Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 1, 2024

CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-36279	75-3175693
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

400 Atlantic Street Suite 500 Stamford, Connecticut		06901
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 406-3700

4 Stamford Plaza

107 Elm Street, 9th Floor

Stamford, Connecticut 06902

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share	CARA	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨.

Item 3.01.

Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

On February 1, 2024, Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) received a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) that the Company is not in compliance with Nasdaq’s Listing Rule 5450(a)(1), as the minimum bid price of the Company’s common stock has been below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days. The notification of noncompliance has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market.

The Company has 180 calendar days, or until July 30, 2024, to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. To regain compliance, the minimum bid price of the Company’s common stock must meet or exceed $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during this 180-calendar day grace period. In the event the Company does not regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement by July 30, 2024, the Company may be eligible for an additional 180-calendar day compliance period if it elects to transfer to The Nasdaq Capital Market to take advantage of the additional compliance period offered on that market. To qualify, the Company would be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the bid price requirement, and would need to provide written notice of its intention to cure the bid price deficiency during the second compliance period. The Company’s failure to regain compliance during this period could result in delisting.

The Company intends to actively monitor the bid price of its common stock and will consider available options to regain compliance with the listing requirements. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) or will otherwise be in compliance with other Nasdaq listing criteria.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

	By:	/s/ RYAN MAYNARD
		Ryan Maynard
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Date: February 2, 2024

Cover	Feb. 01, 2024
Entity Addresses [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Feb. 01, 2024
Entity File Number	001-36279
Entity Registrant Name	CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001346830
Entity Tax Identification Number	75-3175693
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	400 Atlantic Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 500
Entity Address, City or Town	Stamford
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06901
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	406-3700
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	CARA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Information, Former Legal or Registered Name	4 Stamford Plaza
Former Address [Member]
Entity Addresses [Line Items]
Entity Address, Address Line One	107 Elm Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	9th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	Stamford
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06902