Viatris (VTRS) risk factors, FY2025 10-K

Viatris's FY2025 10-K, filed Feb 26, 2026, lists 51 risk factors in 3 groups. Against the prior year's 49: 7 new, 5 dropped, 12 substantially reworded.

Risk factors listed
513 groups
New this year
7vs 49 last year
Dropped
5since the prior 10-K
Substantially reworded
12of those kept
Section length
26k wordsItem 1A

What the changes say

  • Viatris initiated a 2025 enterprise-wide strategic review, driving restructuring and cost-saving activities with up to 10% headcount reductions.
  • Top ten products now account for a larger share of net sales, rising from 33% to 36% in 2025.
  • R&D updates include acquisitions of Phase 3 programs like selatogrel and cenerimod, and Aculys Pharma for pitolisant and Spydia rights.

What changed since the prior 10-K

New

  • New

    with respect to such actions, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price

    We face pricing and reimbursement pressure on products due to controls, cost-lowering pressures, international risks, acquisition earnings charges, inflation, and heavy industry regulations.

  • NewStrategic Risks

    Viatris’ restructuring activities may not achieve their intended goals and may present significant challenges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price

    Restructuring from the 2025 enterprise-wide strategic review may miss cost-saving goals, requiring up to 10% headcount reductions and facility closures while distracting management.

  • NewStrategic Risks

    The integration of acquired businesses has presented and may in the future present significant challenges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price

    Integrating acquired businesses involves complex challenges, including management diversion, cultural friction, customer retention, IT system gaps, and high transition service costs.

  • NewStrategic Risks

    additional changes in legislative or regulatory priorities and personnel may transpire at the state or federal level, or what the ultimate impact may be

    U.S. pricing pressures are compounded by customer consolidation among wholesalers, PBMs, and insurers, increasing their negotiating power and tender failures.

  • NewOperational Risks

    procedures or other risk management efforts are not effective, our facilities may be adversely affected, and operations would experience significant impact or disruption

    Non-compliance with environmental and occupational health and safety laws can cause reputational damage, unexpected costs, and increased compliance capital expenditures.

  • NewOperational Risks

    Incorporating ML, AI and other emerging technologies into our products, services and operations may result in legal and regulatory risks, reputational harm or have other adverse consequences to our business, financial condition or results of operations

    Using ML and AI tools creates risks of flawed algorithms, biased data sets, reputational harm, potential legal liability, and accidental confidential data disclosures.

  • NewOperational Risks

    If tax authorities determine that the intercompany pricing applied to our cross-border arrangements is inconsistent with the arms’ length standard or otherwise ineffective, our tax liabilities could increase

    Tax authorities might challenge intercompany pricing on cross-border arrangements like loans and licenses, increasing tax liabilities, interest, and penalties.

Dropped

  • Dropped

    which could result in substantial monetary damages, impact our ability to launch a product and/or our ability to continue marketing a product, and/or force us to expend substantial resources in resulting litigation, the outcome of which is uncertain

  • DroppedStrategic Risks

    divestitures, including maintaining employee morale and retaining key management and other employees to provide the transition services and to operate our retained business, and managing stranded costs

    Legal proceedings, government inquiries, IT and cybersecurity risks, and dividend uncertainty.

  • DroppedStrategic Risks

    The integration of acquired businesses as well as restructuring programs have presented and may in the future present significant challenges

  • DroppedOperational Risks

    our collaboration partners may experience delays in our ongoing or future clinical trials, and we do not know whether planned clinical trials will begin or enroll subjects on time, need additional financing, need to be redesigned, or be completed on schedule, if at all

  • DroppedOperational Risks

    If the intercompany terms of cross border arrangements that we have among our subsidiaries are determined to be inappropriate or ineffective, our tax liability may increase

    Financial reductions and financial system carve-out errors from the Biocon Biologics Transaction and divestitures.

Reworded

  • 93% rewrittenStrategic Risks

    There are risks and uncertainties associated with divestitures, product rationalizations and asset sales, one or more of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price

    Expanded to cover ongoing and future divestitures, product rationalizations, and asset sales causing asset impairments and reduced market share, rather than just historical deals.

    Was: There are ongoing risks and uncertainties associated with our recent divestitures, one or more of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price

  • 89% rewritten

    Below is a summary of some of the more significant risks and uncertainties we face. This summary is not exhaustive and is qualified by reference to the full set of risk factors set forth in this Part I, Item 1A

    Updated summary to replace references to general integration challenges and recent divestitures with the new 2025 enterprise-wide strategic review and restructuring activities.

  • 75% rewrittenOperational Risks

    Similar initiatives could increase the cost of developing, implementing or maintaining our IT systems, require us to allocate more resources to compliance initiatives or increase our costs

    Shifted focus from AI-specific misuse risks to broader compliance failures regarding data privacy and security laws by Viatris or third-party vendors.

  • 60% rewrittenStrategic Risks

    We may not realize the intended benefits of, or achieve the intended goals or outlooks with respect to, our strategic initiatives and priorities, including our enterprise-wide strategic review and other potential corporate transactions

    Updated strategic pillars to reflect three new 2025 imperatives from the enterprise-wide strategic review: base business growth, fueling the innovative pipeline, and modernizing capabilities.

    Was: We may not realize the intended benefits of, or achieve the intended goals or outlooks with respect to, our strategic initiatives and priorities, including divestitures, acquisitions or other potential transactions

  • 56% rewrittenOperational Risks

    Failure to comply with applicable environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations worldwide could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price

    Retained core environmental and occupational health and safety compliance risks with minor phrasing adjustments.

  • 53% rewrittenOperational Risks

    We expend a significant amount of resources on R&D efforts that may not lead to successful product introductions

    Added specific partner references to the Aculys Pharma acquisition, including exclusive rights to pitolisant in Japan and Spydia in Japan and Asia-Pacific.

  • 49% rewrittenOperational Risks

    We are subject to data privacy and security laws and regulations in many different jurisdictions and countries where we do business, and our or our vendors’ inability to comply could result in fines, penalties, or reputational damage, and could impact the way we operate our business

    Retained general data privacy and security regulatory risks with minor stylistic updates.

  • 36% rewrittenStrategic Risks

    A relatively small group of products may represent a significant portion of our revenues, net sales, gross profit, or net earnings from time to time

    Updated net sales concentration for top ten products to 36% for the year ended December 31, 2025, up from 33% previously.

  • 34% rewrittenStrategic Risks

    Healthcare reform legislation could have a material adverse effect on our business

  • 32% rewrittenOperational Risks

    Viatris may be adversely affected by disruptions in the credit markets, including disruptions that reduce customers’ access to credit and increase the costs to customers of obtaining credit

  • 24% rewrittenOperational Risks

    We may not be able to maintain competitive financial flexibility and our corporate tax rate which could adversely affect us and our shareholders

  • 21% rewrittenOperational Risks

    Viatris has certain material obligations relating to defined benefit pension and termination benefit programs

All 51 risk factors

Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.

Other

  1. 01Below is a summary of some of the more significant risks and uncertainties we face. This summary is not exhaustive and is qualified by reference to the full set of risk factors set forth in this Part I, Item 1A89% rewritten
  2. 02with respect to such actions, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock priceNew

Strategic Risks

  1. 03We may not realize the intended benefits of, or achieve the intended goals or outlooks with respect to, our strategic initiatives and priorities, including our enterprise-wide strategic review and other potential corporate transactions60% rewritten
  2. 04Viatris’ restructuring activities may not achieve their intended goals and may present significant challenges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock priceNew
  3. 05There are risks and uncertainties associated with divestitures, product rationalizations and asset sales, one or more of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price93% rewritten
  4. 06The integration of acquired businesses has presented and may in the future present significant challenges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock priceNew
  5. 07We have and may continue to experience pressure on the pricing of and reimbursements for certain of our products due to pricing controls, social or government pressure to lower the cost of drugs, and consolidation across the supply chain
  6. 08additional changes in legislative or regulatory priorities and personnel may transpire at the state or federal level, or what the ultimate impact may beNew
  7. 09Healthcare reform legislation could have a material adverse effect on our business34% rewritten
  8. 10We have significant operations globally, which exposes us to the risks inherent in conducting our business internationally
  9. 11Charges to earnings resulting from acquisitions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price
  10. 12A significant portion of these adjustments could be accounted for as expenses that will decrease our net income and earnings per share for the periods in which those costs are incurred
  11. 13The pharmaceutical drug supply is vulnerable to illegal counterfeiting and the presence of counterfeit or IP-infringing products in a growing number of markets, including widespread sales over the internet
  12. 14We face vigorous competition that threatens the commercial acceptance and pricing of our products
  13. 15A relatively small group of products may represent a significant portion of our revenues, net sales, gross profit, or net earnings from time to time36% rewritten

Operational Risks

  1. 16Current and changing economic conditions, including inflation, may adversely affect our industry, business, partners and suppliers
  2. 17Failure to comply with applicable environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations worldwide could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price56% rewritten
  3. 18procedures or other risk management efforts are not effective, our facilities may be adversely affected, and operations would experience significant impact or disruptionNew
  4. 19The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, and we face significant costs and uncertainties associated with our efforts to comply with applicable laws and regulations
  5. 20The occurrence of any of the above risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price
  6. 21If we are unable to successfully introduce new products in a timely manner, our future revenue and profitability may be adversely affected
  7. 22In the EU and other countries and regions, there is no exclusivity period for the first generic product. The European Commission or national regulatory agencies may grant marketing authorizations to any number of generics
  8. 23We expend a significant amount of resources on R&D efforts that may not lead to successful product introductions53% rewritten
  9. 24Even if our products in development receive regulatory approval, such products may not achieve expected levels of market acceptance
  10. 25Our business is highly dependent upon market perceptions of us, our products and brands, and the safety and quality of our products and brands, as well as the effectiveness of our sales and marketing activities, and we may be adversely impacted by negative publicity or findings
  11. 26A significant portion of our revenues is derived from sales to a limited number of customers
  12. 27We have a limited number of manufacturing facilities and certain third-party suppliers produce a substantial portion of our API and products, some of which require a highly exacting and complex manufacturing process
  13. 28Our future success is highly dependent on our ability to attract, motivate and retain key personnel
  14. 29We rely on the effectiveness of our patents, trademarks, confidentiality agreements and other measures to protect our intellectual property rights
  15. 30We are involved in various legal proceedings and certain government inquiries and may experience unfavorable outcomes of such proceedings or inquiries
  16. 31We are increasingly dependent on IT and information systems and our systems and infrastructure face certain risks, including cybersecurity and data leakage risks
  17. 32We are subject to data privacy and security laws and regulations in many different jurisdictions and countries where we do business, and our or our vendors’ inability to comply could result in fines, penalties, or reputational damage, and could impact the way we operate our business49% rewritten
  18. 33Similar initiatives could increase the cost of developing, implementing or maintaining our IT systems, require us to allocate more resources to compliance initiatives or increase our costs75% rewritten
  19. 34Incorporating ML, AI and other emerging technologies into our products, services and operations may result in legal and regulatory risks, reputational harm or have other adverse consequences to our business, financial condition or results of operationsNew
  20. 35Increasing scrutiny and evolving expectations from customers, regulators, governments, investors, lenders, employees, and other stakeholders with respect to our environmental, social and governance practices may impose additional costs on us or expose us to new or additional risks
  21. 36Our business and operations are subject to risks related to climate change
  22. 37There can be no guarantee that we will continue to pay dividends or repurchase shares under our share repurchase program
  23. 38If tax authorities determine that the intercompany pricing applied to our cross-border arrangements is inconsistent with the arms’ length standard or otherwise ineffective, our tax liabilities could increaseNew
  24. 39We may not be able to maintain competitive financial flexibility and our corporate tax rate which could adversely affect us and our shareholders24% rewritten
  25. 40Unanticipated changes in our tax provisions or exposure to additional income tax liabilities and changes in income tax laws and tax rulings may have a significant adverse impact on our effective tax rate and income tax expense
  26. 41Viatris may be subject to significant U.S. tax liabilities or be obligated to indemnify Pfizer for any such tax liability imposed on Pfizer in connection with the Combination
  27. 42Currency fluctuations and changes in exchange rates have impacted and could continue to adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares, and/or stock price
  28. 43We have significant indebtedness, which could lead to adverse consequences or adversely affect our financial position and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under such indebtedness, and any refinancing of this debt could be at significantly higher interest rates
  29. 44We must maintain adequate internal controls and be able to provide an assertion as to the effectiveness of such controls on an annual basis
  30. 45Viatris has suffered and in the future could suffer additional losses due to impairment charges
  31. 46Viatris may be adversely affected by disruptions in the credit markets, including disruptions that reduce customers’ access to credit and increase the costs to customers of obtaining credit32% rewritten
  32. 47Viatris has certain material obligations relating to defined benefit pension and termination benefit programs21% rewritten

General Risks

  1. 48The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile, and the value of your investment could materially decline
  2. 49The expansion of social media platforms presents new risks and challenges
  3. 50Provisions in the Viatris Charter and Viatris Bylaws and of applicable law may prevent or delay an acquisition of Viatris, which could decrease the trading price of Viatris common stock
  4. 51The exclusive forum provisions in the Viatris Charter could discourage lawsuits against Viatris and its directors and officers

Other Viatris 10-Ks

  • FY2024 10-K risk factors
    49 risks

    Viatris faces core risks from pricing pressure, heavy regulatory burdens, divestiture liabilities, and supply chain concentration.

    Filed Feb 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.