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S-3ASR Filing
Alaunos Therapeutics (TCRT) S-3ASRAutomatic shelf registration
Filed: 21 Jun 19, 5:31pm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 21, 2019
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORMS-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 84-1475642 | |
(State or jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
One First Avenue, Parris Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts 02129
(617)259-1970
(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices and principal place of business)
Laurence J.N. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
One First Avenue, Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts 02129
(617)259-1970
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Robert Hadfield General Counsel ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. One First Avenue, Parris Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza Boston, Massachusetts 02129 (617)259-1970 | Marc A. Recht Joshua D. Rottner Courtney T. Thorne Cooley LLP 500 Boylston Street, 14th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617)937-2300 |
Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, anon-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☒ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
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Title of Each Class of Securities To Be Registered | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2) | Amount of Registration Fee(3) | ||
Primary Offering of Securities: | ||||
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share(4) | ||||
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share(5) | ||||
Debt Securities(6) | ||||
Warrants(7) | ||||
Primary Offering of Common Stock: | ||||
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share | $100,000,000 | $12,120(8) | ||
Total(9) | $100,000,000 | $12,120 | ||
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(1) | An indeterminate amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, and/or warrants. There is also being registered hereunder such currently indeterminate number of (i) shares of common stock or other securities of the registrant as may be issued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, convertible or exchangeable debt securities and/or preferred stock registered hereby, or (ii) shares of preferred stock, common stock or debt securities as may be issued upon exercise of warrants registered hereby, as the case may be. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately with the other securities registered hereunder. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or pursuant to anti-dilution provisions of any of the securities. |
(2) | Not applicable pursuant to General Instruction II.E. of FormS-3 under the Securities Act. |
(3) | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all registration fees other than those listed in the table herein and will pay the registration fees subsequently in advance or on a“pay-as-you-go” basis. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities. |
(4) | Including such indeterminate amount of common stock as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices or upon conversion of debt securities and/or preferred stock registered hereby, or upon exercise of warrants registered hereby, as the case may be. |
(5) | Including such indeterminate amount of preferred stock as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices or upon conversion of debt securities and/or preferred stock registered hereby, or upon exercise of warrants registered hereby, as the case may be. |
(6) | Including such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices or upon exercise of warrants registered hereby, as the case may be. |
(7) | Including such indeterminate number of warrants or other rights, including without limitation share purchase or subscription rights, as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices. |
(8) | Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act. |
(9) | The securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or in a combination with other securities registered hereby. Does not include registration fees deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, as described in Note (3) above. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains two prospectuses:
• | a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings; and |
• | a sales agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $100,000,000 of our common stock that may be issued and sold under a sales agreement with Jefferies LLC, or Jefferies. |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any other securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in one or more prospectus supplements to the base prospectus. The sales agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus.
PROSPECTUS
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
From time to time, we may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in combination, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also offer securities as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including any applicable anti-dilution provisions.
This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before buying any of the securities being offered.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ZIOP.” On June 20, 2019, the closing price of our common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, was $5.82. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.
Securities may be sold to or through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers or through agents designated from time to time. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section titled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters and any applicable discounts or commissions and options to purchase additional shares will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 9 of this prospectus and any similar section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. A representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is June 21 , 2019.
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This prospectus is part of an automatic registration statement on FormS-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration statement, we may sell common stock, preferred stock, various series of debt securities, or warrants to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in combination with other securities described in this prospectus, in one or more offerings from time to time. Selling stockholders may offer and sell, in one or more offerings, shares of common stock as described in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. There is no limit on the aggregate amount of the securities that we or selling stockholders may offer pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we, and the common stock selling stockholders, may offer.
Each time we sell any type or series of securities, or selling stockholders offer common stock, under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will include more specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, will include all material information relating to the applicable offering. Before buying any of the securities being offered, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the additional information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.
The information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and 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, the prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or the time of any sale of a security.
This prospectus includes summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this prospectus to “Ziopharm,” our “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.
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This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.
Company Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, acquiring, developing and commercializing next generation immunotherapy platforms that leverage cell- and gene-based therapies to treat patients with cancer. We are developing two immuno-oncology platform technologies that utilize the immune system by employing novel, controlled gene expression and innovative cell engineering technologies designed to deliver safe, effective, and scalablenon-viral cell- and viral-based gene therapies for the treatment of multiple cancer types. Our first platform is referred to as Sleeping Beauty and is based on the genetic engineering of immune cells using anon-viral transposon/transposase system that is intended to stably reprogram T cells outside of the body for subsequent infusion. Our second platform is termedControlled IL-12, which is designed to stimulate expression of interleukin 12, orIL-12, a master regulator of the immune system, in a controlled and safe manner to focus the patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells. We believe these two platforms have the potential to provide unique and powerful solutions to address the issues associated with (1) treating solid tumors with heterogeneous and unknown antigens, and (2) providing cost-effective scalable manufacturing solutions for T cell receptor T cell, or TCR+ T, therapies for solid tumors and chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR T cell, or CAR+ T, therapies targeting CD19 on malignant B cells. We expect programs from our two platform technologies to be in the clinic in 2019.
Using our Sleeping Beauty platform, we are developing TCR+ T therapies initially to target solid tumors. Our T cell receptor, or TCR, program designs and manufactures T cells that are intended to target tumor-specific antigens, thereby delivering personalized therapy that can attack an individual patient’s cancer. These antigens are referred to as neoantigens as they are only expressed by the tumor, reducing the potential for toxicity upon targeting normal cells. A minority of neoantigens are shared between patients and between classes of tumors and are referred to as “hotspots”. The Sleeping Beauty system uses DNA plasmids to reprogram T cells to express introduced TCRs on apatient-by-patient basis (addressing inter-tumor heterogeneity) and possibly to express more than one TCR for each patient (addressing intra-tumor heterogeneity). The genetic modification of patient-derived T cells using theSleeping Beauty system enables us to target neoantigens unique to a patient’s tumor infusing recipient-derived (autologous) TCRs and shared neoantigens in hotspots using allogeneic TCRs derived from third parties. We believe the scalability of our approach provides a competitive advantage to alternative viral-based approaches to T cell manufacturing. Under our Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or CRADA, the National Cancer Institute, or the NCI, intends to initiate a clinical trial in patients with a variety of solid tumors using the Sleeping Beauty platform to genetically modify T cells to target patient-specific neoantigens inmid-2019. The clinical trial will be under the direction of Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Surgery Branch at the NCI.
We are also developing CAR+ T therapies using our Sleeping Beauty platform. Our CAR+ T program seeks to solve the complex and costly manufacturing limitations of existing CD19-specific CAR+ T therapies that we
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believe will continue limiting their commercial potential. We believe using DNA plasmids in the SleepingBeauty system to express CAR and our proprietary membrane-bound interleukin 15, or mbIL15, in resting T cells obtained from peripheral blood will enable infused T cells to propagate within the patient to target leukemia and lymphoma, thus avoiding the need to numerically expand T cells for weeks in bioreactors before patient administration. The mbIL15 isco-expressed with a “kill switch” to conditionally eliminate infused T cells. We expect the lower cost of DNA plasmids compared with the virus used by other CAR+ T programs, together with the avoidance of lengthy ex vivo manufacturing, will reduce the cost and complexity of manufacturing CAR+ T cells. These technologies should enable T cells to be infused within two days of gene transfer in a process we refer to as rapid personalized manufacture, or RPM. We are advancing our CAR+ T therapies in the United States in collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, or MD Anderson, to target CD19 on malignant B cells. In 2019, we hope to resolve our clinical hold with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in the United States of our third-generation Sleeping Beauty modified CAR+ T cells,co-expressing CAR and mbIL15, manufactured and infused into the patient in less than two days from gene transfer. In addition, in a joint venture with TriArm Therapeutics, Ltd., or TriArm, we are forming Eden BioCell, Ltd., or Eden BioCell, to lead clinical development and commercialization of Sleeping Beauty-generated CD19-specificCAR-T therapies in the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan and Korea. Eden BioCell will be owned equally by us and TriArm and the parties will share decision-making authority. TriArm has committed up to $35.0 million to this joint venture and will manage all clinical development to execute trials in the territory. We expect our joint venture with TriArm to close inmid-2019 and we may evaluate additional programs to pursue in this joint venture.
Our ControlledIL-12 platform uses virotherapy based on an engineered replication-incompetent adenovirus(Ad-RTS-hIL-12) plus veledimex as a gene delivery system to conditionally produceIL-12, a potent, naturally occurring anti-cancer protein, to treat patients with solid tumors where a specific target is unknown, including brain cancer. OurControlled IL-12 platform allows us to deliverIL-12 in a tunable dose, which is critical for this potent cytokine. In a Phase 1 clinical trial of patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, or rGBM, a subset of patients (n=6) who receivedlow-dose steroids along with 20 mg of veledimex plusAd-RTS-hIL-12, achieved 17.8 months median overall survival, or OS, compared with five to eight months OS established in historical controls.Thirty-six additional patients with rGBM have been recruited into a sub study designed to encourage use oflow-dose steroids and 20 mg veledimex to further understand the potential ofControlled IL-12 as a monotherapy. We are also developing ourControlled IL-12 platform in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. In June 2018, we began enrolling patients with rGBM to receiveAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab) in a phase 1 dose-escalation trial. In November 2018, we announced a clinical supply agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Regeneron, to evaluateAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination with Regeneron’sPD-1antibody Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc) for the treatment of patients with rGBM. We currently expect to initiate a phase 2 clinical trial in the first half of 2019 in approximately 30 patients with rGBM to measure preliminary safety and efficacy ofAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination with Libtayo.
As of March 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $51.5 million. We expect that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our current operations into the second quarter of 2020, and we have no committed sources of additional capital at this time. The forecast of cash resources is forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, and the actual amount of our expenses could vary materially and adversely as a result of a number of factors.
We have not generated significant revenue and have incurred significant net losses in each year since our inception. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we had a net loss of $13.4 million, and, as of March 31, 2019, we have incurred approximately $579.8 million of accumulated deficit since our inception in 2003. We
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expect to continue to incur significant operating expenditures and net losses. Further development of our product candidates will likely require substantial increases in our expenses as we:
• | continue to undertake clinical trials for product candidates; |
• | seek regulatory approvals for product candidates; |
• | work with regulatory authorities to identify and address program-related inquiries; |
• | implement additional internal systems and infrastructure; |
• | hire additional personnel; and |
• | scale-up the formulation and manufacturing of our product candidates. |
We continue to seek additional financial resources to fund the further development of our product candidates. If we are unable to obtain sufficient additional capital, one or more of these programs could be delayed, and we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce our operations. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability.
Recent Developments
Changes to Board of Directors
On June 13, 2019, Heidi Hagen was appointed to our board of directors. Also on June 13, 2019, Scott Braunstein, M.D., Laurence Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., Elan Ezickson, Douglas Pagán, and Scott Tarriff were elected to our board at our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders. James Cannon stepped down from our board when his term expired at our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.
Clinical and Regulatory Developments
• | On April 1, 2019, we announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track Designation for ourControlled IL-12 program which consists ofAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex, for the treatment of recurrent or progressive glioblastoma multiforme in adults. The FDA’s Fast Track program is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs that treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. |
• | Enrollment continues in our Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluateAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab). The Data and Safety Monitoring Board for the clinical trial has authorized escalation to the third dosing cohort for this clinical trial. |
• | Under our CRADA, the NCI is undertaking a clinical trial with enrollment expected to begin inmid-2019. NCI is developing autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes genetically modified with the Sleeping Beautysystem to express TCRs that recognize neoantigens expressed by patients’ solid tumors. On June 11, 2019, we announced that the FDA had cleared the investigational new drug application submitted by the NCI for this clinical trial. |
• | Patients are being followed in a Phase 1investigator-led trial at MD Anderson to infuseCD19-specific CAR+T cells based on genetic modification with the Sleeping Beauty system for patients withB-cell leukemias and lymphomas. This second-generation trial explores T cell dosing and time to manufacture. |
• | On June 2, 2019, we announced the presentation of new interim analyses of clinical data fromAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex, both as monotherapy and in combination with aPD-1 inhibitor, for |
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the treatment of recurrent or progressive glioblastoma multiforme in adults, at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. |
Patent License Agreement with the NCI
On May 28, 2019, we entered into a patent license agreement, or the License, with the NCI. Pursuant to the License, we hold an exclusive, worldwide license to certain intellectual property to develop and commercialize patient-derived (autologous), peripheral blood T cell therapy products engineered by transposon-mediated gene transfer to express TCRs reactive to mutated KRAS, p53 and EGFR. In addition, pursuant to the License, we hold an exclusive, worldwide license to certain intellectual property for manufacturing technologies to develop and commercialize autologous, peripheral blood T cell therapy products engineered bynon-viral gene transfer to express TCRs, as well as anon-exclusive, worldwide license to certain additional manufacturing technologies.
Pursuant to the terms of the License, we are required to pay the NCI a cash payment in the aggregate amount of $1,500,000, with a $500,000 payment due within sixty days of the execution date of the License and additional $500,000 payments due on thesix- and twelve-month anniversaries of the License. We also agreed to reimburse the NCI for past patent expenses in the aggregate amount of approximately $46,000.
The terms of the License also require us to pay the NCI minimum annual royalties in the amount of $250,000, which amount will be reduced to $100,000 once the aggregate minimum annual royalties paid by us equals $1,500,000. The first minimum annual royalty payment is payable on the date that is eighteen months following the date of the License.
We are also required to make performance-based payments upon successful completion of clinical and regulatory benchmarks relating to the licensed products. The aggregate potential benchmark payments are $4.3 million, of which aggregate payments of $3.0 million are due only after marketing approval in the United States or in Europe, Japan, Australia, China or India. The first benchmark payment of $100,000 will be due upon the initiation of our first sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial of a licensed product or licensed process in the field of use licensed under the License.
In addition, we are required to pay the NCIone-time benchmark payments following aggregate net sales of licensed products at certain net sales up to $1.0 billion. The aggregate potential amount of these benchmark payments is $12.0 million. We must also pay the NCI royalties on net sales of products covered by the License at rates in the low tomid-single digits depending upon the technology included in a licensed product. To the extent we enter into a sublicensing agreement relating to a licensed product, we are required to pay the NCI a percentage of all consideration received from a sublicensee, which percentage will decrease based on the stage of development of the licensed product at the time of the sublicense.
The License will expire upon expiration of the last patent contained in the licensed patent rights, unless terminated earlier. The NCI may terminate or modify the License in the event of a material breach, including if we do not meet certain milestones by certain dates, or upon certain insolvency events that remain uncured following the date that is 90 days following written notice of such breach or insolvency event. We may terminate the License, or any portion thereof, in our sole discretion at any time upon 60 days’ written notice to the NCI. In addition, the NCI has the right to require us to sublicense the rights to the product candidates covered by the License upon certain conditions, including if we are not reasonably satisfying required health and safety needs or if we are not satisfying requirements for public use as specified by federal regulations.
Corporate Information
We originally incorporated in Colorado in September 1998 (under the name Net Escapes, Inc.) and later changed our name to “EasyWeb, Inc.” in February 1999. Were-incorporated in Delaware on May 16, 2005 under
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the same name. On September 13, 2005, we completed a “reverse” acquisition of privately held ZIOPHARM, Inc., a Delaware corporation. To effect this transaction, we caused ZIO Acquisition Corp., our wholly-owned subsidiary, to merge with and into ZIOPHARM, Inc., with ZIOPHARM, Inc. surviving as our wholly owned subsidiary. In accordance with the terms of the merger, the outstanding common stock of ZIOPHARM, Inc. automatically converted into the right to receive an aggregate of approximately 97.3% of our outstanding common stock (after giving effect to the transaction). Following the merger, we caused ZIOPHARM, Inc. to merge with and into us and we changed our name to “ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.” Although EasyWeb, Inc. was the legal acquirer in the transaction, we accounted for the transaction as a reverse acquisition under generally accepted accounting principles. As a result, ZIOPHARM, Inc. became the registrant with the Commission and the historical financial statements of ZIOPHARM, Inc. became our historical financial statements.
Our principal executive offices are located at One First Avenue, Parris Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, and our telephone number is (617)259-1970. Our internet site is www.ziopharm.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or part of any prospectus supplement.
The Securities We May Offer
We may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities and warrants to purchase any of such securities, from time to time in one or more offerings under this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the relevant offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe 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; |
• | maturity; |
• | original issue discount, if any; |
• | rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any; |
• | redemption, conversion, exchange or sinking fund terms, if any; |
• | conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange; |
• | ranking; |
• | restrictive covenants, if any; |
• | voting or other rights, if any; and |
• | important U.S. federal income tax considerations. |
The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
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This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We may sell the securities directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or agents. We, and our underwriters 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:
• | the names of those underwriters or agents; |
• | applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them; |
• | details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and |
• | the estimated net proceeds to us. |
Common Stock. We may issue shares of our common stock from time to time. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders and does not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences that may apply to any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that our board of directors may declare out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion, subscription or other rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate in the future. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of our common stock under the heading “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock.” We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to any common stock being offered.
Preferred Stock. We may issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series. Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders (unless such stockholder action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or market on which our securities are then traded), to designate up to 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to determine the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of each series of the preferred stock, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, preemptive rights, terms of redemption or repurchase, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. Any convertible preferred stock we may issue will be convertible into our common stock or exchangeable for our other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at the holder’s option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.
If we sell any series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of such series of preferred stock, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock that we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the preferred stock under the heading “Description of Capital Stock—Preferred Stock.” We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of preferred stock being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contains the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.
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Debt Securities. We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all of our senior indebtedness. Convertible debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or preferred stock. Conversion may be mandatory or at the holder’s option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.
The debt securities will be issued under one or more documents called indentures, which are contracts between us and a national banking association or other eligible party, as trustee. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the debt securities under the heading “Description of Debt Securities.” We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. We have filed a form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file 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, supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered.
Warrants. We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, in one or more series, from time to time. We may issue warrants independently or in combination with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the warrants under the heading “Description of Warrants.” We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the particular series of warrants being offered, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants. We have filed forms of the warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates containing the terms of the warrants that we may offer as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file 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 form of warrant or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, that contain the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of such warrants.
Any warrants issued under this prospectus may be evidenced by warrant certificates. Warrants may be issued under a warrant agreement that we enter into with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent, if applicable, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of warrants being offered.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form10-Q, as updated by our subsequent filings, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements. These are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions about future events, conditions and results and on information currently available to us. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections titled “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form10-K, as well as any amendments thereto, filed with the SEC.
Any statements in this prospectus, or incorporated herein, about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements. Within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, these forward-looking statements include statements regarding:
• | our ability to raise substantial additional capital to fund our planned operations and to continue as a going concern; |
• | our estimates regarding expenses, use of cash, timing of future cash needs and capital requirements; |
• | the development of our product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, completion and the outcome of clinical studies or trials and related preparatory work and the period during which the results of the trials will become available; |
• | our ability to advance our product candidates through various stages of development, especially through pivotal safety and efficacy trials; |
• | the risk that final trial data may not support interim analysis of the viability of our product candidates; |
• | our expectation regarding the safety and efficacy of our product candidates; |
• | the progress and timing of our research and development programs; |
• | the timing, scope or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies for our product candidates and for which indications; |
• | our ability to license additional intellectual property relating to our product candidates from third parties and to comply with our existing license agreement; |
• | our ability to achieve the results contemplated by our collaboration agreements and the benefits to be derived from relationships with collaborators; |
• | developments and projections relating to competition from other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies or our industry; |
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• | our estimates regarding the potential market opportunity for our product candidates; |
• | the anticipated rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates for any indication if approved; |
• | the anticipated amount, timing and accounting of deferred revenues, milestones and other payments under licensing, collaboration or acquisition agreements, research and development costs and other expenses; |
• | our intellectual property position, including the strength and enforceability of our intellectual property rights; |
• | our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; and |
�� | the impact of government laws and regulations in the United States and foreign countries. |
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “projects”, “predicts”, “potential” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and in our reports filed from time to time under the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act. We encourage you to read these filings as they are made. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of the document containing the applicable statement.
You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.
Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this prospectus, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of our securities offered by this prospectus. Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we anticipate that any net proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.
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We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following information regarding any material dilution of the equity interests of investors purchasing securities in an offering under this prospectus:
• | the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering; |
• | the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchasers in the offering; and |
• | the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers. |
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The following description of our capital stock and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are summaries. You should also refer to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part.
General
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consists of 280,000,000 shares, comprised of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of June 18, 2019, there were 161,319,096 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ZIOP”.
Common Stock
Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each outstanding share of common stock owned by such stockholder on every matter properly submitted to the stockholders for their vote. Stockholders are not entitled to vote cumulatively for the election of directors. Because of this, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose. At any meeting of the stockholders, a quorum as to any matter shall consist of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, except where a larger quorum is required by law, by our certificate of incorporation or by our bylaws.
Dividend Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends and other distributions of cash or any other right or property as may be declared by our board of directors out of our assets or funds legally available for such dividends or distributions. The dividend rights of holders of common stock are subject to the dividend rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock that may be issued and outstanding from time to time.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, holders of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are legally available for distribution to stockholders after payment of liabilities. If we have any preferred stock outstanding at such time, the holders of such preferred stock may be entitled to distribution and/or liquidation preferences that require us to pay the applicable distribution to the holders of preferred stock before paying distributions to the holders of common stock.
Rights and Preferences. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
See “Certain Provisions of Delaware Law, the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws” for a description of provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing changes in the our control.
Preferred Stock
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without stockholder approval, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of up to
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30,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding.
We will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the preferred stock of each series, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the Commission, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of that series of preferred stock. This description will include:
• | the title and stated value; |
• | the number of shares offered; |
• | the liquidation preference per share; |
• | the purchase price per share; |
• | the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation for dividends; |
• | whether dividends are cumulative ornon-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
• | our right, if any, to defer payment of dividends and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
• | the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any; |
• | the provisions for a sinking fund, if any; |
• | the provision 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; |
• | the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into common stock, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation) and 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 and/or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; |
• | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; |
• | any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and |
• | any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock. |
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Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction that might involve a premium price for holders of the shares or which holders might believe to be in their best interests. The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, conversion or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that common stockholders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.
The laws of the state of Delaware, the state of our incorporation, provide that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of such preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.
The transfer agent and registrar for any series of preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, 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 debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit 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 following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its 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 supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
• | the title of the series of debt securities; |
• | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued; |
• | the maturity date or dates; |
• | the form of the debt securities of the series; |
• | the applicability of any guarantees; |
• | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
• | whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination; |
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• | if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined; |
• | the interest rate or rates, 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; |
• | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
• | if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices 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 or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
• | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
• | any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series; |
• | whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities; |
• | if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange; |
• | if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
• | additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant; |
• | additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable; |
• | additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance; |
• | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture; |
• | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture; |
• | 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; |
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• | whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made; |
• | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes; |
• | any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and |
• | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and 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 or our other securities 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 applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than a subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.
Events of Default under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
• | if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; |
• | if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; |
• | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, 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. |
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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 of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of 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 indenture, 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. 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 indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only 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, |
• | such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request; 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.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
• | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series; |
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• | to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities — Consolidation, Merger or Sale;” |
• | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
• | to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, 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 upon us in the indenture; |
• | 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 make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect; |
• | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above 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 under any indenture by a successor trustee; or |
• | to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
In addition, under the indenture, 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, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement 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 fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series; |
• | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series 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 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:
• | provide for payment; |
• | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
• | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
• | pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series; |
• | maintain paying agencies; |
• | hold monies for payment in trust; |
• | recover excess money held by the trustee; |
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• | 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, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides 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 DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, 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 indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, 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 impose 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 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 indenture 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.
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Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, 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 supplement, 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, 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 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 indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements and in any related free writing prospectuses that we may authorize to be distributed to you, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or in combination with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description of warrants will apply to the warrants offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of warrants may specify different or additional terms.
We have filed forms of the warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates containing the terms of the warrants that may be offered as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, that describe the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of such warrants. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the warrants are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses, and the complete form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, and any supplemental agreements, that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants being offered, 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; |
• | 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 agreements 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 dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
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• | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
• | a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations 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. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:
• | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or |
• | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrants may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Upon receipt of payment and the warrant or warrant certificate, as applicable, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office, including ours, indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants (or the warrants represented by such warrant certificate) are exercised, a new warrant or a new warrant certificate, as applicable, will be issued for the remaining warrants.
Governing Law
Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and any warrant agreements will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent, if any, will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW,
THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
Limitations on Directors’ Liability
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions indemnifying our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that no director will be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of certain fiduciary duties as a director. The effect of this provision is to restrict our rights and the rights of our stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of certain fiduciary duties as a director, except that a director will be personally liable for:
• | the benefits to be derived from relationships with our collaborators; |
• | any breach of his or her duty of loyalty to the registrant or its stockholders; |
• | acts or omissions not in good faith which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
• | the payment of dividends or the redemption or purchase of stock in violation of Delaware law; or |
• | any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
This provision does not affect a director’s liability under the federal securities laws.
To the extent that our directors, officers and controlling persons are indemnified under the provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, Delaware law or contractual arrangements against liabilities arising under the Securities Act, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is therefore unenforceable.
Provisions that May Have an Anti-Takeover Effect
Certain provisions set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, bylaws and in Delaware law, which are summarized below, are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies formulated by our board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control. In that regard, these provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions also are intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management.
Blank Check Preferred Stock. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that permit our board of directors to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of the series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series. As a result, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of the registrant’s common stock or otherwise be in their best interest.
Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the board of directors. Stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting of stockholders or to require that the board of directors call such a special meeting.
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Delaware Takeover Statute.
We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, which regulates acquisitions of some Delaware corporations. In general, Section 203 prohibits, with some exceptions, a Delaware corporation that is a public company from engaging in any “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
• | prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
• | on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (x) by persons who are directors and also officers and (y) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
• | on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 203 of the DGCL defines “business combination” to include:
• | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
• | any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; |
• | subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; |
• | any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or |
• | the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
In general, Section 203 defines an “interested shareholder” as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with such entity or person.
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We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee, depositary or warrant agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in a global security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary��s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security or issue securities innon-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any applicable trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee and of any third parties employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
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For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the legal holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that legal holder is required, under agreements with its participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the legal holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the legal holders contact the indirect holders is up to the legal holders.
Special Considerations for Indirect Holders
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
• | how it handles securities payments and notices; |
• | whether it imposes fees or charges; |
• | how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required; |
• | whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future; |
• | how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and |
• | if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters. |
Global Securities
A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we issue to, deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTC will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and legal holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
Special Considerations for Global Securities
The rights of an indirect holder relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We
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do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
• | an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtainnon-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below; |
• | an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank, broker or other financial institution for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above; |
• | an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities innon-book-entry form; |
• | an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; |
• | the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security; |
• | we and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security, nor do we or any applicable trustee supervise the depositary in any way; |
• | the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your bank, broker or other financial institution may require you to do so as well; and |
• | financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. |
There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.
Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks, brokers or other financial institutions to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
• | if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; |
• | if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or |
• | if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived. |
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The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
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We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
• | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
• | at market prices prevailing at the times of sale; |
• | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
• | at negotiated prices. |
We may also sell equity securities covered by this registration statement in an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Such offering may be made into an existing trading market for such securities in transactions at other than a fixed price, either:
• | on or through the facilities of Nasdaq or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which such securities may be listed, quoted or traded at the time of sale; and/or |
• | other than on Nasdaq or such other securities exchanges or quotation or trading services. |
Such at the market offerings, if any, may be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or agent.
A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
• | the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, if any; |
• | the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
• | any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
• | any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; |
• | any public offering price; |
• | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
• | any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.
If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.
We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities, and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
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We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities related to this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
All securities we offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on any exchangeor over-the-counter market or otherwise.
Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on Nasdaq may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities on Nasdaq in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters in connection with the offering and the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will be passed upon by Cooley LLP. Any underwriters will also be advised about the validity of the securities and other legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.
The financial statements of ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, incorporated in these Prospectuses by reference from the ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon (which report expresses an unqualified opinion) incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in these Prospectuses and Registration Statement in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on FormS-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the securities offered by this prospectus.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. The address of the SEC website is www.sec.gov.
We maintain a website at www.ziopharm.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or part of any prospectus supplement.
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The SEC file number for the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is001-33038. The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain important information that you should read about us.
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this document:
• | our Annual Report onForm10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2019; |
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• | the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report onForm10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 from our definitive proxy statement onSchedule 14A (other than information furnished rather than filed), which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019; |
• | our Quarterly Report onForm10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 8, 2019; |
• | our Current Reports on Form8-K filed with the SEC onJanuary 10, 2019,February 4, 2019,April 29, 2019,May 28, 2019 andJune 17, 2019 to the extent the information in such reports is filed and not furnished; and |
• | the description of our common stock set forth in the registration statement onForm8-A registering our common stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which was filed with the SEC on September 20, 2006, including any amendments or reports filed for purposes of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the common stock made by this prospectus and will become a part of this prospectus from the date that such documents are filed with the SEC. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided in this prospectus. Any statements in any such future filings will automatically be deemed to modify and supersede any information in any document we previously filed with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference to the extent that statements in the later filed document modify or replace such earlier statements.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You may request a copy of such documents at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:
Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.
One First Avenue, Parris Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts 02129
Attention: General Counsel
(617)259-1970
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Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
PROSPECTUS
June 21, 2019
PROSPECTUS
Up to $100,000,000
Common Stock
We have entered into a sales agreement with Jefferies LLC, or Jefferies, relating to shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000 from time to time through Jefferies acting as our sales agent.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ZIOP.” On June 20, 2019, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $5.82 per share.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus will be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Jefferies is not required to sell any specific amount of securities, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Jefferies and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The compensation to Jefferies for sales of common stock sold pursuant to the sales agreement will be an amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of any shares of common stock sold under the sales agreement. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 15 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to Jefferies. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Jefferies will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Jefferies will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Jefferies with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein before you make your investment decision. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including our annual report on Form10-K and our quarterly report on Form10-Q, to read about risks that you should consider before purchasing shares of our common stock.
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.
Jefferies
June 21, 2019
Prospectus
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This prospectus relates to the offering of our common stock. Before buying any of the common stock that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in this prospectus. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
This prospectus describes the terms of this offering of common stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date (for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus) the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and the sales agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the sales agent is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and in any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Ziopharm,” our “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.
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This summary highlights certain information about us, this offering and selected information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. For a more complete understanding of our company and this offering, we encourage you to read and consider carefully the more detailed information in this prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the information included in any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, including the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus on page 8 and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Company Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, acquiring, developing and commercializing next generation immunotherapy platforms that leverage cell- and gene-based therapies to treat patients with cancer. We are developing two immuno-oncology platform technologies that utilize the immune system by employing novel, controlled gene expression and innovative cell engineering technologies designed to deliver safe, effective, and scalablenon-viral cell- and viral-based gene therapies for the treatment of multiple cancer types. Our first platform is referred to as Sleeping Beauty and is based on the genetic engineering of immune cells using anon-viral transposon/transposase system that is intended to stably reprogram T cells outside of the body for subsequent infusion. Our second platform is termedControlled IL-12, which is designed to stimulate expression of interleukin 12, orIL-12, a master regulator of the immune system, in a controlled and safe manner to focus the patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells. We believe these two platforms have the potential to provide unique and powerful solutions to address the issues associated with (1) treating solid tumors with heterogeneous and unknown antigens, and (2) providing cost-effective scalable manufacturing solutions for T cell receptor T cell, or TCR+ T, therapies for solid tumors and chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR T cell, or CAR+ T, therapies targeting CD19 on malignant B cells. We expect programs from our two platform technologies to be in the clinic in 2019.
Using our Sleeping Beauty platform, we are developing TCR+ T therapies initially to target solid tumors. Our T cell receptor, or TCR, program designs and manufactures T cells that are intended to target tumor-specific antigens, thereby delivering personalized therapy that can attack an individual patient’s cancer. These antigens are referred to as neoantigens as they are only expressed by the tumor, reducing the potential for toxicity upon targeting normal cells. A minority of neoantigens are shared between patients and between classes of tumors and are referred to as “hotspots”. The Sleeping Beauty system uses DNA plasmids to reprogram T cells to express introduced TCRs on apatient-by-patient basis (addressing inter-tumor heterogeneity) and possibly to express more than one TCR for each patient (addressing intra-tumor heterogeneity). The genetic modification of patient-derived T cells using theSleeping Beauty system enables us to target neoantigens unique to a patient’s tumor infusing recipient-derived (autologous) TCRs and shared neoantigens in hotspots using allogeneic TCRs derived from third parties. We believe the scalability of our approach provides a competitive advantage to alternative viral-based approaches to T cell manufacturing. Under our Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or CRADA, the National Cancer Institute, or the NCI, intends to initiate a clinical trial in patients with a variety of solid tumors using the Sleeping Beauty platform to genetically modify T cells to target patient-specific neoantigens inmid-2019. The clinical trial will be under the direction of Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Surgery Branch at the NCI.
We are also developing CAR+ T therapies using our Sleeping Beauty platform. Our CAR+ T program seeks to solve the complex and costly manufacturing limitations of existing CD19-specific CAR+ T therapies that we believe will continue limiting their commercial potential. We believe using DNA plasmids in the Sleeping Beauty system to express CAR and our proprietary membrane-bound interleukin 15, or mbIL15, in resting T cells obtained from peripheral blood will enable infused T cells to propagate within the patient to target leukemia and
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lymphoma, thus avoiding the need to numerically expand T cells for weeks in bioreactors before patient administration. The mbIL15 isco-expressed with a “kill switch” to conditionally eliminate infused T cells. We expect the lower cost of DNA plasmids compared with the virus used by other CAR+ T programs, together with the avoidance of lengthy ex vivo manufacturing, will reduce the cost and complexity of manufacturing CAR+ T cells. These technologies should enable T cells to be infused within two days of gene transfer in a process we refer to as rapid personalized manufacture, or RPM. We are advancing our CAR+ T therapies in the United States in collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, or MD Anderson, to target CD19 on malignant B cells. In 2019, we hope to resolve our clinical hold with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in the United States of our third-generation Sleeping Beauty modified CAR+ T cells,co-expressing CAR and mbIL15, manufactured and infused into the patient in less than two days from gene transfer. In addition, in a joint venture with TriArm Therapeutics, Ltd., or TriArm, we are forming Eden BioCell, Ltd., or Eden BioCell, to lead clinical development and commercialization of Sleeping Beauty-generated CD19-specificCAR-T therapies in the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan and Korea. Eden BioCell will be owned equally by us and TriArm and the parties will share decision-making authority. TriArm has committed up to $35.0 million to this joint venture and will manage all clinical development to execute trials in the territory. We expect our joint venture with TriArm to close inmid-2019 and we may evaluate additional programs to pursue in this joint venture.
OurControlled IL-12 platform uses virotherapy based on an engineered replication-incompetentadenovirus (Ad-RTS-hIL-12) plus veledimex as a gene delivery system to conditionally produceIL-12, a potent, naturally occurring anti-cancer protein, to treat patients with solid tumors where a specific target is unknown, including brain cancer. OurControlled IL-12 platform allows us todeliver IL-12 in a tunable dose, which is critical for this potent cytokine. In a Phase 1 clinical trial of patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, or rGBM, a subset of patients (n=6) whoreceived low-dose steroids along with 20 mg of veledimexplus Ad-RTS-hIL-12, achieved 17.8 months median overall survival, or OS, compared with five to eight months OS established in historicalcontrols. Thirty-six additional patients with rGBM have been recruited into a sub study designed to encourage useof low-dose steroids and 20 mg veledimex to further understand the potential ofControlled IL-12 as a monotherapy. We are also developing ourControlled IL-12 platform in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. In June 2018, we began enrolling patients with rGBM toreceive Ad-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab) in a phase 1 dose-escalation trial. In November 2018, we announced a clinical supply agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Regeneron, toevaluate Ad-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination withRegeneron’s PD-1antibody Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc) for the treatment of patients with rGBM. We currently expect to initiate a phase 2 clinical trial in the first half of 2019 in approximately 30 patients with rGBM to measure preliminary safety and efficacyof Ad-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination with Libtayo.
As of March 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $51.5 million. We expect that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our current operations into the second quarter of 2020, and we have no committed sources of additional capital at this time. The forecast of cash resources is forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, and the actual amount of our expenses could vary materially and adversely as a result of a number of factors.
We have not generated significant revenue and have incurred significant net losses in each year since our inception. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we had a net loss of $13.4 million, and, as of March 31, 2019, we have incurred approximately $579.8 million of accumulated deficit since our inception in 2003. We expect to continue to incur significant operating expenditures and net losses. Further development of our product candidates will likely require substantial increases in our expenses as we:
• | continue to undertake clinical trials for product candidates; |
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• | seek regulatory approvals for product candidates; |
• | work with regulatory authorities to identify and address program-related inquiries; |
• | implement additional internal systems and infrastructure; |
• | hire additional personnel; and |
• | scale-up the formulation and manufacturing of our product candidates. |
We continue to seek additional financial resources to fund the further development of our product candidates. If we are unable to obtain sufficient additional capital, one or more of these programs could be delayed, and we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce our operations. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability.
Recent Developments
Changes to Board of Directors
On June 13, 2019, Heidi Hagen was appointed to our board of directors. Also on June 13, 2019, Scott Braunstein, M.D., Laurence Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., Elan Ezickson, Douglas Pagán, and Scott Tarriff were elected to our board at our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders. James Cannon stepped down from our board when his term expired at our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.
Clinical and Regulatory Developments
• | On April 1, 2019, we announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track Designation for ourControlled IL-12 program which consists ofAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex, for the treatment of recurrent or progressive glioblastoma multiforme in adults. The FDA’s Fast Track program is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs that treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. |
• | Enrollment continues in our Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluateAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab). The Data and Safety Monitoring Board for the clinical trial has authorized escalation to the third dosing cohort for this clinical trial. |
• | Under our CRADA, the NCI is undertaking a clinical trial with enrollment expected to begin inmid-2019. NCI is developing autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes genetically modified with the Sleeping Beautysystem to express TCRs that recognize neoantigens expressed by patients’ solid tumors. On June 11, 2019, we announced that the FDA had cleared the investigational new drug application submitted by the NCI for this clinical trial. |
• | Patients are being followed in a Phase 1investigator-led trial at MD Anderson to infuseCD19-specific CAR+T cells based on genetic modification with the Sleeping Beauty system for patients withB-cell leukemias and lymphomas. This second-generation trial explores T cell dosing and time to manufacture. |
• | On June 2, 2019, we announced the presentation of new interim analyses of clinical data fromAd-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex, both as monotherapy and in combination with aPD-1 inhibitor, for the treatment of recurrent or progressive glioblastoma multiforme in adults, at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. |
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Patent License Agreement with the NCI
On May 28, 2019, we entered into a patent license agreement, or the License, with the NCI. Pursuant to the License, we hold an exclusive, worldwide license to certain intellectual property to develop and commercialize patient-derived (autologous), peripheral blood T cell therapy products engineered by transposon-mediated gene transfer to express TCRs reactive to mutated KRAS, p53 and EGFR. In addition, pursuant to the License, we hold an exclusive, worldwide license to certain intellectual property for manufacturing technologies to develop and commercialize autologous, peripheral blood T cell therapy products engineered bynon-viral gene transfer to express TCRs, as well as anon-exclusive, worldwide license to certain additional manufacturing technologies.
Pursuant to the terms of the License, we are required to pay the NCI a cash payment in the aggregate amount of $1,500,000, with a $500,000 payment due within sixty days of the execution date of the License and additional $500,000 payments due on thesix- and twelve-month anniversaries of the License. We also agreed to reimburse the NCI for past patent expenses in the aggregate amount of approximately $46,000.
The terms of the License also require us to pay the NCI minimum annual royalties in the amount of $250,000, which amount will be reduced to $100,000 once the aggregate minimum annual royalties paid by us equals $1,500,000. The first minimum annual royalty payment is payable on the date that is eighteen months following the date of the License.
We are also required to make performance-based payments upon successful completion of clinical and regulatory benchmarks relating to the licensed products. The aggregate potential benchmark payments are $4.3 million, of which aggregate payments of $3.0 million are due only after marketing approval in the United States or in Europe, Japan, Australia, China or India. The first benchmark payment of $100,000 will be due upon the initiation of our first sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial of a licensed product or licensed process in the field of use licensed under the License.
In addition, we are required to pay the NCIone-time benchmark payments following aggregate net sales of licensed products at certain net sales up to $1.0 billion. The aggregate potential amount of these benchmark payments is $12.0 million. We must also pay the NCI royalties on net sales of products covered by the License at rates in the low tomid-single digits depending upon the technology included in a licensed product. To the extent we enter into a sublicensing agreement relating to a licensed product, we are required to pay the NCI a percentage of all consideration received from a sublicensee, which percentage will decrease based on the stage of development of the licensed product at the time of the sublicense.
The License will expire upon expiration of the last patent contained in the licensed patent rights, unless terminated earlier. The NCI may terminate or modify the License in the event of a material breach, including if we do not meet certain milestones by certain dates, or upon certain insolvency events that remain uncured following the date that is 90 days following written notice of such breach or insolvency event. We may terminate the License, or any portion thereof, in our sole discretion at any time upon 60 days’ written notice to the NCI. In addition, the NCI has the right to require us to sublicense the rights to the product candidates covered by the License upon certain conditions, including if we are not reasonably satisfying required health and safety needs or if we are not satisfying requirements for public use as specified by federal regulations.
Corporate Information
We originally incorporated in Colorado in September 1998 (under the name Net Escapes, Inc.) and later changed our name to “EasyWeb, Inc.” in February 1999. Were-incorporated in Delaware on May 16, 2005 under the same name. On September 13, 2005, we completed a “reverse” acquisition of privately held ZIOPHARM, Inc., a Delaware corporation. To effect this transaction, we caused ZIO Acquisition Corp., our wholly-owned
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subsidiary, to merge with and into ZIOPHARM, Inc., with ZIOPHARM, Inc. surviving as our wholly owned subsidiary. In accordance with the terms of the merger, the outstanding common stock of ZIOPHARM, Inc. automatically converted into the right to receive an aggregate of approximately 97.3% of our outstanding common stock (after giving effect to the transaction). Following the merger, we caused ZIOPHARM, Inc. to merge with and into us and we changed our name to “ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.” Although EasyWeb, Inc. was the legal acquirer in the transaction, we accounted for the transaction as a reverse acquisition under generally accepted accounting principles. As a result, ZIOPHARM, Inc. became the registrant with the Commission and the historical financial statements of ZIOPHARM, Inc. became our historical financial statements.
Our principal executive offices are located at One First Avenue, Parris Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, and our telephone number is (617)259-1970. Our internet site is www.ziopharm.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or part of any prospectus supplement.
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Common Stock Offered By Us | Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $100 million. |
Plan of Distribution | “At the market” offering that may be made from time to time through our sales agent, Jefferies. See “Plan of Distribution” on page 15. |
Use of Proceeds | We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby to fund the continued development of the product candidates in our pipeline, and for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 12 of this prospectus. |
Risk Factors | Investing in our common stock involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 8 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. |
Nasdaq Capital Market Symbol | “ZIOP” |
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described below and under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as updated by our annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations. Please also read carefully the section below titled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
ADDITIONAL RISKS RELATED TO THIS OFFERING
You may experience dilution.
The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 16,129,032 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $6.20 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 19, 2019, for aggregate gross proceeds of $100 million, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, you would experience immediate dilution of $5.26 per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2019 after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price. The exercise of outstanding stock options would result in further dilution of your investment. See the section entitled “Dilution” below for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering. Because the sales of the shares offered hereby will be made directly into the market or in negotiated transactions, the prices at which we sell these shares will vary and these variations may be significant. Purchasers of the shares we sell, as well as our existing shareholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell shares at prices significantly below the price at which they invested.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell 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 shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering. As of March 31, 2019, approximately 28,352,162 shares of common stock that are either subject to outstanding warrants, outstanding options, reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans or subject to outstanding options not under our equity plans are eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules and Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act.
Our management might apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways with which you do not agree and in ways that may impair the value of your investment.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering primarily to fund the continued development of the product candidates in our pipeline, and for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own. Pending these uses, we expect to invest the net proceeds in investment-
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grade, interest-bearing securities. Our management has broad discretion as to the use of these proceeds and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of these proceeds. We might apply these proceeds in ways with which you do not agree, or in ways that do not yield a favorable return. If our management applies these proceeds in a manner that does not yield a significant return, if any, on our investment of these net proceeds, it could compromise our ability to pursue our growth strategy and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
It is not possible to predict the actual number of shares we will sell under the sales agreement, or the gross proceeds resulting from those sales.
Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver instruction to Jefferies to sell shares of our common stock at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of shares that are sold through Jefferies after our instruction will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our common stock during the sales period, the limits we set with Jefferies in any instruction to sell shares, and the demand for our common stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during this offering, it is not currently possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.
The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings”, and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our board of directors, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements. These are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions about future events, conditions and results and on information currently available to us. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections entitled “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in the documents incorporated by reference herein.
Any statements in this prospectus, or incorporated herein, about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements. Within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, these forward-looking statements include statements regarding:
• | our ability to raise substantial additional capital to fund our planned operations and to continue as a going concern; |
• | our estimates regarding expenses, use of cash, timing of future cash needs and capital requirements; |
• | the development of our product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, completion and the outcome of clinical studies or trials and related preparatory work and the period during which the results of the trials will become available; |
• | our ability to advance our product candidates through various stages of development, especially through pivotal safety and efficacy trials; |
• | the risk that final trial data may not support interim analysis of the viability of our product candidates; |
• | our expectation regarding the safety and efficacy of our product candidates; |
• | the progress and timing of our research and development programs; |
• | the timing, scope or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies for our product candidates and for which indications; |
• | our ability to license additional intellectual property relating to our product candidates from third parties and to comply with our existing license agreement; |
• | our ability to achieve the results contemplated by our collaboration agreements and the benefits to be derived from relationships with collaborators; |
• | developments and projections relating to competition from other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies or our industry; |
• | our estimates regarding the potential market opportunity for our product candidates; |
• | the anticipated rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates for any indication if approved; |
• | the anticipated amount, timing and accounting of deferred revenues, milestones and other payments under licensing, collaboration or acquisition agreements, research and development costs and other expenses; |
• | our intellectual property position, including the strength and enforceability of our intellectual property rights; |
• | our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; and |
• | the impact of government laws and regulations in the United States and foreign countries. |
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In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words “may,” “might,” “can,” “will,” “to be,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “objective,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “likely,” “continue” and “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section contained in this prospectus and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.
Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this prospectus, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $100 million from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering price for the shares that we may offer from time to time, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the sales agreement with Jefferies as a source of financing.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby to fund the continued development of the product candidates in our pipeline, and for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own. Pending these uses, we expect to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.
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Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2019 was approximately $74,216,681, or $0.46 per share. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets, less total liabilities, by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2019. Dilution with respect to 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 net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
After giving effect to the sale of 16,129,032 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed offering price of $6.20 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 19, 2019, and after deducting estimated offering commissions and offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2019 would have been approximately $167,916,681, or $0.94 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.48 per share to existing stockholders and immediate dilution of $5.26 per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering at the assumed public offering price. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
Assumed public offering price per share | $ | 6.20 | ||||||
Net tangible book value per share of as of March 31, 2019 | $ | 0.46 | ||||||
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering | 0.48 | |||||||
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As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2019, after giving effect to this offering | 0.94 | |||||||
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Dilution per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering | $ | 5.26 | ||||||
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The above discussion and table are based on 162,287,161 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2019, and exclude:
• | 5,416,085 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options awarded as of March 31, 2019 at a weighted average exercise price of $3.66 per share; |
• | 18,939,394shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants, at a weighted average exercise price of $3.01 per share as of March 31, 2019; and |
• | 3,996,683 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans as of March 31, 2019. |
The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 16,129,032 shares of our common stock are offered during the term of the sales agreement with Jefferies at a price of $6.20 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 19, 2019, for aggregate gross proceeds of $100.0 million. The shares subject to the sales agreement with Jefferies are being sold from time to time at various prices. An increase of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $7.20 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $100.0 million during the term of the sales agreement with Jefferies is sold at that price, would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $0.95 per share and would increase the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $6.25 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $5.20 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $100.0 million during the term of the sales agreement with Jefferies is sold at that price, would decrease our as adjusted net tangible book value per share
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after the offering to $0.93 per share and would decrease the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $4.27 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only.
To the extent that outstanding stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2019 have been or may be exercised or other shares issued, investors purchasing our common stock 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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We have entered into a sales agreement with Jefferies, under which we may offer and sell up to $100,000,000 of our shares of common stock from time to time through Jefferies acting as agent. Sales of our shares of common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act.
Each time we wish to issue and sell our shares of common stock under the sales agreement, we will notify Jefferies of the number of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of shares to be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Once we have so instructed Jefferies, unless Jefferies declines to accept the terms of such notice, Jefferies has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of Jefferies under the sales agreement to sell our shares of common stock are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet.
The settlement of sales of shares between us and Jefferies is generally anticipated to occur on the second trading day following the date on which the sale was made. Sales of our shares of common stock as contemplated in this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Jefferies may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will pay Jefferies a commission equal to 3% of the aggregate gross proceeds we receive from each sale of our shares of common stock. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse Jefferies for the fees and disbursements of its counsel, payable upon execution of the sales agreement, in an amount not to exceed $50,000, in addition to certain ongoing disbursements of its legal counsel. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding any commissions or expense reimbursement payable to Jefferies under the terms of the sales agreement, will be approximately $250,000. The remaining sale proceeds, after deducting any other transaction fees, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such shares.
Jefferies will provide written confirmation to us before the open on The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day following each day on which our shares of common stock are sold under the sales agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on that day, the aggregate gross proceeds of such sales and the proceeds to us.
In connection with the sale of our shares of common stock on our behalf, Jefferies will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of Jefferies will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify Jefferies against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments Jefferies may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
The offering of our shares of common stock pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all shares of common stock subject to the sales agreement and (ii) the termination of the sales agreement as permitted therein. We and Jefferies may each terminate the sales agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.
This summary of the material provisions of the sales agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the sales agreement is filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form8-K filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
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Jefferies and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. In the course of its business, Jefferies may actively trade our securities for its own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, Jefferies may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities.
A prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Jefferies, and Jefferies may distribute the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus electronically.
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The validity of the common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Cooley LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Goodwin Procter LLP, New York, New York, is counsel for Jefferies LLC in connection with this offering.
The financial statements of ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, incorporated in these Prospectuses by reference from the ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon(which report expresses an unqualified opinion) incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in these Prospectuses and Registration Statement in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing..
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the securities offered by this prospectus.
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 SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at www.ziopharm.com. Information contained in or accessible through our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The SEC file number for the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is001-33038. The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain important information that you should read about us.
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this document:
• | our Annual Report onForm10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2019; |
• | the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report onForm10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 from our definitive proxy statement onSchedule 14A (other than information furnished rather than filed), which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019; |
• | our Quarterly Report onForm10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 8, 2019; |
• | our Current Reports on Form8-K filed with the SEC onJanuary 10, 2019,February 4, 2019,April 29, 2019,May 28, 2019 andJune 17, 2019 to the extent the information in such reports is filed and not furnished; and |
• | the description of our common stock set forth in the registration statement onForm8-A registering our common stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which was filed with the SEC on September 20, 2006, including any amendments or reports filed for purposes of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus all documents (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items) that are filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, or (ii) after the date of this prospectus but prior to the termination of the offering. These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form10-K, Quarterly Reports onForm 10-Q and Current Reports on Form8-K, as well as proxy statements.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You may request a copy of such documents at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:
Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.
One First Avenue, Parris Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts 02129
Attention: General Counsel
(617)259-1970
Any statement contained in this prospectus or contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any subsequently filed supplement to this prospectus, or document deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, modifies or supersedes such statement.
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Up to $100,000,000
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
June 21, 2019
Jefferies
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth the fees and expenses, other than underwriting compensation, payable in connection with the registration of securities hereunder. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee.
SEC registration fee(1) | $ | 12,120 | ||
Legal fees and expenses | $ | * | ||
Accounting fees and expenses | $ | * | ||
Printing and engraving expenses | $ | * | ||
Miscellaneous expenses | $ | * | ||
Blue sky fees and expenses | $ | * | ||
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Total | $ | * | ||
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(1) | Represents registration fee applicable to amount included in prospectus for $100 million in shares of common stock. Additional registration fees deferred in reliance upon Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act. |
* | Estimated expenses are not presently known. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Under Article 6 of the registrant’s bylaws, each director and officer of the registrant will be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the registrant or, while a director or officer of the registrant, is or was serving at the request of the registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such director or officer. However, the registrant shall be required to indemnify a director or officer in connection with a proceeding commenced by such director or officer only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the director or officer was authorized by the Board. The registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation also eliminates the liability of directors of the registrant for monetary damages to the fullest extent permissible under Delaware law.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law states:
(a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be
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in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer of the corporation at the time of such determination:
(1) | By a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum; or |
(2) | By a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum; or |
(3) | If there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or |
(4) | By the stockholders. |
(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising
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under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
(g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
(h) For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i) For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).
The registrant maintains insurance on behalf of its officers and directors, insuring them against liabilities that they may incur in such capacities or arising out of this status.
The above discussion of the registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law is not intended to be exhaustive and is respectively qualified in its entirety by such Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and statute.
The registrant has entered into indemnity agreements with each of its current directors and its executive officers to give such directors and officers additional contractual assurances regarding the scope of the indemnification set forth in the registrant’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and to provide additional procedural protections. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of the registrant’s
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directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought, nor is the registrant aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.
The underwriting agreement, if any, entered into with respect to an offering of securities registered hereunder will provide for indemnification by any underwriters of any offering, our directors and officers who sign the registration statement and our controlling persons for some liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
* | To be filed by amendment or by a report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference, if applicable. |
** | To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 at the time of an offering of debt securities. |
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Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;
provided,however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated
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or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of such undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, such undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of such undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of such undersigned registrant or used or referred to by such undersigned registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about such undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of such undersigned registrant; and
(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by such undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act:
(i) the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of the registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
(ii) each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described herein, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by
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a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on FormS-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 21st of June, 2019.
ZIOPHARM ONCOLOGY, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Laurence J.N. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D. | |
Laurence J.N. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer |
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KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Laurence J.N. Cooper and Robert Hadfield, as his or her true and lawful agent, proxy andattorney-in-fact, each acting alone, with full power of substitution andre-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys in fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys in fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Laurence J.N. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D. Laurence J.N. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D. | Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | June 21, 2019 | ||
/s/ Kevin G. Lafond Kevin G. Lafond | Senior Vice President Finance, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | June 21, 2019 | ||
/s/ Scott Braunstein Scott Braunstein | Director | June 21, 2019 | ||
/s/ Elan Z. Ezickson Elan Z. Ezickson | Director | June 21, 2019 | ||
/s/ Heidi M. Hagen Heidi M. Hagen | Director | June 21, 2019 | ||
/s/ Douglas W. Pagán Douglas W. Pagán | Director | June 21, 2019 | ||
/s/ Scott Tarriff Scott Tarriff | Director | June 21, 2019 |
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