S-3 1 appy_s3.htm FORM 10-Q appy_s3.htm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2011
Registration No.  333-_________
 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ASPENBIO PHARMA, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Colorado  84-1553387
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)    (I.R.S.  Employer Identification Number)

1585 South Perry Street
Castle Rock, Colorado 80104
(303) 794-2000
 (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Jeffrey G. McGonegal
Chief Financial Officer
1585 South Perry Street
Castle Rock, Colorado 80104
(303) 794-2000

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

With a copy to:

Mary J. Mullany, Esquire
Ballard Spahr LLP
1735 Market Street, 51st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 864-8631
 
    Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
 
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨
 
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x
 
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨
 
 
 
 

 
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨
 
If this form is a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨
 
If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
 
     
Large Accelerated Filer  ¨
 
Accelerated Filer  ¨
Non-Accelerated Filer  ¨
 
Smaller Reporting Company x
 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
                 
Title of Securities
to be Registered (1)
 
Amount to be
Registered (1)(2)
 
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Security (2)
 
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price (2)(3)
 
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common stock, no par value
               
Warrants
               
Units
               
Total
         
$15,000,000
 
$1,741.50

(1)
There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of shares of common stock of AspenBio Pharma, Inc. (“AspenBio”), such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common stock of AspenBio, and such indeterminate number of units consisting of common stock and warrants and sold together as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $15,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more currencies.

(2)
Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered hereunder pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with, and at the time of, the issuance of the securities.

(3)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee required pursuant to Rule 457(o) thereof, which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities listed.

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
 
 
 
 

 
 
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
Subject to Completion, Dated May 13, 2011
 
PROSPECTUS
 
 
$15,000,000
Common Stock
Warrants
Units
 
We may issue and sell from time to time our common stock, warrants to purchase common stock (“warrants”) and/or units consisting of common stock and warrants on terms to be determined at the time of sale.  We may offer these securities separately or together in one or more offerings with a maximum aggregate offering price of $15 million.
 
We will provide a prospectus supplement each time we issue securities, specifying the specific terms of the securities being sold as well as the specific terms of that offering.
 
You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including any information incorporated herein and therein, carefully before you invest.
 
The securities being sold may be sold on a delayed or continuous basis directly by us, through dealers, agents or underwriters designated from time to time, or through any combination of these methods. If any dealers, agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, we will disclose their names and the nature of our arrangements with them in any prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “APPY.”  On May 10, 2011, the closing price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.72 per share. None of the other securities offered under this prospectus are publicly traded.
 
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “RISK FACTORS” beginning on page 3.
 

 
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement for the securities being sold.
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body 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.
 
The date of this Prospectus is _______, 2011.
 

 
 

 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
ASPENBIO PHARMA, INC.
 3  
RISK FACTORS
 3  
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 3  
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 4  
USE OF PROCEEDS
 4  
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 5  
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK
7  
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS
7  
DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS
10  
LEGAL MATTERS
 10  
EXPERTS
 10  
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
 11  
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 11  

 
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement (including in any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein). We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any different information. We are offering to sell our securities, and seeking offers to buy, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement, and the information contained in any document incorporated herein or therein by reference is accurate only as of the date of such document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery or any sale of our securities.
 

2
 
 

 
ASPENBIO PHARMA, INC.
 
AspenBio Pharma, Inc. (the “Company” or “AspenBio” also “we”, “us” or “our”) is developing products that address unmet human diagnostic and animal health therapeutic needs.
 
AspenBio is focused on its unique blood-based test, AppyScore, a product being developed to assist emergency department physicians in managing acute appendicitis. According to CDC data in the United States alone, over seven million people enter emergency departments annually complaining of abdominal pain.  Diagnosis of the cause of the abdominal pain can be challenging and urgent, particularly because of the risk of negative implications to a patient’s health and the cost if the acute appendicitis is not timely diagnosed. We anticipate that AppyScore will provide physicians with incremental objective clinical information, through the test’s negative predictive value and sensitivity, to assist in the management of the large number of patients who enter hospital emergency departments suspected of, but at low risk of having acute appendicitis.

Assuming regulatory clearance, we expect AppyScore will be used to aid emergency department physicians in the management of this large segment of their patient population, those presenting with abdominal pain.  Potentially the use of AppyScore in low risk patients could also reduce health care costs and avoid exposing such patients to unnecessary radiation from CT imaging.  Children are most susceptible to the long term health risks associated with radiation exposure from CT imaging. Our current focus is to validate the use of AppyScore in the management of children and adolescents presenting to emergency departments with signs, symptoms and history suggestive of, or suspicious for acute appendicitis, but who are believed to be at low risk of having the disease.

Additionally, we have several novel reproduction drugs in development for use in animals, including livestock, of economic importance.

We are a Colorado corporation located at 1585 S. Perry Street, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104.  Our phone number is (303) 794-2000.  We maintain a website at http://www.aspenbiopharma.com.  The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the website is not part of this prospectus.
 
RISK FACTORS
 
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks incorporated by reference herein that are described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as well as any applicable prospectus supplement and the reports we file from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If any of the events described in such “Risk Factors” section occurs or the risks described in such “Risk Factors” section actually materialize, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow or prospects could be materially adversely affected.
 
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). By using a shelf registration statement, we may, from time to time, issue and sell in one or more series or classes our common stock, warrants and/or units consisting of our common stock and warrants in one or more offerings up to an aggregate maximum offering price of $15 million (or its equivalent in foreign or composite currencies). Each time we sell any of our securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities being sold. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference.
 
3
 
 

 
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the Company and our securities; for further information about our business and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement, the reports incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as described in “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement (including in any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein). We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any different information. We are offering to sell our securities, and seeking offers to buy, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement, and the information contained in any document incorporated herein or therein by reference is accurate only as of the date of such document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery or any sale of our securities.
 
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the future as there are a number of meaningful factors that could cause AspenBio’s actual results to vary materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on certain assumptions made based on experience, expected future developments and other factors AspenBio believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Meaningful factors, which could cause actual results to differ from expectations, many of which are beyond the control of AspenBio, include, but are not limited to:  actual trial results; our ability to successfully complete the clinical trial data assessments required for FDA submission, obtain FDA approval for, cost effectively manufacture and generate revenues from, the appendicitis test in development, as well as the animal health products and other new products developed by AspenBio; our ability to retain the scientific management team to advance the products in development; our ability to execute agreements to provide AspenBio with rights to meet its objectives; our ability to overcome adverse changes in market conditions and the regulatory environment; our ability to obtain and enforce intellectual property rights; our ability to our ability to obtain adequate financing in the future through product licensing, co-promotional arrangements, public or private equity or debt financing or otherwise; general business conditions; competition; business abilities and judgment of personnel; availability of qualified personnel; and other factors referenced herein in “Risk Factors.”  AspenBio does not intend (and is not obligated) to update publicly any such forward-looking statements.  For other factors that may impact such forward-looking statements, reference is made to our annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for product development, clinical trial activities, FDA 510(k) submission-related activities, general corporate purposes, including payment of expenses and liabilities, and working capital. At this time, we have not determined the specific uses of any offering proceeds, or the amounts we plan to spend on any particular use or the timing of such expenditures, which may vary significantly depending on various factors such as our research and development results, regulatory approvals, competition, marketing and sales, and the market acceptance of any products introduced by us or our partners.  Pending application of the net proceeds from any particular offering, we intend to invest such proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities.
 
4
 
 

 
Each time we issue securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain information about how we intend to use the proceeds from each such offering.
 
We cannot guarantee that we will receive any proceeds in connection with any offering hereunder because we may choose not to issue any of the securities covered by this prospectus.
 
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
We may sell the securities being offered hereby from time to time in one or more of the following ways:
 
·  
through one or more underwriters;
 
·  
through dealers, who may act as agents or principal (including a block trade in which a broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction);
 
·  
directly to one or more purchasers;
 
·  
through agents;
 
·  
through registered direct offerings;
 
 
·  
as part of a collaboration with a third party;
·  
in privately negotiated transactions; and
 
·  
in any combination of these methods of sale.
 
We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the terms of the offering of securities, including:
 
·  
the name or names of any agents, underwriters or dealers;
 
·  
the terms of the securities being offered, including the purchase price and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;
 
·  
any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;
 
·  
any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; and
 
·  
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
 
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.
 
5
 
 

 
Underwriters, dealers, agents and others that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. In no event will the total amount of cash compensation paid to underwriters, placement agents, dealers or brokers exceed 10% of the gross proceeds of the offering.  We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers, agents and others and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers, agents and others to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers, agents and others may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
 
If required under applicable state securities laws, we will sell the securities only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states, we may not sell securities unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or unless we have complied with an exemption from any registration or qualification requirements.
 
Agents
 
We may designate agents who agree to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment or to sell securities on a continuing basis. Unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise, agents will act on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment. Agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from us. Agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of the securities for whom they sell as principals. Each particular agent will receive compensation in amounts negotiated in connection with the sale, which might be in excess of customary commissions.
 
Underwriters
 
If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. Unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise, underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. We may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to dealers. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship, and we may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. We will describe in the prospectus supplement naming the underwriter the nature of any such relationship and underwriting arrangement.
 
Dealers
 
We also may sell securities to a dealer as principal. If we sell our securities to a dealer as a principal, then the dealer may resell those securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Direct Sales and Institutional Purchases
 
We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers, in which case underwriters or agents would not be involved in the transaction.
 
6
 
 

 
Further, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in an applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Stabilization Activities
 
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Such activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than they would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq Capital Market or otherwise.
 
Passive Market Making
 
Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.
 
Costs
 
We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the securities, as well as the expense of all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to sales of the securities by us.
 
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK
 
Set forth below is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock. This summary is not complete. We encourage you to read our Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) that we have previously filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
General
 
Our authorized capital stock consists of 60,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value, of which 40,138,324 shares were outstanding as of May 10, 2011.
 
Common Stock
 
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, except that in the election of directors each shareholder shall have as many votes for each shares held by him, her or it as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the shareholder has a right to vote.  Cumulative voting is not permitted.  Generally, all matters to be voted on by shareholders must be approved by a majority, or, in the case of the election of directors, by a plurality, of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
 
7
 
 

 
Holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to those dividends declared by the Board of Directors out of legally available funds, and, in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, holders are entitled to receive ratably our net assets available to the shareholders. Holders of our outstanding common stock have no preemptive, conversion or redemption rights. All of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock are, and all unissued shares of our common stock, when offered and sold will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. To the extent that additional shares of our common stock may be issued in the future, the relative interests of the then existing shareholders may be diluted.
 
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol APPY. On May 10, 2011, the closing price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.72 per share.
 
Our registrar and transfer agent for all shares of common stock is Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc.
 
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS
 
This description summarizes only the terms of any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and related warrant agreements and certificates. You should refer to the warrant agreement, including the form of warrant certificate representing the warrants, relating to the specific warrants being offered for complete terms, which will be described and included in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Such warrant agreement, together with the warrant certificate, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the specific warrants.
 
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities.
 
We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate warrant agreement. We may enter into the warrant agreement with a warrant agent and, if so, we will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of warrants.
 
The particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. Those terms may include:
 
·  
the title of such warrants;
 
·  
the aggregate number of such warrants;
 
·  
the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
 
·  
the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which the price of such warrants may be payable;
 
·  
the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of such warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;
 
 
8
 
 

 
·  
the price at which the securities issuable upon exercise of such warrants may be acquired;
 
·  
the dates on which the right to exercise such warrants will commence and expire;
 
·  
any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;
 
·  
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
 
·  
if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security or principal amount of such security;
 
·  
if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
 
·  
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and
 
·  
any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange or exercise of such warrants.
 
As of March 31, 2011, the Company had outstanding warrants exercisable for 382,530 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.29 per share that expire on a weighted average of approximately five years after the date hereof.
 
Exercise of Warrants
 
Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the number of shares of common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. We will specify the place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the applicable certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver upon exercise.
 
Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the purchased securities. If less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
 
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
 
Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, such holder’s warrants.
 
9
 
 

 
Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase common stock, holders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to vote or to receive any payments of dividends.
 
DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS
 
We may issue units comprised of common stock and warrants. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The units may be issued under unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent, as detailed in the prospectus supplement relating to units being offered. The prospectus supplement will describe:
 
·  
the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or transferred separately;
 
·  
a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;
 
·  
a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units;
 
·  
a discussion of material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and
 
·  
whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.
 
The descriptions of the units in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define your rights as holders of the units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
LEGAL MATTERS
 
Certain legal matters with respect to the securities offered hereby have been passed upon by Ballard Spahr LLP.
 
EXPERTS
 
The financial statements of AspenBio Pharma, Inc., for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, incorporated herein by reference have been audited by the accounting firm of GHP Horwath, P.C., an independent registered public accounting firm, and are incorporated in reliance upon their report dated April 14, 2011, given upon such firm’s authority as experts in auditing and accounting.
 
10
 
 

 
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
 
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” in this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents containing such information. This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. You should rely on the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the registration statement. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information and information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering; provided, that we are not incorporating by reference any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules. The documents we are incorporating by reference are:
 
·  
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed on April 15, 2011;
 
·  
our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed on May 2, 2011;
 
·  
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2011, filed on May 13, 2011; and
 
·  
our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed October 1, 2002 registering our common stock under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended by Form 8-A filed on August 27, 2007 and as amended by Form 8-A / Amendment 1 on August 27, 2007.
 
We will furnish to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that have been incorporated by reference, including exhibits to these documents.  You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by writing or telephoning our Secretary at the following address and telephone number:
 
AspenBio Pharma, Inc.
Attention:  Jeffrey G. McGonegal, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
1585 S. Perry Street
Castle Rock, Colorado 80104
Telephone No.: (303) 794-2000
Facsimile No.: (303) 798-8332
 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.  You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.  You can request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost.  Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room.  Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.  Our website address is http://www.aspenbiopharma.com.  However, information on our website will not be considered a part of this prospectus.
 
 
11
 
 

 
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
 
The costs and expenses payable by the Company in connection with the offerings described in this registration statement are as follows:
 
SEC registration fee
 
$
1,742
 
Legal fees and expenses
 
$
10,000
*
Accounting fees and expenses
 
$
5,000
*
Printer costs and expenses
 
$
3,258
*
Total
 
$
20,000
 
 
*           Estimated as permitted under Rule 511 of Regulation S-K.
 
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
 
Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws require us to indemnify our officers, directors, employees and agents against reasonably incurred expenses (including legal fees), judgments, penalties, fins and amounts incurred in the settlement of any action, suit or proceeding if it is determined that such person conducted himself in good faith and that he reasonably believed (i) in the case of conduct in his official capacity, that his conduct was in the Company’s best interest, (ii) in all other cases (except criminal proceedings) that his conduct was at least not opposed to the Company’s best interests, or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, that he has not reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
 
This determination shall be made by a majority vote of directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present, provided however that the quorum can only consist of directors not parties to the proceeding.  If a quorum cannot be obtain, the determination may be made by a majority vote of a committee of the board, consisting of two or more directors who are not parties to the proceeding.  Directors who are parties to the proceeding may participate in the designation of members to serve on the committee.  If a quorum of the board or a committee cannot be established, the determination may be made (i) by independent legal counsel selected by a vote of the board of directors or committee in the manner described in this paragraph or, if a quorum cannot be obtained or a committee cannot be established, by independent legal counsel selected by a majority of the full board (including directors who are parties to the proceeding) or (ii) by a vote of the shareholders.
 
Any officer, director, employee or agent may seek court-ordered indemnification from the court conducting the proceeding.  The court may then determine whether such person should be entitled to indemnification.
 
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by the Company is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
12
 
 

 
Item 16. Exhibits.
 
The exhibits marked with an asterisk are filed herewith. The remainder of the exhibits have been previously filed with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
1.1+           Form of Underwriting Agreement
 
4.2
Specimen stock certificate for shares of common stock, no par value (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(A) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed April 12, 2002)
 
4.3+
Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement (together with form of warrant certificate)
 
4.4+
Form of Unit Agreement (including form of unit certificate)
 
5.1*
Opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP
 
23.1*
Consent of GHP Horwath, P.C., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
23.2*
Consent of Ballard Spahr LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1)
 
24.1*
Power of Attorney (Included in the signature pages hereto)
 
 
 
 
*
Filed herewith.
 
+
To be filed as an exhibit to a report filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or by post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement.
 
Item 17. Undertakings.
 
(a)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
(1)           To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
(i)           To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
 
(ii)           To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
 
13
 
 

 
(iii)           To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
 
Provided, however, that:
 
Paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
 
(2)           That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(3)           To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
 
(5)           That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
 
(i)           If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
 
(A)           Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
 
(B)           Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof, provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
 
14
 
 

 
(ii)           If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness, provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
 
(6)           That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
 
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
 
(i)           Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
 
(ii)           Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
 
(iii)           The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
 
(iv)           Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
 
(b)           The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(h)           Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in said act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
15
 
 

 
(i)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
(1)           For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
(2)           For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
 
 
16
 
 

 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Castle Rock, State of Colorado on the 13th day of May, 2011.
 
 
ASPENBIO PHARMA, INC.
 
       
 
By:
/s/ 
Stephen T. Lundy
 
   
Stephen T. Lundy
 
    Chief Executive Officer and President  
       
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephen T. Lundy and Jeffrey G. McGonegal and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection wherewith, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
NAME
 
TITLE
 
DATE
         
/s/ Stephen T. Lundy
 
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
 
May 13, 2011
Stephen T. Lundy
       
         
/s/ Jeffrey G. McGonegal
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
May 13, 2011
Jeffrey G. McGonegal
       
         
/s/ Gail S. Schoettler
 
Non-Executive Chair of the Board  and Director
 
May 13, 2011
Gail S. Schoettler
       
         
/s/ Daryl J. Faulkner
 
Director
 
May 13, 2011
Daryl J. Faulkner
       
 
 
 
17
 
 

 
 
         
/s/ Gregory Pusey
 
Vice President, Investor Relations and Director
 
May 13, 2011
Gregory Pusey
       
         
/s/ Douglas I. Hepler
 
Director 
 
May 13, 2011
Douglas I. Hepler
       
         
/s/ David E. Welch
 
Director 
 
May 13, 2011
David E. Welch
       
         
/s/ Mark J. Ratain
 
Director 
 
May 13, 2011
Mark J. Ratain, M.D
       
         
/s/ Michael R. Merson
 
Director 
 
May 13, 2011
Michael R. Merson
       
         
/s/John H. Landon
 
Director 
 
May 13, 2011
John H. Landon
       
     
 
 
 
 
18