Rezolute, Inc S-3/A, filed Nov 22, 2023
Rezolute, Inc. (RZLT)
S-3/A
2023-11-22
View Original
Added on
October 22, 2026
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 22, 2023
Registration No. 333-275562
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 1
to
to
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
REZOLUTE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Nevada
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) |
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27-3440894
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500
Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 206-4507
Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 206-4507
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Nevan Elam
Chief Executive Officer
275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500
Redwood City, CA 94065
Telephone: (650) 206-4507
Chief Executive Officer
275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500
Redwood City, CA 94065
Telephone: (650) 206-4507
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Anthony W. Epps
Jennifer A. Block
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
1400 Wewetta Street, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 352-1109
Jennifer A. Block
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
1400 Wewetta Street, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 352-1109
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
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Large accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company
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Accelerated Filer
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Emerging growth company
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Non-accelerated filer
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains two prospectuses:
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a base prospectus, which covers the offering, issuance and sale of up to $200,000,000 of Rezolute, Inc.’s debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts, depositary shares and units; and
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a sale agreement prospectus that covers the offering, issuance and sale of up to $17,500,000 of Rezolute, Inc.’s common stock that may be issued under an Open Market Sale AgreementSM (the “Sales Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”).
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The Sales Agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. The Common Stock that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the Sales Agreement prospectus is included in the $200,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the Sales Agreement with Jefferies, any portion of the $17,500,000 included in the Sales Agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus, and if no shares are sold under the Sales Agreement, the full $17,500,000 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that Rezolute, Inc., a Nevada corporation, which is also referred to as “the Company,” “Rezolute,” “we,” “us,” “ourselves” and “our,” has filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration procedure. Under this procedure, we may offer and sell at any time and from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus.
To understand the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize and any pricing supplement, you should carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize and any pricing supplement, and all documents incorporated by reference herein or therein. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize and any pricing supplement. We have not authorized any person, including any salesman or broker, to provide information other than that provided in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize or any pricing supplement. We do not take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize and any pricing supplement is accurate only as of the date on its cover page and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of such document incorporated by reference was filed with the SEC. You should also read the documents referred to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” for information regarding us and our financial statements. Certain capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined elsewhere in this prospectus.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will prepare and distribute a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of that offering. That prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities. The prospectus supplement may also contain information about any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus.
The exhibits to the registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. You should review the full text of these documents because these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer. The registration statement, including the exhibits, can be read at the SEC’s website or at the SEC’s offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
We may sell securities to underwriters who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by us directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time, which agents may be affiliates of ours. If we, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we reserve the sole right to accept and, together with our agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any offer.
A prospectus supplement will also contain, with respect to the securities being offered thereby, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, together with the terms of the offering, the compensation of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the net proceeds to us.
Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in any offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the “Securities Act”.
This prospectus may not be used to sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein, contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are based on management’s current expectations. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including, but not limited to, “believes,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “see,” “confidence,” “trends,” “intend,” “estimate,” “on track,” “are positioned to,” “on course,” “opportunity,” “continue,” “project,” “guidance,” “target,” “forecast,” “anticipated,” “plan,” “potential” and the negative of these terms or comparable terms.
Various factors could adversely affect our operations, business or financial results in the future and cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or otherwise discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 and in our other filings made from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus.
For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please see the documents that we have filed with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other documents and reports filed from time to time with the SEC.
All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We are not under any obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter any forward-looking statements whether as a result of such changes, new information, subsequent events or otherwise.
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THE COMPANY
We are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative drug therapies to improve the lives of patients with metabolic and orphan diseases.
Summary of Clinical Assets
RZ358
Our lead clinical asset, RZ358, is a potential treatment for congenital hyperinsulinism (“HI”), an ultra-rare pediatric genetic disorder characterized by excessive production of insulin by the pancreas. If untreated, the elevated insulin levels in patients suffering with congenital HI can induce extreme hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) events, increasing the risk of neurological and developmental complications, including persistent feeding problems, learning disabilities, recurrent seizures, brain damage or even death. There are no FDA approved therapies for all forms of congenital HI and the current standard of care treatments are suboptimal. The current treatments used by physicians include glucagon, diazoxide, somatostatin analogues and pancreatectomy.
RZ358 is an intravenously administered human monoclonal antibody that binds to a unique site (allosteric) on the insulin receptor in insulin target tissues, such as in the liver, fat, and muscle. The antibody down modulates insulin’s binding, signaling, and action to maintain glucose levels in a normal range thereby counteracting the effects of elevated insulin in the body. RZ358 shows dose dependent pharmacokinetics with a half- life greater than two weeks which has the potential for twice or even once monthly dosing. Therefore, we believe that RZ358 is ideally suited as a potential therapy for conditions characterized by excessive insulin levels, and it is being developed to treat hyperinsulinism and low blood sugar. As RZ358 acts downstream from the beta cells, it has the potential to be universally effective at treating congenital HI caused by any of the underlying genetic defects.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, we plan to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 clinical study of RZ358 for the treatment of hypoglycemia in participants with congenital HI (the “sunRIZE study”) outside of the U.S. The sunRIZE study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm evaluation of RZ358 in participants with congenital HI who are not adequately responding to standard of care medical therapies. Topline results from the study are anticipated to be available in the first half of 2025. The Phase 3 study follows the Company’s multinational Phase 2b study (“RIZE”) conducted in participants 2 years of age and older who were failing medical therapies. The RIZE study demonstrated that RZ358 was generally safe and well-tolerated, as well as highly effective in improving hypoglycemia.
We have concluded our pre-Phase 3 regulatory and scientific advice meetings with regulatory authorities outside of the U.S. and have reached agreement on the design of the Phase 3 study that will include participants 3 months of age and older. In the U.S., we had similar interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) culminating in a meeting held with the agency on May 24, 2023 (as confirmed by meeting minutes received from the FDA on June 22, 2023), and the FDA has maintained an existing age restriction of 12 years of age and older on RZ358 clinical studies, and imposed dose level restrictions based on historical rat toxicology findings. We believe that the FDA restrictions make it infeasible to include the U.S. in the Phase 3 study at this time, since the pediatric population with congenital HI has the greatest therapeutic need. We are pursuing some additional nonclinical studies that may potentially address the FDA’s concerns, in parallel with the initiation and advancement of the Phase 3 study outside of the U.S.
The sunRIZE study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of RZ358 in participants with congenital HI who are unable to achieve control of low blood sugars (<70 mg/dL) with available medical therapies (“hypoglycemia”). The study will determine the ability of RZ358 to correct hypoglycemia as assessed by (i) hypoglycemia events using self-monitored blood glucose (“SMBG”) and (ii) time in hypoglycemia using continuous glucose monitoring (“CGM”) over 24 weeks of treatment.
The study will also measure the levels of RZ358 and its effects on other important blood and clinical markers of hypoglycemia, as well as quality of life measures. The primary and key secondary efficacy endpoints are the following:
Primary efficacy endpoint:
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Change in average weekly occurrence of hypoglycemia events as measured by SMBG after 24 weeks
Key secondary efficacy endpoint:
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Change in average daily percent time in hypoglycemia as measured by CGM after 24 weeks
Approximately 56 participants between 3 months and 45 years of age are intended to be enrolled. Participants between 1 and 45 years of age (approximately 48 participants) will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion to receive RZ358 or placebo at dose levels of 5 or 10 mg/kg while on standard of care. Infant participants between 3 months and 1 year of age (approximately 8 participants) will be enrolled in open label fashion to receive RZ358 at a starting dose level of 5 mg/kg, which may be increased to 10 mg/kg at the discretion of the investigator. Participants will receive RZ358 as an intravenous infusion every 2 weeks over an initial 4-week loading period (3 doses), followed by monthly doses over an additional 16-week maintenance period (4 doses), for a total of 7 doses over the total 24-week treatment period. Following the study period, participants may proceed into an open-label extension program where investigators shall be permitted to: (i) adjust the dose between 5 and 10 mg/kg; (ii) adjust the dosing frequency between 2 and 4 weeks; and (iii) wean or stop other background hypoglycemia therapies.
In summary, the study will be comprised of the following treatment groups:
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Participants ≥1 year old: 5 mg/kg (n = 16)
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Participants ≥1 year old: 10 mg/kg (n = 16)
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Participants ≥1 year old: placebo (n = 16)
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Infant Participants: starting at 5 mg/kg (n = 8)
RZ402
Our second clinical asset, RZ402, is an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor (“PKI”) being developed as a potential therapy for the chronic treatment of diabetic macular edema (“DME”). DME is a vascular complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. and elsewhere. Chronic exposure to high blood sugar levels can lead to inflammation, cell damage, and the breakdown of blood vessel walls. Specifically, in DME, retinal blood vessels at the back of the eye become porous and permeable leading to the unwanted infiltration of fluid into the macula. This fluid leakage creates distorted vision, and if left untreated, blindness.
Currently available treatments for DME include anti-vascular growth factor (“anti-VEGF”) injections into the eye or laser surgery. RZ402 is designed to be a once daily oral therapy for the treatment of DME and unlike the anti-VEGF therapies, RZ402 targets the Kallikrein-Kinin System to address inflammation and vascular leakage. We believe that systemic exposure through oral delivery is critical to target the retinal microvasculature at the back of the eye. Further, as an oral therapy, RZ402 has the potential to substantially change the therapeutic paradigm for patients suffering with DME by providing a convenient, self-administered treatment option to encourage earlier initiation of therapy, adherence to prescribed treatment guidelines, and improved overall outcomes.
In December 2022, we initiated a Phase 2 multi-center, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm study to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of RZ402 administered as a monotherapy over a twelve week treatment period in participants with DME who are naïve to, or have received limited anti-VEGF injections. The study population is comprised of DME patients with mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Eligible participants are being randomized equally, to one of three RZ402 active treatment arms at doses of 50, 200, and 400 mg, or a placebo control arm, to receive study drug once daily for twelve weeks, before completing a four-week follow-up. The study is expected to enroll up to approximately 100 patients overall, across approximately 25 investigational sites in the United States. The principal endpoints of the trial include (i) changes in central subfield thickness of the macula, as measured by Spectral Domain Ocular Coherence Tomography, (ii) changes in visual acuity as measured by the early treatment diabetic retinopathy scale, (iii) the repeat dose pharmacokinetics of RZ402 in patients with DME, and (iv) the safety and tolerability of RZ402. We expect to complete enrollment in 2023 and to provide an update on the study prior to year end.
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RZ358 Regulatory Status
As discussed in our disclosures filed with the SEC, toxicology studies in rats and monkeys were conducted as part of the early RZ358 development program and in these studies, rats demonstrated a microvascular liver injury at potentially clinically relevant doses and exposures (“rat findings”). However, there were no adverse liver findings in monkeys at dose levels that were more than 10 times higher than doses that were toxic in rats, and more than four times higher than human doses evaluated in clinical studies. Based on the absence of liver toxicity in monkeys and the lack of adverse liver findings in closely monitored human trials, the Company believes that the toxicity is unique to rats and unlikely relevant to humans.
As is customary in pediatric drug development, there is a progression of the inclusion of younger participants as a program advances through different stages and continues to demonstrate a good safety profile and a prospect of benefit for children based on previous stages. After the completion of Phase 1 adult healthy volunteer studies for RZ358, Phase 2a single-dose proof of concept studies (“Phase 2a”) were conducted in participants with congenital HI who were twelve years of age and older in countries governed by the regulatory authorities in the European Union and elsewhere in Europe. In the US, the FDA restricted enrollment in Phase 2a to participants eighteen years of age and older and, based on the rat findings, imposed a human drug exposure limit equating to repeat doses of approximately 3 mg/kg per week (“exposure cap”).
Subsequently, in the RIZE study European Authorities and other regulatory bodies continued the expected downward age progression, lowering the age for study participants down from twelve years of age to two years of age and older. At the start of the RIZE study the clinical program in the US remained under the eighteen years of age and older restriction as well as the exposure cap. However, in the first half of 2020, while the RIZE study was underway, we reached agreement with the FDA to proceed with the RIZE study in the US at all dose levels (no exposure cap) and in younger participants (ages twelve and older). Following these developments, the study protocol was harmonized globally, other than a regional difference in the minimum permitted age (twelve years and older in the US versus two years and older in all other geographies).
After the completion of the RIZE study, in the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, the Company conducted scientific advice meetings with the regulatory authorities in Europe which resulted in alignment with our proposed Phase 3 program including overall study design, dosing regimen, endpoints, sample size and patient population. Notably, with all available nonclinical (including the rat findings) and clinical information under review, European Authorities aligned with a further downward age progression whereby participants 3 months of age and older will be permitted to be enrolled in the Phase 3 study.
Prior to engaging the FDA on Phase 3 planning in the US, we began interacting with the agency in the second half of 2022 to further liberalize the age restriction to achieve alignment with the parameters established by the European Authorities in the RIZE study. Over the course of these post-RIZE regulatory interactions with the FDA, the agency revisited prior concerns regarding the rat findings and, despite the absence of new clinical or nonclinical data (other than the RIZE data), the agency decided to maintain the age restriction of twelve years and above and re-imposed the previous exposure cap which had been removed during the RIZE study (collectively, “New Restrictions”). In the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, we interacted with the FDA to resolve the New Restrictions, particularly in the context of the advancement of the clinical program in the rest of the world. Nonetheless, the FDA affirmed the New Restrictions at a meeting held with us on May 24, 2023.
We have concluded pre-Phase 3 regulatory and scientific advice meetings with regulatory authorities outside of the U.S. and have reached agreement on the design of the Phase 3 study that will include participants three months of age and older. We believe that the New Restrictions make it infeasible to include the U.S. in the Phase 3 study at this time, particularly given that the pediatric population with congenital HI has the greatest therapeutic need. We are evaluating potential nonclinical studies to address the FDA’s concerns in parallel with the initiation and advancement of the Phase 3 study outside of the U.S.
Specifically, in the fourth quarter of 2023, we plan to initiate the Phase 3 sunRIZE clinical study of RZ358 which will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm evaluation of RZ358 in
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participants with congenital HI who are not adequately responding to standard of care medical therapies. Topline results from the study are anticipated to be available in the first half of 2025.
Competition
We face competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, governmental agencies, and private research organizations in recruiting and retaining highly qualified scientific personnel and consultants and in the development and acquisition of technologies.
There are other companies developing therapies for HI that are potential competitors to RZ358, including, Eiger Biopharmaceuticals, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, and Zealand Pharma.
There are also companies developing therapies for DME that are potential competitors to our PKI including Curacle, KalVista, Ocuphire Pharma, Oxurion and Verseon.
Government Regulation
Regulation by governmental authorities in the U.S. and other countries is a significant factor in the development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical products. All of our potential products will require regulatory approval by governmental agencies prior to commercialization. In particular, pharmaceutical therapies are subject to rigorous preclinical testing and clinical trials and other pre-market approval requirements by the FDA and regulatory authorities in foreign countries. Various federal, state and foreign statutes and regulations also govern or influence the manufacturing, safety, labeling, storage, record keeping and marketing of such products.
In addition, we are subject to various federal, state, and local laws, regulations and recommendations relating to safe working conditions; laboratory and manufacturing practices; the experimental use of animals; and the use and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, including radioactive compounds and infectious disease agents, used in connection with our research, development and manufacturing.
Employees
As of June 30, 2023, we had 51 full time employees, of which 38 employees were engaged in research and development, manufacturing, clinical operations, regulatory and quality activities and 13 employees were engaged in administrative functions. Of the 51 employees, all were located in the United States. We have a number of employees who hold Ph.D. degrees and other advanced degrees. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and we have experienced no work stoppages nor are we aware of any employment circumstances that are likely to disrupt work at any of our facilities. As part of our measures to attract and retain personnel, we provide a number of benefits to our full-time employees, including health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, paid holiday and vacation time. In addition, we grant stock options to certain key employees as added incentive to remain in our employment. We believe that we maintain good relations with our employees.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in Delaware in 2010 and we re-incorporated in Nevada in June 2021. We maintain an executive office located at 275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500, Redwood City, CA 94065 and our phone number is (650) 206-4507. Our website is located at www.rezolutebio.com. We file annual, quarterly, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains our public filings and other information regarding the Company, at www.sec.gov. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into this document.
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in shares of our Common Stock involves significant risks. Please see the risk factor below and the additional risk factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 as filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. These risks may be revised or supplemented in future filings of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, which are also incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus.
Risks Related to Our Product Development and Commercialization
Any delays in the commencement or completion, or termination or suspension, of our future clinical trials, if any, could result in increased costs to us, delay or limit our ability to generate revenue and adversely affect our commercial prospects.
Before obtaining approval from the government authorities or professional bodies with authority to grant regulatory approval for our drug candidates in a particular country, such as the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), the FDA and analogous authorities in other jurisdictions outside of the United States (“regulatory authorities”), we must conduct extensive clinical studies to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Clinical testing is expensive, time consuming and uncertain as to outcome. Any delays in the commencement or completion of our ongoing, planned or future clinical trials could significantly increase our costs, slow down our development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenues. We do not know whether our planned trials will begin on time or at all, or be completed on schedule, if at all. The commencement and completion of clinical trials can be delayed for a number of reasons, including delays related to:
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regulatory authorities disagreeing as to the design or implementation of our clinical trials or with our recommended dose for any of our pipeline programs;
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obtaining regulatory authority authorization to commence a trial or reaching a consensus with such regulatory authorities on trial design;
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identifying and activating investigators and clinical trial sites to conduct trials;
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obtaining approval from one or more independent institutional review board (“IRB”) or Ethics Committee (“EC”) at each clinical trial site before each trial may be initiated;
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IRBs/ECs refusing to approve, suspending or terminating the trial at an investigational site, precluding enrollment of additional subjects, or withdrawing their approval of the trial;
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changes to clinical trial protocol;
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clinical sites deviating from trial protocol or dropping out of a trial;
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failing to manufacture or obtain sufficient quantities of drug candidate, or, if applicable, combination therapies for use in clinical trials;
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patients failing to enroll or remain in our trial at the rate we expect, or failing to return for post-treatment follow-up;
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patients choosing an alternative treatment, or participating in competing clinical trials;
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lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial;
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patients experiencing severe or unexpected drug-related adverse effects;
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occurrence of serious adverse events in trials of the same class of agents conducted by other companies;
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selecting or being required to use clinical end points that require prolonged periods of clinical observation or analysis of the resulting data;
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a facility manufacturing our drug candidates, or any of their components, including without limitation, our own facilities being ordered by regulatory authorities to temporarily or permanently
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shut down due to violations of current good manufacture practices, regulations or other applicable requirements, or infections or cross-contaminations in the manufacturing process;
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lack of stability of our clinical trial material or any quality issues that arise with the clinical trial material;
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any changes to our manufacturing process that may be necessary or desired;
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our, or our third-party contractors, not performing data collection or analysis in a timely or accurate manner or improperly disclosing data prematurely or otherwise in violation of a clinical trial protocol;
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any third-party contractors becoming debarred or suspended or otherwise penalized by regulatory authorities or other government or regulatory bodies for violations of regulatory requirements, in which case we may need to find a substitute contractor, and we may not be able to use some or all of the data produced by such contractors in support of our marketing applications;
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a clinical trial being suspended or terminated by us, by the IRBs/ECs of the institutions in which such trials are being conducted, by a Data Safety Monitoring Board for such trial or by regulatory authorities, due to a number of factors, including failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols, inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial site by regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold, unforeseen safety issues or adverse side effects, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using the product under investigation, changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial; or
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changes in regulatory requirements and policies and our need to amend clinical trial protocols to comply with these changes and potentially resubmit our clinical trial protocols to IRBs/ECs for reexamination.
Delays in initiating a new phase of clinical trials resulting from action by the FDA or any other regulatory authority would delay the approval obtainment and commercialization of our product candidates and our ability to generate revenue, which would have an adverse effect on our business.
The clinical hold in the U.S. on RZ358 may impact our development plans, staffing needs and may impact our ability to access the capital markets.
Our most advanced product candidate, RZ358, is currently under clinical hold in the U.S. It may take considerable time and expense to respond to the New Restrictions that have been placed on RZ358 by the FDA, and no assurance can be given that the FDA will remove the New Restrictions or that we will receive FDA approval for RZ358, in which case our business and prospects will likely suffer material adverse consequences.
In May 2023, based on historical rat toxicology found during an early RZ358 development program, the FDA affirmed its decision to impose the New Restrictions after we completed our multinational Phase 2b RIZE study conducted in participants two years of age and older, which consisted of the age restriction of twelve years and above for U.S. patients, and to re-impose impose a human drug exposure cap equating to repeat doses of approximately 3 mg/kg per week, a limit which was previously removed during the RIZE study. The New Restrictions delay our progression to include younger participants and consequentially delay the sunRIZE study in the U.S.
A clinical hold for RZ358 and sunRIZE continues to be in place in the U.S., and we do not know whether or when the clinical hold for the development of RZ358 will be lifted. However, we currently expect to commence the sunRIZE study outside of the U.S. as we have concluded our pre-sunRIZE regulatory and scientific advice meetings with regulatory authorities outside of the U.S. and have reached agreements on the design of the sunRIZE study that will include participants 3 months of age and older. Positive or promising results from clinical trials of RZ358 conducted in jurisdictions outside of the U.S. may not be predictive of similar results, or may not be replicated, in clinical trials within the U.S. Accordingly, even if we continue to observe the lack of adverse liver findings in the sunRIZE study outside of the U.S., it is not
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guaranteed that the FDA will accept such findings and lift the New Restrictions which could impact our development plans or ability to file for approval or market RZ358 in the U.S.
It may take a considerable period of time, the length of which is not certain at this time, and expense for us to fully address the FDA’s concerns, if at all. Even if we are able to fully respond to the FDA’s questions, the FDA may subsequently make additional requests that we would need to fulfill prior to the lifting of the New Restrictions. It is possible that we will be unable to fully address the FDA’s concerns and as a result the New Restrictions may never be lifted, and we may never be able to begin the sunRIZE study or complete our clinical trials of RZ358 in the U.S. Many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of the sunRIZE study may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval from the FDA for RZ358. If we don’t receive regulatory approval from the FDA for RZ358 our ability to raise capital and the terms of such raise could be impacted and our staffing levels may need to be adjusted.
We are exposed to additional risks as we conduct the sunRIZE study outside of the U.S. and may not be successful in meeting the study’s primary endpoint.
We are initiating and advancing the sunRIZE study outside of the U.S. The sunRIZE study may not produce positive results and meet its primary endpoint outside of the U.S. We may need to commence and complete additional clinical trials that satisfy the specified primary endpoint criteria in order to obtain necessary regulatory approvals from the EMA for RZ358. It is possible that we may not observe the lack of adverse liver findings in the sunRIZE study outside of the U.S., which could potentially impact the FDA’s decision regarding the New Restrictions. Conducting clinical trials outside the U.S. also exposes us to additional risks, including risks associated with:
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additional foreign regulatory requirements;
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foreign exchange fluctuations;
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compliance with foreign manufacturing, customs, shipment and storage requirements;
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potential political or economic instability in the jurisdictions where we initiate clinical trials;
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cultural differences in medical practice and clinical research; and
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diminished protection of intellectual property in some countries.
After the completion of our clinical studies, we cannot predict whether or when we will obtain regulatory approval to commercialize our product candidates and we cannot, therefore, predict the timing of any future revenue from these product candidates.
Even if we achieve positive clinical results and file for regulatory approval, we cannot commercialize any of our product candidates until the appropriate regulatory authorities have reviewed and approved the applications for such product candidates. We cannot assure that the regulatory authorities will complete their review processes in a timely manner or that we will obtain regulatory approval for any product candidate we develop. Satisfaction of regulatory requirements typically takes many years, is dependent upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product and requires the expenditure of substantial resources. In addition, we may experience delays or rejections based upon additional government regulation from future legislation or administrative action or changes in regulatory authority policy during the period of product development, clinical studies and regulatory review.
Even if a regulatory authority outside of the U.S. approves a product candidate, the approval may impose significant restrictions on the indicated uses, conditions for use, labeling, advertising, promotion, marketing and/or production of such product and may impose requirements for post-approval studies, including additional research and development and clinical trials. The regulatory authorities outside of the U.S. may also impose various civil or criminal sanctions for failure to comply with regulatory requirements, including substantial monetary penalties and withdrawal of product approval.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses that we may authorize to be provided to you in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This section describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer using this prospectus and the related indenture. This section is only a summary and does not purport to be complete. You must look to a future prospectus supplement that will describe the relevant form of debt security and the related indenture for a full understanding of all terms of any series of debt securities. The form of debt security and the related indenture have been or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies.
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
General
The indenture will not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It will provide that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets that may be contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture will not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
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the title of the series of debt securities;
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any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued;
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the maturity date or dates;
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the form of the debt securities of the series;
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the applicability of any guarantees;
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whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
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whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;
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if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;
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the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
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our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
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if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;
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the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;
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the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;
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any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series;
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whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities;
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if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange;
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if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
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additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant;
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additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable;
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additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;
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additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture;
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additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture;
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the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;
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whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;
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the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any, and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;
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any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and
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any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our Common Stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our Common Stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than a subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.
Events of Default under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
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if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of ninety days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
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if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
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if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and
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if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
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aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, of such series of debt securities due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
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the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and
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subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.
A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
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the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;
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the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request;
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such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request; and
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the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer.
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series;
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to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities — Consolidation, Merger or Sale;
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to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;
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to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture;
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to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture;
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to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect;
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to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above under “Description of Debt Securities — General” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or
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to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
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extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series;
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reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities; or
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reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver.
Discharge
The indenture will provide that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
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provide for payment;
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register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;
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replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;
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pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series;
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maintain paying agencies;
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hold monies for payment in trust;
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recover excess money held by the trustee;
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compensate and indemnify the trustee; and
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appoint any successor trustee.
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral
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multiple thereof. The indenture will provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series will be able to exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
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issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or
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register the transfer of or exchange of any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, will undertake to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents
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that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the indenture or the debt securities, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
This prospectus describes the general terms of our capital stock. For a more detailed description of our capital stock, you should read the applicable provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “NRS”), our amended and restated articles of incorporation (our “Articles of Incorporation”) and our amended and restated bylaws (our “Bylaws”).
Common Stock
Our Articles of Incorporation provides authority for us to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of November 22, 2023, there were 39,625,271 shares of our Common Stock outstanding. Under the NRS, stockholders generally are not personally liable for our debts or obligations solely as a result of their status as stockholders. Our outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and any shares offered by this prospectus will be, when issued and paid for, fully paid and nonassessable.
Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to our stockholders for a vote. There are no cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Our shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared and paid by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor and to share ratably in the net assets, if any, of Rezolute upon liquidation. Our stockholders have no preemptive rights to purchase any shares of our capital stock. Our Articles of Incorporation provides that the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the NRS Chapters 78 or 92A, our Articles of Incorporation or our Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Notwithstanding this exclusive forum provision, the exclusive forum provision shall not preclude or contract the scope of exclusive federal or concurrent jurisdiction for actions brought under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Preferred Stock
Our Articles of Incorporation provides authority for us to issue up to 400,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. Our Board of Directors is authorized, without further stockholder action, to establish various series of preferred stock from time to time and to determine the rights, preferences and privileges of any unissued series including, among other matters, any dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms, the number of shares constituting any such series, and the description thereof and to issue any such shares. As of November 22, 2023, there are no issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock and our Board of Directors has not designated any series of preferred stock for future issuance.
The rights of the holders of our Common Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Such rights may include voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the holders of the Common Stock. Satisfaction of any dividend or liquidation preferences of outstanding preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available, if any, for the payment of dividends or liquidation amounts on Common Stock.
A prospectus supplement, relating to any offered class or series of preferred stock, will specify the following terms of such class or series, as applicable:
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the designation of such class or series of our $0.001 par value preferred stock;
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the number of shares of such class or series of preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of such class or series of preferred stock;
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the dividend rate(s), period(s), and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to such class or series of preferred stock;
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whether dividends on such class or series of preferred stock are cumulative or not and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on such class or series of preferred stock shall accumulate;
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the provision for a sinking fund, if any, for such class or series of preferred stock;
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the provision for redemption, if applicable, of such class or series of preferred stock;
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any listing of such class or series of preferred stock on any securities exchange;
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the preemptive rights, if any, of such class or series of preferred stock;
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the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which shares such class or series of preferred stock will be convertible into shares of our Common Stock or shares of any other class or series of our stock or other securities, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof);
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a discussion of any additional material federal income tax consequences applicable to an investment in such class or series of preferred stock;
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the relative ranking and preferences of such class or series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of our Company;
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any limitations on issuance of any class or series of stock ranking senior to or on parity with such class or series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of our Company;
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any voting rights of such class or series of preferred stock; and
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any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of such class or series of preferred stock.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent of our Common Stock is Issuer Direct Corporation. Their address is One Glenwood Avenue, Suite 1001, Raleigh, NC 27306.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants to purchase any combination of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or purchase contracts or other securities of our company or any other entity. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in a prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we are offering will include specific terms relating to the offering. We will file the form of any warrant agreement with the SEC, and you should read the warrant agreement for provisions that may be important to you. The prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following terms:
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the title of the warrants;
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the aggregate number of warrants offered;
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the designation, number and terms of the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or purchase contracts or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;
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the exercise price of the warrants;
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the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;
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the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued;
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if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;
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if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;
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any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; and
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any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the warrants.
Class A Pre-Funded Warrants
In May 2022, we issued and sold Class A Pre-Funded Warrants (the “Class A Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 1,973,684 shares of our common stock at an offering price of $3.799 per Class A Pre-Funded Warrant in an underwritten public offering pursuant to a shelf registration on Form S-3.
Each Class A Pre-Funded Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share. The Class A Pre-Funded Warrants do not expire and may be exercised at any time after their original issuance. Under the Class A Pre-Funded Warrants, we may not effect the exercise of any Class A Pre-Funded Warrant, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any Class A Pre-Funded Warrant, which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause (i) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, or (ii) the combined voting power of our securities beneficially owned by the holder of the Class A Pre-Funded Warrant (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% of the combined voting power of all of our securities then outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Class A Pre-Funded Warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us; provided, that a holder of a Class A Pre-Funded Warrants may not increase such percentage to a percentage in excess of 19.99%.The exercise price of the Class A Pre-Funded Warrants and the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the Class A Pre-Funded Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders. The Class A Pre-Funded Warrants
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also contain provisions that provide certain rights to holders in the event of a fundamental transaction, including a merger or consolidation with or into another entity, such as the right to receive the same amount and kind of consideration paid to the holders of our common stock in the fundamental transaction. The Class A Pre-Funded Warrants do not entitle the holders to any voting rights or any of the other rights or privileges to which holders of common stock are entitled.
As of November 13, 2023, we have 1,973,684 shares underlying the Class A Pre-Funded Warrants outstanding, of which there have been no exercises.
Class B Pre-Funded Warrants
In May 2022, we issued and sold Class B Pre-Funded Warrants (the “Class B Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 10,947,371 shares of our common stock at an offering price of $3.799 per Class B Pre-Funded Warrant in an underwritten public offering pursuant to a shelf registration on Form S-3.
Each Class B Pre-Funded Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share. The Class B Pre-Funded Warrants do not expire and may be exercised at any time after their original issuance.
Under the Class B Pre-Funded Warrants, we may not effect the exercise of any Class B Pre-Funded Warrant, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any Class B Pre-Funded Warrant, which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause (i) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99%, 9.99% or 19.99%, as applicable to the holder, of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, or (ii) the combined voting power of our securities beneficially owned by the holder of the Class B Pre-Funded Warrant (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99%, 9.99% or 19.99%, as applicable to the holder, of the combined voting power of all of our securities then outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Class B Pre-Funded Warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us; provided, that a holder of a Class B Pre-Funded Warrants may not increase such percentage to a percentage in excess of 19.99%.The exercise price of the Class B Pre-Funded Warrants and the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the Class B Pre-Funded Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders. The Class B Pre-Funded Warrants also contain provisions that provide certain rights to holders in the event of a fundamental transaction, including a merger or consolidation with or into another entity, such as the right to receive the same amount and kind of consideration paid to the holders of our common stock in the fundamental transaction. The Class B Pre-Funded Warrants do not entitle the holders to any voting rights or any of the other rights or privileges to which holders of common stock are entitled.
As of November 13, 2023, we have 8,147,371 shares underlying the Class B Pre-Funded Warrants outstanding. There was a cashless exercise of 2,8000,000 Class B Pre-Funded Warrants on October 4, 2023 which resulted in an issuance of 2,797,704 shares of Common Stock.
October 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants
In October 2021, we issued and sold pre-funded warrants (the “2021 Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 1,661,461 shares of our common stock at an offering price of $6.49 per 2021 Pre-Funded Warrant in an underwritten public offering pursuant to a shelf registration on Form S-3.
Each 2021 Pre-Funded Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants do not expire and may be exercised at any time after their original issuance.
Under the 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants, we may not effect the exercise of any 2021 Pre-Funded Warrant, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any 2021 Pre-Funded Warrant, which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause (i) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially
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owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% or 19.99%, as applicable to the holder, of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, or (ii) the combined voting power of our securities beneficially owned by the holder of the 2021 Pre-Funded Warrant (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% or 19.99%, as applicable to the holder, of the combined voting power of all of our securities then outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us; provided, that a holder of a 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants may not increase such percentage to a percentage in excess of 19.99%.The exercise price of the 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants and the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders. The 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants also contain provisions that provide certain rights to holders in the event of a fundamental transaction, including a merger or consolidation with or into another entity, such as the right to receive the same amount and kind of consideration paid to the holders of our common stock in the fundamental transaction. The 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants do not entitle the holders to any voting rights or any of the other rights or privileges to which holders of common stock are entitled.
As of November 13, 2023, we have 1,661,461 shares underlying the 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants outstanding, of which there have been no exercises.
Participating Warrants
In October 2020, we issued and sold 820,001 warrants (the “Participating Warrants”), and each Participating Warrant entitles the holder to purchase 0.33 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $19.50 per share of our common stock. Each Participating Warrant is exercisable on or after October 9, 2020 and will expire on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on October 9, 2027. The Participating Warrants were subsequently registered for resale by certain selling stockholders pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3.
Under the Participating Warrants, we may not effect the exercise of any Participating Warrant, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any Participating Warrant, which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% or 19.99%, as applicable to the holder, of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage; provided, that a holder of Participating Warrant may not increase such percentage to a percentage in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of the common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the Participating Warrant held by the holder. Any increase in such percentage will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the company. The exercise price of the Participating Warrants and the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the Participating Warrant is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders. The Participating Warrants also contain provisions that provide certain rights to holders in the event of a fundamental transaction, including a merger or consolidation with or into another entity, such as (i) the right to receive the same amount and kind of consideration paid to the holders of our common stock in the fundamental transaction and (ii) the right to require the company to repurchase the unexercised portion of certain warrants at the warrant’s respective fair value using the Black Scholes option pricing formula. The Participating Warrants do not entitle the holders to any voting rights or any of the other rights or privileges to which holders of common stock are entitled.
As of November 13, 2023, we have 820,001 shares underlying the Participating Warrants outstanding, of which there have been no exercises.
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Other Warrants
We have issued warrants in conjunction with debt and equity financings and for services from 2015 to 2019. Such warrants have various expiration dates and exercise prices.
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may elect to offer subscription rights from time to time. The following description summarizes the general terms and provisions of the subscription rights that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The specific terms relating to any subscription rights that we offer will be described in a prospectus supplement, which you should read. Because the terms of the specific subscription rights offered may differ from the general information that we have provided below, you should rely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement that contradicts any information below. The summary below is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the applicable prospectus supplement.
General
We may issue subscription rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder purchasing or receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering. In connection with a subscription rights offering to our stockholders, we will distribute certificates evidencing the subscription rights and a prospectus supplement to our stockholders on the record date that we set for receiving subscription rights in such subscription rights offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:
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the prices, if any, for the subscription rights;
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the exercise price payable for each share of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities upon the exercise of the subscription rights;
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the number of subscription rights issued to each stockholder;
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the number and terms of the shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities which may be purchased per each subscription right;
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the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;
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any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitation relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights;
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the date on which the rights to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire;
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the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and
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if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights.
Exercise of Subscription Rights
Each subscription right will entitle the holder of the subscription right to purchase for cash such amount of shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, units, depositary shares, purchase contracts, or other securities, at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Subscription rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such subscription rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights will become void.
Subscription rights may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the subscription rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the subscription rights agent or any other office indicated in
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the prospectus supplement, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities purchasable upon such exercise. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
The following description summarizes the general features of the purchase contracts that we may offer under this prospectus. Although the features we have summarized below will generally apply to any future purchase contracts we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any purchase contracts that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The specific terms of any purchase contracts may differ from the description provided below as a result of negotiations with third parties in connection with the issuance of those purchase contracts, as well as for other reasons. Because the terms of any purchase contracts we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, you should rely solely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if that summary is different from the summary in this prospectus.
We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of any purchase contract that we may offer under this prospectus before the sale of the related purchase contract. We urge you to read any applicable prospectus supplement related to specific purchase contracts being offered, as well as the complete instruments that contain the terms of the securities that are subject to those purchase contracts. Certain of those instruments, or forms of those instruments, have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplements to those instruments or forms may be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part from reports we file with the SEC.
We may offer purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and for us to sell to holders, a specific or variable number of our securities at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specific or varying number of our securities.
If we offer any purchase contracts, certain terms of that series of purchase contracts will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following:
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the price of the securities or other property subject to the purchase contracts (which may be determined by reference to a specific formula described in the purchase contracts);
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whether the purchase contracts are issued separately, or as a part of units each consisting of a purchase contract and one or more of our other securities, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing the holder’s obligations under the purchase contract;
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any requirement for us to make periodic payments to holders or vice versa, and whether the payments are unsecured or pre-funded;
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any provisions relating to any security provided for the purchase contracts;
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whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts;
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whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;
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whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract;
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any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts;
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a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts;
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whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form; and
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any other terms of the purchase contracts and any securities subject to such purchase contracts.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may offer depositary shares representing a fractional interest in a share of a particular series of preferred stock. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. Those rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.
The shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited with a bank or trust company selected by us to act as depositary under a deposit agreement between us, the depositary and the holders of the depositary receipts. The depositary will be the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares.
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof of residence and paying certain charges.
The summary of terms of the depositary shares contained in this prospectus is not complete. You should refer to the form of the deposit agreement, our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designation for the applicable series of preferred stock that are, or will be, filed with the SEC.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions, if any, received in respect of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares owned by those holders on the relevant record date. The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for the underlying preferred stock.
If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property (including securities) received by it to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, adopt another method for the distribution, including selling the property and distributing the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.
Liquidation Preference
If a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares has a liquidation preference, in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Withdrawal of Stock
Unless the related depositary shares have been previously called for redemption, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the office of the depositary, the holder of the depositary shares will be entitled to delivery, at the office of the depositary to or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. In no event will the depositary deliver fractional shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the deposit agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing shares of the preferred stock so
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redeemed, so long as we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends on the preferred stock to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable on the preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata or by any other equitable method as may be determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the monies payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock. The record date for the depositary receipts relating to the preferred stock will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will not vote any shares of preferred stock except to the extent that it receives specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing that number of shares of preferred stock.
Charges of the Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges (including those in connection with the receipt and distribution of dividends, the sale or exercise of rights, the withdrawal of the preferred stock and the transferring, splitting or grouping of depositary receipts) as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts. If these charges have not been paid by the holders of depositary receipts, the depositary may refuse to transfer depositary shares, withhold dividends and distributions and sell the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipt.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares, other than fee changes, will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding depositary shares. The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or us only if:
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all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or
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there has been a final distribution of the preferred stock in connection with our dissolution and such distribution has been made to all the holders of depositary shares.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal of the depositary will take effect upon our appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or
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trust company having its principal office in the United States and having the requisite combined capital and surplus as set forth in the applicable agreement.
Notices
The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all notices, reports and other communications, including proxy solicitation materials received from us, that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. In addition, the depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications we deliver to the depositary as the holder of preferred stock.
Limitation of Liability
Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations. Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in good faith of our and its duties thereunder. We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent to give such information and on documents believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue units comprised of one or more of the securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement, if any, under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities comprising the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
The particular terms and provisions of units offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply thereto, will be described in the prospectus supplement filed in respect of such units. This description will include, where applicable:
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the designation and aggregate number of units offered;
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the price at which the units will be offered;
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the currency or currencies in which the units are denominated;
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the terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
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the number of securities that may be purchased upon exercise of each unit and the price at which the currency or currencies in which that amount of securities may be purchased upon exercise of each unit;
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any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, adjustment or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and
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any other material terms of the units.
We reserve the right to set forth in a prospectus supplement specific terms of the units that are not within the options and parameters set forth in this prospectus. In addition, to the extent that any particular terms of the units described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, the description of such terms set forth in this prospectus shall be deemed to have been superseded by the description of the differing terms set forth in such prospectus supplement with respect to such units.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, direct sales to the public, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to one or more purchasers, or through any combination of these methods. The distribution of the securities may be effected 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 the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
We may also sell equity securities covered by this registration statement in an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. Such offering may be made into an existing trading market for such securities in transactions at other than a fixed price on or through the facilities of the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which such securities may be listed, quoted or traded at the time of sale. Such at the market offerings, if any, may be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or agent.
We may issue securities to other companies or their security holders to acquire those companies or equity interests in those companies, or to acquire assets of those companies, through mergers or consolidations with us or any of our subsidiaries, or through the exchange of our securities for securities of the other companies, or through the exchange of assets of other companies for our securities, or through similar transactions. We may also issue securities to third parties to acquire patents or other intellectual property or licenses or similar rights to use patents or other intellectual property.
A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
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the name or names of any underwriters or dealers, if any;
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the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;
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any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
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any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;
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any public offering price;
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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
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any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.
By Underwriters
If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.
By Dealers
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of any securities offered by this prospectus, we will sell those securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be
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determined by the dealer at the time of resale. We will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction in the applicable prospectus supplement.
By Agents
We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
By Direct Sales
We may also directly sell securities offered by this prospectus. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We will describe the terms of those sales in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Electronic Auctions
We also may make sales through the Internet or through other electronic means. Since we may from time to time elect to offer securities directly to the public, with or without the involvement of agents, underwriters or dealers, utilizing the Internet or other forms of electronic bidding or ordering systems for the pricing and allocation of the securities, you will want to pay particular attention to the description of that system we will provide in an applicable prospectus supplement.
The electronic system may allow bidders to directly participate, through electronic access to an auction site, by submitting conditional offers to buy that are subject to acceptance by us, and which may directly affect the price or other terms and conditions at which the securities are sold. These bidding or ordering systems may present to each bidder, on a so-called “real-time” basis, relevant information to assist in making a bid, such as the clearing spread at which the offering would be sold, based on the bids submitted, and whether a bidder’s individual bids would be accepted, prorated or rejected. Of course, many pricing methods can and may also be used.
Upon completion of the electronic auction process, securities will be allocated based on prices bid, terms of bid or other factors. The final offering price at which securities would be sold and the allocation of securities among bidders would be based in whole or in part on the results of the Internet or other electronic bidding process or auction.
General Information
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities related to this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
Some or all of the securities we offer, other than shares of Common Stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
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We may engage in at-the-market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. We 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 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 parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of shares, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of shares. The third parties in such sale transactions will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the securities, if the prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the securities in accordance with the terms of the securities. The prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket.
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. This short sales position may involve either “covered” short sales or “naked” short sales. Covered short sales are short sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional securities in this offering described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their over-allotment option or by purchasing securities in the open market. To determine how they will close the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market, as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. Naked short sales are short sales in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that, in the open market after pricing, there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities that could adversely affect investors who purchase securities in this offering. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security for the purpose of fixing the price of the security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions.
Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in our Common Stock, preferred stock, warrants, units and debt securities, as applicable, on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.
Similar to other purchase transactions, an underwriter’s purchase to cover the syndicate short sales or to stabilize the market price of our securities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our securities or preventing or mitigating a decline in the market price of our securities. As a result, the price of our securities may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the securities if it discourages resales of the securities.
Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the securities. If such transactions are commenced, they may be discontinued without notice at any time.
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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. We will describe the terms of such arrangements in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may obtain such SEC filings from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html. Copies of our periodic and current reports and proxy statements, may also be obtained, free of charge, on our website at www.rezolutebio.com. This reference to our Internet address is for informational purposes only and the information contained on or accessible through such Internet address is not and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules we file with the SEC. You may refer to the registration statement, exhibits and schedules for more information about us and the securities. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available through the SEC’s website or at its public reference room.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
In this prospectus, we “incorporate by reference” certain information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to that information. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The following documents or information have been filed by us with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus (other than, in each case, documents or information that are or are deemed to have been furnished rather than filed in accordance with SEC rules, including disclosure furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K):
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All documents and reports that we file with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information that are or are deemed to have been furnished rather than filed in accordance with SEC rules) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the “Exchange Act”, from the date of this prospectus until the completion of the offering under this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Unless specifically stated to the contrary, none of the information we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that we may from time to time furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus. The information contained on or accessible through any websites, including our website, is not and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to these filings unless we have specifically included or incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Rezolute, Inc.
275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500
Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 206-4507
275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500
Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 206-4507
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent
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that a statement contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the offered securities will be passed upon for us by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Denver, Colorado. Any underwriters or agents will be represented by their own legal counsel, who will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
Plante & Moran, PLLC has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Plante & Moran, PLLC’s report, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus relates to the offering of our Common Stock. Before buying any of the Common Stock that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation by Reference”, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
This prospectus describes the terms of this offering of Common Stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, or the information contained in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date- for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreement, 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.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and Jefferies has not, authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to provide any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or into any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf or to which we have referred you. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We and Jefferies take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. You should assume that the information appearing or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering is accurate only as of the date of each such respective document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents we have referred you to in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference”.
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or Jefferies that would permit a public offering of the Common Stock offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The Common Stock offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of the Common Stock be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Common Stock offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Rezolute,” the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Rezolute, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries through which we conduct our business.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein, contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are based on management’s current expectations. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including, but not limited to, “believes,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “see,” “confidence,” “trends,” “intend,” “estimate,” “on track,” “are positioned to,” “on course,” “opportunity,” “continue,” “project,” “guidance,” “target,” “forecast,” “anticipated,” “plan,” “potential” and the negative of these terms or comparable terms.
Various factors could adversely affect our operations, business or financial results in the future and cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or otherwise discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 and in our other filings made from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus.
For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please see the documents that we have filed with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other documents and reports filed from time to time with the SEC.
All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We are not under any obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter any forward-looking statements whether as a result of such changes, new information, subsequent events or otherwise.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights certain information about us, this offering and selected information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our Common Stock. For a more complete understanding of our company and this offering, you should read carefully this entire prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, including the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-9 of this prospectus and the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.
We are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative drug therapies to improve the lives of patients with metabolic and orphan diseases.
Summary of Clinical Assets
RZ358
Our lead clinical asset, RZ358, is a potential treatment for congenital hyperinsulinism (“HI”), an ultra-rare pediatric genetic disorder characterized by excessive production of insulin by the pancreas. If untreated, the elevated insulin levels in patients suffering with congenital HI can induce extreme hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) events, increasing the risk of neurological and developmental complications, including persistent feeding problems, learning disabilities, recurrent seizures, brain damage or even death. There are no FDA approved therapies for all forms of congenital HI and the current standard of care treatments are suboptimal. The current treatments used by physicians include glucagon, diazoxide, somatostatin analogues and pancreatectomy.
RZ358 is an intravenously administered human monoclonal antibody that binds to a unique site (allosteric) on the insulin receptor in insulin target tissues, such as in the liver, fat, and muscle. The antibody down modulates insulin’s binding, signaling, and action to maintain glucose levels in a normal range thereby counteracting the effects of elevated insulin in the body. RZ358 shows dose dependent pharmacokinetics with a half- life greater than two weeks which has the potential for twice or even once monthly dosing. Therefore, we believe that RZ358 is ideally suited as a potential therapy for conditions characterized by excessive insulin levels, and it is being developed to treat hyperinsulinism and low blood sugar. As RZ358 acts downstream from the beta cells, it has the potential to be universally effective at treating congenital HI caused by any of the underlying genetic defects.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, we plan to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 clinical study of RZ358 for the treatment of hypoglycemia in participants with congenital HI (the “sunRIZE study”) outside of the U.S. The sunRIZE study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm evaluation of RZ358 in participants with congenital HI who are not adequately responding to standard of care medical therapies. Topline results from the study are anticipated to be available in the first half of 2025. The Phase 3 study follows the Company’s multinational Phase 2b study (“RIZE”) conducted in participants 2 years of age and older who were failing medical therapies. The RIZE study demonstrated that RZ358 was generally safe and well-tolerated, as well as highly effective in improving hypoglycemia.
We have concluded our pre-Phase 3 regulatory and scientific advice meetings with regulatory authorities outside of the U.S. and have reached agreement on the design of the Phase 3 study that will include participants 3 months of age and older. In the U.S., we had similar interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) culminating in a meeting held with the agency on May 24, 2023 (as confirmed by meeting minutes received from the FDA on June 22, 2023), and the FDA has maintained an existing age restriction of 12 years of age and older on RZ358 clinical studies, and imposed dose level restrictions based on historical rat toxicology findings. We believe that the FDA restrictions make it infeasible to include the U.S. in the Phase 3 study at this time, since that the pediatric population with congenital HI has the greatest therapeutic need. We are pursuing some additional nonclinical studies that may potentially address the FDA’s concerns, in parallel with the initiation and advancement of the Phase 3 study outside of the U.S.
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The sunRIZE study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of RZ358 in participants with congenital HI who are unable to achieve control of low blood sugars (<70 mg/dL) with available medical therapies (“hypoglycemia”). The study will determine the ability of RZ358 to correct hypoglycemia as assessed by (i) hypoglycemia events using self-monitored blood glucose (“SMBG”) and (ii) time in hypoglycemia using continuous glucose monitoring (“CGM”) over 24 weeks of treatment.
The study will also measure the levels of RZ358 and its effects on other important blood and clinical markers of hypoglycemia, as well as quality of life measures. The primary and key secondary efficacy endpoints are the following:
Primary efficacy endpoint:
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Change in average weekly occurrence of hypoglycemia events as measured by SMBG after 24 weeks
Key secondary efficacy endpoint:
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Change in average daily percent time in hypoglycemia as measured by CGM after 24 weeks
Approximately 56 participants between 3 months and 45 years of age are intended to be enrolled. Participants between 1 and 45 years of age (approximately 48 participants) will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion to receive RZ358 or placebo at dose levels of 5 or 10 mg/kg while on standard of care. Infant participants between 3 months and 1 year of age (approximately 8 participants) will be enrolled in open label fashion to receive RZ358 at a starting dose level of 5 mg/kg, which may be increased to 10 mg/kg at the discretion of the investigator. Participants will receive RZ358 as an intravenous infusion every 2 weeks over an initial 4-week loading period (3 doses), followed by monthly doses over an additional 16-week maintenance period (4 doses), for a total of 7 doses over the total 24-week treatment period. Following the study period, participants may proceed into an open-label extension program where investigators shall be permitted to: (i) adjust the dose between 5 and 10 mg/kg; (ii) adjust the dosing frequency between 2 and 4 weeks; and (iii) wean or stop other background hypoglycemia therapies.
In summary, the study will be comprised of the following treatment groups:
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Participants ≥1 year old: 5 mg/kg (n = 16)
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Participants ≥1 year old: 10 mg/kg (n = 16)
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Participants ≥1 year old: placebo (n = 16)
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Infant Participants: starting at 5 mg/kg (n = 8)
RZ402
Our second clinical asset, RZ402, is an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor (“PKI”) being developed as a potential therapy for the chronic treatment of diabetic macular edema (“DME”). DME is a vascular complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. and elsewhere. Chronic exposure to high blood sugar levels can lead to inflammation, cell damage, and the breakdown of blood vessel walls. Specifically, in DME, retinal blood vessels at the back of the eye become porous and permeable leading to the unwanted infiltration of fluid into the macula. This fluid leakage creates distorted vision, and if left untreated, blindness.
Currently available treatments for DME include anti-vascular growth factor (“anti-VEGF”) injections into the eye or laser surgery. RZ402 is designed to be a once daily oral therapy for the treatment of DME and unlike the anti-VEGF therapies, RZ402 targets the Kallikrein-Kinin System to address inflammation and vascular leakage. We believe that systemic exposure through oral delivery is critical to target the retinal microvasculature at the back of the eye. Further, as an oral therapy, RZ402 has the potential to substantially change the therapeutic paradigm for patients suffering with DME by providing a convenient, self-administered treatment option to encourage earlier initiation of therapy, adherence to prescribed treatment guidelines, and improved overall outcomes.
In December 2022, we initiated a Phase 2 multi-center, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm study to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of RZ402 administered as a monotherapy over a twelve week treatment period in participants with DME who are naïve to, or
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have received limited anti-VEGF injections. The study population is comprised of DME patients with mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Eligible participants are being randomized equally, to one of three RZ402 active treatment arms at doses of 50, 200, and 400 mg, or a placebo control arm, to receive study drug once daily for twelve weeks, before completing a four-week follow-up. The study is expected to enroll up to approximately 100 patients overall, across approximately 25 investigational sites in the United States. The principal endpoints of the trial include (i) changes in central subfield thickness of the macula, as measured by Spectral Domain Ocular Coherence Tomography, (ii) changes in visual acuity as measured by the early treatment diabetic retinopathy scale, (iii) the repeat dose pharmacokinetics of RZ402 in patients with DME, and (iv) the safety and tolerability of RZ402. We expect to complete enrollment in 2023 and to provide an update on the study prior to year end.
RZ358 Regulatory Status
As discussed in our disclosures filed with the SEC, toxicology studies in rats and monkeys were conducted as part of the early RZ358 development program and in these studies, rats demonstrated a microvascular liver injury at potentially clinically relevant doses and exposures (“rat findings”). However, there were no adverse liver findings in monkeys at dose levels that were more than 10 times higher than doses that were toxic in rats, and more than four times higher than human doses evaluated in clinical studies. Based on the absence of liver toxicity in monkeys and the lack of adverse liver findings in closely monitored human trials, the Company believes that the toxicity is unique to rats and unlikely relevant to humans.
As is customary in pediatric drug development, there is a progression of the inclusion of younger participants as a program advances through different stages and continues to demonstrate a good safety profile and a prospect of benefit for children based on previous stages. After the completion of Phase 1 adult healthy volunteer studies for RZ358, Phase 2a single-dose proof of concept studies (“Phase 2a”) were conducted in participants with congenital HI who were twelve years of age and older in countries governed by the regulatory authorities in the European Union and elsewhere in Europe. In the US, the FDA restricted enrollment in Phase 2a to participants eighteen years of age and older and, based on the rat findings, imposed a human drug exposure limit equating to repeat doses of approximately 3 mg/kg per week (“exposure cap”).
Subsequently, in the RIZE study European Authorities and other regulatory bodies continued the expected downward age progression, lowering the age for study participants down from twelve years of age to two years of age and older. At the start of the RIZE study the clinical program in the US remained under the eighteen years of age and older restriction as well as the exposure cap. However, in the first half of 2020, while the RIZE study was underway, we reached agreement with the FDA to proceed with the RIZE study in the US at all dose levels (no exposure cap) and in younger participants (ages twelve and older). Following these developments, the study protocol was harmonized globally, other than a regional difference in the minimum permitted age (twelve years and older in the US versus two years and older in all other geographies).
After the completion of the RIZE study, in the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, the Company conducted scientific advice meetings with the regulatory authorities in Europe which resulted in alignment with our proposed Phase 3 program including overall study design, dosing regimen, endpoints, sample size and patient population. Notably, with all available nonclinical (including the rat findings) and clinical information under review, European Authorities aligned with a further downward age progression whereby participants 3 months of age and older will be permitted to be enrolled in the Phase 3 study.
Prior to engaging the FDA on Phase 3 planning in the US, we began interacting with the agency in the second half of 2022 to further liberalize the age restriction to achieve alignment with the parameters established by the European Authorities in the RIZE study. Over the course of these post-RIZE regulatory interactions with the FDA, the agency revisited prior concerns regarding the rat findings and, despite the absence of new clinical or nonclinical data (other than the RIZE data), the agency decided to maintain the age restriction of twelve years and above and re-imposed the previous exposure cap which had been removed during the RIZE study (collectively, “New Restrictions”). In the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, we interacted with the FDA to resolve the New Restrictions, particularly in the context of the advancement of the clinical program in the rest of the world. Nonetheless, the FDA affirmed the New Restrictions at a meeting held with us on May 24, 2023.
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We have concluded pre-Phase 3 regulatory and scientific advice meetings with regulatory authorities outside of the U.S. and have reached agreement on the design of the Phase 3 study that will include participants three months of age and older. We believe that the New Restrictions make it infeasible to include the U.S. in the Phase 3 study at this time, particularly given that the pediatric population with congenital HI has the greatest therapeutic need. We are evaluating potential nonclinical studies to address the FDA’s concerns in parallel with the initiation and advancement of the Phase 3 study outside of the U.S.
Specifically, in the fourth quarter of 2023, we plan to initiate the Phase 3 sunRIZE clinical study of RZ358 which will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm evaluation of RZ358 in participants with congenital HI who are not adequately responding to standard of care medical therapies. Topline results from the study are anticipated to be available in the first half of 2025.
Competition
We face competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, governmental agencies, and private research organizations in recruiting and retaining highly qualified scientific personnel and consultants and in the development and acquisition of technologies.
There are other companies developing therapies for HI that are potential competitors to RZ358, including, Eiger Biopharmaceuticals, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, and Zealand Pharma.
There are also companies developing therapies for DME that are potential competitors to our PKI including Curacle, KalVista, Ocuphire Pharma, Oxurion and Verseon.
Government Regulation
Regulation by governmental authorities in the U.S. and other countries is a significant factor in the development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical products. All of our potential products will require regulatory approval by governmental agencies prior to commercialization. In particular, pharmaceutical therapies are subject to rigorous preclinical testing and clinical trials and other pre-market approval requirements by the FDA and regulatory authorities in foreign countries. Various federal, state and foreign statutes and regulations also govern or influence the manufacturing, safety, labeling, storage, record keeping and marketing of such products.
In addition, we are subject to various federal, state, and local laws, regulations and recommendations relating to safe working conditions; laboratory and manufacturing practices; the experimental use of animals; and the use and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, including radioactive compounds and infectious disease agents, used in connection with our research, development and manufacturing.
Employees
As of June 30, 2023, we had 51 full time employees, of which 38 employees were engaged in research and development, manufacturing, clinical operations, regulatory and quality activities and 13 employees were engaged in administrative functions. Of the 51 employees, all were located in the United States. We have a number of employees who hold Ph.D. degrees and other advanced degrees. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and we have experienced no work stoppages nor are we aware of any employment circumstances that are likely to disrupt work at any of our facilities. As part of our measures to attract and retain personnel, we provide a number of benefits to our full-time employees, including health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, paid holiday and vacation time. In addition, we grant stock options to certain key employees as added incentive to remain in our employment. We believe that we maintain good relations with our employees.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in Delaware in 2010 and we re-incorporated in Nevada in June 2021. We maintain an executive office located at 275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500, Redwood City, CA 94065 and our phone number is (650) 206-4507. Our website is located at www.rezolutebio.com. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains our public filings and other information regarding the Company, at www.sec.gov. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into this document.
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THE OFFERING
Common Stock offered by us:
Common stock having aggregate gross offering proceeds of up to $17.5 million.
Common Stock to be outstanding following the offering
Up to 60,160,900 shares (as more fully described in the notes following this table), assuming sales of 23,333,333 shares of our Common Stock in this offering at an offering price of $0.75 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on November 20, 2023. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering.
Manner of offering:
“At the market offering” that may be made from time to time on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other existing trading markets for our Common Stock through Jefferies. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-17 of this prospectus.
Use of Proceeds:
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, preclinical study and clinical trial expenditures, acquisitions or new technologies and investments and business combinations. We reserve the right, at the sole discretion of our management, to reallocate the proceeds of this offering in response to developments in our business and other factors. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-12 of this prospectus.
Risk Factors:
Investing in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. Please read the information contained in and incorporated by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-9 of this prospectus and the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus for a discussion of certain factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our Common Stock.
Nasdaq Capital Market
symbol:
symbol:
“RZLT”.
Unless otherwise indicated, the number of shares of Common Stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 36,827,567 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2023. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after this offering excludes:
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888,238 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2023, at a weighted average exercise price of $22.09 per share. All of our outstanding warrants are currently exercisable, except to the extent that certain of the warrants are subject to a blocker provision, which restricts the exercise of a warrant if, as a result of such exercise, the warrant holder, together with its affiliates and any other person whose beneficial ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the warrant holder’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99%, 9.99%, 14.99% or 19.99% of our then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise), as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of such warrant;
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1,661,461 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding pre-funded warrants as of September 30, 2023, at a weighted average exercise price of $0.01 per share; and
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12,921,055 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding Class A Pre-funded Warrants and Class B Pre-funded Warrants as of September 30, 2023, at a weighted average exercise price of $0.001 per share; and
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9,109,325 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2023, at a weighted average exercise price of $4.40 per share, of which stock options to purchase 3,187,579 shares of Common Stock were then exercisable; and
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2,430,075 shares of our Common Stock reserved for future grants of stock options (or other similar equity instruments) under our equity incentive plans as of September 30, 2023.
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the outstanding options, and reflects an assumed public offering price of $0.75 per share, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on November 20, 2023.
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in shares of our Common Stock involves significant risks. Please see the risk factors below and the additional risk factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 which is on file with the SEC and are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. These risks may be revised or supplemented in future filings of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, which are also incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus.
Risks Related to Our Governing Documents
Our Articles of Incorporation provides that the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada is the exclusive forum for certain litigation that may be initiated by our stockholders, excluding claims under the Securities Act, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our Articles of Incorporation provides that the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada (the “Eighth Judicial District Court”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, employees and agents. Stockholders who do bring a claim in the Eighth Judicial District Court could face additional litigation costs in pursuing any such claim, particularly if they do not reside in or near the State of Nevada. The Eighth Judicial District Court may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including courts where a stockholder considering an action may be located or would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments or results may be more favorable to us than to our stockholders. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive provision shall not preclude or contract the scope of exclusive federal or concurrent jurisdiction for actions brought under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Risks Related to This Offering
A substantial number of shares of Common Stock may be sold in the market following this offering, which may depress the market price for our shares of Common Stock.
Sales of a substantial number of our shares of Common Stock in the public market following this offering could cause the market price of our Common Stock to decline. Although there can be no assurance that any of the $17.5 million worth of Common Stock being offered under this prospectus will be sold or the price at which any such shares might be sold, assuming that an aggregate of 23,333,333 shares of our Common Stock are sold during the term of the Sales Agreement with Jefferies, in each case, for example, at a price of $0.75 per share, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on November 20, 2023, upon completion of this offering, based on 36,827,567 shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2023, we will have outstanding an aggregate of 60,160,900 shares of Common Stock, assuming no exercise of currently outstanding warrants and stock options.
Investors in this offering may experience immediate dilution in the book value per share of the Common Stock purchased in the offering.
The shares of Common Stock sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices. However, the expected offering price of the shares of Common Stock may be substantially higher
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than the net tangible book value per share of our currently outstanding shares of Common Stock. After giving effect to the sale of shares of our Common Stock in the aggregate amount of $17.5 million at an assumed offering price of $0.75 per share, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on November 20, 2023 on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and after deducting estimated commissions and estimated offering expenses, our as-adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2023 would have been approximately $120.2 million, or approximately $2.00 per share of Common Stock. While this represents an immediate decrease in net tangible book value, future sales of Common Stock in this offering may represent and immediate increase in net tangible book value to our existing shareholders and an immediate dilution to new investors, depending on the market value of our Common Stock.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our Common Stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering. We may sell shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our shares of Common Stock in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our shares of Common Stock in the future could have rights superior to existing shareholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares of Common Stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by investors in this offering.
We have broad discretion in how we use the net proceeds of this offering, and we may not use these proceeds effectively or in ways with which you agree.
We have not designated any portion of the net proceeds from this offering to be used for any particular purpose. Our management will have broad discretion as to the application of the net proceeds of this offering and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of this offering. Our stockholders may not agree with the manner in which our management chooses to allocate and spend the net proceeds. Moreover, our management may use the net proceeds for corporate purposes that may cause the market price of our Common Stock to decline.
The actual number of shares of Common Stock we will issue under the Sales Agreement with Jefferies, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement with Jefferies and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver placement notices to Jefferies at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of shares that are sold by Jefferies after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of the Common Stock during the sales period, limits that we set with Jefferies, and the demand for our Common Stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during this offering, it is not currently possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.
We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you must rely on stock appreciation for any return on your investment.
We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will also depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors and will be at the discretion of our board of directors. Accordingly, you will have to rely on capital appreciation, if any, to earn a return on your investment in our Common Stock. Furthermore, we may in the future become subject to additional contractual restrictions on, or prohibitions against, the payment of dividends.
The Common Stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market” offerings, and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have
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discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our board of directors, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
SEC regulations may limit the number of shares we may sell under this prospectus.
Under current SEC regulations, because our public float is currently less than $75.0 million, and for so long as our public float remains less than $75.0 million, the amount we can raise through primary public offerings of securities in any twelve-month period using shelf registration statements, including sales under this prospectus, is limited to an aggregate of one-third of our public float, which is referred to as the baby shelf rules. As of September 13, 2023, the aggregate market value of our outstanding shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates, or public float, was approximately 52,953,108 based on 39,625,271 shares of Common Stock outstanding, of which approximately 33,514,625 shares of Common Stock are held by non-affiliates, based on a closing price of $1.58 per shares of Common Stock on September 13, 2023, which was the highest closing sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the principal market for our common equity, within 60 days of the filing date of this registration statement. We have not offered any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities registered on this registration statement in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75.0 million. If our public float decreases, the amount of securities we may sell under our Form S-3 shelf registration statement, including this prospectus, will also decrease.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
From time to time, we may issue and sell our shares of Common Stock resulting in aggregate gross sales proceeds of up to $17.5 million. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that, in the future, we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the Sales Agreement with Jefferies as a source of financing.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, preclinical study and clinical trial expenditures, acquisitions of new technologies and investments, and business combinations.
The precise amount and timing of the application of the net proceeds will depend upon a number of factors, such as the timing and progress of our research and development efforts and the timing and progress of any partnering efforts. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty the particular uses for the net proceeds from this offering. Depending on the outcome of our efforts and other unforeseen events, our plans and priorities may change, and we may apply the net proceeds of this offering in different manners than we currently anticipate. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the timing and application of these net proceeds. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we intend to temporarily invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments.
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MATERIAL U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK
The following is a discussion of material U.S. federal income considerations relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Prospectus by a non-U.S. holder. For purposes of this discussion, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner (other than a partnership or other pass-through entity) of our Common Stock that is not, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
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a trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
This discussion does not address the tax treatment of partnerships or other entities that are pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or persons who hold their shares of our Common Stock through partnerships or such other pass-through entities. A partner in a partnership or other pass-through entity that will hold our Common Stock should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our Common Stock through a partnership or other pass-through entity, as applicable.
This discussion is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement and all of which are subject to change or to differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Any change or differing interpretation could alter the tax consequences to non-U.S. holders described in this prospectus supplement. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service, (the “IRS”), will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described in this summary. This summary does not discuss the potential effects, whether adverse or beneficial, of any proposed legislation that, if enacted, could be applied on a retroactive or prospective basis.
We assume in this discussion that each non-U.S. holder holds shares of our Common Stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular non-U.S. holder in light of that non-U.S. holder’s individual circumstances nor does it address any aspects of U.S. federal (other than federal income), state, local or non-U.S. taxes, the alternative minimum tax, or the Medicare tax on net investment income. This discussion also does not consider any specific facts or circumstances that may apply to a non-U.S. holder and does not address the special tax rules applicable to particular non-U.S. holders, such as:
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financial institutions;
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brokers or dealers in securities;
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tax-exempt organizations;
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pension plans, including “qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds;
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persons deemed to sell our Common Stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
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owners that hold our Common Stock as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, synthetic security or other integrated investment or who have elected to mark securities to market;
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insurance companies;
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controlled foreign corporations and passive foreign investment companies;
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corporations organized outside the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia that are nonetheless treated as U.S. taxpayers for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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non-U.S. governments; and
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certain U.S. expatriates and former long-term residents of the U.S.
THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT, AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. INCOME, ESTATE AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF ACQUIRING, HOLDING AND DISPOSING OF OUR COMMON STOCK.
Distributions
If we make distributions in respect of our Common Stock, those distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a tax-free return of the non-U.S. holder’s investment, up to the holder’s tax basis in the Common Stock (and will reduce the non-U.S. holder’s basis in the Common Stock). Any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain, subject to the tax treatment described below under the heading “Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock.” Any distributions will also be subject to the discussions below under the headings “Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” and “FATCA.”
Except as described below, dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence. A non-U.S. holder of our Common Stock who claims the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence generally will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or successor form) and satisfy applicable certification and other requirements. A non-U.S. holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax under an income tax treaty may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under a relevant income tax treaty and the specific methods available to them to satisfy these requirements.
Dividends that are treated as effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by a non-U.S. holder within the United States, and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, that are attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the United States, are generally exempt from the 30% withholding tax if the non-U.S. holder satisfies applicable certification and disclosure requirements (generally including the provision of a valid IRS Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form) certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States). However, such U.S. effectively connected income is taxed on a net income basis at the same U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to U.S. persons (as defined in the Code). Any U.S. effectively connected income received by a non-U.S. holder that is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence.
Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock
A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon such non-U.S. holder’s sale, exchange or other disposition of our Common Stock unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States; in these cases, the non-U.S. holder generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the same U.S. federal
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income tax rates applicable to U.S. persons (as defined in the Code), and, if the non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, the branch profits tax described above under the heading “Distributions” may also apply;
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the non-U.S. holder is a non-resident alien present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met, in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to a 30% tax (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence) on the net gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses of the non-U.S. holder, if any; or
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we are or have been, at any time during the five-year period preceding such disposition (or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period, if shorter) a “U.S. real property holding corporation” unless our Common Stock is regularly traded on an established securities market and the non-U.S. holder held no more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock, directly or indirectly, during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period that the non-U.S. holder held our Common Stock. If we are determined to be a U.S. real property holding corporation and the foregoing exception does not apply, then the non-U.S. holder generally will be taxed on its net gain derived from the disposition at the U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to U.S. persons (as defined in the Code). Generally, a corporation is a “U.S. real property holding corporation” if the fair market value of its “U.S. real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. Although there can be no assurance, we believe that we are not currently, and we do not anticipate becoming, a “U.S. real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No assurance can be provided that our Common Stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market for purposes of the rule described above.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the gross amount of the distributions on our Common Stock paid to such holder and the tax withheld, if any, with respect to such distributions. Non-U.S. holders may have to comply with specific certification procedures to establish that the holder is not a U.S. person (as defined in the Code) in order to avoid backup withholding at the applicable rate with respect to dividends on our Common Stock. Generally, a non-U.S. holder will comply with such procedures if it provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable Form W-8), or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a non-U.S. holder, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Dividends paid to non-U.S. holders subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax, as described above under the heading “Distributions,” will generally be exempt from U.S. backup withholding.
Information reporting and backup withholding generally will apply to the proceeds of a disposition of our Common Stock by a non-U.S. holder effected by or through the U.S. office of any broker, U.S. or non-U.S., unless the holder certifies its status as a non-U.S. holder and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds to a non-U.S. holder where the transaction is effected outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.
Copies of information returns may be made available to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is incorporated under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a non-U.S. holder can be refunded or credited against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that an appropriate claim is timely filed with the IRS.
FATCA
Provisions of the Code commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, generally impose a 30% withholding tax on dividends on, and gross proceeds from the sale or
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other disposition of, our Common Stock if paid to a foreign entity unless (1) if the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution,” the foreign entity undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, (2) if the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution,” the foreign entity identifies certain of its U.S. investors, or (3) the foreign entity is otherwise excepted under FATCA.
Withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our Common Stock. While withholding under FATCA may apply to payments of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our Common Stock, withholding on payments of gross proceeds is not required under proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations. Although such regulations are not final, applicable withholding agents may rely on the proposed regulations until final regulations are issued.
If withholding under FATCA is required on any payment related to our Common Stock, investors not otherwise subject to withholding (or that otherwise would be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding) on such payment may be required to seek a refund or credit from the IRS. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the requirements described in this section. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our Common Stock and the entities through which they hold our Common Stock.
The preceding discussion of material U.S. federal tax considerations is for informational purposes only. It is not legal or tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the particular U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of our Common Stock, including the consequences of any proposed changes in applicable laws.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We have entered into a Sales Agreement with Jefferies, which we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, under which we may offer and sell up to $50 million of our shares of Common Stock from time to time through Jefferies, acting as Sales Agent. Sales of our shares of Common Stock, if any, under this prospectus will be made by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act.
Each time we wish to issue and sell shares of Common Stock under the Sales Agreement, we will notify Jefferies of the number of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of shares to be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Once we have so instructed Jefferies, unless Jefferies declines to accept the terms of such notice, Jefferies has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of Jefferies under the Sales Agreement to sell our shares of Common Stock are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet.
The settlement of sales of shares between us and Jefferies is generally anticipated to occur on the second trading day following the date on which the sale was made. Sales of our shares of Common Stock as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Jefferies may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will pay Jefferies a commission equal to 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds we receive from each sale of our shares of Common Stock. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse Jefferies for the fees and disbursements of its counsel, payable upon execution of the Sales Agreement, in an amount not to exceed $75,000, in addition to certain ongoing disbursements of its legal counsel. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding any commissions or expense reimbursement payable to Jefferies under the terms of the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $825,000. The remaining sale proceeds, after deducting any other transaction fees, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such shares.
Jefferies will provide written confirmation to us before the open on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the day following each day on which shares of Common Stock are sold under the Sales Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on that day, the aggregate gross proceeds of such sales and the proceeds to us.
In connection with the sale of the shares of Common Stock on our behalf, Jefferies may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of Jefferies will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify Jefferies against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments Jefferies may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
The offering of our shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all shares of Common Stock subject to the Sales Agreement and (ii) the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. We and Jefferies may each terminate the sales agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.
This summary of the material provisions of the Sales Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the Sales Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Jefferies and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. In the course of its business, Jefferies may actively trade our securities for its own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, Jefferies may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Jefferies, and Jefferies may distribute the prospectus electronically.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain United States legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon on our behalf by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Denver, Colorado. Jefferies LLC is being represented in connection with this offering by Paul Hastings LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
Plante & Moran, PLLC has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Plante & Moran, PLLC’s report, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. 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. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC, at our website at www.rezolutebio.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus (i) the documents listed below, (ii) all documents that we file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is included and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement, and (iii) any future filings that we may make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offerings under this prospectus; provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed, including any information that we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, in accordance with SEC rules:
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You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to these filings unless we have specifically included or incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Rezolute, Inc.
275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500
Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 206-4507
275 Shoreline Drive, Suite 500
Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 206-4507
S-19
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, any prospectus, or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
S-20
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The following table sets forth expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered pursuant to this registration statement.
| |
SEC registration fee
|
| | | $ | 29,520 | | |
| |
FINRA filing fee
|
| | | $ | 30,500 | | |
| |
Printing expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Legal fees and expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Accounting fees and expenses
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Fees and expenses of trustee and counsel
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Rating Agency Fees
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Miscellaneous
|
| | | | ** | | |
| |
Total
|
| | | $ | ** | | |
**
These fees and expenses are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and, accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time. Information regarding estimated expenses of issuance and distribution of each identified class of securities being registered will be provided at the time such information is available in a prospectus supplement in accordance with Rule 430B.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Our officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities under Nevada law, our Articles of Incorporation, and our amended and restated bylaws. Articles of Incorporation require us to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada in effect from time to time.
Pursuant to Articles of Incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, by reason of the fact that such person is or was one of our directors or officers of or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, or trustee of another enterprise, (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in our amended and restated articles of incorporation, we shall not be required to indemnify or advance expenses to any such Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding initiated by such Indemnitee unless such proceeding was authorized by our Board of Directors. However, Nevada Revised Statutes 78.138 currently provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Nevada Revised Statutes, a director or officer shall not be individually liable to us or our stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his or her capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that (i) the presumption established by Nevada Revised Statutes 78.138(3) has been rebutted, (ii) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer, and (iii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law.
In addition, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by us for the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if Nevada Revised Statutes requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his capacity as a director or officer shall be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on
II-1
behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.
No director shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for any monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty as a director; provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director, to the extent that such liability is imposed by applicable law, (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 or successor provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived a personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. If the Nevada Revised Statutes is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of our directors shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada Revised Statues, as so amended.
Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes permits a corporation to indemnify, pursuant to that statutory provision, a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or of another entity or enterprise for which such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the corporation, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, except an action by or in the right of the corporation, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith, arising by reason of such person’s service in such capacity if such person (i) is not liable pursuant to Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, however, no indemnification pursuant to Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes may be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.
Any discretionary indemnification pursuant to Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, unless ordered by a court or advanced to a director or officer by the corporation in accordance with the Nevada Revised Statutes, may be made by a corporation only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances. Such determination must be made (1) by the stockholders, (2) by the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding, (3) if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes further provides that indemnification pursuant to Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes does not exclude any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, or any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, for either an action in the person’s official capacity or an action in another capacity while holding office, except that indemnification, unless ordered by a court pursuant to Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes or for the advancement of expenses, may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of any appeals, to be liable for intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law, and such misconduct, fraud or violation was material to the cause of action.
As permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes, we have entered into indemnity agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify each
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director and officer to the fullest extent permitted by law and advance expenses to each indemnitee in connection with any proceeding in which indemnification is available.
We have an insurance policy covering our officers and directors with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act, or otherwise.
See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 17 herein.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
EXHIBITS
| |
Exhibit
No. |
| |
Description
|
| |
Registrant’s
Form |
| |
Date Filed
|
| |
Exhibit
Number |
| |
Filed
Herewith |
|
| | 1.1 | | | Form of Underwriting Agreement* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 1.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2.1 | | | | |
8-K
|
| |
6/21/21
|
| |
2.1
|
| | | | |
| | 3.1 | | | | |
8-K
|
| |
6/21/21
|
| |
3.1
|
| | | | |
| | 3.2 | | | | |
8-K
|
| |
6/21/21
|
| |
3.2
|
| | | | |
| | 3.3 | | | | |
8-K
|
| |
6/21/21
|
| |
3.3
|
| | | | |
| | 3.4 | | | | |
8-K
|
| |
6/17/22
|
| |
3.1
|
| | | | |
| | 3.5 | | | | |
10-K
|
| |
9/15/21
|
| |
3.4
|
| | | | |
| | 4.1 | | | | |
10-K
|
| |
9/14/23
|
| |
4.1
|
| | | | |
| | 4.2 | | | Form of Common Stock Certificate.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.3 | | | Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Preferred Stock.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.4 | | | Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.5 | | | Form of Warrant and Warrant Certificate.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.7 | | | Form of Senior Debt Security.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.8 | | | Form of Subordinated Debt Security.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.9 | | | Form of Purchase Contract Agreement.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.10 | | | Form of Depositary Agreement and Depositary Receipt.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.11 | | | Form of Subscription Certificate.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.12 | | | Form of Subscription Agent Agreement.* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 4.13 | | | Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 5.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 5.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 23.1 | | | Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (to be included in Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 5.2).*** | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 23.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
X
|
|
II-3
| |
Exhibit
No. |
| |
Description
|
| |
Registrant’s
Form |
| |
Date Filed
|
| |
Exhibit
Number |
| |
Filed
Herewith |
|
| | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 25.1 | | | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Trustee under the Indenture** | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 107 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
*
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K by the registrant in connection with a specific offering and incorporated by reference herein
**
To be filed separately under the electronic form type 305B2, if applicable.
***
Previously Filed With the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-275562)
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i)
Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
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(ii)
Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to the registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b)
That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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(d)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Redwood City, State of California, on November 22, 2023.
REZOLUTE, INC.
By:
/s/ Nevan Elam
Nevan Elam
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive and Financial Officer)
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive and Financial Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment No. 1 to this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| |
Signature
|
| |
Title
|
| |
Date
|
|
| |
/s/ Nevan Charles Elam
Nevan Charles Elam
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive and Financial Officer) |
| |
November 22, 2023
|
|
| |
/s/ *
Young-Jin Kim
|
| | Director | | |
November 22, 2023
|
|
| |
/s/ *
Nerissa Kreher
|
| | Director | | |
November 22, 2023
|
|
| |
/s/ *
Gil Labrucherie
|
| | Director | | |
November 22, 2023
|
|
| |
/s/ *
Philippe Fauchet
|
| | Director | | |
November 22, 2023
|
|
| |
/s/ *
Wladimir Hogenhuis
|
| | Director | | |
November 22, 2023
|
|
| |
*By:
/s/ Nevan Charles Elam
Nevan Charles Elam,
Attorney-in-Fact |
| | | | | | |
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Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-275562) of Rezolute, Inc. of our report dated September 14, 2023 relating to the financial statements of Rezolute, Inc., which report appears in the Form 10-K dated September 14, 2023. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of the registration statement.
/s/ Plante & Moran, PLLC
Cleveland, Ohio
November 22, 2023