SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
OR
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Transition Period from to
Commission file number: 0-32259
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Delaware | 94-3267295 | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
881 Martin Avenue
Santa Clara, California 95050
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
(408) 470-1000
(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes x No ¨
As of December 31, 2003, the end of the Registrants last fiscal year, there were 58,752,655 shares of Registrants common stock outstanding, and the aggregate market value of such shares held by non-affiliates of Registrant (based upon the closing sale price of such shares on the NASDAQ National Market on June 30, 2003) was approximately $356,139,063. Shares of Registrants common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each entity that owns 5% or more of Registrants outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
On February 27, 2004, 59,490,105 shares of Registrants common stock were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of Registrants definitive Proxy Statement relating to its Annual Stockholders Meeting to be held on May 19, 2004 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 2003
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The statements contained below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, hopes, beliefs, anticipations, commitments, intentions and strategies regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements for the reasons, among others, detailed below. The fact that some of the risk factors may be the same or similar to our past filings means only that the risks are present in multiple periods. We believe that many of the risks detailed here are part of doing business in the industry in which we compete and will likely be present in all periods reported. The fact that certain risks are characteristic to the industry does not lessen the significance of the risk. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
Overview
Since our inception in April 1997, we have been engaged in the design, manufacture and marketing of Invisalign, a proprietary system for treating malocclusion, or the misalignment of teeth. The Invisalign product has two components: ClinCheck and Aligners. ClinCheck is an Internet-based application that allows dental professionals to simulate treatment, in three dimensions, by modeling two-week stages of tooth movement. Aligners are thin, clear plastic, removable dental appliances that are manufactured in a series to correspond to each two-week stage of the ClinCheck simulation. Aligners are customized to perform the treatment prescribed for an individual patient by dental professionals using ClinCheck.
Two of our key production steps are performed in operations located outside of the U.S. At our facility in Costa Rica, technicians use a sophisticated, internally developed computer-modeling program to prepare electronic treatment plans, which are transmitted electronically back to the U.S. These electronic files form the basis of ClinCheck and are used in conjunction with stereolithography technology to manufacture Aligner molds. A third party manufacturer in Mexico fabricates Aligners from the molds and ships the completed products to our customers.
Revenue from the sale of Invisalign and ancillary products is recognized upon product shipment, provided that no significant obligations remain, transfer of title has occurred and collection of the receivable is deemed probable. The costs of producing the ClinCheck treatment plan, which are incurred prior to the production of Aligners, are deferred and recognized as related revenues are earned, i.e. upon shipment of the Aligners.
In cases where the dental professional elects to finish the treatment plan using Invisalign, the dental professional orders case refinement. From June 2001 through April 2003, we offered our dental professionals the opportunity to purchase case refinement in advance at a discount. The advance purchase price was non-refundable. Revenue, in the amount of the stand-alone sales price of the undelivered element, is deferred until the earlier of shipment of the case refinement or case expiration. In cases where the dental professional did not purchase case refinements in advance, case refinement revenues are recognized when the new Aligners are shipped.
In May 2003, we updated our domestic pricing policy to include the future delivery of one case refinement in the price of each case and to offer additional case refinements at a price of $125 each, which we believe represents its fair value based on competitive product offerings. Revenue deferrals associated with future case refinement sales are $125 per case. This revenue deferral amount represents the fair value of a case refinement as determined in accordance with the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-21, Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables (EITF 00-21), which addresses the issue of accounting for
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arrangements that involve the delivery of multiple products or services. These revenue deferrals will be recognized when the case refinement has been utilized or upon case expiration, which ever is earliest.
Service revenues earned for training of dental professionals and staff for Invisalign are recorded as the services are performed. Service revenues earned under agreements with third parties are based on negotiated rates, which are intended to approximate a mark-up on our anticipated costs.
We estimate and record a provision for amounts of estimated losses on sales, if any, in the period such sales occur. Provisions for discounts and rebates to customers are provided for in the same period that the related product sales are recorded based upon historical discounts and rebates.
Industry Background
Malocclusion
Malocclusion, the misalignment of teeth, is one of the most prevalent clinical dental conditions, affecting over 200 million individuals, or approximately 75% of the U.S. population. Approximately two million people annually elect treatment by orthodontists in the U.S., generating industry revenues of approximately $7 billion. While most individuals seek orthodontic treatment to improve their appearance, malocclusion may also be responsible for dental problems such as tooth decay, tooth loss, gum disease, jaw joint pain and headaches. Because of the compromised aesthetics, discomfort and other drawbacks associated with conventional orthodontic treatments, only a relatively small proportion of people with malocclusion seek traditional treatment.
Traditional Orthodontic Treatment
Currently, dental professionals apply traditional techniques and principles of orthodontic treatment developed in the early 20th century. In the U.S., dental professionals treat malocclusion primarily with metal archwires and brackets, commonly referred to as braces. Occasionally, dental professionals attempt to improve treatment aesthetics by using ceramic, tooth-colored brackets or bond brackets on the inside, or lingual surfaces, of the patients teeth. Dental professionals also augment braces with elastics, metal bands, headgear and other ancillary devices.
The average treatment takes approximately 12 to 24 months to complete and requires several hours of direct dental professional involvement, or chair time. To initiate treatment, a dental professional will diagnose a patients condition and create an appropriate treatment plan. In a subsequent visit, the dental professional will bond brackets to the patients teeth with cement and attach an archwire to the brackets. Thereafter, by tightening or otherwise adjusting the braces approximately every six weeks, the dental professional is able to exert sufficient force on the patients teeth to achieve desired tooth movement. Because of the length of time between visits, the dental professional must tighten the braces to a degree sufficient to achieve sustained tooth movement during the interval. In a final visit, the dental professional removes each bracket and residual cement from the patients teeth.
Fees for traditional orthodontic treatment typically range between U.S. $3,500 to $7,000 with a median fee of approximately $4,500; generally only a portion of the fees are reimbursed by insurance, if covered at all. In addition, dental professionals commonly charge a premium for lingual or ceramic alternatives. Fees are based on the difficulty of the particular case and on the dental professionals estimate of chair time, and are generally negotiated in advance. A treatment that exceeds the dental professionals estimate of chair time generally results in decreased fees per hour of chair time, or reduced profitability for the dental professional.
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Limitations of Traditional Orthodontic Treatment
Although braces are generally effective in correcting a wide range of malocclusions, they are subject to many limitations and disadvantages. Conventional orthodontic treatment is associated with:
| | Unattractive appearance. Braces call attention to the patients condition and treatment. In addition, braces trap food, which can further compromise appearance. Braces can also result in permanent discoloration of teeth. Many adults associate braces with adolescence. As a result of these and other limitations, less than one half of one percent of American adults with malocclusion elect traditional orthodontic treatment annually. |
| | Oral discomfort. Braces are sharp and bulky and can abrade and irritate the interior surfaces of the mouth. The tightening or adjustment of braces results in root and gum soreness and discomfort, especially in the few days immediately following an orthodontic visit. |
| | Poor oral hygiene. Braces compromise oral hygiene by making it more difficult to brush and floss. These problems can result in tooth decay and periodontal damage. Additionally, the bonding of brackets to teeth can cause permanent markings on the teeth. |
| | Inability to project treatment. Historically, dental professionals have not had a means to model the movement of teeth over a course of treatment. Accordingly, dental professionals must rely on intuition and judgment to plan and project treatment. As a result, they cannot be precise about the direction or distance of expected tooth movement between patient visits. This lack of predictability may result in unwanted tooth movements and can limit the dental professionals ability to estimate the duration of treatment. Because most orthodontic treatment is performed on a fixed price basis, extended treatment duration reduces profitability for the dental professional. |
| | Physical demands on dental professional. The manipulation of wires and brackets requires sustained manual dexterity and visual acuity, and may place other physical burdens on the dental professional. |
| | Root resorption. The sustained high levels of force associated with conventional treatment can result in root resorption, which is a shortening of tooth roots. This shortening can have substantial adverse periodontal consequences for the patient. |
| | Emergencies. At times, braces need to be repaired or replaced on an emergency basis. Such emergencies cause significant inconvenience to both the patient and the dental professional. |
Due to the poor aesthetics, discomfort and other limitations of braces, relatively few people with malocclusion elect traditional orthodontic treatment. Accordingly, we believe there is a large unmet need for an orthodontic system that addresses these patient concerns. We also believe there is an unmet need among dental professionals for a treatment system that increases the predictability and efficiency of treatment and enhances practice profitability.
The Align Solution
Invisalign is a proprietary system for treating malocclusion. Invisalign consists of two components: ClinCheck and Aligners.
ClinCheck. ClinCheck is an interactive Internet application that allows dental professionals to diagnose and plan treatment for their patients. We use a dental impression and a treatment prescription submitted by a dental professional to develop a customized, three-dimensional treatment plan that simulates appropriate tooth movement in a series of two-week increments. ClinCheck allows the dental professional to view this three- dimensional simulation with a high degree of magnification and from any angle. Accordingly, ClinCheck enables the dental professional to project tooth movement with a level of accuracy not previously possible.
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Upon review of the ClinCheck simulation, the dental professional may immediately approve the projected treatment, or may provide us with feedback for modification. We reflect any requested adjustments in a modified simulation. Upon the dental professionals approval of the ClinCheck simulation, we use the data underlying the simulation to manufacture the patients Aligners.
Aligners. Aligners are custom-manufactured, clear, removable dental appliances that, when worn in a prescribed series, provide orthodontic treatment. Each Aligner covers a patients teeth and is nearly invisible when worn. Aligners are commonly worn in pairs, over the upper and lower dental arches. Aligners are generally worn for consecutive two-week periods which correspond to the approved ClinCheck treatment simulation. After two weeks of use, the patient discards the Aligners and replaces them with the next pair in the series. This process is repeated until the final Aligners are used and treatment is complete. Upon completion of the treatment, the dental professional may, at his or her discretion, have the patient use Invisalign Aligners as a retainer or go directly to a conventional retainer.
Benefits of Invisalign
We believe that Invisalign provides benefits to dental professionals and patients that have the potential to establish Invisalign as the preferred alternative to conventional braces.
Benefits to the dental professional
| | Ability to visualize treatment and likely outcomes. ClinCheck enables dental professionals to preview a course of treatment and the likely outcome of treatment in an interactive three-dimensional computer model. ClinCheck allows dental professionals to analyze multiple treatment alternatives before selecting the course of action they feel is most appropriate for the patient. |
| | Begin using Invisalign with minimal additional training. The biomechanical principles that underlie Invisalign are consistent with those of traditional orthodontics. Although dental professionals can complete our initial training within two days, Invisalign provides additional education and clinical support. |
| | Ease of use. When treating patients with Invisalign, dental professionals do not spend their time manipulating wires and brackets. This allows them to spend proportionately more time diagnosing and interacting with their patients. |
| | Expanded patient base. We believe that Invisalign has the potential to transform the practice of orthodontics. Currently, less than one percent of the over 200 million people with malocclusion in the U.S. enter treatment each year. We believe that Invisalign will allow dental professionals to attract patients who would not otherwise seek orthodontic treatment. |
| | Decreased dental professional and staff time. We believe that Invisalign reduces both the frequency and length of patient visits. Invisalign eliminates the need for time-intensive processes such as bonding appliances to the patients teeth, adjusting archwires during the course of treatment and removing the appliances at the conclusion of treatment. As such, use of Invisalign reduces dental professional and staff chair time and can increase practice throughput. |
| | Practice productivity. We believe that as dental professionals move to a higher volume of Invisalign patients, the dental professionals will be able to better leverage their existing resources, including office space and staff time, resulting in an increase in daily patient appointments and practice productivity. |
Benefits to the Patient
| | Excellent aesthetics. Aligners are nearly invisible when worn, eliminating the aesthetic concerns associated with conventional braces. |
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| | Comfort. By replacing the six-week adjustment cycle of traditional braces with two-week stages, Aligners move teeth more gently than conventional braces. Also, Aligners are thin, smooth and low in profile. As a result, Aligners are substantially more comfortable and less abrasive than conventional braces. |
| | Improved oral hygiene. Patients can remove Aligners for tasks that are difficult with conventional braces, such as eating, brushing and flossing. We believe this feature has the potential to reduce tooth decay and periodontal damage during treatment, which may result from conventional braces. |
| | Potentially reduced overall treatment time. Aligners control force by distributing it broadly over the exposed surfaces of the teeth. In addition, the ClinCheck simulation from which Aligners are produced is designed to reduce unintended and unnecessary tooth movements. Together, these factors may reduce overall treatment time relative to conventional braces. |
| | Potentially reduced root resorption. We believe that controlling force and shortening treatment time has the potential to reduce the incidence of root resorption. |
| | Reduced incidence of emergencies. Typically, a lost or broken Aligner is simply replaced with the next Aligner in series, minimizing inconvenience to both patient and dental professional. |
We believe that these benefits will prove attractive to people who currently do not seek treatment because of the limitations of conventional braces.
Limitations of Invisalign
In some instances, Invisalign may have certain limitations relative to conventional treatment. Aligners cost more to produce than conventional braces, and we charge dental professionals more than they generally pay for the supplies used in conventional treatment. Depending on the individual pricing policies of each dental professional, the cost of Invisalign to the patient may be greater than for conventional braces. Dental professionals must also incorporate our manufacturing cycle times into their overall treatment plan. Once a dental professional submits a case to us, there is generally a turn-around time of a month or more before the corresponding Aligners are delivered. Aligners may not be appropriate for all cases, such as severe malocclusion, which may require Aligners to be used in combination with conventional braces for optimal results. In addition, because Aligners are removable, treatment using Invisalign depends on patients wearing their Aligners as recommended. Some patients may experience a temporary period of adjustment to wearing Aligners that may mildly affect speech. We believe that these limitations are outweighed by the many benefits of Invisalign to both patients and dental professionals.
Our Target Market and Patient Base
Medical devices are classified into one of three classes based on the controls necessary to reasonably assure their safety and effectiveness. Class I or II devices require the manufacturer to submit a pre-market notification to the Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, requesting permission for commercial distribution, which is known as 510(k) clearance. We obtained our 510(k) clearance in September 1998. Our 510(k) clearance allows us to market Invisalign to treat patients with any type of malocclusion with mature dentition. We voluntarily restrict the use of Invisalign to adults and adolescents with mature dentition. Individuals with mature dentition have fully erupted second molars and substantially complete jaw growth. This group represents approximately 160 million people in the U.S. Typically, permanent dentition are fully erupted between the ages of 11 and 15 years. Currently, we do not treat children whose teeth and jaws are still developing, as the effectiveness of Invisalign relies on our ability to accurately predict the movement of teeth over the course of treatment. Based on our clinical studies to date, we recommend that dental professionals use Invisalign as a complete treatment for a broad range of malocclusions and as a component of treatment for severe malocclusions.
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Approximately two million people annually elect treatment by orthodontists in the U.S. These patients represent approximately one percent of the population of people with malocclusion. Of these, we estimate 50%, or more than one million patients, have mature dentition and are therefore potential candidates for Invisalign.
In addition, we believe that we have an immediate and substantial market expansion opportunity. Our market research indicates that the vast majority of people with malocclusion who desire treatment do not elect traditional treatment because of its many limitations. We believe that, since Invisalign addresses the primary limitations of braces, persons with malocclusion will be more likely to seek treatment. We believe that adults, who are particularly sensitive to the aesthetic limitations of traditional treatment, represent our most significant market expansion opportunity.
Commercial sales of Invisalign commenced in the U.S. in July 1999. As of December 31, 2003 approximately 155,000 patients worldwide had entered treatment using Invisalign. Internationally, the Company operates through three business segments divided among the geographic regions of Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. In 2003, international sales accounted for approximately 9% of the Companys net sales.
In each of fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, no single customer accounted for 10% or more of our total revenues.
We continue to focus on the domestic market opportunity and on selected international markets.
Business Strategy
Our objective is to establish Invisalign as the standard method for treating orthodontic malocclusion. Key elements of our strategy include the following:
Educate dental professionals and stimulate demand for Invisalign treatment. Our market research indicates that the vast majority of people with malocclusion who desire treatment do not elect traditional treatment because of its many limitations. By communicating the benefits of Invisalign to both dental professionals and consumers, we intend to increase the number of patients who seek orthodontic treatment annually. We advertise nationally using a broad marketing mix to drive consumer and dental professional demand and to reinforce the breadth of applicability of Invisalign. In October 2001, we expanded our training of dental professionals in our domestic market to include general practitioner dentists. As of December 31, 2003, we had trained approximately 24,000 dental professionals worldwide on the use and benefits of Invisalign.
Expand and enhance manufacturing capability. Our manufacturing operations are designed to produce large numbers of custom Aligners at a high level of quality. To improve cost efficiency, we conduct labor intensive processes in relatively low-wage countries. We believe that our existing facilities are adequate to meet current requirements and that additional or substitute space will be available as needed to accommodate any expansion of operations. Our proprietary software underlies our manufacturing process. By continually developing this software and other manufacturing processes, we plan to increase the level of production automation. Increased automation will enhance production capacity and reduce both unit costs and production times.
Extend and defend technology leadership. Invisalign represents a significant technological advancement in orthodontics. We believe that our issued patents, multiple pending patents and other intellectual property provide us with a substantial lead over potential competitors. Our issued U.S. patents broadly cover the Invisalign® system, including digital modeling and manipulation of scanned patient data, treatment planning, and fabrication of dental appliances, among others. We continue to pursue further intellectual property protection through U.S. and foreign patent applications and non-disclosure agreements. We also seek to protect our software, documentation and other written materials under trade secret and copyright laws.
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Expand number of clinicians and utilization within their practices. Invisalign can provide complete treatment for patients with mature dentition and a broad range of malocclusion. In addition, we believe that Invisalign can provide partial treatment of severe malocclusion. In an effort to demonstrate Invisaligns ability to comprehensively treat such cases, we have published a series of clinical case studies and articles that highlight the applicability of Invisalign to malocclusion cases of severe complexity. We have also launched new studies in fiscal 2003 with universities worldwide and we are making additional improvements to our product. We are also expanding the clinical education and training sessions for our customers.
Manufacturing
We produce highly customized, highly precise, medical quality products in volume. To do so, we have developed a number of proprietary processes and technologies. These technologies include complex software solutions, computed tomography, known as CT scanning, stereolithography and automated Aligner fabrication.
We believe the complexity inherent in producing such highly customized devices in high volumes is a barrier to potential competitors. Furthermore, we believe the sophisticated software we use to guide a custom manufacturing process on a high volume was not available until we developed it. We rely on two vendors who are each the sole source of the polymer and resin used in our manufacturing process. In the event that either of these vendors becomes unable for any reason to supply us with their respective products, we would experience a manufacturing disruption while we qualify and obtain an alternate source.
Manufacturing is coordinated in Santa Clara, California. Digital dental modeling is processed in our 63,000 square foot facility in San Jose, Costa Rica. As of December 31, 2003, we employed a manufacturing staff in the U.S. and Costa Rica of approximately 427 people. The operations team in Costa Rica creates ClinCheck treatments using simulation software. We outsource the fabrication and packaging of Aligners to a contract manufacturer based in Juarez, Mexico. Information regarding risks associated with our foreign operations may be found in Part II, Item 7 of this Report on Form 10-K under the heading Risk Factors.
The Invisalign Treatment Process
The Invisalign treatment process comprises the following five stages:
Orthodontic diagnosis and transmission of treatment data to us. In an initial patient visit, the dental professional determines whether Invisalign is an appropriate treatment. The dental professional then prepares a treatment data package which consists of a polyvinyl-siloxane, or PVS, impression of the relevant dental arches, x-rays of the patients dentition, photographs of the patient, a bite impression depicting the relationship between the patients upper and lower dental arches and an Invisalign treatment planning form, or prescription. The impression is a critical component of Invisalign as it depicts the three-dimensional geometry of the patients teeth and hence forms the basis for our computer models. An impression requires the patient to bite into a viscous material. This material hardens, capturing the shape of the patients teeth. The prescription is also a critical component of Invisalign, describing the desired positions and movement of the patients teeth. The dental professional sends the treatment data to our Santa Clara facility.
Preparation of three-dimensional computer models of the patients initial malocclusion. Upon receipt, we use the treatment data to construct digital models of the patients dentition. Using CT scanning, we scan the PVS impression to develop a digital, three-dimensional computer model of the patients current dentition. We then transmit this initial computer model together with the dental professionals prescription and supplemental materials electronically to our facilities in Costa Rica.
Preparation of computer-simulated treatment and viewing of treatment using ClinCheck. In Costa Rica we transform this initial digital model into a customized, three-dimensional treatment plan that simulates appropriate tooth movement in a series of two-week increments. This simulation is then reviewed for adherence
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to prescribed clinical, treatment and quality standards. Upon passing review, the simulation is then delivered to the prescribing dental professional via ClinCheck, which is available on our website at www.invisalign.com and www.aligntech.com. The dental professional then reviews the ClinCheck simulation and, on occasion, asks us to make adjustments. By reviewing and amending the treatment simulation, the dental professional retains control over the treatment plan and, thus, participates in the customized design of the Aligners. At this point, the dental professional may also invite the patient to review ClinCheck, allowing the patient to see the projected course of treatment. The dental professional then approves the proposed treatment and, in doing so, engages us for the manufacture of corresponding Aligners.
Construction of molds corresponding to each step of treatment. We use the approved ClinCheck simulation to construct a series of molds of the patients teeth. Each mold is a replica of the patients teeth at each two-week stage of the simulated course of treatment. These molds are fabricated at our Santa Clara, California manufacturing facility using custom manufacturing techniques, including stereolithography, that we have adapted for use in orthodontic applications.
Manufacture of Aligners and shipment to the dental professional. From these molds, our contract manufacturer in Mexico fabricates Aligners by pressure-forming polymeric sheets over each mold. The Aligners are then trimmed, polished, cleaned and packaged. Following final inspection, the Aligners are shipped directly to the prescribing dental professional. We ship all of the Aligners in a single batch. In certain cases, dental professionals may use Invisalign in conjunction with clear attachments bonded to the patients teeth. These attachments are used to increase the force applied to a tooth or teeth in circumstances where the Aligners alone may have difficulty in effecting the desired movement.
In certain cases, we provide an aligner-like template to the dental professionals to aide the placement of bonding attachments to the patients teeth. These attachments are used to optimize the force applied to a tooth or teeth in circumstances where the Aligners alone may have difficulty in effecting the desired movements. Also, in cases where interproximal reduction, or IPR, is requested by the dental professional, we provide an IPR prescription form, quantifying the amount of space to be created through enamel reduction, location, and timing of IPR.
Throughput Management
Because we manufacture each case on a build-to-order basis, we do not build inventories. As a result, we must conservatively build manufacturing throughput for anticipated demand. To increase throughput, we must improve the efficiency and increase the scale of our manufacturing processes.
In order to increase the efficiency of our manufacturing processes, we focus our efforts on software development and the improvement of rate-limiting processes, or bottlenecks. We continue to upgrade our proprietary, three-dimensional treatment-planning software to enhance computer analysis of treatment data and to reduce time spent on manual and judgmental tasks for each case, thereby increasing the efficiency of our technicians in Costa Rica. We are also continuing the development of automated systems for the fabrication of Aligners currently conducted in Mexico. In order to scale our manufacturing capacity, we continue to invest in facilities and capital equipment.
Quality Assurance
Aligns quality system is in compliance with Food & Drug Administrations Medical Device regulations, 21CFR Part 820, and Health Canadas Medical Device Regulations. We are certified to ISO 9001:1994, internationally recognized quality system standards, and ISO 13485:1996, internationally recognized standards for Medical Device manufacturing. Align has a formal, documented quality system by which quality objectives are understood and achieved. Our quality system defines processes and procedures to ensure product and service quality, and includes methods to monitor levels of quality, based on internal data and direct customer feedback. We utilize this data to continuously improve our systems and processes, taking corrective action as required.
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Since we custom manufacture Aligners on a build-to-order basis, we do not offer refunds on our products. Because each ClinCheck and each Aligner is unique, we inspect 100% of the product at various points in the manufacturing process, to ensure that the product meets our customers expectations. Aligners are subject to the Invisalign product warranty, which covers defects in materials and workmanship. Our materials and workmanship warranty is in force until the Invisalign case is completed. In the event the Aligners fall within the scope of the Invisalign product warranty, we will replace the Aligners at our expense. Our warranty is contingent upon proper use of the Aligners for the purposes for which they are intended. If a patient chooses not to wear the Aligners, and as a result, requests additional Invisalign treatment, the dental professional pays the additional expense of the replacement Aligners.
The Invisalign product warranty does not provide any assurances regarding the outcome of treatment using Invisalign. Actual treatment results may deviate significantly from the approved ClinCheck treatment plan. Deviations not covered under warranty have typically been the result of unpredictable biological factors, such as variations in bone density or tooth topography and abnormal jaw growth. Warranty treatment requires that the dental professional submit new impressions of the patients dentition to us. We use the impressions to create a new ClinCheck treatment plan for the dental professional to approve, from which a successive series of Aligners will be produced that will allow the patient to finish treatment.
In the event that a dental professional wishes to effect additional adjustments to a patients treatment when the actual treatment results are in accordance with the approved ClinCheck treatment plan, the dental professional may request a case refinement or additional Aligners. Our pricing policy includes the future delivery of one case refinement in the price of each case and offers additional case refinements at the dental professionals expense. In addition, should a dental professional request a replacement for a lost Aligner, we charge the dental professional for the cost of the replacement Aligner.
Sales and Marketing
We market Invisalign by communicating Invisaligns benefits directly to dental professionals and consumers with a nationwide advertising campaign. Based on our experience with advertising and commercial sales in our test markets, we believe that making consumers aware of Invisalign as a new treatment alternative generates significant demand for Invisalign. In order to serve anticipated worldwide demand, we are training a broad base of dental professionals.
Professional Marketing
Our sales and support staff has been engaged in marketing Invisalign to orthodontists since July 1999. In 2001, we began marketing Invisalign to general practitioner dentists in our domestic market. We provide training, certification, marketing and clinical support to orthodontists and general practitioner dentists in the U.S. and Canada, which we consider our domestic market, and internationally.
As of December 31, 2003, we had trained approximately 24,000 dental professionals worldwide to use Invisalign. Of those dental professionals trained, approximately 70% are dental professionals in our domestic market. Within our domestic market, we have trained approximately 7,700 orthodontists and approximately 9,700 general practitioner dentists. Our sales and orthodontic teams conduct training primarily in a workshop format. The key topics covered in training include Invisalign applicability, instructions on filling out the Invisalign prescription form, clinical tips and techniques guidance on pricing and instructions on interacting with our ClinCheck software and the many other features of our website.
Invisalign relies on the same orthodontic principles that apply to traditional treatment, and we present our training material in a manner consistent with dental professionals training and experience. Our success in training a large number of dental professionals confirms our belief that training represents a minimal barrier to adoption for most dental professionals.
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After training, sales representatives follow up with the dental professional to ensure that their staff is prepared to handle Invisalign cases. Such follow up may include assisting the dental professional in taking dental impressions, establishing an Internet connection and familiarizing them with our website. Sales representatives may also provide practice-building assistance, including helping the dental professional to market Invisalign to prospective patients through direct mail or other forms of media. Many dental professionals have commenced promotional activity in their local region with our assistance.
General practitioner dentists play an important role in informing their patients about orthodontics and are a key source of both referrals to orthodontists and Invisalign case submissions. There are over 130,000 active general practice dentists in the U.S. and Canada.
Consumer Marketing
Our national consumer marketing efforts primarily focus on television advertising and are supported by other advertising media and public relations. We advertise nationally using a broad marketing mix to drive consumer and dental professional demand.
Our experience indicates that prospective patients seek information from six primary sources:
| | an orthodontist; |
| | a general practice dentist; |
| | direct-to-consumer mail advertising and public relations efforts; |
| | other Invisalign patients; |
| | our toll-free support line (1-800-INVISIBLE); and |
| | our website, which can be accessed at either www.invisalign.com or www.aligntech.com. |
Our marketing efforts have generated substantial consumer interest directed toward our telephone support line and our website. Our telephone support line and our website not only provide consumers with information on Invisalign, but also allow us to channel consumer interest to dental professionals. We have outsourced the telephone support function to a national call center operator.
Research and Development
Prior to commercial launch in July 1999, our research and development strategy had three primary objectives: developing the Invisalign product, establishing the ability of Invisalign to treat malocclusion and developing software and processes to enable the manufacture of Aligners in volume. Since our commercial launch, our research and development effort has focused on extending the range of dental applicability of Invisalign, enhancing the software used in the manufacturing process and enhancing our Invisalign system product lines. Our research and development expenses were $13.1 million for fiscal 2003 and 2002, and $15.6 million in fiscal 2001.
In an effort to demonstrate Invisaligns broad treatment capabilities, we have published a series of clinical case studies and articles that highlight the applicability of Invisalign to malocclusion cases, including those of severe complexity. We are also undertaking post-marketing studies and making additional technological improvements to the product and manufacturing process. Our product development team is testing enhanced materials and a number of complementary products that we expect will provide additional revenue opportunities.
In fiscal 2003, we continued to enhance our proprietary, three-dimensional treatment-planning software primarily to increase our manufacturing capacity and efficiency.
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Intellectual Property
We believe our intellectual property position represents a substantial business advantage. As of December 31, 2003, we had 41 issued U.S. patents, 73 pending U.S. patent applications, and numerous foreign issued patents, as well as pending foreign patent applications.
We continue to pursue further intellectual property protection through U.S. and foreign patent applications and non-disclosure agreements. We also seek to protect our software, documentation and other written materials under trade secret and copyright laws. We cannot be certain that patents will be issued as a result of any patent application or that patents that have been issued to us or that may be issued in the future will be found to be valid and enforceable and sufficient to protect our technology or products.
Competition
We compete directly with companies such as Ormco Orthodontics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sybron Dental Specialties, which manufactures and distributes a product called Red, White & Blue, that is similar in use to Invisalign. We compete for the attention of dental professionals with manufacturers of other orthodontic products. These manufacturers of traditional orthodontic appliances include 3M Company, Ormco Orthodontics and Dentsply International, Inc.
We believe that in addition to price, the principal competitive factors in the market for orthodontic appliances include the following factors:
| | aesthetic appeal of the treatment method; |
| | comfort associated with the treatment method; |
| | oral hygiene; |
| | effectiveness of treatment; |
| | ease of use; and |
| | dental professionals chair time. |
We believe that Invisalign compares favorably with our competitors products with respect to each of these factors.
Government Regulation
FDAs Quality System Regulation for Medical Devices. Invisalign is regulated as a Class I medical device by Food and Drug Administration. Accordingly, our product development, manufacturing processes, packaging, labeling, handling, storage and distribution activities are subject to extensive review by National and State government agencies to ensure that our devices are safe and effective.
The Aligners are manufactured by The TECMA Group, LLC, formerly known as Elamex S.A. de C.V., a contract manufacturer based in Mexico. As a medical device company, we are required to ensure that our contract manufacturer complies with FDAs Quality System regulations. As a result, we have ensured that TECMA is registered with the FDA as a medical device manufacturer. In addition, TECMA is certified to ISO 9000 requirements and is subject to inspection by an independent ISO agency. We have also ensured that our quality system procedures and processes are set up at TECMA to comply with all FDA regulations. TECMA has dedicated an area in its facilities and trained personnel for the manufacture and distribution of Invisalign. We conduct frequent visits to the Mexico facility to monitor TECMAs performance and its compliance with our requirements and also perform independent audits of their quality system.
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In November 1998, Invisalign received 510(k) Pre-Market clearance by the FDA, allowing us to market Invisalign in the U.S. The manufacture and distribution of Invisalign are subject to continuing regulations by the FDA. We are subject to routine inspections by the FDA and State agencies to determine compliance with Quality System requirements. Our facility is registered with the State of California as a medical device manufacturer.
During inspections of our facility, if FDA determines that we have failed to comply with the applicable FDA regulations, it can institute a wide variety of enforcement actions against us, ranging from a public Warning Letter to more severe sanctions, including but not limited to financial penalties, withdrawal of our right to market products and criminal prosecution.
Health Canadas Medical Device Regulations. In Canada, we comply with the Health Canadas Medical Device Regulations and as such Aligns facility and products are registered with Health Canada. We are in compliance with their regulations and have been granted permission to market our products in Canada.
European Unions MDD Requirements & ISO 9000 and ISO 13485. In Europe, Invisalign is regulated as a custom device and as such, we follow the Medical Device Directives requirements and are registered with the Competent Authority in Europe. The fact that we are ISO 9000 and ISO 13485 certified facilitates commercialization of Invisalign outside the United States and especially in Europe.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, Congress mandated a package of interlocking administrative simplification rules to establish standards and requirements for electronic transmission of certain health information. Confidentiality of patient records and the circumstances under which these records may be released are subject to substantial regulations under the HIPAA Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, referred to as the Privacy Standard, and other state laws and regulations. The Privacy Standard governs both the disclosure and the use of confidential patient medical information. Although compliance is principally the responsibility of the hospital, physician or other healthcare provider, our agreements with orthodontists and other healthcare professionals require that we comply with the Privacy Standard when providing technical services and when handling patient information and records. We have designed our product and service offerings to enable compliance with HIPAA and applicable corresponding state laws and regulations. Compliance with these laws and regulations is costly and could require complex changes in our systems and services. Additionally, our success may be dependent on the success of healthcare participants in dealing with HIPAA requirements and the Privacy Standard.
Other Federal and State Laws. As a participant in the health care industry we are subject to extensive and frequently changing regulation under many other laws administered by governmental entities at the federal, state and local levels, some of which are, and others of which may be, applicable to our business. Furthermore, our health care service provider customers are also subject to a wide variety of laws and regulations that could affect the nature and scope of their relationships with us.
Laws regulating medical device manufacturers and health care providers cover a broad array of subjects. For example, the confidentiality of patient medical information and the circumstances under which such information may be released for inclusion in our databases, or released by us to third parties, are subject to substantial regulation by state governments. These state laws and regulations govern both the disclosure and the use of confidential patient medical information and are evolving rapidly. In addition, provisions of the Social Security Act prohibit, among other things, paying or offering to pay any remuneration in exchange for the referral of patients to a person participating in, or for the order, purchase or recommendation of items or services that are subject to reimbursement by, Medicare, Medicaid and similar other federal or state health care programs. Most states have also enacted illegal remuneration laws that are similar to the federal laws. These laws are applicable to our financial relationships with, and any marketing or other promotional activities involving, our dental professional customers. Finally, various states regulate the operation of an advertising and referral service for dentists, and may require registration of such services with a state agency as well as compliance with various
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requirements and restrictions on how they conduct business and structure their relationships with participating dentists. Violations of any of these laws or regulations could subject us to a variety of civil and criminal sanctions.
Employees
As of December 31, 2003, we had approximately 741 employees, approximately 341 of whom were employed in the U.S., 338 in Costa Rica, 44 in Europe, 9 in Latin America, 8 in Asia/Pacific and 1 in the United Arab Emirates, or the U.A.E. As of December 31, 2003, of our U.S. employees, approximately 89 were employed in manufacturing, 73 were employed in various management, administrative and support positions, 69 were marketing and customer support staff, 63 were employed in sales, 33 were employed in engineering and 14 were employed in research and development.
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our executive officers as of March 9, 2004:
| Name |
Age |
Position | ||
| Thomas M. Prescott |
48 | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Eldon M. Bullington |
52 | Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Amir Abolfathi |
39 | Vice President, Research and Development | ||
| Jon Fjeld |
52 | Vice President, Engineering | ||
| Roger E. George |
38 | Vice President, Legal Affairs, and General Counsel | ||
| Len M. Hedge |
46 | Vice President, Operations | ||
| David S. Thrower |
39 | Vice President, Global Marketing | ||
| Patricia L. Wadors |
39 | Vice President, Human Resources |
Thomas M. Prescott has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors since March 27, 2002. Prior to joining us, Mr. Prescott was President and Chief Executive Officer of Cardiac Pathways, Inc., a publicly-traded medical device company, from May 1999 until its acquisition by Boston Scientific in August 2001. Mr. Prescott then worked as a consultant for Boston Scientific Corporation until January 2002. Prior to working at Cardiac Pathways, Mr. Prescott held various sales, general management and executive roles at Nellcor Puritan Bennett, Inc. from April 1994 to May 1999. Mr. Prescott serves as a director of R2 Technologies, Inc. and Interventional Rhythm Management, Inc., both privately held companies.
Eldon M. Bullington has served as our Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer since October 2002. Mr. Bullington was previously Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Milpitas, CA-based Verplex Systems, Inc, an electronic design automation company, from January 2002 until October 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Bullington spent two years as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Cardiac Pathways, Inc., until it was acquired by Boston Scientific in August 2001. Prior to Cardiac Pathways, Mr. Bullington was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Saraide, Inc. from September 1998 to March 1999. He also served in executive financial management roles at Verifone, Inc. and Radius, Inc.
Amir Abolfathi has served as our Vice President of Research and Development since March 2000. From November 1999 to March 2000, Mr. Abolfathi served as our Senior Director of Planning. Prior to joining us, Mr. Abolfathi served as a consultant for a number of medical device companies from February 1999 through November 1999, including Embolic Protection, Inc. and Novasys Medical, Inc. From April 1995 through January 1999, Mr. Abolfathi served as Senior Director of Research and Development and Vice President of Research and Development for EndoTex Interventional Systems, Inc., a company focused on the treatment of neurovascular diseases that he co-founded.
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Jon Fjeld has served as our Vice President of Engineering since December 2000. Prior to joining us, Mr. Fjeld was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Raindrop Geomagic, Inc., a software company. From January 1998 through June 1998, Mr. Fjeld served as Vice President of Larscom, Inc., a networking company. From August 1995 through December 1997, Mr. Fjeld served as Vice President of Marketing and later as President and Chief Executive Officer at Netedge Systems, Inc., a networking company.
Roger E. George has served as Vice President, Legal Affairs, and General Counsel since July 2002. Prior to joining Align, Mr. George was the Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance and Legal Affairs and General Counsel of SkyStream Networks, a privately held broadband and broadcast network equipment company. Prior to SkyStream, Mr. George was a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. in Palo Alto, California.
Len M. Hedge has served as our Vice President, Operations since March 2002, having served as our Vice President of Manufacturing from January 1999 to March 2002. Mr. Hedge served as Vice President of Operations for Plynetics Express Corporation, a rapid-prototyping and stereolithography services supplier, from December 1996 to December 1998. From October 1991 to December 1996, Mr. Hedge worked at Beckman Instruments Corporation as Manager for Prototype Manufacturing and Process Development.
David S. Thrower has served as our Vice President, Global Marketing since August 2002. Prior to joining Align, Mr. Thrower served as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales BioSource International, a publicly-held life science reagent company, from October 2000 until July 2002. Prior to BioSource, Mr. Thrower served as Senior Vice President, Global Marketing at GN ReSound, Inc. a hearing and communications device company, from July 1998 until December 1999. Mr. Thrower also has previous experience in large and small independent management consulting firms, including five years with Boston-based Bain & Company.