UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

  _________________________________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 14, 2024

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AVIDITY BIOSCIENCES, INC. 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Delaware	001-39321	46-1336960
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

10578 Science Center Drive, Suite 125

San Diego, California 92121 92121

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(858) 401-7900

(Registrant’s telephone number, include area code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	RNA	The Nasdaq Global Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐ 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On August 14, 2024, Avidity Biosciences, Inc. (“Avidity” or the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Leerink Partners LLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to the issuance and sale of 7,320,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”). The price to the public in this offering is $41.00 per share. The Underwriters have agreed to purchase the shares from the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement at a price of $38.54 per share. In addition, under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,098,000 additional shares of Common Stock (the “Option”). The net proceeds to the Company from this offering are expected to be approximately $281.7 million, or approximately $324.0 million if the Option is exercised in full, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The offering is expected to close on August 16, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The offering is being made pursuant to the Company's shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-279264) which became automatically effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus filed with the SEC.

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and Underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Underwriting Agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, and were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement.

The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this report and is incorporated by reference herein. A copy of the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP relating to the legality of the issuance and sale of Common Stock in the offering is attached as Exhibit 5.1 to this report.

The Company issued a press release on August 13, 2024 announcing the commencement of the offering and on August 14, 2024 announcing the pricing of the offering, which press releases are attached as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, to this report.

Forward-Looking Statements

Avidity cautions you that statements included in this report that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the completion of the offering and the expected net proceeds therefrom. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Avidity that any of these results will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this report due to the risks and uncertainties associated with market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering, as well as risk and uncertainties inherent in Avidity's business as described in its prior press releases and in filings with the SEC, including under the heading "Risk Factors" in Avidity's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Avidity undertakes no obligation to update this report to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
1.1	Underwriting Agreement, dated August 14, 2024, by and among Avidity Biosciences, Inc. and Leerink Partners LLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein
5.1	Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP
23.1	Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
99.1	Press Release dated August 13, 2024
99.2	Press Release dated August 14, 2024
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	AVIDITY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Date: August 15, 2024	By:	/s/ Michael F. MacLean
		Michael F. MacLean
		Chief Financial and Chief Business Officer