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Legend Biotech(LEGN) - 2024 Q4 - Annual Report
LEGNLegend Biotech(LEGN)2025-03-11 20:02

Financial Performance and Funding - For the year ended December 31, 2023, Legend Biotech transferred 1.27billionthroughcapitalcontributionsorintercompanyloanstoitssubsidiaries[51].LegendBiotechhasnotdeclaredorpaidanycashdividendsandhasnoplanstodosointhenearfuture,intendingtoapplyfutureearningstofundclinicaldevelopmentandexpansion[50].Thecompanyhasincurrednetlossesandnegativecashflowfromoperationshistorically,relyingonvariousfundingsourcesincludingmilestonepaymentsandequitysecurities[51].Thecompanyreportednetlossesof1.27 billion through capital contributions or intercompany loans to its subsidiaries [51]. - Legend Biotech has not declared or paid any cash dividends and has no plans to do so in the near future, intending to apply future earnings to fund clinical development and expansion [50]. - The company has incurred net losses and negative cash flow from operations historically, relying on various funding sources including milestone payments and equity securities [51]. - The company reported net losses of 518.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and an accumulated deficit of $1,661.7 million as of the same date [94]. - The company expects to continue incurring significant losses in the foreseeable future due to ongoing research and development, manufacturing investments, and commercialization efforts [95]. - The company anticipates needing substantial additional funding to complete the development of its product candidates and to sustain operations [97]. - The company relies on additional financing to achieve business objectives, which may not be available on acceptable terms [99]. Regulatory and Compliance Risks - The company faces significant legal and operational risks due to the evolving PRC laws and regulations, which could adversely affect its operations and the value of its ADSs [37]. - The PRC government has indicated an intent to exert more oversight over offerings conducted outside of the PRC, which could limit the company's ability to offer securities to investors [40]. - The company is subject to potential penalties and operational restrictions if deemed non-compliant with PRC regulations, which could materially affect its business [51]. - The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act may lead to trading prohibitions if the PCAOB cannot inspect the company's auditor for three consecutive years [42]. - The company has not received or been denied permissions from PRC authorities for its operations, but regulatory developments are being closely monitored [49]. - The company is subject to significant regulatory challenges and risks due to the genetic modification of patient cells in its therapies [113]. - Future regulatory changes could impose additional restrictions, creating uncertainties that may materially affect the company's business and results of operations [191]. Product Development and Clinical Trials - The company is substantially dependent on the commercial success of CARVYKTI for sustaining its business [62]. - The company has established manufacturing facilities in the United States and Belgium to support CARVYKTI production for the U.S. and European markets [67]. - The company is expanding manufacturing capacity at current sites and engaging third-party contract manufacturing organizations to meet anticipated demand for CARVYKTI globally [68]. - The company plans to establish additional manufacturing capacity in the United States and Europe, which involves significant risks and complexities [70]. - The company faces challenges in scaling and validating production processes for cell therapy products, which could impact product availability [72]. - The company initiated the Phase 3 CARTITUDE-5 clinical trial in August 2021, targeting enrollment of approximately 650 patients [105]. - A Phase 3 CARTITUDE-6 clinical trial was initiated in October 2023, targeting enrollment of approximately 750 patients [105]. - The company has a broad portfolio of earlier-stage autologous CAR-T product candidates targeting various cancers, currently in clinical trials [106]. - The company may encounter difficulties in patient enrollment for clinical trials, which could delay development and adversely affect regulatory approval timelines [128]. Market and Competitive Landscape - The commercial success of CARVYKTI will depend on market acceptance by physicians and payors, which is uncertain and may require significant resources for education and marketing [78]. - The potential market for CARVYKTI may be smaller than anticipated, affecting revenue generation and business sustainability [80]. - The company faces significant competition from established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, which may impact its market position and profitability [86]. - The company has limited marketing and market access capabilities and plans to invest significantly to enhance these capabilities [84]. - The addressable market for certain product candidates may be limited, as projections regarding the size of the patient population could be incorrect [139]. Manufacturing and Operational Challenges - The manufacturing process for CAR-T cell therapies is complex and costly, with higher production costs compared to traditional small molecule drugs [158]. - The "vein-to-vein" cycle for autologous T cell therapy typically takes approximately four to six weeks, involving multiple steps and human participants [162]. - The company is increasing its facilities and development capabilities, which requires significant capital expenditures and may affect financial condition if costs exceed expectations [171]. - The company is susceptible to product loss or failure due to logistical issues in the manufacturing process, which could impact clinical trial timelines [158]. - Manufacturing facilities are subject to government inspections, and failure to meet regulatory standards could delay product approvals and commercialization efforts [160]. Data Privacy and Security Risks - The company faces a variety of evolving threats, including social-engineering attacks, malware, and denial-of-service attacks, which have increased in number and sophistication [177]. - Increased operating expenses and cash requirements may arise from security incidents, along with potential additional indebtedness or contingent liabilities [178]. - Disruptions or security breaches could result in significant delays in regulatory approval efforts and increase costs to recover or reproduce lost data [179]. - The company may incur material costs related to significant security breaches, and there is uncertainty regarding the adequacy of insurance coverage for such events [180]. - Compliance with stringent data privacy and security laws could lead to government enforcement actions, including fines or penalties, which may adversely affect the company's operations [183]. Internal Controls and Financial Reporting - The company identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022 [209]. - Affected audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 were restated, leading to a conclusion of material weakness in internal controls [210]. - The company remediated previously identified material weaknesses by implementing additional review and monitoring controls, hiring new personnel, and engaging external resources [214]. - As of December 31, 2023, the company concluded that the material weaknesses were fully remediated [214]. - The company is subject to reporting obligations under U.S. securities laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires annual assessment of internal controls [215].