Exhibit 99.1
Histogenics Announces Approval of Merger by Stockholders at Special Meeting
BOSTON, Mass. — September 26, 2019 — Histogenics Corporation (Nasdaq: HSGX) (the “Company” or “Histogenics”) today announced that all proposals related to its proposed merger with Ocugen, Inc. (“Ocugen”) were approved by Histogenics’ stockholders at a special meeting held on September 26, 2019. As previously announced, the proposed merger will create a public company under which the stockholders of Ocugen will become majority holders of the combined company.
The proposed merger remains subject to further customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Histogenics and Ocugen expect the closing of the merger to occur on or about September 27, 2019.
Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will change its name to “Ocugen, Inc.” and the Nasdaq trading symbol will become “OCGN.” The executive team of Ocugen will serve as the executive team of the combined company, led by Shankar Musunuri, Ph.D., M.B.A., as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer andCo-Founder.
Ocugen is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing a pipeline of innovative therapies that address rare and underserved eye diseases.
The final voting results for Histogenics’ special meeting of stockholders will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Form8-K and will also be available at https://www.histogenics.com, after certification by the company’s inspector of elections. Additionally, Histogenics and Medavate Corp. entered into an amendment to the Asset Purchase Agreement between them in order to amend the closing date under the Asset Purchase Agreement to October 4, 2019.
About Ocugen
Ocugen, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing a pipeline of innovative therapies that address rare and underserved eye diseases. The Company offers a robust and diversified ophthalmology portfolio that includes novel gene therapies, biologics, and small molecules and targets a broad range of high-need retinal and ocular surface diseases. Ocugen is leveraging its groundbreaking modifier gene therapy platform to address genetically diverse inherited retinal disorders (IRDs), including its therapies based on nuclear hormone receptor genesNR2E3 (OCU400) andRORA (OCU410). OCU400 has received two orphan drug designations (ODD) targeting two distinct IRDs. Ocugen is also developing novel biologic therapies forwet-AMD, DME and diabetic retinopathy (OCU200), as well as for retinitis pigmentosa (OCU100). The Company’s late-stage Phase 3 trial for patients with ocular graft versus host disease (oGVHD)(OCU300) leverages Ocugen’s patented OcuNanoE – Ocugen’s ONE Platform™ technology to enhance the efficacy of topical ophthalmic therapeutics. OCU300 is the first and only therapeutic with ODD for oGVHD, providing certain regulatory and economic benefits. For more information, please visit www.ocugen.com
Additional Information about the Proposed Merger and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed Merger, Histogenics has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on FormS-4 that contains a prospectus/proxy statement/information statement and other relevant documents concerning the proposed business combination. The registration statement on FormS-4 was declared effective by the SEC on August 6, 2019. Histogenics mailed the prospectus/proxy statement/information statement to its stockholders beginning on or around August 12, 2019. Investors and security holders of Histogenics and Ocugen are urged to read the definitive proxy statement/prospectus/information statement and other materials filed or that will be filed with the SEC because they contain or will contain important information about Histogenics, Ocugen and the Merger. The proxy statement/prospectus/information statement and other relevant materials, and any other documents filed by Histogenics with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Histogenics by directing a written request to: Histogenics Corporation, c/o Gunderson Dettmer, One Marina Park Drive, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02210, Attention: HSGX Secretary.