As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 10, 2021

Registration No. 333-                  

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

UNICYCIVE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   81-3638692
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

5150 El Camino Real, Suite A-32

Los Altos, CA 94022

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan

Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Stock Option Plan

Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. Omnibus 2021 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

Shalabh Gupta, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc.

5150 El Camino Real, Suite A-32

Los Altos, CA 94022

(Name and Address of agent for service)

 

(650) 351-4495

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With copies to:

 

Jeffrey Fessler

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10012

Telephone: (212) 634-3067

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
  Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act  

 

  

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Securities to be Registered  Amount to be
Registered (1)
  

Proposed
Maximum

Offering

Price Per

Share 

   Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price
   Amount of
Registration
Fee
 
Common stock $0.001 par value   1,302,326(2)  $2.78(3)  $3,620,466   $395 
Common stock, $0.001 par value   447,674(4)  $0.013(5)  $5,820   $1 
Common stock, $0.001 par value   470,465(6)  $4.34(7)  $2,041,819   $223 
Total   2,220,465        $5,668,105   $619 

 

(1)Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement also registers an indeterminate number of additional shares that may be issued pursuant to the above-named plans as the result of any future stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares of common stock.

 

(2)Represents shares of common stock available for grant under the Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”).

 

(3)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee which was computed in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on the basis of the average of the high and low sales prices per share of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on September 7, 2021.

 

(4)Represents shares of common stock subject to outstanding options under the Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”).

 

(5)Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the weighted average exercise price of $0.013 per share for outstanding stock options granted under the 2018 Plan.

 

(6)Represents shares of common stock subject to outstanding options under the Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Stock Option Plan (the “2019 Plan”).

 

(7)Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the weighted average exercise price of $4.34 per share for outstanding stock options granted under the 2019 Plan.

 

 

  

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference into this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated herein by reference:

 

1.The Registrant’s Prospectus, dated July 13, 2021, filed with the SEC on July 14, 2021 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, File No. 333-256367;

 

2.The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 16, 2021;

 

3.The description of the Registrant’s common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description.

 

All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold under this Registration Statement, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes 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 earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

We will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

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Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits and proceedings whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification extends only to expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation's certificate of incorporation, bylaws, disinterested director vote, stockholder vote, agreement or otherwise.

 

Our Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Second Amended and Restated Bylaws provide for indemnification of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law, including payment of expenses in advance of resolution of any such matter.

 

We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. Each indemnification agreement provides, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The indemnification agreements provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for reimbursement to us if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

 

We maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided (a) to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and (b) to us with respect to payments which we may make to such officers and directors pursuant to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. 

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable. 

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

See the attached Exhibit Index on the page immediately following the signature pages hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 9. Undertakings.

 

A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement.

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

 

Provided, however, that paragraphs (A)(1)(i) and (A)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

 

2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Altos, State of California, on the 10th day of September, 2021.

 

  UNICYCIVE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Shalabh Gupta
    Shalabh Gupta
    Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Shalabh Gupta, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any or all amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, any related Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any or all pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or any substitute or substitutes for him, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

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SIGNATURE   TITLE   DATE
         
/s/ Shalabh Gupta   Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman    
Shalabh Gupta   (Principal Executive Officer)   September 10, 2021
         
/s/ John Townsend   Chief Financial Officer    
John Townsend   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   September 10, 2021
         
    Director   September 10, 2021
John Ryan, M.D., Ph.D.        
         
/s/ Sandeep Laumas   Director   September 10, 2021
Sandeep Laumas, M.D.        
         
/s/ Brigitte Schiller   Director   September 10, 2021
 Brigitte Schiller, M.D.        

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Form S-1 filed on May 21, 2021)
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to Form S-1 filed on May 21, 2021)
4.1   Specimen stock certificate evidencing the shares of common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4,1  to Form S-1 filed on May 21, 2021)
5.1   Opinion of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
10.1   Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed on June 7, 2021)
10.2   Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed on June 7, 2021)
10.3   Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form S-1 filed on May 21, 2021)
23.1   Consent of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., independent registered public accounting firm
23.2   Consent of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

 

 

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