atos20210107_424b3.htm

 

Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-248555

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated September 10, 2020)

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/951851151e3ef36576fb4df8516de1f9-atos20210107_424b3img001.jpg

 

Units consisting of an Aggregate of

23,850,000 Shares of Common Stock and

Warrants Convertible Into 17,887,500 Shares of Common Stock

(and the Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Warrants)

 

We are offering units consisting of an aggregate of 23,850,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.18 per share (the “common stock”) and warrants convertible into 17,887,500 shares of common stock (the “warrants”) at an exercise price of $1.055 per share (and the shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants (the “warrant shares”)) pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The combined purchase price for one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock will be $1.055. 

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ATOS.” On January 6, 2021, the last reported sale price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.92 per share.

 

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD REVIEW CAREFULLY THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES DESCRIBED UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, AND UNDER SIMILAR HEADINGS IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS.

 

We have retained Maxim Group LLC to act as our sole placement agent (the “placement agent”) in connection with this offering to use its “reasonable best efforts” to solicit offers to purchase shares of our securities. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling any of our securities offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. See “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus supplement for more information regarding these arrangements.

 

 

Price(1)

 

Total

 

Public offering price

 

$

1.055

 

 

$

25,161,750

 

Placement Agent Fees (2)

 

$

0.074

 

 

$

1,761,322

 

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

 

$

0.981

 

 

$

23,400,428

 

 

(1) Refers to the combined purchase price for one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock.

 

(2) We have agreed to reimburse the Placement Agent for certain expenses. See “Plan of Distribution” for a description of compensation payable to the placement agents.

 

 

 

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

 

Maxim Group LLC 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is January 6, 2021

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

S-1

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

S-2

THE OFFERING

S-5

RISK FACTORS

S-6

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

S-7

USE OF PROCEEDS

S-8

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

S-9

DILUTION

S-10

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES S-11

LEGAL MATTERS

S-12

EXPERTS

S-12

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

S-12

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

S-12

 

Prospectus

 

Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

2

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

3

ABOUT THE COMPANY

4

RISK FACTORS

6

USE OF PROCEEDS

6

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

7

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

8

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

10

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

14

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

15

EXPERTS

16

LEGAL MATTERS

16

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

17

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

18

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to an offering of shares of our securities. Before buying any of the securities that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in this prospectus supplement. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of this offering of securities and also adds to, updates and changes information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. To the extent the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs from or conflicts with the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference, the information in this prospectus supplement will control. 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 supplement and the accompanying prospectus-the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

We have not, and the placement agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that which is contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give to you. No one is making offers to sell or seeking offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus supplement only and that any information we have incorporated by reference or included in the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date given in the document incorporated by reference or as of the date of the prospectus, as applicable, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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 supplement or the accompanying 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 agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus supplement to “Atossa,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “ours” refer to Atossa Therapeutics, Inc., and include its consolidated subsidiaries where the context so requires. Furthermore, on January 6, 2020 we changed the name of our company from Atossa Genetics Inc. to Atossa Therapeutics, Inc. Accordingly, any reference to Atossa Genetics Inc. in the accompanying prospectus means Atossa Therapeutics, Inc.

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated herein and therein by reference include trademarks, servicemarks and tradenames owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, servicemarks and tradenames included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

S-1

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights certain information about us and this offering and selected information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in our securities. For a more complete understanding of our company and this offering, we encourage you to read and consider carefully the more detailed information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and the information included in any free writing prospectus that we authorize for use in connection with this offering, including the information contained in and incorporated by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, and under similar headings in the other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

Company Overview

 

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company seeking to discover and develop innovative medicines in areas of significant unmet medical need with a focus on coronavirus (“COVID-19”), breast cancer and other breast conditions. Our two COVID-19 drugs under development are AT-H201, to improve lung function of moderate to severely ill, hospitalized COVID-19 patients by inhalation, and AT-301, a nasal spray for COVID-19 patients for at-home use. Our drug under development for breast cancer and other breast conditions is Endoxifen which is being developed primarily in two settings: one to reduce tumor cell activity in breast cancer patients in the “window of opportunity” between diagnosis of breast cancer and surgery; and another for women with dense breast tissue to reduce the density and/or to act as an adjunct to mammography.

 

Summary of Leading Programs

 

A summary of our four leading programs is as follows:

 

AT-301. AT-301 is our proprietary drug candidate intended for nasal administration in patients immediately following diagnosis of COVID-19 but who have not yet exhibited symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. It is intended for at-home use to proactively reduce symptoms of COVID-19 and to slow the infection rate so that a person’s immune system can more effectively fight COVID-19. We also intend to conduct testing to determine whether AT-301 can be used as a prophylaxis to prevent or mitigate SARS-CoV-2, with the goal that it could complement any traditional vaccine that may be developed in that a traditional vaccine may not be effective in all people and may not be taken by all people.

 

AT-301 is being developed with a nasal spray delivery mechanism because many COVID-19 patients are infected via the nasal passage. Collectively, the components of AT-301 are believed to help maintain a protective mucosal like layer within the nasal cavity with both anti-viral properties and a protective mucosal like barrier that may lead to lower infectivity and reduced symptoms in COVID-19 patients due to their interference with the spike protein of the virus in the nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract. Our nasal spray formulation AT-301 is being designed to contain ingredients that can potentially block SARS-CoV-2 viral entry gene proteins in nasal epithelial cells by interfering with spike protein activation by host proteases, by masking receptor binding domains (RBD) via electrostatic mechanisms, and by providing a generalized mucoadhesive epithelial barrier.

 

In July 2020, we completed in vitro testing of AT-301 which showed that AT-301 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infectivity of VERO cells in a laboratory culture. 

 

We recently completed a Phase 1 study of AT-301 which was a double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled safety study of AT-301 nasal spray in 32 healthy adult subjects divided into two study groups. Part A consisted of two single-dose cohorts receiving either active therapy, AT-301B, or the placebo comparator AT-301A at two doses. Part B was a multiple dose arm with cohorts receiving either AT-301A or AT-301B for 14 days at two doses. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single and multiple doses of AT-301 administered via nasal instillation to healthy volunteers. Secondary objectives are to assess the incidence and severity of local irritation and bronchospasm following administration of AT-301 via nasal instillation. Dosing is complete and data output is expected in January 2021. A preliminary evaluation of the blinded data indicates that there we no serious adverse events, no discontinuations, and only one of the subjects in the study experienced adverse events that were considered moderate in severity; all other adverse events were considered mild. Our preliminary assessment is that our AT-301 nasal spray was safe and well tolerated in this study. These results support advancing this program into a Phase 2 study. In December 2020, we submitted a pre-IND meeting request with the U.S. FDA.

 

S-2

 

AT-H201. AT-H201 is a proprietary combination of two drugs previously approved by the FDA to treat other diseases. It is intended to improve compromised lung function for moderate to severely ill, hospitalized COVID-19 patients by inhalation. There are five known key steps the coronavirus must take to signal the cell to open up and let the virus in. AT-H201 is being designed to function like a “chemical vaccine” by blocking all five of those steps, similar to what antibodies would be expected to do when a vaccine is administered. In May 2020, we completed in vitro testing of AT-H201 which showed that the components of AT-H201 inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infectivity of VERO cells, which is a standard cell type being used to study infectivity of the coronavirus. The AT-H201 components were found to be at least four times more potent than remdesivir and at least 20 times more potent than hydroxychloroquine. Potency was measured by microscopic examination of the cytopathic effect caused by SARS-CoV-2 in VERO cells. Developing new drugs that combine drugs previously approved by the FDA typically requires pre-clinical and clinical studies of the individual components of the new drug as well as the combination of the components in the new drug. In the second quarter 2020, we requested a pre-IND meeting with the FDA to discuss the AT-201 program, including a proposed study at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan in New York City. The FDA requested that we provide, among other things, additional pre-clinical and other information on AT-H201. We also requested a pre-IND meeting with the FDA to discuss one of the components of AT-H201, to which the FDA provided guidance. We are evaluating conducting the study outside the United States. We plan to commence the initial clinical study of AT-H201 in the first quarter of 2021.

 

We have filed provisional patent applications on AT-H201 to treat COVID-19 patients and on AT-301 to treat patients diagnosed with, or to prevent, COVID-19 via nasal spray.

 

Endoxifen for MBD. Mammographic breast density (MBD) is an emerging public health issue affecting over 10 million women in the U.S. Studies conducted by others have shown that MBD increases the risk of developing breast cancer and that reducing MBD can reduce the incidence of breast cancer. In December 2019, we contracted with Stockholm South General Hospital to conduct a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of our oral Endoxifen in pre-menopausal women with MBD who will be dosed over six months. This study will evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy. The primary endpoint is the change of MBD after six months of daily Endoxifen treatment. The study is subject to approval by the European Medical Product Authority and ethics board. Subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, we are planning for the study to be conducted in Stockholm, Sweden commencing in the first quarter 2021. 

 

In June 2019, we reported preliminary analysis from our Phase 2 study of proprietary daily topical Endoxifen to reduce MBD, showing significant (p=0.02) and rapid reduction in MBD at the 20mg daily dose level. MBD was reduced by an average of 14.3% in the group applying 20mg daily topical Endoxifen, which was statistically significant (p=0.02). In the lower dose group (10mg), MBD was reduced by an average of 9.0%, but was not statistically significant. Approximately 70% of participants receiving 20mg topical Endoxifen experienced a reduction in MBD, and of those, the mean reduction in MBD was 27%. Many participants in this study, however, experienced adverse skin reactions and dropped out of the study. We plan to reevaluate our development strategy for the topical form of Endoxifen once we complete the Phase 2 study of oral Endoxifen to reduce MBD.

 

Endoxifen for Window of Opportunity. We are currently conducting a Phase 2 study in Australia in the window of time between diagnosis of breast cancer and surgical treatment. The study will enroll up to 25 newly-diagnosed patients with ER+ and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) stage 1 or 2 invasive breast cancer, requiring mastectomy or lumpectomy. Patients will receive Atossa’s proprietary oral Endoxifen for at least 14 days from the time of diagnosis up to the day of surgery. The primary endpoint is to determine if the administration of oral Endoxifen reduces the tumor activity as measured by Ki-67. The secondary endpoints are safety and tolerability and assessment of the study drug on expression levels of both estrogen and progesterone receptors. The impact on additional markers of cellular activity will also be explored. 

 

In May 2020, we reported interim results from our window of opportunity study. A statistically significant (p=0.031) reduction of about 74% in tumor cell proliferation, as measured by Ki-67, over the 22 days of dosing was achieved in the initial patients. Ki-67 is a recognized standard measurement of breast cancer cell proliferation. The purpose of this study is to determine if Atossa’s oral Endoxifen reduces breast cancer tumor cell proliferation as measured by several biomarkers, including Ki-67. Six out of six (100%) patients experienced a significant reduction in Ki-67. A summary of these results includes:

 

 

Ki-67 was reduced by more than 50% in every patient in the window of opportunity between initial biopsy and surgery, with an overall relative reduction of 74%.

 

All six patients had a Ki-67 below 25% after treatment. In a paper entitled, “Prognostic value of different cut-off levels of Ki-67 in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 64,196 patients,” Ki-67 was an independent prognostic value for predicting overall survival in ER+ breast cancer patients. Ki-67 levels below 25% were associated with the lowest risk of death in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

 

S-3

 

 

Treatment ranged from 16-40 days with an average of 22 days.

 

There were no safety or tolerability issues, including vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, which are often a tolerability challenge for patients on tamoxifen.

 

This study continues to be open for enrollment; however, enrollment has been slower than anticipated in part due to fewer patients undergoing breast cancer surgery in Australia as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

 

About Endoxifen

 

Endoxifen is an active metabolite of tamoxifen which is an FDA-approved drug to treat and prevent breast cancer in high risk women. Endoxifen has been studied in 70 participants in Atossa-conducted Phase 1 clinical studies. No serious adverse events were reported in any of the studies.

 

In May 2020, we reported that the FDA recently provided written input on our clinical path for oral Endoxifen to reduce MBD. The input was provided pursuant to a pre-IND meeting request which was scheduled for April 30, 2020. The input received from the FDA was very useful and will inform our clinical trial strategy and study design both in the U.S. and in Stockholm, Sweden where we are planning a Phase 2 study to reduce MBD.

 

Compassionate Use of Endoxifen

 

In December 2018, we began providing our oral Endoxifen to a pre-menopausal, estrogen-receptor positive (ER+), lacking CYP2D6 function, breast cancer patient under an FDA-approved expanded access, single patient, or "compassionate use" program. The purpose of this therapeutic approach was to reduce activity of the cancer cells prior to surgery. The patient received daily doses of our oral Endoxifen for approximately three weeks prior to surgery. There were no safety or tolerability issues and her surgery was successfully completed. The cancer cell biological activity was reduced, based on the estrogen receptor activity of the tumor cells and a 50% reduction in Ki-67. The FDA has also permitted use of our Endoxifen for this patient following her surgery, under the compassionate use program, as part of her long-term breast cancer treatment regimen. The use of our proprietary oral Endoxifen is restricted solely to this patient. In July 2020, we reported an update on this patient, who has received Endoxifen for 18 months post-surgery. To date, the patient has not had a recurrence of breast cancer, has not had treatment-related changes in periodic laboratory blood tests and the treatment has been well tolerated, including an absence of typically seen vasomotor symptoms (night sweats and hot flashes).

 

Research and Development Phase

 

We are in the research and development phase and are not currently marketing any products. We do not anticipate generating revenue unless and until we develop and launch our pharmaceutical programs.

 

Impact of the Novel Coronavirus 

 

The continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the United States and global economies and may affect the Company’s operations and those of third parties on which the Company relies, including causing possible disruptions in the supply of the Company’s Endoxifen, AT-H201, AT-301 and the conduct of current and future clinical trials. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the operations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other health authorities including similar entities/agencies in Sweden and Australia, which could result in delays in meetings, reviews and approvals. The evolving COVID-19 pandemic could also directly or indirectly impact the pace of enrollment in the Company’s clinical trials for at least the next several months and possibly longer as patients may avoid or may not be able to travel to healthcare facilities and physicians’ offices except for a health emergency. Such facilities and offices may also be required to focus limited resources on non-clinical trial activities, including treatment of COVID-19 patients, and may not be available, in whole or in part, for clinical trial activities related to the Company's products under development. Additionally, while the potential economic impact brought by, and the duration of, the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult to assess or predict, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global financial markets may reduce the Company’s ability to access capital, which could negatively impact the Company’s short-term and long-term liquidity. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. The Company does not yet know the full extent of potential delays or impacts on its business, financing or clinical trial activities or on healthcare systems or the global economy as a whole. However, these effects could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources, operations, financial position and business and those of the third parties on which we rely. The Company has not experienced any delay in drug supply for its ongoing and planned clinical studies, including studies of Endoxifen, AT-301 and AT-H201. Currently, enrollment is open in Australia for the Endixofen Window of Opportunity study for which enrollment continues to be slow due in part to disruption caused by COVID-19. The Company anticipates commencing the MBD Endoxifen trial in the first quarter of 2021. The Company opened enrollment in the AT-301 trial during the third quarter of 2020 and completed enrollment in the fourth quarter 2020. We anticipate receiving regulatory approval to commence the initial clinical study of one of the components of AT-H201 in the first quarter of 2021. The Company will continue to monitor future enrollment in studies for potential restrictions on site visits, mammograms or the impositions of new restrictions on trials as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Corporate Information

 

We were incorporated in the state of Delaware in 2009. On January 6, 2020, we changed our corporate name from Atossa Genetics Inc. to Atossa Therapeutics, Inc. Our corporate headquarters are located at 107 Spring Street, Seattle, Washington 98104. Our telephone number is (206) 588-0256 and our Internet website address is www.atossatherapeutics.com. We do not incorporate the information on our website into this prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus supplement.

 

S-4

 

THE OFFERING

 

Securities Offered

Units consisting of an aggregate of 23,850,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.18 per share (the “common stock”) and warrants convertible into 17,887,500 shares of common stock (the “warrants”). Each unit consists of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock.

   

Common stock to be outstanding after the offering

71,398,835 shares

 

 

Warrants

The warrants included in the units will be immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $1.055 per share and will expire 4.5 years from the date of initial issuance.

 

 

Price

$1.055 per unit  

 

 

Use of Proceeds

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.

 

 

Risk Factors

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the information contained in or incorporated by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we authorize for use in connection with this offering.

 

 

Market symbol and trading:

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ATOS.”

 

 

 

 

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 47,548,835 shares of our common stock outstanding as of January 5, 2021, and excludes:

 

 

17,887,500 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants offered herein, exercisable for $1.055 per share;

 

27,500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants offered subsequent to September 30, 2020 exercisable for $1.00 per share;

 

shares of our common stock that may be sold in the future in connection with our current “at-the-market” offering; 

 

1,070,028 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, at an exercise price of $4.05 per share;

 

7,067,436 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options issued under the Company’s 2010 and 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plans at a weighted average exercise price of $2.74 per share;

 

176,420 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of outstanding Series B convertible preferred stock; and

 

670,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future equity awards under our 2020 Plan, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan.

 

S-5

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and in any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. In particular, you should consider the risk factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be revised or supplemented by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports of Form 8-K, each of which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. In addition to those risk factors, there may be additional risks and uncertainties of which are not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

 

Risks Related to This Offering

 

If you purchase our securities in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your shares.
The public offering price per share is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately prior to the offering. After giving effect to the assumed sale of 23,850,000 shares of common stock included in the units, but excluding the warrants to purchase 17,887,500 shares of common stock included in the units, at an offering price of $1.055 per share (the combined purchase price for one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock) and after deducting estimated offering expenses and placement fees and expenses payable by us, purchasers of our securities in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $0.115 per share in the net tangible book value of the common stock included within the units. For a further description of the dilution that investors in this offering may experience, see “Dilution.” In addition, to the extent that outstanding stock options or warrants have been or may be exercised or other shares issued, you may experience further dilution.

 

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.

This offering is one of several offerings undertaken by the Company over the past year, including most recently our offering of 14,000,000 shares of common stock pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 17, 2020 (Registration No. 333-248555) and the concurrent private placement of warrants exercisable into 10,500,000 shares of common stock. In order to raise additional capital, we may at any time offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering. We may sell shares or other securities 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 or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into 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 the use of our cash and cash equivalents, including the net proceeds we receive in this offering, and may not use them effectively.

Our management has broad discretion to use our cash and cash equivalents, including the net proceeds we receive in this offering, to fund our operations and could spend these funds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock, and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, cause the price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending their use to fund our operations, we may invest our cash and cash equivalents, including the net proceeds from this offering, in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

 

Because we do not intend to declare cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the foreseeable future, stockholders must rely on appreciation of the value of our common stock for any return on their investment.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings, if any, for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of any existing or future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, we expect that only appreciation of the price of our common stock, if any, will provide a return to investors in this offering for the foreseeable future.

 

S-6

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement contains, in addition to historical information, certain information, assumptions and discussions that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). We have made these statements in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Although we believe our assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this prospectus supplement, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements set out in this prospectus supplement will prove to be accurate. We typically identify these forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words such as “expect,” “potential,” “continue,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the degree to which the pandemic negatively impacts our supply chain, clinical trial enrollment and timing and our ability to access capital markets;

 

 

whether we can obtain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), and foreign regulatory bodies, to commence our clinical trials, including our planned COVID-19 trials, and to sell, market and distribute our therapeutics under development;

 

 

our ability to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials of our pharmaceutical candidates under development, including our oral and topical Endoxifen (an active metabolite of Tamoxifen);

 

 

the success, cost and timing of our product and drug development activities and clinical trials, including whether our study using our oral Endoxifen will enroll a sufficient number of subjects or be completed in a timely fashion or at all;

 

 

whether we will successfully initiate and complete our clinical trial of oral Endoxifen to reduce mammographic breast density and whether the study will meet its objective;

 

 

our ability to contract with third-party suppliers, manufacturers and service providers, including clinical research organizations, and their ability to perform adequately;

 

 

our ability to successfully develop and commercialize new therapeutics currently in development or that we might identify in the future and in the time frames currently expected;

 

 

our ability to successfully defend litigation and other similar complaints that may be brought in the future, in a timely manner and within the coverage, scope and limits of our insurance policies;

 

 

our ability to establish and maintain intellectual property rights covering our products;

 

 

our expectations regarding, and our ability to satisfy, federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements;

 

 

the accuracy of our estimates of the size and characteristics of the markets that our products and services may address;

 

 

whether the final study results will vary from preliminary study results that we may announce;

 

 

our expectations as to future financial performance, expense levels and capital sources;

 

 

our ability to attract and retain key personnel; and

 

 

our ability to raise capital.

 

These and other forward-looking statements made herein are presented as of the date of this prospectus supplement. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this prospectus supplement, particularly in the section titled “Risk Factors” that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the anticipated results as set forth in the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any new information, future events or circumstances that may affect our business after the date of this prospectus supplement. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update any forward-looking statements after the date on which the statement is made, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

 

S-7

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $23.3 million, after deducting the placement agent fees and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

The amounts and timing of our use of proceeds will vary depending on a number of factors, including the amount of cash generated or used by our operations, and the rate of growth, if any, of our business. As a result, we will retain broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds of this offering. In addition, while we have not entered into any agreements, commitments or understandings relating to any significant transaction as of the date of this prospectus supplement, we may use a portion of the net proceeds to pursue acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic transactions.

 

If the warrants included in the units are fully exercised for cash, we will receive additional proceeds of up to approximately $18.9 million.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes.

 

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses of the proceeds, if any, from this offering. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of any such proceeds. Pending the use of the net proceeds, from this offering as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments. 

 

S-8

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Maxim Group LLC has agreed to act as the exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering (“Maxim” or the “placement agent”) pursuant to a letter agreement dated January 6, 2021 (the “letter agreement”). The placement agent is not purchasing or selling the securities offered by this prospectus supplement, nor is the placement agent required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities, but has agreed to use its “reasonable best efforts” to arrange for the sale of all of the securities offered hereby pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The terms of this offering were subject to market conditions and negotiations between us, the placement agent and prospective investors. The letter agreement does not give rise to any commitment by the placement agent to purchase any of our securities, and the placement agent will have no authority to bind us by virtue of the letter agreement. Further, the placement agent does not guarantee that it will be able to raise new capital in any prospective offering.

 

We entered into securities purchase agreements dated January 6, 2021 directly with investors in connection with this offering, and we will only sell to investors who have entered into securities purchase agreements. We expect to deliver the units being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement, on or about January 8, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions (the “closing”).

 

We have agreed to pay the placement agent a total cash fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds of this offering. We have agreed to reimburse the placement agent for all travel and other out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees, costs and disbursements of its legal fees which shall be limited to, in the aggregate, $45,000. We estimate our total expenses associated with the offering, excluding placement agent fees and expenses, will be approximately $90,000.

 

The following table shows per share and total cash placement agent’s fees we will pay to the placement agent in connection with the sale of the securities pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus assuming the purchase of all of the securities offered hereby:

 

After deducting certain fees and expenses due to the placement agent and our estimated offering expenses, we expect the net proceeds from this offering to be approximately $23.3 million. If the warrants included in the units are fully exercised for cash, we will receive additional proceeds of up to approximately $18.9 million.

 

 

Price(1)

 

Total

 

Public offering price

 

$

1.055

 

 

$

25,161,750

 

Placement Agent Fees

 

$

0.074

 

 

$

1,761,322

 

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

 

$

0.981

 

 

$

23,400,428

 

(1)Refers to the combined purchase price for one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock.

 

 

   

 

 

We have agreed in the securities purchase agreements that we will not issue any common stock (or common stock equivalents) for a period of 60 days after the closing. 

 

We have agreed to indemnify Maxim and specified other persons against some civil liabilities, including, without limitation liabilities caused by or arising out of any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement or this prospectus supplement or accompanying prospectus or by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

The placement agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by it and any profit realized on the resale of the securities sold by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. As an underwriter, the placement agents would be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of Common Stock and warrants by the placement agents acting as principal. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agents may not (i) engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and (ii) bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until it has completed its participation in the distribution.

 

The form of securities purchase agreement is included as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC and that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part.

 

No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus or any other material relating to us or the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the securities offered hereby may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither of this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the securities offered hereby may be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction except in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction. The placement agents may arrange to sell securities offered by this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus in certain jurisdictions outside the United States, either directly or through affiliates, where they are permitted to do so.

 

S-9

 

Certain Relationships

 

Maxim has worked with the Company in the following recent transactions: (1) as placement agent in a registered direct offering of 14,000,000 million shares of common stock pursuant to a prospectus supplement filed by the Company with the SEC on December 21, 2020 (Registration No. 333-248555) and a concurrent private placement of warrants convertible into 10,500,000 shares of common stock; (2) as underwriter in a registered offering by the Company of an aggregate of 14,575,000 shares of common stock, 5,425 Shares of Series C convertible preferred stock convertible into up to 5,425,000 shares of common stock and warrants convertible into up to 15,000,000 shares of common stock pursuant to a prospectus supplement filed by the Company with the SEC on December 11, 2020 (Registration No. 333-250820); and (3) as sales agent in an “at-the-market” offering pursuant to a prospectus supplement filed by the Company with the SEC on September 25, 2020 (Registration No. 333-248555).

 

The placement agent and its affiliates may provide us from time to time in the future certain additional commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions.

 

DILUTION

 

Purchasers of our securities will experience an immediate dilution of the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Our net tangible book value as of September 30, 2020, was approximately $43,659,381, or $0.92 per share, after taking into account the proceeds received and shares issued pursuant to an offering by the Company of $23 million in securities that closed on December 11, 2020 (overallotment closed on December 28, 2020) and an offering of $14 million in securities that closed on December 21, 2020.

 

Net tangible book value per share is equal to our total tangible assets less our total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of our outstanding common stock (calculated on an as-converted basis).

 

Dilution per share of common stock equals the difference between the price per common unit (ascribing no value to the warrants contained therein) and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.

 

Based on the sale by us of 23,850,000 units at the offering price of $1.055 per unit and after deducting estimated offering expenses and underwriter fees and expenses payable by us, our pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2020 would have been approximately $66,924,809, or $0.94 per share. This represents an immediate dilution to purchasers in this offering of $0.115 per share. The following table illustrates this per-share dilution:

 

Offering price per share

 

 

 

 

 

$

1.055

 

Tangible book value per common share as of September 30, 2020(1)

 

$

0.920

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in tangible book value per common share attributable to this offering

 

$

0.020

 

 

 

 

 

As adjusted tangible book value per common share after this offering

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.940

 

Dilution in tangible book value per common share to new investors

 

 

 

 

 

$

(0.115

)


(1) The figure given for the tangible book value per common share as of September 30, 2020 takes into account the proceeds received and shares issued pursuant to the offering by the Company of $23 million in securities that closed on December 11, 2020 (overallotment closed on December 28, 2020) and $14 million in securities that closed on December 21, 2020.


The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 47,548,835 shares of our common stock outstanding as of January 5, 2021, and excludes:

 

 

17,887,500 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants offered herein, exercisable for $1.055 per share;

 

27,500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants offered subsequent to September 30, 2020 exercisable for $1.00 per share;

 

shares of our common stock that may be sold in the future in connection with our current “at-the-market” offering; 

 

1,070,028 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, at an exercise price of $4.05 per share;

 

7,067,436 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options issued under the Company’s 2010 and 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plans at a weighted average exercise price of $2.74 per share;

 

176,420 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of outstanding Series B convertible preferred stock; and

 

670,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future equity awards under our 2020 Plan, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan.

S-10

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Common Stock

 

The terms and provisions of our common stock are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 (Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

Warrants

 

The warrants to be issued with the units will be separately transferable following their issuance and through their expiration four and a half years from the date of issuance. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $1.055. We do not intend to have the warrants listed for trading on any securities exchange or recognized trading system. The common stock underlying the warrants, upon issuance, will also be traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “ATOS.”

 

All warrants that are purchased in this offering as part of the units will be issued in certificated form.

 

Exercisability. Each warrant will be exercisable at any time and will expire four and a half years from the date of issuance. The warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise, except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below.

 

The number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including a stock split of, stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or recapitalization of the common stock. If a fundamental transaction occurs, then the successor entity will succeed to, and be substituted for us, and may exercise every right and power that we may exercise and will assume all of our obligations under the warrants with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named in the warrant itself. If holders of our common stock are given a choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a fundamental transaction, then the holder shall be given the same choice as to the consideration it receives upon any exercise of the warrant following such fundamental transaction.

 

Cashless Exercise. If at any time there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for issuance of, the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant, the holder may exercise the warrant on a cashless basis. When exercised on a cashless basis, a portion of the warrant is cancelled in payment of the purchase price payable in respect of the number of shares of our common stock purchasable upon such exercise.

 

Exercise Price. Each warrant represents the right to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $1.055. In addition, the exercise price per share is subject to adjustment for stock dividends, distributions, subdivisions, combinations, or reclassifications, and for certain dilutive issuances. Subject to limited exceptions, a holder of warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrant to the extent that, after giving effect to the exercise, the holder, together with its affiliates, and any other person acting as a group together with the holder or any of its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or, upon election of the holder, 9.99%) of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to its exercise.

 

Transferability. Subject to applicable laws and restrictions, a holder may transfer a warrant upon surrender of the warrant to us with a completed and signed assignment in the form attached to the warrant. The transferring holder will be responsible for any tax that liability that may arise as a result of the transfer.

 

Exchange Listing. We do not intend to apply to list the warrants on any securities exchange or recognized trading system.

 

Rights as Stockholder. Except as set forth in the warrant, the holder of a warrant, solely in such holder’s capacity as a holder of a warrant, will not be entitled to vote, to receive dividends, or to any of the other rights of our stockholders.

 

Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of each warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions thereof waived with the written consent of us and the holder.

S-11

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP. Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for Maxim by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019 incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm (the report on the consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern), incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We also filed a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part of that registration statement, but do not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits. You can find our public filings with the SEC on the internet at a web site maintained by the SEC located at www.sec.gov.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows the Company to “incorporate by reference” the information that is filed by the Company with the SEC, which means that the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The documents incorporated by reference are:

 

 

1.

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019;

 

2.

The Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020;

 

3.

The Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 13, 2020;

 

4.

The Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 8, 2021 and in 2020 on the following dates: January 7February 10April 13May 19, September 25, November 30, December 8, December 14  and December 21;

 

5.

The description of the Company’s common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on July 24, 2012 pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description; and

 

6.

All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of the original Registration Statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, provided that all documents “furnished” by the Company to the SEC and not “filed” are not deemed incorporated by reference herein.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement. Under no circumstances will any information filed under items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K be deemed to be incorporated by reference unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.

 

The Company will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon such person’s written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the information that this prospectus incorporates. Requests should be directed to the Secretary at Atossa Therapeutics, Inc., 107 Spring Street, Seattle, Washington, 98104, phone (866) 893-4927. You may also find these documents in the “Investor Relations” section of our website, www.atossatherapeutics.com. The information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus.

 

S-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

https://cdn.kscope.io/951851151e3ef36576fb4df8516de1f9-atos20210107_424b3img001.jpg

 

ATOSSA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

$100,000,000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

 

 

 

We may offer and sell an indeterminate number of shares of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants from time to time under this prospectus. We may offer these securities separately or together in combination with other securities registered by this prospectus. We will describe in a prospectus supplement the securities we are offering and selling, as well as the specific terms of the securities.

 

We may offer these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. We may sell the securities directly to you, through agents we select, or through underwriters and dealers we select. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement or sales agreement prospectus.

 

Our Common Stock is currently quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ATOS”. On August 28, 2020 the last reported sale price per share of our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $2.63. You are urged to obtain current market quotations for our common stock.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 107 Spring Street, Seattle, Washington 98104. 

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the Risk Factors beginning on page 5 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.

 

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

 

The date of this prospectus is September 10, 2020

 

 

 

 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

2

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

3

ABOUT THE COMPANY

4

RISK FACTORS

6

USE OF PROCEEDS

6

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

7

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

8

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

10

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

14

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

15

EXPERTS

16

LEGAL MATTERS

16

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

17

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

18

 

1

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a shelf registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities and warrants to purchase any of such securities with a total value of up to $100,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement (which term includes, as applicable, the sales agreement prospectus filed with the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part) that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities. 

 

We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. A prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may include a discussion of risks or other special considerations applicable to us or the offered securities. A prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you must rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Please carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

We have not authorized any broker-dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor do this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. The information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement speaks only as of the date set forth on the cover page and you should assume that such information may not reflect subsequent changes in our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects even though this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is delivered, or securities are sold, on a later date.

 

2

 

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into it contain, in addition to historical information, certain information, assumptions and discussions that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have made these statements in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Although we believe our assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this prospectus, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements set out in this prospectus will prove to be accurate. We typically identify these forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words such as “expect,” “potential,” “continue,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

The impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the degree to which the pandemic negatively impacts our supply chain, clinical trial enrollment and timing and our ability to access capital markets;

 

 

 

 

whether we can obtain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), and foreign regulatory bodies, to commence our clinical trials, including our planned COVID-19 trials, and to sell, market and distribute our therapeutics under development;

 

 

 

 

our ability to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials of our pharmaceutical candidates under development, including our oral and topical Endoxifen (an active metabolite of Tamoxifen);

 

 

 

 

the success, cost and timing of our product and drug development activities and clinical trials, including whether our study using our oral Endoxifen will enroll a sufficient number of subjects or be completed in a timely fashion or at all;

 

 

 

 

whether we will successfully initiate and complete our clinical trial of oral Endoxifen to reduce mammographic breast density and whether the study will meet its objective;

 

 

 

 

our ability to contract with third-party suppliers, manufacturers and service providers, including clinical research organizations, and their ability to perform adequately;

 

 

 

 

our ability to successfully develop and commercialize new therapeutics currently in development or that we might identify in the future and in the time frames currently expected;

 

 

 

 

our ability to successfully defend litigation and other similar complaints that may be brought in the future, in a timely manner and within the coverage, scope and limits of our insurance policies;

 

 

 

 

our ability to establish and maintain intellectual property rights covering our products;

 

 

 

 

our expectations regarding, and our ability to satisfy, federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements;

 

 

 

 

the accuracy of our estimates of the size and characteristics of the markets that our products and services may address;

 

 

 

 

whether the final study results will vary from preliminary study results that we may announce;

 

 

 

 

our expectations as to future financial performance, expense levels and capital sources;

 

 

 

 

our ability to attract and retain key personnel; and

 

 

 

 

our ability to raise capital.

 

This prospectus also contains estimates and other statistical data provided by independent parties and by us relating to market size and growth and other industry data. These and other forward-looking statements made in this prospectus are presented as of the date on which the statements are made. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this prospectus, particularly in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any new information, future events or circumstances that may affect our business after the date of this prospectus. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update any forward-looking statements after the date on which the statement is made, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

 

3

 

ABOUT THE COMPANY 

 

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical seeking to discover and develop innovative medicines in areas of significant unmet medical need with a focus on coronavirus ("COVID-19") and breast cancer. Our two COVID-19 drugs under development are AT-H201, to improve lung function of moderate to severely ill, hospitalized COVID-19 patients by inhalation, and AT-301, a nasal spray for COVID-19 patients who are not sufficiently ill to require hospitalization. Our breast cancer drug under development is Endoxifen which is being developed primarily in two settings: one to reduce tumor cell activity in breast cancer patients in the "window of opportunity" between diagnosis of breast cancer and surgery; and another for women with high mammographic breast density ("MBD") to reduce the density and/or to act as an adjunct to mammography.

 

Summary of Leading Programs

 

A summary of our four leading programs is as follows:

 

AT-H201. AT-H201 is a proprietary combination of two drugs previously approved by the FDA to treat other diseases. It is intended to improve compromised lung function for moderate to severely ill, hospitalized COVID-19 patients by inhalation. There are five known key steps the coronavirus must take to signal the cell to open up and let the virus in. AT-H201 is being designed to function like a “chemical vaccine” by blocking all five of those steps, similar to what antibodies would be expected to do when a vaccine is administered. 

 

In May 2020, we completed in vitro testing of AT-H201 which showed that the components of AT-H201 inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infectivity of VERO cells, which is a standard cell type being used to study infectivity of the coronavirus. The AT-H201 components were found to be at least four times more potent than remdesivir and at least 20 times more potent than hydroxychloroquine. Potency was measured by microscopic examination of the cytopathic effect caused by SARS-CoV-2 in VERO cells. Developing new drugs that combine drugs previously approved by the FDA typically requires pre-clinical and clinical studies of the individual components of the new drug and well as the combination of the components in the new drug. 

 

We recently applied to the FDA to commence a clinical trial of AT-H201. The FDA has requested, among other things, that we submit additional pre-clinical and other information on AT-H201 before approving the study. We are in the process of providing the necessary information to the FDA and anticipate receiving approval from the FDA to commence the initial clinical study of one of the components of AT-H201 in the second half of 2020.

 

AT-301. AT-301 is our proprietary drug intended for nasal administration in patients immediately following diagnosis of COVID-19 but who have not yet exhibited symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. It is intended for at-home use to proactively reduce symptoms of COVID-19 and to slow the infection rate so that a person’s immune system can more effectively fight COVID-19. We also intend to conduct testing to determine whether AT-301 can be used as a prophylaxis to prevent or mitigate SARS-CoV-2, with the goal that it could become a “bridge to the vaccine” and be useful in the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

AT-301 is being developed with a nasal spray delivery mechanism because many COVID-19 patients are infected via the nasal passage. Collectively, the components of AT-301 are believed to help maintain a protective mucosal like layer within the nasal cavity with both anti-viral properties and protective mucosal like barrier that may lead to lower infectivity and reduced symptoms in COVID-19 patients due to their interference with the spike protein of the virus in the nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract.  Our nasal spray formulation AT-301 is being designed to contain ingredients that can potentially block SARS-CoV-2 viral entry gene proteins in nasal epithelial cells by interfering with spike protein activation by host proteases, by masking receptor binding domains (RBD) via electrostatic mechanisms, and by providing a generalized mucoadhesive epithelial barrier.

 

In July 2020, we completed in vitro testing of AT-301 which showed that AT-301 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infectivity of VERO cells in a laboratory culture. 

 

We have contracted with Avance Clinical, a CRO in Australia, to conduct a Phase 1 study of AT-301 which is designed as a double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled safety study of AT-301 nasal spray in 32 healthy adult subjects divided into two study groups. Part A consists of two single-dose cohorts receiving either active therapy, AT-301B, or the placebo comparator AT-301A at two doses. Part B is a multiple dose arm with cohorts receiving either AT-301A or AT-301B for 14 days at two doses. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single and multiple doses of AT-301 administered via nasal instillation to healthy volunteers. Secondary objectives are to assess the incidence and severity of local irritation and bronchospasm following administration of AT-301 via nasal instillation. This study commenced in August 2020.

 

We have filed provisional patent applications on AT-H201 to treat COVID-19 patients and on AT-301 to treat patients diagnosed with, or to prevent, COVID-19 via nasal spray.

 

Endoxifen for MBD. MBD is an emerging public health issue affecting over 10 million women in the U.S. Studies conducted by others have shown that MBD increases the risk of developing breast cancer and that reducing MBD can reduce the incidence of breast cancer. In December 2019, we contracted with Stockholm South General Hospital to conduct a double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study of our oral Endoxifen in pre-menopausal women with MBD who will be dosed over six months. We anticipate receiving regulatory approval and opening this study in Stockholm in the second half of 2020. The upcoming study in Stockholm is subject to approval by the European Medical Product Authority ("MPA") and the re-opening of mammography clinics in Stockholm following the COVID-19 closures.

 

In June 2019, we reported preliminary analysis from our Phase 2 study of proprietary daily topical Endoxifen to reduce MBD, showing significant (p=0.02) and rapid reduction in MBD at the 20mg daily dose level. MBD was reduced by an average of 14.3% in the group applying 20mg daily topical Endoxifen, which was statistically significant (p=0.02). In the lower dose group (10mg), MBD was reduced by an average of 9.0%, but was not statistically significant. Approximately 70% of participants receiving 20mg topical Endoxifen experienced a reduction in MBD, and of those, the mean reduction in MBD was 27%. Many participants in this study, however, experienced adverse skin reactions and dropped out of the study. We plan to reevaluate our development strategy for the topical form of Endoxifen once we complete the Phase 2 study of oral Endoxifen to reduce MBD.

 

4

 

Endoxifen for Window of Opportunity. We are currently conducting a Phase 2 study in Australia in the window of time between diagnosis and surgery. The study will enroll up to 25 newly-diagnosed patients with ER+ and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) stage 1 or 2 invasive breast cancer, requiring mastectomy or lumpectomy. Patients receive Atossa’s proprietary oral Endoxifen for at least 14 days from the time of diagnosis up to the day of surgery. The primary endpoint is to determine if the administration of oral Endoxifen reduces the tumor activity as measured by Ki-67. The secondary endpoints are safety and tolerability and assessment of the study drug on expression levels of both estrogen and progesterone receptors. The impact on additional markers of cellular activity will also be explored. The Phase 2 study is being conducted on behalf of Atossa by Avance Clinical, which successfully completed four Phase 1 studies of Atossa’s Endoxifen.

 

In May 2020, we reported interim results from our Phase 2 study of oral Endoxifen in the window of opportunity. A statistically significant (p=0.031) reduction of about 74% in tumor cell proliferation, as measured by Ki-67, over the 22 days of dosing was achieved in the initial patients. Ki-67 is a recognized standard measurement of breast cancer cell proliferation. The purpose of this study is to determine if Atossa’s oral Endoxifen reduces breast cancer tumor cell proliferation as measured by several biomarkers, including Ki-67. The open-label study was designed to permit an interim analysis of the Ki-67 change. The requirement was to achieve a meaningful Ki-67 change in at least two of eight patients. Six out of six (100%) patients experienced a significant reduction in Ki-67. A summary of these results includes:

 

 

Ki-67 was reduced by more than 50% in every patient in the window of opportunity between initial biopsy and surgery, with an overall relative reduction of 74%.

 

All six patients had a Ki-67 below 25% after treatment. In a paper entitled, “Prognostic value of different cut-off levels of Ki-67 in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 64,196 patients,” Ki-67 was an independent prognostic value for predicting overall survival in ER+ breast cancer patients. Ki-67 levels below 25% were associated with the lowest risk of death in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

 

Treatment ranged from 16-40 days with an average of 22 days.

 

There were no safety or tolerability issues, including vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, which are often a tolerability challenge for patients on tamoxifen.

 

This study continues to be open for enrollment.

 

   About Endoxifen

 

Endoxifen is an active metabolite of tamoxifen which is an FDA-approved drug to treat and prevent breast cancer in high risk women. In 2017, we successfully completed our initial Phase 1 placebo-controlled clinical trial of our proprietary oral and topical formulations of Endoxifen in 48 healthy women, supporting the continued development of this drug. There were no clinically significant safety signals and no clinically significant adverse events, and both the oral and topical Endoxifen were well tolerated. In the topical arm of the study, low but measurable Endoxifen levels were detected in the blood in a dose-dependent fashion. In the oral arm of the study, participants exhibited dose-dependent Endoxifen levels that met or exceeded the published therapeutic level. The median time for patients in the study who took daily doses of oral Endoxifen to reach steady-state serum levels of Endoxifen was approximately seven days. Published literature indicates that it can take approximately 50 to 200 days for patients to reach steady-state Endoxifen levels from daily doses of oral tamoxifen.

 

In May 2020, we reported a regulatory update that the FDA recently provided written input on our clinical path for oral Endoxifen to reduce MBD. The input was provided pursuant to a pre- IND meeting request which was scheduled for April 30, 2020. The input received from the FDA was very useful and will inform our clinical trial strategy and study design both in the U.S. and in Stockholm, Sweden where we are planning a Phase 2 study on the use of oral Endoxifen to reduce MBD.

 

  Compassionate Use of Endoxifen

 

In December 2018, we began providing our oral Endoxifen to a pre-menopausal, estrogen-receptor positive (ER+), lacking CYP2D6 function, breast cancer patient under an FDA-approved expanded access, single patient, or "compassionate use" program. The purpose of this therapeutic approach was to reduce activity of the cancer cells prior to surgery. The patient received daily doses of our oral Endoxifen for approximately three weeks prior to surgery. There were no safety or tolerability issues and her surgery was successfully completed. The cancer cell biological activity was reduced, based on the estrogen receptor activity of the tumor cells and a 50% reduction in Ki-67. The FDA has also permitted use of our Endoxifen for this patient following her surgery, under the compassionate use program, as part of her long-term breast cancer treatment regimen. The use of our proprietary oral Endoxifen is restricted solely to this patient. In July 2020, we reported an update on this patient, who has received Endoxifen for 18 months post-surgery.  To date, the patient has not had a recurrence of breast cancer, has not had treatment-related changes in periodic laboratory blood tests and the treatment has been well tolerated, including an absence of typically seen vasomotor symptoms (night sweats and hot flashes).

 

  Other Programs

 

We are evaluating Endoxifen to prevent and/or reduce gynecomastia, which is male breast enlargement and pain. We completed a successful Phase 1 study using Endoxifen in male patients in Australia. Endoxifen is also being evaluated to treat breast cancer patients after surgery to prevent a recurrence. We have not commenced clinical studies for this potential indication.

 

We are also developing our proprietary intraductal delivery technology to potentially target the delivery of therapies, including fulvestrant, immunotherapies and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapies (CAR-T therapies), close to the site of breast cancer in the breast ducts. In 2019 we contracted with Johns Hopkins University to conduct a Phase 2 study using our intraductal technology to deliver fulvestrant. 

 

After reviewing our recent clinical progress with Endoxifen and the potential opportunities with our COVID-19 programs, we have concluded that allocating additional resources to our Endoxifen and COVID-19 programs has a greater potential return for our stockholders than our ongoing study utilizing our intraductal microcatheter technology to treat early stage breast cancer with fulvestrant. We are therefore discontinuing the fulvestrant study using our intraductal delivery technology so that we can focus resources on our Endoxifen studies and our COVID-19 programs.

 

5

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risks and uncertainties discussed under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be amended from time to time, and in subsequent filings, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, that are incorporated herein by reference. All of these “Risk Factors” are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones facing us. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our Common Stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus and the incorporated documents also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks mentioned in this prospectus.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of our securities offered hereby. Except as described in any prospectus supplement, we currently anticipate using the net proceeds from the sale of our securities offered hereby primarily for general corporate purposes, which include, but are not limited to, funding our ongoing and future development of our drugs and devices under development, and for general and administrative expenses. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to pay off outstanding indebtedness, if any, and/or acquire or invest in complementary businesses, products and technologies. Further, from time to time we may evaluate acquisition opportunities and engage in related discussions with other companies. Pending the use of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities.

 

6

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings. Registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean, however, that those securities will necessarily be offered or sold.

 

We may sell the securities separately or together:

 

• through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale by them;

• directly to investors; or

• through agents.

 

We may sell the securities from time to time:

 

• in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

• at market prices prevailing at the times of sale;

• at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

• at negotiated prices.

 

We will describe the method of distribution of the securities and the terms of the offering in the prospectus supplement. Any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions described above. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

 

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the 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. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.

 

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 party 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 stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments made by the underwriters, dealers or agents, under agreements between us and the underwriters, dealers and agents.

 

We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of securities an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, in connection with the distribution.

 

Underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers, as their agents in connection with the sale of securities. These underwriters, dealers or agents may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. As a result, discounts, commissions or profits on resale received by the underwriters, dealers or agents may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions. The prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter, dealer or agent and describe any compensation received by them from us. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, all securities we offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market or other principal market for our common stock. We may apply to list any series of debt securities, preferred stock or warrants on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. Therefore, there may not be liquidity or a trading market for any series of securities.

 

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that such transactions may have on the price of the securities. For a description of these activities, see the information under the heading “Underwriting” or “Plan of Distribution” in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who may become involved in the sale of the common stock may engage in transactions with and perform other services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they receive compensation.

 

7

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

We may offer shares of our common stock, preferred stock, various series of debt securities and warrants to purchase any such securities with a total value of up to $100,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. Each time we offer a type or series of securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities.

 

Common Stock

 

The following description of our common stock is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “certificate of incorporation”) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “bylaws”), each of which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this exhibit is a part. We encourage you to read our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) for additional information.

 

Authorized Shares. We are authorized to issue up to 175,000,000 shares of common stock.

 

Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. When a quorum is present at any meeting of our stockholders, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on the matter (excluding any abstentions or broker non-votes) will be the act of the stockholders with respect to all matters other than the contested election of directors (which will be elected by a plurality of all votes properly cast), or as otherwise provided in the bylaws, the certificate of incorporation or a preferred stock designation, or as otherwise required by law.

 

Dividends. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of the funds legally available.

 

Other Rights. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock, if any, then outstanding. The common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Transfer Agent. The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock is VStock Transfer, LLC, 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598 (Telephone: (212) 828-8436; Facsimile (646) 536-3179).

 

Listing. Our common stock is currently listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ATOS”.

 

 

Certain Provisions Affecting Control of the Company

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions. Some provisions of the DGCL and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult:

 

   ●

acquisition of us by means of a tender offer;

   ●

acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or

   ●

removal of our incumbent officers and directors.

 

These provisions, summarized below, are intended to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to promote stability in our management. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors.

 

Undesignated Preferred Stock. The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our Board of Directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.

 

Advance Notice Procedures. The advance notice procedures in our bylaws with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders provide that notice of stockholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our corporate secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year. Our bylaws specify the requirements as to form and content of all such stockholder notices. These requirements may have the effect of precluding stockholders from bringing proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business before the stockholders at an annual or special meeting.

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute. We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. This law prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder unless:

 

   ●

prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

   ●

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

    ●

on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

8

 

Section 203 of the DGCL defines “business combination” to include:

 

   ●

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

   ●

any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the corporation’s assets involving the interested stockholder;

   ●

in general, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any of its stock to the interested stockholder; or

   ●

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

 

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL defines an “interested stockholder” as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.

 

 Preferred Stock

 

We may issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series. Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to designate up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, liquidation preference and sinking fund terms, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock.

 

If we issue preferred stock, we will fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series that we sell under this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements in the certificate of designations relating to that series. If we issue preferred stock, we will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of any certificate of designations that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. We urge you to read the prospectus supplement related to any series of preferred stock we may offer, as well as the complete certificate of designations that contains the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.

 

Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In connection with our May 19, 2014 Shareholder Rights Plan, discussed below, the Company has designated 750,000 shares of Series-A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share through the filing of a certificate of designation with the Delaware Secretary of State. The shareholder rights agreement provides that all stockholders of record on May 26, 2014 received a non-taxable distribution of one preferred stock purchase right for each share of our Common Stock held by such stockholder. Each right is attached to and trades with the associated share of Common Stock. The rights will become exercisable only if one of the following occurs: (1) a person becomes an “Acquiring Person” by acquiring beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our Common Stock (or, in the case of a person who beneficially owned 15% or more of our Common Stock on the date the stockholder rights agreement was executed, by acquiring beneficial ownership of additional shares representing 2.0% of our Common Stock then outstanding (excluding compensatory arrangements)); or (2) a person commences a tender offer that, if consummated, would result in such person becoming an Acquiring Person. If a person becomes an Acquiring Person, each right will entitle the holder, other than the Acquiring Person and certain related parties, to purchase a number of shares of our Common Stock with a market value that equals twice the exercise price of the right. The initial exercise price of each right is $15.00, so each holder (other than the Acquiring Person and certain related parties) exercising a right would be entitled to receive $30.00 worth of our Common Stock. If the Company is acquired in a merger or similar business combination transaction at any time after a person has become an Acquiring Person, each holder of a right (other than the Acquiring Person and certain related parties) will be entitled to purchase a similar amount of stock of the acquiring entity.

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. In connection with our April 2017 financing, we designated 4,000 shares of the 10,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock as Series A Convertible Preferred. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of Series A Convertible Preferred are outstanding.

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. In connection with our May 2018 rights offering, we designated 20,000 shares of the 10,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock as Series B Convertible Preferred. As of the date of this prospectus, 626 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are outstanding.

 

9

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

We will issue the debt securities under an indenture to be entered into between us and a trustee to be named in a prospectus supplement. The indenture will be qualified under the 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 indentures is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.

 

General

 

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.

 

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:

 

 

 

the title of the series of debt securities;

 

 

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued;

 

 

the maturity date or dates;

 

 

the form of the debt securities of the series;

 

 

the applicability of any guarantees;

 

 

whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

 

whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;

 

 

if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;

 

 

the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;

 

 

our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

 

if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;

 

 

the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;

 

 

the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

 

any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series;

 

 

whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities;

 

 

if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange;

 

 

if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

 

additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant;

 

10

 

 

 

additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable;

 

 

additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;

 

 

additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture;

 

 

additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture;

 

 

the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;

 

 

whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

 

 

the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;

 

 

any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and

 

 

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

 

Events of Default and Remedies

 

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities will be defined in the indenture or applicable supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution as being:

 

 

 

our failure to pay interest on any debt security of such series when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for a period of 30 days;

 

 

our failure to pay the principal or premium of any debt security of such series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise;

 

 

our failure or the failure of any restricted subsidiary to comply with any of its agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the debt securities of such series or the indenture (as they relate thereto) and such failure continues for a period of 60 days after our receipt of notice of the default from the trustee or from the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series (except in the case of a default with respect to the provisions of the indenture regarding the consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of us (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution), which will constitute an event of default with notice but without passage of time);

 

 

default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness (other than non-recourse indebtedness, as defined in the indenture) for money borrowed by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries), whether such indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the date we issue debt securities, if that default: (a) is caused by a failure to pay at final stated maturity the principal amount of such indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or (b) results in the acceleration of such indebtedness prior to its express maturity without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled for the period and after the notice had been provided, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50 million or more; or

 

 

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur with respect to us or any restricted subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary (as defined in the indenture).

 

The indenture will provide that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default, except a default in payment of principal or interest, if any, with respect to such series of debt securities, if the trustee considers it in the interest of the holders of such series of debt securities to do so.

 

The indenture will provide that if any event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of such series of debt securities then outstanding may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately. However, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding by notice to the trustee may waive any existing default and its consequences with respect to such series of debt securities, other than any event of default in payment of principal or interest. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration with respect to such series and its consequences, except an acceleration due to nonpayment of principal or interest on such series, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing events of default with respect to such series have been cured or waived.

 

The holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee with respect to such series, subject to limitations specified in the indenture.

 

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Defeasance

 

The indenture will permit us to terminate all our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to any particular series of debt securities, other than the obligation to pay interest, if any, on and the principal of the debt securities of such series and certain other obligations, at any time by:

 

 

 

depositing in trust with the trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series to their maturity or redemption; and

 

 

complying with other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise.

 

The indenture will also permit us to terminate all of our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to any particular series of debt securities, including the obligations to pay interest, if any, on and the principal of the debt securities of such series and certain other obligations, at any time by:

 

 

 

depositing in trust with the trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series to their maturity or redemption; and

 

 

complying with other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date such series of debt securities were originally issued, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall state that, holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise.

 

In addition, the indenture will permit us to terminate substantially all our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to a particular series of debt securities by depositing with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all principal and interest on such series at its maturity or redemption date if the debt securities of such series will become due and payable at maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year of the deposit.

 

Transfer and Exchange Rights

 

A holder will be able to transfer or exchange debt securities only in accordance with the indenture. The registrar may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the indenture.

 

 

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.

 

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

 

Without notice to or the consent of any holder, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a series to:

 

 

 

cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

 

comply with the provisions of the indenture regarding the consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets;

 

 

provide that specific provisions of the indenture shall not apply to a series of debt securities not previously issued or to make a change to specific provisions of the indenture that only applies to any series of debt securities not previously issued or to additional debt securities of a series not previously issued;

 

 

create a series and establish its terms;

 

 

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

 

 

add a guarantor subsidiary in respect of any series of debt securities;

 

 

secure any series of debt securities;

 

 

comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

 

make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder; or

 

 

conform the provisions of the indenture to the final offering document in respect of any series of debt securities.

 

12

 

With the exceptions discussed below, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding. In addition, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may waive any existing default under, or compliance with, any provision of the debt securities of a particular series or of the indenture relating to a particular series of debt securities, other than any event of default in payment of interest or principal. These consents and waivers may be obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, debt securities.

 

Without the consent of each holder affected, we and the trustee may not:

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest;

 

 

reduce the principal of or extend the fixed maturity of any debt security or alter the provisions with respect to redemptions or mandatory offers to repurchase debt securities;

 

 

make any change that adversely affects any right of a holder to convert or exchange any debt security into or for shares of our common shares or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of such security;

 

 

modify the ranking or priority of the debt securities;

 

 

make any change to any provision of the indenture relating to the waiver of existing defaults, the rights of holders to receive payment of principal and interest on the debt securities, or to the provisions regarding amending or supplementing the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series with the written consent of the holders of such series;

 

 

waive a continuing default or event of default in the payment of principal of or interest on the debt securities; or

 

 

make any debt security payable at a place or in money other than that stated in the debt security, or impair the right of any holder of a debt security to bring suit as permitted by the indenture.

 

The right of any holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of the indenture, and our obligation to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such holder, may be subject to the requirement that such holder shall have been the holder of record of debt securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a record date fixed by us in accordance with the indenture.

 

Governing Law

 

The laws of the State of New York will govern the indenture and the debt securities.

 

13

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements and free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common shares, preference shares or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common shares, preference shares or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.

 

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement, if any, including a form of warrant certificate, that describes the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering before the issuance of the related series of warrants. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses, and the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.

 

General

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms relating to a series of warrants being offered, including:

 

 

 

 

the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

 

the currency for which the warrants may be purchased;

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

the terms of any rights to force the exercise of the warrants;

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:

 

 

 

 

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or

 

 

in the case of warrants to purchase common shares or preference shares, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

 

Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent in connection with the exercise of the warrant.

 

Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

 

Upon any purchase of common shares pursuant to the exercise of a warrant, the holder of such common shares will be subject to the provisions of our amended and restated bye-laws which provide that any U.S. person, other than any excluded person, whose controlled shares would constitute 9.5% or more of the total voting power of our issued share capital, will have their aggregate votes reduced by our board of directors to the extent necessary such that the controlled shares of such U.S. person will constitute less than 9.5% of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares, all as further described above under “Description of Share Capital—Common Shares.”

 

14

 

Governing Law

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and warrant agreements will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

the title of the series of units;

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

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

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

a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

any other material terms of the units and their constituent securities.

 

15

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm (the report on the consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern), incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters relating to the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, San Francisco, California.

 

16

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

The Company files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains all reports and other information that we file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the copy of the contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.

 

For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement (or incorporated by reference). Neither we nor any agent, underwriter or dealer has authorized any person to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the securities offered by this prospectus.

 

We maintain a website at www.atossatherapeutics.com. Information contained in or accessible through our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.

 

17

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information about us and our financial condition to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except any information that is superseded by information that is included in a document subsequently filed with the SEC.

 

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), from the date of this prospectus until the termination of an offering of securities, except that we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished (and not filed) with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K:

 

●     The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020 (including the portions of our Proxy Statement for our 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders incorporated by reference therein);

 

●     The Company’s Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 filed with the SEC respectively on May 13, 2020 and August 13, 2020;

 

●     The Company’s Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2020, February 10, 2020, April 13, 2020, and May 19, 2020 (in each case, except for information contained therein which is furnished rather than filed);

 

●     The description of the Company’s Common Stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on July 24, 2012 pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description; and

 

●     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of the original Registration Statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, provided that all documents “furnished” by the Company to the SEC and not “filed” are not deemed incorporated by reference herein.

 

Any statement contained in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified will not be deemed to constitute a part hereof, except as so modified, and any statement so superseded will not be deemed to constitute a part hereof.

 

A copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be obtained at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:

 

Atossa Therapeutics, Inc.

107 Spring Street,

Seattle, Washington, 98104

(866) 893-4927

 

 

We maintain a website at www.atossatherapeutics.com. Information about us, including our reports filed with the SEC, is available through that site. Such reports are accessible at no charge through our website and are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that website, or connected to that website, are not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s website mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” The information on the SEC’s website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Units consisting of an Aggregate of

23,850,000 Shares of Common Stock and

Warrants Convertible Into 17,887,500 Shares of Common Stock

(and the Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Warrants)

 

ATOSSA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

Maxim Group LLC

 

January 6, 2021