect, and analyze biological samples required for current or future products, including space that could be made available through potential partners in such countries or regions. These and other unknown risks which make it difficult for us to assess the potential success of our international expansion and the costs associated therewith. For additional information, see "-Risks Relating to Regulation and Legal Compliance.".