Vericel Corp (VCEL)

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

Vericel Corporation is a fully-integrated, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and a leading provider of advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets. Whether we are treating damaged cartilage or severe burns, we provide advanced therapies to repair serious injuries and restore lives. Our highly differentiated portfolio of cell therapy and specialty biologic products combines innovations in biology with medical technologies. We were among the first companies to achieve commercial success in the complex field of cell therapies with treatments that use tissue engineering to regenerate skin and healthy knee cartilage. We currently market two U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved autologous cell therapy products and one FDA-approved specialty biologic product in the U.S. MACI® is an autologous cellularized scaffold product that is indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. Since MACI’s commercial launch, the product’s FDA-approved labeling has provided for a treating surgeon to use MACI to treat a patient through an open surgical procedure. In August 2024, the FDA approved a supplemental Biologics License Application (“sBLA”) expanding the MACI indication to add instructions for the arthroscopic delivery of MACI to the product’s approved labeling. MACI Arthro™ allows surgeons to evaluate and prepare the cartilage defect site as well as deliver the MACI implant through small incisions using custom-designed arthroscopic instruments developed by the Company (“MACI Arthro instruments”). MACI Arthro became commercially available in the United States during the third quarter of 2024 and the Company began selling the MACI Arthro instruments at that time.

Epicel® is a permanent skin replacement Humanitarian Use Device (“HUD”) indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent of a patient’s total body surface area (“TBSA”). We also hold an exclusive license from MediWound Ltd. (“MediWound”) for North American rights to NexoBrid® (anacaulase-bcdb), a topically-administered biological orphan product containing proteolytic enzymes, which is indicated for the removal of eschar in adult and pediatric patients with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness thermal burns.

See “Risk Factors “Our success depends, in part, on the commercial success of NexoBrid for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial thickness and/or full thickness thermal burns.”

The Ongoing Conflicts in the Middle East

In May 2019, we entered into exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound, under which MediWound manufactures and supplies NexoBrid to the U.S. market on a unit price basis. MediWound develops and manufactures NexoBrid, in part, at its facilities in Yavne, Israel.

We continue to monitor the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East region involving Israel, and we are in close communication with MediWound leadership. MediWound’s NexoBrid manufacturing operations are continuing and, as of the date of this disclosure, MediWound does not anticipate a material disruption to its ongoing supply of commercial NexoBrid to the United States. To the extent the conflicts in the Middle East region intensify or expand and MediWound’s facilities in Israel are damaged or destroyed, travel to and from Israel is halted or inhibited, or significant key MediWound operational personnel are called to military service, MediWound’s ability to continue to supply NexoBrid to the U.S. market could be disrupted. As of the date of this report, we maintain an ample supply of NexoBrid at our U.S.-based third-party logistics provider.

For a discussion of additional risks associated with the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, please see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”.

Manufacturing

We have a cell manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is used for U.S. manufacturing and distribution of MACI and Epicel. In January 2022, we entered into a lease agreement (as amended, the “Burlington Lease”) to lease approximately 126,000 square feet of manufacturing, laboratory and office space in Burlington, Massachusetts, which has been under construction. The Burlington facility is substantially complete, and we are currently utilizing the facility’s office space. Once validated, the facility’s manufacturing component will eventually become the primary manufacturing facility for MACI and Epicel.

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The manufacturing process for NexoBrid is conducted by MediWound, primarily at manufacturing locations in Israel. Certain raw materials utilized in NexoBrid’s manufacture, including the supply of the active ingredient bromelain, are sourced from Taiwan.

Product Portfolio

Our marketed products include two FDA-approved autologous cell therapies and one FDA-approved specialty biologic product. MACI is a third-generation autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. In connection with our MACI product, we sell MACI biopsy kits, which are used by treating surgeons to obtain a sample of cartilage tissue, which is later sent to us. If a patient decides to move forward with MACI treatment, we subsequently use the cartilage sample to manufacture a MACI implant. When an orthopedic surgeon decides to treat a patient by implanting MACI through an arthroscopic approach the surgeon may choose to use our custom MACI Arthro instruments during the procedure, which we sell by way of a separate transaction.

Epicel is a permanent skin replacement indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent of a patient’s TBSA. Both autologous cell therapy products are currently manufactured and marketed in the U.S. NexoBrid is a topically-administered biological orphan product containing proteolytic enzymes that is indicated for eschar removal in adult and pediatric patients with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness burns. We hold exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound to commercialize NexoBrid in North America. The Company operates its business primarily in the U.S. in one reportable segment - the research, product development, manufacture and distribution of cellular therapies and specialty biologics for use in the treatment of specific conditions.

MACI

MACI is a third-generation autologous chondrocyte implantation (“ACI”) product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults.

Our target audiences are orthopedic surgeons who self-identify and/or have formal specialty training in sports medicine, and a subpopulation of general orthopedic surgeons who perform a high volume of cartilage repair procedures involving the knee. Our MACI commercial team consists of individual sales representatives that regularly engage with our target audience. The team is divided into geographic regions and is managed by a senior sales leadership team. Most private payers have a medical policy that covers treatment with MACI with the top 30 largest commercial payers having a formal medical policy for MACI or ACI in general. With respect to private commercial payers that have not yet approved a medical policy for MACI, we often obtain approval on a case-by-case basis.

MACI consists of autologous cultured chondrocytes, which are human-derived cells that are obtained from the patient’s own cartilage, and which are seeded onto resorbable Type I/III collagen membrane. Since MACI’s commercial launch, the product’s FDA-approved labeling has provided for a treating surgeon to use MACI to treat a patient through an open surgical procedure. In August 2024, the FDA approved a supplemental Biologics License Application (“sBLA”) expanding the MACI indication to add instructions for the arthroscopic delivery of MACI to the product’s approved labeling, permitting the repair of single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee up to 4 cm2 in size via an arthroscopic approach. MACI Arthro provides a less invasive technique compared to the open arthrotomy approach and allows surgeons to evaluate, prepare and treat the cartilage defect, and deliver the MACI implant, under direct arthroscopic visualization and, should the surgeon so choose, to use specialized and custom-designed instruments (the “MACI Arthro instruments”) through small incisions or portals. The arthroscopic delivery of MACI could increase the ease of MACI’s use for physicians and may reduce both the length of the procedure as well as procedure-induced trauma, which may result in a reduction of a patient’s post-operative pain and accelerate a patient’s recovery. MACI Arthro became commercially available in the United States during the third quarter of 2024 and we began selling the MACI Arthro instruments at that time. In conjunction with the launch of MACI Arthro, we have expanded our target surgeon base from 5,000 to 7,000 to include orthopedic surgeons that perform high volumes of knee cartilage repair surgeries, predominantly through arthroscopic procedures.

We also are evaluating the feasibility and potential market opportunity involved in delivering MACI treatment to patients suffering from cartilage damage in the ankle. We believe that this potential lifecycle enhancement and indication expansion for MACI will require conducting an additional randomized clinical trial concerning the product’s use in the ankle and we are on track to initiate a MACI Ankle clinical trial beginning in 2025. If approved, we believe MACI’s label expansion allowing its use to repair cartilage defects in the ankle will be a significant long-term growth driver for the product in the coming years.

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Epicel

Epicel is a permanent skin replacement for deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent TBSA. Epicel is regulated by CBER of the FDA under medical device authorities, and is the only FDA-approved cultured epidermal autograft product available for large total surface area burns in both adult and pediatric patients. Epicel was designated as a HUD in 1998 and an HDE application for the product was submitted in 1999. HUDs are devices that are intended for diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 8,000 individuals annually in the U.S., and certain HUDs are restricted by the amount which a manufacturer may charge for its use.

Epicel is not price-restricted in this manner because on February 18, 2016, the FDA approved our HDE supplement to revise the labeled indications of use for Epicel to specifically include pediatric patients, thus allowing Epicel to be sold for profit. The revised product label also now specifies that the probable benefit of Epicel, mainly related to survival, was demonstrated in two Epicel clinical experience databases and a physician-sponsored study comparing outcomes in patients with large burns treated with Epicel relative to standard care.

NexoBrid

Our portfolio of commercial-stage products also includes NexoBrid (anacaulase-bcdb), a topically-administered biological orphan product containing proteolytic enzymes, for which the FDA approved a BLA in December 2022 permitting the product’s use for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full thickness thermal burns. Subsequently, in August 2024, the FDA approved a sBLA expanding NexoBrid’s indication to include pediatric patients.

NexoBrid is approved in the European Union (“EU”) and other international markets and has been designated as an orphan biologic in the U.S., EU and other international markets. NexoBrid has the potential to change the standard of care for eschar removal with respect to hospitalized burn patients and treat a significant addressable market in the U.S. With respect to NexoBrid, of the approximately 40,000 people that are hospitalized in the U.S. each year for burn-related injuries, the majority, over 30,000, have thermal burns and will likely require some level of eschar removal. NexoBrid’s FDA approval expands our burn care franchise’s total addressable market, which will permit us to treat a significantly larger segment of hospitalized burn patients than with Epicel alone. The expansion of our target addressable market supports a broader commercial footprint, and we believe that this may help drive both increased NexoBrid use as well as increased Epicel awareness throughout the burn care space. Both our Epicel and NexoBrid products are serviced by our burn care field force, which consists of individual sales and clinical representatives that regularly engage with our target audience. The team is divided into geographical regions and is managed by a senior sales leadership team.

In May 2019, we entered into exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound to commercialize NexoBrid in North America. The manufacturing process for NexoBrid is conducted by MediWound, primarily at manufacturing locations in Israel. Certain raw materials utilized in NexoBrid’s manufacture, including the supply of the active ingredient bromelain, are sourced from Taiwan.

Results of Operations

The following is a summary of our consolidated results of operations:

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Comparison of the Periods Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023

Total Revenue

Revenue by product is as follows:

Total revenue increase for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2023, was driven primarily by MACI volume and price growth, in addition to higher Epicel and NexoBrid volume.

Seasonality. Sales of MACI implants have historically experienced a level of seasonality throughout the year. In the last five years through 2024, MACI sales volumes from the first through the fourth quarter on average represented 21% (20%-22% range), 22% (16%-24% range), 23% (21%-26% range) and 34% (33%-38% range) respectively, of total annual volumes. Historically, MACI orders are normally stronger in the fourth quarter due to several factors including the satisfaction by patients of insurance deductible limits and the time of year patients prefer to start rehabilitation. Due to the low incidence and variable occurrence of severe burns, Epicel revenue has inherent variability from quarter-to-quarter and does not exhibit significant seasonality. U.S. sales of NexoBrid began September of 2023 and as such we are still relatively early in its commercial launch, but we do not expect NexoBrid revenue to experience significant seasonality given its emergent use in treating severe burns.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, driven by revenue growth across all products, combined with our primarily fixed manufacturing cost structure, which consists mainly of labor and facility costs.

Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes research and development expenses, which include materials, professional fees and an allocation of employee-related salary and fringe benefit costs for our research and development projects:

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Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $24.8 million, compared to $21.0 million for 2023. The increase is primarily related to MACI arthroscopic development program costs and an increase in headcount and employee expenses.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $142.8 million, compared to $121.0 million for 2023. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to higher headcount and an increase in employee expenses and stock compensation, the Burlington Lease which commenced in June of 2023, and additional travel, marketing programs and in person events across the commercial organization, including to support the MACI arthroscopic launch.

Total Other Income

The change in total other income for the year ended December 31, 2024, was due primarily to fluctuations in the rates of return on our investments in various marketable debt securities and money market funds.

Income Tax Expense

For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we recorded $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of income tax expense as a result of state income taxes. This is primarily due to the elimination of the option to deduct research and development expenditures immediately in the year incurred and instead amortize such expenditures over five years for tax purposes. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on all of our net deferred tax assets.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense is summarized in the following table:

The increase in stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2024, is due primarily to fluctuations in stock prices and the mix of service-based options and restricted stock units, which impacts the fair value of the options and restricted stock units awarded and the expense recognized in the period.

Comparison of the Periods Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

For a comparison of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024.

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Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:

For a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources related to our cash flow activities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024.

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Our cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash totaled $85.0 million, short-term investments totaled $41.7 million and long-term investments totaled $39.9 million as of December 31, 2024. The $58.2 million of net cash provided by operations in 2024, was primarily the result of net income of $10.4 million, non-cash charges of $36.5 million related to stock compensation expense, $6.7 million in operating lease amortization and $5.5 million in depreciation and amortization expense, partially offset by a net decrease of $0.7 million related to movements in our working capital accounts. The overall decrease in cash from our working capital accounts was primarily driven by an increase in inventory primarily related to supporting NexoBrid commercial availability and an increase in accounts receivable due to higher sales volume, partially offset by an increase in operating lease liabilities due to receipts of tenant improvement allowances which exceeded payments on operating leases amortization.

Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $86.9 million, short-term investments totaled $40.5 million and long-term investments totaled $25.3 million as of December 31, 2023. The $35.3 million of net cash provided by operations in 2023, was primarily the result of non-cash charges of $32.3 million related to stock compensation expense, $6.1 million in operating lease amortization and $4.6 million in depreciation and amortization expense, offset by a net loss of $3.2 million and a net decrease of $4.1 million related to movements in our working capital accounts. The overall decreases in cash from our working capital accounts were primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable due to an increase in sales volume, offset by a decrease in inventory due to usage for production needs, an increase of accounts payable and accrued expenses due to timing of payments and receipts of tenant improvement allowances which exceeded payments on operating leases amortization.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2024 was the result of $68.2 million in investment purchases, $64.0 million of property and equipment purchases primarily for construction in process related to the Burlington Lease, partially offset by $53.2 million of investment sales and maturities.

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2023 was the result of $55.2 million in investments purchases, a $7.5 million regulatory milestone payment to MediWound resulting from the FDA’s approval of the NexoBrid BLA, and $20.0 million of property and equipment purchases primarily for construction in process related to the Burlington Lease, partially offset by $79.6 million of investment sales and maturities.

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2024 was the result of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the employee stock purchase plan of $24.5 million, partially offset by the payment of employee withholding taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units of $5.5 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2023 was the result of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the employee stock purchase plan of $6.0 million, partially offset by the payment of employee withholding taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units of $2.3 million.

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Liquidity

Since our acquisition of MACI and Epicel in 2014, our primary focus has been to invest in our existing commercial business with the goal of growing revenue. We have raised significant funds in order to advance and complete our product development and product life-cycle management programs and to market and commercialize our products, including NexoBrid. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through cash received through MACI, Epicel and NexoBrid sales, debt, and public and private sales of our equity securities. In the future, we may finance our operations through the sales of equity securities, revolver borrowings or other debt financings, in addition to cash generated from operations.

We believe that our current cash on hand, cash equivalents, investments, and available borrowing capacity will be sufficient to support our current operations through at least 12 months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our actual cash requirements may differ from projections and will depend on many factors, including the level and pace of future research and development efforts, the scope and results of ongoing and potential clinical trials, the costs involved in filing, prosecuting and enforcing patents, the need for additional manufacturing capacity, competing technological and market developments, global macroeconomic conditions, costs associated with possible acquisitions or development of complementary business activities, and the cost to market our products.

Sources of Capital

On July 29, 2022, we entered into a $150.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit agreement by and among the Company, the other loan parties thereto, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). We have no immediate plans to borrow under the Revolving Credit Agreement, but we may use the facility for working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2024, there are no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and we are in compliance with all applicable covenant requirements. See Note 8, “Revolving Credit Agreement” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details.

Contractual Obligations

We lease facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Burlington, Massachusetts. The Cambridge facility includes clean rooms, laboratories for MACI and Epicel manufacturing and office space. We also pay for use of two offsite warehouse spaces and lease equipment. Total remaining obligations related to operating and finance leases are $146.0 million, with $4.4 million of tenant improvement allowances allowed for, as of December 31, 2024.

In April 2023, in connection with the Burlington Lease, we entered into a construction escrow agreement (the “Construction Escrow Agreement”) with the facility’s landlord and an escrow agent. Pursuant to the terms of the Construction Escrow Agreement, in April 2023 we began funding into an escrow account maintained by the escrow agent a portion of our share of tenant improvement construction costs at the facility, which is designated as restricted cash. At the same time, the facility’s landlord began funding a portion of its tenant improvement allowance through a separate escrow account. The Company funded the remaining 50% of its required cost amount, or approximately $28.3 million, with cash on hand, pursuant to the Construction Escrow Agreement in April 2024. Additionally, and in order to support the expansion of our autologous cell manufacturing operations at the new facility in Burlington, we have and continue to invest in the acquisition and installation of certain specialized manufacturing and laboratory equipment.

On July 1, 2023, we renewed our long-term supply agreement with Matricel for the supply of ACI-Maix collagen membranes used in the manufacture of MACI. Under the terms of the Matricel Supply Agreement, we have committed to annual minimum purchase values totaling approximately €12.5 million over the eight-year term.

Our total purchase commitments consist of minimum purchase amounts of raw materials and finished goods used in our cell manufacturing process to manufacture our marketed cell therapy products and total $15.4 million as of December 31, 2024, as well as usage of offsite warehouse space. The total remaining contractual obligations related to the warehouse agreement are $0.9 million as of December 31, 2024. See Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies” in our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further information.

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a material effect on our financial condition.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that could materially impact the consolidated financial statements and disclosures based on varying assumptions. We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable; however, actual results and the timing of the recognition of such amounts could differ from these estimates.

The following is a list of accounting policies that are most significant to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and/or that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Revenue Recognition and Net Product Sales

Revenue from sales to a customer is recognized in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue Recognition. We recognize product revenue from sales to a customer following the five-step model in ASC 606: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation. Under this revenue standard, we recognize revenue when our customer obtains control of the promised goods, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods.

MACI Implants

We contract with two specialty pharmacies, Orsini Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (“Orsini”) and AllCare Plus Pharmacy, Inc. (“AllCare”) to distribute MACI in a manner in which we retain the credit and collection risk from the end customer. We pay each specialty pharmacy a fee in each instance when it dispenses MACI for use in treating a patient. Both Orsini and AllCare perform collection activities to collect payment from customers. In addition, we sell MACI directly to hospitals pursuant to an agreed upon purchase order and to a distributor, DMS Pharmaceutical Group, Inc. (“DMS”) at a contracted rate for the treatment of patients at military facilities throughout the U.S. We engage a third party to provide services in connection with a patient support program to manage patient cases and to ensure that complete and correct billing information is provided to the insurers and hospitals.

Prior authorization and confirmation of coverage level by the patient’s private insurance plan, hospital or government payer is a prerequisite to the shipment of product to a patient. We recognize product revenue from sales of all MACI implants upon delivery at which time the customer obtains control of the implant and the claim is billable. The total consideration which we expect to collect in exchange for MACI implants (the “Transaction Price”) may be fixed or variable. Direct sales to hospitals or distributors are recorded at a contracted price, and there are typically no forms of variable consideration.

When we sell MACI through specialty pharmacies, we are typically reimbursed by a third-party insurer or government payer, subject to a patient co-pay amount. Reimbursements from third-party insurers and government payers vary by patient and payer and are based on either contracted rates, publicly available rates, fee schedules or past payer precedents. Net product revenue is recognized net of estimated contractual allowances, which considers historical collection experience from both the payer and patient, denial rates and the terms of our contractual arrangements. We estimate expected collections for these transactions using the portfolio approach. We record a reduction to revenue at the time of sale for the estimate of the amount of consideration that will not be collected. In addition, potential credit risk exposure has been evaluated for our accounts receivable in accordance with ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. We assess risk and determine a loss percentage by pooling accounts receivable based on similar risk characteristics. The loss percentage is calculated through the use of forecasts that are based on current and historical economic and financial information.

Changes in estimates of the Transaction Price are recorded through revenue in the period in which such change occurs. They relate primarily to changes in the initial expected reimbursement or collection expectation upon completion of the billing claims process for MACI implants that occurred in a prior year. A 50 basis points change to the estimated uncollectible percentage could result in approximately $0.5 million decrease or increase in the revenue recognized for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception, in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Leases. Operating lease commitments with a lease term greater than 12 months are recognized as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and liabilities, on a discounted basis on the balance sheet. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. We

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primarily enter into lease agreements for manufacturing and office space, warehouse space, and certain equipment. The leases have varying terms, some of which may include options to extend. Certain of our lease agreements include lease payments that are adjusted periodically for an index or rate. The leases are initially measured using the present value of the projected payments adjusted for the index or rate in effect at the commencement date. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

ROU assets represent our right to control the use of an explicitly or implicitly identified fixed asset for a period of time and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Control of an underlying asset is conveyed to us if we obtain the rights to direct the use of and to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from using the underlying asset.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are comprised of fixed payments. Our leases contain non-lease components and activities that do not transfer a good or service to us which were not considered to be components of the contract and therefore were not included in the net ROU assets or lease liabilities.

The lease term for all of our leases include the non-cancellable period of the lease plus any additional periods covered by either an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease that is reasonably certain to exercise, or an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease controlled by the lessor.

Stock-Based Compensation

The accounting for stock-based compensation requires us to determine the fair value of common stock issued in the form of stock option awards and restricted stock units. The fair value of restricted stock units held by employees and non-employee directors is determined based on the fair value of our common stock on the date of the grant. We use the value of our common stock at the date of the grant in the calculation of the fair value of our share-based awards. The fair value of stock options held by our employees and non-employee directors is determined using a Black-Scholes option valuation method, which is a valuation technique that is acceptable for share-based payment accounting. Key assumptions in determining fair value include volatility, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield and expected term. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent our best estimates; however, these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and different assumptions are used, the stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. In addition, we estimate the expected forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those stock options expected to vest over the service period. We estimate the forfeiture rate considering the historical experience of our stock-based awards. If the actual forfeiture rate is different from the estimate, we adjust the expense accordingly. We record the expense for stock options and restricted stock units using a graded-vesting attribution method.

Tax Valuation Allowance

A valuation allowance is recorded if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized based on the weight of available evidence, both positive and negative. Due to our three-year cumulative loss position and history of operating losses, a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets was considered necessary. We will continue to monitor our cumulative loss position and forecasts and reevaluate the need for a valuation allowance as it could be reversed in future periods.

This summary of significant accounting policies should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and this discussion of our results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements located under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding recently issued accounting standards that may have a significant impact on our business.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

Vericel Corporation is a fully-integrated, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and a leading provider of advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets. Whether we are treating damaged cartilage or severe burns, we provide advanced therapies to repair serious injuries and restore lives. Our highly differentiated portfolio of cell therapy and specialty biologic products combines innovations in biology with medical technologies. We were among the first companies to achieve commercial success in the complex field of cell therapies with treatments that use tissue engineering to regenerate skin and healthy knee cartilage. We currently market two U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved autologous cell therapy products and one FDA-approved specialty biologic product in the U.S. MACI® is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. Epicel® is a permanent skin replacement Humanitarian Use Device (“HUD”) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent of total body surface area (“TBSA”). We also hold an exclusive license from MediWound Ltd. (“MediWound”) for North American rights to NexoBrid® (anacaulase-bcdb), a topically-administered biological orphan product containing proteolytic enzymes, which is indicated for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial thickness and/or full thickness thermal burns. Following FDA approval, we began commercial sales of NexoBrid in the U.S. during the third quarter of 2023.

See “Risk Factors - “Our success depends, in part, on the commercial success of NexoBrid for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness thermal burns.”

COVID-19

On May 11, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the expiration of the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19. At this juncture, the pandemic’s effects on our business and results of operations have largely moderated and we have seen a return to more normal operations. Should a resurgence of COVID-19 occur, or new virus variants emerge, it could result in additional disruptions that could impact our business and operations in the future, including U.S. hospital or surgical center staffing shortages, periodic cancellation or delay of elective MACI surgical procedures, intermittent restrictions on the ability of our personnel to travel and access customers for selling, marketing, training, case support and product development feedback, delays in approvals by regulatory bodies, delays in product development efforts, and additional government requirements or other incremental mitigation efforts that may further impact our capacity to manufacture, sell and support the use of our products.

For a discussion of additional risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and other potential future public health emergencies, please see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”.

The War in Ukraine

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the related sanctions and other penalties imposed by countries across the globe against Russia are continuing to create substantial uncertainty in the global economy and have contributed to heightened inflation and supply chain disruptions. While we do not have operations in Russia or Ukraine and do not have exposure to distributors, or third-party service providers in Russia or Ukraine, we are unable to predict the ultimate impact that these actions will have on the global economy or on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows as of the date of these consolidated financial statements.

The War in Israel and Gaza

In May 2019, the Company entered into exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound, under which MediWound manufactures and supplies NexoBrid to the U.S. market on a unit price basis. MediWound develops and manufactures NexoBrid, in part, at its facilities in Yavne, Israel.

The Company continues to monitor the ongoing conflict in Israel and is in close communication with MediWound leadership. MediWound’s NexoBrid manufacturing operations are continuing and, as of the date of this disclosure, MediWound does not anticipate a disruption to its ongoing supply of commercial NexoBrid to the United States. To the extent the war between Israel and Hamas intensifies or expands to include additional countries or militant groups in the region and MediWound’s facilities in Israel are damaged or destroyed, travel to and from Israel is halted or inhibited, or significant key

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MediWound operational personnel are called to military service, MediWound’s ability to continue to supply NexoBrid to the U.S. market could be disrupted.

For a discussion of additional risks associated with the ongoing conflict in Israel, please see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”.

Manufacturing

We have a cell manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is used for U.S. manufacturing and distribution of MACI and Epicel. The manufacturing process for NexoBrid is conducted by MediWound, primarily at manufacturing locations in Israel. Certain raw materials utilized in NexoBrid’s manufacture, including the supply of the active ingredient bromelain, are obtained from Taiwan.

Product Portfolio

Our marketed products include two FDA-approved autologous cell therapies and one FDA-approved specialty biologic product. MACI is a third-generation autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults; and Epicel is a permanent skin replacement for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent TBSA. Both autologous cell therapy products are currently manufactured and marketed in the U.S. NexoBrid is a topically-administered biological orphan product containing proteolytic enzymes that is indicated for eschar removal in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness burns. We hold exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound to commercialize NexoBrid in North America. On December 28, 2022, the FDA approved a BLA for NexoBrid, granting a license for commercial use in the U.S. During the third quarter of 2023, the Company announced the U.S. commercial availability of NexoBrid and, subsequently, has commenced commercial sales of the product. The Company operates its business primarily in the U.S. in one reportable segment - the research, product development, manufacture and distribution of cellular therapies and specialty biologics for use in the treatment of specific conditions.

MACI

MACI is a third-generation autologous chondrocyte implantation (“ACI”) product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults.

Our target audiences are orthopedic surgeons who self-identify and/or have formal specialty training in sports medicine, and a subpopulation of general orthopedic surgeons who perform a high volume of cartilage repair procedures involving the knee. Our MACI commercial team consists of individual sales representatives that regularly engage with our target audience. The team is divided into geographic regions, each managed by a Regional Manager and led by a Vice President of National MACI Sales. Most private payers have a medical policy that covers treatment with MACI with the top 30 largest commercial payers having a formal medical policy for MACI or ACI in general. With respect to private commercial payers that have not yet approved a medical policy for MACI, we often obtain approval on a case-by-case basis.

MACI is currently implanted into the patient’s cartilage defect through an open surgical procedure. We are currently focused on the arthroscopic delivery of MACI to the cartilage defect – a procedure in which a surgeon can evaluate, prepare and treat the cartilage defect under direct arthroscopic visualization using specialized instruments delivered through a number of smaller incisions or portals. The arthroscopic delivery of MACI could increase the ease of MACI’s use for physicians and reduce both the length of the procedure as well as procedure-induced trauma, ultimately resulting in a reduction of a patient’s post-operative pain and accelerating a patient’s recovery. We have designed and are currently developing novel and specialized instruments to be used in and help facilitate such a procedure. We discussed with the FDA a non-clinical regulatory strategy to support the potential inclusion of arthroscopic delivery in MACI’s approved labeling. Specifically, following a Type C meeting with the FDA, we submitted a protocol for a MACI arthroscopic delivery human factors validation study, which we conducted and completed during the third quarter of 2023. The FDA is currently reviewing the data generated during the human factors validation study in the form of a prior approval supplement, which seeks to add instructions for arthroscopic delivery of MACI to the product’s approved labeling. We anticipate the commercial launch of the MACI arthroscopic delivery program during the third quarter of 2024.

We also are evaluating the feasibility and potential market opportunity involved in delivering MACI treatment to patients suffering from cartilage damage in the ankle. We believe that this potential lifecycle enhancement and indication expansion for MACI will require conducting an additional randomized clinical trial concerning the product’s use in the ankle and we are on

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track to initiate a MACI Ankle clinical trial beginning in 2025, and if approved, we believe MACI’s expansion into the ankle will be a significant longer-term growth driver for the product, beginning in the latter half of the decade.

Epicel

Epicel is a permanent skin replacement for deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent TBSA. Epicel is regulated by CBER of the FDA under medical device authorities, and is the only FDA-approved cultured epidermal autograft product available for large total surface area burns. Epicel was designated as a HUD in 1998 and an HDE application for the product was submitted in 1999. HUDs are devices that are intended for diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 8,000 individuals annually in the U.S., and certain HUDs are restricted by the amount which a manufacturer may charge for its use.

Epicel is not price-restricted in this manner because on February 18, 2016, the FDA approved our HDE supplement to revise the labeled indications of use for Epicel to specifically include pediatric patients, thus allowing Epicel to be sold for profit. The revised product label also now specifies that the probable benefit of Epicel, mainly related to survival, was demonstrated in two Epicel clinical experience databases and a physician-sponsored study comparing outcomes in patients with large burns treated with Epicel relative to standard care. Our burn care field force consists of individual sales and clinical representatives that regularly engage with our target audience. The team is divided into geographic regions, each managed by a Regional Manager and led by a Vice President of National Burn Care Sales.

NexoBrid

Our portfolio of commercial-stage products now includes NexoBrid (anacaulase-bcdb), a topically-administered biological product containing proteolytic enzymes. The FDA approved NexoBrid on December 28, 2022, and the product indicated for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full thickness thermal burns. Following NexoBrid’s approval we immediately began cross-functional commercial launch activities for the product, including education, training, and engagement activities. We began U.S. commercial sales of NexoBrid in September 2023.

NexoBrid is approved in the European Union (“EU”) and other international markets and has been designated as an orphan biologic in the U.S., EU and other international markets. NexoBrid has the potential to change the standard of care for eschar removal with respect to hospitalized burn patients and treat a significant addressable market in the U.S. With respect to NexoBrid, of the approximately 40,000 people that are hospitalized in the U.S. each year for burn-related injuries, the majority, over 30,000, have thermal burns and will likely require some level of eschar removal. NexoBrid’s FDA approval expands our burn care franchise’s total addressable market, which will permit us to treat a significantly larger segment of hospitalized burn patients than with Epicel alone. The expansion of our target addressable market supports a broader commercial footprint, and we believe that this may help drive both increased NexoBrid use as well as increased Epicel awareness throughout the burn care space. The commercial launch of NexoBrid is well underway.

In May 2019, we entered into exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound to commercialize NexoBrid in North America. The manufacturing process for NexoBrid is conducted by MediWound, primarily at manufacturing locations in Israel. Certain raw materials utilized in NexoBrid’s manufacture, including the supply of the active ingredient bromelain are obtained from Taiwan.

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Results of Operations

The following is a summary of our consolidated results of operations:

Comparison of the Periods Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Total Revenue

Revenue by product is as follows:

Total revenue increase for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022, was driven primarily by MACI volume and price growth and the launch of NexoBrid after its commercial availability during the third quarter of 2023. In the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, NexoBrid revenue was associated with the delivery of NexoBrid to BARDA for emergency response preparedness.

Seasonality. As a result of the uncertainty and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shifts of timing in some revenue, our historically observable seasonality of MACI revenues has been impacted or obscured in 2022 and 2023 and potentially beyond. At this juncture, the pandemic’s effects on our business and results of operations have largely moderated, although there continues to be a level of uncertainty whether MACI seasonality will return to pre-pandemic patterns. In the last five years through 2023, MACI sales volumes from the first through the fourth quarter on average represented 20% (18%-22% range), 22% (16%-24% range), 23% (21%-26% range) and 35% (33%-38% range) respectively, of total annual volumes. Historically, MACI orders are normally stronger in the fourth quarter due to several factors including the satisfaction by patients of insurance deductible limits and the time of year patients prefer to start rehabilitation. Due to the low incidence and variable occurrence of severe burns, Epicel revenue has inherent variability from quarter-to-quarter and does not exhibit significant seasonality.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, driven by higher MACI volume and price growth.

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Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes research and development expenses, which include materials, professional fees and an allocation of employee-related salary and fringe benefit costs for our research and development projects:

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $21.0 million, compared to $19.9 million for 2022. The increase is primarily due to $1.6 million of professional services largely related to the MACI arthroscopic development program costs in 2023, a $0.7 million increase in headcount and employee expenses and lower reimbursement of expenses from MediWound related to the NexoBrid BLA resubmission that occured in the first half of 2022. partially offset by lower stock compensation expense.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $121.0 million, compared to $106.9 million for 2022. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to a $8.1 million increase in headcount and employee expenses, an increase of $3.3 million associated with the Burlington lease which commenced in June of 2023, and additional travel and in person events across the commercial organization, partially offset by lower stock compensation expense.

Total Other Income

The change in total other income for the year ended December 31, 2023, was due primarily to fluctuations in the rates of return on our investments in various marketable debt securities partially offset by interest expense related to our Revolving Credit Agreement.

Income Tax Expense

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we recorded $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of income tax expense as a result of state income taxes primarily due to the elimination of the option to deduct research and development expenditures immediately in the year incurred and instead amortize such expenditures over five years for tax purposes. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on all of our net deferred tax assets.

Beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the option to deduct research and development expenditures immediately in the year incurred and requires taxpayers to amortize such expenditures over five years for tax purposes. While the most significant impact of this provision is to the year ended December 31, 2022, the tax year in which the provision took effect, the impact will decline annually over the five-year amortization period.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense is summarized in the following table:

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The decrease in stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2023, is due primarily to fluctuations in stock prices and the mix of service-based options and restricted stock units, which impacts the fair value of the options and restricted stock units awarded and the expense recognized in the period.

Comparison of the Periods Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

For a comparison of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:

For a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources related to our cash flow activities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023.

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Our cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash totaled $86.9 million, short-term investments totaled $40.5 million and long-term investments totaled $25.3 million as of December 31, 2023. The $35.3 million of net cash provided by operations in 2023, was primarily the result of non-cash charges of $32.3 million related to stock compensation expense, $6.1 million in operating lease amortization and $4.6 million in depreciation and amortization expense, offset by a net loss of $3.2 million and a net decrease of $4.1 million related to movements in our working capital accounts. The overall decreases in cash from our working capital accounts were primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable due to an increase in sales volume, offset by a decrease in inventory due to usage for production needs, an increase of accounts payable and accrued expenses due to timing of payments and receipts of tenant improvement allowances which exceeded payments on operating leases amortization.

Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $51.1 million, short-term investments totaled $68.5 million and long-term investments totaled $20.0 million as of December 31, 2022. The $17.7 million of net cash provided by operations in 2022, was primarily the result of non-cash charges of $37.2 million related to stock compensation expense, $4.2 million in operating lease amortization and $4.0 million in depreciation and amortization expense, offset by a net loss of $16.7 million and a net decrease of $11.2 million related to movements in our working capital accounts. The overall decreases in cash from our working capital accounts were primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable due to an increase in sales volume, an increase in inventory due to increased production needs and payments on operating leases, offset by an increase of accounts payable and accrued expenses due to timing of payments.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2023 was the result of $55.2 million in investment purchases, a $7.5 million regulatory milestone payment to MediWound resulting from the FDA’s approval of the NexoBrid BLA, and $20.0 million of property and equipment purchases primarily for construction in process related to the Burlington Lease partially offset by $79.6 million of investment sales and maturities.

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2022 was the result of $69.6 million in investments purchases and $7.6 million of property and equipment purchases primarily for manufacturing upgrades, partially offset by $40.9 million of investment sales and maturities through December 31, 2022.

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Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2023 was the result of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the employee stock purchase plan of $6.0 million, partially offset by the payment of employee withholding taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units of $2.3 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was the result of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the employee stock purchase plan of $3.7 million, partially offset by the payment of employee withholding taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units of $1.5 million and payments of debt issuance costs of $1.1 million.

Liquidity

Since our acquisition of MACI and Epicel in 2014, our primary focus has been to invest in our existing commercial business with the goal of growing revenue. We have raised significant funds in order to advance and complete our product development and product life-cycle management programs and to market and commercialize our products, including NexoBrid. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through cash received through MACI, Epicel and NexoBrid sales, debt, and public and private sales of our equity securities. We generated $35.3 million in operating cash flows during 2023 and we may finance our operations through the sales of equity securities, revolver borrowings or other debt financings.

We believe that our current cash on hand, cash equivalents, investments, and available borrowing capacity will be sufficient to support our current operations through at least 12 months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Although the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have largely moderated in recent months, our business and operations may be adversely affected in the future if conditions were to worsen. Our actual cash requirements may differ from projections and will depend on many factors, including the level and pace of future research and development efforts, the scope and results of ongoing and potential clinical trials, the costs involved in filing, prosecuting and enforcing patents, the need for additional manufacturing capacity, competing technological and market developments, global macroeconomic conditions, costs associated with possible acquisitions or development of complementary business activities, and the cost to market our products.

Sources of Capital

On August 27, 2021, we entered into a Sales Agreement with Leerink Partners (f/k/a SVB Leerink LLC), as sales agent, pursuant to which we may offer and sell up to $200.0 million of shares of our common stock, no par value per share (“ATM Shares”). The ATM Shares to be offered and sold under the Sales Agreement will be issued and sold pursuant to an automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-259119) filed by us on August 27, 2021, which expires three years from the filing date. We also filed a prospectus supplement relating to the offering and sale of the ATM Shares on August 27, 2021. We are not obligated to make any sales of ATM Shares, and Leerink Partners is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the ATM Shares under the Sales Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, we have sold no shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement.

On July 29, 2022, we entered into a $150.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit agreement by and among the Company, the other loan parties thereto, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). We have no immediate plans to borrow under the Revolving Credit Agreement, but we may use the facility for working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2023, there are no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and we are in compliance with all applicable covenant requirements. See Note 8, “Revolving Credit Agreement” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details.

Contractual Obligations

We lease facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Burlington, Massachusetts. The Cambridge facilities include clean rooms, laboratories for MACI and Epicel manufacturing and office space. We also pay for use of two offsite warehouse spaces and lease computer equipment. Total remaining obligations related to operating leases are $157.1 million, with $20.7 million of tenant improvement allowances allowed for, as of December 31, 2023.

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In April 2023, in connection with the Burlington Lease, we entered into a construction escrow agreement (the “Construction Escrow Agreement”) with the facility’s landlord and an escrow agent. Pursuant to the terms of the Construction Escrow Agreement, in April 2023 we began funding into an escrow account maintained by the escrow agent a portion of our share of tenant improvement construction costs at the facility, which will be designated as restricted cash. At the same time, the facility’s landlord began funding a portion of its tenant improvement allowance through a separate escrow account. To date, we have transferred into our escrow account 50% of our required cost amount, or approximately $28.3 million. We anticipate funding the remaining 50% of our required cost amount in early 2024. Additionally, and in order to support the expansion of our autologous cell manufacturing operations at the new facility in Burlington, we plan to invest in the acquisition and installation of certain specialized manufacturing and laboratory equipment.

On July 1, 2023, we renewed our long-term supply agreement with Matricel for the supply of ACI-Maix collagen membranes used in the manufacture of MACI. Under the terms of the Matricel Supply Agreement, we have committed to annual minimum purchase values totaling approximately €12.5 million over the eight-year term.

Our total purchase commitments consist of minimum purchase amounts of raw materials and finished goods used in our cell manufacturing process to manufacture our marketed cell therapy products and total $19.3 million as of December 31, 2023, as well as usage of offsite warehouse space. The total remaining contractual obligations related to the warehouse agreement are $3.8 million as of December 31, 2023. See Note 15, “Commitments and Contingencies” in our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further information.

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that could materially impact the consolidated financial statements and disclosures based on varying assumptions. We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable; however, actual results and the timing of the recognition of such amounts could differ from these estimates.

The following is a list of accounting policies that are most significant to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and/or that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Revenue Recognition and Net Product Sales

Revenue from sales to a customer is recognized in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue Recognition. We recognize product revenue from sales to a customer following the five-step model in ASC 606: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation. Under this revenue standard, we recognize revenue when our customer obtains control of the promised goods, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods.

MACI Implants

We contract with two specialty pharmacies, Orsini Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (“Orsini”) and AllCare Plus Pharmacy, Inc. (“AllCare”) to distribute MACI in a manner in which we retain the credit and collection risk from the end customer. We pay each specialty pharmacy a fee in each instance when it dispenses MACI for use in treating a patient. Both Orsini and AllCare perform collection activities to collect payment from customers. In addition, we sell MACI directly to hospitals pursuant to an agreed upon purchase order and to a distributor, DMS Pharmaceutical Group, Inc. (“DMS”) at a contracted rate for the treatment of patients at military facilities throughout the U.S. We engage a third party to provide services in connection with a patient support program to manage patient cases and to ensure that complete and correct billing information is provided to the insurers and hospitals.

Prior authorization and confirmation of coverage level by the patient’s private insurance plan, hospital or government payer is a prerequisite to the shipment of product to a patient. We recognize product revenue from sales of all MACI implants upon delivery at which time the customer obtains control of the implant and the claim is billable. The total consideration which we expect to collect in exchange for MACI implants (the “Transaction Price”) may be fixed or variable. Direct sales to hospitals or distributors are recorded at a contracted price, and there are typically no forms of variable consideration.

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When we sell MACI through its specialty pharmacies, we are typically reimbursed by a third-party insurer or government payer, subject to a patient co-pay amount. Reimbursements from third-party insurers and government payers vary by patient and payer and are based on either contracted rates, publicly available rates, fee schedules or past payer precedents. Net product revenue is recognized net of estimated contractual allowances, which considers historical collection experience from both the payer and patient, denial rates and the terms of our contractual arrangements. We estimate expected collections for these transactions using the portfolio approach. We record a reduction to revenue at the time of sale for the estimate of the amount of consideration that will not be collected. In addition, potential credit risk exposure has been evaluated for our accounts receivable in accordance with ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. We assess risk and determine a loss percentage by pooling accounts receivable based on similar risk characteristics. The loss percentage is calculated through the use of forecasts that are based on current and historical economic and financial information.

Changes in estimates of the Transaction Price are recorded through revenue in the period in which such change occurs and relate primarily to changes in the initial expected reimbursement or collection expectation upon completion of the billing claims process for MACI implants that occurred in a prior period. A 50 basis points change to the estimated uncollectible percentage could result in approximately $0.4 million decrease or increase in the revenue recognized for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception, in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Leases. All operating lease commitments with a lease term greater than 12 months are recognized as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and liabilities, on a discounted basis on the balance sheet. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. We primarily enter into lease agreements for manufacturing and office space, warehouses space, and other computer-related equipment. The leases have varying terms, some of which may include options to extend. Certain of our lease agreements include lease payments that are adjusted periodically for an index or rate. The leases are initially measured using the present value of the projected payments adjusted for the index or rate in effect at the commencement date. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

ROU assets represent our right to control the use of an explicitly or implicitly identified fixed asset for a period of time and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Control of an underlying asset is conveyed to us if we obtain the rights to direct the use of and to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from using the underlying asset.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are comprised of fixed payments. Our leases contain non-lease components and activities that do not transfer a good or service to us which were not considered to be components of the contract and therefore were not included in the net ROU assets or lease liabilities.

The lease term for all of our leases include the non-cancellable period of the lease plus any additional periods covered by either an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease that is reasonably certain to exercise, or an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease controlled by the lessor.

Stock-Based Compensation

The accounting for stock-based compensation requires us to determine the fair value of common stock issued in the form of stock option awards and restricted stock units. The fair value of restricted stock units held by employees and non-employee directors is determined based on the fair value of our common stock on the date of the grant. We use the value of our common stock at the date of the grant in the calculation of the fair value of our share-based awards. The fair value of stock options held by our employees and non-employee directors is determined using a Black-Scholes option valuation method, which is a valuation technique that is acceptable for share-based payment accounting. Key assumptions in determining fair value include volatility, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield and expected term. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent our best estimates; however, these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and different assumptions are used, the stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. In addition, we estimate the expected forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those stock options expected to vest over the service period. We estimate the forfeiture rate considering the historical experience of our stock-based awards. If the actual forfeiture rate is different from the estimate, we adjust the expense accordingly. We record the expense for stock options and restricted stock units using a graded-vesting attribution method.

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Tax Valuation Allowance

A valuation allowance is recorded if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized based on the weight of available evidence, both positive and negative. Due to our three-year cumulative loss position and history of operating losses, a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets was considered necessary. We will continue to monitor our cumulative loss position and forecasts and reevaluate the need for a valuation allowance as it could be reversed in future periods.

This summary of significant accounting policies should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and this discussion of our results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements located under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding recently issued accounting standards that may have a significant impact on our business.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

Vericel Corporation is a fully-integrated, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and a leader in advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets. We currently market two FDA-approved autologous cell therapy products and also market one specialty biologic product in the U.S. MACI® is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. Epicel® is a permanent skin replacement HUD for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent of TBSA. We also hold an exclusive license from MediWound for North American rights to NexoBrid (anacaulase-bcdb). On December 28, 2022, the FDA approved a BLA for NexoBrid, granting a license for commercial use in the U.S. NexoBrid is a topically-administered biological product containing proteolytic enzymes and is indicated for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full thickness thermal burns. We expect to begin commercial sales of NexoBrid in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2023.

See “Risk Factors - “Our success depends, in part, on the commercial success of NexoBrid for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness thermal burns following FDA approval of our Biologics License Application.”

COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the spread of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) to be a pandemic. This pandemic has contributed to an economic downturn on a global scale, as well as significant volatility in the financial markets. Since the pandemic’s inception, and at times, there has been significant volatility in our results of operations on a quarterly basis due to the widespread and periodic cancellation or delay of elective MACI surgical procedures throughout the U.S., staffing shortages and our ability to access customers.

At the outset of the pandemic, we put in place a comprehensive workplace protection plan, which instituted protective measures in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our workplace protection plan has closely followed fluctuating guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and has complied with applicable federal and state law. To date, we have been successful in sustaining our operations and providing our products to patients in need. Although most of the protective measures initially put into place are no longer required because of the pandemic’s waning effects, we continue to review our policies and procedures regularly, including our workplace protection plan, and we may take additional actions in the future to the extent required.

We continue to manufacture MACI and Epicel and have begun efforts to commercialize NexoBrid in North America following the FDA’s approval of the submitted BLA on December 28, 2022. We maintain a significant safety stock of all key raw materials, and we do not expect that current global supply chain interruptions will impact our ongoing manufacturing operations of MACI and Epicel. Additionally, although we have not experienced material shipping delays, significant disruption of air travel could result in the inability to deliver MACI or Epicel final products to customer sites within appropriate timeframes, which could adversely impact our business. Currently, we are not aware of COVID-19 related impacts on our distributors, operations or third-party service providers’ ability to manage patient cases. With the recent FDA approval of NexoBrid, MediWound has begun preparations to manufacture and supply sufficient quantities of NexoBrid to meet customer demand. To date, MediWound has not indicated that it expects pandemic-related disruptions to affect its ability to manufacture and supply NexoBrid.

We believe that a resurgence of COVID-19 because of emerging variants or other factors could result in additional disruptions that could impact our business and operations in the future, including intermittent restrictions on the ability of our personnel to travel and access customers for selling, marketing, training, case support and product development feedback, delays in approvals by regulatory bodies, delays in product development efforts, and additional government requirements or other incremental mitigation efforts that may further impact our capacity to manufacture, sell and support the use of our products.

For a discussion of additional risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, please see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”.

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The War in Ukraine

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the related sanctions and other penalties imposed by countries across the globe against Russia are continuing to create substantial uncertainty in the global economy and have resulted in heightened inflation and supply chain disruptions. While we do not have operations in Russia or Ukraine and do not have exposure to distributors, or third-party service providers in Russia or Ukraine, we are unable to predict the ultimate impact that these actions will have on the global economy or on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows as of the date of these consolidated financial statements.

Manufacturing

We have a cell manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is used for U.S. manufacturing and distribution of MACI and Epicel. The manufacturing process for NexoBrid is conducted by MediWound, primarily at manufacturing locations in Israel. Certain raw materials utilized in NexoBrid’s manufacture, including the supply of the active ingredient bromelain, are obtained from Taiwan.

Product Portfolio

Our marketed products include two FDA-approved autologous cell therapies: MACI, a third-generation autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults; and Epicel, a permanent skin replacement for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent TBSA and a specialty biologic: NexoBrid, a biological orphan product containing proteolytic enzymes indicated for eschar removal in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness burn. Both autologous cell therapy products are currently manufactured and marketed in the U.S. In addition, we have entered into exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound to commercialize NexoBrid in North America. On December 28, 2022, the FDA approved a BLA for NexoBrid, granting a license for commercial use in the U.S. NexoBrid is a topically-administered biological product containing proteolytic enzymes and is indicated for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full thickness thermal burns. We expect to begin commercial sales of NexoBrid in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2023.

MACI

MACI is a third-generation ACI product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults.

Our target audience of U.S. physicians is approximately 5,000 orthopedic surgeons and is divided into two segments: a group of orthopedic surgeons who self-identify and/or have a formal specialty as sports medicine physicians, and a subpopulation of general orthopedic surgeons who perform a high volume of cartilage repair procedures. As of the date of this report, we have 75 MACI sales representatives to enable the sales force to reach our target audience. Most private payers have a medical policy that covers treatment with MACI with the top 30 largest commercial payers having a formal medical policy for MACI or ACI in general. With respect to private commercial payers that have not yet approved a medical policy for MACI, we often obtain approval on a case-by-case basis.

MACI is currently implanted into the patient’s cartilage defect through an open surgical procedure. We are currently evaluating the potential for the arthroscopic delivery of MACI to the cartilage defect – a procedure in which a surgeon can evaluate, prepare and treat the cartilage defect under direct vision using specialized instruments delivered through a number of smaller incisions or portals. The arthroscopic delivery of MACI could increase the ease of MACI’s use for physicians and reduce both the length of the procedure and a patient’s post-operative pain and recovery. We have designed and are currently developing novel and specialized instruments to be used in and help facilitate such a procedure. We have recently discussed with the FDA a non-clinical regulatory strategy to support the potential inclusion of arthroscopic delivery in MACI’s approved labeling. Specifically, following a Type C meeting with the FDA, we are now planning to initiate a human factors validation study, coupled with published literature, to support expanding the MACI label to include arthroscopic administration of MACI for the treatment of cartilage defects of the knee, and we now anticipate an accelerated potential commercial launch of arthroscopic MACI in 2024. Based on the results of conducted market research, we believe the addition of an arthroscopic MACI delivery option could result in an expansion of the number of surgeons performing MACI procedures, and the number of MACI procedures conducted in the U.S. each year. This assessment is further supported by European studies comparing arthroscopic MACI to the open-knee approach, that showed arthroscopic delivery of the MACI implant to be less invasive, potentially resulting in less surgical time, less postoperative pain, less surgical site morbidity, and faster surgical recovery.

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Additional studies also showed improved clinical and radiologic outcomes over a two year period in patients undergoing arthroscopic MACI.

We also are evaluating the feasibility and potential market opportunity involved in delivering MACI treatment to patients suffering from cartilage damage in the ankle. We believe that this potential lifecycle enhancement and indication expansion for MACI will require the conduct of an additional randomized clinical trial concerning the product’s use in the ankle. Earlier this year we received feedback from the FDA on our clinical development program for MACI to treat cartilage injuries in the ankle without the need for a pre-IND meeting as originally proposed, and our team is actively working to finalize our clinical plan/protocol.

Epicel

Epicel is a permanent skin replacement for deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent TBSA. Epicel is regulated by CBER of the FDA under medical device authorities, and is the only FDA-approved cultured epidermal autograft product available for large total surface area burns. Epicel was designated as a HUD in 1998 and an HDE application for the product was submitted in 1999. HUDs are devices that are intended for diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 8,000 individuals annually in the U.S. Under an HDE approval, a HUD cannot be sold for an amount that exceeds the cost of research and development, fabrication and distribution unless certain conditions are met. A HUD is eligible to be sold for profit after receiving HDE approval if the device meets certain eligibility criteria, including where the device is intended for the treatment of a disease or condition that occurs in pediatric patients and such device is labeled for use in pediatric patients. If the FDA determines that a HUD meets the eligibility criteria, the HUD is permitted to be sold for profit so long as the number of devices distributed in any calendar year does not exceed the Annual Distribution Number (“ADN”). The ADN is defined as the number of devices reasonably needed to treat a population of 8,000 individuals per year in the U.S.

On February 18, 2016, the FDA approved our HDE supplement to revise the labeled indications of use for Epicel to specifically include pediatric patients. The revised product label also now specifies that the probable benefit of Epicel, mainly related to survival, was demonstrated in two Epicel clinical experience databases and a physician-sponsored study comparing outcomes in patients with large burns treated with Epicel relative to standard care. Because of the change in the label to specifically include use in pediatric patients, Epicel is no longer subject to the HDE profit restrictions. In conjunction with adding the pediatric labeling and meeting the pediatric eligibility criteria, the FDA has determined the ADN number for Epicel to be 360,400 which is approximately 40 times larger than the volume of grafts sold in 2022. Our burn care field force is currently comprised of approximately 22 individuals, serving in account manager or sales representative roles, as well as two Regional Managers led by a Vice President of National Sales.

NexoBrid

Our portfolio of commercial products now includes NexoBrid (anacaulase-bcdb), a topically-administered biological product containing proteolytic enzymes, which was approved by the FDA on December 28, 2022, and is indicated for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full thickness thermal burns. We have entered into exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound to commercialize NexoBrid in North America.

NexoBrid is approved in the European Union (“EU”) and other international markets and has been designated as an orphan biologic in the U.S., EU and other international markets. NexoBrid has the potential to change the standard of care for eschar removal with respect to hospitalized burn patients and treat a significant addressable market in the U.S. With respect to NexoBrid, of the approximately 40,000 burn patients that are hospitalized in the U.S. each year, the majority, over 30,000, will likely require some level of eschar removal. NexoBrid’s approval expands our burn care franchise’s total addressable market, which will permit us to treat a significantly larger segment of hospitalized burn patients than with Epicel alone. The expansion of our target addressable market supports a broader commercial footprint, and we believe that this may help drive both increased NexoBrid use as well as increased Epicel awareness throughout the burn care space. With NexoBrid’s approval, our cross-functional commercial launch activities for the product are underway, including education, training and engagement activities and the deployment of additional NexoBrid account managers.

The manufacturing process for NexoBrid is conducted by MediWound, primarily at manufacturing locations in Israel. Certain raw materials utilized in NexoBrid’s manufacture, including the supply of the active ingredient bromelain are obtained from Taiwan. We expect to begin commercial sales of NexoBrid in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2023.

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Results of Operations

The following is a summary of our consolidated results of operations:

Comparison of the Periods Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

Total Revenue

Revenue by product is as follows:

Total revenue increase for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021, was driven primarily by MACI volume and price growth, offset primarily by lower Epicel volume associated with lower incidence of severe burns and lower revenue associated with the delivery of NexoBrid to BARDA for emergency response preparedness.

Seasonality. The effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted the normal seasonality of our MACI business at times since March of 2020. These effects have included, among others, periodic restrictions on the performance of elective surgical procedures throughout the country, the unavailability of physicians and/or changes to their treatment prioritizations, reductions in the levels of healthcare facility staffing and, in certain instances, the willingness or ability of patients to seek treatment and the inability of our sales representatives to call on surgeon customers. In the last five years through 2022, MACI sales volumes from the first through the fourth quarter on average represented 20% (18%-21% range), 21% (16%-24% range), 24% (21%-26% range) and 35% (33%-38% range) respectively, of total annual volumes. MACI orders are normally stronger in the fourth quarter due to several factors including the satisfaction by patients of insurance deductible limits and the time of year patients prefer to start rehabilitation. Due to the low incidence and variable occurrence of severe burns, Epicel revenue has inherent variability from quarter-to-quarter and does not exhibit significant seasonality.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, driven by higher MACI volume and price growth, offset by lower Epicel labor utilization, raw material price increases and higher external storage and manufacturing facility costs.

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Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes research and development expenses, which include materials, professional fees and an allocation of employee-related salary and fringe benefit costs for our research and development projects:

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $19.9 million, compared to $16.3 million for 2021. The increase is primarily due to an increase of $1.1 million in stock-based compensation expense, additional spend on the design of instruments to be used in connection with the potential arthroscopic delivery of MACI to the knee, if approved by the FDA, and increased headcount, partially offset by reimbursement of expenses related to the NexoBrid BLA resubmission.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $106.9 million, compared to $97.6 million for 2021. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to a $1.8 million increase in stock-based compensation expenses, incremental marketing spend for both MACI and burn care franchises, additional travel and in person events across the commercial organization in addition to higher depreciation related to the new office space in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Total Other Income

The change in total other income for the year ended December 31, 2022, was due primarily to fluctuations in the rates of return on our investments in various marketable debt securities slightly offset by interest expense related to our Revolving Credit Agreement.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

For the year-ended December 31, 2022, we recorded $0.7 million of income tax expense as a result of state income taxes primarily due to the elimination of the option to deduct research and development expenditures immediately in the year incurred and instead amortize such expenditures over five years for tax purposes, and in the same period of 2021, we recorded a state income tax benefit of $0.1 million. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on all of our net deferred tax assets.

Beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the option to deduct research and development expenditures immediately in the year incurred and requires taxpayers to amortize such expenditures over five years for tax purposes. While the most significant impact of this provision is to the year ended December 31, 2022, the tax year in which the provision took effect, the impact will decline annually over the five-year amortization period.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense is summarized in the following table:

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The increase in stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2022, is due primarily to fluctuations in stock prices which impacts the fair value of the options and restricted stock units awarded and the expense recognized in the period.

Comparison of the Periods Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

For a comparison of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2022.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:

For a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources related to our cash flow activities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2022.

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Our cash and cash equivalents totaled $51.1 million, short-term investments totaled $68.5 million and long-term investments totaled $20.0 million as of December 31, 2022. The $17.7 million of net cash provided by operations in 2022, was primarily the result of non-cash charges of $37.2 million related to stock compensation expense, $4.2 million in operating lease amortization and $4.0 million in depreciation and amortization expense, offset by a net loss of $16.7 million and a net decrease of $11.2 million related to movements in our working capital accounts. The overall decreases in cash from our working capital accounts were primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable due to an increase in sales volume, an increase in inventory due to increased production needs and payments on operating leases, offset by an increase of accounts payable and accrued expenses due to timing of payments.

Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $68.5 million, short-term investments totaled $35.1 million and long-term investments totaled $25.7 million as of December 31, 2021. The $29.0 million of net cash provided by operations in 2021, was primarily the result of non-cash charges of $34.3 million related to stock compensation expense, $4.4 million in operating lease amortization and $3.0 million in depreciation and amortization expense, offset by a net loss of $7.5 million and a net decrease of $6.2 million related to movements in our working capital accounts. The overall decreases in cash from our working capital accounts were primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable due to an increase in sales volume, an increase in inventory due to increased production needs and payments on operating leases, offset by an increase of accounts payable and accrued expenses due to timing of payments.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2022 was the result of $69.6 million in investment purchases and $7.6 million of property and equipment purchases primarily for manufacturing upgrades, offset by $40.9 million of investment sales and maturities through December 31, 2022.

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was the result of $60.0 million in investments purchases and $7.9 million of property and equipment purchases primarily for manufacturing upgrades, offset by $64.4 million of investment sales and maturities through December 31, 2021.

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Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2022 was the result of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the employee stock purchase plan of $3.7 million, partially offset by the payment of employee withholding taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units of $1.5 million and payments of debt issuance costs of $1.1 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was the result of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the employee stock purchase plan of $11.2 million, partially offset by the payment of employee withholding taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units of $1.7 million.

Liquidity

Since our acquisition of MACI and Epicel in 2014, our primary focus has been to invest in our existing commercial business with the goal of growing revenue. We have raised significant funds in order to advance and complete our product development and product life-cycle management programs and to market and commercialize our products, including NexoBrid. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through cash received through Epicel and MACI sales, debt, and public and private sales of our equity securities. We generated $17.7 million in operating cash flows during 2022 and we may finance our operations through the sales of equity securities, revolver borrowings or other debt financings.

We believe that our current cash on hand, cash equivalents, investments, and available borrowing capacity will be sufficient to support our current operations through at least 12 months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Although the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have lessened in recent months, our business and operations may be adversely affected in the future if conditions were to worsen. Our actual cash requirements may differ from projections and will depend on many factors, including any future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the level and pace of future research and development efforts, the scope and results of ongoing and potential clinical trials, the costs involved in filing, prosecuting and enforcing patents, the need for additional manufacturing capacity, competing technological and market developments, costs associated with possible acquisitions or development of complementary business activities, and the cost to market our products.

Sources of Capital

On August 27, 2021, we entered into a Sales Agreement with SVB Leerink LLC, as sales agent (“SVB Leerink”), pursuant to which we may offer and sell up to $200.0 million of shares of our common stock, no par value per share (“ATM Shares”). The ATM Shares to be offered and sold under the Sales Agreement will be issued and sold pursuant to an automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-259119) filed by us on August 27, 2021, which expires three years from the filing date. We also filed a prospectus supplement relating to the offering and sale of the ATM Shares on August 27, 2021. We are not obligated to make any sales of ATM Shares, and SVB Leerink is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the ATM Shares under the Sales Agreement. As of December 31, 2022, we have sold no shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement.

On July 29, 2022, we entered into a $150.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit agreement by and among the Company, the other loan parties thereto, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). We have no immediate plans to borrow under the Revolving Credit Agreement, but we may use the facility for working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2022, there are no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and we are in compliance with all applicable covenant requirements. See Note 8, “Revolving Credit Agreement” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details.

Contractual Obligations

We lease facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Cambridge facilities include clean rooms, laboratories for MACI and Epicel manufacturing and office space. We also pay for use of two offsite warehouse spaces and lease computer equipment. In October 2020, we amended our current lease in Cambridge to, among other provisions, extend the term until February 2032. Total remaining obligations related to the operating and finance leases are $61.1 million as of December 31, 2022. In January 2022, we entered into a new lease for approximately 126,000 square feet of to-be-constructed manufacturing, laboratory and office space in Burlington, Massachusetts. The obligations related to this lease are $98.9 million

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and the lease provides for a tenant improvement allowance of $25.1 million. See Note 5, “Leases” in our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further information.

Our purchase commitments consist of minimum purchase amounts of materials used in our cell manufacturing process to manufacture our marketed cell therapy products and total $3.4 million as of December 31, 2022, as well as usage of offsite warehouse space. The total remaining contractual obligations related to the warehouse agreement are $5.8 million as of December 31, 2022. See Note 15, “Commitments and Contingencies” in our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further information.

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that could materially impact the consolidated financial statements and disclosures based on varying assumptions. We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable; however, actual results and the timing of the recognition of such amounts could differ from these estimates.

The following is a list of accounting policies that are most significant to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and/or that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Revenue Recognition and Net Product Sales

Revenue from sales to a customer (distributor, hospital or other party) is recognized in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue Recognition. We recognize product revenue from sales to a customer (distributor or hospital) following the five-step model in ASC 606: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation. Under this revenue standard, we recognize revenue when our customer obtains control of the promised goods, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods.

MACI Implants

We have engaged a third-party services provider to provide the patient support program to manage patient cases and to ensure complete and accurate billing information is provided to the insurers and hospitals, to facilitate reimbursement.

Most cases in which MACI is used require prior authorization and confirmation of coverage by the patient’s insurance plan or government payers prior to the shipment of product to a hospital or an ambulatory surgical center. We recognize product revenues from sales of all MACI implants upon delivery at which time the customer obtains control of the implant and the claim is billable. The total consideration which we expect to collect in exchange for MACI implants (the transaction price) may be fixed or variable. Direct sales to hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers are recorded at a contracted price, there are typically no forms of variable consideration.

When we sell MACI the patient is responsible for payment; however, we are typically reimbursed by a third-party insurer or government payer, subject to a patient co-pay amount. Reimbursements from third-party insurers and government payers vary by patient and payer and are based on either contracted rates, publicly available rates or a fee schedule. Net product revenue is recognized net of estimated contractual allowances, which considers historical collection experience from both the payer and patient, denial rates and the terms of our contractual arrangements. We estimate expected collections for these transactions using the portfolio approach. We record a reduction to revenue at the time of sale for the estimate of the amount of consideration that will not be collected. In addition, potential credit risk exposure has been evaluated for our accounts receivable in accordance with ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. We assess risk and determine a loss percentage by pooling accounts receivable based on similar risk characteristics. The loss percentage is calculated through the use of forecasts that are based on current and historical economic and financial information.

Changes in estimates of the transaction price are recorded through revenue in the period in which such change occurs. Changes to the estimate of the amount of consideration that will not be collected could have a material impact to the revenue

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recognized. A 50 basis points change to the estimated uncollectible percentage could result in approximately $0.4 million decrease or increase in the revenue recognized for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception, in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Leases. All operating lease commitments with a lease term greater than 12 months are recognized as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and liabilities, on a discounted basis on the balance sheet. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. We primarily enter into lease agreements for manufacturing and office space, warehouses space, and other computer-related equipment. The leases have varying terms, some of which may include options to extend. Certain of our lease agreements include lease payments that are adjusted periodically for an index or rate. The leases are initially measured using the present value of the projected payments adjusted for the index or rate in effect at the commencement date. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

ROU assets represent our right to control the use of an explicitly or implicitly identified fixed asset for a period of time and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Control of an underlying asset is conveyed to us if we obtain the rights to direct the use of and to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from using the underlying asset.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are comprised of fixed payments. Our leases contain non-lease components and activities that do not transfer a good or service to us which were not considered to be components of the contract and therefore were not included in the net ROU assets or lease liabilities.

The lease term for all of our leases include the non-cancellable period of the lease plus any additional periods covered by either an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease that is reasonably certain to exercise, or an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease controlled by the lessor.

Stock-Based Compensation

The accounting for stock-based compensation requires us to determine the fair value of common stock issued in the form of stock option awards and restricted stock units. The fair value of restricted stock units held by the employees is determined based on the fair value of our common stock on the date of the grant. We use the value of our common stock at the date of the grant in the calculation of the fair value of our share-based awards. The fair value of stock options held by our employees is determined using a Black-Scholes option valuation method, which is a valuation technique that is acceptable for share-based payment accounting. Key assumptions in determining fair value include volatility, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield and expected term. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent our best estimates; however, these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and different assumptions are used, the stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. In addition, we are required to estimate the expected forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those stock options expected to vest over the service period. We estimate the forfeiture rate considering the historical experience of our stock-based awards. If the actual forfeiture rate is different from the estimate, we adjust the expense accordingly. We record the expense for stock options and restricted stock units using a graded-vesting attribution method.

Tax Valuation Allowance

A valuation allowance is recorded if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized based on the weight of available evidence, both positive and negative. Due to our three-year cumulative loss position and history of operating losses, a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets was considered necessary. We will continue to monitor our cumulative loss position and forecasts and reevaluate the need for a valuation allowance as it could be reversed in future periods.

This summary of significant accounting policies should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and this discussion of our results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

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Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements located under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding recently issued accounting standards that may have a significant impact on our business.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Safe Harbor Statement under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Our reports, filings and other public announcements contain certain statements that describe our management’s beliefs concerning future business conditions, plans and prospects, growth opportunities and the outlook for our business and the biopharmaceutical industry based upon information currently available. Such statements are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Wherever possible, we have identified these forward-looking statements by words such as “will,” “may,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “trends,” “opportunity,” “current,” “intention,” “position,” “assume,” “potential,” “outlook,” “remain,” “continue,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “target,” “achieve,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” and similar words or phrases, or future or conditional verbs such as “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions our management believes are reasonable. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements, including, among others, the risks and uncertainties listed in this report under “Item 1A Risk Factors” and in our other reports filed with the SEC from time-to-time.

Because our forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change, actual results could be materially different and any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and can be affected by assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors mentioned in our discussion in this report will be important in determining future results. New factors emerge from time-to-time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors will arise. Consequently, we cannot assure you that our expectations or forecasts expressed in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any of our forward-looking or other statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Overview

Vericel Corporation is a fully-integrated, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and is a leader in advanced therapies for sports medicine and severe burn care markets. We currently market two FDA-approved autologous cell therapy products in the U.S. MACI® is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. Epicel® is a permanent skin replacement HUD for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent of TBSA. We also hold an exclusive license from MediWound for North American rights to NexoBrid®, a registration-stage biological orphan product for the debridement of severe thermal burns. In 2020, MediWound submitted to the FDA a BLA seeking the approval of NexoBrid for eschar removal (debridement) in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness thermal burns. The FDA accepted the BLA for filing and assigned a PDUFA target date of June 29, 2021. Thereafter, on June 29, 2021, MediWound received a complete response letter from the FDA regarding the BLA through which the FDA communicated to MediWound that it had completed its review of the BLA, as amended, and had determined that it could not approve the BLA in its present form. We continue to work with MediWound, BARDA and the FDA to address the issues identified by the FDA, to prepare and submit a BLA resubmission to the FDA, and to seek the potential approval of NexoBrid.

See “Risk Factors - NexoBrid’s approval in the U.S. for the treatment of severe burns may be further delayed, or it may not be approved for use in the U.S. and other North American markets at all.”

COVID-19

The ongoing pandemic caused by the spread of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has created significant disruptions to the U.S. and global economy and has contributed to significant volatility in financial markets. The global impact of the pandemic has fluctuated since early 2020. At times, many state, local and national governments – including those in Massachusetts and Michigan, where our operations are located – have responded by issuing, extending and supplementing orders requiring quarantines, restrictions on travel, and the mandatory closure of certain non-essential businesses, among other actions. In the U.S., the status and application of these orders have varied on a state-by-state basis since the early days of the pandemic. Many of the restrictions have been periodically updated as infection rates in the U.S. have risen and fallen, as new virus variants have emerged, as vaccines have been distributed and administered, and as world health leaders learn more about

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the virus, its transmission pathway and who is most at risk. Because Vericel is deemed an essential business, we were exempted from government orders requiring the closure of workplaces and the cessation of business operations.

Notwithstanding being an essential business, our business and operations at times have been adversely impacted by the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, as a result of periodic restrictions placed on the performance of elective surgical procedures, Vericel experienced a significant increase in cancellations of scheduled MACI procedures, as well as a slowdown in new MACI orders during March and April of 2020. The widespread suspension of surgical procedures impacted our business and operations during the first and second quarters of 2020. The level and degree of restriction on elective surgeries, on the ability of patients to seek treatment and on U.S. business operations generally fluctuated throughout 2020 as COVID-19 infection rates rose and fell during the summer months and into the autumn. By the first quarter of 2021, the pandemic’s effects on our MACI business had largely dissipated. During the summer of 2021, however, the pandemic’s direct and ancillary effects again began to cause some disruption to our MACI business. Following the cessation of COVID-19-related travel restrictions in many parts of the U.S. and the availability of vaccinations in May and June 2021, some MACI patients postponed or delayed treatment – opting instead to take vacation and/or travel. Further, surges of new COVID-19 cases during the second half of 2021 caused by the spread of the “Delta” and “Omicron” variants again caused disruptions to health care networks including restrictions on the performance of elective surgical procedures, the availability of physicians and/or their treatment prioritizations, the level of healthcare facility staffing and, in some instances, the willingness or ability of patients to seek treatment. Consequently, and notwithstanding the widespread distribution of vaccines, these factors contributed to a slowdown of MACI procedures during the third and fourth quarters of 2021. Although hospitals are now better prepared for subsequent surges in COVID-19 patients, the risk remains that regional or local restrictions could again be placed on the performance of elective surgical procedures if the number of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. were to continue to rise, or if new or existing COVID-19 variants render current vaccine treatments ineffective.

Because Epicel is used almost exclusively in an emergent setting by burn centers and surgeons throughout the country, Epicel revenue and procedure volumes have been less affected by the pandemic. Nevertheless, large burns and burn admissions can be affected by restrictions on human activity resulting from more severe government lockdown orders.

At the outset of the pandemic, we put in place a comprehensive workplace protection plan, which instituted protective measures in response to COVID-19. Our workplace protection plan has closely followed guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and has complied with applicable federal and state law. To date, Vericel has been successful in sustaining its operations and providing MACI and Epicel to patients in need. We continue to review our policies and procedures regularly, including our workplace protection plan, as the pandemic evolves and we may take additional actions to the extent required.

We continue to manufacture MACI and Epicel and we are maintaining a significant safety stock of all key raw materials. We do not expect current supply chain interruptions will impact our ongoing manufacturing operations. With respect to customer delivery, MACI final product has an established shelf life of six (6) days and established shipping shelf life of three (3) days. Currently, MACI is picked up by courier and shipped by commercial air or ground transportation to customer surgical sites. Epicel final product has an established shelf life of 48 hours and is hand carried to customer hospitals by courier. Transportation is primarily by commercial or charter airline. Although we have not experienced material shipping delays or materially increased costs to date, significant disruption of air travel could result in the inability to deliver MACI or Epicel final products to customer sites within appropriate timeframes, which could further adversely impact our business. At this time, we are not aware of COVID-19-related impacts on our distributors, operations or third-party service providers’ ability to manage patient cases.

We believe it is possible that we could continue to experience variable impacts on our business, should the current resurgence of COVID-19 in various areas of the U.S. continue for an extended period, or should a new resurgence occur in the future. Measures taken to limit the impact of COVID-19 at the international, national and local levels, including the availability and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, shelter-in-place orders, social distancing measures, travel bans and restrictions, and business and government shutdowns, may again create significant negative economic impacts on a global basis. Given that uncertainty, we cannot reliably estimate the extent to which the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may continue to impact utilization and revenue of our products in 2022 and beyond.

For a discussion of additional risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, please see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”.

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Manufacturing

We have a cell-manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts which is used for U.S. manufacturing and distribution of MACI and Epicel.

Product Portfolio

Our marketed products include two FDA-approved autologous cell therapies: MACI, a third-generation autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults and Epicel, a permanent skin replacement for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30 percent of TBSA. Both products are currently marketed in the U.S. In addition, we have entered into exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound to commercialize NexoBrid in North America, if approved. As previously mentioned, MediWound has submitted a BLA to the FDA, seeking commercial approval of NexoBrid. On June 29, 2021, we announced that MediWound had received a complete response letter from the FDA regarding the BLA, through which the FDA communicated to MediWound that it had completed its review of the BLA, as amended, and had determined that it could not approve the BLA in its present form. We continue to work with MediWound, BARDA and the FDA to address the issues identified by the FDA, to prepare and submit a BLA resubmission to the FDA, and to seek the potential approval of NexoBrid.

MACI

MACI is a third-generation ACI product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults.

Our target audience of U.S. physicians is approximately 5,000 orthopedic surgeons and is divided into two segments: a group of orthopedic surgeons who self-identify and/or have a formal specialty as sports medicine physicians, and a subpopulation of general orthopedic surgeons who perform a high volume of cartilage repair procedures. As of the date of this report, we have 76 MACI sales representatives to enable the sales force to reach our target audience. Most private payers have a medical policy that covers treatment with MACI with the top 30 largest commercial payers having a formal medical policy for MACI or ACI in general. With respect to private commercial payers that have not yet approved a medical policy for MACI, we often obtain approval on a case-by-case basis for medically appropriate cases.

Epicel

Epicel is a permanent skin replacement for deep-dermal or full-thickness burns greater than or equal to 30 percent of TBSA. Epicel is regulated by CBER of the FDA under medical device authorities, and is the only FDA-approved cultured epidermal autograft product available for large total surface area burns. Epicel was designated as a HUD in 1998 and an HDE application for the product was submitted in 1999. HUDs are devices that are intended for diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 8,000 individuals annually in the U.S. Under an HDE approval, a HUD cannot be sold for an amount that exceeds the cost of research and development, fabrication and distribution unless certain conditions are met. A HUD is eligible to be sold for profit after receiving HDE approval if the device meets certain eligibility criteria, including where the device is intended for the treatment of a disease or condition that occurs in pediatric patients and such device is labeled for use in pediatric patients. If the FDA determines that a HUD meets the eligibility criteria, the HUD is permitted to be sold for profit so long as the number of devices distributed in any calendar year does not exceed the Annual Distribution Number (“ADN”). The ADN is defined as the number of devices reasonably needed to treat a population of 8,000 individuals per year in the U.S.

On February 18, 2016, the FDA approved our HDE supplement to revise the labeled indications of use for Epicel to specifically include pediatric patients. The revised product label also now specifies that the probable benefit of Epicel, mainly related to survival, was demonstrated in two Epicel clinical experience databases and a physician-sponsored study comparing outcomes in patients with massive burns treated with Epicel relative to standard care. Because of the change in the label to specifically include use in pediatric patients, Epicel is no longer subject to the HDE profit restrictions. In conjunction with adding the pediatric labeling and meeting the pediatric eligibility criteria, the FDA has determined the ADN number for Epicel to be 360,400 which is approximately 30 times larger than the volume of grafts sold in 2021. We currently have a thirteen-person burn field force comprised of seven account managers and six burn clinical specialists, led by a regional and a national sales director.

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NexoBrid

Our development portfolio includes NexoBrid, a registration-stage, topically-administered biological product that enzymatically removes nonviable burn tissue, or eschar, in patients with deep partial and full-thickness thermal burns. We have entered into exclusive license and supply agreements with MediWound to commercialize NexoBrid and any improvements to the product in North America, if approved. On September 16, 2020, we announced the acceptance of MediWound’s submission of a BLA for review by the FDA to seek marketing approval for NexoBrid in the U.S. for the treatment of severe burns, and the FDA’s assignment of a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”) target date for the product of June 29, 2021. Subsequently, on June 29, 2021, we announced that MediWound had received a complete response letter from the FDA regarding the BLA, through which the FDA communicated to MediWound that it had completed its review of the BLA, as amended, and had determined that it could not approve the BLA in its present form. We continue to work with MediWound, BARDA and the FDA to address the issues identified in the agency’s complete response letter, to prepare and submit a BLA resubmission to the FDA and to seek the potential approval of NexoBrid. See also “Risk Factors - NexoBrid’s approval in the U.S. for the treatment of severe burns may be further delayed, or it may not be approved for use in the U.S. and other North American markets at all.”

NexoBrid is approved in the EU and other international markets and has been designated as an orphan biologic in the U.S., EU and other international markets. Pursuant to the terms of our existing license agreement, if the BLA is approved, MediWound will transfer the BLA to us and we will market NexoBrid in the U.S. Both MediWound and Vericel, under the supervision of a Central Steering Committee comprised of members of both companies will continue to guide development of NexoBrid in North America. Under our license agreement with MediWound, NexoBrid is being manufactured for BARDA prior to approval by the FDA under an emergency use authorization.

Results of Operations

The following is a summary of our consolidated results of operations:

Comparison of the Periods Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

Total Revenue

Revenue by product for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

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Total revenue increase for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2020, was driven primarily by volume growth for both MACI and Epicel, in addition to $3.1 million, of revenue recognized related to the delivery of NexoBrid to BARDA for emergency response preparedness, compared to $2.2 million in the prior year.

Seasonality. The effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted the normal seasonality of our MACI business at times over the past twenty-two months. These effects have included, among others, periodic restrictions on the performance of elective surgical procedures throughout the country, the unavailability of physicians and/or changes to their treatment prioritizations, reductions in the levels of healthcare facility staffing and, in certain instances, the willingness or ability of patients to seek treatment and the inability of our Clinical Account Specialists to call on surgeon customers. Over the last five years, ACI (MACI and Carticel prior to its replacement) sales volumes from the first through the fourth quarter on average represented 19% (16%-21% range), 22% (16%-25% range), 23% (21%-26% range) and 36% (33%-38% range) respectively, of total annual volumes. MACI orders are normally stronger in the fourth quarter due to several factors including the satisfaction by patients of insurance deductible limits and the time of year patients prefer to start rehabilitation. Because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MACI business seasonality in 2021 and 2020 did not follow our historical patterns, and seasonality in 2022 could continue to be impacted by COVID-19 related factors, as well - such as patient behavior and vacations and the spread of the COVID-19 “Delta” and “Omicron” variants. Due to the low incidence and variable occurrence of severe burns, Epicel revenue has inherent variability from quarter-to-quarter and does not exhibit significant seasonality.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to continued growth of both products, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the prior year, and increased units of procured NexoBrid to BARDA that led to higher revenue related to NexoBrid, compared to 2020.

Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes research and development expenses, which include license fees, materials, professional fees and an allocation of employee-related salary and fringe benefit costs for our research and development projects:

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $16.3 million, compared to $13.0 million for 2020. The increase is primarily due to an increase of $2.2 million in stock-based compensation expense.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $97.6 million, compared to $68.9 million for 2020. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2020, is primarily due to a $16.5 million increase in stock-based compensation expenses, a $2.6 million increase as a result of additional headcount, a $2.3 million increase in marketing activities, and a $1.9 million increase in patient reimbursement support services as a result of higher MACI sales volume.

Total Other Income (Expense)

The change in total other income (expense) for the year ended December 31, 2021, was primarily due to the decreasing rates of return on our investments in various marketable debt securities.

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Tax Benefit

For the year-ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a state income tax benefit of $0.1 million, as a result of a return to provision adjustment.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense is summarized in the following table:

The increase in stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2021, is due primarily to fluctuations in stock prices which impacts the fair value of the options and restricted stock units awarded and the expense recognized in the period.

Comparison of the Periods Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

For a comparison of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Since our acquisition of MACI and Epicel in 2014, our primary focus has been to invest in our existing commercial business with the goal of growing revenue. We have raised significant funds in order to complete our product development programs and to market and commercialize our products, including NexoBrid. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through cash received through Epicel and MACI sales, debt and public and private sales of our equity securities. We generated $29.0 million in operating cash flows during 2021 and we may finance our commercial business operations through the sales of equity securities or debt financings.

We believe that our current cash on hand, cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to support our current operations through at least 12 months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. However, the continuing effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve and may result in irrecoverable losses from customers.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:

For a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources related to our cash flow activities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of

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Operations” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021.

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $68.5 million, short-term investments totaled $35.1 million and long-term investments totaled $25.7 million as of December 31, 2021. The $29.0 million of net cash provided by operations in 2021, was primarily the result of non-cash charges of $34.3 million related to stock compensation expense, $4.4 million in operating lease amortization and $3.0 million in depreciation and amortization expense, offset by a net loss of $7.5 million and a net decrease of $6.2 million related to movements in our working capital accounts. The overall decreases in cash from our working capital accounts were primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable due to an increase in sales volume, an increase in inventory due to increased production needs and payments on operating leases, offset by an increase of accounts payable and accrued expenses due to timing of payments.

Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $33.8 million, short-term investments totaled $42.2 million and long-term investments totaled $24.1 million as of December 31, 2020. The $17.6 million of net cash provided by operations in 2020, was primarily the result of net income of $2.9 million and non-cash charges of $13.8 million in stock compensation expense, $4.4 million in operating lease amortization and $2.4 million in depreciation and amortization expense, offset by a net decrease of $6.4 million related to movements in our working capital accounts. The overall decreases in cash from our working capital accounts were primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable due to an increase in sales volume, an increase in inventory due to increased production needs, payments on operating leases, offset by an increase of accrued expenses due to timing of payments.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was the result of $64.4 million of investment sales and maturities, offset by $60.0 million in investment purchases and $7.9 million of property and equipment purchases primarily for manufacturing upgrades through December 31, 2021.

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020 was the result of $63.1 million in investments purchases offset by $48.5 million of sales and maturities and property and equipment purchases of $2.6 million, primarily for manufacturing upgrades and leasehold improvements through December 31, 2020.

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities is the result of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the employee stock purchase plan of $11.2 million, partially offset by the payment of employee withholding taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units of $1.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2021.

Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020 is primarily the result of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $6.6 million.

Sources of Capital

On August 27, 2021, we entered into a Sales Agreement with SVB Leerink LLC, as sales agent (“SVB Leerink”), pursuant to which we may offer and sell up to $200.0 million of shares of our common stock, no par value per share (“ATM Shares”). The ATM Shares to be offered and sold under the Sales Agreement will be issued and sold pursuant to an automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-259119) filed by us on August 27, 2021, which expires three years from the filing date. We also filed a prospectus supplement relating to the offering and sale of the ATM Shares on August 27, 2021. We are not obligated to make any sales of ATM Shares, and SVB Leerink is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the ATM Shares under the Sales Agreement. As of December 31, 2021, we have sold no shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement.

If revenue declines for a sustained period, we may need to access additional capital; however, we may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms or at all. Market volatility could also adversely impact our ability to access financing when needed. The terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of our shareholders. Actual cash requirements may differ from projections and will depend on many factors, including any future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of future research and development, the scope and results of ongoing and potential clinical trials, the costs

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involved in filing, prosecuting and enforcing patents, the need for additional manufacturing capacity, competing technological and market developments, costs of possible acquisition or development of complementary business activities, and the cost to market our products.

Contractual Obligations

We lease facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Cambridge facilities includes clean rooms, laboratories for MACI and Epicel manufacturing and office space. We also pay for use of an offsite warehouse space and lease various vehicles and computer equipment. In October 2020, we amended our current lease in Cambridge to, among other provisions, extend the term until February 2032. Under the amendment, the landlord will contribute $4.3 million toward the cost of tenant improvements. The previous contributions toward the cost of tenant improvements was recorded as part of the operating lease assets under the leasing guidance, on our consolidated balance sheet. Total remaining obligations related to the operating and finance leases are $66.5 million as of December 31, 2021. In January 2022, we entered into a new lease for approximately 126,000 square feet of to-be-constructed manufacturing, laboratory and office space in Burlington, Massachusetts. See Note 15, “Subsequent Events” in our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further information.

Our purchase commitments consist of minimum purchase amounts of materials used in our cell manufacturing process to manufacture our marketed cell therapy products and total $10.1 million as of December 31, 2021, as well as usage of an offsite warehouse space. In February 2021, the terms of the warehouse operating agreement were extended through March 31, 2027, and the total remaining contractual obligations related to the warehouse agreement are $8.3 million as of December 31, 2021. See Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies” in our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further information.

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that could materially impact the consolidated financial statements and disclosures based on varying assumptions. We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable; however, actual results and the timing of the recognition of such amounts could differ from these estimates.

The following is a list of accounting policies that are most significant to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and/or that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Revenue Recognition and Net Product Sales

Revenue from sales to a customer (distributor, hospital or other party) is recognized in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue Recognition. We recognize product revenue from sales to a customer (distributor or hospital) following the five step model in ASC 606: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation. Under this revenue standard, we recognize revenue when our customer obtains control of the promised goods, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods.

MACI Implants

We have engaged a third-party services provider to provide the patient support program to manage patient cases and to ensure complete and accurate billing information is provided to the insurers and hospitals, to facilitate reimbursement.

Prior authorization and confirmation of coverage level by the patient’s private insurance plan, hospital or government payer is a prerequisite to the shipment of product to a patient. We recognize product revenues from sales of all MACI implants upon delivery at which time the customer obtains control of the implant and the claim is billable. The total consideration which we expect to collect in exchange for MACI implants (the transaction price) may be fixed or variable. Direct sales to hospitals or distributors are recorded at a contracted price, there are typically no forms of variable consideration.

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When we sell MACI the patient is responsible for payment; however, we are typically reimbursed by a third-party insurer or government payer, subject to a patient co-pay amount. Reimbursements from third-party insurers and government payers vary by patient and payer and are based on either contracted rates, publicly available rates or a fee schedule. Net product revenue is recognized net of estimated contractual allowances, which considers historical collection experience from both the payer and patient, denial rates and the terms of our contractual arrangements. We estimate expected collections for these transactions using the portfolio approach. We record a reduction to revenue at the time of sale for the estimate of the amount of consideration that will not be collected. In addition, potential credit risk exposure has been evaluated for our accounts receivable in accordance with ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. We assess risk and determine a loss percentage by pooling account receivables based on similar risk characteristics. The loss percentage is calculated through the use of forecasts that are based on current and historical economic and financial information.

Changes in estimates of the transaction price are recorded through revenue in the period in which such change occurs. Changes to the estimate of the amount of consideration that will not be collected could have a material impact to the revenue recognized. A 50 basis points change to the estimated uncollectible percentage could result in approximately $0.3 million decrease or increase in the revenue recognized for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception, in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Leases. All operating lease commitments with a lease term greater than 12 months are recognized as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and liabilities, on a discounted basis on the balance sheet. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. We primarily enter into lease agreements for manufacturing and office space, warehouses space, vehicle and computer equipment. The leases have varying terms, some of which may include options to extend. Certain of our lease agreements include lease payments that are adjusted periodically for an index or rate. The leases are initially measured using the present value of the projected payments adjusted for the index or rate in effect at the commencement date. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

ROU assets represent our right to control the use of an explicitly or implicitly identified fixed asset for a period of time and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Control of an underlying asset is conveyed to us if we obtain the rights to direct the use of and to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from using the underlying asset.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are comprised of fixed payments. Our leases contain non-lease components and activities that do not transfer a good or service to us which were not considered to be components of the contract and therefore were not included in the net ROU assets or lease liabilities.

The lease term for all of our leases include the non-cancellable period of the lease plus any additional periods covered by either an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease that is reasonably certain to exercise, or an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease controlled by the lessor.

Stock-Based Compensation

The accounting for stock-based compensation requires us to determine the fair value of common stock issued in the form of stock option awards and restricted stock units. The fair value of restricted stock units held by the employees is determined based on the fair value of our common stock on the date of the grant. We use the value of our common stock at the date of the grant in the calculation of the fair value of our share-based awards. The fair value of stock options held by our employees is determined using a Black-Scholes option valuation method, which is a valuation technique that is acceptable for share-based payment accounting. Key assumptions in determining fair value include volatility, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield and expected term. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent our best estimates; however, these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and different assumptions are used, the stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. In addition, we are required to estimate the expected forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those stock options expected to vest over the service period. We estimate the forfeiture rate considering the historical experience of our stock-based awards. If the actual forfeiture rate is different from the estimate, we adjust the expense accordingly.

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Tax Valuation Allowance

A valuation allowance is recorded if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized based on the weight of available evidence, both positive and negative. Due to our three-year cumulative loss position and history of operating losses, a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets was considered necessary. We will continue to monitor our cumulative loss position and forecasts and reevaluate the need for a valuation allowance as it could be reversed in future periods.

This summary of significant accounting policies should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and this discussion of our results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements located under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding recently issued accounting standards that may have a significant impact on our business.