| • | | the introduction of technological innovations or new therapies that compete with potential products of ours; |
| • | | changes in the structure of health care payment systems; and |
| • | | period-to-period fluctuations in our financial results. |
Moreover, the stock markets in general have experienced substantial volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of individual companies. These broad market fluctuations may also adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, stockholders have often instituted class action securities litigation against those companies. Such litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management attention and resources, which could significantly harm our profitability and reputation.
A significant portion of our total outstanding shares are eligible to be sold into the market in the near future, which could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. Upon completion of this offering, based on our shares outstanding as of June 30, 2018, we will have 18,455,070 shares of common stock outstanding, assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares. Of these shares, approximately 0.3 million are subject to a contractuallock-up with the underwriter for this offering for a period of 75 days following this offering. These shares can be sold, subject to any applicable volume limitations under federal securities laws, after the earlier of the expiration of, or release from, the75-daylock-up period. The balance of our outstanding shares of common stock, including any shares purchased in this offering, may be resold into the public market immediately without restriction, unless owned or purchased by our affiliates.
As of June 30, 2018, there were approximately 2,129,491 shares subject to outstanding options or that are otherwise issuable under our equity compensation plans, all of which shares we have registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on a registration statement on FormS-8. These shares can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates and thelock-up agreements described above, to the extent applicable.
If existing stockholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after contractual restrictions on resale lapse, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Certain of our existing stockholders, including Vivo Ventures Fund VI, L.P. and Interwest Partners X, L.P., and their respective affiliated entities, control substantial ownership interest in our common stock and any decision to sell a significant number of shares may negatively impact the price of our common stock.
Because we do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be your sole source of gain.
We expect to retain our future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be the sole source of gain for our stockholders, if any, for the foreseeable future. In addition, pursuant to our Loan and Security Agreement with Oxford Finance LLC, or Oxford, we are prohibited from paying any cash dividends without the prior written consent of Oxford, subject to certain exceptions.
S-9