Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-269272
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated January 24, 2023)
1,488,166 Shares of Common Stock
Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase 1,229,224 Shares of Common Stock
We are offering directly to investors 1,448,166 shares of our common stock at a price per share of $23.00, and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 1,229,224 shares of common stock in lieu of common stock to certain investors that so choose.
The pre-funded warrants will be immediately exercisable, subject to the limitations described in the section Description of Pre-Funded WarrantsExercisability, and may be exercised at any time after their original issuance. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant sold in this offering will be equal to the price at which a share of common stock is sold in this offering, minus $0.0001, and the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant will equal $0.0001 per share.
This offering is being made without an underwriter or a placement agent and we are not paying underwriting discounts or commissions, so the proceeds to us, before expenses, will be approximately $62.5 million. We estimate the total expenses of this offering will be approximately $0.15 million
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol IRON. On February 13, 2023, the closing sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market was $24.18 per share. There is no established public trading market for the pre-funded warrants, and we do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on The Nasdaq Global Market, or any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company under the federal securities laws and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus supplement and for future filings. See Prospectus Supplement SummaryImplications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See Risk Factors beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement, page 10 of the accompanying base prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement concerning factors you should consider before investing in our common stock and pre-funded warrants.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus supplement is February 13, 2023.
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) using a shelf registration process.
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus dated January 24, 2023, included in our registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-269272), along with the documents incorporated by reference, which provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined.
Before buying any of the securities offered hereby, we urge you to read carefully this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described below under the heading Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and base prospectus or the information contained in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement that was filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement, provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later datefor example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplementthe statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information other than the information that we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus and your reliance on any unauthorized information or representation is at your own risk. This prospectus supplement may be used only in jurisdictions where offers and sales of these securities are permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement, or any sale of our common stock or pre-funded warrants. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may have changed since those dates.
We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the offering of the common stock and pre-funded warrants in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the common stock and pre-funded warrants and the distribution of this prospectus supplement outside the United States. This prospectus supplement does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference herein were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
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On December 29, 2022, we acquired Disc Medicine Opco, Inc. (formerly Disc Medicine, Inc.), or Private Disc, pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger, or the Merger, and we changed our name to Disc Medicine, Inc. on December 29, 2022. As used in this prospectus supplement, unless the context otherwise requires, references to Disc, the Company, we, us and our refer to (i) prior to the date of the Merger, Private Disc, and its wholly owned, consolidated subsidiaries, or either or all of them as the context may require, and (ii) following the date of the Merger, Disc Medicine, Inc., and its wholly owned, consolidated subsidiaries, or either or all of them as the context may require.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. The words anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, would and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about:
| our ability to recognize the benefits of the previously announced merger pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), dated August 9, 2022, by and among Gemini Therapeutics, Inc. (Gemini), Gemstone Merger Sub, Inc. and Disc; |
| the initiation, timing, progress, results, and cost of our research and development programs and our current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials, including statements regarding the timing of initiation and completion of studies or trials and related preparatory work, the period during which the results of the trials will become available, and our research and development programs; |
| our ability to efficiently discover and develop product candidates; |
| our ability and the potential to successfully manufacture our drug substances and product candidates for preclinical use, for clinical trials and on a larger scale for commercial use, if approved; |
| our ability to obtain funding for our operations necessary to complete further development and commercialization of our product candidates; |
| our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates; |
| our ability to commercialize our products, if approved; |
| the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved; |
| the implementation of our business model, and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; |
| the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates; |
| estimates of our future expenses, revenues, capital requirements, and our needs for additional financing; |
| the potential benefits of strategic collaboration agreements, our ability to enter into strategic collaborations or arrangements, and our ability to attract collaborators with development, regulatory and commercialization expertise; |
| future agreements with third parties in connection with the commercialization of product candidates and any other approved product; |
| the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates, and our ability to serve those markets; |
| our financial performance; |
| the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates; |
| regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; |
| our ability to contract with third-party suppliers and manufacturers and their ability to perform adequately; |
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| our ability to produce our products or product candidates with advantages in turnaround times or manufacturing cost; |
| the success of competing therapies that are or may become available; |
| our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel; |
| the impact of laws and regulations; |
| developments relating to our competitors and our industry; |
| the impact of global economic and political developments on our business, including rising inflation and capital market disruptions, the current conflict in Ukraine, economic sanctions and economic slowdowns or recessions that may result from such developments which could harm our research and development efforts as well as the value of our common stock and our ability to access capital markets; |
| the effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including mitigation efforts and economic effects, on any of the foregoing or other aspects of our business operations, including but not limited to our preclinical studies and clinical trials and any future studies or trials; and |
| other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption Risk Factors. |
The forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement represent our views as of the date of this prospectus supplement. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this prospectus supplement.
We may from time-to-time provide estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business and the markets for our programs and product candidates. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market, and other data from our own internal estimates and research as well as from reports, research surveys, studies, and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding any third-party information presented in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus, their estimates, in particular, as they relate to projections, involve numerous assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors. You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and any related free writing prospectus and the documents that we reference therein and have filed with the SEC as exhibits thereto completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These estimates involve numerous assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 29, 2022, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement by reference, as updated by our subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K, and the section this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus entitled Risk Factors.
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This summary highlights selected information about us and this offering and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock or pre-funded warrants. You should read this prospectus supplement carefully, especially the discussion of the risks related to investing in our common stock and pre-funded warrants discussed under Risk Factors beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement, page 10 of the accompanying base prospectus, and in Item 8.01 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2022, our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus supplement, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, along with our consolidated financial statements and notes to those consolidated financial statements and the other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision.
Company Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from serious hematologic diseases. We have assembled a portfolio of clinical and preclinical product candidates that aim to modify fundamental biological pathways associated with the formation and function of red blood cells, specifically heme biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. Our current pipeline includes bitopertin for the treatment of erythropoietic porphyrias, including erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP); DISC-0974 for the treatment of anemia of myelofibrosis (MF) and anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD); and MWTX-003 for the treatment of polycythemia vera (PV) and other hematologic diseases. In addition, our preclinical program, DISC-0998 is being designed for the treatment of anemia associated with inflammatory diseases. Our approach to product candidate development leverages well understood molecular mechanisms that have been validated in humans. We believe that each of our product candidates, if approved, has the potential to improve the lives of patients suffering from hematologic diseases.
Bitopertin is the lead product candidate in our heme biosynthesis modulation portfolio. Bitopertin was previously evaluated by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.in a comprehensive clinical program in over 4,000 individuals in other indications which demonstrated the activity of bitopertin as a glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibitor and its effect on heme biosynthesis. We are planning to initially develop bitopertin for the treatment of erythropoietic porphyrias, including EPP and XLP. In July 2022, we received clearance of our investigational new drug application (IND) for A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Bitopertin to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, and Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) Concentrations in Participants with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) from the Food and Drug Administration. In July 2022, we initiated BEACON, a Phase 2 open-label, parallel-dose clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of bitopertin in EPP and XLP patients that is being conducted at sites in Australia. Separately, in October 2022, we initiated AURORA, a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of bitopertin in EPP patients that is being conducted at sites in the United States. We expect interim data from these two trials in 2023. We are planning additional studies in Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA) and other indications.
DISC-0974 is the lead product candidate in our iron homeostasis portfolio. DISC-0974 is a monoclonal antibody that is designed to suppress hepcidin production and increase serum iron levels by inhibiting hemojuvelin (HJV). We submitted an IND for DISC-0974 in June 2021, received clearance in July 2021, and participants completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers in the U.S. in June 2022 with results showing evidence of target engagement, iron mobilization and erythropoiesis. We initiated a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in June 2022 to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of DISC-0974 in patients with anemia of MF, and plan to initiate a separate Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in the first half of 2023 to evaluate DISC-0974 in
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patients with anemia of CKD. We expect interim data from these two trials in 2023. In addition, we are developing a preclinical anti-HJV monoclonal antibody, DISC-0998, which is also designed to target hepcidin suppression and increase serum iron levels, but has an extended serum half-life as compared to DISC-0974. We believe this profile may be desirable in certain subsets of patients with anemia associated with inflammatory diseases. Both DISC-0974 and DISC-0998 were in-licensed from AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG.
Lastly, we are developing MWTX-003, a monoclonal antibody against TMPRSS6 (Transmembrane Serine Protease 6, also known as Matriptase-2) that we licensed from Mabwell Therapeutics. MWTX-003 is part of our iron homeostasis portfolio and is designed to induce hepcidin production and reduce serum iron levels. An IND for MWTX-003 has been accepted by the FDA, and we plan to initiate a phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers in the second half of 2023. We expect to develop MWTX-003 as a treatment for polycythemia vera and other hematologic disorders.
Corporate Information
Disc Medicine, Inc. was originally incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware in October 2017, and changed its name to Disc Medicine Opco, Inc. (Disc Opco), in December 2022. On December 29, 2022, we completed our business combination with Gemini Therapeutics, Inc.(Gemini) in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of August 9, 2022 (the Merger Agreement), by and among Gemini, us and Gemstone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Gemini (Merger Sub), pursuant to which, among other matters, Merger Sub merged with and into Disc Opco, with Disc Opco continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of us and the surviving corporation of the merger (the Merger). In connection with the closing of the Merger, Gemini changed its name to Disc Medicine, Inc.
Our principal executive offices are located at 321 Arsenal Street, Suite 101, Watertown, MA 02472, and our telephone number is (617) 674-9274. We maintain an Internet website at the following address: www.discmedicine.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or in any other filings we make with the SEC. We do not incorporate the information on or accessible through our website into this prospectus supplement, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus supplement.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company
We qualify as an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the JOBS Act). As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:
| being permitted to only disclose two years of audited financial statements in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements with correspondingly reduced Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations disclosure; |
| reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; |
| not being required to hold advisory votes on executive compensation or to obtain stockholder approval of any golden parachute arrangements not previously approved; and |
| an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. |
We may take advantage of these exemptions until the end of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease
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to be an emerging growth company on the date that is the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.235 billion or more; (ii) December 31, 2025; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these exemptions. We have taken advantage of reduced reporting requirements in this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different from the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock. We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements under the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions, as an emerging growth company, we may rely on certain of these exemptions, including without limitation, omitting an auditors attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting otherwise required by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
We are also a smaller reporting company as defined in the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that our common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues are less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
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The Offering
Common stock offered by us |
1,488,166 shares |
Pre-funded warrants offered by us |
We are also offering, in lieu of common stock to certain investors, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 1,229,224 shares of common stock. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant will equal the price per share at which the shares of common stock are being sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.0001, and the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant will be $0.0001 per share. Each pre-funded warrant will be exercisable at any time after the date of issuance, subject to an ownership limitation. See Description of Pre-Funded Warrants. This prospectus supplement also relates to the offering of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such pre-funded warrants. |
Common stock to be outstanding after this offering |
18,882,850 shares, assuming no exercise of the pre-funded warrants included in this offering. |
Use of Proceeds |
We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $62.35 million. This estimate excludes the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the pre-funded warrants sold in this offering. |
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, to fund research and clinical development of current or additional product candidates, and the remainder for working capital and other general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to in-license, acquire or invest in complementary businesses or technologies to continue to build our pipeline, research and development capabilities and our intellectual property position. See Use of Proceeds on page S-13 of this prospectus supplement. |
Risk Factors |
You should read the Risk Factors section of this prospectus supplement beginning on page S-10 and the accompanying base prospectus and other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to purchase shares of our common stock or pre-funded warrants. |
The Nasdaq Global Market symbol |
IRON. There is no established public trading market for the pre-funded warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on The Nasdaq Global Market or any other nationally recognized securities exchange or trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants will be limited. See Description of Pre-Funded Warrants for additional information. |
All information in this prospectus supplement related to the number of shares of our unaudited pro forma common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 17,394,684 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2022, from our unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as of September 30, 2022. The number of shares of our unaudited pro forma common stock
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outstanding as of September 30, 2022 as used throughout this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated, excludes the shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants being offered by us in this offering, as well as:
| 1,931,499 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2022, at a weighted average exercise price of $18.29 per share; |
| 763,669 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted subsequent to September 30, 2022, at a weighted average exercise price of $14.33 per share; |
| 3,316 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock awards outstanding as of September 30, 2022; |
| 1,683,095 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock available for future issuance under our Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as of September 30, 2022; and |
| 179,898 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock available for future issuance under our Amended and Restated 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of September 30, 2022. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements as of September 30, 2022, are based on Private Discs historical consolidated financial statements and Gemini Therapeutics, Inc.s (Gemini) historical consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2022, adjusted to give effect to (1) the Merger, accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, (2) the conversion of each share of Private Discs preferred stock into common stock, (3) the Private Disc pre-closing financing in the amount of approximately $53.5 million, (4) the conversion of all shares of Private Disc common stock outstanding into shares of Geminis common stock based on an exchange ratio of 0.1096, (5) the Gemini 1:10 reverse stock split, and (6) other pro forma adjustments. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was prepared in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Article 11. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the combined financial position or results of operations of future periods or the results that would have been realized had the entities been a single entity during these periods.
Unless otherwise stated, all information contained in this prospectus supplement (i) assumes no exercise of stock options after September 30, 2022, (ii) gives effect to a one-for-ten reverse stock split of common stock effected on December 29, 2022 and (iii) assumes no exercise of the pre-funded warrants we are offering to certain investors.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you decide to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, in the accompanying base prospectus, and in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 29, 2022, and any subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus supplement, together with all other information contained in this prospectus supplement and in our filings with the SEC that we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected, which, in turn, could have a negative impact on the price of our common stock. In these circumstances, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related To Our Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants And This Offering
You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of shares you purchase. In addition, we may issue additional equity or convertible debt securities in the future, which may result in additional dilution to you.
Given that the offering price of our securities in this offering is substantially greater than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock prior to this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the common stock you purchase in this offering. For a more detailed discussion of the foregoing, see the section entitled Dilution below. To the extent outstanding stock options or warrants, or the pre-funded warrants offered hereby are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors. In addition, to the extent we need to raise additional capital in the future and we issue additional shares of common stock or securities convertible or exchangeable for our common stock, our then existing stockholders may experience dilution and the new securities may have rights senior to those of our common stock offered in this offering.
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may use them in ways that you and other stockholders may not approve.
We currently expect to use the net proceeds of this offering to fund research and clinical development of current or additional product candidates, and the remainder for working capital and other general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to in-license, acquire or invest in complementary businesses or technologies to continue to build our pipeline, research and development capabilities and our intellectual property position. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Our management might not spend the net proceeds in ways that improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, cause the price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value. See Use of Proceeds.
Future sales or issuances of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception of such sales, could depress the trading price of our common stock.
The sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We may sell large quantities of our common stock at any time pursuant to this prospectus supplement or in one or more separate offerings. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.
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In addition to the pre-funded warrants offered hereby, we have a significant number of stock options outstanding, and may also choose to issue additional common stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, in the future in connection with a financing, an acquisition, a litigation settlement, employee arrangements or otherwise. In the event that the outstanding options or warrants, or the pre-funded warrants offered hereby, are exercised, or that we make additional issuances of common stock or other convertible or exchangeable securities, you could experience additional dilution. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that we will be able to issue shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing our securities in the future may have rights superior to investors purchasing shares in this offering.
There is no public market for the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering.
There is no public trading market for the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, including The Nasdaq Global Market. Without an active market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants will be limited.
We will not receive a significant amount, or potentially any, additional funds upon the exercise of our pre-funded warrants; however, any exercise would increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in substantial dilution to our stockholders.
Prior to this offering, we have not issued any pre-funded warrants. Each pre-funded warrant offered hereby is exercisable for $0.0001 per share of common stock underlying such pre-funded warrant, which may be paid by way of a cashless exercise, meaning that the holder may not pay a cash purchase price upon exercise, but instead would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant. Accordingly, we will not receive a significant amount, or potentially any, additional funds upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants. To the extent such pre-funded warrants are exercised, additional shares of common stock will be issued for nominal or no additional consideration, which will result in substantial dilution to the then existing holders of our common stock and will increase the number of shares eligible for resale in the public market. Sales of substantial numbers of such shares in the public market could adversely affect the market price of the common stock, causing our stock price to decline.
Holders of pre-funded warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as common stockholders until such holders exercise their pre-funded warrants and acquire our common stock.
Until holders of pre-funded warrants acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, as applicable, holders of pre-funded warrants will have no rights with respect to the shares of our common stock underlying such pre-funded warrants, as applicable. Upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, the holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.
Significant holders or beneficial holders of our common stock may not be permitted to exercise pre-funded warrants that they hold.
A holder of a pre-funded warrant will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any pre-funded warrant which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause (i) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, or (ii) the combined voting power of our securities beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 9.99% of the combined voting power of all of our securities then outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants, as applicable, unless such percentage is increased upon at least 61 days prior notice, but not in excess of 19.99%. As a result,
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you may not be able to exercise your pre-funded warrants for shares of our common stock at a time when it would be financially beneficial for you to do so. In such circumstance you could seek to sell your pre-funded warrants to realize value, but you may be unable to do so in the absence of an established trading market for the pre-funded warrants.
Unstable market and economic conditions may have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and stock price.
As widely reported, global credit and financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruptions in the past several years, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates and uncertainty about economic stability, including most recently in connection with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There can be no assurance that further deterioration in credit and financial markets and confidence in economic conditions will not occur. Our general business strategy may be adversely affected by any such economic downturn, volatile business environment or continued unpredictable and unstable market conditions. If the current equity and credit markets deteriorate, or do not improve, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly, and more dilutive. Furthermore, our stock price may decline due in part to the volatility of the stock market and the general economic downturn.
Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, financial performance and stock price and could require us to delay, scale back or discontinue the development and commercialization of one or more of our product candidates or delay our pursuit of potential in-licenses or acquisitions. In addition, there is a risk that one or more of our current service providers, manufacturers and other partners may not survive these difficult economic times, which could directly affect our ability to attain our operating goals on schedule and on budget.
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We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $62.35 million, after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will receive nominal proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the pre-funded warrants.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, to fund research and clinical development of current or additional product candidates, and the remainder for working capital and other general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to in-license, acquire or invest in complementary businesses or technologies to continue to build our pipeline, research and development capabilities and our intellectual property position.
The expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. We have not determined the amounts we plan to spend on any of the areas listed above or the timing of these expenditures. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including the progress of our development, the status of and results from clinical trials and collaborations that we may enter into with third parties for our product candidates and any unforeseen cash needs, including the factors described under Risk Factors in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference herein. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds from this offering for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion in the application of net proceeds.
We do not expect that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and investments, will be sufficient to enable us to fund the completion of development of any of our product candidates.
Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments and U.S. government securities.
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If you invest in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share and the as adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after giving effect to this offering. The data in this section are derived from our unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as of September 30, 2022. See Prospectus Supplement Summary on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement for additional information regarding our pro forma presentation.
As of September 30, 2022, we had unaudited pro forma net tangible book value of approximately $188.0 million, or $10.81 per share of our common stock, based upon 17,394,684 shares of our unaudited pro forma common stock outstanding as of that date. Unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share is equal to our unaudited pro forma total tangible assets, less unaudited pro forma total liabilities, divided by the unaudited pro forma number of outstanding shares of our common stock. Dilution in unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering and the as adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
After giving effect to the sale of 1,488,166 shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 1,229,224 shares of our common stock at the public offering price of $23.00 per share of common stock and $22.9999 per pre-funded warrant (which equals the public offering price per share of the common stock less the $0.0001 per share exercise price of each such pre-funded warrant) (and excluding shares of common stock issued and any proceeds received upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants or any resulting accounting associated with the pre-funded warrants) pursuant to this prospectus supplement, and after deducting estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2022 would have been $250 million, or $13.26 per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in the unaudited pro forma net tangible book value of $2.45 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in unaudited pro forma net tangible book value of 9.74 per share of common stock to new investors in this offering based on the offering price. Dilution per share to new investors is determined by subtracting as adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering from the offering price per share paid by new investors. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
Offering price per share |
$ 23.00 | |||||||
Unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2022 |
$ 10.81 | |||||||
Increase in unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to sale of shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants in this offering |
$ 2.45 | |||||||
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|
|
|
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As adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2022, after this offering |
$ 13.26 | |||||||
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|
|
|
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Dilution in unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors purchasing shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants in this offering |
$ 9.74 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
If holders of our pre-funded warrants issued in this offering exercise the pre-funded warrants, the as adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after giving effect to this offering would be $12.45 per share, and the dilution in as adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share to investors purchasing common stock in this offering would be $10.55 per share.
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The above discussion and table are based on 17,394,684 shares of our unaudited pro forma common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and excludes the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants being offered by us in this offering, as well as:
| 1,931,499 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2022, at a weighted average exercise price of $18.29 per share; |
| 763,669 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted subsequent to September 30, 2022, at a weighted average exercise price of $14.33 per share; |
| 3,316 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock awards outstanding as of September 30, 2022; |
| 1,683,095 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock available for future issuance under our Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as of September 30, 2022; and |
| 179,898 shares of unaudited pro forma common stock available for future issuance under our Amended and Restated 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of September 30, 2022. |
To the extent that options outstanding as of September 30, 2022 have been or may be exercised or settle, as applicable, or other shares issued, investors purchasing our common stock or pre-funded warrants in this offering may experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
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DESCRIPTION OF PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS
The material terms and provisions of our common stock are described under the heading Description of Capital Stock starting on page 17 of the accompanying prospectus. The material terms and provisions of the pre-funded warrants being issued in this offering are summarized below and are qualified in their entirety by the full text of the pre-funded warrant agreement.
Form
The pre-funded warrants will be issued as individual warrant agreements to the investors. The form of pre-funded warrant will be provided to the investors in this offering and will be filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K that we expect to file with the SEC in connection with this offering.
Term
The pre-funded warrants do not expire.
Exercisability
The pre-funded warrants are exercisable at any time after their original issuance. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and by payment in full of the exercise price in immediately available funds for the number of shares of common stock purchased upon such exercise. As an alternative to payment in immediately available funds, the holder may elect to exercise the pre-funded warrant through a cashless exercise, in which the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a pre-funded warrant.
Exercise Limitations
Under the pre-funded warrants, we may not effect the exercise of any pre-funded warrant, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any pre-funded warrant, which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause (i) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, or (ii) the combined voting power of our securities beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 9.99% of the combined voting power of all of our securities then outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 19.99% upon at least 61 days prior notice from the holder to us.
Exercise Price
The exercise price per whole share of our common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants is $0.0001 per share of common stock. The exercise price of the pre-funded warrants and the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock. The exercise price will not be adjusted below the par value of our common stock.
Transferability
Subject to applicable laws, the pre-funded warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.
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Exchange Listing
There is no established public trading market for the pre-funded warrants and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on The Nasdaq Global Market, any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants will be limited.
Fundamental Transactions
In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the pre-funded warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, upon consummation of such a fundamental transaction, the holders of the pre-funded warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the pre-funded warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction without regard to any limitations on exercise contained in the pre-funded warrants.
No Rights as a Stockholder
Except by virtue of such holders ownership of shares of our common stock, the holder of a pre-funded warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the pre-funded warrant. In the event of certain distributions, including cash dividends, if any, to all holders of our common stock for no consideration, the holder of a pre-funded warrant shall be entitled to participate in such distributions to the same extent as if a holder of shares of our common stock, subject to not exceeding the ownership limitations described above under Exercise Limitations, in which case such distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of such holder until the earlier of such time as the ownership limitations would not be exceeded or the pre-funded warrant is exercised.
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We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently plan to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the operation, development and growth of our business. We do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions contained in current or future financing instruments, provisions of applicable law and other factors the board deems relevant. Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock may be restricted by the terms of any of our future indebtedness.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR INVESTORS IN OUR COMMON STOCK AND PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS
The following summary describes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock and pre-funded warrants acquired in this offering. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxes, does not discuss the potential application of the alternative minimum tax or Medicare Contribution tax and does not deal with state or local taxes, U.S. federal gift and estate tax laws, except to the limited extent provided below, or any non-U.S. tax consequences that may be relevant to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) in light of their particular circumstances.
Special rules different from those described below may apply to certain investors that are subject to special treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, such as:
| insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions; |
| tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations) and tax-qualified retirement plans; |
| foreign governments and international organizations; |
| broker-dealers and traders in securities; |
regulated investment companies;
| U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
pension plans;
| Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) that own, or are deemed to own, more than 5% of our common stock (directly, indirectly or by attribution) or more than 5% of our pre-funded warrants; |
qualified foreign pension funds as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds;
| persons required for U.S. federal income tax purposes to conform the timing of income accruals to their financial statements under Section 451(b) of the Code; |
| controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
| persons that hold our common stock or pre-funded warrants as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, synthetic security or integrated investment or other risk reduction strategy; |
| U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency for U.S. tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar; |
| persons who do not hold our common stock or pre-funded warrants as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, for investment purposes); |
| persons deemed to sell our common stock or pre-funded warrants under the constructive sale provisions of the Code; |
| persons who hold or receive our common stock or pre-funded warrants pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; and |
| persons who have elected to mark securities to market. |
Such investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.
In addition, this discussion does not address the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities or persons who hold our common stock or pre-funded warrants through partnerships or other entities which are pass- through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a partnership or other pass-through entity holds our common stock or pre-funded warrants, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the stratus of the
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partner and the activities of the partnership or other pass-through entity. A partner in a partnership or other pass-through entity that will hold our common stock or pre-funded warrants should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock or pre-funded warrants through a partnership or other pass-through entity, as applicable.
Furthermore, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code, and Treasury regulations, rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities may be repealed, revoked or modified, possibly retroactively, and are subject to differing interpretations which could result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. We have not requested a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions or will not take a contrary position regarding the tax consequences described herein, or that any such contrary position would not be sustained by a court.
For the purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of our common stock or pre-funded warrants, other than a partnership or other pass-through entity, that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (a) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (b) a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (d) a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
A Non-U.S. Holder is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a beneficial owner of common stock or pre-funded warrants that is (i) a foreign corporation, (ii) a nonresident alien individual, or (iii) a foreign estate or trust that in each case is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net-income basis on income or gain from common stock or pre-funded warrants..
If you are an individual non-U.S. citizen, you may, in some cases, be deemed to be a resident alien (as opposed to a nonresident alien) by virtue of being present in the United States for at least 31 days in the calendar year and for an aggregate of at least 183 days during a three-year period ending in the current calendar year. Generally, for this purpose, all the days present in the current year, one-third of the days present in the immediately preceding year, and one-sixth of the days present in the second preceding year, are counted.
Resident aliens are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax as if they were U.S. citizens. Individuals who are uncertain of their status as resident or nonresident aliens for U.S. federal income tax purposes are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of our common stock.
PERSONS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF OUR COMMON STOCK OR PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS OFFERING SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF ACQUIRING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR COMMON STOCK AND PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OR ANY U.S. FEDERAL NON-INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES, AND THE POSSIBLE APPLICATION OF TAX TREATIES.
Characterization of the Pre-Funded Warrants for Tax Purposes
Although the characterization of the pre-funded warrants for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not entirely clear, because the exercise price of the pre-funded warrants is a nominal amount, we expect to treat
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the pre-funded warrants as our common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a holder of pre-funded warrants should generally be taxed in the same manner as a holder of common stock as described below. Accordingly, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, no gain or loss should be recognized upon the exercise of a pre-funded warrant, and upon exercise, the holding period of the share of common stock received should include the holding period of the pre-funded warrant. Similarly, the tax basis of a share of common stock received upon exercise of a pre-funded warrant should include the tax basis of the pre-funded warrant increased by the exercise price of $0.0001 per share. The balance of this discussion generally assumes that the characterization described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the discussion below, to the extent it pertains to our common stock, is generally intended to also pertain to the pre-funded warrants.
Our position with respect to the characterization of pre-funded warrants is not binding on the IRS and the IRS may treat the pre-funded warrants as warrants to acquire our common stock and, if so, the amount and character of your gain with respect to an investment in our pre-funded warrants could change. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the characterization of pre-funded warrants for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the consequences to you of an investment in the pre-funded warrants based on your own particular facts and circumstances.
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
Distributions on Common Stock
As stated under Dividend Policy, we do not expect to make distributions on our common stock in the foreseeable future. In the event that we do make distributions of cash or other property, distributions paid on common stock will be treated as a dividend to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, and will be includible in your income as ordinary income when received. However, with respect to dividends received by individuals, such dividends are generally taxed at the lower applicable qualified dividends rate, provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the common stock and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such common stock. The tax treatment of such gain is further described in Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants below. Dividends received by a corporation may be eligible for a dividends received deduction, subject to applicable limitations. Any such distributions will also be subject to the discussions below under the sections titled Backup Withholding and Information Reporting and Foreign Accounts.
Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of common stock or pre-funded warrants will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the common stock or pre-funded warrants for more than one year. The amount of the gain or loss will equal the difference between your adjusted tax basis in the common stock or pre-funded warrants disposed of and the amount realized on the disposition. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders will be subject to reduced tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting requirements generally will apply to payments of dividends on our common stock, constructive dividends on our pre-funded warrants, and gross proceeds on the sale or other disposition of our common stock and pre-funded warrants, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient (such as a corporation) , regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Backup withholding (currently at a 24% rate) will apply to those payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide its correct taxpayer identification number, or certification of exempt status, or if the U.S. Holder is notified by the IRS that it has failed to report in full payments of interest and dividend income. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished timely to the IRS.
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Tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
For purposes of this discussion, a Non-U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of our common stock or pre-funded warrants that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is neither a U.S. Holder (as defined above) nor a partnership or other pass-through entity. If you are not a Non-U.S. Holder, this section does not apply to you.
Distributions on Common Stock
As stated under Dividend Policy, we do not expect to make any distributions on our common stock in the foreseeable future. If we do make distributions on our common stock, however, such distributions made to a Non-U.S. Holder will constitute dividends for U.S. tax purposes to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that is applied against and reduces, but not below zero, a Non-U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized as described below under the section titled Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants.
Any distribution on our common stock that is treated as a dividend paid to a Non-U.S. Holder that is not effectively connected with the holders conduct of a trade or business in the United States will generally be subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and the Non-U.S. Holders country of residence. To obtain a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be required to provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other appropriate form, certifying the Non-U.S. Holders entitlement to benefits under that treaty. Such form must be provided prior to the payment of dividends and must be updated periodically. If a Non-U.S. Holder holds stock through a financial institution or other agent acting on the holders behalf, the holder will be required to provide appropriate documentation to such agent. The holders agent may then be required to provide certification to the applicable withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. If you are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax under an income tax treaty, you should consult with your own tax advisor to determine if you are able to obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for a refund with the IRS.
We generally are not required to withhold tax on dividends paid (or constructive dividends deemed paid) to a Non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with the holders conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that the holder maintains in the United States) if a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI, stating that the dividends are so connected, is furnished to us (or, if shares of our common stock are held through a financial institution or other agent, to the applicable withholding agent). In general, such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates applicable to U.S. persons, unless a specific treaty exemption applies. A corporate Non-U.S. Holder receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax, which is imposed, under certain circumstances, at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty) on the corporate Non-U.S. Holders effectively connected earnings and profits, subject to certain adjustments.
See also the section below titled Foreign Accounts for additional withholding rules that may apply to dividends paid to certain foreign financial institutions or non-financial foreign entities.
Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants
Subject to the discussion below under the section titled Backup Withholding and Information Reporting, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax with respect to gain realized on a sale or other disposition of our common stock or pre-funded warrants unless (a) the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable
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income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment that the holder maintains in the United States), (b) the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual and is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met, or (c) we are or have been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding such disposition or the holders holding period in the common stock or pre-funded warrants.
If you are a Non-U.S. Holder described in (a) above, you will be required to pay tax on the net gain derived from the sale at the regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to U.S. persons, unless a specific treaty exemption applies. Corporate Non-U.S. Holders described in (a) above may also be subject to the additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. If you are an individual Non-U.S. Holder described in (b) above, you will be required to pay a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the sale, which gain may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses (even though you are not considered a resident of the United States), provided you have timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses. With respect to (c) above, in general, we would be a U.S. real property holding corporation if interests in U.S. real estate comprised (by fair market value) at least half of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We believe that we are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a U.S. real property holding corporation. However, there can be no assurance that we will not become a U.S. real property holding corporation in the future. Even if we are treated as a U.S. real property holding corporation, gain realized by a Non-U.S. Holder on a disposition of our common stock or pre-funded warrants will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax so long as (1) the Non-U.S. Holder owned, directly, indirectly or constructively, no more than five percent of our common stock and pre-funded warrants at all times within the shorter of (i) the five-year period preceding the disposition or (ii) the holders holding period and (2) our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market. There can be no assurance that our common stock will continue to qualify as regularly traded on an established securities market.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Generally, we or certain financial middlemen must report information to the IRS with respect to any dividends we pay on our common stock or any constructive dividends deemed paid on the pre-funded warrants including the amount of any such dividends, the name and address of the recipient, and the amount, if any, of tax withheld. A similar report is sent to the holder to whom any such dividends are paid. Pursuant to tax treaties or certain other agreements, the IRS may make its reports available to tax authorities in the recipients country of residence.
Dividends paid by us (or our paying agents) to a Non-U.S. Holder may also be subject to U.S. backup withholding. U.S. backup withholding generally will not apply to a Non-U.S. Holder who provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a U.S. person.
Under current U.S. federal income tax law, U.S. information reporting and backup withholding requirements generally will apply to the proceeds of a disposition of our common stock or pre-funded warrants effected by or through a U.S. office of any broker, U.S. or non-U.S., unless the Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing non-U.S. person status or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, U.S. information reporting and backup withholding requirements will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds to a Non-U.S. Holder where the transaction is effected outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker. Information reporting and backup withholding requirements may, however, apply to a payment of disposition proceeds if the broker has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is, in fact, a U.S. person. For information reporting purposes, certain brokers with substantial U.S. ownership or operations will generally be treated in a manner similar to U.S. brokers.
S-23
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. If backup withholding is applied to you, you should consult with your own tax advisor to determine whether you have overpaid your U.S. federal income tax, and whether you are able to obtain a tax refund or credit of the overpaid amount.
Foreign Accounts
In addition to, and separately from the withholding rules described above, U.S. federal withholding taxes may apply under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, on certain types of payments, including dividends to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends paid in respect of our common stock, constructive dividends deemed paid with respect to the pre-funded warrants or the gross proceeds of the disposition on our common stock or pre-funded warrants paid to a foreign financial institution or a non-financial foreign entity (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution agrees to undertake certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any substantial United States owners (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. The 30% federal withholding tax described in this paragraph cannot be reduced under an income tax treaty with the United States. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain specified United States persons or United States-owned foreign entities (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Regulations proposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (which may be relied upon pending finalization) would eliminate the requirement of withholding on gross proceeds.
Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our common stock.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, HOLDING AND DISPOSING OF OUR COMMON STOCK AND PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAW, AS WELL AS TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER ANY STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR U.S. FEDERAL NON-INCOME TAX LAWS SUCH AS ESTATE AND GIFT TAX.
S-24
We are selling 1,488,166 shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 1,229,224 shares of our common stock offered under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus directly to the investors, at a price of $23.00 per share of common stock and $22.9999 per pre-funded warrant. We have entered into a securities purchase agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023 (the Securities Purchase Agreement), by and among us and the investors listed therein, relating to the sale of these shares.
On the closing date, we will issue the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants to the investors and we will receive proceeds (before expenses) in the amount of approximately $62.5 million. We estimate that the expenses of this offering payable by us will be approximately $0.15 million.
The shares and pre-funded warrants were offered directly to the investors without a placement agent, underwriter, broker or dealer.
The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement were made solely for the benefit of us and the investors. In addition, such representations, warranties and covenants (i) are intended as a way of allocating the risk between us and the investors and not as statements of fact, and (ii) may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material by stockholders of, or other investors in, our company. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in public disclosures.
We currently anticipate that the closing of the sale of such shares and pre-funded warrants will take place on or about February 15, 2023.
A copy of the Securities Purchase Agreement has been filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus form a part.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol IRON. There is no established public trading market for the pre-funded warrants and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on The Nasdaq Global Market, any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.
S-25
The validity of the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.
The consolidated financial statements of Disc Medicine, Inc. (formerly known as Gemini Therapeutics, Inc.) for the year ended December 31, 2021 included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 10, 2022 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and, incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Disc Medicine Opco, Inc. (formerly known as Disc Medicine, Inc.) for the year ended December 31, 2021, appearing in the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 29, 2022, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SECs website at www.sec.gov and on our investor website at www.discmedicine.com. Our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement and is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus.
This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus supplement in accordance with the rules of the SEC. For more detail about us and any securities that may be offered by this prospectus supplement, you may examine the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, including its exhibits and schedules. Statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the copy of the contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.
S-26
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement much of the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus supplement is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated in this prospectus supplement. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus supplement or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except as to any portion of any future report or document that is not deemed filed under such provisions until we sell all of the securities:
| Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2022; |
| Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2022, August 11, 2022, and November 11, 2022 respectively; |
| Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 10, 2022 (excluding information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01), January 14, 2022, February 28, 2022 (excluding information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01), April 5, 2022, August 10, 2022 (excluding information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01), December 8, 2022, December 28, 2022, December 29, 2022, January 23, 2023 (excluding information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01) (excluding information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01, or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit) and January 25, 2023; and |
| The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on August 10, 2020, and as set forth by the description of the Registrants common stock set forth in Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2022, and as further supplemented by the description of the Registrants common stock set forth in the Registrants Registration Statement on Form S-4/A, filed with the SEC on December 1, 2022, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:
Disc Medicine, Inc.
321 Arsenal Street, Suite 101
Watertown, MA 02472
Attn: Investor Relations
(617) 674-9274
You may also access these documents, free of charge on the SECs website at www.sec.gov or on our website at www.discmedicine.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompany base prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed from, our website as part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus.
S-27
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless specifically stated to the contrary, information that we furnish (and that is not deemed filed with the SEC) under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits under Item 9.01, is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus.
In accordance with Rule 412 of the Securities Act, any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.
S-28
PROSPECTUS
$300,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
From time to time, we may offer and sell up to $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of our Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants or Units, in each case in one or more issuances and at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering.
This prospectus describes the general manner in which any of these securities may be offered using this prospectus. We will specify in an accompanying prospectus supplement the terms of the securities offered and other details regarding the offering thereof. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol IRON. On January 13, 2023, the closing price of our common stock, as reported on The Nasdaq Global Market, was $19.25 per share.
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading Risk Factors on page 10 of this prospectus and under any similar heading in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements on page 4 of this prospectus. You should read the entire prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.
The securities covered by this prospectus may be sold directly by us to investors, through agents designated by us from time to time or through underwriters or dealers at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering. We will include in an applicable prospectus supplement the names of any underwriters or agents and any applicable commissions or discounts. Additional information on the methods of sale appears under Plan of Distribution in this prospectus. We will also describe in an applicable prospectus supplement the way(s) in which we expect to use the net proceeds we receive from any sale.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is January 24, 2023.
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You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in an applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different, additional or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We do not take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer to sell these securities or soliciting any offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus we authorize to be delivered to you is accurate only as of the date of that document or any other date set forth in that document. Additionally, any information we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference or other date set forth in that document, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any sale of securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and prospects may have changed since that date.
On December 29, 2022, we acquired Disc Medicine Opco, Inc. (formerly Disc Medicine, Inc.), or Private Disc, pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger, or the Merger, and we changed our name to Disc Medicine, Inc. on December 29, 2022. As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to Disc, the Company, we, us and our refer to (i) prior to the date of the Merger, Private Disc, and its wholly owned, consolidated subsidiaries, or either or all of them as the context may require, and (ii) following the date of the Merger, Disc Medicine, Inc., and its wholly owned, consolidated subsidiaries, or either or all of them as the context may require.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a shelf registration process.
Under this process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings for an aggregate offering amount of up to $300,000,000. This prospectus describes the general manner in which we may offer the securities described in this prospectus. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this registration statement, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the offering and the securities offered, and may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. If there is any inconsistency between information in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in the most recent applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. This prospectus may not be used to offer to sell, solicit an offer to buy or consummate a sale of our securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
This prospectus, together with any accompanying prospectus supplement together with any additional information incorporated by reference, contains important information you should know before investing in our securities, including important information about us and the securities being offered. You should carefully read both documents, as well as the additional information contained in the documents described under Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference in both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, and in particular the annual, quarterly and current reports and other documents we file with the SEC. Neither this prospectus nor any accompanying prospectus supplement is an offer to sell these securities or is soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. For further information with respect to us and the securities being offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should read the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules. Statements contained in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including documents that we have incorporated by reference, as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and, with respect to any contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or any other such document, each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the corresponding exhibit. You should review the complete contract or other document to evaluate these statements. You may obtain copies of the registration statement and its exhibits via the SECs EDGAR database or our website.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. You may obtain documents that we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
We also make these documents available on our website at www.discmedicine.com. Our website and the information contained or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
SEC rules permit us to incorporate information by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, except for information superseded by information contained in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement itself or in any subsequently filed incorporated document. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC, other than information in such documents that is deemed to be furnished and not filed. These documents contain important information about us and our business and financial condition.
| Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2022; |
| Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2022, August 11, 2022, and November 11, 2022 respectively; |
| Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 10, 2022 (excluding information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01), January 14, 2022, February 28, 2022 (excluding information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01), April 5, 2022, August 10, 2022 (excluding information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01), December 8, 2022, December 28, 2022 and December 29, 2022 (excluding information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01, or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit); and |
| The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on August 10, 2020, and as set forth by the description of the Registrants common stock set forth in Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2022, and as further supplemented by the description of the Registrants common stock set forth in the Registrants Registration Statement on Form S-4/A, filed with the SEC on December 1, 2022, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All documents that we file (but not those that we furnish) pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus, and any previously filed documents. All documents that we file (but not those that we furnish) pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of any of the securities covered under this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any previously filed documents.
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus and such applicable prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or such applicable prospectus supplement, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and such applicable prospectus supplement, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus or such applicable prospectus supplement.
Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding all exhibits unless specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
2
Prospective investors may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement at no cost by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at our executive offices at:
Disc Medicine, Inc.
321 Arsenal Street, Suite 101
Watertown, MA 02472
Attention: Investor Relations
(617) 674-9274
3
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, together with any accompanying prospectus supplement, includes and incorporates by reference forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and releases issued by the SEC and within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plan, objectives of management and expected market growth, are forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as aim, anticipate, assume, believe, contemplate, continue, could, design, due, estimate, expect, goal, intend, may, objective, plan, positioned, potential, predict, seek, should, target, will, would and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe these factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Risk Factors and include, among other things:
| our ability to recognize the benefits of the previously announced merger pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), dated August 9, 2022, by and among Gemini Therapeutics, Inc. (Gemini), Gemstone Merger Sub, Inc. and Disc; |
| the initiation, timing, progress, results, and cost of our research and development programs and our current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials, including statements regarding the timing of initiation and completion of studies or trials and related preparatory work, the period during which the results of the trials will become available, and our research and development programs; |
| our ability to efficiently discover and develop product candidates; |
| our ability and the potential to successfully manufacture our drug substances and product candidates for preclinical use, for clinical trials and on a larger scale for commercial use, if approved; |
| our ability to obtain funding for our operations necessary to complete further development and commercialization of our product candidates; |
| our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates; |
| our ability to commercialize our products, if approved; |
| the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved; |
| the implementation of our business model, and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; |
| the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates; |
| estimates of our future expenses, revenues, capital requirements, and our needs for additional financing; |
| the potential benefits of strategic collaboration agreements, our ability to enter into strategic collaborations or arrangements, and our ability to attract collaborators with development, regulatory and commercialization expertise; |
| future agreements with third parties in connection with the commercialization of product candidates and any other approved product; |
| the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates, and our ability to serve those markets; |
| our financial performance; |
4
| the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates; |
| regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; |
| our ability to contract with third-party suppliers and manufacturers and their ability to perform adequately; |
| our ability to produce our products or product candidates with advantages in turnaround times or manufacturing cost; |
| the success of competing therapies that are or may become available; |
| our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel; |
| the impact of laws and regulations; |
| developments relating to our competitors and our industry; |
| the impact of global economic and political developments on our business, including rising inflation and capital market disruptions, the current conflict in Ukraine, economic sanctions and economic slowdowns or recessions that may result from such developments which could harm our research and development efforts as well as the value of our common stock and our ability to access capital markets; |
| the effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including mitigation efforts and economic effects, on any of the foregoing or other aspects of our business operations, including but not limited to our preclinical studies and clinical trials and any future studies or trials; and |
| other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption Risk Factors. |
These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In evaluating such forward-looking statements, you should specifically consider various factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, including the risks outlined under the heading Risk Factors contained in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and in any other documents incorporated herein or therein (including in our current report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2022, most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act). Any forward-looking statement in this prospectus or any related prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus reflects our current view with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, industry and future growth. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.
Market and Industry Data and Estimates
This prospectus, together with any accompanying prospectus supplement and the information incorporated herein or therein by reference, also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business and the markets for our product candidates, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, their projected growth rates and the incidence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained these industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources. We have not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of such data, and in some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which these data are derived.
5
Trademarks
Disc Medicine, Inc., the Disc logo and our other registered or common law trademarks, trade names or service marks appearing in this prospectus are owned by us. This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any information incorporated herein or therein may contain references to our trademarks and to trademarks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus, including logos, artwork and other visual displays, generally appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies trade names or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
6
The following highlights information about the Registrant and our business contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. It is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in any of our securities. You should carefully read this prospectus together with the more detailed information incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from serious hematologic diseases. We have assembled a portfolio of clinical and preclinical product candidates that aim to modify fundamental biological pathways associated with the formation and function of red blood cells, specifically heme biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. Our current pipeline includes bitopertin for the treatment of erythropoietic porphyrias, including erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP); and DISC-0974 for the treatment of anemia of myelofibrosis (MF) and anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, we have two programs in preclinical development: DISC-0998 for the treatment of anemia associated with inflammatory diseases; and a Matriptase-2 inhibitor for the treatment of polycythemia vera (PV) and diseases of iron overload. Our approach to product candidate development leverages well understood molecular mechanisms that have been validated in humans. We believe that each of our product candidates, if approved, has the potential to improve the lives of patients suffering from hematologic diseases.
Bitopertin is the lead product candidate in our heme biosynthesis modulation portfolio. Bitopertin was previously evaluated by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.in a comprehensive clinical program in over 4,000 individuals in other indications which demonstrated the activity of bitopertin as a glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibitor and its effect on heme biosynthesis. We are planning to initially develop bitopertin for the treatment of erythropoietic porphyrias, including EPP and XLP. In July 2022, we received clearance of our investigational new drug application (IND) for A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Bitopertin to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, and Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) Concentrations in Participants with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) from the Food and Drug Administration. In July 2022, we initiated BEACON, a Phase 2 open-label, parallel-dose clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of bitopertin in EPP and XLP patients that is being conducted at sites in Australia. Separately, in October 2022, we initiated AURORA, a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of bitopertin in EPP patients that is being conducted at sites in the United States. We expect interim data from these two trials in 2023. We are planning additional studies in Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA) and other indications.
DISC-0974 is the lead product candidate in our iron homeostasis portfolio. DISC-0974 is a monoclonal antibody that is designed to suppress hepcidin production and increase serum iron levels by inhibiting hemojuvelin (HJV). We submitted an IND for DISC-0974 in June 2021, received clearance in July 2021, and participants completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers in the U.S. in June 2022 with results showing evidence of target engagement, iron mobilization and erythropoiesis. We initiated a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in June 2022 to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of DISC-0974 in patients with anemia of MF, and plan to initiate a separate Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in the first half of 2023 to evaluate DISC-0974 in patients with anemia of CKD. We expect interim data from these two trials in 2023. In addition, we are developing a preclinical anti-HJV monoclonal antibody, DISC-0998, which is also designed to target hepcidin suppression and was in-licensed from AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG. DISC-0998 is designed to increase serum iron levels and has an extended serum half-life as compared to DISC-0974. We believe this profile may be desirable in certain subsets of patients with anemia associated with inflammatory diseases.
Lastly, we are developing a Matriptase-2 inhibitor as part of our iron homeostasis portfolio, which is designed to induce hepcidin production and reduce serum iron levels. Preclinical data has demonstrated positive results, and
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we are in the process of identifying and optimizing a development candidate in our Matriptase-2 inhibitor program. If successful, we expect to designate a lead candidate and commence IND-enabling studies.Corporate Information Disc Medicine, Inc. was originally incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware in October 2017, and changed its name to Disc Medicine Opco, Inc. (Disc Opco), in December 2022. On December 29, 2022, we completed our business combination with Gemini Therapeutics, Inc.(Gemini) in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of August 9, 2022 (the Merger Agreement), by and among Gemini, us and Gemstone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Gemini (Merger Sub), pursuant to which, among other matters, Merger Sub merged with and into Disc Opco, with Disc Opco continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of us and the surviving corporation of the merger (the Merger). In connection with the closing of the Merger, Gemini changed its name to Disc Medicine, Inc.
Our principal executive offices are located at 321 Arsenal Street, Suite 101, Watertown, MA 02472, and our telephone number is (617) 674-9274. Our website address is www.discmedicine.com. We do not incorporate the information on or accessible through our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus. Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol IRON.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available, free of charge, on or through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports and amendments are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding our filings at www.sec.gov.
For additional information about our Company, please refer to other documents we have filed with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as listed under the heading Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company
We qualify as an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the JOBS Act). As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:
| being permitted to only disclose two years of audited financial statements in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements with correspondingly reduced Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations disclosure; |
| reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; |
| not being required to hold advisory votes on executive compensation or to obtain stockholder approval of any golden parachute arrangements not previously approved; and |
| an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. |
We may take advantage of these exemptions until the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company on the date that is the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.235 billion or more; (ii) December 31, 2025; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th. We may choose to
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take advantage of some but not all of these exemptions. We have taken advantage of reduced reporting requirements in this prospectus. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different from the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock. We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements under the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions, as an emerging growth company, we may rely on certain of these exemptions, including without limitation, providing an auditors attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
We are also a smaller reporting company as defined in the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that our common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues are less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
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Investing in our securities involves certain risks. Before you invest in any of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units, in addition to the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, you should carefully consider the risk factors contained in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 29, 2022, which is incorporated into this prospectus by reference, as updated by our annual or quarterly reports for subsequent fiscal years or fiscal quarters that we file with the SEC and that are so incorporated. See Where You Can Find More Information for information about how to obtain a copy of these documents. You should also carefully consider the risks and other information that may be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, any prospectus supplement relating to specific offerings of securities.
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Reverse Stock Split
On December 29, 2022, we effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our common stock. The total number of authorized shares of capital stock was amended from 260,000,000 to 110,000,000. The par value per common share remained unchanged. The audited consolidated financial statements of Gemini Therapeutics, Inc. included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022, and September 30, 2022, that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus are presented without giving effect to the reverse stock split. Except where the context otherwise requires, share numbers in this prospectus reflect the 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our common stock.
The following selected financial data has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2022, and our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 6, 2022, August 11, 2022, and November 10, 2022, as adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split for all periods presented. Our historical results are not indicative of the results that may be expected in the future and results of interim periods are not indicative of the results for the entire year. In addition, the below presented historical results do not present the pro forma impact of the reverse merger, as presented in the unaudited pro forma financial statements and accompanying notes for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, contained in the Companys Proxy Statement/Prospectus on Form S-4/A and incorporated herein by reference.
AS REPORTED (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (71,869 | ) | $ | (40,837 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (1.78 | ) | $ | (2.70 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
40,362,303 | 15,115,129 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at year end |
43,208,159 | 15,565,380 | ||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (15,231 | ) | $ | (19,048 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.35 | ) | $ | (0.59 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
43,212,803 | 32,027,161 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
43,227,159 | 43,002,144 | ||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (7,090 | ) | $ | (16,447 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.38 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
43,230,523 | 43,041,856 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
43,244,453 | 43,055,112 |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (22,321 | ) | $ | (35,495 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.52 | ) | $ | (0.94 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
43,221,712 | 37,564,936 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
43,244,453 | 43,055,112 | ||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (3,277 | ) | $ | (18,551 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (0.43 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
43,264,616 | 43,091,822 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
43,299,453 | 43,112,742 | ||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (25,598 | ) | $ | (54,046 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.59 | ) | $ | (1.37 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
43,236,171 | 39,427,476 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
43,299,453 | 43,112,742 |
AS ADJUSTED FOR 1-FOR-10 REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts):
Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (71,869 | ) | $ | (40,837 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (17.81 | ) | $ | (27.02 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
4,036,230 | 1,511,512 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at year end |
4,320,815 | 1,556,538 | ||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (15,231 | ) | $ | (19,048 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (3.52 | ) | $ | (5.95 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
4,321,280 | 3,202,716 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
4,322,715 | 4,300,214 |
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Three Months Ended June 30, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (7,090 | ) | $ | (16,447 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (1.64 | ) | $ | (3.82 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
4,323,052 | 4,304,185 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
4,324,445 | 4,305,511 | ||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (22,321 | ) | $ | (35,495 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (5.16 | ) | $ | (9.45 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
4,322,171 | 3,756,493 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
4,324,445 | 4,305,511 | ||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (3,277 | ) | $ | (18,551 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.76 | ) | $ | (4.30 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
4,326,461 | 4,309,182 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
4,329,945 | 4,311,274 | ||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (25,598 | ) | $ | (54,046 | ) | ||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ | (5.92 | ) | $ | (13.71 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
4,323,617 | 3,942,747 | ||||||
Common shares outstanding at period end |
4,329,945 | 4,311,274 |
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Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities described in this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development and preclinical and clinical development costs to support the advancement of our product candidates; working capital; capital expenditures; general and administrative expenses; and other general corporate purposes.
We may set forth additional information concerning our expected use of net proceeds from sales of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the specific offering. Pending use of net proceeds as described above, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation instruments, including high quality, investment grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government, or may hold such proceeds as cash, until they are used for their stated purpose. We have not determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for such purposes. As a result, management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of net proceeds.
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We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of cash dividends, if any, in the future will solely be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on then-existing conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
We may offer shares of common or preferred stock, various series of senior or subordinated debt securities, warrants, or units consisting of combinations of the foregoing, in each case from time to time under this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. At the time we offer a particular type or series of securities, we will provide an applicable prospectus supplement describing the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
| designation or classification; |
| aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price; |
| voting or other rights; |
| rates and times of payment of interest, dividends or other payments; |
| liquidation preference; |
| original issue discount; |
| maturity; |
| ranking; |
| restrictive covenants; |
| redemption, conversion, exercise, exchange, settlement or sinking fund terms, including prices or rates, and any provisions for changes to or adjustments in such prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion, exercise, exchange or settlement; |
| any securities exchange or market listing arrangements; and |
| important U.S. federal income tax considerations. |
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities unless accompanied by an applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement related to any securities being offered.
We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents, directly to purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods of sale or as otherwise set forth under Plan of Distribution. We and our underwriters, dealers or agents reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we do offer securities through underwriters or agents, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement (i) the names of the underwriters or agents and applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them; (ii) details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and (iii) net proceeds to us.
The following descriptions are not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in any securities we may offer hereunder; they are summarized from, and qualified by reference to, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and the other documents referred to in the descriptions, all of which are or will be publicly filed with the SEC, as applicable. See Where You Can Find More Information.
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The following summary description of our common stock and preferred stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of our capital stock. The following description of our capital stock is intended as a summary only, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and by applicable law. The terms of our common stock and preferred stock may also be affected by Delaware law.
Authorized Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, all of which preferred stock is undesignated. Based on our unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as of September 30, 2022, we had estimated 17,394,684 shares of our common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Unless our board of directors determines otherwise, we will issue all shares of our capital stock in uncertificated form.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements as of September 30, 2022, were based on Disc Medicine, Inc.s historical consolidated financial statements and Gemini Therapeutics, Inc.s (Gemini) historical consolidated financial statements as adjusted to give effect to (1) the Merger, accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, (2) the conversion of each share of Private Discs preferred stock into common stock, (3) the Private Disc pre-closing financing in the amount of approximately $53.5 million, (4) the conversion of all shares of Private Disc common stock outstanding into shares of Geminis common stock based on an exchange ratio of 0.1096, (5) the Gemini 1:10 reverse stock split, and (6) other pro forma adjustments. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was prepared in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Article 11. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the combined financial position or results of operations of future periods or the results that would have been realized had the entities been a single entity during these periods.
Common Stock
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. The holders of our common stock do not have any cumulative voting rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Our common stock has no preemptive rights, conversion rights or other subscription rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all debts and other liabilities and any liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock. When we issue shares of common stock under this prospectus, when issued and paid for, the shares will validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Exchange Listing
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol IRON. On January 13, 2023, the closing price for our common stock, as reported on The Nasdaq Global Market, was $19.25 per share. Based on our unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as of September 30, 2022, we had estimated approximately 77 stockholders of record.
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Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The transfer agent and registrars address is One State Street 30th Floor, New York, NY 10004.
Preferred Stock
Undesignated Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting, or the designation of, such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon our liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action. We have no shares of preferred stock outstanding, and we have no present plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.
The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock in one or more series and determine the number of shares in the series and its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. Examples of rights and preferences that the board of directors may fix are:
| dividend rights; |
| dividend rates; |
| conversion rights; |
| voting rights; |
| terms of redemption; and |
| liquidation preferences. |
The existence of authorized but unissued shares of undesignated preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in the best interests of us or our stockholders, our board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer, stockholder or stockholder group. The rights of holders of our common stock described above, will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of any preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. The issuance of shares of undesignated preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance may also adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of these holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of us.
Additional Series of Preferred Stock
We will incorporate by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of any additional series of preferred stock we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. This description and the applicable prospectus supplement will include:
| the title and stated value; |
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| the number of shares authorized; |
| the liquidation preference per share; |
| the purchase price; |
| the dividend rate, period and payment date, and method of calculation for dividends; |
| whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
| the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any; |
| the provisions for a sinking fund, if any; |
| the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights; |
| any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market; |
| whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period; |
| whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the exchange period; |
| voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; |
| preemptive rights, if any; |
| restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares; |
| a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; |
| the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; |
| any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and |
| any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock. |
When we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, the shares will fully be paid and nonassessable and will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
Registration Rights
The holders of approximately 15.9 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, are entitled to the registration rights set forth below with respect to registration of the resale of such shares under the Securities Act pursuant to the investors rights agreement, by and among us and certain of our stockholders. Generally, in an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter, if any, has the right, subject to specified conditions and limitations, to limit the number of shares the holders may include.
2022 Registration Rights Agreement
We are party to a registration rights agreement (the 2022 Registration Rights Agreement) with certain holders of our capital stock (the 2022 Investors), pursuant to which we have (i) agreed to register for resale shares of our common stock issued to the 2022 Investors pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the Registrable Securities) and (ii) granted certain other registration rights to the 2022 Investors.
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In particular, the 2022 Registration Rights Agreement provides for the following registration rights:
| Shelf registration rights. No later than 45 calendar days following the completion of the merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, we are required to file with the SEC, a shelf registration statement registering the resale of the Registrable Securities, and use our commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective by the SEC as promptly as possible. |
| Expenses and indemnification. The fees, costs and expenses of registrations pursuant to the registration rights granted to the 2022 Investors under the 2022 Registration Rights Agreement will be borne by us. The 2022 Registration Rights Agreement contains customary cross-indemnification provisions, under which we are obligated to indemnify holders of Registrable Securities in the event of material misstatements or omissions in the registration statement attributable to us, and holders of Registrable Securities are obligated to indemnify us for material misstatements or omissions attributable to them. |
2021 Registration Rights Agreement
We are a party to a registration tights agreement (the 2021 Registration Rights Agreement) pursuant to which, among other things, certain holders of capital stock, including certain investors of FS Development Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the FSDC Investors), certain entities affiliated with Atlas Ventures, entities affiliated with Lightstone Ventures, OrbiMed Private Investments VI, LP, and Wu Capital Investment LLC (collectively, the Major Investors and together with the FSDC Investors, the Investors) were granted certain registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities (as defined in the 2021 Registration Rights Agreement) held by them, subject to certain conditions and limitations.
In particular, the 2021 Registration Rights Agreement provides for the following registration rights:
| Demand registration rights. At any time after February 5, 2021, and following the expiration of any lock-up to which an Investor may have been subject, we are required, upon the written request of either (i) FSDC Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all FSDC Investors or (ii) Major Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Major Investors, to file a registration statement under the Securities Act on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement or, if then available, on Form S-3, and use reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of all or part of their registrable securities requested to be included in such registration by the Investors. |
| Shelf registration rights. A shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 of Securities Act, was filed on February 17, 2021 and became effective on April 28, 2021. At any time we have an effective shelf registration statement, if we receive a request from Investors holding registrable securities with an estimated market value of at least $5,000,000, to effect an underwritten shelf takedown, we shall use our reasonable best efforts to as expeditiously as possible effect the underwritten shelf takedown. |
| Limits on demand registration rights and shelf registration rights. We shall not be obligated to effect: (a) more than one (1) demand registration or underwritten shelf takedown during any six-month period; (b) any demand registration at any time there is an effective resale shelf registration statement on file with the SEC; (c) more than two underwritten demand registrations in respect of all registrable securities held by the FSDC Investors, including those made under a shelf registration statement, or (d) more than two underwritten demand registrations in respect of all registrable securities held by the Major Investors, including those made under a shelf registration statement. |
| Piggyback registration rights. At any time after the first anniversary of the closing date, if we propose to file a registration statement to register any of our equity securities under the Securities Act or to conduct a public offering, either for our own account or for the account of any other person, subject to certain exceptions, the Investors are entitled to include their registrable securities in such registration statement, subject to customary cut-back rights. |
| Expenses and indemnification. All fees, costs and expenses of underwritten registrations will be borne by us and underwriting discounts and selling commissions will be borne by the holders of the shares |
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being registered. The 2021 Registration Rights Agreement contains customary cross-indemnification provisions, under which we are obligated to indemnify holders of registrable securities in the event of material misstatements or omissions in the registration statement attributable to us, and holders of registrable securities are obligated to indemnify us for material misstatements or omissions attributable to them. |
| Registrable securities. Securities of ours shall cease to be registrable securities upon the earlier of (i) tenth anniversary of February 5, 2021 and (ii) the date as of which (1) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, or (2) such securities shall have been transferred pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, or with respect to any Investor, securities of such Investor shall cease to be registrable securities, on the earlier of (x) the date such Investor ceases to hold at least 1% of the registrable securities or (y) if such Investor is an individual and such Investor is a director or an executive officer of Disc or FS Development Corporation as of immediately prior to the consummation of the business combination, the date when such Investor is permitted to sell the Registrable Securities under Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act without limitation on the amount of securities sold or the manner of sale. |
| Lockup. Under the 2021 Registration Rights Agreement, each Investor was required to enter into a customary lockup agreement restricting such investor from transferring any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable (directly or indirectly) for common stock for one hundred eighty (180) days following February 5, 2021, which restriction expired August 4, 2021. The foregoing notwithstanding, each executive officer and director was permitted to establish a plan to acquire and sell shares of common stock pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, no sale of shares under any such plan shall be made prior to the expiration of the one hundred eighty (180) day lock-up period on August 4, 2021. |
Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock
The Delaware General Corporation Law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of Nasdaq, which would apply so long as our common stock remains listed on Nasdaq, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of common stock. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock or preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Anti-Takeover Effects of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law
Certain provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.
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These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Delaware anti-takeover statute
We are not governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Undesignated preferred stock
The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to effect a change in control of our company. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.
Special stockholder meetings
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a special meeting of stockholders may be called at any time by our board of directors, but such special meetings may not be called by the stockholders or any other person or persons.
Requirements for advance notification of stockholder nominations and proposals
Our amended and restated bylaws contain advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors.
No stockholder action by written consent
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not allow stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting.
Classified board; election and removal of directors; filling vacancies
Our board of directors is divided into three classes, divided as nearly as equal in number as possible. The directors in each class serve for a three-year term, one class being elected each year by our stockholders, with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors is elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Because our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for the removal of any of our directors only for cause and requires a stockholder vote by the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock. Any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of the board, may only be filled by a resolution of the board of directors.
This system of electing and removing directors and filling vacancies may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.
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Choice of forum
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law: any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders to us or to our stockholders; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time); any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. As a result, any action brought by any of our stockholders with regard to any of these matters will need to be filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and cannot be filed in any other jurisdiction; provided that, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or the Securities Act. In addition, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts will be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving any action asserting a claim arising under the Securities Act. Such provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by us, our officers and directors, employees and agents, including the underwriters and any other professional or entity who has prepared or certified any part of this prospectus. Nothing in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws preclude stockholders that assert claims under the Exchange Act from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law.
Although our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could find that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.
This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholders ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims or make such lawsuits more costly for stockholders, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Amendment of charter provisions or bylaws
Our amended and restated bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board or by the affirmative vote of not the holders of not less than two-thirds of the voting power of all of the shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting as one class; provided, however, that if the Board recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class. The affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon as a class, and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class voting together as a single class, will be required to amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
The provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities that we may issue from time to time. We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the specific terms of any debt securities offered through that prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any debt securities we offer under a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may differ from the terms we describe below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indentures, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue any senior debt securities under the senior indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the senior indenture. We will issue any subordinated debt securities under the subordinated indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the subordinated indenture. We have filed forms of these documents as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the Trust Indenture Act). We use the term trustee to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable.
The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete applicable indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
| the title; |
| the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding; |
| any limit on the amount that may be issued; |
| whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, and, if so, the terms and who the depository will be; |
| the maturity date; |
| whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts; |
| the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
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| whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
| the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt; |
| the place where payments will be payable; |
| restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| the date, if any, after which, the conditions upon which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; |
| the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holders option, to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
| whether the indenture will restrict our ability to: |
| incur additional indebtedness; |
| issue additional securities; |
| create liens; |
| pay dividends or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or the capital stock of our subsidiaries; |
| redeem capital stock; |
| place restrictions on our subsidiaries ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets; |
| make investments or other restricted payments; |
| sell or otherwise dispose of assets; |
| enter into sale-leaseback transactions; |
| engage in transactions with stockholders or affiliates; |
| issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; |
| effect a consolidation or merger; |
| whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios; |
| a discussion of certain material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; |
| information describing any book-entry features; |
| provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any; |
| the applicability of the provisions in the indenture on discharge; |
| whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an original issue discount as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
| the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
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| the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; and |
| any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, our preferred stock or other securities (including securities of a third-party). We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock, our preferred stock or other securities (including securities of a third-party) that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indentures will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of ours or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.
Events of Default Under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
| if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 90 days and the time for payment has not been extended; |
| if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase or otherwise, and the time for payment has not been extended; |
| if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and |
| if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
We will describe in each applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus any additional events of default relating to the relevant series of debt securities.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and
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payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
| the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and |
| subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. |
A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies if:
| the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
| the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense or to be incurred in compliance with instituting the proceeding as trustee; and |
| the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities, or other defaults that may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
Subject to the terms of the indenture for any series of debt securities that we may issue, we and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to the following specific matters:
| to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; |
| to comply with the provisions described above under Description of Debt Securities-Consolidation, Merger or Sale; |
| to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; |
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| to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture; |
| to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided under Description of Debt Securities-General, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
| to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee; |
| to provide for uncertificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose; |
| to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred to us in the indenture; or |
| to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series. |
In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, subject to the terms of the indenture for any series of debt securities that we may issue or as otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
| extending the stated maturity of the series of debt securities; |
| reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any debt securities; or |
| reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver. |
Discharge
Each indenture provides that, subject to the terms of the indenture and any limitation otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
| register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
| replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
| maintain paying agencies; |
| hold monies for payment in trust; |
| recover excess money held by the trustee; |
| compensate and indemnify the trustee; and |
| appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
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Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depository named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus with respect to that series. At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series. If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
| issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
| register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus
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supplement or free writing prospectus, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
Ranking of Debt Securities
The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities that we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.
The senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment to all our other senior unsecured debt. The senior indenture does not limit the amount of senior debt securities that we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus.
General
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.
We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate warrant agreement. We will enter into the warrant agreement with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:
| the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| the currency for which the warrants may be purchased; |
| if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
| if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants; |
| the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| the periods during which, and places at which, the warrants are exercisable; |
| the manner of exercise; |
| the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
| the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified; |
| federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
| the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and |
| any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
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We may issue units comprised of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities and warrants in any combination. We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. This section outlines certain provisions of the units that we may issue. If we issue units, they will be issued under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or other financial institution, as unit agent. The information described in this section may not be complete in all respects and is qualified entirely by reference to the unit agreement with respect to the units of any particular series. The specific terms of any series of units offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If so described in a particular supplement, the specific terms of any series of units may differ from the general description of terms presented below. We urge you to read any prospectus supplement related to any series of units we may offer, as well as the complete unit agreement and unit certificate that contain the terms of the units. If we issue units, forms of unit agreements and unit certificates relating to such units will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus.
Each unit that we may issue will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:
| the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| any provisions of the governing unit agreement; |
| the price or prices at which such units will be issued; |
| the applicable United States federal income tax considerations relating to the units; |
| any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and |
| any other terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under Description of Capital Stock, Description of Debt Securities and Description of Warrants will apply to the securities included in each unit, to the extent relevant and as may be updated in any prospectus supplements.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the units that apply generally to all series. Most of the financial and other specific terms of a particular series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unit Agreements
We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or other financial institution, as unit agent. We may add, replace or terminate unit agents from time to time. We will identify the unit agreement under which each series of units will be issued and the unit agent under that agreement in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The following provisions will generally apply to all unit agreements unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement:
Modification without Consent
We and the applicable unit agent may amend any unit or unit agreement without the consent of any holder:
| to cure any ambiguity; any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; |
| to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or |
| to make any other change that we believe is necessary or desirable and will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
We do not need any approval to make changes that affect only units to be issued after the changes take effect. We may also make changes that do not adversely affect a particular unit in any material respect, even if they adversely affect other units in a material respect. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of the unaffected unit; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected units.
Modification with Consent
We may not amend any particular unit or a unit agreement with respect to any particular unit unless we obtain the consent of the holder of that unit, if the amendment would:
| impair any right of the holder to exercise or enforce any right under a security included in the unit if the terms of that security require the consent of the holder to any changes that would impair the exercise or enforcement of that right; or |
| reduce the percentage of outstanding units or any series or class the consent of whose holders is required to amend that series or class, or the applicable unit agreement with respect to that series or class, as described below. |
Any other change to a particular unit agreement and the units issued under that agreement would require the following approval:
| If the change affects only the units of a particular series issued under that agreement, the change must be approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding units of that series; or |
| If the change affects the units of more than one series issued under that agreement, it must be approved by the holders of a majority of all outstanding units of all series affected by the change, with the units of all the affected series voting together as one class for this purpose. |
These provisions regarding changes with majority approval also apply to changes affecting any securities issued under a unit agreement, as the governing document.
In each case, the required approval must be given by written consent.
Unit Agreements Will Not Be Qualified under Trust Indenture Act
No unit agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no unit agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of units issued under unit agreements will not have the protections of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their units.
Mergers and Similar Transactions Permitted; No Restrictive Covenants or Events of Default
The unit agreements will not restrict our ability to merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets to, another corporation or other entity or to engage in any other transactions. If at any time we merge or consolidate with, or
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sell our assets substantially as an entirety to, another corporation or other entity, the successor entity will succeed to and assume our obligations under the unit agreements. We will then be relieved of any further obligation under these agreements.
The unit agreements will not include any restrictions on our ability to put liens on our assets, nor will they restrict our ability to sell our assets. The unit agreements also will not provide for any events of default or remedies upon the occurrence of any events of default.
Governing Law
The unit agreements and the units will be governed by New York law.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue each unit in global-i.e., book-entry-form only. Units in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the units represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a unit will do so through participants in the depositarys system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We will describe book-entry securities, and other terms regarding the issuance and registration of the units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Each unit and all securities comprising the unit will be issued in the same form.
If we issue any units in registered, non-global form, the following will apply to them.
The units will be issued in the denominations stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Holders may exchange their units for units of smaller denominations or combined into fewer units of larger denominations, as long as the total amount is not changed.
| Holders may exchange or transfer their units at the office of the unit agent. Holders may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated units at that office. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves. |
| Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their units, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holders proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may also require an indemnity before replacing any units. |
| If we have the right to redeem, accelerate or settle any units before their maturity, and we exercise our right as to less than all those units or other securities, we may block the exchange or transfer of those units during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of exercise and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or exchange any unit selected for early settlement, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unsettled portion of any unit being partially settled. We may also block the transfer or exchange of any unit in this manner if the unit includes securities that are or may be selected for early settlement. |
Only the depositary will be entitled to transfer or exchange a unit in global form, since it will be the sole holder of the unit.
Payments and Notices
In making payments and giving notices with respect to our units, we will follow the procedures as described in the applicable prospectus supplement
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We may sell the offered securities in and outside the United States (1) through underwriters or dealers, (2) directly to one or more purchasers, including to a limited number of institutional purchasers, to a single purchaser or to our affiliates and stockholders, (3) through agents or (4) through a combination of any of these methods.
If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:
| in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; |
| in at-the-market offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; |
| through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise; |
| at prices related to those prevailing market prices; or |
| at negotiated prices. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the following information to the extent applicable:
| the terms of the offering; |
| the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
| the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters; |
| the purchase price of the securities; |
| the net proceeds from the sale of the securities; |
| any delayed delivery arrangements; |
| any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters compensation; |
| any initial public offering price; |
| any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| any commissions paid to agents. |
Sale through Underwriters or Dealers
If any securities are offered through underwriters, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer and sell securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities if they purchase any of them. In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and dealers may receive compensation from the underwriters in the form of discounts or concessions. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
In order to facilitate the offering of securities, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection
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with the offering, creating a short position in the securities for their account. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the shares, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, shares in the open market. Finally, an underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed shares in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions, or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the offered securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may discontinue any of these activities at any time.
Some or all of the securities that we offer through this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.
If any securities are offered through dealers, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale.
Direct Sales and Sales through Agents
We may sell the securities directly to purchasers. If the securities are sold directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities, we will describe the terms of any such sales in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also sell the securities through agents designated from time to time. Sales may be made by means of ordinary brokers transactions on The Nasdaq Global Market at market prices, in block transactions and such other transactions as agreed by us and any agent. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
At-the-Market Offerings
To the extent that we make sales through one or more underwriters or agents in at-the-market offerings, we will do so pursuant to the terms of a sales agency financing agreement or other at-the-market offering arrangement between us, on one hand, and the underwriters or agents, on the other. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to any such agreement, we will issue and sell our securities through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, we may sell securities on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters or agents. Any such agreement will provide that any securities sold will be sold at prices related to the then prevailing market prices for our securities. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase blocks of our common stock or other securities. The terms of any such agreement will be set forth in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Remarketing Arrangements
Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as our agents. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters of the offered securities under the Securities Act.
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Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the conditions to those contracts and the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
General Information
We may have agreements with the agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
Each underwriter, dealer and agent participating in the distribution of any of the securities that are issuable in bearer form will agree that it will not offer, sell or deliver, directly or indirectly, securities in bearer form in the United States or to United States persons, other than qualifying financial institutions, during the restricted period, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7).
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Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Additional legal matters may be passed on for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of Disc Medicine, Inc. (formerly known as Gemini Therapeutics, Inc.) for the year ended December 31, 2021 included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 10, 2022 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and, incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Disc Medicine Opco, Inc. (formerly known as Disc Medicine, Inc.) for the year ended December 31, 2021, appearing in the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 29, 2022, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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1,488,166 Shares of Common Stock
Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase 1,229,224 Shares of Common Stock
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
February 13, 2023