Societal CDMO 424B5 Prospectus supplement for primary offering

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-229734

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

To Prospectus dated March 21, 2019

LOGO

RECRO PHARMA, INC.

$30,000,000 OF COMMON STOCK

Pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, we are offering up to $30,000,000 of shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, or the common stock, to Aspire Capital Fund, LLC, or Aspire Capital, pursuant to a common stock purchase agreement, entered into with Aspire Capital on February 19, 2019, as amended on August 7, 2020 and February 26, 2021, which we refer to herein as the Amended Purchase Agreement.

The shares offered under this prospectus supplement may be sold from time to time to Aspire Capital until and including February 26, 2023, with an aggregate offering price of up to $30,000,000, or the Purchase Shares. The purchase price for the Purchase Shares will be based upon one of two formulas set forth in the Amended Purchase Agreement as described herein on page S-11 depending on the type of purchase notice we submit to Aspire Capital from time to time.

Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “REPH.” On February 26, 2021, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $3.43 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement, page 7 of the accompanying prospectus and under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus supplement is February 26, 2021.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement


	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT		S-ii
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY		S-1
THE OFFERING		S-2
RISK FACTORS		S-3
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		S-6
USE OF PROCEEDS		S-8
DILUTION		S-9
THE ASPIRE TRANSACTION		S-10
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		S-14
LEGAL MATTERS		S-15
EXPERTS		S-15
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE		S-16
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		S-16

Accompanying Prospectus


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE			2
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			2
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			3
SUMMARY			5
RISK FACTORS			7
USE OF PROCEEDS			10
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUR SECURITIES			11
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK			11
DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES			14
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS			22
DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS			23
DESCRIPTION OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS			24
GLOBAL SECURITIES			24
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS			28
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			30
LEGAL MATTERS			33
EXPERTS			33

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-229734) that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. This document contains two parts. The first part consists of this prospectus supplement, which provides you with specific information about this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer only to the “prospectus supplement,” we are referring to both parts combined. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent that any statement we make in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in the accompanying prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, the statements made in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede those made in the accompanying prospectus and such documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. You should carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference herein and therein, and any related free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering.

You should rely only on the information that we have included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor does this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference herein or therein is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is delivered, or securities are sold, on a later date.

This prospectus supplement contains or incorporates by reference 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 or will be filed or have been or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Solely for convenience, tradenames referred to in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference appear without the ^® or ^TMsymbol, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these tradenames.

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any filing that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement,

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including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

References in this prospectus to the terms “the Company,” “Recro,” “we,” “our” and “us” or other similar terms mean Recro Pharma, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries, unless we state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise.

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information about us, this offering and information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference. This summary is not complete and does not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference herein, especially the matters discussed in the information set forth under the sections titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

Overview

We are a dedicated contract development and manufacturing organization, or CDMO, solving complex formulation and manufacturing challenges for companies developing oral solid dose drug products. We leverage our formulation and development expertise to develop and manufacture pharmaceutical products using proprietary delivery technologies and know-how for partners who develop and commercialize or plan to commercialize these products. In 2020, we launched our clinical trials support services capabilities, which includes preparation of clinical trial supplies, as well as specialized services dedicated to the development and Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMP, of high-potency products.

We operate a 97,000 square foot, DEA-licensed manufacturing facility in Gainesville, Georgia, as well as a 24,000 square foot development, high potency product and clinical packaging facility in Gainesville, Georgia that we opened in October 2018. We currently develop and/or manufacture the following key products with our key commercial partners: Ritalin LA^®, Focalin XR^®, Verelan PM^®, Verelan SR^®, Verapamil PM and Verapamil SR, as well as supporting development stage products.

Our manufacturing and development capabilities include formulation, product development from formulation through clinical trial and commercial manufacturing, and specialized capabilities for solid oral dosage forms, extended release and controlled substance manufacturing, as well as high potency development and manufacturing. In a typical collaboration, we work with our partners to develop product candidates, or new formulations of existing product candidates, and may license certain intellectual property to such partners. We also typically exclusively manufacture and supply clinical and commercial supplies of these proprietary products and product candidates.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in November 2007. Our principal executive offices are located at 490 Lapp Road, Malvern, PA 19355, and our telephone number is (484) 395-2470.

Available Information

Our website address is www.recrocdmo.com. The information contained in, or accessible through, our website does not constitute part of this prospectus supplement. We make available free of charge on our website our annual, quarterly and current reports, including amendments to such reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

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THE OFFERING

Common stock offered by us

Up to $30,000,000 of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Common stock to be outstanding after this offering

39,758,358 shares assuming the issuance of 8,746,355 Purchase Shares at a price of $3.43 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 26, 2021. The number of actual Purchase Shares that may be issued will vary depending on the sales prices under this offering. The number of shares that may be issued in this offering is limited to 6,199,299 shares, except in certain circumstances. See “The Aspire Transaction—Purchase of Shares under the Amended Purchase Agreement” below for a description of the share limitation.

Manner of Offering

Sales of Purchase Shares to Aspire Capital from time to time, subject to certain minimum stock price requirements and daily caps for an aggregate offering price of up to $30,000,000. See “The Aspire Transaction” and “Plan of Distribution.”

Use of proceeds

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include increasing our working capital, acquisitions or investments in businesses and capital expenditures. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Risk Factors

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus and in Part I, Item 1A our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q as well as the other information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of risks you should carefully consider before investing in our securities.

Nasdaq Capital Market symbol

REPH

Outstanding Shares

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 31,012,003 shares of our common stock outstanding as of February 26, 2021, and excludes:

•

3,907,010 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2020 at a weighted-average exercise price of $8.03 per share;

•

1,516,819 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2020;

•

3,923,453 shares of our common stock available for future issuance as of December 31, 2020 under our Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan; and

•

348,664 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2020 with a weighted average exercise price of $1.73 per share.

S-2

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks described below and those discussed under the Section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with other information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the information and documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, and in any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be harmed. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to This Offering

If you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you may suffer immediate dilution of your investment and the sale of the shares of our common stock acquired in this offering could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

The shares sold in this offering will be sold from time to time at various prices, however the offering prices for the Purchase Shares may be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you may pay a price per share that substantially exceeds our net tangible book value per share after this offering.

In addition, this prospectus supplement relates to $30,000,000 of shares of our common stock, the sale and issuance of which may result in substantial dilution to the interests of other holders of our common stock, and such sales and issuances, or the anticipation of such sales and issuances, may cause the trading price of our common stock to decline. Our market liquidity is limited and resales by you of the shares that you acquire in this offering may also cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.

The number of shares ultimately sold by us under this prospectus supplement is dependent upon the number of shares we elect to sell to Aspire Capital under the Amended Purchase Agreement. We have the right under the Amended Purchase Agreement to control the timing and amount of sales of our shares to Aspire Capital, and the Amended Purchase Agreement may be terminated by us at any time at our discretion without any penalty or cost to us. At our discretion, Aspire Capital may ultimately purchase all, some or none of the $30,000,000 of common stock that is the subject of this prospectus supplement. Aspire Capital may sell all, some or none of our shares that it purchases under the Amended Purchase Agreement and any such sales may cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.

Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from this offering, and we may not use the proceeds effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion with respect to the use of proceeds of this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Use of Proceeds.” You will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering. The results and effectiveness of the use of proceeds are uncertain, and we could spend the proceeds in ways that you do not agree with or that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. Moreover, it is particularly difficult to estimate with certainty our future expenses and capital requirements given the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the ongoing novel strain of coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic and its effect on our ability to manufacture and develop our customers’ products and demand for our customers’ products. Therefore, we may need to apply the proceeds of this offering in unexpected circumstances should the COVID-19 pandemic continue to have a negative effect on our business operations. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could harm our development and manufacturing business and operations.

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Issuances of shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of common stock following this offering, as well as the exercise of options and warrants outstanding, will dilute your ownership interests and may adversely affect the future market price of our common stock.

We may seek additional capital through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings, strategic partnerships and alliances and licensing arrangements, which may cause your ownership interest to be diluted. In addition, we have a significant number of options and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock outstanding. If these securities are exercised, you may incur further dilution. Moreover, to the extent that we issue additional options or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of our common stock in the future and those options, warrants or other securities are exercised, converted or exchanged, shareholders may experience further dilution.

A substantial number of shares of common stock may be sold in the market at any point, which may depress the market price for our common stock.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, either by us, Aspire Capital or by our current shareholders, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause a decline in the market price of our securities. Such sales, along with any other market transactions, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Our outstanding shares of common stock may be freely sold in the public market at any time to the extent permitted by Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or to the extent such shares have already been registered under the Securities Act and are held by non-affiliates of ours.

As of December 31, 2020, there were approximately 5,423,829 shares subject to outstanding options and restricted stock unit awards or that are otherwise issuable under our equity compensation plans, all of which shares we have registered under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-8. The registered shares can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates, to the extent applicable.

The market price and trading volume of our common stock have been and may continue to be volatile.

The market price for our common stock has been volatile and may continue to fluctuate or may decline significantly in the future. An active, liquid and orderly market for our common stock may not be sustained, which could depress the trading price of our common stock or cause it to continue to be highly volatile or subject to wide fluctuations. Some of the factors that could negatively affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our common stock include, among other things:

•

FDA, state or international regulatory actions, including actions on regulatory applications for any of our commercial partners’ product candidates;

•

legislative or regulatory changes;

•

judicial pronouncements interpreting laws and regulations;

•

changes in government programs;

•

announcements of new products, services or technologies, commercial relationships, acquisitions or other events by us or our competitors;

•

changes in demand for or pricing of our customers’ products;

•

the sales ramp and trajectory for our formulation, development and manufacturing services;

•

market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors;

•

fluctuations in stock market prices and trading volumes of similar companies;

•

changes in accounting principles;

S-4

•

litigation or public concern about the safety of our products or similar products;

•

sales of large blocks of our common stock, including sales by our executive officers, directors and significant shareholders;

•

our announcement of financing transactions, including debt, convertible notes, etc.; and

•

actions by institutional or activist shareholders.

These broad market and industry factors may decrease the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and decreases in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against these companies. Following the decrease in our trading price in May 2018, a securities class action lawsuit was filed against us and certain of our officers and directors for alleged violations of Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10(b)(5) promulgated thereunder. The complaint seeks unspecified damages, interest, attorneys’ fees and other costs. On December 10, 2018, lead plaintiff filed an amended complaint that asserted the same claims and sought the same relief but included new allegations and named additional officers and directors as defendants. On February 8, 2019, we filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint in its entirety which the lead plaintiff opposed on April 9, 2019. On May 9, 2019, we filed our response and briefing was completed on the motion to dismiss. In response to questions from the Judge, the parties submitted supplemental briefs with regard to the motion to dismiss the amended complaint during the fall of 2019. On February 18, 2020, the motion to dismiss was granted without prejudice. On April 25, 2020, the plaintiff filed a second amended complaint. We filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint on June 18, 2020. The plaintiff filed an opposition to our motion to dismiss on August 17, 2020 and on September 16, 2020, we filed a reply in support of our motion to dismiss. In connection with the separation from Baudax Bio, Inc., Baudax Bio, Inc. accepted assignment from us of all of our obligations in connection with the litigation and agreed to indemnify us for all liabilities related to the litigation. This litigation, and any other securities class actions that may be brought against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.

S-5

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated herein or therein by reference regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “would” or the negative of such terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated.

Any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of the risks and uncertainties referred to in this prospectus and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 2020 and subsequent filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus. The forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference include, among other things, statements about:

•

our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, cash flow, capital requirements and timing and availability of and the need for additional financing;

•

our ability to maintain or expand our relationships, profitability and contracts with our key commercial partners, including the impact of changes in consumer demand for the products we manufacture for our commercial partners;

•

our ability to grow and diversify our business with new customers, including our ability to meet desired project outcomes with development customers;

•

the extent to which the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our business operations and financial condition and the business operations and financial condition of our customers;

•

our ability to operate under increased leverage and associated lending covenants; to pay existing required interest and principal amortization payments when due; and/or to obtain acceptable refinancing alternatives;

•

the performance of third-party suppliers upon which we depend for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, or APIs, excipients, capsules, reagents, etc., and other third-parties involved with maintenance of our facilities and equipment;

•

our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection for applicable products and defend our intellectual property rights against third-parties;

•

pharmaceutical market forces that may impact our commercial customers’ success and continued demand for the products we produce;

•

our ability to recruit or retain key scientific, technical, business development, and management personnel and our executive officers; and

•

our ability to comply with stringent U.S. and foreign government regulation in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, including Good Manufacturing Practice compliance and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA, compliance and other relevant regulatory authorities.

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have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this prospectus supplement, our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference to this prospectus supplement, particularly under “Risk Factors,” that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, collaborations or investments we may make.

You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference herein and therein completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds of the proposed offering, if any, for general corporate purposes, which may include increasing our working capital, acquisitions or investments in businesses and capital expenditures.

These expected uses represent our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. Our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on a number of factors. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from this offering. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the application of these proceeds. Pending application of the net proceeds of this offering, if any, received from time to time in connection with purchases under the Amended Purchase Agreement as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds of this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

S-8

DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock, your interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. Net tangible book value per share represents our total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding.

As of December 31, 2020, our net tangible book value was $(19.2) million, or $(0.62) per share of common stock. After giving effect to the assumed issuance and sale of 8,746,355 Purchase Shares in the aggregate amount of $30,000,000 at an assumed average offering price of $3.43 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 26, 2021, and after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2020 would have been approximately $10.8 million, or approximately $0.27 per share. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value to existing shareholders of $0.89 per share and an immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value of $3.16 per share of our common stock to the investors purchasing securities in this offering.

The following table illustrates this per share dilution:


Assumed average offering price per share				$	3.43
Net tangible book value per share at December 31, 2020	$	(0.62	)
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors purchasing shares in this offering	$	0.89

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering					0.27

Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering				$	3.16

The foregoing dilution information assumes an offering price for the Purchase Shares equal to the closing price for our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 26, 2021 and the sale of $30,000,000 in Purchase Shares. The actual price at which we sell Purchase Shares in this offering may be higher or lower than this assumed average price and the total amount of Purchase Shares that we sell in this offering may be lower than $30,000,000. An increase of $1.00 per share in the price at which the Purchase Shares are sold from the assumed average offering price of $3.43 per share shown in the table above, assuming we sell $30,000,000 in Purchase Shares at that price, would increase our adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering to $0.29 per share and would result in dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering of $4.14 per share, after deducting estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us.

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 31,012,003 shares of our common stock outstanding as of February 26, 2021, and excludes:

•

3,907,010 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2020 at a weighted-average exercise price of $8.03 per share;

•

1,516,819 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2020;

•

3,923,453 shares of our common stock available for future issuance as of December 31, 2020 under our Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan; and

•

348,664 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2020 with a weighted average exercise price of $1.73 per share.

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THE ASPIRE TRANSACTION

General

The Amended Purchase Agreement provides that upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, Aspire Capital is obligated to purchase up to an aggregate of $41,171,738 of Purchase Shares from time to time over the term of the Amended Purchase Agreement from us. We previously issued 34,762 shares of our common stock to Aspire Capital on February 19, 2019 as consideration for entering into the original Purchase Agreement, referred to as the Commitment Shares. As of the date hereof, we have sold 4,690,972 shares under the Amended Purchase Agreement for gross proceeds of $11.2 million. The following is a summary of the Amended Purchase Agreement with Aspire Capital.

Purchase of Shares under the Amended Purchase Agreement

On any business day over the term of the Amended Purchase Agreement (until February 26, 2023), we have the right, in our sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a purchase notice, or a Purchase Notice, directing Aspire Capital to purchase up to 75,000 Purchase Shares per business day; however, no sale pursuant to a Purchase Notice may exceed $500,000 per trading day, unless we and Aspire Capital mutually agree. We and Aspire Capital also may mutually agree to increase the number of shares that may be sold to as much as an additional 2,000,000 Purchase Shares per trading day. The purchase price per Purchase Share pursuant to such Purchase Notice, or the Purchase Price, is the lower of:

(i) the lowest sale price for our common stock on the date of sale; or

(ii) the average of the three lowest closing sale prices for our common stock during the ten consecutive business days ending on the business day immediately preceding the purchase date.

The applicable Purchase Price will be determined prior to delivery of any Purchase Notice. The Amended Purchase Agreement provides that we and Aspire Capital shall not affect any sales under the Amended Purchase Agreement on any purchase date where the closing sale price of our common stock is less than $0.50 per share.

In addition, on any date on which we submit a Purchase Notice to Aspire Capital, we also have the right, in our sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a volume-weighted average price purchase notice, or a VWAP Purchase Notice, directing Aspire Capital to purchase an amount of our common stock equal to up to 30% of the aggregate shares of common stock traded on the next business day, or the VWAP Purchase Date, subject to a maximum number of shares determined by us, or the VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum. The purchase price per Purchase Share pursuant to such VWAP Purchase Notice, or the VWAP Purchase Price, shall be the lesser of the closing sale on the VWAP Purchase Date or 97% of the volume weighted average price for our common stock traded on (i) the VWAP Purchase Date if the aggregate shares to be purchased on that date does not exceed the VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum, or (ii) the portion of such business day until such time as the aggregate shares to be purchased will equal the VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum.

The number of Purchase Shares covered by and timing of each Purchase Notice or VWAP Purchase Notice are determined by us, at our sole discretion. The aggregate number of shares that we can sell to Aspire Capital under the Amended Purchase Agreement on or after February 26, 2021 may in no case exceed 6,199,299 shares of our common stock (which is equal to approximately 19.99% of the common stock outstanding on the date of the Amended Purchase Agreement), or the Exchange Cap, unless (i) stockholder approval is obtained to issue more, in which case the Exchange Cap will not apply, or (ii) stockholder approval has not been obtained and at any time the Exchange Cap is reached and at all times thereafter the average price paid for all shares issued under the Amended Purchase Agreement is equal to or greater than a price equal to $3.43, which is the closing sale price of our common stock immediately preceding the execution of the Amended Purchase Agreement; provided that at no time shall Aspire Capital (together with its affiliates) beneficially own more than 19.99% of our common stock. Aspire Capital has no right to require any sales by us, but is obligated to make purchases from us as we direct in accordance with the Amended Purchase Agreement.

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There are no limitations on use of proceeds, financial or business covenants, restrictions on future fundings, rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages in the Amended Purchase Agreement. We did not pay any additional amounts to reimburse or otherwise compensate Aspire Capital in connection with the transaction.

Events of Default

Aspire Capital may terminate the Amended Purchase Agreement upon the occurrence of any of the following events of default:

•

the effectiveness of any registration statement that is required to be maintained effective pursuant to the terms of the registration rights agreement between us and Aspire Capital lapses for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop order) or is unavailable for sale of our shares of common stock in accordance with the terms of the registration rights agreement, and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of ten consecutive business days or for more than an aggregate of thirty business days in any 365-day period, subject to certain exceptions;

•

the suspension from trading or failure of our common stock to be listed on our principal market for a period of three consecutive business days;

•

the delisting of our common stock from our principal market, and our common stock is not immediately thereafter trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market;

•

our transfer agent’s failure to issue to Aspire Capital shares of our common stock which Aspire Capital is entitled to receive under the Amended Purchase Agreement within five business days after an applicable purchase date;

•

any breach by us of the representations or warranties or covenants contained in the Amended Purchase Agreement or any related agreements which could have a material adverse effect on us subject to a cure period of five business days;

•

any person commences a proceeding against us pursuant to or within the meaning of any bankruptcy law;

•

if we become insolvent or unable to pay our debts as they become due;

•

any participation or threatened participation in insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings by or against us; or

•

if the aggregate number of shares of common stock issued to Aspire Capital under the Amended Purchase Agreement exceeds the Exchange Cap, unless and until stockholder approval is obtained or we can otherwise continue to issue shares under the Amended Purchase Agreement without breaching the Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market or another applicable principal market on which our common stock is then listed or traded.

Our Termination Rights

We may terminate the Amended Purchase Agreement with notice at any time, in our discretion, without any cost or penalty.

No Short-Selling or Hedging by Aspire Capital

Aspire Capital has agreed that neither it nor any of its agents, representatives and affiliates shall engage in any direct or indirect shortselling or hedging of our common stock during any time prior to the termination of the Amended Purchase Agreement.

S-11

Effect of Performance of the Amended Purchase Agreement on Our Stockholders

The Amended Purchase Agreement does not limit the ability of Aspire Capital to sell any or all of the shares it currently owns or receives in this offering. It is anticipated that shares sold to Aspire Capital in this offering will be sold to Aspire Capital over a period through February 26, 2023. The subsequent resale by Aspire Capital of a significant amount of shares sold to Aspire Capital in this offering at any given time could cause the market price of our common stock to decline or to be highly volatile. Aspire Capital may ultimately purchase all, some or none of the $30,000,000 of shares of common stock that are the subject of this prospectus supplement. Aspire Capital may resell any Purchase Shares it acquires. Therefore, sales to Aspire Capital by us pursuant to the Amended Purchase Agreement and this prospectus supplement also may result in substantial dilution to the interests of other holders of our common stock. However, we have the right to control the timing and amount of any sales of our shares to Aspire Capital and the Amended Purchase Agreement may be terminated by us at any time at our discretion without any cost to us.

Amount of Potential Proceeds to be Received under the Amended Purchase Agreement

Under the Amended Purchase Agreement, we may sell Purchase Shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $30,000,000 to Aspire Capital from time to time after the date hereof. The number of shares ultimately offered for sale to Aspire Capital in this offering is dependent upon the number of shares we elect to sell to Aspire Capital under the Amended Purchase Agreement. In addition, Aspire Capital will not be required to buy Purchase Shares pursuant to a Purchase Notice that was received by Aspire Capital on any business day on which the last closing trade price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market (or alternative national exchange in accordance with the Amended Purchase Agreement) is below the floor price. The following table sets forth the amount of proceeds we would receive from Aspire Capital from the sale of shares at varying purchase prices:


Assumed Average Purchase Price	Number of Shares to be Sold if Full Purchase(1)		Percentage of Outstanding Shares After Giving Effect to the Sale to Aspire Capital(2)			Proceeds from the Sale of Shares to Aspire Capital Under the Purchase Agreement
$0.50		6,199,299		16.7	%	$	3,099,649.50
$3.43(3)		6,199,299		16.7	%	$	21,263,595.57
$7.00		4,285,714		12.1	%	$	29,999,998.00
$10.00		3,000,000		8.8	%	$	30,000,000.00
$12.00		2,500,000		7.5	%	$	30,000,000.00

⁽¹⁾	Includes the total number of Purchase Shares which we would have sold under the Amended Purchase Agreement at the corresponding assumed purchase price set forth in the adjacent column, up to an aggregate purchase price of $30,000,000.

⁽²⁾	The foregoing table and calculations are based on 31,012,003 shares of our common stock outstanding as of February 26, 2021, and excludes:

•

3,907,010 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2020 at a weighted-average exercise price of $8.03 per share;

•

1,516,819 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2020;

•

3,923,453 shares of our common stock available for future issuance as of December 31, 2020 under our Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan; and

S-12

•

348,664 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2020 with a weighted average exercise price of $1.73 per share.

⁽³⁾	On February 26, 2021, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $3.43.

Information With Respect to Aspire Capital

Aspire Capital Partners LLC, or Aspire Partners, is the Managing Member of Aspire Capital. SGM Holdings Corp, or SGM, is the Managing Member of Aspire Partners. Mr. Steven G. Martin is the president and sole shareholder of SGM, as well as a principal of Aspire Partners. Mr. Erik J. Brown is the president and sole shareholder of Red Cedar Capital Corp, or Red Cedar, which is a principal of Aspire Partners. Mr. Christos Komissopoulos is president and sole shareholder of Chrisko Investors Inc., or Chrisko, which is a principal of Aspire Partners. Mr. William F. Blank, III is president and sole shareholder of WML Ventures Corp., or WML Ventures, which is a principal of Aspire Partners. Each of Aspire Partners, SGM, Red Cedar, Chrisko, WML Ventures, Mr. Martin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Komissopoulos and Mr. Blank may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of common stock held by Aspire Capital. Each of Aspire Partners, SGM, Red Cedar, Chrisko, WML Ventures, Mr. Martin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Komissopoulos and Mr. Blank disclaims beneficial ownership of the common stock held by Aspire Capital.

S-13

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Amended Purchase Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Aspire Capital is irrevocably committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $30,000,000 of shares of our common stock over the term of the Amended Purchase Agreement.

Aspire Capital is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

Neither we nor Aspire Capital can presently estimate the amount of compensation that any agent will receive. We know of no existing arrangements between Aspire Capital, any other stockholder, broker, dealer, underwriter, or agent relating to the sale or distribution of the shares offered by this prospectus. At the time a particular offer of shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed that will set forth the names of any agents, underwriters, or dealers and any other required information.

We will pay all of the expenses incident to the registration, offering, and sale of the shares to Aspire Capital. We have agreed to indemnify Aspire Capital and certain other persons against certain liabilities in connection with the offering of shares of common stock offered hereby, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act or, if such indemnity is unavailable, to contribute amounts required to be paid in respect of such liabilities. Aspire Capital has agreed to indemnify us against liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from certain written information furnished to us by Aspire Capital specifically for use in this prospectus or, if such indemnity is unavailable, to contribute amounts required to be paid in respect of such liabilities.

Aspire Capital and its affiliates have agreed not to engage in any direct or indirect short selling or hedging of our common stock during the term of the Amended Purchase Agreement.

We have advised Aspire Capital that it is required to comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act. With certain exceptions, Regulation M precludes a selling stockholder, any affiliated purchasers, and any broker-dealer or other person who participates in the distribution from bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase, any security which is the subject of the distribution until the entire distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids or purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with the distribution of that security. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares offered hereby in this prospectus.

We may suspend the sale of shares to Aspire Capital pursuant to this prospectus for certain periods of time for certain reasons, including if the prospectus is required to be supplemented or amended to include additional material information.

This offering will terminate on the date that all shares offered by this prospectus have been sold to Aspire Capital.

S-14

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the common stock being offered in this offering will be passed upon for us by Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Recro Pharma, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

S-15

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on February 26, 2021 (including the portions of our proxy statement for our 2021 annual meeting of shareholders incorporated by reference therein);

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits accompanying such reports that are related to such items) filed on January 14, 2021, February 16, 2021 and February 23, 2021; and

•

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on March 4, 2014 (Registration no. 001-36329) with the SEC, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus all documents (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items) we file under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement until all of the common stock to which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relates has been sold or the offering is otherwise terminated. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference. These documents will be provided to you at no cost, by contacting: Stephanie Diaz, Vida Strategic Partners, 2443 Fillmore Street, Suite 450, San Francisco, CA 94115, (415) 675-7401, email address: sdiaz@vidasp.com. In addition, copies of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be accessed at our website at http://www.recrocdmo.com. The information on such website is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this prospectus supplement.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC for the securities we are offering by this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement does not include all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for additional information. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference herein or therein. 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 supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of this prospectus supplement, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or any sale of the securities offered hereby.

The SEC maintains an Internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You may access the registration statement, of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, at the SEC’s Internet website. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with the SEC, at our website at http://www.recrocdmo.com. The content contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement.

S-16

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

$100,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

Subscription Rights

Offered by the Company

348,664 Warrants

348,664 Shares of Common Stock

Offered by Selling Securityholders

We may offer to the public from time to time in one or more series or offerings:

•

shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share;

•

shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share;

•

warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities;

•

debt securities consisting of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness;

•

units consisting of a combination of the foregoing securities;

•

subscription rights to purchase any of the foregoing securities; or

•

any combination of these securities.

We may offer and sell up to $100,000,000 in the aggregate of the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time that we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide the specific terms of the securities offered, including the public offering price, in a supplement to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before you make your investment decision.

In addition, the selling securityholders identified in this prospectus, and any of their respective pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, may offer and sell up to (i) 348,664 warrants, or the Warrants, and (ii) 348,664 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants, subject to adjustment for customary anti-dilution protections, from time to time under this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of Warrants or shares of our common stock by the selling securityholders.

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

The selling securityholders identified in this prospectus, or their permitted transferees or other successors-in-interest, may offer the Warrants or shares of our common stock from time to time through public or private transactions at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at privately negotiated prices. We provide additional information about how the selling securityholders may sell their Warrants and shares of common stock in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 30 of this prospectus. We will not be paying any underwriting discounts or selling commissions in connection with any offering of Warrants or common stock by the selling securityholders under this prospectus.

Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market, or NASDAQ, under the ticker symbol “REPH.” On March 5, 2019, the last reported sale price per share of our common stock was $9.56 per share.

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES WILL BE DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND CERTAIN OF OUR FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS, AS DESCRIBED UNDER “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 7.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is March 21, 2019.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE		2
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		2
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		3
SUMMARY		5
RISK FACTORS		7
USE OF PROCEEDS		10
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUR SECURITIES		11
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK		11
DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES		14
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS		22
DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS		23
DESCRIPTION OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS		24
GLOBAL SECURITIES		24
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS		28
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		30
LEGAL MATTERS		33
EXPERTS		33

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer to sell any of the securities, or any combination of the securities, described in this prospectus, in each case in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $100,000,000. In addition, the selling securityholders may from time to time sell up to an aggregate amount of 348,664 warrants and 348,664 shares of our common stock, subject to customary anti-dilution protections, issuable upon exercise of warrants in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you only with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we or the selling securityholders sell securities under the shelf registration statement, we or the selling securityholders will (to the extent required) provide a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of those securities and the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, including all documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

The registration statement that contains this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement and the information incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC website mentioned below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

Neither we nor the selling securityholders have authorized any dealer, agent or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or an accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, if any, do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, if any, constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, if any, is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.

Solely for convenience, tradenames referred to in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference appear without the ^® or ^TMsymbol, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these tradenames.

References in this prospectus to the terms “the Company,” “Recro,” “we,” “our” and “us” or other similar terms mean Recro Pharma, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiary, unless we state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise. References to the “selling securityholders” refer to the shareholders listed herein under the heading “Selling securityholders” and their respective pledgees, donees, permitted transferees, assignees, successors and others who later come to hold any of the selling securityholders’ interests in our securities other than through a public sale. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable series of securities.

-1-

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information from other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed on February 19, 2019 (including the portions of our proxy statement for our 2019 annual meeting of shareholders incorporated by reference therein);

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits accompanying such reports that are related to such items) filed on January 4, 2019, January 7, 2019, February 14, 2019 (as amended by Form 8-K/A filed on March 6, 2019), February 19, 2019 and March 4, 2019;

•

The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on March 4, 2014 (File No. 001-36329) with the SEC, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;

In addition, all documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement and all such documents that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offering of our securities shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the respective dates of filing such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference. These documents will be provided to you at no cost, by contacting: Susan Kim, Argot Partners, 767 Third Avenue, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10017, (212) 600-1902, email address: susan@argotpartners.com. In addition, copies of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be accessed at our website at http://www.recrocdmo.com. The information on such website is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this prospectus.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

The SEC maintains an Internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You may access the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, at the SEC’s Internet website. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with the SEC, at our website at http://www.recrocdmo.com. The content contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus.

-2-

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain, and any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated therein may contain, forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “would” or the negative of such terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated.

Any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of the risks and uncertainties referred to in this prospectus and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and subsequent filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Any forward-looking statements represent out estimates only as of the date this prospectus is filed with the SEC and should not be relied upon as representing estimates as of any subsequent date. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference include, among other things, statements about:

•

our ability to resolve the deficiencies identified by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in the complete response letter, or CRL, for intravenous, or IV, meloxicam;

•

whether the FDA will approve our amended New Drug Application, or NDA, for IV meloxicam and, if approved, the labeling under any such approval that we may obtain;

•

if the FDA does not approve our amended NDA, the time frame otherwise associated with resolving the deficiencies identified by the FDA in the CRL and whether the FDA will require additional clinical studies to support the approval of IV meloxicam and the time and cost of such studies;

•

our ability to successfully commercialize IV meloxicam or our other product candidates, upon regulatory approval;

•

our ability to generate sales and other revenues from IV meloxicam or any of our other product candidates, once approved, including setting an acceptable price for and obtaining adequate coverage and reimbursement of such products;

•

the results, timing and outcome of our clinical trials of IV meloxicam or our other product candidates, and any future clinical and preclinical studies;

•

our ability to raise future financing and attain profitability for continued development of our business and our product candidates and to meet required debt payments, and any milestone payments owing to Alkermes plc, or Alkermes, or our other licensing and collaboration partners;

•

our ability to comply with the regulatory schemes applicable to our business and other regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

•

our ability to operate under increased leverage and associated lending covenants;

•

the performance of third-parties upon which we depend, including third-party contract research organizations, or CRO’s, and third-party suppliers, manufacturers, group purchasing organizations, distributors and logistics providers;

•

our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection and defend our intellectual property rights against third-parties;

•

our ability to maintain our relationships, profitability and contracts with our key commercial partners;

•

our ability to defend the securities class action lawsuit filed against us, or any future material litigation filed against us;

•

our ability to recruit or retain key scientific, technical, commercial, and management personnel or to retain our executive officers;

-3-

•

our ability to comply with stringent U.S. and foreign government regulation in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, including Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP, compliance and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA, compliance and other relevant regulatory authorities; and

•

the effects of changes in our effective tax rate due to changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in tax strategy, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in the tax laws.

We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this prospectus, particularly under “Risk Factors,” that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, collaborations or investments we may make.

You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents that we incorporate by reference herein and therein completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

-4-

SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information from 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, any 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.

RECRO PHARMA, INC.

Overview

We are a specialty pharmaceutical company that operates through two business segments: an Acute Care segment and a revenue-generating contract development and manufacturing, or CDMO segment, through which we operate a revenue generating manufacturing business in Gainesville, Georgia. We believe that we can bring valuable therapeutic options for patients, prescribers and payers, such as our lead product candidate, injectable meloxicam, to the hospital and related acute care markets. We believe we can create value for our shareholders through the development, registration and commercialization of injectable meloxicam and our other pipeline product candidates, as well as through the ongoing contributions of our cash-flow positive CDMO segment. In addition to our pipeline, we continue to evaluate acquisition, out-licensing and in-licensing opportunities.

Acute Care

Our Acute Care segment is primarily focused on developing and commercializing innovative products for hospital and related acute care settings. Our lead product candidate is a proprietary injectable form of meloxicam, a long-acting preferential COX-2 inhibitor. IV meloxicam has successfully completed three Phase III clinical trials, including two pivotal efficacy trials, a large double-blind Phase III safety trial and other safety studies for the management of moderate to severe pain. Overall, the total new drug application, or NDA, program included over 1,400 patients. In July 2017, we submitted an NDA to the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for IV meloxicam for the management of moderate to severe pain. In May 2018, we received a Complete Response Letter, or CRL, from the FDA regarding our NDA for IV meloxicam. In July 2018, we had a Type A End-of-Review meeting with the FDA to discuss the topics covered in the CRL. In September 2018, we resubmitted the NDA for IV meloxicam and the FDA has set a date for decision on the NDA under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, of March 24, 2019. We believe that IV meloxicam compares favorably to competitive therapies in onset of pain relief, duration of pain relief, extent of pain relief and time to peak analgesic effect as well as that it has been well tolerated. We believe injectable meloxicam, as a non-opioid product, will overcome many of the issues associated with commonly prescribed opioid therapeutics, including respiratory depression, excessive nausea and vomiting, constipation, as well having no addiction potential, while maintaining analgesic, or pain relieving, effects. We are pursuing a Section 505(b)(2) regulatory strategy for IV meloxicam.

Our pipeline also includes other early-stage product candidates, including two novel neuromuscular blocking agents, or NMBAs, and a related proprietary chemical reversal agent and Dex-IN, a proprietary intranasal formulation of dexmedetomidine, or Dex, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that we are evaluating for possible partnering.

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CDMO

Our CDMO segment leverages formulation expertise to develop and manufacture pharmaceutical products using proprietary delivery technologies and know-how for partners who plan to develop and commercialize these products. These collaborations result in revenue streams including manufacturing, royalties, profit sharing, and research and development, which support continued operations for our CDMO segment and have contributed excess cash flow to be used for activities in our Acute Care segment. We operate a 97,000 square foot, DEA-licensed manufacturing facility and a 24,000 square foot development and high potency facility, each in Gainesville, Georgia. We currently manufacture the following key products with our commercial partners: Ritalin LA^®, Focalin XR^®, Verelan PM^®, Verelan SR^®, Verapamil PM, Verapamil SR and Zohydro ER^®, as well as supporting multiple development stage products.

Corporate Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 490 Lapp Road, Malvern, PA 19355, and our telephone number is (484) 395-2470. Our website address is http://www.recrocdmo.com. The information contained in, or accessible through, our website does not constitute part of this prospectus. We make available free of charge on our website our annual, quarterly and current reports, including amendments to such reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) December 31, 2019 or (2) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities.

For as long as we remain an “emerging growth company,” we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation and financial statements in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote to approve executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We will take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.”

The JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption and, therefore, we are subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.”

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RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any of such securities. Each of the risks described in these sections and documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment.

Risks Related to the Warrants Offered by the Selling Securityholders

A substantial number of shares of common stock may be sold in the market at any point, which may depress the market price for our common stock.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, either by us, the selling securityholders or by our current shareholders, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause a decline in the market price of our securities. Such sales, along with any other market transactions, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Our outstanding shares of common stock may be freely sold in the public market at any time to the extent permitted by Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act or to the extent such shares have already been registered under the Securities Act and are held by non-affiliates of ours.

As of March 5, 2019, there were 21,944,169 shares of our common stock outstanding. In addition, as of March 5, 2019, there were approximately 6,388,432 shares subject to outstanding options and restricted stock unit awards or that are otherwise issuable under our equity compensation plans, all of which shares we have registered under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-8. The registered shares can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates, to the extent applicable. The shares of our common stock issued upon exercise of the warrants and which are included in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part may be resold in the public market following effectiveness of the registration statement.

The warrants are a risky investment, and may expire as worthless.

The Warrants are exercisable only until November 17, 2024. While our common stock price was above the $6.84 exercise price of the Warrants as of March 5, 2019, there can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock will continue to exceed the exercise price of the Warrants. In the event our common stock price is less than the exercise price of the Warrants during the period when the Warrants are exercisable, you may not be able to recover the value of your investment in the Warrants. If the Warrants are not exercised at a time when our common stock price is above the exercise price of the Warrants, the Warrants may not have any value and may expire without being exercised, in which case you would lose your entire investment.

There is no established trading market for the Warrants and, as a result, you may not be able to sell them at the particular time you select, at the price that it originally paid or at all.

There is no established trading market for the Warrants. Moreover, we do not intend to apply to have the Warrants listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system. As a result, we cannot assure you that you will be able to sell any Warrants at the particular time you select, at the price that you originally paid or at all. We also cannot assure you as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for the Warrants. Future trading prices and the liquidity of any market for the Warrants, to the extent such a market ever develops, will depend on many factors, including our financial condition and results of operations, the interest of securities dealers in making a market for the Warrants and the market for similar securities.

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Since the Warrants are executory contracts, they may have no value in a bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding.

In the event a bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding is commenced by or against us, a bankruptcy court may hold that any unexercised Warrants are executory contracts that are subject to rejection by us with the approval of the bankruptcy court. As a result, holders of the Warrants may, even if we have sufficient funds, not be entitled to receive any consideration for their Warrants or may receive an amount less than they would be entitled to if they had exercised their Warrants prior to the commencement of any such bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding.

The market price of the Warrants will be directly affected by the market price of our common stock, which has been and may continue to be volatile.

To the extent a secondary market develops for the Warrants, the market price of our common stock will significantly affect the market price of the Warrants. This may result in greater volatility in the market price of the Warrants than would be expected for warrants to purchase securities other than common stock. The market price for our common stock has been volatile and may continue to fluctuate or may decline significantly in the future. Some of the factors that could negatively affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our common stock, which, in turn, may cause the market price for the Warrants to decline, include, among other things:

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our ability to resolve the deficiencies identified by the FDA in the CRL for IV meloxicam and obtain regulatory approval of IV meloxicam;

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the approved labeling for IV meloxicam, if any;

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our ability to successfully commercialize IV meloxicam, if approved;

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FDA, state or international regulatory actions, including actions on regulatory applications for any of our product candidates;

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legislative or regulatory changes;

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judicial pronouncements interpreting laws and regulations;

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changes in government programs;

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announcements of new products, services or technologies, commercial relationships, acquisitions or other events by us or our competitors;

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market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors;

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fluctuations in stock market prices and trading volumes of similar companies;

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changes in accounting principles;

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litigation or public concern about the safety of our product candidates or similar product candidates;

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sales of large blocks of our common stock, including sales by our executive officers, directors and significant shareholders

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our announcement of financing transactions, including , debt, convertible notes, etc.;

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actions by institutional or activist shareholders; and

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our discontinuance, licensing or sale of any asset or segment of our business.

The price of our common stock also could be affected by possible sales of common stock by investors who view the Warrants as a more attractive means of equity participation in us and by hedging or arbitrage activity involving our common stock. The hedging or arbitrage of our common stock could, in turn, affect the market price of the Warrants.

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Holders of the Warrants will have no rights as common stockholders until they acquire our common stock.

Until you acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of your Warrants, you will have no rights with respect to our common stock, including rights to dividend payments or payments upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, voting rights or the right to respond to tender offers. Upon exercise of your Warrants, you will have the right to receive the distributions made prior to the exercise of the Warrants, which will be held by us in escrow until such exercise. Following exercise of your Warrants, you will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.

The exercise price of, and the number of shares of our common stock underlying, the Warrants may not be adjusted for all dilutive events.

The exercise price of and the number of shares of our common stock underlying the Warrants are subject to adjustment for certain events, including, but not limited to, the issuance of stock dividends on our common stock, the issuance of certain securities, rights or warrants, indebtedness or assets, certain cash dividends and certain issuer tender or exchange offers. The exercise price will not be adjusted, however, for other events, such as a third-party tender or exchange offer, that may adversely affect the market price of the Warrants or our common stock. Other events that adversely affect the value of the Warrants may occur that do not result in an adjustment to such exercise price.

Risks Related to Investing in Our Capital Stock

Our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws include an exclusive forum provision that could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a judicial forum viewed by the shareholders as more favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees.

Our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, a state or federal court located within the County of Chester in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, or PBCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim peculiar to the relationships among or between our company and our officers, directors and shareholders. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our bylaws described above. This choice of forum provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for the types of claims listed above, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered under this prospectus for general corporate purposes unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. General corporate purposes may include, and are not limited to, costs to commercialize any approved product candidates, research and development costs, manufacturing costs, the acquisition or licensing of other businesses, products or product candidates, repayment and refinancing of debt, working capital and capital expenditures.

We may temporarily invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation instruments, including investment grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government, or may hold such proceeds as cash, until they are used for their stated purpose. We have not determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for such purposes. As a result, management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of net proceeds.

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Warrants or shares of our common stock by the selling securityholders.

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUR SECURITIES

We may offer and sell, at any time and from time to time:

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shares of our common stock;

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shares of preferred stock;

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warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities;

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debt securities consisting of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness;

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units consisting of a combination of the foregoing securities;

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subscription rights to purchase any of the foregoing securities; or

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any combination of these securities.

The terms of any securities we offer will be determined at the time of sale. We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable for and/or convertible into common stock or any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus. When particular securities are offered by us, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed with the SEC, which will describe the terms of the offering and sale of the offered securities.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our capital stock and provisions of our articles of incorporation, bylaws and the Pennsylvania Business Corporation law are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the articles of incorporation and the bylaws. We have filed copies of these documents with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

Pursuant to our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, our authorized capital stock consists of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, to be designated from time to time by our board of directors.

Common Stock

As of March 5, 2019, there were 21,944,169 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock in person or represented by proxies in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they so choose, other than any directors that holders of any preferred stock that we may issue may be entitled to elect.

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then-outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends when, as, and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred stock. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to ratably receive the net assets of our company available after the payments of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of the holders of any then-outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. All outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the common stock to be outstanding upon completion of this offering will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The rights and privileges of the holders of the common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

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Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the dividend, voting and other rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of each wholly unissued series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, 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. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control and may adversely affect the market price of the common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. We have no current plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Common Stock Warrants

We issued to the representatives of the underwriters in our IPO warrants to purchase up to 150,000 shares of our common stock, with a per share exercise price equal to $12.00, or the IPO warrants, of which 140,000 are currently outstanding. The IPO warrants are exercisable by the underwriters at any time, in whole or in part, prior to March 6, 2019.

In connection with our acquisition of IV meloxicam and our CDMO business from Alkermes, we issued to Alkermes a seven-year warrant to purchase an aggregate of 350,000 shares of our common stock, with a per share exercise price of $19.46 per share, referred to as the Alkermes Warrant. In December 2018, we amended the exercise price under the Alkermes Warrant to $8.26 per share.

In November 2017, we entered into a credit agreement with Athyrium Opportunities III Acquisition LP, or Athyrium. Pursuant to this agreement, we issued to Athyrium and its affiliate the Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 348,664 shares of our common stock, with a per share exercise price of $8.6043 per share. In December 2018, we amended the exercise price under the Warrants to $6.84 per share. The Warrants expire on November 17, 2024. See “Description of our Warrants – Description of Warrants Offered by the Selling Securityholders.”

Registration Rights

In March 2018 and February 2019 we entered into registration rights agreements with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC, or Aspire, in connection with common stock purchase agreements we entered into with Aspire in March 2018 and February 2019, respectively. These registration rights agreements required us to register the sales of shares of our common stock to Aspire pursuant to the common stock purchase agreements and to maintain continuous effectiveness of the registration statements until the earlier of (i) a date on which we are no longer eligible to use Form S-3, (ii) the date on which we have sold all shares under the applicable common stock purchase agreement or (iii) the date of termination of the applicable common stock purchase agreement. The sales of shares of our common stock to Aspire under the common stock purchase agreements were registered pursuant to prospectus supplements dated March 2, 2018 and February 19, 2019, respectively, to our registration statement on Form S-3 declared effective June 12, 2017 and the base prospectus therein.

In connection with the issuance of the Warrants to Athyrium and its affiliate, we granted “piggy-back” registration rights to holders of the Warrants to register such warrants and the common stock subject to such warrants in connection with the filing of any other registration statement related to a public offering of our common stock. Athyrium and its affiliate exercised such rights with respect to the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

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Anti-Takeover Effects of Pennsylvania Law and Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Pennsylvania Anti-Takeover Law

Provisions of the PBCL applicable to us provide, among other things, that:

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we may not engage in a business combination with an “interested shareholder,” generally defined as a holder of 20% of a corporation’s voting stock, during the five-year period after the interested shareholder became such except under certain specified circumstances;

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holders of our common stock may object to a “control transaction” involving us (a control transaction is defined as the acquisition by a person or group of persons acting in concert of at least 20% of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation), and demand that they be paid a cash payment for the “fair value” of their shares from the “controlling person or group”;

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holders of “control shares” will not be entitled to voting rights with respect to any shares in excess of specified thresholds, including 20% voting control, until the voting rights associated with such shares are restored by the affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested shares and the outstanding voting shares of the Company; and

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any “profit,” as defined, realized by any person or group who is or was a “controlling person or group” with respect to us from the disposition of any equity securities of within 18 months after the person or group became a “controlling person or group” shall belong to and be recoverable by us.

Pennsylvania-chartered corporations may exempt themselves from these and other anti-takeover provisions. Our articles of incorporation do not provide for exemption from the applicability of these or other anti-takeover provisions in the PBCL.

The provisions noted above may have the effect of discouraging a future takeover attempt that is not approved by our board of directors but which individual shareholders may consider to be in their best interests or in which shareholders may receive a substantial premium for their shares over the then current market price. As a result, shareholders who might wish to participate in such a transaction may not have an opportunity to do so. The provisions may make the removal of our board of directors or management more difficult. Furthermore, such provisions could result our company being deemed less attractive to a potential acquiror and/or could result in our shareholders receiving a lesser amount of consideration for their shares of our common stock than otherwise could have been available either in the market generally and/or in a takeover.

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change of control or change in our management, including transactions in which shareholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that our shareholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock. Among other things, our articles of incorporation and bylaws:

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divide our board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms;

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provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors;

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establish advance notice procedures with respect to shareholder proposals to be brought before a shareholder meeting and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors;

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provide that shareholders may only act at a duly organized meeting; and

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provide that members of our board of directors may be removed from office by our shareholders only for cause by the affirmative vote of 75% of the total voting power of all shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Our bylaws also provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, a state or federal court located within the County of Chester in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the PBCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim peculiar to the relationships among or between our company and our officers, directors and shareholders. When there are no federal courts located in the County of Chester, as is currently the case, the exclusive forum provision of our bylaws establishes exclusive jurisdiction for the matters above in the state courts of the County of Chester. However, such provision does not establish exclusive jurisdiction in the state courts of the County of Chester for claims that arise under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal securities laws if there is exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction in the federal courts.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.

Stock Market Listing

Our shares of common stock are listed for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “REPH.”

DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the supplement to what extent the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.

We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.

The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a third party to be identified therein as trustee. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to the section numbers of the indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the indenture.

General

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture. (Section 2.2) The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).

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We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. (Section 2.1) We will set forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:

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the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions);

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the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;

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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

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the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable;

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the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

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the place or places where principal of, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered;

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the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities;

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any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and in the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

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the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;

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the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples in excess thereof;

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whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;

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the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

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the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be United States Dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

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the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made;

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if payments of principal of, premium or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

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the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

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any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;

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any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

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any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

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any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

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the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of such series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange;

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any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the securities; and

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whether any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities of that series, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees. (Section 2.2)

We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Transfer and Exchange

Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or the Depositary, or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a book-entry debt security), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a certificated debt security) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.

Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. (Section 2.4) No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange. (Section 2.7)

You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.

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Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. Please see “Global Securities.”

Covenants

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities. (Article IV)

No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person (a “successor person”) unless:

•

we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than Recro Pharma, Inc.) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and

•

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us. (Section 5.1)

Events of Default

Event of Default means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:

•

default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period);

•

default in the payment of principal of any security of that series at its maturity;

•

default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or Recro Pharma, Inc. and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture;

•

certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Recro Pharma, Inc.; and

•

any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 6.1)

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No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. (Section 6.1) The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.

We will provide the trustee written notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action we are taking or propose to take in respect thereof. (Section 6.1)

If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. (Section 6.2) We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

The indenture provides that the trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power. (Section 7.1(e)) Subject to certain rights of the trustee, 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. (Section 6.12)

No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:

•

that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; and

•

the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days. (Section 6.7)

Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment. (Section 6.8)

The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. (Section 4.3) If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with

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respect to the securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each holder of the securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a responsible officer of the trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities. (Section 7.5)

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may modify, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:

•

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

•

to comply with covenants in the indenture described above under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;

•

to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities;

•

to add guarantees with respect to debt securities of any series or secure debt securities of any series;

•

to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture;

•

to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series;

•

to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary;

•

to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities;

•

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture;

•

to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or

•

to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. (Section 9.1)

We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:

•

reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

•

reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security;

•

reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities;

•

reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity;

•

waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

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•

make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security;

•

make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest on those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or

•

waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. (Section 9.3)

Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. (Section 9.2) The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration. (Section 6.13)

Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances

Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.

This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred. (Section 8.3)

Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:

•

we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and

•

any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series (“covenant defeasance”).

The conditions include:

•

depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in

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accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and

•

delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. (Section 8.4)

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees or Shareholders

None of our past, present or future directors, officers, employees or shareholders, as such, will have any liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities or the indenture or for any claim based on, or in respect or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a debt security, each holder waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for the issue of the debt securities. However, this waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the securities, will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

The indenture provides that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to the indenture, the debt securities or the transactions contemplated thereby.

The indenture provides that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon the indenture or the transactions contemplated thereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York, and we, the trustee and the holder of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The indenture will further provide that service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in the indenture will be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The indenture will further provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the courts specified above and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. (Section 10.10)

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series together with other securities or separately, as described in each applicable prospectus supplement. Below is a description of certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. Particular terms of the warrants will be described in the applicable warrant agreements and the applicable prospectus supplement for the warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:

•

the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;

•

the currency for which the warrants may be purchased;

•

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

•

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

•

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

•

in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

•

the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants;

•

the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

•

any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

•

the periods during which, and places at which, the warrants are exercisable;

•

the manner of exercise;

•

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

•

the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

•

federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;

•

the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and

•

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled:

•

to vote, consent or receive dividends;

•

receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or

•

exercise any rights as shareholders of Recro.

Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the number of shares of preferred stock or common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set

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forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for any warrants will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Description of Outstanding Warrants

As of March 5, 2019, there were 838,664 warrants to purchase shares of our common stock outstanding. See “Description of Our Capital Stock –Common Stock Warrants.”

Description of Warrants Offered by Selling Securityholders

In November 2017, we entered into a credit agreement with Athyrium. Pursuant to the credit agreement, we issued to Athyrium and its affiliate the Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 348,664 shares of our common stock, with a per share exercise price of $8.6043 per share, subject to customary anti-dilution provisions. In December 2018, we amended the exercise price under the Warrants to $6.84 per share. The Warrants expire on November 17, 2024. A copy of each of the Warrants is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and is incorporated herein by reference. The description of the Warrants set forth herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of each of the Warrants, as amended.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

•

the title of the series of units;

•

identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

•

the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

•

the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

•

a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

•

any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

As specified in any applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue subscription rights consisting of one or more debt securities, shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock or any combination of such securities.

GLOBAL SECURITIES

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

Unless we indicate differently in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities, or, collectively, global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.

DTC has advised us that it is:

•

a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

•

a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

•

a member of the Federal Reserve System;

•

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

•

a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an

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authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below and unless if otherwise provided in the description of the applicable securities herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the applicable trustee or other designated party.

Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.

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The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.

As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:

•

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be;

•

we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities; or

•

an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series of securities,

we will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.

Euroclear and Clearstream

If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may hold interests in a global security through Clearstream Banking S.A., which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as “Euroclear,” either directly if you are a participant in Clearstream or Euroclear or indirectly through organizations which are participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their respective participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in such depositaries’ names on DTC’s books.

Clearstream and Euroclear are securities clearance systems in Europe. Clearstream and Euroclear hold securities for their respective participating organizations and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between those participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.

Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global securities owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.

Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in global securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

Cross-market transfers between participants in DTC, on the one hand, and participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with the DTC’s rules on behalf of

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Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective U.S. depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the global securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream purchasing an interest in a global security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

Other

The information in this section of this prospectus concerning DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not take responsibility for this information. This information has been provided solely as a matter of convenience. The rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are solely within the control of those organizations and could change at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee has any control over those entities and none of us takes any responsibility for their activities. You are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants directly to discuss those matters. In addition, although we expect that DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will perform the foregoing procedures, none of them is under any obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any agent of ours will have any responsibility for the performance or nonperformance by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants of these or any other rules or procedures governing their respective operations.

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SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

This prospectus also relates to the possible resale by certain of our securityholders from time to time of up to (i) 348,664 Warrants to purchase shares of our common stock and (ii) an aggregate of 348,664 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our securities by the selling securityholders as of February 19, 2019 and is based upon information provided to us by the selling securityholders and in our possession as of February 19, 2019. Unless otherwise indicated, beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC.


Selling Securityholder	Warrants Beneficially Owned Prior to the Offering		Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering(1)		Number of Warrants that May Be Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus		Number of Shares that May Be Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus(1)		Warrants Beneficially Owned After the Offering(2)		Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After Offering(2)		Percentage of Outstanding Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After Offering(2)
Athyrium Opportunities II Acquisition LP(3)		174,332		174,332		174,332		174,332		—		—		—
Athyrium Opportunities III Acquisition LP(4)		174,332		174,332		174,332		174,332		—		—		—

(1)

The number of shares of our common stock indicated assumes exercise of all of the selling securityholders’ Warrants, each for one share of common stock. However, the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant is subject to customary anti-dilution protections as described under “Description of Our Warrants-Description of Warrants Offered by the Selling Securityholders.” As a result, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants may increase or decrease in the future.

(2)	Assumes that all Warrants and shares of common stock being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part that are held by the selling securityholder are resold to third parties.

(3)

The following entities affiliated with Athyrium Opportunities II Acquisition LP may be deemed to beneficially own indirectly 174,332 shares of our common stock held by Athyrium Opportunities II Acquisition LP: (i) Athyrium Opportunities Associates II LP; (ii) Athyrium GP Holdings LLC; and (iii) Athyrium Funds GP Holdings, LLC. The address of the principal business office of Athyrium Opportunities II Acquisition LP is 530 Fifth Avenue, Floor 25, New York, NY, 10036.

(4)

The following entities affiliated with Athyrium Opportunities III Acquisition LP may be deemed to beneficially own indirectly 174,332 shares of our common stock held by Athyrium Opportunities III Acquisition LP: (i) Athyrium Opportunities Associates III LP; (ii) Athyrium Opportunities Associates III GP LLC; and (iii) Athyrium Funds GP Holdings, LLC. The address of the principal business office of Athyrium Opportunities III Acquisition LP is 530 Fifth Avenue, Floor 25, New York, NY, 10036.

On November 17, 2017, we entered into a five-year credit agreement, or the Credit Agreement, with Athyrium Opportunities III Acquisition LP. Athyrium Opportunities III Acquisition LP is an affiliate of Athyrium Opportunities II Acquisition LP. The Credit Agreement provides for $100 million in term loans, $60 million of which was funded in November 2017. In December 2018, we amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, revise the conditions for drawing on the additional tranches of term loans, and drew upon a $10 million term B-1 loan. As of December 31, 2018, we had an outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement of $70 million. On February 28, 2019, we entered into a second amendment to the Credit Agreement which, among other things, increased the amount of term loans available under the Credit Agreement from $100 million to $125 million, restructured the existing $15 million term B-2 loan and $15 million term C loan into one $55 million term B-2 loan and extended the maturity date until March 31, 2023.

Each of Athyrium Opportunities II Acquisition LP and Athyrium Opportunities III Acquisition LP acquired the Warrants on November 17, 2017 in connection with the Credit Agreement. Pursuant to the Warrants, we agreed, among other matters, to register for resale the Warrants and shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. In accordance with the terms of the Warrants, we are registering such Warrants and

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shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants for resale under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

The selling securityholders listed in the above table may have sold or transferred, in transactions pursuant to this prospectus or exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, some or all of its Warrants since the date as of which the information is presented in the above table.

Information concerning the selling securityholders may change from time to time and any such changed information will be set forth in supplements to this prospectus or amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part if and when necessary.

Other than as described above, and in documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, none of the selling securityholders has within the past three years had any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our subsidiaries other than as a holder of our securities.

We have agreed to pay all costs, expenses and fees relating to registering the Warrants and shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants to be sold by the selling securityholders identified in this prospectus. The selling securityholders will pay any underwriting discounts, selling commissions, stock transfer taxes or similar charges incurred for the sale of such Warrants or shares of our common stock.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods or through underwriters or dealers, through agents and/or directly to one or more purchasers. The securities may be distributed 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 time of sale;

•

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

•

at negotiated prices.

The selling securityholders may from time to time sell all or a portion of the Warrant or shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of Warrants beneficially owned by them and offered hereby directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the Warrant or shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Warrants are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling securityholders will be responsible for discounts or commissions payable to such underwriters or broker-dealers. The selling securityholders may use any one or more of the following methods (which may involve crosses or block transactions) when selling securities:

•

on any national stock exchange or U.S. interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

•

in the over-the-counter market;

•

underwritten transactions;

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

•

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

•

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

•

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

•

privately negotiated transactions;

•

short sales effected after the date the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC;

•

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

•

broker-dealers may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per share;

•

a combination of any such methods of sale; and

•

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

The selling securityholders may also sell all or a portion of their Warrants or the common stock issuable upon the exercise of Warrants in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act or Section 4(1) under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of those provisions. The selling securityholders may also transfer, devise or gift such securities by other means not described in this prospectus. The selling securityholders are not obligated to, and there is no assurance that the selling securityholders will, sell all or any of the securities we are registering.

Each time that we or the selling securityholders sell securities covered by this prospectus, we or the selling securityholders will (to the extent required) provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe

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the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us, if applicable.

Offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus may be solicited directly. Agents may also be designated to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities will be identified in a prospectus supplement.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

Any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. The selling securityholders as well as underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We are required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by us incident to the registration of the securities held by the selling securityholders. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimburse those persons for certain expenses.

Any common stock or preferred stock will be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

We or the selling securityholders may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we or the selling securityholders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or the selling securityholders or borrowed from us, the selling securityholders or others to settle those sales or to close

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out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we or the selling securityholders may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Pepper Hamilton LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, the selling securityholders or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. As appropriate, legal counsel representing the underwriters, dealers or agents will be named in the accompanying prospectus supplement and may opine to certain legal matters.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Recro Pharma, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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LOGO

$30,000,000 OF COMMON STOCK

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

February 26, 2021

Societal CDMO (SCTL) 424B5Prospectus supplement for primary offering