This prospectus relates to the resale of
up to 818,900 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of certain outstanding warrants issued by us in a private placement.
We are not selling any shares of common
stock and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the warrant shares by the selling stockholders under this prospectus.
Upon the exercise of the warrants for all 818,900 shares of our common stock by payment of cash, however, we will receive aggregate
gross proceeds of approximately $3.2 million.
These shares will be resold from time to
time by the entities listed in the section titled “Selling Stockholders” beginning on page 6, which we refer to
as the selling stockholders. The shares of common stock offered under this prospectus by the selling stockholders are issuable
upon exercise of warrants issued in a private placement pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement entered into by and among
SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. and the selling stockholders, dated as of January 9, 2020 (the “Purchase Agreement”).
We are not selling any securities under this prospectus and will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of securities by
the selling stockholders.
The selling stockholders may sell the shares
of common stock described in this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about
how a selling stockholder may sell its shares of common stock in the section titled “Plan of Distribution” on page
8. We will pay the expenses incurred in registering the securities covered by the prospectus, including legal and accounting
fees.
Our common stock is traded on The
Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SLS”. On June 8, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock
was $3.86 per share.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained in other parts
of this prospectus. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information you should consider before investing
in our securities and it is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information
appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein. You should read all such documents
carefully, especially the risk factors and our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included herein,
before deciding to buy our securities. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to “SELLAS,”
“Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. and our
subsidiaries.
Company Overview
We are a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused
on developing novel cancer immunotherapeutics for a broad range of cancer indications. Our product candidates currently include
galinpepimut-S and nelipepimut-S.
Pipeline
Galinpepimut-S, or GPS
Our lead product candidate, galinpepimut-S, or GPS, is a cancer
immunotherapeutic agent licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, or MSK, that targets the Wilms tumor 1, or WT1, protein,
which is present in 20 or more cancer types. Based on its mechanism of action as a directly immunizing agent, GPS has potential
as a monotherapy or in combination with other immunotherapeutic agents to address a broad spectrum of hematologic, or blood, cancers
and solid tumor indications.
In January 2020, we commenced a Phase 3 trial for GPS monotherapy
in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, in the maintenance setting after achievement of their second complete remission,
or CRem2, following successful completion of second-line antileukemic therapy, which we refer to as the REGAL study. We expect
this study will be used as the basis for a Biologics License Application, or BLA, submission, subject to a statistically significant
and clinically meaningful data outcome and agreement with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, or the FDA. The study is expected
to enroll approximately 116 patients at approximately 50 clinical sites in the United States and Europe and is contemplated to
have a planned interim safety and futility analysis after 80 events (deaths).
In December 2018, we initiated a Phase 1/2 multi-arm (“basket”
type) clinical study of GPS in combination with Merck & Co., Inc.’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda® (pembrolizumab).
We plan to enroll up to approximately 90 patients at up to 20 centers in the United States. The initial tumor types being studied
are ovarian cancer (second or third line) and colorectal cancer (third or fourth line) with up to approximately 40 patients in
total in these two indications, to be followed by AML (in patients having achieved partial response as their best hematological
response after four cycles of therapy with hypomethylating agents), triple negative breast cancer, or TNBC, (second line), and
small cell lung cancer, or SCLC.
GPS was granted Orphan Drug Product Designations from the FDA,
as well as Orphan Medicinal Product Designations from the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, for GPS in AML, malignant pleural
mesothelioma, or MPM, and multiple myeloma, or MM, as well as Fast Track Designation for AML, MPM, and MM from the FDA.
Nelipepimut-S or NPS
Nelipepimut-S, or NPS, is a cancer immunotherapy targeting the
human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2, expressing cancers. Data presented in 2018 from a Phase 2b clinical trial of
the combination of trastuzumab (Herceptin®) plus NPS in HER2 low expressing (1+ or 2+ per immunohistochemistry, or IHC) breast
cancer patients in the adjuvant setting to prevent recurrences showed a clinically and statistically significant improvement in
the disease-free survival, or DFS, rate for the TNBC cohort at 24 months for patients treated with NPS plus trastuzumab of 92.6%
compared to 70.2% for those treated with trastuzumab alone. Following ongoing discussions with the FDA and based upon written feedback
from the FDA and on the totality of clinical, safety and translational NPS data to date, we have finalized the design and plan
for a Phase 3 registration-enabling study of NPS in combination with trastuzumab for the treatment of patients with TNBC in the
adjuvant setting after standard treatment. If successful, we believe this study may be considered as the basis for a BLA submission
to the FDA. We are seeking out-licensing opportunities to fund and conduct the future clinical development of NPS in order to maximize
the potential of the program and we do not plan to conduct and fund a Phase 3 program for NPS on our own.
FBP-targeting bivalent vaccine (GALE-301/-302)
In order to prioritize development of our core assets, we have
determined to cease development of GALE-301 and GALE-302, cancer immunotherapies that target the E39 peptide derived from the folate
binding protein, or FBP, which were licensed in from The Henry M. Jackson Foundation, or HJF, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center,
or MDACC. We are currently negotiating a termination of the license agreement with HJF and MDACC.
The chart below summarizes the current status of our clinical
development pipeline:
Cancer Immunotherapy Market Overview
According to a January 2020 report by Kelly Scientific Publications,
cancer immunotherapy drugs have already captured nearly 50% of the overall oncology drugs market in 2019, generating about $75
billion in that year alone, and are forecast to surpass $115 billion in 2023. Additionally, an October 2019 Allied Market Research
report on the estimated entire market value of oncology drugs (of any type) suggests that cancer immunotherapies could represent
up to 77% of that total value by 2023. According to a report published in September 2018, it was projected that approximately 70%
of the 2019 immunotherapy market would be comprised of checkpoint inhibitors (~30% of the market share), immune synapse co-stimulators
and bispecific monoclonal antibodies (~40% of the market share), as well as approximately 30% of other immunotherapies, including
chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and other cell-based modalities (e.g., ex vivo modified natural killer or NK cells).
It is predicted that the checkpoint inhibitor market share will decrease slightly by 2023, reaching a 27% value (from a 30% value
in 2019), as novel therapies, including peptide cancer active immunizers (vaccines) such as our product candidates, GPS and NPS
and cell-based therapies, advance into regulatory approvals and use in the cancer market.
The total number of newly diagnosed patients with AML per year
in the United States is approximately 21,450 (2019 epidemiological data: American Cancer Society). It is estimated that the number
of adult patients of any age with AML in the United States per year who successfully enter into CRem2, the indication of our REGAL
study, is approximately 2,000 patients and approximately 4,700 patients outside of the United States in the rest of the world,
or ROW, while the number of patients who achieve CRem1 is estimated to be approximately 16,400 patients in the United States and
approximately 38,100 patients ROW. The number of patients potentially eligible for GPS maintenance therapy after achievement of
CRem2 status is approximately 1,200 patients in the United States and approximately 2,800 patients ROW.
Recent Developments
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the
outbreak of a new coronavirus to be a “pandemic.” First identified in 2019 and known now as COVID-19, the outbreak
has resulted in various “stay-at-home” and “shutdown” orders through the various states in the United States
as well as most countries worldwide. The pandemic has impacted millions of individuals and businesses worldwide. As we have functioned
operationally as a semi-virtual company, the transition to “work-from home” for our employees has not materially altered
our business operations. Our Phase 3 REGAL study is in its early stages, with the necessary work to activate additional sites in
the United States and Europe continuing without material interruption. Screening is ongoing at the majority of the sites in the
GPS + pembrolizumab combination study although certain sites have limited operations to some extent. Due to the uncertainty of
these limitations regarding the sites, we now expect initial clinical data in the first half of 2021. We have been informed by
MSK that while it is continuing to dose the patients already enrolled in the MPM IST, it is not currently enrolling additional
patients. We believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has not materially impacted our efforts to out-license NPS. The extent to which
the coronavirus impacts the Company's operations will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted
with confidence, including the duration of the outbreak, the re-emergence of a second outbreak in the fall or winter, new information
which may emerge concerning the severity of the coronavirus and the actions to contain the coronavirus or treat its impact, among
others. In particular, the continued spread of the coronavirus globally could adversely impact the Company's clinical trial operations
and could have an adverse impact on the Company's business and the Company's financial results.
Risks Associated with Our Business
Our business is subject to a number of risks of which you should
be aware before making an investment decision. These risks are discussed more fully in the “Risk Factors” section
of this prospectus immediately following this prospectus summary. These risks include the following:
|
·
|
Our business may be adversely affected by the recent coronavirus outbreak.
|
|
·
|
We have incurred substantial losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur substantial and increasing
losses for the foreseeable future.
|
|
·
|
We will need significant additional financing to fund our operations and complete the development and, if approved, the commercialization
of our product candidates. If we are unable to raise capital when needed, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our
product development programs or commercialization efforts.
|
|
·
|
We currently have no source of revenues. We may never generate revenues or achieve profitability.
|
|
·
|
We expect to continue to incur significant operating and non-operating expenses, which may make it difficult for us to secure
sufficient financing and may lead to uncertainty about our ability to continue as a going concern.
|
|
·
|
We have announced that we are considering strategic alternatives in order to maximize stockholder value. We may not be able
to identify or consummate a suitable transaction as a result of this review.
|
|
·
|
We have been involved in multiple legal and governmental proceedings, and may in the future be involved in proceedings, relating
to the commercial activities of our predecessor that could adversely affect our financial condition and our business.
|
|
·
|
We are dependent on technologies we license, and if we lose the right to license such technologies or we fail to license new
technologies in the future, our ability to develop new products would be harmed, and if we fail to meet our obligations under our
license agreements, we may lose the ability to develop our product candidates.
|
|
·
|
We are currently a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with product candidates in clinical development. If we are unable
to successfully develop and commercialize product candidates or experiences significant delays in doing so, our business may be
materially harmed.
|
|
·
|
Our future success is dependent on the regulatory approval of our product candidates.
|
Additional Information
For additional information related to our business and operations,
please refer to the reports incorporated herein by reference, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 as filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020, or the 2019 Form 10-K, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020 as filed with the SEC on May 14, 2020, or the 2020 Form 10-Q, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed
with the SEC, as described in the section entitled “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” beginning on page
14 of this prospectus.
Our Corporate Information
We were incorporated on April 3, 2006 in Delaware as Argonaut
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. On November 28, 2006, we changed our name to RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation and began operations in January
2007. On September 26, 2011, we changed our name to Galena Biopharma, Inc. In December, 2017, we completed the business combination
with the privately held Bermuda exempted company, Sellas Life Sciences Group Ltd., or Private SELLAS, which we refer to throughout
the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part as the “Merger.” As a result of the Merger, our business
is now substantially comprised of the business of Private SELLAS. Upon completion of the Merger, we changed our name from “Galena
Biopharma, Inc.” to “SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.,” our common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Capital
Market under a new ticker symbol “SLS” on January 2, 2018 and our financial statements became those of Private SELLAS.
Our principal executive offices are located at 15 West 38th
Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018, and our phone number is (917) 438-4353. Our website address is www.sellaslife.com.
The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have included our
website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
Registered Direct Offering of Common Stock and Concurrent
Private Placement of Warrants
On January 9, 2020, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement
(the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain investors named therein (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we
agreed to issue and sell, in a registered direct offering directly to the Investors (the “Registered Offering”), (i)
an aggregate of 1,189,000 shares (the “Shares”) of our common stock at an offering price of $3.9825 per share and (ii)
an aggregate of 448,800 pre-funded warrants exercisable for shares of common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) at an
offering price of $3.9725 per Pre-Funded Warrant, for gross proceeds of approximately $6.5 million before deducting the placement
agent fee and related offering expenses.
In a concurrent private placement (the “Private Placement”
and together with the Registered Offering, the “Offerings”), we agreed to issue to the Investors who participated in
the Registered Offering warrants (the “Warrants” and collectively with the Shares and the Pre-Funded Warrants, the
“Securities”) exercisable for an aggregate of 818,900 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.93 per share.
Each Warrant was immediately exercisable and will expire five and one-half years from the issuance date. The Warrants and the shares
of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants were offered pursuant to the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2)
under the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder. We closed such Offerings on January 13, 2020.
THE OFFERING
Securities offered by the selling stockholders
|
|
818,900 shares.
|
|
|
|
Common Stock to be outstanding after this offering, assuming exercise of the Warrants issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
|
|
7,536,800 shares.
|
|
|
|
Terms of the offering
|
|
The selling stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares covered hereby on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. See “Plan of Distribution.”
|
|
|
|
Use of Proceeds
|
|
We may receive up to approximately $3.2 million in aggregate gross proceeds from cash exercises of the Warrants, based on the per share exercise price of the Warrants. Any proceeds we receive from the exercise of the Warrants will be used to advance our clinical programs and for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”
|
|
|
|
Risk Factors
|
|
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus and the similarly entitled sections in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
|
|
|
|
Nasdaq Capital Market symbol
|
|
Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SLS.”
|
Except as otherwise indicated herein, the number of shares of
our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 6,717,900 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31,
2020 and excludes:
|
·
|
1,210,148 shares of Common Stock issuable as of the date hereof upon the exercise of common stock warrants outstanding as of
March 31, 2020 at a weighted average exercise price of $34.01 per share;
|
|
·
|
193,520 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2020 at a weighted-average
exercise price of $14.23 per share;
|
|
·
|
170,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of March 31, 2020 at a weighted-average
grant date fair value of $1.89 per share;
|
|
·
|
114,689 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2020; and
|
|
·
|
8,302 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of March 31, 2020.
|
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk.
Before investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained in this prospectus
and discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as revised or supplemented by subsequent filings, which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated
herein by reference, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC
in the future. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects could be materially and adversely
affected by any of these risks. In these circumstances, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all
or part of your investment.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference
into this prospectus include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied
by these forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,”
“contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “predict,” “poise,” “project,”
“potential,” “suggest,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,”
“would,” and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Although we believe that
we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this prospectus and incorporated by reference into this
prospectus, we caution you that these statements are based on our projections of the future that are subject to known and unknown
risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed
or implied by these forward-looking statements, to differ. The section in this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors”
and the sections in our periodic reports, including the 2019 Form 10-K entitled “Business,” and in the 2019 Form 10-K
and the 2020 Form 10-Q entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,”
as well as other sections in this prospectus and the documents or reports incorporated by reference into this prospectus, discuss
some of the factors that could contribute to these differences. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements
about:
|
·
|
the extent to which our business may be adversely affected by the recent COVID-19 outbreak;
|
|
·
|
our projected financial position and estimated cash burn rate;
|
|
·
|
our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements;
|
|
·
|
our ability to continue as a going concern;
|
|
·
|
our need to raise substantial additional capital to fund our operations;
|
|
·
|
the success, cost and timing of our clinical trials;
|
|
·
|
our dependence on third parties in the conduct of our clinical trials;
|
|
·
|
our ability to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to market and commercialize our product candidates;
|
|
·
|
the potential that results of preclinical and clinical trials indicate our current product candidates or any future product
candidates we may seek to develop are unsafe or ineffective;
|
|
·
|
the results of market research conducted by us or others;
|
|
·
|
our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our current product candidates;
|
|
·
|
our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and the potential for us to incur substantial costs from lawsuits to
enforce or protect our intellectual property rights;
|
|
·
|
the possibility that a third party may claim we have infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated their intellectual property
rights and that we may incur substantial costs and be required to devote substantial time defending against these claims;
|
|
·
|
our reliance on third-party suppliers and manufacturers;
|
|
·
|
the success of competing therapies and products that are or become available;
|
|
·
|
our ability to expand our organization to accommodate potential growth and our ability to retain and attract key personnel;
|
|
·
|
the potential for us to incur substantial costs resulting from product liability lawsuits against us and the potential for
these product liability lawsuits to cause us to limit our commercialization of our product candidates;
|
|
·
|
market acceptance of our product candidates, the size and growth of the potential markets for our current product candidates
and any future product candidates we may seek to develop, and our ability to serve those markets; and
|
|
·
|
the successful development of our commercialization capabilities, including sales and marketing capabilities.
|
Our current product candidates are undergoing clinical development
and have not been approved by the FDA or the European Commission. These product candidates have not been, nor may they ever be,
approved by any regulatory agency or competent authorities nor marketed anywhere in the world.
We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or
expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as our current plans, estimates and beliefs. We have
included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this document, particularly in the section entitled
“Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus that we believe could cause actual results or events
to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly
changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can
we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Given these risks and
uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking
statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the
potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make. You should
read this prospectus and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to this prospectus and incorporated by reference herein
completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from the plans, intentions
and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. The forward-looking statements contained in this
prospectus are made as of the date of this prospectus and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of securities
by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus. We may receive up to approximately $3.2 million in aggregate gross proceeds
from cash exercises of the Warrants, based on the per share exercise price of the Warrants. Any proceeds we receive from the exercise
of the Warrants will be used to advance our clinical programs and for general corporate purposes.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The shares of common stock being offered
by the selling stockholders are those issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. For additional information regarding the issuance
of these securities, see “Prospectus Summary—Registered Direct Offering of Common Stock and Concurrent Private Placement
of Warrants” on page 3 of this prospectus. We are registering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants in order to permit the selling stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership
of the Warrants, the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and other financings completed by us, the selling
stockholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.
The following table sets forth certain
information with respect to each selling stockholder, including (i) the shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the selling
stockholder prior to this offering, (ii) the number of shares being offered by the selling stockholder pursuant to this prospectus
and (iii) the selling stockholder’s beneficial ownership after completion of this offering. The registration of the shares
of common stock issuable to the selling stockholders upon the exercise of the Warrants does not necessarily mean that the selling
stockholders will sell all or any of such shares, but the number of shares and percentages set forth in the final two columns below
assume that all shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholders are sold.
The table is based on information supplied
to us by the selling stockholders, with beneficial ownership and percentage ownership determined in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the SEC, and includes voting or investment power with respect to shares of stock. This information does not necessarily
indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a selling stockholder
and the percentage ownership of that selling stockholder, shares of common stock subject to warrants held by that selling stockholder
that are exercisable within 60 days after May 29, 2020, are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding
for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The percentage of beneficial ownership after this offering
is based on 6,717,900 shares of common stock outstanding on May 14, 2020.
This prospectus covers the resale of 818,900
shares of our common stock that may be sold or otherwise disposed of by the selling stockholders. Such shares are issuable to the
selling stockholders upon the exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants are immediately exercisable on the date of their issuance
and expire five and a half (5.5) years from the date they became exercisable. All of the Warrants have an exercise price of $3.93
per share. See “Prospectus Summary —Registered Direct Offering of Common Stock and Concurrent Private Placement of
Warrants” above for a complete description of the Warrants. The selling stockholders may sell all, some or none of their
shares in this offering, but the number of shares and percentages set forth in the final two columns below assume that all shares
of common stock being offered by the selling stockholders are sold. See “Plan of Distribution.”
Selling
Security Holder (1)
|
|
Number of Shares
of
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned
Prior to Offering (2)
|
|
|
Number of Shares
of
Common Stock
Underlying Warrants Offered
Hereby (3)
|
|
|
Number of Shares
of
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
After Offering (4)
|
|
|
% of Shares
of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned
After
Offering (4)
|
|
Anson Investments Master Fund LP (5)
|
|
|
409,900
|
|
|
|
409,900
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
CVI Investments, Inc. (5)
|
|
|
415,323
|
|
|
|
409,000
|
|
|
|
6,323
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
(1)
|
This table and the information in the notes below are based upon information supplied by the selling stockholder, including
reports and amendments thereto filed with the SEC on Schedule 13D and Schedule 13G.
|
|
(2)
|
The shares of common stock underlying warrants are convertible or exercisable within 60 days of May 29, 2020.
|
|
(3)
|
The actual number of shares of common stock offered hereby and included in the registration statement of which this prospectus
forms a part includes, in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act, such indeterminate number of additional shares of
our common stock as may become issuable in connection with any proportionate adjustment for any stock splits, stock combinations,
stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar events with respect to the common stock.
|
|
(4)
|
Assumes the exercise in full of the warrants and sale of all warrant shares registered pursuant to this prospectus, although
the selling stockholders are under no obligation known to us to sell any shares of common stock at this time.
|
(5)
|
Anson Advisors Inc and Anson Funds Management LP,
the Co-Investment Advisers of Anson Investments Master Fund LP (“Anson”), hold voting and dispositive power over the
Common Shares held by Anson. Bruce Winson is the managing member of Anson Management GP LLC, which is the general partner of Anson
Funds Management LP. Moez Kassam and Amin Nathoo are directors of Anson Advisors Inc. Mr. Winson, Mr. Kassam and Mr. Nathoo each
disclaim beneficial ownership of these Common Shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The principal business
address of Anson is Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008,
Cayman Islands.
|
(6)
|
Heights Capital Management, Inc., the authorized agent
of CVI Investments, Inc. (“CVI”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by CVI and may
be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Kobinger, in his capacity as Investment Manager of Heights Capital
Management, Inc., may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by CVI. Mr. Kobinger
disclaims any such beneficial ownership of the shares. CVI Investments, Inc. is affiliated with one or more FINRA member,
none of whom are currently expected to participate in the sale pursuant to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement
of Shares purchased by the Investor in this Offering. The principal business address of Heights is PO Box 309GT, Ugland
House, South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
|
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each selling stockholder of the securities
and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered
hereby on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded
or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A selling stockholder may use any one or more of
the following methods when selling securities:
|
·
|
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
|
|
·
|
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion
of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
|
|
·
|
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
|
|
·
|
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
|
|
·
|
privately negotiated transactions;
|
|
·
|
settlement of short sales;
|
|
·
|
in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities
at a stipulated price per security;
|
|
·
|
through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
|
|
·
|
a combination of any such methods of sale; or
|
|
·
|
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
|
The selling stockholders may also sell
securities under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this
prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders
may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling
stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated,
but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary
brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction, a markup or markdown in compliance
with FINRA IM-2440.
In connection with the sale of the securities
or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions,
which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders
may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities
to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions
with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such
broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other
financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers
or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the
Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any
profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities
Act. Each selling stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly
or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.
The Company is required to pay certain
fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the
selling stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective
until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the selling stockholders without registration and without
regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance
with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of
the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect.
The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities
laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or
qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and
is complied with.
Pursuant to applicable rules and
regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously
engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in
Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling stockholders will be subject to
applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit
the timing of purchases and sales of the common stock by the selling stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of
this prospectus available to the selling stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus
to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our capital stock summarizes the
material terms and provisions of our common stock and our preferred stock. For the complete terms of our common stock, please refer
to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, each as amended to date, that are
incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or may be incorporated by reference
into this prospectus. The terms of these securities may also be affected by the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL.
The summary below is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended
and restated bylaws, each as in effect at the time of any offering of securities under this prospectus.
General
Our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 350,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and
5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share.
As of March 31, 2020, there were:
|
·
|
6,717,900 shares of common stock outstanding;
|
|
·
|
193,520 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options;
|
|
·
|
170,000 shares of common stock issuable upon settlement of outstanding RSUs; and
|
|
·
|
warrants outstanding for the purchase of an aggregate of 1,120,148 shares of common stock;
|
Common Stock
Voting
Each holder of our common
stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of
directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not provide for cumulative
voting rights. Because of this absence of cumulative voting, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to
vote in any election of directors can elect all the directors standing for election, if they should so choose.
Dividends
Subject to preferences
that may be applicable to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably
those dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.
Liquidation
In the event of our dissolution
or liquidation, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution
to stockholders after the payment of all our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any preferential rights that may
be granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of common stock
have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the
common stock. The rights, preferences, and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected
by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock.
Fully-paid
All of the outstanding
shares of our common stock are, and the shares of common stock issued upon the conversion of any securities convertible into our
common stock will be, fully paid and non-assessable. The shares of common stock offered by this prospectus or upon the
conversion of any preferred stock or debt securities or exercise of any warrants offered pursuant to this prospectus, when issued
and paid for, will also be, fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
Under our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 5,000,000
shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These
rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation
preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of such series, any or all
of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting
power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.
In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of
our company or other corporate action.
The following summary of terms of our
preferred stock is not complete. You should refer to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and
amended and restated bylaws and the resolutions containing the terms of each class or series of the preferred stock which have
been or will be filed with the SEC at or prior to the time of issuance of such class or series of preferred stock and described
in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth herein
are inapplicable to such series of preferred stock, provided that the information set forth in such prospectus supplement does
not constitute material changes to the information herein such that it alters the nature of the offering or the securities offered.
Our board of directors will fix the
designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the preferred stock of each series we issue under this prospectus, as well
as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will
file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports
that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock
we are offering. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of preferred stock being offered,
including, to the extent applicable:
|
·
|
the title and stated value;
|
|
·
|
the number of shares we are offering;
|
|
·
|
the liquidation preference per share;
|
|
·
|
the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends;
|
|
·
|
whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;
|
|
·
|
the procedures for any auction and remarketing;
|
|
·
|
the provisions for a sinking fund;
|
|
·
|
the provisions for redemption or repurchase and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase
rights;
|
|
·
|
any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;
|
|
·
|
whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock or other securities, and the conversion rate or conversion
price, or how they will be calculated, and the conversion period;
|
|
·
|
whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and the exchange rate or exchange price, or how they
will be calculated, and the exchange period;
|
|
·
|
voting rights of the preferred stock;
|
|
·
|
restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment;
|
|
·
|
whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;
|
|
·
|
a discussion of material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;
|
|
·
|
the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind
up our affairs;
|
|
·
|
any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on parity with the series of
preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and
|
|
·
|
any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock.
|
If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus,
they will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The DGCL provides that the holders of preferred stock will have
the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of such preferred
stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.
The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the
voting power, conversion or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend
payments and payments upon liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring
or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have
the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
Warrants
As
of March 31, 2020, we had warrants outstanding to purchase 1,120,148 shares
of our common stock.
Possible Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate
of Incorporation and Bylaws
Provisions of the DGCL and our amended
and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire our company by
means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized
below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and takeover bids that our board of directors may
consider inadequate and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with our board of directors.
We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited
proposal to acquire or restructure our company outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because,
among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Classified Board
Our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes. The directors
designated as Class I directors have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2020. The directors designated
as Class II directors will have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2021, and the directors designated
as Class III directors will have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2022. Directors for each class will
be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year in which the term for that class expires and thereafter will
serve for a term of three years. In order to more evenly divide the classes of directors, and consistent with our amended and
restated bylaws, John Varian has agreed that, if he is reelected at the 2020 annual meeting as a Class I director, he will resign
from his Class I director seat, and the Board will simultaneously appoint him to a newly created directorship in Class III. As
a result, Mr. Varian would be up for reelection with other Class III directors at the 2022 annual meeting, rather than with the
Class I directors at the 2023 annual meeting.
At any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the
election will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the election. Under the classified
board provisions, it would take at least two elections of directors for any individual or group to gain control of our board. Accordingly,
these provisions could discourage a third party from initiating a proxy contest, making a tender offer or otherwise attempting
to gain control of our company.
Removal of Directors
Our amended and restated bylaws provide
that our stockholders may only remove our directors with cause.
Amendment
Our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our voting
stock then outstanding is required to amend certain provisions relating to the number, term, election and removal of our directors,
the filling of our board vacancies, stockholder notice procedures, the calling of special meetings of stockholders and the indemnification
of directors. Further, any amendments of our bylaws must be approved by our stockholders as our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation does not authorize our board of directors to amend our bylaws.
Size of Board and Vacancies
Our amended and restated bylaws provide
that the number of directors on our board of directors is fixed exclusively by our board of directors. Newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in our authorized number of directors will be filled by a majority of our board of directors then in
office, provided that a majority of the entire board of directors, or a quorum, is present and any vacancies in our board of directors
resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause will be filled generally by
the majority vote of our remaining directors in office, even if less than a quorum is present.
Special Stockholder Meetings
Our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation provides that only the Chairman of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our board of directors
pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors we would have if there were no vacancies may call
special meetings of our stockholders.
Stockholder Action by Unanimous Written Consent
Our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation expressly eliminates the right of our stockholders to act by written consent.
Requirements for Advance Notification
of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
Our amended and restated bylaws provide
advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors other than
nominations made by or at the direction of board of directors or a committee of our board of directors.
No Cumulative Voting
The DGCL provides that stockholders
are denied the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
Undesignated Preferred Stock
The authority that is possessed by
our board of directors to issue preferred stock could potentially be used to discourage attempts by third parties to obtain control
of our company through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or otherwise by making it more difficult or costlier to obtain control
of our company. Our board of directors may issue preferred stock with voting rights or conversion rights that, if exercised, could
adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
Our authorized but unissued shares
of common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. We may use additional shares
for a variety of purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to fund acquisitions and as employee
compensation. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or
discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
The above provisions may deter a hostile
takeover or delay a change in control or management of our company.
Listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq
Capital Market under the symbol “SLS”. On May 27, 2020, the closing price of our common stock was $3.60 per share.
As of May 27, 2020, we had approximately 26 stockholders of record.
The applicable prospectus supplement
will contain information, where applicable, as to other listing, if any, on The Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange
of the preferred stock covered by such prospectus supplement.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and
registrar for our capital stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Its address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021. Its telephone
number is (201) 680-4503.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered hereby is being passed
upon for us by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., New York, New York.
EXPERTS
Our consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, have been audited by Moss Adams LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial
statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm (which report expresses an unqualified opinion
and includes an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s going concern uncertainty) given upon their authority as
experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current
reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under
the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of our securities under this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain
all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information
with respect to us and the securities offered under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits
filed as a part of the registration statement. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information
statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including SELLAS Life Sciences Group,
Inc. The SEC’s Internet site can be found at www.sec.gov. We maintain a website at www.sellaslife.com. Information found
on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not consider
it part of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information
we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have
filed separately with the SEC. You should read the information incorporated by reference because it is an important part of this
prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to
the date of this prospectus, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information
in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is
a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (Commission File No. 001-33958):
We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than
current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items
unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus
is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the
termination of the offering of the common stock made by this prospectus and will become a part of this prospectus from the date
that such documents are filed with the SEC. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided
in this prospectus. Any statements in any such future filings will automatically be deemed to modify and supersede any information
in any document we previously filed with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference to the extent
that statements in the later filed document modify or replace such earlier statements.
We will furnish without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated
by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated
by reference into such documents. You should direct any requests for documents to SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc., Attention:
Corporate Secretary, 15 West 38th Street, 10th Floor, New York, New York 10018. Our phone number is (917) 438-4353.
You should rely only on information contained in, or
incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you
with information different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We are
not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in
which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such
offer or solicitation.
SELLAS Life Sciences (NASDAQ:SLS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024
SELLAS Life Sciences (NASDAQ:SLS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024