424B4 1 pbla20230617_424b4.htm FORM 424B4 pbla20230617_424b4.htm

 

   

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4)

Registration No. 333-271729

PROSPECTUS

   

 

 

2,270,000 Shares of Common Stock

 

Class A Common Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 Shares of Common Stock

 

Class B Common Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 Shares of Common Stock

 

Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 Shares of Common Stock

 

Up to 6,810,000 Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants

 

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This is a best efforts public offering of (a) 2,270,000 shares of our common stock, $0.001 par value per share, (b) Class A Common Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 shares of our common stock (the “Class A Warrants”), and (c) Class B Common Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 shares of our common stock (the “Class B Warrants” and, together with the Class A Warrants, the “common warrants”) at a public offering price of $3.75 per share. Each share of our common stock is being sold together with a Class A Warrant to purchase one share of our common stock and a Class B Warrant to purchase one share of our common stock. Each common warrant will have an exercise price of $3.75 per share (100% of the public offering price per share and common warrants), will be exercisable upon issuance, and will expire five years from the date of issuance.

 

We are also offering to those purchasers, if any, whose purchase of common stock in this offering would otherwise result in any such purchaser, together with its affiliates, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of such purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase pre-funded warrants in lieu of shares of our common stock that would otherwise result in such purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% (or, at the election of such purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding common stock. The purchase price for each pre-funded warrant will equal the per share public offering price for the common stock in this offering less the $0.001 per share exercise price of each such pre-funded warrant. Each pre-funded warrant will be exercisable upon issuance and will not expire prior to exercise. For each pre-funded warrant we sell, the number of shares of common stock we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis.

 

For purposes of clarity, each share of common stock or pre-funded warrant to purchase one share of common stock is being sold together with a Class A Warrant to purchase one share of common stock and a Class B Warrant to purchase one share of common stock.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PBLA.” On June 15, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $5.81 per share. None of the common warrants or pre-funded warrants are listed on a national securities exchange. We do not intend to apply to list the common warrants or pre-funded warrants on any national securities exchange. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the common warrants and pre-funded warrants may be limited.

 

On June 1, 2023, our company effected a 1-for-30 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock. The primary reason we effected the reverse stock split was to attempt to increase the per share market price of our common stock to exceed the minimum closing bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Unless specifically provided otherwise herein, the share and per share information that follows in this prospectus, other than in the historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein assumes the effect of the reverse stock split.

 

 

 

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading Risk Factors beginning on page 8 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in any amendments or supplements to this prospectus, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any similar section contained in any documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

We expect this offering to be completed within two business days following the commencement of this offering and we will deliver all securities to be issued in connection with this offering delivery versus payment upon receipt of investor funds received by us. Accordingly, there is no arrangement to receive or place investor funds in an escrow, trust or any similar account.

 

We have engaged Roth Capital Partners, LLC as our exclusive placement agent (“Roth” or the “placement agent”) to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase our securities in this offering. The placement agent has no obligation to purchase any of the securities from us or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the securities. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to closing in this offering the actual public offering amount, placement agent’s fee, and proceeds to us, if any, are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the total maximum offering amounts set forth above and throughout this prospectus. We have agreed to pay the placement agent the placement agent fees set forth in the table below and to provide certain other compensation to the placement agent. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 27 of this prospectus for more information regarding these arrangements.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

   

Per Share and
Common
Warrant

   

Per Pre-Funded

Warrant and

Common

Warrant

   

Total

 

Public offering price

  $ 3.75     $ 3.7490     $ 8,510,816  

Placement Agent fees(1)

  $ 0.2625     $ 0.2624     $ 595,707  

Proceeds to us, before expenses(2)

  $ 3.4875     $ 3.4866     $ 7,915,109  

 


(1)

Represents a cash fee equal to seven percent (7%) of the aggregate purchase price paid by investors in this offering. We have also agreed to reimburse the placement agent for its accountable offering-related legal expenses in an amount up to $100,000. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 27 of this prospectus for a description of the compensation to be received by the placement agent.

(2)

The above summary of offering proceeds does not give effect to any proceeds from the exercise of the common warrants or pre-funded warrants being issued in this offering.

 

Delivery of the shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants to certain of the investors, together with accompanying common warrants, is expected to be made on or about June 21, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

 

Roth Capital Partners

 

The date of this prospectus is June 16, 2023

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

ii

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

iii

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

1

THE OFFERING

6

RISK FACTORS

8

USE OF PROCEEDS

20

CAPITALIZATION

21

DILUTION

22

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

23

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

27

LEGAL MATTERS

32

EXPERTS

32

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

32

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

32

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

We incorporate by reference important information into this prospectus. You may obtain the information incorporated by reference without charge by following the instructions under “Where You Can Find More Information.” You should carefully read this prospectus as well as additional information described under “Information Incorporated by Reference,” before deciding to invest in our securities.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the placement agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus. We take no responsibility for and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of any other information that others may give you. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to offer and sell our securities. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We are not, and the placement agent is not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

 

For investors outside the United States: We have not and the placement agent has not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

This prospectus includes statistical and other industry and market data that we obtained from industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. We believe that the data obtained from these industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies are reliable. We are ultimately responsible for all disclosure included in this prospectus.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, as supplemented and amended. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus may only be accurate on the date of this prospectus.

 

We urge you to carefully read this prospectus, as supplemented and amended, before deciding whether to invest in any of the securities being offered.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this prospectus. These factors include:

 

 

our lack of diversification and the corresponding risk of an investment in our Company;

 

potential deterioration of our financial condition and results due to failure to diversify;

 

our ability to successfully complete acquisitions;

 

our ability to integrate acquired companies and operations for new product candidates

 

our ability to obtain additional capital, on acceptable terms or at all, required to implement our business plan;

 

final results of our Phase I clinical trial;

 

progress and success of our randomized Phase II/III clinical trial;

 

our ability to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of our product candidate;

 

our ability to obtain regulatory approvals for our product candidate in the United States, the European Union, or other international markets;

 

the market acceptance and future sales of our product candidate;

 

the cost and delays in product development that may result from changes in regulatory oversight applicable to our product candidate;

 

the rate of progress in establishing reimbursement arrangements with third-party payors;

 

the effect of competing technological and market developments;

 

the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and enforcing or defending patent claims; and

 

other risk factors included under the caption “Risk Factors” starting on page 8 of this prospectus.

 

You should read the matters described in “Risk Factors” and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate and therefore you are encouraged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. You should read this prospectus completely. Other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, even though our situation may change in the future.

 

We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement that speaks only as of the date made and to recognize that forward-looking statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results due to the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, as well as others that we may consider immaterial or do not anticipate at this time. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. Our expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions that we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described i under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus are not exclusive and further information concerning us and our business, including factors that potentially could materially affect our financial results or condition, may emerge from time to time. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements. We advise stockholders and investors to consult any further disclosures we may make on related subjects in our subsequent annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K that we file with or furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

iii

 
 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes and the information set forth under the headings Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in each case included elsewhere in this prospectus. Unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to Panbela, the Company, we, us, our and similar references refer to Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

Business Overview

 

Panbela is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for the treatment of patients with urgent unmet medical needs. We are currently enrolling patients in our randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and we are a regulatory and commercial collaborator in a Phase III clinical trial funded by the National Cancer Institute (the “NCI”) for the study of colon cancer risk reduction and colon adenoma therapy (“CAT”), a preventative treatment approach for survivors of colorectal cancer or those who have high-risk colon polyps. In addition, the Company is designing a global protocol for a Phase III registration trial for familial adenomatous polyposis (“FAP”), a rare inherited condition that can cause the growth of thousands of colorectal adenomas (i.e., adenomatous polyps), which are recognized as a key risk factor for colon cancer. The global protocol will be submitted to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for agreement on the registration pathway. By leveraging Panbela’s extensive experience with FAP and in designing global registration trials, the team can develop a high-quality trial protocol that meets the standards of regulatory agencies and is designed to efficiently and effectively demonstrate the potential safety and efficacy of Flynpovi™ in the treatment of FAP. We also support several investigator initiated trials and company sponsored preclinical trials including: (1) Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of neuroblastoma (“neuroblastoma” or “NB”), funded by nonprofit organizations; (2) Phase I and Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of early-onset type 1 diabetes funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; (3) Phase II clinical trial for treatment of gastric cancer funded by the NCI; (4) Phase I/II clinical trial for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) possessing the STK11 mutation; and (5) preclinical studies that we have sponsored in the orphan disease and cancer fields.

 

The Company’s lead assets are ivospemin (SBP-101), FlynpoviTM (eflornithine (CPP-1X) and sulindac), and eflornithine (CPP-1X) which provides a multi-targeted approach to reset dysregulated biology present in many types of diseases such as cancer and autoimmune. Many tumors require greatly elevated levels of polyamines to support their growth and survival. These agents target the polyamine pathway at complementary junctions, which have been shown to be altered in disease. In particular, our lead assets have the potential to suppress and prevent tumor growth, enhance anti-tumor activity of other anti-cancer agents, and modulate the immune system.

 

Ivospemin is a proprietary polyamine analogue designed to induce polyamine metabolic inhibition. Ivospemin has demonstrated encouraging activity against metastatic disease in a clinical trial of patients with pancreatic cancer. The efficacy and safety results demonstrated in our completed Phase I clinical trial of ivospemin in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in the first line treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer provides support for the current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ivospemin in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients previously untreated for metastatic pancreatic cancer. We believe that ivospemin, if successfully developed, may represent a novel approach that effectively treats patients with pancreatic cancer and could become a dominant product in that market. Only three first-line treatment combinations, a single maintenance treatment for a subset (3-7%) of patients, and one second-line drug have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for pancreatic cancer in the last 25 years. ivospemin has received Fast Track status and orphan drug designation status for pancreatic cancer in the United States as well as Europe.

 

On June 15, 2022 Panbela acquired Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“CPP”), which added the Company’s second lead asset, eflornithine in multiple forms. First, an investigational new drug product, Flynpovi is a combination of the polyamine synthesis inhibitor eflornithine and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sulindac and then eflornithine as a single agent. Eflornithine is an enzyme-activated, irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, the first rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines. Sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), facilitates the export and catabolism of polyamines. Flynpovi has a unique dual mechanism of action whereby it suppresses the synthesis of new polyamines and increases the export and catabolism of polyamines from the diet and microbiome. We believe Flynpovi is unique in that it is designed to treat the risk factors (e.g., polyps) that are hypothesized to lead to Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) surgeries and colon cancer and therefore may have the ability to prevent various types of colon cancer. In the FAP-310 Phase III trial, the efficacy and safety of the combination of Flynpovi (eflornithine and sulindac), as compared with either drug alone, in adults with FAP was conducted. While the study missed the primary composite endpoint (Burke et al. 2020), a post-hoc analysis showed that none of the patients in the combination arm progressed to a need for lower gastrointestinal (LGI) surgery for up to 48 months compared to 13.2% and 15.7% of patients in the sulindac and eflornithine arms (Balaguer et al. 2022). These data corresponded to risk reductions for the need for LGI surgery approaching 100% between combination and either monotherapy. Given the statistical significance of the LGI group, a new drug application (NDA) was filed with the FDA; however, since this was based on the results of an exploratory analysis, a complete response letter (CRL) was issued. To address the CRL, the Company is designing a Phase III registration trial and will advance this program while not increasing our current cash requirements. There are no currently approved pharmaceutical therapies for FAP.

 

1

 

 

Additional programs are evaluating a single agent tablet eflornithine or high dose powder eflornithine sachet for several indications including prevention of gastric cancer, treatment of high-risk refractory neuroblastoma, recent onset Type 1 diabetes, and STK-11 mutant NSCLC. Preclinical studies as well as Phase I or Phase II investigator-initiated trials suggest that eflornithine treatment is well tolerated and has potential activity.

 

Flynpovi has received Fast Track designation in the United States and orphan drug designation status for FAP in the United States and Europe. In addition, we have received orphan drug designation status for eflornithine as a single agent for Neuroblastoma in the United States and Europe and for gastric cancer in the United States.

 

Holding Company Reorganization

 

Effective June 15, 2022, Panbela became a successor issuer to Panbela Research, Inc. (formerly known as Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., the “Predecessor”) pursuant to a holding company reorganization in which the Predecessor became a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Panbela. Panbela became a successor issuer to the Predecessor by operation of Rule 12g-3(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended the (“Exchange Act”).

 

CPP Acquisition

 

On June 15, 2022, Panbela acquired CPP, a private clinical stage company developing therapeutics to reduce the risk and recurrence of cancer and rare diseases, via merger for consideration consisting of (a) 5,489 shares of common stock, (b) 609 shares of common stock that remained subject to a holdback escrow (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (c) replacement options to purchase up to 1,330 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $420.00 per share, and (d) replacement warrants to purchase up to 281 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $4,974.00 per share, and post-closing contingent payments up to a maximum of $60 million, subject to satisfaction of milestones.

 

Clinical Trials

 

Ivospemin (SBP-101)

 

In August 2015, the FDA accepted our Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for our ivospemin product candidate. We have completed an initial clinical trial of ivospemin in patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This was a Phase I, first-in-human, dose-escalation, safety study. From January 2016 through September 2017, we enrolled twenty-nine patients into six cohorts, or groups, in the dose-escalation phase of the Phase I trial. No drug-related bone marrow toxicity or peripheral neuropathy was observed at any dose level. In addition to being evaluated for safety, 23 of the 29 patients were evaluable for preliminary signals of efficacy prior to or at the eight-week conclusion of their first cycle of treatment using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (“RECIST”), the currently accepted standard for evaluating change in the size of tumors.

 

In 2018, we began enrolling patients in our second clinical trial, a Phase Ia/Ib study of the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of ivospemin administered in combination with two standard-of-care chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. A total of 25 subjects were enrolled in four cohorts to evaluate the dosage level and schedule. An additional 25 subjects were enrolled in the expansion phase of the trial. Interim results were presented in January of 2022. Best response in evaluable subjects (cohorts 4 and Ib N=29) was a Complete Response (CR) in 1 (3%), Partial Response (PR) in 13 (45%), Stable Disease (SD) in 10 (34%) and Progressive Disease (PD) in 5 (17%). One subject did not have post baseline scans with RECIST tumor assessments. Median Progression Free Survival (“PFS”), now final at 6.5 months may have been negatively impacted by drug dosing interruptions to evaluate potential toxicity. Median overall survival in Cohort 4 + Phase Ib was 12.0 months when data was presented in January 2022 and is now final at 14.6 months. Two patients from cohort 2 have demonstrated long term survival. One at 30.3 months (final data) and one at 33.0 months and still alive. Seven subjects were alive at the time the data base for the trial closed, one from cohort 2 and six from cohort 4 plus Ib.

 

In January of 2022, the Company announced the initiation of a new pancreatic cancer clinical trial. Referred to as ASPIRE, the trial is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, a standard pancreatic cancer treatment regimen, in patients previously untreated for metastatic pancreatic cancer. The trial will be conducted globally at approximately 95 sites in the United States, Europe and Asia - Pacific.

 

The Aspire trial commenced early this year and, while opening of clinical sites in the US and the rest of the world has been slower than originally anticipated, due in part to resource fatigue in the medical community, the Company expects all countries and sites to be open by mid-2023.

 

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The trial was originally designed as a Phase II/III with a smaller sample size (150) to support the events required for interim analysis based on Progression Free Survival (PFS) and a primary endpoint of overall survival. In response to European and FDA regulatory feedback the study was amended to include the total trial sample size (600) and the design modified to utilize overall survival as the primary endpoint to be examined at interim analysis. PFS will also be analyzed to provide additional efficacy evidence. This amendment was supported by the final data from the Phase Ia/b first line metastatic pancreatic cancer trial which completed enrollment in December of 2020. The study will enroll 600 subjects and is anticipated to take 36 months for complete enrollment with the interim analysis available in early 2024.

 

If we can successfully complete all FDA recommended clinical studies, we intend to seek marketing authorization from the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) (European Union), Ministry of Health and Welfare (Japan) and TGA (Australia). The submission fees may be waived when ivospemin has been designated an orphan drug in each geographic region.

 

Additionally, in early April 2023, the Company announced a poster presentation highlighting the results for ivospemin as a polyamine metabolism modulator in ovarian cancer at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Conference The poster concludes that the ivospemin treatment of C57Bl/6 mice injected with VDID8+ ovarian cancer cells significantly prolonged survival and decreased overall tumor burden. The results suggest that ivospemin may have a role in the clinical management of ovarian cancer, and the Company intends to continue pre-clinical and clinical studies in ovarian cancer.

 

FLYNPOVI

 

In December 2009, the FDA accepted our IND application for the combination product, Flynpovi. Flynpovi showed promising results in an NCI supported randomized, placebo-controlled Phase IIb/III clinical trial to prevent recurrent colon adenomas, particularly high-risk pre-cancerous polyps in which 375 subjects who had resected sporadic adenoma were treated for 3 years with eflornithine (500 mg once a day) + sulindac (150 mg once a day [N = 191]) or matched placebo/placebo (N = 184). Results demonstrated a marked risk reduction (70%) in developing metachronous adenomas, 92% risk reduction in developing advanced adenomas, and 95% risk reduction in developing multiple adenomas with the active combination regimen compared to placebo (Meyskens et al. 2008). This combination regimen was generally well tolerated.

 

Given the similar mechanism of disease in sporadic and FAP-associated adenomatous polyposis, and the mechanism of action of Flynpovi in prevention of progressive polyposis in both the general population with sporadic adenomas and in patients with FAP, a Phase III program in FAP, and a Phase III program to study colon cancer risk reduction in partnership with the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and the NCI were initiated.

 

In the FAP-310 Phase III study completed in 2019, the efficacy and safety of the combination of eflornithine and sulindac, as compared with either drug alone, in adults with familial adenomatous polyposis was conducted (Burke et al. 2020). The patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive eflornithine, sulindac, or both once daily for up to 48 months. The primary end point, assessed in a time-to-event analysis, was disease progression, defined as a composite of major surgery, endoscopic excision of advanced adenomas, diagnosis of high-grade dysplasia in the rectum or pouch, or progression of duodenal disease. A total of 171 patients underwent randomization. Disease progression occurred in 18 of 56 patients (32%) in the eflornithine-sulindac group, 22 of 58 (38%) in the sulindac group, and 23 of 57 (40%) in the eflornithine group, with a hazard ratio of 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 1.32) for eflornithine-sulindac as compared with sulindac (P = 0.29) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.36 to 1.23) for eflornithine-sulindac as compared with eflornithine (Burke et al. 2020). Adverse and serious adverse events were similar across the treatment groups. In a post-hoc analysis, none of the patients in the combination arm progressed to a need for LGI surgery for up to 48 months compared with 7 (13.2%) and 8 (15.7%) patients in the sulindac and eflornithine arms (Balaguer et al. 2022). These data corresponded to risk reductions for the need for LGI surgery approaching 100% between combination and either monotherapy with HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00-0.48; p = 0.005) for combination versus sulindac and HR = 0.00 (95% CI, 0.00-0.44; p = 0.003) for combination versus eflornithine. Given the statistical significance of the LGI group, an NDA was filed with the FDA. As the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, and the NDA was based on the results of an exploratory analysis, a complete response letter was issued. To address this deficiency concern, the Company must submit the results of one or more adequate and well-controlled clinical trials which demonstrate an effect on a clinical endpoint.

 

In collaboration with the NCI, and SWOG, a Phase III clinical trial has been initiated to study the benefits of Flynpovi as a therapeutic treatment for use by colon cancer survivors. The trial is named PACES for “Prevention of Adenomas and Cancer with eflornithine and sulindac.” The PACES trial is funded by the NCI and managed by the Southwest Oncology Group (“SWOG”). This is an ongoing double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Flynpovi to prevent recurrence of high risk adenomas and second primary colorectal cancers in patients with stage 0-III colon or rectal cancer, Phase III – Preventing Adenomas of the Colon With Eflornithine and Sulindac (“PACES”). The purpose of this study is to assess whether Flynpovi (compared to corresponding placebos) has a reduced rate of cancer or high-risk adenoma recurrence compared to comparator arms after three years of daily dosing. We have exclusive rights to the data that comes from the trial for regulatory and commercial purposes. The Company is evaluating its options for CAT in the European Union and Asia.

 

In April 2023, the Company announced that it will regain the North American rights to develop and commercialize Flynpovi in patients with FAP, as a result of the termination of the licensing agreement between CPP and with One-Two Therapeutics Assets Limited effective July 4, 2023.

 

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Eflornithine (CPP-1X) and eflornithine sachets (CPP-1X-S)

 

For the single agent eflornithine, there is a trial ongoing evaluating eflornithine sachets in relapsed refractory neuroblastoma supported by the Children’s’ Oncology Group (COG) and NCI. Additionally, a Phase I/II trial in STK11 mutation patients with non-small cell lung cancer and Phase II trial in Recent Onset Type I diabetes with eflornithine have been initiated and are enrolling. Lastly, a Phase II trial evaluating eflornithine for the prevention of gastric cancer was completed in 2021 with data analysis ongoing.

 

Recent Developments

 

Nasdaq Deficiency Notification and Recent Reverse Stock Split

 

On April 14, 2023, we received a notification letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) indicating that for 30 consecutive business days our common stock did not maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (“Minimum Bid Price Requirement”). Nasdaq granted us an extension until October 11, 2023 to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. At our annual meeting of stockholders held on May 25, 2023, stockholders approved an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our outstanding common stock within a prescribed range. Pursuant to that authority, our Board of Directors approved a 1-for-30 reverse split ratio and our company effected the reverse stock split on June 1, 2023. The primary reason for the reverse stock split was to attempt to increase the per share market price of our common stock to exceed the Minimum Bid Price Requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. On June 15, 2023, we received a notification letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq indicating that we regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement as the closing bid price of our common stock met or exceeded $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during the 180-calendar day grace period.

 

Product Developments

 

Through June 15, 2023, we had:

 

 

secured an orphan drug designation for ivospemin from the FDA;

 

submitted and received acceptance from the FDA for an IND application for ivospemin;

 

received Country approvals for the Aspire Trial in Australia, France, Italy and Spain;

 

completed a Phase Ia monotherapy safety study of ivospemin in the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma;

 

received “Fast Track” designation from the FDA for ivospemin for metastatic pancreatic cancer;

 

completed enrollment and released interim results in our second trial a Phase Ia /Ib clinical study of ivospemin, a first-line study with ivospemin given in combination with a current standard of care in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who were previously untreated for metastatic disease; a total of 50 subjects were enrolled in this study, 25 in the Phase Ia and 25 in the Phase Ib or expansion phase;

 

secured a two-year research agreement with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine led by Professor Robert Casero, an internationally recognized researcher in polyamine biology;

 

completed process improvement measures expected to be scalable for commercial use and received issue notification for a patent covering this new shorter synthesis of ivospemin;

 

initiated a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with ivospemin given in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are previously untreated for metastatic disease;

 

completed preclinical evaluation of ivospemin for use as neoadjuvant therapy in resectable pancreatic cancer prior to surgery;

 

obtained early, preclinical, indication of tumor growth inhibition activity in ovarian cancer and presented the results at ASCO-GI conference;

 

received USAN adoption of the nonproprietary name of ivospemin for SBP-101;

 

acquired and integrated CPP, adding a second lead asset in multiple forms and an expansive clinical development program ranging from pre-clinical to registration level clinical trials;

 

European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products issued a positive opinion on Panbela’s application for orphan designation of ivospemin in combination with gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma;

 

Announced the initiation of phase II program through Indiana University for early onset Type I diabetes utilizing eflornithine; and

 

Announced the initiation of the Phase I/II clinical trial for the treatment of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) possessing the STK11 mutation through Moffitt Cancer Center.

 

4

 

 

Risks Associated with Our Business

 

Our business is subject to many significant risks, as more fully described in the section titled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. You should read and carefully consider these risks, together with the risks set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” and all of the other information in this prospectus, including the financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. If any of the risks discussed in this prospectus actually occur, our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially and adversely affected. In particular, our risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

our lack of diversification and the corresponding risk of an investment in our Company;

 

potential deterioration of our financial condition and results due to failure to diversify;

 

our ability to successfully complete acquisitions and integrate operations for new product candidates;

 

our ability to obtain additional capital, on acceptable terms or at all, required to implement our business plan;

 

final results of our Phase I clinical trials in first line metastatic pancreatic cancer and early onset Type I onset diabetes;

 

progress and success of our randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial;

 

progress and success of registration activities for Flynpovi;

 

our ability to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of our product candidates;

 

our ability to obtain regulatory approvals for our product candidates in the United States, the European Union, or other international markets;

 

the market acceptance and future sales of our product candidates;

 

the cost and delays in product development that may result from changes in regulatory oversight applicable to our product candidates;

 

the rate of progress in establishing reimbursement arrangements with third-party payors;

 

the effect of competing technological and market developments;

 

the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and enforcing or defending patent claims; and

 

other risk factors included under the caption “Risk Factors” starting on page 8 of this prospectus.

 

Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company

 

We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and have elected to take advantage of certain scaled disclosure available to smaller reporting companies.

 

Corporate History

 

The primary business underlying Panbela Therapeutics, Inc., was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware under the name “Sun BioPharma, Inc.” in September 2011. In 2015, it became a public company by completing a merger transaction with a wholly owned subsidiary of a public company then organized under the laws of the State of Utah. In 2016, it was reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware via a merger with our operating subsidiary. That company changed its name to “Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.” on December 2, 2020. On June 15, 2022, we became a successor issuer to Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. and adopted its name, pursuant to a holding company reorganization via merger by operation of Rule 12g-3(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, resulting in our current structure – consisting of two wholly owned subsidiaries: Panbela Research, Inc. and Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

Corporate Information

 

Our corporate mailing address is 712 Vista Blvd, #305, Waconia, MN 55387. Our telephone number is (952) 479-1196, and our website is www.panbela.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address as a factual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website. The information contained in or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into, and should not be considered part of, this prospectus. The trade names, trademarks, and service marks of other companies appearing in this prospectus are the property of the respective holders.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us         

2,270,000 shares of our common stock, including shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of pre-funded warrants, plus up to 4,540,000 additional shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of common warrants

   

Common warrants offered by us         

Class A Common Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 shares of our common stock, which will be exercisable during the period commencing on the date of their issuance and ending five years from such date at an exercise price of $3.75 per share of common stock (100% of the public offering price per share and common warrants).

 

Class B Common Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 shares of our common stock, which will be exercisable during the period commencing on the date of their issuance and ending five years from such date at an exercise price of $3.75 per share of common stock (100% of the public offering price per share and common warrants).

   

Pre-funded warrants offered by us         

We are also offering to certain purchasers whose purchase of our common stock in this offering would otherwise result in the purchaser, together with its affiliates, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding shares of common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase pre-funded warrants (together with the common warrants, the “warrants”) in lieu of common stock that would otherwise result in any such purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding shares of common stock. Each pre-funded warrant will be exercisable for one share of common stock. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant and the accompanying common warrants will equal the price at which the common stock and the accompanying common warrants are being sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.001, and the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant will be $0.001 per share. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable immediately and may be exercised at any time until exercised in full. For each pre-funded warrant we sell, the number of shares of common stock we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis. Because we will issue common warrants to purchase 2 shares of common stock for each share of common stock and for each pre-funded warrant sold in this offering, the number of common warrants sold in this offering will not change as a result of a change in the mix of the shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants sold.

   

Public offering price         

$3.75 per share of common stock and accompanying common warrant, or $3.7490 per pre-funded warrant and accompanying common warrant, as applicable.

   

Common stock outstanding before this offering         

558,757 shares

   

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering         

2,828,757 shares (assuming we sell only shares of common stock and no pre-funded warrants, and none of the common warrants issued in this offering are exercised).

   

Use of proceeds         

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $7.6 million, based on a public offering price of $3.75 per share of common stock and accompanying common warrants, after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for the continued clinical development of our product candidates ivospemin and eflornithine and for working capital, and other general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of debt. Because this is a best efforts offering with no minimum amount as a condition to closing, we may not sell all or any of the securities offered hereby. As a result, we may receive significantly less in net proceeds than we currently estimate. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 20.

 

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Risk Factors         

You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus beginning on page 8 for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in our securities.

   

Nasdaq Capital Market trading symbol         

“PBLA”

 

The number of shares of our common stock outstanding before and after this offering is based on 558,757 shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 15, 2023, and excludes:

 

 

all shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants sold in this offering;

 

13,539 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of the date of this prospectus at a weighted average exercise price of $1,070.42 per share; and

 

91,185 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock purchase warrants at a weighted average exercise price of $325.48 per share.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the outstanding options or warrants.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Any investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Investors should carefully consider the risks described below and all of the information contained in this prospectus before deciding whether to purchase our securities. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by these risks if any of them actually occur. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks we face as described below and elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Financial Position

 

We are a pre-revenue company with a history of negative operating cash flow.

 

We have experienced negative cash flows for our operating activities since inception, primarily due to the investments required to commercialize our primary drug candidates. Our financing cash flows historically have been positive due to proceeds from the sale of equity securities and promissory notes issuances. Our net cash used in operating activities was $15.3 million and $7.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and we had negative working capital of $6.0 million on December 31, 2022 and positive working capital of $9.6 million as December 31, 2021. For the quarter ended March 31, 2023 we had approximately $5.2 million in cash and approximately $1.9 million in negative working capital.  Also, on the balance sheet is approximately $8.6 million in funds held by our CRO in reserve for future spending on our clinical trial as long-term assets as of March 31, 2023. Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.

 

Our operations are subject to all the risks, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with the development of new products, as well as those risks that are specific to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in which we compete. Investors should evaluate us considering the delays, expenses, problems and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies developing markets for new products, services and technologies. We may never overcome these obstacles.

 

As a result of our current limited financial liquidity, our auditors have expressed substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

As a result of our current limited financial liquidity, our auditors’ report for our 2022 financial statements, which is incorporated by reference herein, contains a statement concerning our ability to continue as a “going concern.” Our limited liquidity could make it more difficult for us to secure additional financing or enter into strategic relationships on terms acceptable to us, if at all, and may materially and adversely affect the terms of any financing that we may obtain and our public stock price generally.

 

Our continuation as a “going concern” is dependent upon, among other things, achieving positive cash flow from operations and, if necessary, augmenting such cash flow using external resources to satisfy our cash needs. Our plans to achieve positive cash flow primarily include engaging in offerings of securities. Additional potential sources of funds include negotiating up-front and milestone payments on our current and potential future product candidates or royalties from sales of our products that secure regulatory approval and any milestone payments associated with such approved products. These cash sources could, potentially, be supplemented by financing or other strategic agreements. However, we may be unable to achieve these goals or obtain required funding on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and therefore may be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

We may be unable to obtain the additional capital that is required to execute our business plan, which could restrict our ability to grow.

 

Our current capital and our other existing resources will be sufficient only to provide a limited amount of working capital and will not be sufficient to fund our expected continuing opportunities. While we project that our current capital resources will fund our operations, including increased clinical trial costs, into the third quarter of 2023, we will require additional capital to continue to operate our business and complete our clinical development plans.

 

Future research and development, including clinical trial cost, capital expenditures and possible acquisitions, and our administrative requirements, such as salaries, insurance expenses and general overhead expenses, as well as legal compliance costs and accounting expenses, will require a substantial amount of additional capital and cash flow. There is no guarantee that we will be able to raise additional capital required to fund our ongoing business on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

 

We intend to pursue sources of additional capital through various financing transactions or arrangements, including collaboration arrangements, debt financing, equity financing or other means. We may not be successful in locating suitable financing transactions on commercially reasonable terms, in the time period required or at all, and we may not obtain the capital we require by other means. If we do not succeed in raising additional capital, our resources will not be sufficient to fund our operations going forward.

 

Any additional capital raised through the sale of equity may dilute the ownership percentage of our stockholders. This could also result in a decrease in the fair market value of our equity securities because our assets would be owned by a larger pool of outstanding equity. The terms of securities we issue in future capital transactions may be more favorable to our new investors, and may include preferences, superior voting rights and the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities which may have a further dilutive effect.

 

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Our ability to obtain needed financing may be impaired by such factors as the capital markets, both generally and in the pharmaceutical and other drug development industries in particular, the limited diversity of our activities and/or the loss of key personnel. If the amount of capital we are able to raise from financing activities is not sufficient to satisfy our capital needs, even to the extent that we reduce our operations, we may be required to cease our operations.

 

We may incur substantial costs in pursuing future capital financing, including investment banking fees, legal fees, accounting fees, securities law compliance fees, printing and distribution expenses and other costs, which may adversely impact our financial condition.

 

Our business is subject to risks arising from epidemic diseases, such as the 2020 outbreak of the COVID-19 illness.

 

March of 2023 marked three years since the outbreak of COVID-19 was declared by the World Health Organization to be a pandemic. A pandemic, including COVID-19, or other public health epidemics pose the risk that we or our employees, contractors, suppliers, and other vendors may be prevented from conducting business activities for an indefinite period of time, including due to the spread of the disease within these groups or due to shutdowns that may be requested or mandated by governmental authorities. Early in the pandemic we paused enrollment in our Phase Ia/Ib clinical trial for six weeks to allow the health care systems involved in the trial time to focus resources on responding to the pandemic. Once enrollment was restarted in May of 2020, we experienced no further delays. This delay did not have a material effect on the completion of enrollment or costs of the clinical trial. During the course of the pandemic, health care facilities have limited our ability to conduct on site patient data monitoring for our clinical trial; these visits are now successfully conducted remotely as necessary. We also experienced a short delay early in the pandemic, in the manufacturing of our active ingredient and another minor delay in 2021 in the preparation of drug product. We believe our supply of drug is adequate and these delays have not caused any disruption in the start of the new Phase II/III clinical trial which we initiated in January of 2022. This new trial has been designed to mitigate any potential effects of COVID-19 on site activations or subject enrollment.

 

While we have not to date experienced any significant disruptions as a result of the pandemic, we are unable to estimate the future impact that COVID-19 could have on our operations. The recent trends in reduced infections and deaths, and increased levels of vaccination, should help reduce the risk that the pandemic may slow potential enrollment of clinical trials and reduce the number of eligible patients for our clinical trials. While the pandemic could still disrupt the supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of both drug substance and finished drug product for our product candidates for preclinical testing and clinical trials, we believe that product secured in 2021 will be sufficient to complete the conduct of our new clinical trial. We often attend and present clinical updates at various medical and investor conferences throughout the year. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused, and may continue to cause, cancellations or reduced attendance of these conferences and we may need to seek alternate methods to present clinical updates and to engage with the medical and investment communities. The COVID-19 outbreak, including new variants of the virus, and future mitigation measures may also have an adverse impact on global economic conditions which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition and our potential to conduct financings on terms acceptable to us, if at all. The extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak impacts our results will depend on future developments that remain uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of the virus and the actions to contain its impact.

 

The markets for our product candidates are highly competitive and are subject to rapid scientific change, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in which we compete are highly competitive and characterized by rapid and significant technological change. We face intense competition from organizations such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as academic and research institutions and government agencies. Some of these organizations are pursuing products based on technologies similar to our technology. Other of these organizations have developed and are marketing products or are pursuing other technological approaches designed to produce products that are competitive with our product candidates in the therapeutic effect these competitive products have on the diseases targeted by our product candidates. Our competitors may discover, develop or commercialize products or other novel technologies that are more effective, safer or less costly than any that we may develop. Our competitors may also obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for our product candidates.

 

Many of our competitors are substantially larger than we are and have greater capital resources, research and development staffs and facilities than we have. In addition, many of our competitors are more experienced in drug discovery, development and commercialization, obtaining regulatory approvals and drug manufacturing and marketing.

 

We anticipate that the competition with our product candidates and technology will be based on a number of factors including product efficacy, safety, availability and price. The timing of market introduction of our planned future product candidates and competitive products will also affect competition among products. We expect the relative speed with which we can develop our product candidates, complete the required clinical trials, establish strategic partners and supply appropriate quantities of the product candidate for late stage trials, if required, to be important competitive factors. Our competitive position will also depend upon our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, to obtain patent protection in non-U.S. markets, which we currently do not have, or otherwise develop proprietary products or processes and to secure sufficient capital resources for the period between technological conception and commercial sales or out-license to pharmaceutical partners. If we fail to develop and deploy a proposed product candidate in a successful and timely manner, we will in all likelihood not be competitive.

 

9

 

 

Our lack of diversification increases the risk of an investment in our Company and our financial condition and results of operations may deteriorate if we fail to diversify.

 

Our Board of Directors has centered our attention on our drug development activities, which are currently focused on a limited number of product candidates. Our ability to diversify our investments will depend on our access to additional capital and financing sources and the availability and identification of suitable opportunities.

 

Larger companies have the ability to manage their risk by diversification. However, we lack and expect to continue to lack diversification, in terms of both the nature and geographic scope of our business. As a result, we will likely be impacted more acutely by factors affecting pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in which we compete than we would if our business were more diversified, enhancing our risk profile. If we cannot diversify our operations, our financial condition and results of operations could deteriorate.

 

Our business may suffer if we do not attract and retain talented personnel.

 

Our success will depend in large measure on the abilities, expertise, judgment, discretion, integrity and good faith of our management and other personnel in conducting our business. We have a small management team, and the loss of a key individual or inability to attract suitably qualified staff could materially adversely impact our business.

 

Our success depends on the ability of our management, employees, consultants and strategic partners, if any, to interpret market data correctly and to interpret and respond to economic market and other conditions in order to locate and adopt appropriate investment opportunities, monitor such investments, and ultimately, if required, to successfully divest such investments. Further, no assurance can be given that our key personnel will continue their association or employment with us or that replacement personnel with comparable skills can be found. We will seek to ensure that management and any key employees are appropriately compensated; however, their services cannot be guaranteed. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, our business may be adversely affected.

 

We may be required to defend lawsuits or pay damages for product liability claims.

 

Product liability is a major risk in testing and marketing biotechnology and pharmaceutical products. We may face substantial product liability exposure in human clinical trials and in the sale of products after regulatory approval. Product liability claims, regardless of their merits, could exceed policy limits, divert management’s attention and adversely affect our reputation and the demand for our product. In any such event, your investment in our securities could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Risks Related to Acquisitions and Integrations

 

We have and expect to incur substantial costs related to the acquisition of CPP and subsequent integration efforts.

 

We have incurred and expect to incur a number of non-recurring costs associated with acquisition of CPP and related transactions. These costs include legal, financial advisory, accounting, consulting and other advisory fees, retention, severance and employee benefit-related costs, regulatory fees, closing, integration and other related costs.

 

Although the legal acquisition of CPP has been completed, integration may be more difficult, costly, or time-consuming than expected, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of the underlying acquisition.

 

The anticipated benefits of the combined company, including product candidate diversification and growth, may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to commercialize than expected and integration may result in additional and unforeseen expenses. An inability to realize the full extent of the anticipated benefits, as well as any delays encountered in the integration process, could have an adverse effect upon our operating results.

 

In addition, we and CPP have operated independently prior to the completion of the acquisition. It is possible that the now-active integration process could result in the loss of one or more key employees, including employees of CPP, the disruption of each company’s ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures, and policies that adversely affect each company’s ability to maintain relationships with clients, customers, depositors, and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Integration efforts between the companies may also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on the Company during this transition period and for an undetermined period.

 

10

 

 

We may not have discovered certain liabilities or other matters related to CPP, which may adversely affect the future financial performance of the combined company.

 

In the course of the due diligence review that we conducted prior to the execution of the merger agreement, we may not have discovered, or may have been unable to properly quantify, certain liabilities of CPP or other factors that may have an adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows of the combined company after the consummation of the Mergers.

 

Our estimates and judgments related to the acquisition accounting methods used to record the purchase price allocation related to the merger may be inaccurate.

 

Our management will make significant accounting judgments and estimates related to the application of acquisition accounting of the acquisition under GAAP, as well as the underlying valuation models. Our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely impacted in future periods if the accounting judgments and estimates prove to be inaccurate.

 

Risks Related to the Development and Approval of New Drugs

 

Clinical trials required for our product candidate are expensive and time-consuming, and their outcome is highly uncertain. If any of our drug trials are delayed or yield unfavorable results, we will have to delay or may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidate.

 

We must conduct extensive testing of each product candidate before we can obtain regulatory approval to market and sell it. We need to conduct both preclinical animal testing and human clinical trials. Conducting these trials is a lengthy, time-consuming and expensive process. These tests and trials may not achieve favorable results for many reasons, including, among others, failure of the product candidate to demonstrate safety or efficacy, the development of serious or life-threatening adverse events, or side effects, caused by or connected with exposure to the product candidate, difficulty in enrolling and maintaining subjects in the clinical trial, lack of sufficient supplies of the product candidate or comparator drug, and the failure of clinical investigators, trial monitors, contractors, consultants, or trial subjects to comply with the trial protocol. A clinical trial may fail because it did not include a sufficient number of patients to detect the endpoint being measured or reach statistical significance. A clinical trial may also fail because the dose(s) of the investigational drug included in the trial were either too low or too high to determine the optimal effect of the investigational drug in the disease setting. Many clinical trials are conducted under the oversight of Independent Data Monitoring Committees (“IDMCs”) also known as DSMB’s. These independent oversight bodies are made up of external experts who review the progress of ongoing clinical trials, including available safety and efficacy data, and make recommendations concerning a trial’s continuation, modification, or termination based on interim, unblinded data. Any of our ongoing clinical trials may be discontinued or amended in response to recommendations made by responsible IDMCs based on their review of such interim trial results.

 

We will need to reevaluate our product candidates if they do not test favorably and either conduct new trials, which are expensive and time consuming, or abandon our drug development program. Even if we obtain positive results from preclinical or clinical trials, we may not achieve the same success in future trials. Many companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in clinical trials, even after promising results have been obtained in earlier trials. The failure of clinical trials to demonstrate safety and effectiveness for the desired indication could harm the development of our product candidate and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially harmed.

 

We face significant risks in our product candidate development efforts.

 

Our business depends on the successful development and commercialization of our product candidates. We are currently focused on developing our initial product candidate, ivospemin, for the treatment of PDA and are not permitted to market it in the United States until we receive approval of an NDA from the FDA, or in any foreign jurisdiction until we receive the requisite approvals from such jurisdiction. The process of developing new drugs and/or therapeutic products is inherently complex, unpredictable, time-consuming, expensive and uncertain. We must make long-term investments and commit significant resources before knowing whether our development programs will result in drugs that will receive regulatory approval and achieve market acceptance. A product candidate that appears to be promising at all stages of development may not reach the market for a number of reasons that may not be predictable based on results and data from the clinical program. A product candidate may be found ineffective or may cause harmful side effects during clinical trials, may take longer to progress through clinical trials than had been anticipated, may not be able to achieve the pre-defined clinical endpoints even though clinical benefit may have been achieved, may fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals, may prove impracticable to manufacture in commercial quantities at reasonable cost and with acceptable quality, or may fail to achieve market acceptance.

 

We cannot predict whether or when we will obtain regulatory approval to commercialize our product candidates and we cannot, therefore, predict the timing of any future revenues from this or other product candidates, if any. The FDA has substantial discretion in the drug approval process, including the ability to delay, limit or deny approval of a product candidate for many reasons. For example, the FDA:

 

 

could determine that the information provided by us was inadequate, contained clinical deficiencies or otherwise failed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of any of our product candidates for any indication;

 

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may not find the data from clinical trials sufficient to support the submission of an NDA or to obtain marketing approval in the United States, including any findings that the clinical and other benefits of our product candidates outweigh their safety risks;

 

 

may disagree with our trial design or our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials or may change the requirements for approval even after it has reviewed and commented on the design for our trials;

 

 

may identify deficiencies in the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we enter into agreements for the manufacturing of our product candidates;

 

 

may approve our product candidates for fewer or more limited indications than we request or may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-approval clinical trials;

 

 

may change its approval policies or adopt new regulations; or

 

 

may not approve the labeling claims that we believe are necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of our product candidates.

 

Any failure to obtain regulatory approval of our initial product candidate or future product candidates we develop, if any, would significantly limit our ability to generate revenues, and any failure to obtain such approval for all of the indications and labeling claims we deem desirable could reduce our potential revenues.

 

Our product candidates are based on a new formulation of an existing technology which has never been approved for the treatment of any cancer and, consequently, is inherently risky. Concerns about the safety and efficacy of our product candidate could limit our future success.

 

We are subject to the risks of failure inherent in the development of product candidates based on new technologies. These risks include the possibility that any product candidates we create will not be effective, that our current product candidate will be unsafe, ineffective or otherwise fail to receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that our product candidate will be hard to manufacture on a large scale or will be uneconomical to market.

 

Many pharmaceutical products cause multiple potential complications and side effects, not all of which can be predicted with accuracy and many of which may vary from patient to patient. Long term follow-up data may reveal additional complications associated with our product candidate. The responses of potential physicians and others to information about complications could materially affect the market acceptance of our product candidate, which in turn would materially harm our business.

 

Due to our reliance on third parties to conduct our clinical trials, we are unable to directly control the timing, conduct, expense and quality of our clinical trials, which could adversely affect our clinical data and results and related regulatory approvals.

 

We extensively outsource our clinical trial activities and expect to directly perform only a small portion of the preparatory stages for planned trials. We rely on independent third-party CROs to perform most of our clinical trials, including document preparation, site identification, screening and preparation, pre-study visits, training, program management and bio-analytical analysis. Many important aspects of the services performed for us by the CROs are out of our direct control. If there is any dispute or disruption in our relationship with our CROs, our clinical trials may be delayed. Moreover, in our regulatory submissions, we rely on the quality and validity of the clinical work performed by third-party CROs. If a CRO’s processes, methodologies or results are determined to be invalid or inadequate, our own clinical data and results and related regulatory approvals could be adversely affected or invalidated.

 

We rely on third-party suppliers and other third parties for production of our product candidates and our dependence on these third parties may impair the advancement of our research and development programs and the development of our product candidates.

 

We rely on, and expect to continue to rely on, third parties for the supply of raw materials and manufacture of drug supplies necessary to conduct our preclinical studies and clinical trials. During 2021 the Company, in collaboration with our manufacturing partner confirmed a new shorter and less expensive synthesis of the active drug substance. However, delays in production by third parties could delay our clinical trials or have an adverse impact on any commercial activities. In addition, the fact that we are dependent on third parties for the manufacture of and formulation of our product candidates means that we are subject to the risk that the products may have manufacturing defects that we have limited ability to prevent or control. Although we oversee these activities to ensure compliance with our quality standards, budgets and timelines, we have had and will continue to have less control over the manufacturing of our product candidates than potentially would be the case if we were to manufacture our product candidates. Further, the third parties we deal with could have staffing difficulties, might undergo changes in priorities or may become financially distressed, which would adversely affect the manufacturing and production of our product candidates.

 

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The results of pre-clinical studies and completed clinical trials are not necessarily predictive of future results, and our current product candidates may not have favorable results in later studies or trials.

 

Pre-clinical studies and Phase I clinical trials are not primarily designed to test the efficacy of a product candidate in the general population, but rather to test initial safety, to study pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, to study limited efficacy in a small number of study patients in a selected disease population, and to identify and attempt to understand the product candidate’s side effects at various doses and dosing schedules. Success in pre-clinical studies or completed clinical trials does not ensure that later studies or trials, including continuing pre-clinical studies and large-scale clinical trials, will be successful nor does it necessarily predict future results. Favorable results in early studies or trials may not be repeated in later studies or trials, and product candidates in later stage trials may fail to show acceptable safety and efficacy despite having progressed through earlier trials.

 

Risks Related to the Regulation of our Business

 

Federal and state pharmaceutical marketing compliance and reporting requirements may expose us to regulatory and legal action by state governments or other government authorities.

 

The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act (the “FDMA”) established a public registry of open clinical trials involving drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions in order to promote public awareness of and access to these clinical trials. Under the FDMA, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other trial sponsors are required to post the general purpose of these trials, as well as the eligibility criteria, location and contact information of the trials. Failure to comply with any clinical trial posting requirements could expose us to negative publicity, fines and other penalties, all of which could materially harm our business.

 

In recent years, several states, including California, Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico and West Virginia, have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical companies to establish marketing compliance programs and file periodic reports on sales, marketing, pricing and other activities. Similar legislation is being considered in other states. Many of these requirements are new and uncertain, and available guidance is limited. Unless we are in full compliance with these laws, we could face enforcement actions and fines and other penalties and could receive adverse publicity, all of which could harm our business.

 

If the product candidates we develop becomes subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third party reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives, our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates may be impaired.

 

Our future revenues, profitability and access to capital will be affected by the continuing efforts of governmental and private third-party payors to contain or reduce the costs of health care through various means. We expect several federal, state and foreign proposals to control the cost of drugs through government regulation. We are unsure of the impact recent health care reform legislation may have on our business or what actions federal, state, foreign and private payors may take in response to the recent reforms. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the effect of any implemented reform on our business. Our ability to commercialize our product candidate successfully will depend, in part, on the extent to which reimbursement for the cost of such product candidate and related treatments will be available from government health administration authorities, such as Medicare and Medicaid in the United States, private health insurers and other organizations. Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved health care products, particularly for indications for which there is no current effective treatment or for which medical care typically is not sought. Adequate third-party coverage may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product research and development. If adequate coverage and reimbursement levels are not provided by government and third-party payors for use of our product candidates, our product candidates may fail to achieve market acceptance and our results of operations will be harmed.

 

Healthcare legislative reform measures may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

Legislative and regulatory actions affecting government prescription drug procurement and reimbursement programs occur relatively frequently. In the United States, the ACA was enacted in 2010 to expand healthcare coverage. Since then, numerous efforts have been made to repeal, amend or administratively limit the ACA in whole or in part. For example, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Trump in 2017, repealed the individual health insurance mandate, which is considered a key component of the ACA. In December 2018, a Texas federal district court struck down the ACA on the grounds that the individual health insurance mandate is unconstitutional, although this ruling has been stayed pending appeal. The ongoing challenges to the ACA and new legislative proposals have resulted in uncertainty regarding the ACA's future viability and destabilization of the health insurance market. The resulting impact on our business is uncertain and could be material.

 

Efforts to control prescription drug prices could also have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, in 2018, President Trump and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) released the "American Patients First Blueprint" and have begun implementing certain portions. The initiative includes proposals to increase generic drug and biosimilar competition, enable the Medicare program to negotiate drug prices more directly and improve transparency regarding drug prices and ways to lower consumers' out-of-pocket costs. The Trump administration also proposed to establish an “international pricing index” that would be used as a benchmark to determine the costs and potentially limit the reimbursement of drugs under Medicare Part B. Among other pharmaceutical manufacturer industry-related proposals, Congress has proposed bills to change the Medicare Part D benefit to impose an inflation-based rebate in Medicare Part D and to alter the benefit structure to increase manufacturer contributions in the catastrophic phase. The volume of drug pricing-related bills has dramatically increased under the current Congress, and the resulting impact on our business is uncertain and could be material.

 

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In addition, many states have proposed or enacted legislation that seeks to regulate pharmaceutical drug pricing indirectly or directly, such as by requiring biopharmaceutical manufacturers to publicly report proprietary pricing information or to place a maximum price ceiling on pharmaceutical products purchased by state agencies. For example, in 2017, California’s governor signed a prescription drug price transparency state bill into law, requiring prescription drug manufacturers to provide advance notice and explanation for price increases of certain drugs that exceed a specified threshold. Both Congress and state legislatures are considering various bills that would reform drug purchasing and price negotiations, allow greater use of utilization management tools to limit Medicare Part D coverage, facilitate the import of lower-priced drugs from outside the United States and encourage the use of generic drugs. Such initiatives and legislation may cause added pricing pressures on our products.

 

Changes to the Medicaid program at the federal or state level could also have a material adverse effect on our business. Proposals that could impact coverage and reimbursement of our products, including giving states more flexibility to manage drugs covered under the Medicaid program and permitting the re-importation of prescription medications from Canada or other countries, could have a material adverse effect by limiting our products’ use and coverage. Furthermore, state Medicaid programs could request additional supplemental rebates on our products as a result of an increase in the federal base Medicaid rebate. To the extent that private insurers or managed care programs follow Medicaid coverage and payment developments, they could use the enactment of these increased rebates to exert pricing pressure on our products, and the adverse effects may be magnified by their adoption of lower payment schedules.

 

Other proposed regulatory actions affecting manufacturers could have a material adverse effect on our business. It is difficult to predict the impact, if any, of any such proposed legislative and regulatory actions or resulting state actions on the use and reimbursement of our products in the United States, but our results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

Risks Related to our Intellectual Property

 

If we are unable to obtain, maintain and enforce our proprietary rights, we may not be able to compete effectively or operate profitably.

 

For ivospemin, we are party to a license agreement with the University of Florida Research Foundation (“UFRF”) and for Flynpovi, we are party to a license agreement with the Arizona Board of Regents of the University of Arizona. The patents underlying the licensed intellectual property and those of other biopharmaceutical companies are generally uncertain and involve complex legal, scientific and factual questions.

 

Our ability to develop and commercialize drugs depends in significant part on our ability to: (i) obtain and/or develop broad, protectable intellectual property; (ii) obtain additional licenses, if required, to the proprietary rights of others on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others; (iv) prevent others from infringing on our proprietary rights; and (v) protect our corporate know-how and trade secrets.

 

Patents that we may acquire, and those that might be issued in the future, may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights granted thereunder may not provide us with proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar technology. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop similar technologies or duplicate any technology we develop. Because of the extensive time required for development, testing and regulatory review of potential product candidates, it is possible that, before any of our product candidates can be commercialized, any related patent may expire or remain in force for only a short period following commercialization, thus reducing any advantage of the patent.

 

Because patent applications in the U.S. and many foreign jurisdictions are typically not published until at least 12 months after filing, or in some cases not at all, and because publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, neither we nor our licensors can be certain that either we or our licensors were the first to make the inventions claimed in issued patents or pending patent applications, or that we were the first to file for protection of the inventions set forth in these patent applications.

 

Additionally, UFRF previously elected to seek protection for certain elements of the licensed technology only in the United States, and the time to file for international patent protection has expired. This limits the strength of the Company’s intellectual property position in certain markets and could affect the overall value of the Company to a potential corporate partner.

 

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Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends upon compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

 

The United States Patent and Trademark Office and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other provisions during the patent process. There are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, competitors might be able to enter the market earlier than would otherwise have been the case.

 

We may be exposed to infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which, if determined adversely to us, could cause us to pay significant damage awards.

 

There has been substantial litigation and other proceedings regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We may become a party to various types of patent litigation or other proceedings regarding intellectual property rights from time to time even under circumstances where we are not using and do not intend to use any of the intellectual property involved in the proceedings.

 

The cost of any patent litigation or other proceeding, even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the cost of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we will be able to because our competitors may have substantially greater financial resources. If any patent litigation or other proceeding is resolved against us, we or our collaborators may be enjoined from developing, manufacturing, selling or importing our drugs without a license from the other party and we may be held liable for significant damages. We may not be able to obtain any required license(s) on commercially acceptable terms or at all.

 

Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace. Patent litigation and other proceedings may also absorb significant management time.

 

Confidentiality agreements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of our know-how, trade secrets and other proprietary information and may not adequately protect our intellectual property, which could impede our ability to compete.

 

Because we operate in the highly technical field of medical technology development, we rely in part on trade secret protection in order to protect our proprietary trade secrets and unpatented know-how. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect, and we cannot be certain that others will not develop the same or similar technologies on their own. We have taken steps, including entering into confidentiality agreements with all of our employees, consultants and corporate partners, to protect our trade secrets and unpatented know-how. These agreements generally require that the other party keep confidential and not disclose to third parties any confidential information developed by the party or made known to the party by us during the course of the party’s relationship with us. We also typically obtain agreements from these parties which provide that inventions conceived by the party in the course of rendering services to us will be our exclusive property. However, these agreements may not be honored and may not effectively assign intellectual property rights to us. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally obtained and is using our trade secrets or know-how is difficult, expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the United States may be less willing to protect trade secrets or know-how. The failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive position.

 

We may be subject to claims that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.

 

As is common in the biotechnology industry, we employ individuals who were previously employed at other biotechnology companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although no claims against us are currently pending, we may be subject to claims that these employees or we have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.

 

Risks Associated with this Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our stockholders or restrict our operations.

 

To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, stockholders’ ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect their rights as stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Any of these events could adversely affect our ability to achieve our product development and commercialization goals and harm our business. We do not anticipate any adverse effects stemming from the lack of available credit facilities at this time.

 

Issuances of common stock in offerings or pursuant to the exercise of rights to purchase shares may cause the price of our common stock to decline and cause investors to lose a significant portion of their investment.

 

If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market or upon the expiration of any statutory holding period under Rule 144, or upon expiration of lock-up periods applicable to outstanding shares or issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang” and in anticipation of which the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate more difficult. As of June 15, 2023, we had outstanding options to purchase 13,539 shares of our common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $1,070.42 per share with a remaining contractual life of 8.87 years and outstanding warrants to purchase 91,185 shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $325.48 per share and a remaining exercise period of 4.40 years.

 

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Securities analysts may not initiate coverage or continue to cover our common stock, and this may have a negative impact on the market price of our common stock.

 

Common stock prices are often significantly influenced by the research and reports that securities analysts publish about companies and their business. We do not have any control over these analysts. There is no guarantee that securities analysts will cover, or continue to cover, our common stock. If securities analysts do not cover our common stock, the lack of research coverage may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. If our common stock is covered by securities analysts and our stock is downgraded, our stock price will likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to publish regular reports on us, we can lose visibility in the financial markets, which can cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

 

If you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of the shares of our common stock.

 

The proposed public offering price of the shares of our common stock is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the book value of our tangible assets after subtracting our liabilities. As a result, investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $0.15 per share, based on a public offering price of $3.75 per share and accompanying common warrants. Further, investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will contribute approximately 11% of the total amount invested by shareholders since our inception, but will own, as a result of such investment, approximately 80% of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately following this offering. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering, investors may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid in this offering, if anything, in the event of our liquidation. Further, because we may need to raise additional capital to fund our anticipated level of operations, we may in the future sell substantial amounts of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock. These future issuances of equity or equity-linked securities, together with the exercise of outstanding options and any additional shares issued in connection with acquisitions, if any, may result in further dilution to investors.

 

Holders of our warrants will have no rights as a common stockholder until they exercise their warrants and acquire our common stock.

 

Until you acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of your warrants, you will have no rights with respect to shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of your warrants. Upon exercise of your warrants, you will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.

 

The common warrants are speculative in nature.

 

The common warrants offered pursuant to this prospectus do not confer any rights of common stock ownership on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of our common stock at a fixed price for a limited period of time. Specifically, commencing on the date of issuance, holders of the common warrants may exercise their right to acquire the common stock and pay an exercise price of $3.75 per share, prior to five years from the date of issuance, after which date any unexercised common warrants will expire and have no further value. Moreover, following this offering, the market value of the common warrants is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the common warrants will equal or exceed their public offering price. There can be no assurance that the market price of the common stock will ever equal or exceed the exercise price of the common warrants, and, consequently, whether it will ever be profitable for holders of the common warrants to exercise those warrants.

 

There is no established public trading market for the warrants being offered in this offering.

 

There is no established public trading market for the common warrants or the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering. We do not intend to apply to list the common warrants or the pre-funded warrants to be issued in this offering on any national securities exchange or to seek qualification of the common warrants or the pre-funded warrants for quotation on the over-the-counter markets. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the common warrants and the pre-funded warrants will be limited without first exercising them.

 

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Our charter documents and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover that stockholders consider favorable.

 

The provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and applicable provisions of Delaware law may make it more difficult for or prevent a third party from acquiring control of us without the approval of our board of directors. These provisions:

 

 

set limitations on the removal of directors;

 

 

limit who may call a special meeting of stockholders;

 

 

establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings;

 

 

do not permit cumulative voting in the election of our directors, which would otherwise permit less than a majority of stockholders to elect directors;

 

 

establish a classified board of directors limiting the number of directors that are elected each year; and

 

 

provide our board of directors the ability to designate the terms of and issue preferred stock without stockholder approval.

 

In addition, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law generally limits our ability to engage in any business combination with certain persons who own 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock or any of our associates or affiliates who at any time in the past three years have owned 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock unless our board of directors has pre-approved the acquisitions that lead to such ownership. These provisions may have the effect of entrenching our management team and may deprive stockholders of the opportunity to sell their shares to potential acquirers at a premium over prevailing prices. This potential inability to obtain a control premium could reduce the price of our common stock.

 

If we issue preferred stock, the rights of the holders of our common stock and the value of such common stock could be adversely affected.

 

Our Board of Directors is authorized to issue classes or series of preferred stock, without any action on the part of the stockholders. The Board of Directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, to set the terms of any such classes or series of preferred stock, including voting rights, dividend rights and preferences over the common stock with respect to dividends or upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our business and other terms. If we issue preferred stock in the future that has a preference over the common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of the common stock, the rights of holders of the common stock or the value of the common stock would be adversely affected.

 

If we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, the price of our common stock may be adversely affected.

 

We are required to establish and maintain appropriate internal controls over financial reporting. Failure to establish those controls, or any failure of those controls once established, could adversely impact our public disclosures regarding our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any failure of these controls could also prevent us from maintaining accurate accounting records and discovering accounting errors and financial fraud. Management’s assessment of internal controls over financial reporting may identify weaknesses that need to be addressed or other potential matters that may raise concerns for investors. Any actual or perceived weaknesses that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting or disclosure of management’s assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting may have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

 

Even if this offering is completed, we will need to raise additional capital in the future to finance our operations, which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed may force us to delay, limit or terminate our product development efforts or other operations.

 

We have had recurring losses from operations, negative operating cash flow and have an accumulated deficit. We must raise additional funds in order to continue financing our operations. If additional capital is not available to us when needed or on acceptable terms, we may not be able to continue to operate our business pursuant to our business plan or we may have to discontinue our operations entirely. Any additional capital raised through the sale of equity or equity-backed securities may dilute our stockholders’ ownership percentages and could also result in a decrease in the market value of our equity securities. The terms of any securities issued by us in future capital transactions may be more favorable to new investors, and may include preferences, superior voting rights and the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities, which may have a further dilutive effect on the holders of any of our securities then outstanding.

 

If we are unable to secure additional funds when needed or on acceptable terms, we may be required to defer, reduce or eliminate significant planned expenditures, restructure, curtail or eliminate some or all of our operations, dispose of technology or assets, pursue an acquisition of our company by a third party at a price that may result in a loss on investment for our stockholders, file for bankruptcy or cease operations altogether. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, if we are unable to obtain additional funds on a timely basis, there will be substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and increased risk of insolvency and up to a total loss of investment by our stockholders.

 

17

 

 

This is a best efforts offering, no minimum amount of securities is required to be sold, and we may not raise the amount of capital we believe is required for our business plans.

 

The placement agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the securities being offered in this offering. The placement agent has no obligation to buy any of the securities from us or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the securities. There is no required minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds that must be sold as a condition to completion of this offering. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to the closing of this offering, the actual offering amount, placement agent fees and proceeds to us are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the maximum amounts set forth above. We may sell fewer than all of the securities offered hereby, which may significantly reduce the amount of proceeds received by us, and investors in this offering will not receive a refund in the event that we do not sell an amount of securities sufficient to fund for our operations as described in the “Use of Proceeds” section herein. Thus, we may not raise the amount of capital we believe is required for our operations in the short-term and may need to raise additional funds, which may not be available or available on terms acceptable to us.

 

We could be delisted from Nasdaq, which would seriously harm the liquidity of our stock and our ability to raise capital

 

As previously disclosed, on September 30, 2022, we received a notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq informing us that because the closing bid price for our common stock listed on Nasdaq was below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days, we did not comply with the minimum closing bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Minimum Bid Price Rule”). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we were provided 180 calendar days (the “Minimum Bid Price Rule Compliance Period”) to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule.

 

On January 3, 2023, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that, as of December 30, 2022, our common stock had a closing bid price of $0.10 or less for ten consecutive trading days during the Minimum Bid Price Rule Compliance Period and, therefore, as contemplated under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(iii), our common stock was subject to delisting from Nasdaq unless we timely requested a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel. We timely requested the hearing, which request stayed any further delisting action. On January 11, 2023, we amended our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a 1-for-40 reverse stock split (the “Initial Reverse Stock Split”) of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern time, on January 13, 2023. On February 9, 2023, we received formal notice from Nasdaq stating that our scheduled hearing had been canceled, and our common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

On April 14, 2023, we received a notice from Nasdaq informing us that we did not comply with the Minimum Bid Price Rule. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we were provided the Minimum Bid Price Rule Compliance Period, or until October 11, 2023, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule. During the Minimum Bid Price Rule Compliance Period, our shares of common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. On June 1, 2023, we effected a 1-for-30 reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. On June 15, 2023, we received a notice from Nasdaq informing us that we regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement as the closing bid price of our common stock met or exceeded $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during the Minimum Bid Price Rule Compliance Period.

 

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If, for any reason, Nasdaq were to delist our securities from trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market and we were unable to obtain listing on another reputable national securities exchange, a reduction in some or all of the following may occur, each of which could materially adversely affect our stockholders:

 

 

the liquidity and marketability of our common stock;

 

the market price of our common stock;

 

our ability to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations;

 

the number of institutional and general investors that will consider investing in our common stock;

 

the number of market makers in our common stock;

 

the availability of information concerning the trading prices and volume of our common stock; and

 

the number of broker-dealers willing to execute trades in shares of our common stock.

 

In addition, if we cease to be eligible to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we may have to pursue trading on a less recognized or accepted market, such as the over the counter markets, our stock may be traded as a “penny stock” which would make transactions in our stock more difficult and cumbersome, and we may be unable to access capital on favorable terms or at all, as companies trading on alternative markets may be viewed as less attractive investments with higher associated risks, such that existing or prospective institutional investors may be less interested in, or prohibited from, investing in our common stock. This may also cause the market price of our common stock to further decline.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of up to approximately $7.6 million from the sale of the securities by us in this offering, based on a public offering price of $3.75 per share and accompanying common warrants, after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and excluding the proceeds, if any, received from the exercise of warrants issued in this offering.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities for (i) the continued clinical development of our initial product candidate ivospemin, (ii) cost of drug product for use in clinical development with collaboration partners of CPP assets, and (iii) general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. General corporate purposes may include the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, working capital, general and administrative expenses, and acquisitions. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus supplement. We have not yet determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for any of the foregoing purposes. Accordingly, our management will have significant discretion and flexibility in applying the net proceeds from the sale of these securities.

 

We are party to a guaranty (the “Guaranty”) pursuant to which we have agreed to guarantee the payment obligations of CPP, under a promissory note in favor of Sucampo GmbH dated as of June 15, 2022, (the “Note”), which had a principal balance of approximately $5.2 million as of June 15, 2023. CPP is required to make four remaining payments of $1 million, plus accrued but unpaid interest, on January 31st of each of 2024, 2025, 2026, with the remaining balance due on January 31, 2027. The first installment of $1.0 million plus accrued interest was paid on February 1, 2023.

 

Our expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based on our present plans and business conditions, which could change as our plans and business conditions evolve. The amount and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the timing and success of clinical studies or clinical studies we may commence in the future, the timing of regulatory submissions and the feedback from regulatory authorities. As a result, our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering. Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

 

We currently estimate the funds will allow us to make significant progress in the conduct of our new randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (known as the ASPIRE trial) for the treatment of pancreatic ductile adenocarcinoma. Continuation of the current trial, if the interim analysis is positive, will be required for FDA or other similar approvals. The cost and timing of additional clinical trials are highly dependent on the number of indications we pursue and the nature and size of the trials. It is estimated that the completion of the randomized clinical trial and other steps in the approval process for ivospemin in pancreatic cancer could cost between $60 and $80 million.

 

Predicting the cost necessary to develop product candidates can be difficult and we anticipate we will need additional funds to complete the development work generally required for obtaining regulatory approval to commercialize a drug. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table presents a summary of our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2023:

 

 

on an actual basis after giving effect to the 1-for-30 reverse stock split effected June 1, 2023;

 

as adjusted for the issuance of 23,250 shares in alternative cashless exercises of warrants to purchase 31,000 shares of common stock, which exercises occurred after March 31, 2023; and

 

on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the issuance and sale of 2,270,000 shares of our common stock and common warrants to purchase up to 4,540,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at a public offering price of $3.75 per share and accompanying common warrants less placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, for total net proceeds of up to approximately $7.6 million (assuming no sale of pre-funded warrants).

 

The unaudited as adjusted information below is prepared for illustrative purposes only and our capitalization following the completion of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read the following table in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the historical financial statements and related notes thereto incorporated herein by reference. 

 

(in thousands)

 

Actual as of

March 31, 2023

(unaudited)

   

As of

March 31, 2023

(after reflecting
subsequent events)

   

Offering

Adjustment

   

Pro Forma as

Adjusted

 

Cash

  $ 5,235     $ 5,235     $ 7,640     $ 12,875  

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 558,757 shares issued and outstanding, and outstanding, pro forma; 2,828,757 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

    1       1       2       3  

Additional paid-in capital

    97,820       97,820       7,638       105,457  

Accumulated deficit

    (96,207

)

    (96,207

)

    -       (96,207

)

Accumulated comprehensive income

    922       922       -       922  

Total stockholders’ equity

  $ 2,535     $ 2,535     $ 7,640       10,175  

 

The number of shares of our common stock outstanding before and after this offering is based on 535,507 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2023, and 23,250 shares issued in alternative cashless exercises of warrants to purchase 31,000 shares of common stock, which exercises occurred after March 31, 2023:

 

 

all shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants sold in this offering;

 

 

13,539 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options at a weighted average exercise price of $1,070.42 per share; and

 

 

91,185 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock purchase warrants not relating to this offering at a weighted average exercise price of $325.48 per share.

 

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DILUTION

 

If you purchase shares of our common stock, your interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the offering price per share you will pay in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. Net tangible book value per share represents our total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding.

 

As of March 31, 2023, after giving effect to the issuance of 23,250 shares issued in alternative cashless exercises of warrants to purchase 31,000 shares of common stock, which exercises occurred after March 31, 2023, our net tangible book value was $2.5 million, or $4.537 per share of common stock.

 

After giving effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustments and the sale by us of all 2,270,000 shares of common stock at an assumed public offering price of $3.75 per share and accompanying common warrants and after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2023, would have been approximately $10.2 million, or $3.597 per share. This represents an immediate decrease in as adjusted net tangible book value of approximately $0.94 per share to our existing stockholders, and an immediate dilution of $0.153 per share to purchasers of shares in this offering, as illustrated in the following table:

 

Public offering price per share

  $ 3.75  

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2023

  $ 4.537  

Decrease per share attributable to new investors

  $ (0.940 )

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

  $ 3.597  

Dilution per share to new investors in the offering

  $ 0.153  

 

The number of shares of our common stock outstanding before and after this offering is based on 535,507 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2023, and 23,250 shares issued in alternative cashless exchanges for warrants to purchase 31,000 shares of common stock which occurred after March 31, 2023:

 

 

all shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants sold in this offering;

 

13,539 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options at a weighted average exercise price of $1,070.42 per share; and

 

91,185 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock purchase warrants not relating to this offering at a weighted average exercise price of $325.48 per share.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

The summary of the general terms and provisions of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), of Panbela set forth below does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified by reference to the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate”), and Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended (the “Bylaws”). For additional information, please read the Certificate, Bylaws and the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

Authorized Shares

 

The Corporation is authorized to issue up to 110,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 100,000,000 constitute shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 constitute shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Preferred Stock”).

 

Common Stock

 

No outstanding shares of common stock is entitled to preference over any other share, and each share is equal to any other share in all respects. Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record at each meeting of shareholders. Holders of shares of common stock are not entitled to any preemptive, subscription, conversion, redemption or sinking fund rights. The absence of preemptive rights could result in a dilution of the interest of shareholders should additional common shares be issued.

 

Subject to any prior rights of any Preferred Stock then outstanding, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends in the form of cash, property or shares of capital stock of the Corporation, when and as declared by the board of directors, provided there are sufficient net profits or surplus legally available for that purpose. In any distribution of capital assets, such as liquidation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive pro rata the assets remaining after creditors have been paid in full. All of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock are non-assessable.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

The Charter Documents and the DGCL contain certain provisions that may discourage an unsolicited takeover of the Company or make an unsolicited takeover of the Company more difficult. The following are some of the more significant anti-takeover provisions that are applicable to the Company:

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law

 

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a Delaware corporation with a class of voting stock listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by 2,000 or more stockholders from engaging in a Business Combination (as defined below) with an Interested Stockholder (as defined below) for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the Business Combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “Business Combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the Interested Stockholder. An “Interested Stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three years prior to the determination of Interested Stockholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. Under Section 203, a Business Combination between a corporation and an Interested Stockholder is prohibited for three years unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

 

 

Before the stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, the board of directors approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder;

 

 

Upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, the Interested Stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or

 

 

At or after the time the stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, the Business Combination was approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the Interested Stockholder.

 

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

 

The Bylaws establish advance-notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals to be brought before a stockholder meeting and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors.

 

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Special Meetings of Stockholders

 

The Certificate and Bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the board of directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

 

Classified Board of Directors

 

The Certificate provides that directors are divided into three classes and elected for staggered terms. At each annual meeting, approximately one third of the directors will be elected to serve a three-year term. Directors serving staggered terms can be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of 75% or more of the outstanding shares of stock then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Authority of the Board of Directors

 

The board of directors has the power to issue any or all of the shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, including the authority to establish one or more series of Preferred Stock and to fix the powers, preferences, rights and limitations of such class or series, without seeking stockholder approval. The board of directors has the authority to adopt and change Bylaws, subject to the right of holders of at least 66.67% of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our Board of Directors has the authority, without first obtaining the approval of our stockholders, to establish one or more series of preferred stock and to fix:

 

 

the number of shares of such series;

 

 

the designations, preferences and relative rights, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences; and

 

 

any qualifications, limitations or restrictions.

 

We believe that the ability of our Board of Directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock provides flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions, and in meeting other corporate needs that may arise. The authorized shares of preferred stock, as well as authorized and unissued shares of common stock, are available for issuance without action by the holders of common stock, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded.

 

Our Board of Directors may authorize, without stockholder approval, the issuance of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of common stock. Although our Board of Directors has no current intention of doing so, it could issue a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of such series, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt of our Company. Our Board of Directors could also issue preferred stock having terms that could discourage an acquisition attempt through which an acquirer may be able to change the composition of our Board of Directors, including a tender offer or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then-current market price. Any issuance of preferred stock therefore could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.

 

Our Board of Directors will make any determination to issue such shares based on its judgment as to the best interests of our Company and stockholders. We have no current plans to issue any preferred stock.

 

Options

 

The 2016 Plan initially authorized the issuance of up to 2,333 shares of our common stock pursuant to awards granted thereunder and 9,792 shares have been added pursuant to its annual evergreen feature. As of June 15, 2023, options to purchase 12,042 shares of our common stock were outstanding under the 2016 Plan with a weighted average price of $1,103.06 per share. No shares of common stock remained available for future grants under the 2016 Plan as of the same date.

 

As of June 15, 2023, options to purchase 184 shares of our common stock remained outstanding under the 2011 Plan with a weighted average price of $3,580.92 per share. We ceased making awards under the 2011 Plan upon stockholder approval of the 2016 Plan.

 

As of June 15, 2023, options to purchase 1,313 shares of our common stock remained outstanding under CPP’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan with a weighted average price of $419.23, all of which were assumed by us in connection with the acquisition of CPP.

 

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Warrants Outstanding

 

As of June 15, 2023, we had issued and outstanding warrants to purchase 91,185 shares of common stock and no warrants to purchase shares of preferred stock outstanding. As of the same date, the outstanding warrants had a weighted average exercise price of $325.48 per share and an average remaining exercise period of 4.40 years.

 

Pre-Funded Warrants

 

The following summary of certain terms and provisions of pre-funded warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the pre-funded warrant, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of pre-funded warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the pre-funded warrants.

 

Duration and Exercise Price. Each pre-funded warrant offered hereby will have an initial exercise price per share equal to $0.001. The pre-funded warrants will be immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock and the exercise price. The pre-funded warrants will be issued separately from the accompanying common warrants and may be transferred separately immediately thereafter.

 

Exercisability. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). Purchasers of the pre-funded warrants in this offering may elect to deliver their exercise notice following the pricing of the offering and prior to the issuance of the pre-funded warrants at closing to have their pre-funded warrants exercised immediately upon issuance and receive shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants upon closing of this offering. A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the pre-funded warrant to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% of the outstanding common stock immediately after exercise, except that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder may increase the amount of ownership of outstanding stock after exercising the holder’s pre-funded warrants up to 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants. Purchasers of pre-funded warrants in this offering may also elect prior to the issuance of the pre-funded warrants to have the initial exercise limitation set at 9.99% of our outstanding common stock. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a pre-funded warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will round down to the next whole share.

 

Cashless Exercise. If, at the time a holder exercises its pre-funded warrants, a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available, then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the pre-funded warrants.

 

Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, a pre-funded warrant may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the pre-funded warrant to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.

 

Exchange Listing. There is no trading market available for the pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system.

 

Right as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the pre-funded warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, the holders of the pre-funded warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our common stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their pre-funded warrants.

 

Fundamental Transaction. In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the pre-funded warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the pre-funded warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the pre-funded warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.

 

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Common Warrants

 

The following summary of certain terms and provisions of common warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the common warrants, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of common warrants for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the common warrants.

 

Duration and Exercise Price. Each common warrant offered hereby will have an initial exercise price per share equal to 100% of the public offering price per share and common warrants. The common warrants will be immediately exercisable and will expire on the fifth anniversary of the original issuance date. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock and the exercise price. The exercise price is separately subject to reduction in the event of certain future dilutive issuances of shares of common stock by us, including pursuant to common stock equivalents and convertible or derivative securities. The common warrants will be issued separately from the common stock and will be held separately immediately thereafter. A common warrant to purchase one share of our common stock will be issued for every share of common stock or pre-funded warrant to purchase one share purchased in this offering.

 

Exercisability. The common warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the common warrant to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% of the outstanding common stock immediately after exercise, except that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder may increase the amount of ownership of outstanding stock after exercising the holder’s common warrants up to 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the common warrants. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a common warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will round down to the next whole share.

 

Cashless Exercise. If, at the time a holder exercises its common warrants, a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the common warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available and an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is not available for the issuance of such shares, then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the common warrants.

 

Alternative Cashless Exercise. With respect to the Class A Warrants only, on or after the fifth business day following their issuance, a holder of common warrants may also provide notice and elect an “alternative cashless exercise” pursuant to which they would receive an aggregate number of shares equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of shares of common stock that would be issuable upon a cash exercise and (y) 0.24.

 

Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, a common warrant in book entry form may be transferred at the option of the holder through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company and common warrants in physical form may be transferred upon surrender of the common warrant to the warrant agent together with the appropriate instruments of transfer. Pursuant to a warrant agency agreement between us and VStock Transfer, as warrant agent, the common warrants initially will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by one or more global certificates deposited with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC.

 

Exchange Listing. There is no established public trading market for the common warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to list the common warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the common warrants will be limited.

 

Right as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the common warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, the holders of the common warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our common stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their common warrants.

 

Fundamental Transaction. In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the form of common warrant, and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the common warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the common warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the common warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer, which can be contacted at 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York, 11598, info@vstocktransfer.com, or +1 (212) 828-8436.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Pursuant to a placement agency agreement, dated as of June 16, 2023, we have engaged Roth Capital Partners, LLC to act as our exclusive placement agent to solicit offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus on a reasonable best efforts basis. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling any securities, nor is it required to arrange for the purchase and sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities, other than to use its “reasonable best efforts” to arrange for the sale of the securities by us. Therefore, we may not sell the entire amount of securities being offered, or any at all. The placement agent may engage one or more subagents or selected dealers in connection with this offering.

 

We will enter into a securities purchase agreement directly with the institutional investors, at the investor’s option, who purchase our securities in this offering. Investors who do not enter into a securities purchase agreement shall rely solely on this prospectus in connection with the purchase of our securities in this offering.

 

The placement agency agreement provides that the placement agent’s obligations are subject to the conditions contained in the placement agency agreement.

 

We will deliver the securities being issued to the investors upon receipt of investor funds for the purchase of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. We expect to deliver the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus on or about June 21, 2023. There is no minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds that is a condition to closing of this offering.

 

Placement Agent Fees, Commissions and Expenses

 

Upon the closing of this offering, we will pay the placement agent a cash transaction fee equal to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds to us from the sale of the securities in the offering. In addition, we will reimburse the placement agent for its out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this offering, including the fees and expenses of the counsel for the placement agent, up to $100,000.

 

The following table shows the public offering price, placement agent fees and proceeds, before expenses, to us, assuming the purchase of all the securities we are offering.

 

   

Per Share and

Common
Warrant

   

Per Pre-Funded

Warrant and

Common
Warrant

 

Public offering price

  $ 3.75     $ 3.7490  

Placement Agent fees

  $ 0.2625     $ 0.2624  

Proceeds to us, before expenses

  $ 3.4875     $ 3.4866  

 

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding placement agent fees, will be approximately 277,000, all of which are payable by us. This figure includes the placement agent’s accountable expenses, including, but not limited to, legal fees for placement agent’s legal counsel, that we have agreed to pay at the closing of the offering up to an aggregate expense reimbursement of $100,000.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We and our executive officers and directors expect to enter into lock up agreements with the representative prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, for a period of 90 days for executive officers and directors from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, without the prior consent of the representative, agree not to offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise), directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible, or exercisable into, shares of our common stock. 

 

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Indemnification

 

We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the placement agent may be required to make for these liabilities.

 

Determination of Offering Price and Warrant Exercise Price

 

The actual public offering price of the securities we are offering, and the exercise price of the common warrants and pre-funded warrants that we are offering, will be negotiated between us, the placement agent and the investors in the offering based on the trading price of our common stock prior to the offering, among other things. Other factors that will be considered in determining the public offering price of the securities we are offering, as well as the exercise price of the common warrants and pre-funded warrants that we are offering include our history and prospects, the stage of development of our business, our business plans for the future and the extent to which they have been implemented, an assessment of our management, the general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering and such other factors as are deemed relevant.

 

Other Compensation

 

If within six (6) months following the termination or expiration of our engagement with the placement agent, we complete any sale of equity or equity-linked securities for which the placement agent is not acting as underwriter or placement agent (other than the exercise by any person or entity of any options, warrants or other convertible securities) to any of the investors that the placement agent introduced to us or with which the placement agent conducted discussions on our behalf, subject to specified exceptions, then we are required to pay to the placement agent a commission as described in this section, in each case only with respect to the portion of such financing received from such investors.

 

Regulation M

 

The placement agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by it and any profit realized on the resale of the securities sold by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. As an underwriter, the placement agent would be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of our securities by the placement agent acting as principal. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agent (i) may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities and (ii) may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until it has completed its participation in the distribution.

 

Electronic Distribution

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by the placement agent. In connection with the offering, the placement agent or selected dealers may distribute prospectuses electronically. No forms of electronic prospectus other than prospectuses that are printable as Adobe® PDF will be used in connection with this offering.

 

Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the placement agent’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by the placement agent is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the placement agent in its capacity as placement agent and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

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Certain Relationships

 

The placement agent and its affiliates may in the future provide, from time to time, investment banking and financial advisory services to us in the ordinary course of business, for which they may receive customary fees and commissions.

 

The Nasdaq Capital Market Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PBLA.”

 

Offer Restrictions Outside the United States

 

European Economic Area

 

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area, no offer of securities which are the subject of the offering has been, or will be made to the public in that Member State, other than under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive:

 

 

(a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

 

(b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the Representatives for any such offer; or

 

 

(c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

 

provided that no such offer of securities referred to in (a) to (c) above shall result in a requirement for the Company or the placement agent to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

Each person located in a Member State to whom any offer of securities is made or who receives any communication in respect of an offer of securities, or who initially acquires any shares of our securities will be deemed to have represented, warranted, acknowledged and agreed to and with the placement agent and the Company that (1) it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of the law in that Member State implementing Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive; and (2) in the case of any shares of our securities acquired by it as a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Member State other than qualified investors, as that term is defined in the Prospectus Directive, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the placement agent has been given to the offer or resale; or where our securities have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any Member State other than qualified investors, the offer of those securities to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having been made to such persons. 

 

The Company, the placement agent and their respective affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgments and agreements.

 

This prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of our securities in any Member State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of shares. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in that Member State of our securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Company or the placement agent to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive in relation to such offer. Neither the Company nor the placement agent have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of securities in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Company or the placement agent to publish a prospectus for such an offer.

 

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of our securities to the public” in relation to any of our securities in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Member State. The above selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

 

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

 

The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to our securities or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

 

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company or our securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of our securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of our securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes ("CISA"). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of our securities.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

 

This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The securities to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

 

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”) and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

 

Any offer in Australia of our securities may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

 

The securities applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring our securities must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

 

This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

 

The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the securities has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

 

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

 

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of securities may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

 

Where the securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

 

(a)

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

 

(b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

 

securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

 

(a)

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

 

(b)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

 

(c)

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

 

(d)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

 

(e)

as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

 

The securities may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

 

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

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Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the placement agent is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. Pryor Cashman LLP is acting as counsel for the placement agent in connection with certain legal matters related to this offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of Panbela as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022 incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Cherry Bekaert LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act that registers the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit from this prospectus certain information included in the registration statement.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Any information we file with the SEC, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also make these documents publicly available, free of charge, on our website at www.panbela.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such documents with the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

We have elected to incorporate by reference certain information in this prospectus pursuant to General Instruction VII of Form S-1. We have previously filed the following documents with the SEC and are incorporating them by reference into this prospectus, except for information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, and any exhibits relating to such information, which is neither deemed filed nor incorporated by reference herein:

 

 

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023;

 

 

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023;

 

 

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 6, 2023, January 17, 2023, January 31, 2023, February 10, 2023, April 12, 2023, and April 18, 2023, and May 31, 2023;

 

 

The portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A that are deemed “filed” with the SEC under the Exchange Act, filed on April 28, 2023; and

 

 

Description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023.

 

As a smaller reporting company, we also are incorporating by reference any future information filed (rather than furnished) by us with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and before the effective date of the registration statement and after the date of this prospectus until the termination of the offering. Any statements contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement. 

 

We will provide to any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, at no cost, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement but not delivered with the prospectus. You should direct requests for documents to:

 

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

712 Vista Boulevard #305

Waconia, Minnesota 55387

Attn: Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Telephone: (952) 479-1196

 

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2,270,000 Shares of Common Stock

Class A Common Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 Shares of Common Stock

Class B Common Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 Shares of Common Stock

Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 2,270,000 Shares of Common Stock

Up to 6,810,000 Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants

 

 

 

 

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

 

 

 


 

PROSPECTUS

 

 


 

 

Roth Capital Partners

 

          June 16, 2023

 

 

 



 

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