Oxford, as collateral agent and lender, that we originally entered into on February 12, 2020, as amended, has created fixed payment obligations and imposed restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, creating liens, redeeming stock or declaring dividends, that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. The terms of our term loan facility with Oxford precludes us from paying cash dividends to our stockholders without Oxford’s consent. As a result, only appreciation of the price of our common stock will provide a return to stockholders for the foreseeable future.
Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We have agreed, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the sales agreement, to provide Cowen with notice as promptly as reasonably possible before we offer to sell, contract to sell, sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire common stock during the pendency of any placement notice delivered by us to Cowen under the sales agreement, and for five trading days following the termination of such placement notice. Therefore, it is possible that we could issue and sell additional shares of our common stock in the public markets. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common stock would have on the market price of our common stock.
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 accordingly may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand and the terms of the sales agreement, to vary the timing, prices and number of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our board of directors or any restrictions we may place in any applicable placement notice, 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.
The actual number of shares we will issue under the sales agreement and gross proceeds resulting from those sales, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver placement notices to Cowen, at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of shares that are sold by Cowen after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period and limits we set with Cowen. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares that will be ultimately issued or the gross proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.
The trading price of our common stock is highly volatile, which could result in substantial losses for our stockholders.
The trading price of our common stock has been, and is likely to continue to be, highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. During the period from January 1, 2022 to April 4, 2023, the closing price of our common stock ranged from a high of $38.00 per share to a low of $2.56 per share. The stock market in general and the market for smaller pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies in particular have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your common stock at or above the price you paid for your common stock in this offering.
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