What the changes say
- Journey Medical added new risk disclosures addressing import tariffs from India, FDA funding cuts, and changing presidential administration policies.
- The company faces ongoing generic competition threats and patent challenges for products like Qbrexza, Amzeeq, Zilxi, and Emrosi.
- Fortress maintains voting control through Class A common stock, potentially deterring control changes.
What changed since the prior 10-K
New
- NewRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
requirements or guidelines relating to promotion and advertising may cause the FDA to suspend or withdraw an approved product from the market, require a recall or institute fines, or could result in disgorgement of money, operating restrictions, injunctions or criminal prosecution, any of which could harm our business
FDA promotional and advertising requirements violations could lead to product suspensions, recalls, fines, or criminal prosecution.
- NewRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
The implementation of any of the cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms discussed above may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability or commercialize our products
FDA staffing cuts in early 2025 and potential government shutdowns could delay drug approvals and disrupt regulatory submissions.
- NewRisks Related to our Growth
Our business may be materially adversely affected by the imposition of duties and tariffs and other trade barriers and retaliatory countermeasures implemented by the U.S. and other governments
Import tariffs on finished products sourced from India could increase sourcing costs and reduce company margins.
- NewRisks Related to Development and Regulatory Approval of Our Future Product Candidates
Changes in U.S. government policy, regulation, enforcement priorities, and funding decisions could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
Shifts in the current presidential administration's policies could negatively impact FDA regulations, drug approvals, and healthcare reimbursement.
Dropped
- DroppedRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
challenged through litigation or in USPTO proceedings, if a generic company launches a competing product “at risk,” or when the regulatory or licensed exclusivity for our products expires or is otherwise lost, we may face generic competition as a result
- DroppedRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
commercial use. If any future product candidates receive(s) marketing approval, the accompanying label may limit the approved use of our drug in this way, which could limit sales of the product
- DroppedRisks Related to Intellectual Property, Generic Competition and Paragraph IV Litigation
Additionally, some of our products, including Accutane, Targadox and Exelderm, do not have patent protection because they are not eligible or qualify for such protection. This creates greater risk of competition with generic drug manufacturers and may otherwise adversely affect our business or result of operations
Generic competition risks from patent expirations or launches at risk.
Reworded
- 89% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
Regulatory approval for any approved product is limited by the FDA to those specific indications and conditions for which clinical safety and efficacy have been demonstrated
Added a concluding sentence regarding potential adverse consequences for failing to follow FDA advertising and promotional regulations.
- 88% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
We face challenges as our products face generic competition and/or losses of exclusivity
Expanded generic competition risks to explicitly mention USPTO proceedings and at-risk product launches.
- 62% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
Our products and future product candidates may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party coverage and reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives, which could harm our business
Streamlined commercialization and reimbursement dependencies by removing specific references to U.S. federal and state proposed changes.
- 57% rewrittenRisks Related to Development and Regulatory Approval of Our Future Product Candidates
Our business is dependent on the successful development and regulatory approval of future product candidates
Updated major marketed products list to include Emrosi as of December 31, 2025.
Was: Our business is dependent on the successful development and regulatory approval of our current and any future product candidates
- 52% rewrittenRisks Related to our Relationship with Fortress Biotech, Inc
Fortress controls a voting majority of our common stock, which could be detrimental to our other shareholders
Added specific risks regarding how Fortress's concentrated voting power may delay control changes or affect common stock prices.
- 49% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
Public concern regarding the safety of any of our products and any future product candidates could delay or limit our ability to obtain regulatory approval, result in the inclusion of unfavorable information in our labeling, or require us to incur additional costs
Narrowed the clinical trial safety scrutiny risk to apply specifically to any clinical trials the company may conduct.
- 38% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
Future revenue from sales of our dermatology products may be lower than expected or lower than in previous periods
Retained substantially identical text concerning dermatology product revenue setbacks.
- 35% rewrittenRisks Related to Intellectual Property, Generic Competition and Paragraph IV Litigation
Enforcing our proprietary rights is difficult and costly and we may be unable to ensure their protection
Retained substantially identical bulleted examples concerning uncertainties in proprietary rights protection.
- 28% rewrittenRisks Related to our Growth
Our growth is subject to economic and political conditions
- 25% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
If serious adverse events are identified during the development of any future product candidates, we may need to abandon or limit our development of these product candidates
Was: If serious adverse or unacceptable side effects are identified during the development of any future product candidates, we may need to abandon or limit our development of these product candidates
All 59 risk factors
Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.
Risks Related to Our Business, Industry and Existing Operating Revenue Stream
- 01Future revenue from sales of our dermatology products may be lower than expected or lower than in previous periods38% rewritten
- 02We face challenges as our products face generic competition and/or losses of exclusivity88% rewritten
- 03Regulatory approval for any approved product is limited by the FDA to those specific indications and conditions for which clinical safety and efficacy have been demonstrated89% rewritten
- 04requirements or guidelines relating to promotion and advertising may cause the FDA to suspend or withdraw an approved product from the market, require a recall or institute fines, or could result in disgorgement of money, operating restrictions, injunctions or criminal prosecution, any of which could harm our businessNew
- 05If serious adverse events are identified during the development of any future product candidates, we may need to abandon or limit our development of these product candidates25% rewritten
- 06All of our current and future products will remain subject to substantial regulatory scrutiny even after receiving regulatory approval
- 07Violations of the FDCA relating to the promotion of prescription drugs may lead to investigations alleging violations of federal and state health care fraud and abuse laws, as well as state consumer protection laws
- 08Our products and future product candidates may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party coverage and reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives, which could harm our business62% rewritten
- 09The implementation of any of the cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms discussed above may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability or commercialize our productsNew
- 10Public concern regarding the safety of any of our products and any future product candidates could delay or limit our ability to obtain regulatory approval, result in the inclusion of unfavorable information in our labeling, or require us to incur additional costs49% rewritten
- 11If we experience delays or difficulties in the enrollment of patients in any future clinical trials, our receipt of necessary regulatory approvals could be delayed or prevented
- 12We expect intense competition for our products and any future product candidates, and new products may emerge that provide different or better therapeutic alternatives for our targeted indications
- 13If our products do not achieve broad market acceptance, including by government and third-party payors, the revenues that we generate from sales will be limited
Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties
- 14We expect to rely on third parties to conduct any future preclinical studies and clinical trials, and those third parties may not perform satisfactorily, including by failing to meet deadlines for the completion of such trials or to comply with applicable regulatory requirements
- 15We rely on clinical data and results obtained by third parties that could ultimately prove to be inaccurate or unreliable
- 16If successful product liability claims are brought against us, we may incur substantial liability, and may have to limit the commercialization of certain current or future products or product candidates
- 17The use of artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry and challenges with properly managing its use could adversely affect our business
Risks Related to our Growth
- 18A significant part of our future growth may depend on our ability to identify and acquire or in-license products, and if we do not successfully identify and acquire or in-license related product candidates or integrate them into our operations, we may have limited growth opportunities
- 19Our growth is subject to economic and political conditions28% rewritten
- 20Our business may be materially adversely affected by the imposition of duties and tariffs and other trade barriers and retaliatory countermeasures implemented by the U.S. and other governmentsNew
- 21We may not be able to manage our business effectively if we are unable to attract and retain key personnel
- 22We may decide to sell assets, which could adversely affect our prospects and opportunities for growth
- 23There is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. We may need to raise additional funding (which may not be available on acceptable terms to the Company, or at all) and/or to delay, limit or terminate certain of our product development and commercialization efforts or other operations
Risks Related to Development and Regulatory Approval of Our Future Product Candidates
- 24Our business is dependent on the successful development and regulatory approval of future product candidates57% rewritten
- 25The success of our business, including our ability to finance our company and generate additional revenue in the future, may depend on the successful development and marketing of any future product candidates that we may develop, in-license or acquire and for which we receive marketing authorization
- 26Clinical drug development is very expensive, time-consuming and uncertain. Our clinical trials may fail to adequately demonstrate the safety and efficacy of any future product candidates, which could prevent or delay regulatory approval and commercialization
- 27We are currently dependent on DRL for the manufacture and clinical supply of Emrosi drug product. Any interruption in our supply may cause serious delays in the timing of our clinical trials, increase our costs and adversely impact our financial results
- 28We may conduct clinical trials for any future product candidates, in whole or in part, outside of the United States and the FDA and applicable foreign regulatory authorities may not accept data from such trials, which would likely result in additional costs to us and delay our business plan
- 29Changes in U.S. government policy, regulation, enforcement priorities, and funding decisions could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operationsNew
Risks Related to Intellectual Property, Generic Competition and Paragraph IV Litigation
- 30Generic drug approvals and successful challenges against the validity of our patents may cause us to lose exclusivity of some of our products
- 31Enforcing our proprietary rights is difficult and costly and we may be unable to ensure their protection35% rewritten
- 32If we are sued for infringing intellectual property rights of third parties, it will be costly and time consuming, and an unfavorable outcome in any litigation would harm our business
- 33Intellectual property litigation could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities
- 34We may be subject to claims that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers
- 35We may need to license certain intellectual property from third parties, and such licenses may not be available or may not be available on commercially reasonable terms
- 36If we fail to comply with our obligations in our intellectual property licenses and funding arrangements with third parties, or if we breach an agreement under which we license rights to any product or future product candidate, we could lose rights that are important to our business
Risks Related to our Platform and Data
- 37Our business and operations would suffer in the event of computer system failures, cyber-attacks, or deficiencies in our or third parties’ cybersecurity
Risks Related to Our Finances and Capital Requirements
- 38We have incurred net losses in recent fiscal years, and we may incur losses for the foreseeable future and may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability
- 39We may need additional funding and may be unable to raise capital when needed, which would force us to delay, reduce or eliminate any future product development programs or commercialization, manufacturing and/or sales efforts
- 40Future capital requirements will also depend on the extent to which we acquire or invest in additional complementary businesses, products and technologies, but we currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions
- 41Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish proprietary rights
Risks Related to Owning our Common Stock
- 42If we fail to maintain or implement effective internal controls, we may not be able to report financial results accurately or on a timely basis, or to detect fraud, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and the per share price of our common stock
- 43Our charter documents and Delaware law could discourage takeover attempts and other corporate governance changes
- 44The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert our management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members
- 45Reduced reporting and disclosure requirements applicable to us as an EGC could make our common stock less attractive to investors
- 46Our shares of common stock are subject to potential delisting if we do not continue to maintain the listing requirements of Nasdaq
- 47Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be your sole source of gains
- 48The trading price of the shares of our common stock is likely to be volatile, and purchasers of our common stock could incur substantial losses
Risks Related to our Relationship with Fortress Biotech, Inc
- 49Fortress controls a voting majority of our common stock, which could be detrimental to our other shareholders52% rewritten
- 50We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq listing standards and, as a result, qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. Although we do not presently intend to take advantage of these exemptions, we may do so in the future
- 51We may have received better terms from unaffiliated third parties than the terms we receive in our arrangements with Fortress
- 52The ownership by our executive officers and some of our directors of shares of equity securities of Fortress and/or rights to acquire equity securities of Fortress might create, or appear to create, conflicts of interest
- 53Fortress’ current or future financial obligations and arrangements, or an event of default thereon, may change the ownership dynamic of us by Fortress
General Risks
- 54Failure to manage our growth effectively could cause our business to suffer and have an adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition
- 55If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research reports about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline
- 56Our reported financial results may be adversely affected by changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. If our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies prove to be incorrect, our results of operations could be adversely affected
- 57Global and national financial events may have an impact on our business and financial condition in ways that we currently cannot predict
- 58If our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies are erroneous or based on assumptions that change or prove to be incorrect, our operating results could fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in our stock price
- 59Changes in tax laws or regulations that are applied adversely to us may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flow, financial condition or results of operations
Other Journey Medical 10-Ks
- FY2024 10-K risk factors58 risks
Substantial doubt exists regarding the company's ability to continue as a going concern, requiring additional funding. Operations rely heavily on dermatology product sales, facing generic competition and lack of patent protection for key products. Dependence on third parties for manufacturing Emrosi creates significant supply and clinical trial risks.
Filed Mar 27, 2025
About this page
The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.