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): March 8, 2024

CARTESIAN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-37798

26-1622110

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

(Commission
File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

704 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

(617) 923-1400

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

N/A

(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:


☐			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(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock (Par Value $0.0001)	RNAC	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 o

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. o

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

On March 8, 2024, Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) received notice from Audentes Therapeutics, Inc. (“Astellas”) of Astellas’ termination of the License and Development Agreement, dated January 8, 2023, by and between the Company and Astellas (the “Agreement”). Such termination will become effective on June 6, 2024. Following the effectiveness of the termination, the Company will have no remaining financial commitments or liabilities related to the Company’s Xork product candidate.

Under the Agreement, the Company had granted Astellas an exclusive license to the Company’s IdeXork technology arising from Xork, to develop and commercialize Xork for use in Pompe disease in combination with an Astellas gene therapy investigational or authorized product. Pursuant to the Agreement, Astellas paid the Company a $10.0 million upfront payment upon signing of the Agreement, and the Company was entitled to receive up to $340.0 million in future additional payments over the course of the partnership that were contingent on the achievement of various development and regulatory milestones and, if commercialized, sales thresholds for annual net sales where Xork is used as a pre-treatment for an Astellas investigational or authorized product. The Company was also eligible for tiered royalty payments ranging from low to high single digits. Any proceeds received from milestone payments or royalties relating to Xork would have been required to be distributed to holders of the Company’s contingent value rights, net of certain deductions.

The Company did not incur any early termination penalties as a result of Astellas’ termination of the Agreement.

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.


	CARTESIAN THERAPEUTICS, INC.


Date: March 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Carsten Brunn, Ph.D.
		Carsten Brunn, Ph.D.
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Cover Page Document	Mar. 08, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Mar. 08, 2024
Entity Registrant Name	CARTESIAN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-37798
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-1622110
Entity Address, Address Line One	704 Quince Orchard Road,
Entity Address, City or Town	Gaithersburg,
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	20878
City Area Code	617
Local Phone Number	923-1400
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 $0.0001)
Trading Symbol	RNAC
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001453687
Amendment Flag	false