ATNX

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

ATHENEX, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

Notice of November 22, 2022

Special Meeting of Stockholders

and Proxy Statement

Athenex, Inc.

1001 Main Street, Suite 600

Buffalo, New York 14203

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 22, 2022

To the Stockholders of Athenex, Inc.:

We would like to invite you to attend the special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Athenex, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), which will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The Special Meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting of stockholders via a live webcast. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will preserve the ability of our stockholders to attend and participate in the meeting.

The Special Meeting is being held for the following purposes:

We will also consider and take action upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The reverse stock split is primarily intended to increase the price per share of the Company’s common stock to enable it to comply with the Nasdaq continued listing requirements. The increase in authorized shares is primarily intended to allow the Company to have flexibility to use its common stock for business and financial purposes and alternatives in structuring transactions in the future. The Company believes that these actions will support its ongoing strategy of advancing its cell therapy pipeline to bring innovative products to benefit cancer patients.

Even if the reverse stock split proposal is approved by stockholders, the Board may delay or abandon the reverse stock split at any time until the one-year anniversary of the Special Meeting. The Board may abandon the reverse stock split if the Board determines that the reverse stock split is no longer in the best interests of the Company.

These matters are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Notice”).

If you were a stockholder of record of Athenex, Inc. common stock as of the close of business on September 23, 2022, the record date for the Special Meeting, you are entitled to receive this Notice and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof, provided that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for an adjourned meeting. Our stock transfer books will not be closed. A list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting may be examined at our principal executive offices in Buffalo, NY during ordinary business hours for the 10-day period preceding the meeting for any purposes related to the Special Meeting.

To participate in the Special Meeting virtually via the Internet, please visit www.proxydocs.com/ATNX. In order to attend via live webcast, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/ATNX prior to the deadline of November 21, 2022 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (the “Registration Deadline”). After completion of your registration by the Registration Deadline, further instructions, including a unique link to access the Special Meeting, will be emailed to you. You will not be able to attend the Special Meeting in person.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on November 22, 2022. In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have opted to provide our materials pursuant to the “full set delivery option” in connection with the Special Meeting.

Under the full set delivery option, a company delivers paper copies of all proxy materials to each stockholder. The approximate date on which the materials are intended to be first sent or given to the Company’s stockholders is October 11, 2022. Accordingly, you should have received our proxy materials by mail. These proxy materials include this Notice, the Proxy Statement, and a proxy card. These materials, other than the proxy card, are available free of charge at www.proxydocs.com/ATNX. We believe this process gives us the opportunity to serve you more effectively.

You are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting virtually. Whether or not you expect to attend via live webcast, your vote is important. The Board of Directors respectfully requests that you vote your stock, regardless of the number of shares you own, in the manner described in the Proxy Statement. You may revoke your proxy in the manner described in the Proxy Statement at any time before it has been voted at the Special Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors of Athenex, Inc.,

ATHENEX, INC.

Proxy Statement

for the

Special Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held November 22, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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ATHENEX, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 22, 2022

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of our common stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of our Board of Directors (the “Board”) for use at the Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Athenex, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “Athenex”), to be held on November 22, 2022 at 9:30 AM Eastern Time, or for use at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Notice”). The Special Meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting of stockholders via a live webcast. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 23, 2022 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting. Prior registration to attend the virtual Special Meeting at www.proxydocs.com/ATNX is required by November 21, 2022 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (the “Registration Deadline”).

In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we have opted to provide our proxy materials pursuant to the “full set delivery option” in connection with the Special Meeting. Under the full set delivery option, a company delivers paper copies of all proxy materials to each stockholder. The approximate date on which the proxy materials are intended to be first sent or given to the Company’s stockholders on or about October 11, 2022. Accordingly, you should have received our proxy materials by mail. These proxy materials (collectively, the “Proxy Materials”) include the Notice, this Proxy Statement, and a proxy card. These Proxy Materials, other than the proxy card, are available free of charge at www.proxydocs.com/ATNX. We believe this process gives us the opportunity to serve you more effectively.

Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held as of the Record Date with respect to all matters considered at the meeting. Stockholder votes will be tabulated by representatives of Mediant, who have been appointed by the Board to act as inspectors of election for the meeting.

We bear the expense of soliciting proxies. Our directors, officers, or other employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, email, text message, facsimile, or other means of communication. We do not intend to pay them additional compensation for doing so. We have engaged Advantage Proxy, Inc. to assist in proxy solicitation and collection at a cost of $7,500 plus out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, we might reimburse banks, brokerage firms, and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of our common stock, for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to those beneficial owners.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING

If your shares are held by a broker, bank, nominee or other similar organization, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and the Proxy Materials were forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Special Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account. You are also invited to attend and vote your shares at the Special Meeting live via the webcast so long as you register to attend the Special Meeting by the Registration Deadline. You will be asked to provide the control number located inside the shaded gray box on your proxy card (the “Control Number”) as described in the proxy card. After completion of your registration by the Registration Deadline, further instructions, including a unique link to access the Special Meeting, will be emailed to you.

Whether a proposal is considered a “routine” matter or a “non-routine” matter is subject to the interpretation of certain rules that are applicable to brokers. Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) Rule 2251 currently governs when Nasdaq members may vote shares held for customers by adopting the FINRA Rules. The FINRA rules, in turn, currently prohibits members from voting any uninstructed shares, but also permits the member to follow the rules of another self-regulatory organization of which the broker is a member, such as the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). Under the rules and interpretations of the NYSE, “non-routine” matters are matters that may substantially affect the rights or privileges of stockholder, such as mergers, stockholder proposals, elections of directors (even if not contested), executive compensation (including any advisory stockholder votes on executive compensation and on the frequency of stockholder votes on executive compensation), and certain corporate governance proposals, even if management-supported. The determination of which proposals are deemed “routine” versus “non-routine” may not be made by the NYSE until after the date on which this proxy statement has been mailed to you. As such, it is important that you provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee, if you wish to determine the voting of your shares. Under the applicable rules governing such brokers, we believe proposals one and two are likely to be considered “routine” items while proposal three will likely be considered a “non-routine” item. As such, if you are the beneficial owner of shares held by your broker, bank, nominee or other similar organization in street name and you do not vote your shares, the broker, bank,

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nominee or other similar organization will be able to vote such shares on proposals one and two relating to the Authorized Shares Increase and Reverse Stock Split but not on proposal three relating to the Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. As such we do not expect any broker non-votes in relation to proposals one and two but expect that we may receive some broker non-votes in relation to proposal three.

Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote and present or represented by proxy, though less than a quorum, may adjourn the meeting to another date.

We will also consider any other business that properly comes before the Special Meeting at the direction of our Board. As of the Record Date, we are not aware of any other matters to be submitted for consideration at the Special Meeting by our Board and no stockholder has timely provided notice of a matter to be submitted for consideration at the Special Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Special Meeting, the proxies named in the proxy card or voter instruction form will vote the shares they represent using their best judgment.

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If you are the beneficial owner of shares held by your broker, bank, nominee or other similar organization in street name and you do not vote your shares, the broker, bank, nominee or other similar organization may vote such shares for proposals one and two as we consider those proposals routine items, but not proposal three, which is a non-routine item. Proxy cards signed and returned to the Company unmarked will be voted FOR proposals one, two and three.

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In order to attend, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/ATNX prior to the Registration Deadline. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique link that will allow you to access the Special Meeting.

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare, as of the close of business on the Record Date, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to attend the meeting and vote your shares at the Special Meeting live via the webcast.

If your shares are held in a brokerage account, bank or by another nominee or trustee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. As the beneficial owner, you are also invited to attend the meeting and vote your shares at the Special Meeting live via the webcast, provided that you obtain a “legal proxy” from the broker, bank or nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote the shares electronically at the Special Meeting, and submit proof of your legal proxy reflecting the number of shares you held as of the record date in accordance with the instructions provided by your broker, bank or nominee.

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Yes. You may submit questions in advance of the Special Meeting at www.proxydocs.com/ATNX after logging in with your Control Number but you will not be able to ask questions during the Special Meeting. We request that questions sent in advance be submitted by November 19, 2022 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. We expect to respond to questions during the Special Meeting that are pertinent to the proposals at the Special Meeting. We may group together questions that are substantially similar to avoid repetition. Shortly after the meeting, we may post questions and answers under the Investors—Financial Information—Special Meeting Materials section of our website at www.athenex.com.

The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities by use of a Control Number to allow stockholders to vote their shares and to confirm that stockholders’ instructions have been properly recorded. Voting via the Internet or telephone must be completed by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 21, 2022. Votes submitted during the Special Meeting via the webcast must be received no later than the closing of the polls at the Special Meeting. As discussed above, if you are a beneficial owner of shares, you are invited to attend and vote your shares at the Special Meeting live via the webcast so long as you register to attend the Special Meeting at www.proxydocs.com/ATNX by the Registration Deadline. If you submit or return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted as recommended by our Board, as permitted by law.

If your Common Stock is held by a broker, bank, or other nominee, they should send you instructions that you must follow in order to have your shares voted.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank or other holder of record.

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PROPOSAL ONE — APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S CHARTER TO EFFECT AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

General

We are asking stockholders to approve a proposed amendment to our Charter to effect an increase in the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 250,000,000 shares to 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Authorized Shares Increase”), as further described below. The Board has unanimously approved and declared advisable the Authorized Shares Increase, and recommends that its stockholders approve the Authorized Shares Increase. The text of the proposed form of Certificate of Amendment to our Charter (the “Share Increase Certificate”) is attached hereto as Appendix A.

If stockholders approve this proposal, then the Board will cause the Share Increase Certificate to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and the Authorized Shares Increase to be effected only if the Board determines that the Authorized Shares Increase would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board also may determine in its discretion not to effect the Authorized Shares Increase and not to file the Share Increase Certificate. No further action on the part of stockholders will be required to either implement or abandon the Authorized Shares Increase.

Our Charter currently authorizes the issuance of up to 275,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 250,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $$0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). An increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to 500,000,000 shares will increase our total authorized capitalization to 525,000,000 shares of capital stock, which includes our previously authorized 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock.

Of the 250,000,000 shares of Common Stock currently authorized, as of the close of business on September 23, 2022, there were 156,790,234 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. In addition to the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on September 23, 2022, there were 14,075,329 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance in connection with future awards available for grant under all Company equity plans and 46,201,924 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of issued and outstanding warrants.

As a result, as of September 23, 2022, we had only approximately 32,932,513 (or 13%) authorized shares of Common Stock that were not outstanding or reserved for issuance and that we may issue for any future business purposes. There are no issued, outstanding, or reserved shares of Preferred Stock as of September 23, 2022.

Reasons for the Authorized Shares Increase

We have three operating segments: our Oncology Innovation Platform, Global Supply Chain Platform, and Commercial Platform. Since inception, we have devoted a substantial amount of our resources to research and development of our lead product candidates. We have incurred significant net losses since inception, and, as a result, as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $963.0 million and $913.4 million, respectively. While we estimate that our existing cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the twelve months from August 2022, we expect our research and development expenses to continue to be significant in connection with our continued investment in our drug candidates and our ongoing and planned clinical trials for our drug candidates. In addition, as a public company, we incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations for the foreseeable future. These losses have had and will continue to have a material adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity, financial position, cash flows and working capital.

The report of our independent registered public accounting firm that accompanies our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 contained an explanatory paragraph regarding substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

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We have funded our operations to date primarily from the issuance and sale of our common stock through public offerings, senior secured loans, private placements, and to a lesser extent, from convertible bond financing, revenue, and grant funding. As of June 30, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $22.1 million, restricted cash of $13.8 million, and short-term investments of $1.2 million.

The Board believes that the Authorized Shares Increase is advisable and in the Company and its stockholders’ best interests, as it would provide the Company with flexibility to use the Common Stock for business and financial purposes and alternatives in structuring future transactions. These purposes may include raising capital in future offerings of equity or equity linked securities, repurchasing debt, granting equity awards to employees, officers, directors, consultants and/or advisors pursuant to the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2017 Plan”), and expanding our business through the acquisition of other businesses and other purposes. We anticipate that we may issue additional authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock in the future in connection with one or more of the following:

Given that over 87% of our authorized shares of Common Stock are either outstanding or reserved for issuance, the Board believes the proposed Authorized Shares Increase will enhance our flexibility in taking possible future actions, such as raising additional equity capital, consideration for acquisitions or licensing transactions, equity compensation awards or other corporate purposes. We do not have any current plans, arrangements, understandings or commitments for use of the additional shares of Common Stock that would be available for issuance. However, by approving the amount of authorized shares of Common Stock as proposed by the Authorized Shares Increase now, in advance of any specific need, we believe that such additional authorized shares will enable us to act in a timely manner when such a need arises or the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to take action, without the delay and expense that would be required at that time in obtaining stockholder approval of an increase in authorized shares of Common Stock at a future special meeting of stockholders. For example, the Company may raise capital in the future to address its liquidity needs and to maintain compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing standards. If this proposal is not approved by our stockholders, it is possible that our financing and business development alternatives may be limited due to the lack of unissued and unreserved authorized shares of common stock.

Based on our current plans and assumptions, we estimate that our existing cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the twelve months from August 2022. Our estimate as to how long we expect our existing cash and cash equivalents to be available to fund our operations is based on assumptions that may prove inaccurate, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. In addition, changing circumstances may cause us to increase our spending significantly faster than we currently anticipate, and we may need to spend more money than currently expected because of circumstances beyond our control. If we are unable to raise additional capital or monetize assets, as needed, our existing cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments may not be sufficient to fund our operations through the twelve months past August 2022. We have concluded that this raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Stockholder value may be harmed by these limitations. In short, if our stockholders do not approve this proposal, we may not be able to access the capital markets, complete corporate acquisitions, licensing transactions or partnerships, and pursue other business opportunities integral to our growth and success. Even if this proposal is approved by our stockholders, there is no assurance that we will be successful in raising additional funds or pursuing other business opportunities.

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Certain Risks and Potential Disadvantages Associated with the Authorized Shares Increase

The Board does not intend to issue any shares of Common Stock except for purposes and on terms that the Board believes to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. However, depending on the purpose and terms of issuance at the time, if we issue additional shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible into Common Stock in the future, it could dilute the voting rights of existing stockholders and could also dilute earnings per share and book value per share of existing stockholders. The proposed Authorized Shares Increase could also, under certain circumstances, make more difficult or discourage attempts to obtain control of the Company, thereby having an anti-takeover effect. While this is not the purpose or intent of the Board’s support of this proposal we would be able to use the additional shares to oppose a hostile takeover attempt or delay or prevent changes in our control or our management. For example, we could issue additional shares without further stockholder approval so as to dilute the stock ownership or voting rights of persons seeking to obtain control without our agreement. Similarly, the issuance of additional shares to certain persons allied with our management could have the effect of making it more difficult to remove our current management by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of persons seeking to cause such removal. The Authorized Shares Increase therefore may have the effect of discouraging unsolicited takeover attempts. Although the Authorized Shares Increase has been prompted by business and financial considerations and not by the threat of any known or threatened hostile takeover attempt, stockholders should be aware that the effect of the Authorized Shares Increase could facilitate future attempts by us to oppose changes in our control and perpetuate our management, including transactions in which the stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then-current market prices. We cannot provide assurances that any such transactions will be consummated on favorable terms or at all, that they will enhance stockholder value, or that they will not adversely affect our business or the trading price of the Common Stock

Principal Effects of the Authorized Shares Increase

The Board proposes and recommends increasing the number of shares of authorized Common Stock from the 250,000,000 shares that are authorized for issuance pursuant to our Charter to a total of 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock. The chart below illustrates the number of shares of Common Stock that will be available for issuance if the Authorized Shares Increase is effected. The number of shares disclosed in the column “Estimated number of shares of Common Stock after the Authorized Shares Increase” does not reflect any adjustment for a Reverse Stock Split as proposed in proposal two.

The 250,000,000 additional shares of Common Stock authorized by the Share Increase Certificate, if approved, would have the same powers, preferences, and rights as the currently outstanding shares of Common Stock. Therefore, approval of the Authorized Shares Increase and any subsequent issuance of additional shares of Common Stock would not affect a current stockholder’s rights as a stockholder, except for any dilutive effects incidental to increasing the number of our outstanding shares of Common Stock to earnings per share, book value per share, and the voting power of current holders of Common Stock. The Authorized Shares Increase would not have any immediate dilutive effect on the proportionate voting power or other rights of existing stockholders unless additional shares are issued.

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As is true for shares presently authorized but unissued, the future issuance of Common Stock authorized by the Authorized Shares Increase may, among other things, decrease existing stockholders’ percentage equity ownership and, depending on the price at which they are issued, could be dilutive to the voting rights of existing stockholders and have a negative effect on the market price of the Common Stock. Further, the additional shares of Common Stock authorized by the approval of this proposal could be issued by the Board without further vote of our stockholders except as may be required in particular cases by applicable law, regulatory agencies or the Nasdaq listing standards.

Interest of Certain Persons in Matters to be Acted Upon

Our directors and executive officers have no substantial interests, directly or indirectly, in the matters set forth in this proposal except to the extent of their ownership of shares of our common stock.

Reservation of Right to Delay the Filing of the Share Increase Certificate, or Abandon the Reverse Stock Split and the Authorized Shares Increase

We reserve the right to delay the filing of the Share Increase Certificate or abandon the Authorized Shares Increase at any time, even if the Authorized Shares Increase has been approved by stockholders at the Special Meeting. By voting in favor of the Share Increase Certificate, you are also expressly authorizing the Board to delay, until the one-year anniversary of the Special Meeting, or abandon the Authorized Shares Increase if the Board determines that such action is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Required Vote

Stockholders can vote FOR, AGAINST OR ABSTAIN on this proposal.

An affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock is required to approve this proposal. Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted for approval of this proposal, unless otherwise specified. If stockholder approval for this proposal is not obtained, then the Authorized Shares Increase will not be effected.

No Appraisal Rights

Under Delaware law, our Charter and our Bylaws, stockholders have no rights to exercise dissenters’ rights of appraisal with respect to the amendment to effect the Authorized Shares Increase.

Recommendation of the Board

The Board recommends a vote FOR Proposal One.

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PROPOSAL TWO — APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD, TO EFFECT A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF COMMON STOCK AND A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

General

We are asking stockholders to approve a proposed amendment to our Charter to implement, at the discretion of the Board at any time prior to the one-year anniversary of the Special Meeting, a reverse stock split of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock in a range of not less than one-for-five shares and not more than one-for-twenty shares, with a corresponding reduction in the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock in proportion to the reduction of the issued shares (the “Reverse Stock Split”). As a matter of Delaware law, the implementation of a reverse stock split does not require a reduction in the total number of authorized shares of common stock. However, without a corresponding share reduction the Reverse Stock Split would significantly increase the proportion of unissued, authorized shares of Common Stock to issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, which could allow the Company to much more substantially dilute stockholders in the future than it is currently able to do. The Board believes that effecting a corresponding authorized share reduction in connection with the Reverse Stock Split will maintain alignment with the market expectations regarding the number of shares of authorized Common Stock in comparison to the number of shares issued or reserved for issuance, and ensure that we do not have what some stockholders might view as an unreasonably high number of authorized shares of Common Stock that are unissued or reserved for issuance following the Reverse Stock Split.

The Board has unanimously approved and declared advisable the Reverse Stock Split, and recommended that our stockholders approve an amendment to our Charter to effect this proposal. The text of the proposed form of Certificate of Amendment to our Charter (the “Reverse Split Certificate”) is attached hereto as Appendix B.

If stockholders approve this proposal, then the Board will cause the Reverse Split Certificate to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and the Reverse Stock Split to be effected only if the Board determines that the Reverse Stock Split would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board also may determine in its discretion not to effect the Reverse Stock Split and not to file the Reverse Split Certificate. No further action on the part of stockholders will be required to either implement or abandon the Reverse Stock Split.

The Reverse Split Certificate will effect a reverse stock split of the authorized and outstanding shares of Common Stock at a reverse stock split ratio ranging from one-for-five to one-for-twenty, as determined by the Board. We are proposing that the Board have the discretion to select the Reverse Stock Split ratio from within this range, rather than proposing that stockholders approve a specific ratio at this time, in order to give the Board the flexibility to implement a Reverse Stock Split at a ratio that reflects the Board’s then-current assessment of the factors described below under “Criteria to be Used for Determining Whether to Implement Reverse Stock Split.” We believe that enabling the Board to set the ratio of the Reverse Stock Split within the stated range is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders because it will provide us with the flexibility to implement the Reverse Stock Split in a manner designed to maximize the anticipated benefits for the Company and its stockholders and because it is not possible to predict market conditions at the time the Reverse Stock Split would be implemented.

As of September 23, 2022, there were 156,790,234 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Based on such number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, immediately following the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split (without giving effect to the issuance of whole shares in lieu of fractional shares), we will have, depending on the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board, issued and outstanding shares of stock as illustrated in the tables under the caption “—Principal Effects of the Reverse Stock Split—General.”

All holders of Common Stock will be affected equally by the Reverse Stock Split.

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No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, any stockholders who would have been entitled to receive a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will receive in lieu thereof one additional whole share of Common Stock; provided that, whether or not fractional shares would be issuable as a result of the Reverse Stock Split shall be determined on the basis of (a) the total number of shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and (b) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock after the Effective Time into which the shares of Common Stock have been reclassified; and with respect to holders of shares of Common Stock in book-entry form in the records of the Corporation’s transfer agent that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, any holder who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, following the Effective Time, shall be entitled to receive one additional share of Common Stock automatically and without any action by the holder. Each holder of Common Stock will hold the same percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately following the Reverse Stock Split as that stockholder did immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split results in stockholders receiving whole shares in lieu of fractional shares. The par value of the Common Stock will continue to be $0.001 per share (see “—Principal Effects of the Reverse Stock Split—Effect of Reverse Stock Split on Stated Capital”).

Background and Reasons for the Reverse Stock Split

The Board believes that effecting the Reverse Stock Split would help us to:

Increase the Per Share Price of Common Stock

The primary purpose for effecting the Reverse Stock Split, should the Board choose to effect it, would be to increase the per share price of the Common Stock. In determining to seek authorization for this proposal, the Board considered that, by effectively condensing a number of pre-split shares into one share of Common Stock, the market price of a post-split share should generally be greater than the current market price of a pre-split share.

Maintain Listing on Nasdaq

Our Common Stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “ATNX”. On March 18, 2022, we received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Staff of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC indicating that, based upon the closing bid price of our common stock, we no longer met the Nasdaq listing standard requiring listed companies to maintain a minimum bid price of at least $1.00 per share. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) provided a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until September 14, 2022, in which to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. We were unable to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement by September 14, 2022.

On September 15, 2022, we received written notification (the “Notification”) from Nasdaq stating that we had not regained compliance and were ineligible to transfer to The Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Capital Market”) to obtain a second 180 calendar day period to regain compliance because we did not meet the Capital Market’s minimum $5,000,000 Stockholders’ Equity initial listing requirement. Pursuant to the Notification, our Common Stock was subject to delisting from Nasdaq pending our opportunity to request a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”). The Notification further advised that if we did not request an appeal before the Panel on or before September 22, 2022, our common stock would be scheduled for delisting at the opening of business on September 26, 2022.

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We submitted an appeal of the Notification to the Panel on September 21, 2022. Under Nasdaq rules, the delisting of our Common Stock has been stayed during the pendency of the appeal and during such time our Common Stock will continue to be listed on Nasdaq. There can be no assurance that our appeal of the Notification to the Panel will be successful, or that we will be able to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement or maintain compliance with other Nasdaq listing requirements. If our appeal is denied or if we fail to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing standards during any period granted by the Panel, our Common Stock will be subject to delisting from Nasdaq.

Failure to approve the Reverse Split may have serious, adverse effects on the Company and its stockholders. Our Common Stock could be delisted from Nasdaq because shares of our Common Stock may continue to trade below the requisite $1.00 per share price needed to maintain our listing in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Our shares may then be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or other small trading markets, which are generally considered to have less volume and be less efficient markets. An investor likely would find it less convenient to sell, or to obtain accurate quotations in seeking to buy, our Common Stock on an over-the-counter market. Many investors likely would not buy or sell our Common Stock due to difficulty in accessing over-the-counter markets, policies preventing them from trading in securities not listed on a national exchange, or other reasons. In that event, the Common Stock could trade thinly as a microcap or penny stock, adversely decrease to nominal levels of trading and may be avoided by retail and institutional investors, resulting in the impaired liquidity of our Common Stock.

As of the Record Date, our Common Stock closed at $0.241 per share on Nasdaq. The Reverse Stock Split, if effected, should have the immediate effect of increasing the price of our Common Stock as reported on Nasdaq, therefore reducing the risk that our Common Stock could be delisted from Nasdaq.

Our Board strongly believes that the Reverse Split is necessary to maintain our listing on Nasdaq. Accordingly, the Board recommended that our stockholders approve the Reverse Split Certificate to effect the Reverse Split and directed that this proposal be submitted to our stockholders for approval at the Special Meeting.

Maintain the Marketability and Liquidity of the Common Stock

The Board believes that continued listing on Nasdaq provides overall credibility to an investment in the Common Stock, given the stringent listing and disclosure requirements of Nasdaq. In addition, the Board believes that the increased market price of the Common Stock expected as a result of implementing the Reverse Stock Split could improve the marketability and liquidity of the Common Stock and encourage interest and trading in the Common Stock by mitigating the negative effects of certain practices and policies:

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We believe that the Reverse Stock Split, if effected, could increase analyst and broker interest in the Common Stock by avoiding these internal policies and practices. Increasing visibility of the Common Stock among a larger pool of potential investors could result in higher trading volumes. We also believe that the Reverse Stock Split may make the Common Stock a more attractive and cost-effective investment for many investors, which could enhance the liquidity of the Common Stock for our stockholders. These increases in visibility and liquidity could also help facilitate future financings and give management more flexibility to focus on executing our business strategy, which includes the strategic management of authorized capital for business purposes.

Accordingly, for these and other reasons discussed herein, we believe that being able to effect the Reverse Stock Split is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Criteria to be Used for Determining Whether to Implement Reverse Stock Split

In determining whether and when to effect the Reverse Stock Split and which Reverse Stock Split ratio to implement, if any, following receipt of stockholder approval of this proposal, the Board may consider, among other things, various factors, such as:

Certain Risks and Potential Disadvantages Associated with the Reverse Stock Split

Our appeal to Nasdaq may not be successful. There can be no assurance that our appeal of the Notification to the Panel will be successful, or that we will be able to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement or maintain compliance with other Nasdaq listing requirements, even if the Reverse Stock Split is approved by our stockholders. If our appeal is denied or if we fail to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing standards during any period granted by the Panel, our Common Stock will be subject to delisting from Nasdaq.

We cannot assure you that the proposed Reverse Stock Split will increase the price of the Common Stock. We expect that the Reverse Stock Split will increase the market price of the Common Stock. However, the effect of the Reverse Stock Split on the market price of the Common Stock cannot be predicted with any certainty, and the history of reverse stock splits for other companies in our industry is varied, particularly since some investors may view a reverse stock split negatively. It is possible that the per share price of the Common Stock after the Reverse Stock Split will not increase in the same proportion as the reduction in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split, and the Reverse Stock Split may not result in a per share price that would attract investors who do not trade in lower priced stocks. In addition, we cannot assure you that the Common Stock will be more attractive to investors. Even if we implement the Reverse Stock Split, the market price of the Common Stock may decrease due to factors unrelated to the Reverse Stock Split, including

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our future performance. If the Reverse Stock Split is consummated and the trading price of our Common Stock declines, the percentage decline as an absolute number and as a percentage of our overall market capitalization may be greater than would occur in the absence of the Reverse Stock Split.

We may not satisfy the Nasdaq continued listing requirements following the Reverse Stock Split. While we intend to monitor the average closing price of the Common Stock and consider available options if it does not continue to trade at a level likely to result in us maintaining compliance, no assurances can be made that we will in fact be able to comply with the Nasdaq listing standards and that Common Stock will remain listed on Nasdaq. If the Common Stock ultimately were to be delisted from Nasdaq for any reason, in addition to the effects noted above under “Background and Reasons for the Reverse Stock Split—Maintain Listing on Nasdaq,” it could negatively impact us as it would reduce the liquidity and market price of the Common Stock; reduce the number of investors willing to hold or acquire the Common Stock; negatively impact our ability to access equity markets, issue additional securities and obtain additional financing in the future; affect our ability to provide equity incentives to our employees; and negatively impact our reputation and, as a consequence, our business.

The proposed Reverse Stock Split may decrease the liquidity of the Common Stock and result in higher transaction costs. The liquidity of the Common Stock may be negatively impacted by the Reverse Stock Split, given the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split, particularly if the stock price does not increase as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. In addition, if the Reverse Stock Split is implemented, it may increase the number of our stockholders who own “odd lots” of fewer than 100 shares of Common Stock, which may be more difficult to sell. Brokerage commissions and other costs of transactions in odd lots are generally higher than the costs of transactions of more than 100 shares or of even multiples of 100 shares of Common Stock. Accordingly, the Reverse Stock Split may not achieve the desired results of increasing marketability of the Common Stock as described above.

Effective Time

The effective time of the Reverse Split Certificate (the “Effective Time”), if approved by stockholders and implemented by us, will be the date and time set forth in the Reverse Split Certificate that is filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, which is expected to be shortly after such filing is made with the Delaware Secretary of State.

If, at any time prior to the filing of the Reverse Split Certificate with the Delaware Secretary of State, the Board, in its discretion, determines that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to delay the filing of the Reverse Split Certificate or to abandon the Reverse Stock Split, the Reverse Stock Split may be delayed or abandoned, without any further action by our stockholders.

At the Effective Time the Reverse Stock Split will combine, automatically and without any action on the part of us or our stockholders, the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto into a lesser number of new shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Reverse Stock Split ratio determined by the Board within the limits set forth in this proposal, and will round any fractional shares up to the nearest whole share. Also at the Effective Time, the Reverse Stock Split will reduce, automatically and without any action on the part of us or our stockholders, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock in proportion to the reduction of the issued shares.

Fractional Shares

Stockholders will not receive fractional shares of Common Stock in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, stockholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares because they hold a number of shares not evenly divisible by the ratio of the Reverse Stock Split will automatically be entitled to receive an additional share of common stock. In other words, any fractional share will be rounded up to the nearest whole number. Shares of Common Stock held in registered form and shares of Common Stock held in “street name” (that is, through a broker, bank or other holder of record) for the same stockholder will be considered held in separate accounts and will not be aggregated when effecting the Reverse Stock Split.

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Principal Effects of the Reverse Stock Split

General

After the Effective Time, the number of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock will decrease at the Reverse Stock Split ratio of not less than one-for-five and not more than one-for-twenty. The Reverse Stock Split would be effected simultaneously for all of the Common Stock, and the Reverse Stock Split ratio will be the same for all shares of Common Stock and each stockholder will own a reduced number of shares of Common Stock. The Reverse Stock Split will affect all of its stockholders uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interests in the Company, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split results in any of its stockholders receiving whole shares in lieu of fractional share as described above. Voting rights and other rights and preferences of the holders of Common Stock will not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split. For example, a holder of 2% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split would continue to hold 2% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately after the Reverse Stock Split. The number of stockholders of record will not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split would not affect our securities law reporting and disclosure obligations, and we would continue to be subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).

The principal effects of the Reverse Stock Split will be that:

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The following table contains approximate information, based on share information as of September 23, 2022, relating to the outstanding shares of Common Stock based on the proposed Reverse Stock Split ratios and information regarding our shares of Common Stock authorized but not outstanding or reserved for issuance that will remain available for issuance immediately following the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split (assuming that this proposal is approved and implemented and without any effect of the Authorized Shares Increase proposal):

As illustrated in the table above, the Reverse Stock Split will result in a reduction of the total number of shares of Common Stock that we are authorized to issue. This reduction will not have any effect on the rights of existing stockholders and the par value of the Common Stock would remain unchanged at $0.001 per share.

The following table assumes proposal one is approved and effected and 250,000,000 additional shares of Common Stock have been authorized, and contains approximate information based on share information as of September 23, 2022, relating to the outstanding shares of Common Stock based on the proposed Reverse Stock Split ratios and information regarding our shares of Common Stock authorized but not outstanding or reserved for issuance that will remain available for issuance immediately following the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split (assuming that this proposal is approved and implemented):

After the Reverse Split Certificate is effective, the Common Stock would have a new Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures, or CUSIP number, a number used to identify the Common Stock.

The Common Stock is currently registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and we are subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act. The implementation of the Reverse Stock Split will not affect the registration of Common Stock under the Exchange Act. The Common Stock would continue to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “ATNX” immediately following the Reverse Stock Split.

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Effect of Reverse Stock Split on Stated Capital

Pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split, the par value of the Common Stock will remain $0.001 per share. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the stated capital on our balance sheet attributable to Common Stock (subject to a minor adjustment in respect of the treatment of fractional shares) and the additional paid-in capital account will, in total, not change due to the Reverse Stock Split. However, the allocation between the stated capital attributable to Common Stock and the additional paid-in capital on our balance sheet will change because there will be fewer shares of Common Stock outstanding. The stated capital attributable to Common Stock will decrease, and in turn, the stated capital attributable to the additional paid-in capital will increase. The net income or loss per share of Common Stock will increase because there will be fewer shares of Common Stock outstanding. The Reverse Stock Split would be reflected retroactively in our consolidated financial statements. We do not anticipate that any other accounting consequences would arise as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.

Shares Held in Book-Entry and Through a Broker, Bank or Other Holder of Record

The combination of, and reduction in, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will occur automatically at the Effective Time without any additional action on the part of our stockholders.

Upon the Reverse Stock Split, we intend to treat stockholders holding shares of Common Stock in “street name” (that is, through a broker, bank or other holder of record) in the same manner as registered stockholders whose shares of Common Stock are registered in their names. Brokers, banks or other holders of record will be instructed to effect the Reverse Stock Split for their beneficial holders holding shares of Common Stock in “street name;” however, these brokers, banks or other holders of record may apply their own specific procedures for processing the Reverse Stock Split. If you hold your shares of Common Stock with a broker, bank or other holder of record, and you have any questions in this regard, we encourage you to contact your holder of record.

If you hold registered shares of Common Stock in a book-entry form, you do not need to take any action to receive your post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock in registered book-entry form. If you are entitled to post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock, a transaction statement will automatically be sent to your address of record as soon as practicable after the Effective Time indicating the number of shares of Common Stock you hold.

If you hold any of your shares of Common Stock in certificate form, you will receive a transmittal letter from our transfer agent as soon as practicable after the Effective Time. The transmittal letter will indicate how you can exchange your certificate representing the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock for either: (1) a certificate representing the post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock; or (2) post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock in a book-entry form. Should you hold any pre-Reverse Stock Split shares in pure book-entry, meaning you do not hold any physical stock certificates, your pre-Reverse Stock Split book-entry shares will be automatically exchanged for the post-Reverse Stock Split shares, evidenced by a transaction statement that will be sent to your address of record as soon as practicable after the Effective Time indicating the number of shares of Common Stock you hold, in each case together with any whole share in lieu of fractional shares to which you are entitled. Beginning at the Effective Time, each certificate representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of post-Reverse Stock Split shares.

Stockholders should not destroy any pre-split stock certificate(s) and should not submit any stock certificate(s) until requested to do so.

Interest of Certain Persons in Matters to be Acted Upon

No officer or director has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, in the Reverse Stock Split that is not shared by all of our other stockholders.

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Reservation of Right to Delay the Filing of the Reverse Split Certificate, or Abandon the Reverse Stock Split

We reserve the right to delay the filing of the Reverse Split Certificate or abandon the Reverse Stock Split and at any time before the Effective Time, even if the Reverse Stock Split has been approved by stockholders at the Special Meeting. By voting in favor of the amendment to effect the Reverse Stock Split, you are also expressly authorizing the Board to delay, until the one-year anniversary of the Special Meeting, or abandon the Reverse Stock Split if the Board determines that such action is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Required Vote; Effect of Proposal

The affirmative vote of majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the Record Date is required for approval of this proposal. Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted for approval of this proposal, unless otherwise specified. If stockholder approval for this proposal is not obtained, then the Reverse Stock Split and the authorized share reduction will not be effected.

No Going Private Transaction

Notwithstanding the decrease in the number of outstanding shares following the Reverse Stock Split, our Board does not intend for this transaction to be the first step in a “going private transaction” within the meaning of Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act.

No Appraisal Rights

Under Delaware law, our Charter and our Bylaws, stockholders have no rights to exercise dissenters’ rights of appraisal with respect to the Reverse Stock Split.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split

The following summary describes, as of the date of this proxy statement, certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split to holders of our Common Stock. This summary addresses the tax consequences only to a U.S. holder, which is a beneficial owner of our Common Stock that is either:

This summary is based on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial authority, all as in effect as of the date of this proxy statement. Subsequent developments in U.S. federal income tax law, including changes in law or differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could have a material effect on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

This summary does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular investor, including tax considerations that arise from rules of general application to all taxpayers or to certain classes of taxpayers or that are generally assumed to be known by investors. This summary also does not address the tax consequences to (i) persons that may be subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as banks, insurance companies, thrift institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts,

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tax-exempt organizations, U.S. expatriates, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, partnerships or other pass-through entities, traders in securities that elect to mark to market and dealers in securities or currencies, (ii) persons that hold our Common Stock as part of a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “hedging transaction,” “conversion transaction” or other integrated investment transaction for federal income tax purposes or (iii) persons that do not hold our Common Stock as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment). This summary does not address backup withholding and information reporting. This summary does not address U.S. holders who beneficially own Common Stock through a “foreign financial institution” (as defined in Code Section 1471(d)(4)) or certain other non-U.S. entities specified in Code Section 1472. This summary does not address tax considerations arising under any state, local or foreign laws, or under federal estate or gift tax laws.

If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our Common Stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that hold our Common Stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

Each holder should consult his, her or its own tax advisors concerning the particular U.S. federal tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split, as well as the consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction, including any foreign, state, or local income tax consequences.

General Tax Treatment of the Reverse Stock Split

The Reverse Stock Split is intended to qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368 of the Code that should constitute a “recapitalization” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Assuming the Reverse Stock Split qualifies as a reorganization, a U.S. holder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of our ordinary shares for a lesser number of ordinary shares, based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio. A U.S. holder’s aggregate tax basis in the lesser number of ordinary shares received in the Reverse Stock Split will be the same such U.S. holder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of our Common Stock that such U.S. holder owned immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split. The holding period for the ordinary shares received in the Reverse Stock Split will include the period during which a U.S. holder held the shares of our Common Stock that were surrendered in the Reverse Stock Split. The United States Treasury regulations provide detailed rules for allocating the tax basis and holding period of the shares of our Common Stock surrendered to the shares of our Common Stock received pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split. U.S. holders of shares of our Common Stock acquired on different dates and at different prices should consult their tax advisors regarding the allocation of the tax basis and holding period of such shares.

THE FOREGOING IS INTENDED ONLY AS A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A TAX OPINION. EACH HOLDER OF OUR COMMON SHARES SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT TO THEM AND FOR REFERENCE TO APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE.

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Bifurcation of Proposal One and Proposal Two

While this proposal reflects the proposed amendment to our Charter to authorize our Board to effect the Reverse Stock Split, the approval of this proposal is not conditioned on the approval of proposal one to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock by 250,000,000 shares. To the extent that only one of either of these proposals is approved by stockholders, only the amendment to affect the proposal that was approved by stockholders will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. To the extent that both this proposal and proposal one are approved by our stockholders, the Share Increase Certificate and Reverse Split Certificate may be filed subject to implementation by the Board, as more particularly set forth in proposals one and two, or may be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State in one filing consistent with the form of language used in Appendix B.

Recommendation of the Board

The Board recommends a vote FOR Proposal Two.

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PROPOSAL THREE — APPROVAL OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

We currently maintain the Athenex, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended by the First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) approved by our stockholders at our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 18, 2022, or the Incentive Plan. Our Board believes that the Incentive Plan has been an effective component of our compensation program and has heightened our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified executives and employees. Our Board further believes that the awards granted under the Incentive Plan have provided an effective inducement to Incentive Plan participants to pursue our goals and objectives, including the creation of long-term value for our stockholders.

We are seeking stockholder approval of the Second Amendment to the Incentive Plan (the “Second Amendment”) to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the Incentive Plan by an additional 12,500,000 shares. We believe that our continuing ability to offer equity incentive awards under the Incentive Plan is critical to our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified executives and employees.

The proposed amendment to the Incentive Plan also extends the term of the Incentive Plan until November 22, 2032.

The Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to approve this proposal. The Board, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, has approved the Second Amendment, subject to stockholder approval.

The following descriptions of the Incentive Plan, as proposed to be amended by the Second Amendment, are qualified in their entirety by the terms of the Incentive Plan document, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix C, and the Second Amendment to the Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix D.

References to the Incentive Plan in the remainder of this discussion refer to the Incentive Plan as amended by the Second Amendment, as if this proposal is approved by our stockholders, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise references the Incentive Plan prior to it being amended by the Second Amendment.

The closing price of our common stock on September 23, 2022, was $0.241.

Why We Are Asking Our Stockholders to Approve the Second Amendment

We are seeking stockholder approval of the Second Amendment to increase the number of shares available for the grant of awards by 12,500,000 shares. Our stockholders’ approval of the Second Amendment will allow us to continue to utilize a broad array of equity incentives in order to attract and retain talent, and to continue to provide incentives that align the interests of our employees and directors with the interests of our stockholders.

When we requested stockholder approval of the First Amendment to the Incentive Plan at our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we did not anticipate returning to stockholders for additional shares for approximately three years, absent any unforeseeable circumstances. Despite the fact that the aggregate value of our equity awards and our annual stock burn rates were below market levels in 2021, due to the reduction in of our stock price and needs of our business, we have experienced unforeseeable circumstances requiring us to return to our stockholders for additional shares. In addition to the volatile stock price, we experienced uncertainties in our business related to the current inflationary environment. In the interest of retaining and properly incentivizing our key employees given the volatility in our stock price, we have a need to remain competitive in the market in our awards, recognizing that the incentive provided by existing stock awards is significantly reduced.

Unless the Second Amendment is authorized and approved by our stockholders, the number of shares available for issuance under the Incentive Plan will be too limited to serve effectively as an incentive and retention tool for employees, directors and consultants. The requested increase will enable us to continue our policy of equity

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ownership by employees, directors and consultants as an incentive to contribute to the creation of long-term value for our stockholders. Absent sufficient equity incentives, we would need to consider additional cash-based incentives to provide a market-competitive total compensation package necessary to attract, retain and motivate the talent that is critical to driving our success. Payment of cash incentives would then reduce the cash available for product development, operations and other corporate purposes.

Why You Should Vote for the Second Amendment

We Manage Our Equity Incentive Award Use Carefully and Dilution Is Reasonable

We continue to believe that equity incentive awards are a vital part of our overall compensation program. Our compensation philosophy reflects broad-based eligibility for equity incentive awards, and we grant awards to substantially all of our employees. However, we recognize that equity incentive awards dilute existing stockholders, and, therefore, we must responsibly manage the growth of our equity compensation program. We are committed to effectively monitoring our equity compensation share reserve, including our “burn rate,” to ensure that we maximize stockholders’ value by granting the appropriate number of equity incentive awards necessary to attract, reward, and retain employees. In addition, the vesting of some of our equity awards granted to our named executive officers (“NEOs”) are contingent on meeting pre-defined performance criteria, thereby ensuring alignment with value creation.

The following table shows our responsible historical dilution and burn rate percentages.

Burn Rate

The following table provides detailed information regarding the activity related to our equity incentive plans for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Our average three-year burn rate for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019 is 1.91%.

As of June 30, 2022, the Incentive Plan had 5,355,724 shares remaining available for future issuance. In addition, a total of 5,781,744 shares issued or issuable pursuant to grants under the Incentive place were outstanding with a weighted-average exercise price of $6.51. See “Equity Compensation Plan Information” below for a more detailed description of the Incentive Plan.

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Incentive Plan Reflects Best Practices

The Incentive Plan includes several features that represent best practices, including:

Incentive Plan Does				Incentive Plan Does Not
		Include a minimum vesting period on awards of one year, with a five percent carveout				Permit for the repricing of stock options and SARs without stockholder approval
		Provide for recycling of shares back to the plan pool only in the event of forfeiture or cancellation				Permit the payment of dividends or the vesting of dividend equivalents before vesting of the underlying award
		Providing that SARs count against the share reserve based on the total number of shares subject to the award				Permit “net share counting” upon the exercise of options and stock appreciation rights
		Provide for the clawback of awards under certain circumstances				Contain a liberal change in control definition
		Include an annual limit on awards to non-employee directors for services as a director of 200,000 shares
		Include an annual limit on awards to employees and consultants of options and stock appreciation rights of 500,000 shares (plus an additional 500,000 shares for new hires), of restricted stock and RSUs of 500,000 shares and of cash awards of $1 million

Description of the Incentive Plan

Purpose

The purposes of the Incentive Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants and to promote the success of our business.

Administration

The Incentive Plan provides that it may be administered by our Board or by one or more committees designated by our Board. The Incentive Plan further provides that, with respect to the administration of the plan as it relates to directors and officers and to consultants and other employees, such committees shall in each case be constituted in compliance with applicable law.

Eligible Participants

Awards other than incentive stock options may be granted to U.S. and non-U.S. employees, directors and consultants residing in jurisdictions determined by the plan administer from time to time. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. The plan administrator has the ability to adopt or administer such procedures or subplans that the administrator deems appropriate or necessary on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Incentive Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the Incentive Plan or awards thereunder with respect to employees, directors and consultants outside the United States.

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As of September 23, 2022, approximately 538 persons, including 6 executive officers, 6 non-employee directors and approximately 526 other individuals may be considered for awards under the Incentive Plan.

Authorized Shares

Subject to the approval of our stockholders of the Second Amendment, the maximum number of shares available for grant and issuance under the Incentive Plan will be 25,200,000, minus the number of shares of common stock granted under the Incentive Plan to date, and subject to further adjustment for shares underlying awards that are forfeited, canceled, expired or otherwise terminated without the issuance of shares. If this proposal is approved, the increase in shares available under the Incentive Plan under the Second Amendment will be effected prior to the Reverse Stock Split discussed in proposal two, if approved by our stockholders and effected by our Board, and the number of shares available for grant and issuance under the Incentive Plan will decrease by the Reverse Stock Split ratio approved by our Board.

Awards will be counted against the available share reserve on the date of grant, based on the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the award. Shares issuable pursuant to the Incentive Plan may be authorized but unissued or reacquired common stock.

Types of Awards

The Incentive Plan allows for the granting of the following types of awards:

Each award granted under the Incentive Plan is subject to an award agreement containing the particular terms and conditions of that award, subject to the limitations imposed by the Incentive Plan.

Stock Options.

A stock option is the right to purchase a specified number of shares for a specified exercise price. Stock options may be either (a) incentive stock options, which are stock options that meet the requirements under Section 422 of the Code, or (b) non-qualified stock options, which are stock options that do not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or that are designated as a nonqualified stock option. Only employees of the Company and our subsidiaries may receive awards of incentive stock options, and incentive stock options are subject to additional limitations. Stock options (other than stock options assumed or granted in substitution for outstanding stock options of a company acquired by us or any affiliate) are subject to the following: (i) the exercise price shall be equal to or greater than the fair market value of the shares subject to such stock option on the date of grant; and (ii) the expiration date shall be no later than 10 years from the date of grant. The exercise price may be payable either in (1) cash, (2) if permitted by the plan administrator, by delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly the proceeds from the sale of shares, (3) if permitted by the plan administrator, by tendering shares previously acquired, (4) if permitted by the plan administrator, by withholding shares that would otherwise be issued having a fair market value on the exercise date equal to the exercise price, or (5) any combination of the foregoing.

Stock Appreciation Rights.

A SAR is a right to receive cash or other property based on the increase in the value of a share over the per share exercise price. SARs (other than SARs assumed or granted in substitution for outstanding SARs of a company

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acquired by us or any affiliate) are subject to the following: (a) the exercise price shall be equal to or greater than the fair market value of the shares subject to such SAR on the date of grant; and (b) the expiration date shall be no later than 10 years from the date of grant.

Restricted Stock.

Restricted stock is an award of shares that is subject to vesting conditions. Prior to the expiration of the vesting period, a participant who has received an award of restricted stock has the right to vote and to receive dividends on the underlying unvested shares, subject, however, to the restrictions and limitations imposed pursuant to the Incentive Plan and award agreement.

Restricted Stock Units.

An RSU is an award that is valued by reference to shares, which may be paid to a participant upon vesting in shares, cash or other property.

Dividend Equivalents.

Awards other than stock options and SARs may include the right to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions or limitations, if any, as the plan administrator may establish. However, dividends and dividend equivalents may be paid with respect to any award only if, when and to the extent that the award vests, and until such time, dividends and dividend equivalents may be held in escrow (with or without the accrual of interest) or be reinvested into additional shares subject to the same vesting or performance conditions as the award on which they are payable.

Cash.

Cash-based awards are awards denominated in cash that may be settled in cash and or shares of common stock, subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions or limitations, if any, as the plan administrator may establish.

Award Limits

Individual Limit on Option and SAR Awards.

The maximum number of shares with respect to which stock options and SARs may be granted to any participant in any calendar year is 500,000 shares; provided that, up to an additional 500,000 shares may be granted in connection with a plan participant’s commencement of service with the Company, which shall not count against the limit set forth in the previous sentence.

Individual Limit on Restricted Stock and RSU Awards.

The maximum number of shares with respect to which restricted stock and RSUs may be granted to any participant in any calendar year is 500,000 shares.

Individual Limit on Cash-Based Awards.

The maximum cash-based award that may be paid to a participant in any 12-month period is $1,000,000; provided, however, such maximum is subject to proration in the event the participant has served less than 12 months in such period.

Individual Limit for Awards to Board Members.

The maximum number of shares issuable to Board members (in consideration of such Board member’s service on the Board) in any calendar year is 200,000 shares.

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Minimum Vesting Periods.

All awards must be subject to a minimum vesting period of at least one year, except that a maximum of five percent of the aggregate number of shares issuable under the plan may be issued without being subject to such minimum vesting requirement.

Transferability

A participant’s rights in an award of incentive stock options may be assigned or transferred only in the event of death. Other awards are transferrable in the event of death and during the lifetime of the recipient to family members, charitable organizations, pursuant to domestic relations orders and agreements, and to estate planning vehicles, in each case to the extent permitted by the plan administrator.

Tax Withholding

No shares or cash shall be delivered under the Incentive Plan until the recipient has made arrangements acceptable to the administrator for the satisfaction of any non-U.S., federal, state, or local income and employment tax withholding obligations, including, without limitation, obligations incident to the receipt of shares or cash. The administrator may provide in any award agreement that, upon exercise or vesting of an award, we shall, at the election of the recipient, withhold or collect from the recipient an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, including, but not limited to, by surrender of the whole number of shares covered by the award, if applicable, sufficient to satisfy the minimum applicable tax withholding obligations incident to the exercise or vesting of an award.

Change in Control Features

The Incentive Plan provides the plan administrator the discretion to determine how outstanding awards are treated in the context of a transaction involving a “change in control” of the Company, provided such awards are not assumed or replaced in connection therewith. The plan administrator has the ability to determine, at the time of grant or at any time while the award remains outstanding, whether such awards contain acceleration features with respect to exercisability, vesting or settlement of, or the lapse of restrictions or deemed satisfaction of performance objectives, which may be pro-rated to the extent performance has taken place, in each case upon the consummation of a “change in control” (as such term is defined in the Incentive Plan).

Recoupment/Clawback Features

Each award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by our Board or the plan administrator and as in effect from time to time or to comply with applicable law.

Adjustments

The plan administrator shall make such proportional adjustments to the Incentive Plan as it determines may be required to reflect a change in our capitalization, including adjustments to awards issued and issuable thereunder as a result of (i) increases or decreases in the number of issued shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination or reclassification of our common stock, or similar transaction affecting the shares of common stock, (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of common stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company (other than conversion of convertible securities), or (iii) any other transaction with respect to our common stock including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete) or any similar transaction.

Amendments and Termination

The Incentive Plan may be amended in whole or in part at any time and from time to time by our Board, and the terms of any outstanding award under the Incentive Plan may be amended from time to time by our Board in its

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discretion provided that no amendment may be made without stockholder approval if required by applicable law or if such amendment would service to reprice or adjust or amend the exercise price or consideration payable for any award under the Incentive Plan.

No awards may be granted during any suspension of the Incentive Plan or after its termination. However, with respect to outstanding awards, no suspension or termination may adversely affect in a material manner any right of a participant under such awards.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of Awards

The following discussion is intended to provide only a general outline of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the Incentive Plan and the receipt of awards or payments thereunder by participants subject to U.S. taxes. It does not address any other taxes imposed by the United States, taxes imposed by any state or political subdivision thereof or foreign jurisdiction, or the tax consequences applicable to participants who are not subject to U.S. taxes. The discussion set forth below does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax consequences relevant to recipients of awards, particular circumstances, or all awards available under the Incentive Plan. It is based on U.S. federal income tax law and interpretational authorities as of the date of this proxy statement, which are subject to change at any time.

Nonqualified stock options.

A participant who exercises a nonqualified stock option recognizes taxable ordinary income in the year the stock option is exercised in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares purchased on the exercise date over the exercise price. Subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), we are entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant. Any gain or loss realized by the participant upon the subsequent disposition of the shares will be taxed as short-term (if held one year or less) or long-term (if held more than one year) capital gain, but will not result in any further deduction for us.

Incentive stock options.

A participant who exercises an incentive stock option does not recognize ordinary income at the time of exercise (although, the participant may be subject to alternative minimum tax), and we are not entitled to a tax deduction. Upon the disposition of the shares obtained from the exercise of the incentive stock option more than two years after the date of grant and more than one year after the date of exercise, the excess of the sale price of the shares over the exercise price of the incentive stock option is taxed as long-term capital gain. If the shares are sold within two years of the grant date and/or within one year of the date of exercise, the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise (or sale proceeds if less) over the exercise price is taxed as ordinary income, and, subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), we are entitled to a tax deduction for this amount; any remaining gain is taxed as short-term capital gain, without a Company tax deduction.

Stock appreciation rights.

A participant who exercises a SAR recognizes taxable ordinary income in the year the SAR is exercised in an amount equal to the cash and/or the fair market value of any shares or other property received. Subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), we are entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant.

Restricted stock and restricted stock units.

A participant normally will not recognize taxable income and we will not be entitled to a deduction upon the grant of shares of restricted stock, RSUs or other stock-based awards. When the restricted stock vests, the RSUs settle or the other stock-based awards are paid or settle, the participant will recognize taxable ordinary income in

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an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares or other property received at that time, less the amount, if any, paid for the shares, and, subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), we will be entitled at that time to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant. However, a participant may elect to recognize taxable ordinary income in the year shares of restricted stock are granted in an amount equal to the excess of their fair market value at the grant date, determined without regard to certain restrictions, over the amount, if any, paid for the shares. In that event, subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), we will be entitled to a deduction in such year in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant. Any gain or loss realized by the participant upon the subsequent disposition of shares received will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain, but will not result in any further deduction for us.

Dividend Equivalents and Cash-Based Awards.

A participant will not recognize taxable income and we will not be entitled to a tax deduction upon the grant of dividend equivalents or cash-based awards until cash or shares are paid or distributed to the participant. At that time, any cash payments or the fair market value of shares that the participant receives will be taxable to the participant at ordinary income tax rates and, subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), we will be entitled at that time to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant. Payments in shares will be valued at the fair market value of the shares at the time of the payment, and upon the subsequent disposition of the shares, the participant will recognize a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss in the amount of the difference between the sales price of the shares and the participant’s tax basis in the shares.

New Plan Benefits

The specific benefits or amounts to be received by or allocated to participants and the number of shares of common stock to be granted under the Incentive Plan cannot be determined at this time because the amount and form of grants to be made to any eligible participant in any year is determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

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Aggregate Awards Granted

The following table sets forth information with respect to the number of shares subject to awards previously granted under the Incentive Plan since its inception through September 23, 2022, our record date, to each NEO, all current executive officers as a group, all current directors who are not executive officers as a group, and all employees, including all current officers who are not executive officers, as a group. With the exception of Johnson Lau, Jeffrey Yordon and Rudolf Kwan, there are no persons who received or are to receive 5% or more of the available shares under the Incentive Plan. This table includes shares subject to awards that may have been exercised, cancelled or forfeited.

Required Vote

Stockholders can vote FOR, AGAINST OR ABSTAIN on this proposal.

A majority of the shares entitled to vote and present or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting is required to approve this proposal.

Recommendation of the Board

The Board recommends a vote FOR Proposal Three.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

After taking into account managements’ reports on director compensation practices at comparable public companies, our Board determines the compensation of its members. In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, a significant component of our Board’s compensation is stock-based, which we utilize together with cash compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board. In setting director compensation, we consider the time commitment and skill level required of members of our Board in addition to the competitive market for director compensation.

The following table sets forth the total compensation earned by each of our non-employee directors in 2021.

Narrative to Director Compensation Table

In 2021, our non-employee directors received an annual retainer of $26,000 for serving on the Board, plus a fee of $4,000 for each committee for which they serve as a non-chair member. The chairs of each of our Audit

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Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, and Scientific and Products Committee are compensated in the form of a $12,000, $8,000, $6,000 and $8,000 retainer, respectively.

Directors are also entitled to fees for extra committee meetings in the following amounts: (i) Audit Committee members receive $1,000 for each additional meeting in the event more than four meetings are held in a given year, (ii) Compensation Committee members receive $500 for each additional meeting in the event more than four meetings are held in a given year and (iii) Nominating and Governance Committee members receive $500 for each additional meeting in the event more than two meetings are held in a given year.

No retainer was paid to Dr. Lau for his service as a director or as the chair of the Finance Committee.

In August 2021, the Compensation Committee approved equity awards for our directors and determined that half of the awards would be granted as options to purchase our common stock and half of the awards would be RSUs vesting in full one year after the grant date. The aggregate shares underlying the awards approved by the Compensation Committee were determined as follows: (i) 10,000 shares for each non-employee director; (ii) 5,000 shares for each committee chair; and (iii) 2,500 shares for each committee member.

All directors are entitled to reimbursement of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for attendance at Board and committee meetings.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

Our Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) describes the material elements of our executive compensation program and decisions in 2021 for our named executive officers, or NEOs, who for 2021 were:

Following a brief discussion of the performance highlights and key compensation decisions from 2021, we will provide an overview of our compensation framework, including discussions of our compensation philosophy and objectives along with the elements of executive compensation, followed by an outline of our compensation decision process and a discussion of our 2021 executive compensation decisions. Detailed information about our executive compensation can be found under the heading “Compensation Tables” that immediately follows this CD&A.

Performance Highlights from 2021

Our company’s mission is to become a leader in bringing innovative cancer treatments to the market and to improve patient health outcomes. Historically, we focused on the development of our Orascovery platform. Following the receipt of the complete response letter (“CRL”) from the FDA in February 2021 regarding the New Drug Application for oral paclitaxel and encequidar (“Oral Paclitaxel”) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, after careful evaluation and prioritization of our R&D pipeline, we decided to focus our R&D resources on our innovative cell therapy platform. This platform includes intellectual property to develop autologous and allogeneic, or “off-the-shelf”, natural killer T (“NKT”) cell immunotherapies for the treatment of solid and hematological malignancies. In 2021, through our partner Almirall, S.A., we continue to rollout the launch of Klisyri^® throughout Europe. Klisyri^® was available in U.S., Germany, and United Kingdom, and we expect additional tirbanibulin ointment 1% launches in territories such as Australia and Canada through our strategic partnerships with Seqirus Pty Ltd (“Seqirus”), a subsidiary of CSL Limited, and AVIR Pharma Inc (“AVIR”). Our Specialty Pharmaceutical Business also had a successful year in 2021 and performed well, as described in more depth below.

Cell Therapy: Promising Early Data Presented at ASGCT and ASH

In May 2021, we presented an interim data update from the first eleven evaluable KUR-501 patients at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (“ASGCT”). KUR-501 is an autologous product in which NKT cells are engineered with a chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR”) targeting GD2 (“GINAKIT” cells). GD2 is expressed on almost all neuroblastoma tumors and certain other malignancies. KUR-501 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 clinical trial (GINAKIT2) treating children with relapsed-refractory (“R/R”) high risk neuroblastoma. During this initial evaluation, the safety profile of KUR-501 was manageable, and there was no dose limiting toxicity (“DLT”). There were no grades 3-5 cytokine release syndrome (“CRS”) and no evidence of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (“ICANS”) Observed responses included one complete response (“CR”) and one partial response (“PR”). Four additional patients have exhibited stable disease (“SD”). We also observed long-term persistence of NKT cells expressing CAR. Importantly, we observed NKT cell localization to the tumor site.

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In December 2021, we presented an interim data update on the first five evaluable KUR-502 patients at the American Society of Hematology (“ASH”) annual meeting. KUR-502 is an allogeneic (“off-the-shelf”) product in which NKT cells are engineered with a CAR targeting CD19. KUR-502 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 clinical trial (ANCHOR) treating adults with R/R CD19 positive malignancies, including B cell lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (“ALL”), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (“CLL”). The safety profile was manageable with no DLT. There was one case of grade 1 CRS, no ICANS, and no graft versus host disease (“GvHD”) attributable to KUR-502. Of the first five evaluable patients, the overall response rate was 80%, and the complete response rate was 60%.

Klisyri^® (Tirbanibulin Ointment 1%): Athenex’s First EMA Approved Proprietary Product

On July 19, 2021, our partner Almirall received approval from the European Commission to market Klisyri^®, indicated for the topical treatment of AK of the face or scalp in adults.

On July 26, 2021, we announced that we entered into licensing agreements and strategic partnerships with Seqirus and AVIR Pharma Inc. (“AVIR”) for tirbanibulin. Under the terms of the agreements, Seqirus will have an exclusive license to commercialize tirbanibulin in Australia and New Zealand, and AVIR will have an exclusive license to commercialize tirbanibulin in Canada.

On September 27, 2021, we announced our partner Almirall had launched Klisyri^® in Germany and the UK, as part of a phased European launch.

Oral Paclitaxel Plus Encequidar: Athenex to Focus on Combinations with Check Point Inhibitors

In September 2021, we presented interim data from a study of Oral Paclitaxel in combination with pembrolizumab at the European Society for Medical Oncology (“ESMO”) Virtual Congress 2021. The safety data helps establish Part B dose expansion and Phase 2 dose. The data showed encouraging anti-tumor activity in non-small cell lung cancer patients who failed prior PD1/PDL1 therapies.

Following the CRL, we held two Type A meetings with the FDA to discuss the deficiencies raised in the CRL, review a proposed design for a new clinical trial intended to address the deficiencies raised in the CRL, and discuss the potential regulatory path forward for Oral Paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer (“mBC”) in the U.S. In October 2021, after careful consideration of the FDA feedback, we determined to redeploy our resources to focus on other ongoing studies of Oral Paclitaxel and our Cell Therapy platform.

On November 29, 2021, we announced the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) validation of the Marketing Authorization Application (“MAA”) for Oral Paclitaxel, for review. The Phase 3 study of Oral Paclitaxel in MBC (KX-ORAX-001) served as the basis of the MAA.

In December 2021, we presented a subgroup analysis from the Phase 3 study of Oral Paclitaxel in mBC patients, at the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (“SABCS”). Analysis of safety data demonstrated that patients with elevated liver tests were at increased risk of neutropenia related toxicities. Post hoc analysis of this subgroup of patients with hepatic impairment was conducted and showed a median survival rate of 18.9 months in patients treated with Oral Paclitaxel vs 10.1 months in those treated with IV Paclitaxel, with a hazard ratio of 0.59.

We are continuing to evaluate Oral Paclitaxel in combination with pembrolizumab in non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”); and dostarlimab +/- carboplatin in neoadjuvant breast cancer, as part of the I-SPY TRIAL (Investigation of Serial studies to Predict Your Therapeutic Response with Imaging And moLecular analysis 2) (“I-SPY 2 TRIAL”).

Athenex Specialty Pharmaceutical Business Performs Well

The Athenex Specialty Pharmaceutical Business generated $92.3 million in revenue, a 9% year over year increase, excluding one-time international sales of $21.0 million relating to the COVID pandemic in 2020.

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Athenex Pharmaceutical Division currently markets 29 products with 54 SKUs, and Athenex Pharma Solutions markets 5 products and 16 SKUs.

Athenex continued to protect its global supply chain. The Clarence, New York, facility is responsible for manufacturing Klisyri^® (tirbanibulin ointment 1%) worldwide, and we engaged alternate API and drug product manufacturers for multiple products.

Key Compensation Decisions from 2021

In order to attract and retain highly qualified executives, while acknowledging the significant challenges we faced in light of receiving the CRL for Oral Paclitaxel, our Compensation Committee and our Board made the following key compensation decisions for 2021:

Compensation Framework

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

Our executive compensation philosophy is to provide a competitive compensation package in line with similarly positioned late-stage biopharmaceutical companies in our industry, while rewarding strong performance. In light of the extended product development timelines in our industry, we believe that executive compensation should be structured to ensure that a significant portion of our NEOs’ compensation opportunity is related to factors that link to the creation of long-term stockholder value. To further this objective, our Compensation Committee has retained an independent compensation consultant, Gallagher. For more information on the Compensation Committee’s retention of Gallagher, see below under the heading “Compensation Decision Process.”

Our executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain highly qualified executives, incentivize these executives to contribute to both short- and long-term business and clinical development goals, and align executive compensation with the creation of long-term stockholder value. Our Compensation Committee believes the compensation program should be structured to reward the achievement of both individual performance goals in furtherance of Company-wide performance goals. The overall objective of our Compensation Committee in structuring and implementing our executive compensation policies is to ensure that our executive compensation program is aligned with the interests of our stockholders as well as our business goals, and that the total compensation paid to each of our NEOs is fair, reasonable and consistent with the objectives of our philosophy and compensation program.

Our business is quickly developing and evolving due to the dynamic stage we are in, giving rise to a need for flexibility when setting performance goals, priorities and objectives. As a result, our Compensation Committee sets goals for our NEOs at the outset of the year and actively monitors our business, meeting periodically throughout the year to reassess, reprioritize and realign goals, as necessary, to ensure that these goals are aligned with our rapidly changing business needs. We are continually evaluating various compensation programs to implement as our business evolves. The disclosures below describe our current compensation practices.

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Elements of Executive Compensation

Overview of Compensation Components

The key elements of our executive compensation program include:

As a result, at target, on average 37.4% of our NEO’s cash compensation was “at risk” in 2021, which we believe best incentivizes our NEOs. We also provide compensation to our NEOs in the form of other benefits, consistent with all employees, such as participation in a 401(k) plan and health and welfare plans.

Annual Base Salary

Our Compensation Committee reviews the annual base salaries of our NEOs. In considering whether to change annual base salaries for 2021, our Compensation Committee considered management’s proposal for our NEOs. Our Compensation Committee determined not to change the base salaries of the NEOs for 2021.

Annual Incentive Award

Our Compensation Committee establishes a target annual incentive award amount for each NEO that is a percentage of their annual base salary. Annual incentive award payouts for our NEOs in 2021 were based on a combination of 30% Company-wide goals and 70% individual milestones, subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Each milestone is assigned a percentage of the target award amount such that achieving all the milestones would result in an award of the full target amount. In certain instances, a NEO may have milestones with aggregate percentages that exceed 100% of the target award. Annual targets, milestones and the related percentages are determined by our Compensation Committee on the basis of its assessment of our business for the coming year, with reference to recommendations for these items provided to our Compensation Committee by management.

Our Compensation Committee and our Board review the overall performance of our NEOs and achievement of the Company against stated goals, along with the milestones for each NEO and determines the award amount payable to such officer. While our Compensation Committee considers the established individual milestones in making an award determination, it also continually monitors changes in our business and is empowered throughout the year to adjust milestones if our business needs change such that an established milestone no longer aligns with our strategic priorities and goals or to set milestones as a result of changes to the business.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation; Amended and Restated 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Our Amended and Restated 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”), provides for the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to our employees and any parent and subsidiary employees, and for the grant of non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalent rights, cash-based awards (including annual cash incentives and long-term cash incentives), and any combination thereof to our employees, directors, and consultants and to employees, directors, and consultants of certain affiliated entities. We typically grant stock options at the start of employment to each NEO. Our Compensation Committee evaluates each year whether our NEOs will receive an award of equity-based compensation as one component of their overall compensation for such year. Our Compensation Committee establishes and reviews a target grant

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amount for each NEO based on comparable market data and to determine the amount granted to each NEO based on his individual performance and our overall performance as a Company. See “Compensation Decision Process” below.

We award our equity grants on the date our Board approves the grant recommended by our Compensation Committee. We set the option exercise price based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. For grants in connection with initial employment, vesting begins on the initial date of employment. Time vested stock option and RSU grants to our NEOs typically vest 25% on each anniversary of the vesting commencement date over a four-year period.

401(k) Plan

Our employees, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan. Our 401(k) plan is intended to qualify as a tax-qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code. Our 401(k) plan provides that each participant may contribute a portion of his or her pre-tax compensation, up to a statutory limit, which for most employees was $19,500 in 2021. Participants who are 50 years or older can also make “catch up” contributions, which in 2021 was up to an additional $6,500 (or a combined maximum of $26,000). Employee contributions are held and invested by the plan’s trustee. Our 401(k) plan also permits us to make discretionary contributions and matching contributions. We make matching contributions to our employees of an amount equal to 50% of their elective deferral which does not exceed 8% of their compensation.

Mandatory Provident Fund Arrangement

The Mandatory Provident Fund Plan (the “MPF Plan”) is a mandatory provident fund arrangement required under the laws of Hong Kong. Subject to certain required minimum and maximum levels under law, 5% percent of a participant’s relevant income must be contributed to the MPF Plan and total contributions are capped at $1,500 Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) a month. We match amounts contributed to the MPF Plan, which we contribute in HKD to the MPF Plan trustee, AIA International Limited by Autopay. Mr. Sze was the only NEO who participated in the MPF Plan.

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

On January 1, 2019, we froze our Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. Dr. Lau is the only NEO who is a participant in the plan. While no contributions can be made, Dr. Lau’s current contributions remain in the plan and, pursuant to his employment agreement, earn interest at a rate of four percent per annum until paid.

Pension Benefits

We do not have any qualified or non-qualified defined benefit pension plans.

Perquisites

We do not offer perquisites to our NEOs.

Compensation Decision Process

Role of Our Compensation Committee and Executive Officers

Our Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the total compensation of our executive officers including each of our NEOs. In this capacity, our Compensation Committee designs, implements, reviews and recommends to our Board the approval of all compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and our other NEOs.

Our Compensation Committee annually reviews and determines the compensation for our executive officers, including each of our NEOs. In setting base salaries, annual incentive awards and granting long-term equity

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incentive awards, as further described below, our Compensation Committee reviews compensation for similarly situated executives, the historical compensation levels of our executives, performance factors, and the overall goals and objectives of our philosophy and compensation program. We do not target a specific competitive position or a specific mix of compensation among base salary, incentive award or long-term equity incentive awards. Notwithstanding, our program is structured so that variable, or “at risk,” compensation makes up a significant percentage of total compensation for our NEOs. This ensures that the executives with the highest degree of responsibility to stockholders are held most accountable for results and changes in stockholder value.

Our Compensation Committee engaged Gallagher, a compensation consultant, to assist the Compensation Committee in studying the executive compensation of our officers and outside directors, assisting with the design of our 2021 bonus plan, reviewing our proxy statement disclosures, and other matters as may be directed by the Compensation Committee.

The performance factors described below are considered by our Compensation Committee in connection with our annual performance reviews and are a critical component in the determination of annual incentive awards and long-term equity incentive awards for our NEOs.

To aid our Compensation Committee in making its determination with respect to our other executive officers, our Chief Executive Officer provides recommendations annually to our Compensation Committee regarding the compensation of all other executive officers (other than himself) based on the overall corporate achievements during the period being assessed and his knowledge of the individual contributions to our success by each of the NEOs.

Based on those discussions and its discretion, our Compensation Committee then approves the compensation for our executive officers, including our NEOs. Our Board, without members of management present, discusses our Compensation Committee’s report on these matters and approves the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer.

Factors Considered

Our Compensation Committee considers a wide range of factors, including the following as and if they relate to the roles and responsibilities of a particular NEO, among others, when reviewing and approving, or recommending to our Board as applicable, the amount of each compensation element and the target total compensation opportunity for our executive officers (including our NEOs), some of which are specific to the skills and positions of our NEOs while others reflect Company-wide goals.

Annual incentive award payouts for our NEOs in 2021 were generally based on a combination of 30% Company-wide goals and 70% individual milestones, subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee. In 2021, the Company-wide goals were structured as follows:

Other factors considered include:

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Because Steve Adams served as interim Chief Accounting Officer for part of 2021, the Compensation Committee determined to award Mr. Adams an additional one-time cash bonus of $35,000 that was payable over a six-month period.

For Incentive Plan awards, the Compensation Committee determined to award each of the NEOs equity awards consisting of 50% stock options and 50% RSUs. Beginning one year from the date of grant, these awards vest 25% each year. The Compensation Committee decided to award the same number of equity awards in 2021 as in 2020.

Defining and Comparing Compensation to Market

In 2021, we used the following as a peer group for use in determining executive compensation:

We used the peer group in establishing the target annual incentive awards for our NEOs in 2021 and to support the decision to maintain the base salaries of our NEOs for 2021. Our Compensation Committee believes that it is important when making its compensation decisions to be informed as to the current practices of comparable public companies with which we compete for talent. To this end, our Compensation Committee reviews market data, using information that is generally available and provided by Gallagher the external compensation consultant, including financial data and information with respect to the compensation programs and practices of clinical stage public companies in our industry from proxy statements or through widely available compensation surveys, for each NEO’s position, including information relating to the mix and levels of compensation for similarly situated executive officers. As described in more detail above, our Compensation Committee has engaged Gallagher, a compensation consultant, and has the authority to assist Gallagher in its work as well as to determine the amount of remuneration provided to such consultants.

Stockholder Say-on-Pay

Our stockholders approved the advisory vote on the compensation for our NEOs at the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2022 Annual Meeting”). Our Board has recommended, subject to their further consideration of the preference of our stockholders (as reflected in the non-binding advisory vote on say-on-pay at the 2022 Annual Meeting and the frequency of future say-on-pay votes), that stockholders be provided an annual advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs.

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Executive Compensation Best Practices

Equity Compensation Policies

Our Compensation Committee approves equity awards for our NEOs and other executive officers and authorizes the CEO to approve equity awards for all other employees based on approved pools for annual and new hire grants. NEO awards are approved either at a regularly-scheduled meeting of our Compensation Committee or by unanimous written consent.

The exercise price of stock options is not less than the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the grant date of the stock option. We do not time grants of equity awards to coordinate with the release of material non-public information, and we have not timed the release of material non-public information for purposes of affecting the value of the compensation awarded to our NEOs or any other employee.

Recoupment and Clawbacks

Our Audit Committee has the authority to enact recoupment policies and procedures for cash incentives and equity awards in the event of certain financial restatements, should the committee feel such policies and procedures are necessary and advisable.

No Tax Gross-Ups

We do not provide tax gross-ups to our NEOs.

Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy

We have a policy that prohibits our executive officers, directors and other members of management from engaging in short sales, transactions in put or call options, hedging transactions, holding our securities in margin accounts, pledging transactions or other inherently speculative transactions with respect to our stock.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

On November 21, 2019, we adopted stock ownership guidelines that require all current executive officers and non-employee directors to hold a minimum number of shares of our common stock. The guidelines are intended to further align the interests of these executives and our directors with those of our stockholders. The minimum ownership thresholds are six times base salary for our CEO, three times base salary for all other executive officers, and three times annual cash retainer for non-employee directors.

When determining whether the executive officers or non-employee directors have met their ownership requirements under the policy, only shares held outright by the person (including shares held by immediate family members in the same household), shares held through partnerships, trusts or similar entities (but only to the extent the person has an economic interest in the underlying shares), shares subject to vested restricted stock units, and shares underlying up to 50% of vested in-the-money stock options are counted as owned for such calculation. Each executive or non-employee director has five years in order to meet their minimum ownership level, which will be adjusted annually until met. Currently, each of our NEOs and each of our non-employee directors either meets their minimum ownership level, or is within the five-year period in order to meet their minimum ownership level, under our stock ownership guidelines. The stock ownership guidelines empower our Compensation Committee to take such action as it deems appropriate for failure to meet the guidelines, and to grant waivers in limited circumstances.

Tax Implications of Executive Compensation

What follows is a general discussion of the tax and accounting implications of our executive compensation programs.

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Section 162(m) of the Code

Section 162(m) of the Code limits deductibility of certain compensation to $1,000,000 per year for federal income tax purposes for certain executive officers.

However, our Compensation Committee believes that tax deductibility concerns are only one of a number of important considerations for designing and implementing our compensation programs. Our Compensation Committee must also weigh the competing concerns of providing competitive pay and paying for performance as well as our Compensation Committee’s interest in having flexibility in structuring our compensation programs as our business evolves, even though such practices may result in non-deductible compensation expenses.

As a result, our Compensation Committee may from time to time approve compensation for our executive officers that may not be fully deductible pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code in order to achieve the desired goals of our compensation programs.

Accounting Considerations

Generally under U.S. GAAP, compensation is expensed as earned. We account for compensation expense associated with equity awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Compensation—Stock Compensation. For further details regarding the accounting for the compensation expense associated with equity awards, see Note 15—Stock Based Compensation to our audited financial statements contained in our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

2021 Executive Compensation Decisions

Total Target Cash Compensation—Base Salaries and Target Bonus Percentages

When determining 2021 base salary and target bonus percentage adjustments, our Compensation Committee considered Company and individual performance factors among other factors described herein. Our Compensation Committee (and our Board, with respect to our CEO) decided that for 2021, base salaries and target bonus percentages for each NEO would remain the same in 2021 as in 2020 and 2019 due to the Company’s setbacks with respect to the FDA approval of Oral Paclitaxel. The table below shows 2021 base salary, target incentive awards as a percentage of base salary and in real terms, along with actual incentive award amounts and percentage of the target award for each of our NEOs. Due to the Company’s stock price performance and the failure to obtain FDA approval for Oral Paclitaxel in 2021, the Company decided not to pay any incentive awards for 2021.

Typically, the annual incentive awards are paid in the first quarter of the year following the year these are earned in the form of cash bonuses. In determining the amounts paid to each NEO pursuant to the annual incentive

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awards, our Compensation Committee exercises its discretion and based its judgement of our NEO’s performance in accordance with our pay-for-performance philosophy and the need to retain and motivate the NEOs.

In March 2020, the Compensation Committee decided to implement a contingent, one-time bonus for Dr. Lau and Dr. Kwan equal to 30% and 40%, respectively, of their 2020 bonus targets, to be received if the Company is successful in obtaining FDA approval for Oral Paclitaxel in 2021. This goal was not achieved in 2021 and the one-time bonuses were not paid.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards

To grant annual long-term equity incentive awards to NEOs in 2021, our Compensation Committee considered the Company’s then-current stock price, the receipt of the CRL for Oral Paclitaxel, each NEO’s performance during 2021, the number of equity awards issued in 2020 and the potential amount that could be realized at different hypothetical stock prices upon exercise or vesting of those awards. Our Compensation Committee made final determinations in its discretion based on its judgment in accordance with our pay-for-performance philosophy and the need to retain and motivate these highly experienced and essential members of our management team.

Our Compensation Committee (and our Board, with respect to our CEO) determined to grant each NEO an award consisting of 50% stock options and 50% RSUs, subject to each individual’s continuous service. Beginning one year from the date of grant, these awards vest 25% each year. The Compensation Committee decided to award the same number of equity awards in 2021 as in 2020. See “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” for a table that sets forth the grants made to our NEOs pursuant to our 2020 long-term incentive compensation program.

Axis Equity Awards

In June 2018, we formed Axis Therapeutics Limited (“Axis”), a joint venture between us and Xiangxue Life Sciences Limited (“XLifeSc”) to develop and commercialize therapeutic products for oncology indications worldwide except in China. Axis is developing the TCR-T immunotherapy, one of the technologies in our Oncology Innovation Platform and is owned 45% by XLifeSc and 55% by us, and we are entitled to appoint three directors to Axis’s board and XLifeSc appoints two directors. At the time of the formation of Axis, a pool for equity awards to Axis employees, consultants and directors was created, and on November 15, 2020, equity awards made by Axis in 2019 to Johnson Lau, Randoll Sze and Daniel Lang, who served on Axis’s board or as an executive officer of Axis and whose contributions and efforts are important to the success of Axis, vested. The purpose for the awards was to motivate these NEOs to increase the value of Axis and thereby maximize the value of our 55% ownership interest in the Axis joint venture. Our Compensation Committee reviewed these Axis awards as part of its review of these NEOs’ total compensation and considered and will consider the Axis awards in its compensation decisions for these NEOs for 2020 and future years.

Compensation Risk Analysis

The Compensation Committee has reviewed our compensation policies as generally applicable to our employees and believes that our policies do not encourage excessive and unnecessary risk-taking, and that the level of risk that they do encourage is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, the Compensation Committee believes that the mix and design of the elements of executive compensation do not encourage our executive officers, including our NEOs, to assume excessive risks.

The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the elements of compensation to determine whether any portion of executive and non-executive compensation encourages excessive risk taking. Among the factors that the Compensation Committee considered are:

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COMPENSATION TABLES

Summary Compensation Table

The following table shows information regarding the compensation for our NEOs for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, if the officer was a named executive officer for that fiscal year.

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

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Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2021

The following table lists the outstanding equity awards held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2021: