`
`
`
`SAXENA WHITE P.A.
`David R. Kaplan (SBN 230144)
`Wolfram T. Worms (SBN 202889)
`12750 High Bluff Drive, Suite 475
`San Diego, CA 92130
`Telephone:
`(858) 997-0860
`Facsimile:
`(858) 369-0096
`Email: dkaplan@saxenawhite.com
`wworms@saxenawhite.com
`
`
`Counsel for Plaintiff
`Plymouth County Retirement Association
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`
`PLYMOUTH COUNTY RETIREMENT
`ASSOCIATION, Individually and on Behalf
`of All Others Similarly Situated,
`
` Plaintiff,
`
`
` vs.
`
`
`OUTSET MEDICAL, INC., LESLIE TRIGG,
`NABEEL AHMED, and REBECCA
`CHAMBERS,
`
` Defendants.
`
`
`Case No.:
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR
`VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL
`SECURITIES LAWS
`
`
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 2 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`Plaintiff, Plymouth County Retirement Association (“Plaintiff”), by and through its
`
`attorneys, alleges the following upon information and belief, except as to allegations concerning
`
`Plaintiff, which are alleged upon personal knowledge. Plaintiff’s information and belief are based
`
`upon, among other things, its counsel’s investigation, which includes, without limitation:
`
`(a) review and analysis of public filings made by Outset Medical, Inc. (“Outset Medical” or the
`
`“Company”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”); (b) review and
`
`analysis of press releases and other publications disseminated by Defendants (defined below) and
`
`other parties; (c) review of news articles, shareholder communications, conference calls, and
`
`postings on Outset Medical’s website concerning the Company’s public statements; and (d) review
`
`10
`
`of other publicly available information concerning the Company and the Individual Defendants
`
`11
`
`(defined below).
`
`12
`
`13
`
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`
`1.
`
`This is a federal securities class action on behalf of all persons or entities who
`
`14
`
`purchased Outset Medical common stock between September 15, 2020, and June 13, 2022,
`
`15
`
`inclusive (the “Class Period”) against Outset Medical and certain of its officers (collectively
`
`16
`
`“Defendants”) seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C.
`
`17
`
`§ 78a et seq. (the “Exchange Act”).
`
`18
`
`2.
`
`Outset Medical is a medical technology company focused on kidney dialysis, the
`
`19
`
`primary treatment for acute and chronic kidney failure. The Company’s flagship product is the
`
`20
`
`Tablo Hemodialysis System (“Tablo”). Tablo is a dialysis machine that purifies tap water and
`
`21
`
`then artificially purifies and removes toxins from the blood of patients suffering from kidney
`
`22
`
`failure.
`
`23
`
`3.
`
`Throughout the Class Period, Outset Medical touted that Tablo can “serve as a
`
`24
`
`dialysis clinic on wheels” that had been “cleared by the [U.S.] Food and Drug Administration [(the
`
`25
`
`“FDA”)] for use in the hospital, clinic or home setting.” Indeed, Outset Medical made clear that
`
`26
`
`the Company’s true value proposition would be recognized through the emerging use-at-home
`
`27
`
`market rather than the more traditional acute or clinical settings it targeted historically. Outset
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`1
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 3 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`sought to differentiate itself in the crowded dialysis device market by highlighting its focus on the
`
`“home setting, which [the Company] estimate[d] represents a total addressable market opportunity
`
`of approximately $8.9 billion.” Outset Medical contended it was “well-positioned” to “help
`
`accelerate th[e] shift to home-based hemodialysis therapy” prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic,
`
`patient preferences, government initiatives, and reimbursement changes.
`
`4.
`
`However, devices used by non-professionals outside of a clinical setting and that
`
`can present serious health consequences like Tablo are subject to heightened scrutiny by the FDA,
`
`including post-market surveillance studies pursuant to Section 522 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
`
`Cosmetic Act (the “FDCA”), 21 C.F.R. § 822.1(a). Thus, though cleared by the FDA for sale,
`
`10
`
`Tablo for use in the home setting was subject to additional studies, the results of which could
`
`11
`
`require additional applications for clearance and approvals.
`
`12
`
`5.
`
`While performing further regulatory studies during the Class Period, the Company
`
`13
`
`assured investors that it was conducting the studies “in accordance with the FDA approved
`
`14
`
`protocol,” which required an appropriate demonstration of “real-world” human testing given that
`
`15
`
`the device would be used at home by non-professionals.
`
`16
`
`6.
`
`Seizing on positive prospects for sales of Tablo, the Company completed two
`
`17
`
`secondary stock offerings—one in December 2020 and one in April 2021—raising more than
`
`18
`
`$570 million in proceeds for the benefit of the Company and its private equity backers.
`
`19
`
`7.
`
`Undisclosed to investors, and as Defendants have now admitted, Outset Medical
`
`20
`
`“continuously” made significant changes to Tablo for use in the home setting. The nature of these
`
`21
`
`undisclosed changes: (1) made it likely that the FDA would order the Company to cease all
`
`22
`
`marketing and selling of Tablo for use in the home pending additional applications and approvals;
`
`23
`
`and (2) prevented the Company from performing the requisite “real-world” human testing on a
`
`24
`
`device cleared for sale, contrary to representations to investors.
`
`25
`
`8.
`
`Investors began to learn the truth after the markets closed on May 4, 2022, when
`
`26
`
`the Company announced disappointing results for the first quarter of 2022, which analysts
`
`27
`
`attributed, inter alia, to the untested nature of Tablo in the home setting. In response to this
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`2
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 4 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`disclosure, and as the market digested this news, the price of Outset Medical common stock
`
`declined more than 40% over the three trading days that followed, from a closing price of $39.94
`
`per share on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, to a closing price of $23.06 per share on Monday, May 9,
`
`2022.
`
`9.
`
`Outset Medical then shocked investors after the markets closed on June 13, 2022,
`
`announcing that the FDA had forced the Company to hold all shipments of Tablo for use in the
`
`home until Tablo received proper regulatory clearance. In an astonishing admission made during
`
`an “FDA Review Call” held that day with analysts, Company Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)
`
`Leslie Trigg (“Trigg”) acknowledged the “ship hold” had already been in place for weeks before
`
`10
`
`investors were provided this material information. Importantly, CEO Trigg disclosed for the first
`
`11
`
`time that, rather than conducting studies using “real-world data” gathered in the “home
`
`12
`
`environment” as the Company previously stated was required by the FDA, in reality, Outset
`
`13
`
`Medical had “run with a protocol that involves a simulated use environment at a human factors
`
`14
`
`lab.”
`
`15
`
`10.
`
`During the same call, and as a result of the shipment hold, Outset Medical Chief
`
`16
`
`Financial Officer (“CFO”) Nabeel Ahmed announced the Company was “suspending our prior
`
`17
`
`full-year and long-term guidance.”
`
`18
`
`11.
`
`On this news, the price of Outset Medical stock fell an additional 34%, from a
`
`19
`
`closing price of $20.41 per share on June 13, 2022, to a closing price of $13.46 per share on June
`
`20
`
`14, 2022.
`
`21
`
`12.
`
`Following the FDA Review Call, analysts openly questioned management’s
`
`22
`
`credibility, reporting a difficulty “reconcil[ing] company commentary on the shipment hold.”
`
`23
`
`13.
`
`As a result of Defendants’ wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline
`
`24
`
`in the market value of the Company’s common stock when the truth was disclosed, Plaintiff and
`
`25
`
`other Class members have suffered significant losses and damages.
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`3
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 5 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`14.
`
`The claims asserted herein arise under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange
`
`Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) and 78t(a)) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the SEC (17
`
`C.F.R. § 240.10b-5).
`
`15.
`
`This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to
`
`28 U.S.C. § 1331, Section 27 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 78aa).
`
`16. Venue is proper in this Judicial District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), Section
`
`27 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 78aa). Substantial acts in furtherance of the alleged fraud or
`
`the effects of the fraud have occurred in this Judicial District. Many of the acts and omissions
`
`10
`
`charged herein, including the dissemination of materially false and misleading information to the
`
`11
`
`investing public, and the omission of material information, occurred in substantial part in this
`
`12
`
`Judicial District, as Outset Medical is headquartered in this District.
`
`13
`
`17.
`
`In connection with the acts, transactions, and conduct alleged herein, Defendants,
`
`14
`
`directly and indirectly, used the means and instrumentalities of interstate commerce, including the
`
`15
`
`U.S. Mail, interstate telephone communications, and the facilities of a national securities exchange.
`
`16
`
`17
`
`DIVISIONAL ASSIGNMENT
`
`18.
`
`Pursuant to Local Rule 3-2(c) and (e), this action should be assigned to the San Jose
`
`18
`
`Division of this Court, as the Company is headquartered in Santa Clara County, California.
`
`19
`
`20
`
`19.
`
`Plaintiff Plymouth County Retirement Association is a public pension system
`
`PARTIES
`
`21
`
`organized for the benefit of current and retired municipal and county employees of Plymouth
`
`22
`
`County, Massachusetts. Plaintiff manages approximately $1.2 billion in assets. As set forth in the
`
`23
`
`accompanying certification, incorporated by reference herein, Plaintiff purchased Outset Medical
`
`24
`
`common stock during the Class Period and suffered damages as a result of the federal securities
`
`25
`
`law violations and false and/or misleading statements and/or material omissions alleged herein.
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`4
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 6 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`20.
`
`Defendant Outset Medical is incorporated under the laws of Delaware and has its
`
`principal executive offices in San Jose, California. Outset Medical’s common stock trades on the
`
`Nasdaq Stock Market (the “NASDAQ”) under the ticker symbol “OM.”
`
`21.
`
`Defendant Leslie Trigg (“Trigg”) has served as Outset Medical’s CEO at all
`
`relevant times and was elected as Chair of Outset Medical’s Board of Directors in 2022.
`
`22.
`
`Defendant Nabeel Ahmed (“Ahmed”) has served as Outset Medical’s CFO since
`
`August 2021. Ahmed joined Outset Medical in May 2020 and served as a Vice President and
`
`Controller. On July 1, 2021, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting Ahmed
`
`had been appointed as the Company’s Interim CFO. In a subsequent Current Report on Form
`
`10
`
`8-K filed with the SEC on August 5, 2021, the Company announced Ahmed had transitioned to
`
`11
`
`the permanent role of CFO, Principal Financial Officer, and Principal Accounting Officer,
`
`12
`
`effective July 30, 2021.
`
`13
`
`23.
`
`Defendant Rebecca Chambers (“Chambers”) was Outset Medical’s CFO at all
`
`14
`
`relevant times until July 16, 2021. In a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 1,
`
`15
`
`2021, the Company announced Chambers notified the Company on June 28, 2021, of her decision
`
`16
`
`to resign from Outset Medical effective July 16, 2021.
`
`17
`
`24.
`
`Defendants Trigg, Ahmed, and Chambers
`
`(collectively
`
`the “Individual
`
`18
`
`Defendants”), because of their positions with the Company, possessed the power and authority to
`
`19
`
`control the contents of the Company’s reports to the SEC, press releases, presentations to securities
`
`20
`
`analysts, money and portfolio managers, and institutional investors, i.e., the market. The
`
`21
`
`Individual Defendants were provided with copies of the Company’s reports and press releases
`
`22
`
`alleged herein to be misleading prior to, or shortly after, their issuance and had the ability and
`
`23
`
`opportunity to prevent their issuance or cause them to be corrected. Because of their positions and
`
`24
`
`access to material non-public information available to them, the Individual Defendants knew that
`
`25
`
`the adverse facts specified herein had not been disclosed to, and were being concealed from, the
`
`26
`
`public and that the positive representations that were being made were then materially false and/or
`
`27
`
`misleading. The Individual Defendants are liable for the false statements pleaded herein.
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`5
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 7 of 25
`
`
`
`25.
`
`The Company and the Individual Defendants are collectively referred to as the
`
`“Defendants.”
`
`SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS
`
`Background
`
`26.
`
`Outset Medical was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
`
`In March 2020, the Company’s sole product, Tablo, received premarket notification and clearance
`
`under Section 510(k) of the FDCA, 21 C.F.R. § 807.81(a).
`
`27.
`
`The 510(k) program is a marketing clearance process, pursuant to which Outset
`
`Medical had permission to market Tablo and demonstrate that it was as safe and effective as
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`another FDA-approved device. Notably, significant modifications affecting the safety and/or
`
`11
`
`efficacy of a device that has previously received 510(k) clearance may necessitate additional
`
`12
`
`510(k) applications and clearances.
`
`13
`
`28.
`
`The Company was taken public through an initial public offering (“IPO”) on
`
`14
`
`September 15, 2020, selling 10.29 million shares of common stock to the public at a price of $27
`
`15
`
`per share. The Company’s IPO prospectus, dated September 14, 2020, instructed investors the
`
`16
`
`Company had “regulatory clearances required to market the Tablo Hemodialysis System in the
`
`17
`
`U.S. for use in patients . . . in an acute or chronic care facility.” Moreover, Outset Medical touted
`
`18
`
`that Tablo was “indicated for use in the home.”
`
`19
`
`29.
`
`Throughout the Class Period, Outset Medical instructed investors that although the
`
`20
`
`Company had received 510(k) clearance to sell Tablo for home use, the FDA was continuing to
`
`21
`
`scrutinize the safety and efficacy of Tablo’s use in the home setting. For example, in its IPO
`
`22
`
`Prospectus, Outset Medical instructed investors that the FDA had “recently notified [the Company]
`
`23
`
`that the Tablo System is subject to a mandatory post-market surveillance order under Section 522”
`
`24
`
`of the FDCA because Tablo was a device “[the] failure [of which] would be reasonably likely to
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`6
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 8 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`have serious adverse health consequences, and that it is intended to be a life-sustaining or life-
`
`supporting device used outside a device user facility.”
`
`30.
`
`The Company further instructed investors that, in response to the 522 Order, it had
`
`submitted a “simulated human factors test protocol to the agency” and that it “previously
`
`committed to the FDA to conduct this study as a validation activity while the Tablo 510(k) was
`
`under review by the FDA.”
`
`31.
`
`According to the Company, the FDA essentially rejected the Company’s
`
`“simulated human factors test protocol.” Indeed, as Outset Medical disclosed in its 2020 Annual
`
`Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 22, 2021, in “late 2020” the FDA “requested
`
`10
`
`additional information and notified us that we will need to conduct a new human factors study
`
`11
`
`encompassing both summative and real-world data to meet the requirements of the 522 Order.”
`
`12
`
`32.
`
`In the same Form 10-K, the Company advised investors it had responded to the
`
`13
`
`FDA’s request for additional information in January 2021, and, in March 2021, the FDA “approved
`
`14
`
`our 522 study protocol.” Notably, the Company assured the market it would “conduct the study
`
`15
`
`in accordance with the FDA approved protocol.”
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`Defendants’ Materially False and Misleading Statements
`Issued During the Class Period
`
`33.
`
`The Class Period begins on September 15, 2020, when Outset Medical completed
`
`its IPO. The offering documents supporting the IPO informed investors the FDA had “required
`
`that we conduct a human factors study, as well as conduct a detailed analysis of adverse events
`
`and complaints from home users.” Further, the Company stated that it continued “to seek
`
`opportunities for product improvements and feature enhancements, which will, from time to time,
`
`require FDA clearance or approval before commercial launch.”
`
`34.
`
`On November 11, 2020, the Company released its financial results for the third
`
`quarter of 2020. During the accompanying call with analysts that day, CEO Trigg stated the
`
`Company had “carefully and deliberately begun building the foundation for our technology [and
`
`that] [w]e’re really excited about the promise of Tablo in transforming the [home hemodialysis]
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`7
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 9 of 25
`
`
`
`market.” CEO Trigg summarized the progress the Company had made in 2020 by, among other
`
`things, “secur[ing] FDA clearance for [home hemodialysis].”
`
`35.
`
`In a conference call with analysts accompanying the Company’s earnings for the
`
`fourth quarter of 2020 ended December 31, 2020, CEO Trigg declared “we remain intentionally
`
`deliberate in our strategy to expand our home market presence.” Trigg continued, stating the
`
`Company remained “committed to doing it well[,] not quickly. Because our go[-]slow to go[-]fast
`
`strategy, we expect home revenue to remain modest relative to total revenue in 2021.”
`
`36.
`
`The Company filed its first Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC on March
`
`22, 2021. Therein, the Company disclosed that the FDA:
`
`has required we conduct a human factors study, as well as conduct
`a detailed analysis of adverse events and complaints from home
`users. In response to the 522 order, we submitted a simulated human
`factors test protocol to the agency which leveraged testing from our
`validation study that was initialed in 2019. In late 2020, the FDA
`requested additional information and notified us that we will need
`to conduct a new human factors study encompassing both
`summative and real-world data to meet the requirements of the 522
`Order. We responded to the FDA’s request for additional
`information in January 2021 and in March 2021, the FDA approved
`our 522 study protocol. We will conduct the study in accordance
`with the FDA approved protocol.
`
`37.
`
`In a Form S-1 Registration Statement filed on April 6, 2021, in connection with the
`
`April 2021 secondary offering of stock, the Company repeated this disclosure, and again assured
`
`investors the Company would “conduct the study in accordance with the FDA approved protocol.”
`
`38.
`
`Defendants continued to give the market the impression testing data from users at
`
`home was positive. For example, on May 5, 2021, Outset Medical issued a press release
`
`announcing its financial results for the first quarter of 2021. During the accompanying call with
`
`analysts that day, CEO Trigg proclaimed that “Tablo’s value proposition at home will become
`
`increasingly tangible. To date, patient data from those at home remains exceptional.”
`
`39.
`
`The Company did not provide investors with another update on the status of the
`
`FDA-required human factors study again until the Company filed its 2021 Annual Report on Form
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`8
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 10 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10-K with the SEC on February 23, 2022 (the “2021 Form 10-K”). After the Company again
`
`discussed the FDA’s requirement for a human factors study, the Company reported for the first
`
`time that “[w]e have made certain changes over time, including software updates, to the Tablo
`
`System, including to accommodate patient use in the home. Although we originally documented
`
`these changes in memoranda to file, we have submitted a ‘catch-up’ 510(k) application to the FDA
`
`which covers these design changes.”
`
`40.
`
`The Company’s 2021 Form 10-K further explained that the Tablo System that
`
`included these design changes “also is the version of the Tablo System and software that we plan
`
`to use in the human factors study, we intend to initiate the human factors study upon FDA
`
`10
`
`clearance. Once we are able to commence, conduct and complete our study, a final report will be
`
`11
`
`provided to the FDA.”
`
`12
`
`41.
`
`The above statements identified in ¶¶ 33 - 40 were materially false and/or
`
`13
`
`misleading and failed to disclose material adverse factors about the Company’s business,
`
`14
`
`operations, and prospects, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them.
`
`15
`
`Specifically, Defendants misled investors and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants had
`
`16
`
`“continuously made improvements and updates to Tablo over time since its original clearance”
`
`17
`
`that required an additional 510(k) application; (2) as a result, the Company could not conduct a
`
`18
`
`human factors study on a cleared device in accordance with FDA protocols; (3) the Company’s
`
`19
`
`inability to conduct the human factors study subjected the Company to the likelihood of the FDA
`
`20
`
`imposing a “shipment hold” and marketing suspension, leaving the Company unable to sell Tablo
`
`21
`
`for home use; and (4) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business,
`
`22
`
`operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and /or lacked a reasonable basis
`
`23
`
`at all relevant times.
`
`24
`
`25
`
`The Truth Is Revealed
`
`42.
`
`On May 4, 2022, after the markets closed, the Company released its results for the
`
`26
`
`first quarter of 2022 ended on March 31, 2022, announcing a net loss of $36.9 million in the first
`
`27
`
`quarter alone—an increase over its loss for the same quarter in 2021.
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`9
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 11 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`43.
`
`Nevertheless, the Company noted that it “[s]hipped record number of Tablo
`
`consoles for Home patients, reflecting continued momentum in health care providers establishing
`
`Home programs.” Indeed, during the accompanying conference call with analysts, CFO Ahmed
`
`provided increased guidance for full year 2022. Pointing to “our strong performance in the first
`
`quarter,” the Company’s “forward visibility, and “increased conviction in our ability to execute as
`
`we plan to in 2022,” Ahmed reported increased revenue guidance—from $142 million to
`
`$144 million—for the lower end of the Company’s full-year 2022 guidance. Ahmed further touted
`
`how the Company’s “performance in the home means that we continue to be on track to deliver
`
`home revenues of roughly mid-teens as a percent of full year 2022 revenues.”
`
`10
`
`44.
`
`Analysts following the Company noted Tablo’s at-home market was a factor in
`
`11
`
`Outset Medical’s reported loss. For example, in a research report published on May 5, 2022,
`
`12
`
`Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. analyst Suraj Kalia (“Kalia”) rated the Company neutral partially based
`
`13
`
`on “Tablo’s reliability in [the] home setting [being] unproven.”
`
`14
`
`45.
`
`As the market digested the Company’s reported loss and analysts’ commentary, the
`
`15
`
`price of Outset Medical stock declined more than 40% over the following three trading days, from
`
`16
`
`a closing price of $39.94 per share on May 4, 2022, to a closing price of $23.06 per share on May
`
`17
`
`9, 2022.
`
`18
`
`46.
`
`Then, after the markets closed on June 13, 2022, the Company issued a current
`
`19
`
`Report on Form 8-K that attached a press release announcing the Company “has implemented a
`
`20
`
`shipment hold on the distribution of its Tablo Hemodialysis System for home use pending the Food
`
`21
`
`and Drug Administration (FDA) review of and clearance of a 510(k) the company submitted for
`
`22
`
`changes made since the device’s original March 2020 clearance.”
`
`23
`
`47.
`
`The same day, the Company held an emergency “FDA Review Call” with analysts.
`
`24
`
`During the call, CEO Trigg stunned investors by reporting the Company had implemented the ship
`
`25
`
`hold “in late May” which meant the Company would “not be marketing [Tablo] for home use
`
`26
`
`during the shipment hold period.” Unsurprisingly, Defendants acknowledged the hold would
`
`27
`
`“materially impact[] our ability to meet our Q2 forecast.” CEO Trigg then revealed to investors
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`10
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 12 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`that the Company had “continuously made improvements and updates to Tablo over time since its
`
`original clearances for acute, chronic at home.” Then, and in stark contrast to the Company’s prior
`
`assurances to investors that it had been conducting the 522 Study in accordance with FDA
`
`protocols requiring presentation of “real-world data” gathered in “the home environment,” CEO
`
`Trigg admitted that, in reality, the Company’s human factors study had been “run with a protocol
`
`that involves a simulated use environment at a human factors lab.”
`
`48.
`
`As a result of the shipment hold imposed by the FDA, CFO Ahmed told analysts
`
`during the FDA Review Call that it was “too early to provide guidance for the full year absent
`
`clarity on the timing of the review completion,” and as a result, the Company was “suspending our
`
`10
`
`prior full year and longer-term guidance.”
`
`11
`
`49.
`
`Following the call, analysts were quick to react to these developments. Analysts
`
`12
`
`with Stifel Financial and Cowen Inc. both slashed their price targets for Outset Medical by roughly
`
`13
`
`40%. Stifel analysts Rick Wise, Anton Heldman, and John McAulay directly tied the Company’s
`
`14
`
`disclosures to the stock price decline, reporting “we expect OM shares will weaken further today
`
`15
`
`reflecting these FDA uncertainties and now-lowered near-term outlook.” Oppenheimer analyst
`
`16
`
`Kalia was even more direct, questioning Defendants’ credibility and reporting “[w]e cannot
`
`17
`
`reconcile company commentary with our understanding of [human factors] testing … and bullish
`
`18
`
`commentary on 1Q call in early May.” Kalia further noted that “[t]he necessity of a shipment hold
`
`19
`
`for [what had been painted by the Company as] relatively marginal design changes doesn’t
`
`20
`
`comport, in our view.”
`
`21
`
`50.
`
`In response to this news, on the following trading day, the price of Outset Medical
`
`22
`
`collapsed, falling an additional 34% from a closing price of $20.41 per share on June 13, 2022, to
`
`23
`
`a closing price of $13.46 per share on June 14, 2022.
`
`
`
`24
`
`25
`
`CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
`
`51.
`
`Plaintiff brings this action as a class action pursuant to Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the
`
`26
`
`Federal Rules of Civil Procedure on behalf of a class, consisting of all persons and entities that
`
`27
`
`purchased Outset Medical common stock between September 15, 2020, and June 13, 2022,
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`11
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 13 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`inclusive, and who were damaged thereby (the “Class”). Excluded from the Class are Defendants,
`
`the officers and directors of the Company, at all relevant times, members of their immediate
`
`families and their legal representatives, heirs, successors, or assigns, and any entity in which
`
`Defendants have or had a controlling interest.
`
`52.
`
`The members of the Class are so numerous that joinder of all members is
`
`impracticable. While the exact number of Class members is unknown to Plaintiff at this time and
`
`can only be ascertained through appropriate discovery, Plaintiff believes that there are at least
`
`hundreds or thousands of members in the proposed Class. Throughout the Class Period, Outset
`
`Medical common stock actively traded on NASDAQ (an open and efficient market) under the
`
`10
`
`symbol “OM.” Millions of Outset Medical shares were traded publicly during the Class Period on
`
`11
`
`the NASDAQ. As of April 22, 2022, the Company had more than 47 million shares
`
`12
`
`outstanding. Record owners and other members of the Class may be identified from records
`
`13
`
`maintained by Outset Medical or its transfer agent and may be notified of the pendency of this
`
`14
`
`action by mail, using a form of notice similar to that customarily used in securities class actions.
`
`15
`
`53.
`
`Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the claims of the other members of the Class as all
`
`16
`
`members of the Class were similarly affected by Defendants’ wrongful conduct in violation of
`
`17
`
`federal law that is complained of herein.
`
`18
`
`54.
`
`Plaintiff will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the members of the Class
`
`19
`
`and has retained counsel competent and experienced in class and securities litigation. Plaintiff has
`
`20
`
`no interests that conflict with those of the Class.
`
`21
`
`55.
`
`Common questions of law and fact exist as to all members of the Class and
`
`22
`
`predominate over any questions solely affecting individual members of the Class. Among the
`
`23
`
`questions of law and fact common to the Class are:
`
`24
`
`a.
`
`whether Defendants violated the Exchange Act by the acts and omissions
`
`25
`
`as alleged herein;
`
`26
`
`b.
`
`whether Defendants knew or recklessly disregarded that their statements
`
`27
`
`and/or omissions were false and misleading;
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
`12
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04016-JSC Document 1 Filed 07/08/22 Page 14 of 25
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`c.
`
`whether documents, press releases, and other statements disseminated to the
`
`investing public and the Company’s shareholders during the Class Period misrepresented material
`
`facts about the business, operations, and prospects of Outset Medical;
`
`d.
`
`whether statements made by Defendants to the investing public during the
`
`Class Period misrepresented and/or omitted to disclose material facts about the business,
`
`operations, and prospects of Outset Medical;
`
`e.
`
`whether the market price of Outset Medical common stock during the Class
`
`Period was artificially inflated due to the material misrepresentations and failures to correct the
`
`material misrepresentations complained of herein; and
`
`10
`
`f.
`
`the extent to which the members of the Class have sustained damages and
`
`11
`
`the proper measure of damages.
`
`12
`
`56.
`
`A class action is superior to all other available methods for the fair and efficient
`
`13
`
`adjudication of this controversy since joinder of all members is impracticable. Furthermore, as
`
`14
`
`the damages suffered by individual Class members may be relatively small, the expense and
`
`15
`
`burden of individual litigation make it impossible for m