S-1 1 tm249520d1_s1.htm FORM S-1

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2024

Registration Statement No.  333-       

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM S-1

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

under the

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

CYCLACEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Delaware 3826 91-1707622

(State or other

jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

200 Connell Drive, Suite 1500

Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 517-7330

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area

code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Spiro Rombotis

President & Chief Executive Officer

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

200 Connell Drive, Suite 1500

Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 517-7330

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Joel I. Papernik, Esq. Charles Phillips, Esq.
Jeffrey P. Schultz, Esq. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LP
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. 1345 Avenue of the Americas
919 Third Avenue New York, NY 10105
New York, NY 10022 (212) 370-1300
(212) 935-3000  

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:

From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

 

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 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 post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) 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. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
       
Non-accelerated filer x Smaller reporting company x
       
    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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨

 

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, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRELIMINARY 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 PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 22, 2024

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

 

CYCLACEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

     Shares of Common Stock

Common Stock Warrants to purchase up to      Shares of Common Stock

or

Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to      Shares of Common Stock and Accompanying

Common Stock Warrants to purchase up to      Shares of Common Stock

 

Up to      Shares of Common Stock Issuable Upon Exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Stock Warrants

 

This is a best efforts public offering of         shares of our common stock, common stock purchase warrants to purchase up to         shares of our common stock (which we refer to as “Common Stock Warrants”), and the shares of common stock underlying the Common Stock Warrants, at a combined public offering price of $       per share of common stock and accompanying Common Stock Warrant. Each Common Stock Warrant is exercisable immediately upon issuance for one share of common stock at an exercise price of $            share and will expire five years from the initial exercise date.

 

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 $0.0001 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 that we sell, the number of shares of common stock that we are selling will be decreased on a one-for-one basis.

 

Our common stock is quoted for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CYCC”. On March 21, 2024, the last reported sales price for our common stock was $2.18 per share. The actual public offering price per share and accompanying Common Stock Warrant will be determined between us, the Placement Agent and the investors in the offering, and may be at a discount to then current market price of our common stock. Therefore, the assumed public offering price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final public offering price. We do not intend to apply for listing of the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants on any national securities exchange or trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Common Stock Warrants and the pre-funded warrants will be limited.

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before buying any securities you should carefully read the discussion of the material risks of investing in our securities in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus or incorporated herein by reference.

 

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 offering of the securities will terminate on the earlier of (i) the first date that we enter into securities purchase agreements to sell the securities offered hereby, or (ii)  , 2024. 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 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 42 of this prospectus for more information regarding these arrangements.

 

 

 

 

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”) NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

   Per Share and related
Common Stock
Warrant(2)
  Per Pre-Funded
Warrant and related
Common Stock Warrant(2)
   Total 
Public offering price(1)  $  $  $ 
Placement Agent fees  $  $  $ 
Proceeds to us before offering expenses(3)  $  $  $ 

 

(1) The public offering price corresponds to (x)(i) a public offering price per share of $      and (ii) a public offering price per Common Stock Warrant of $     , and (y)(i) a public offering price per pre-funded warrant of $      and (ii) a public offering price per Common Stock Warrant of $     .
(2) Based on an assumed public offering price of $      per share of common stock and associated Common Stock Warrant, or in the case of pre-funded warrants, $      per pre-funded warrant and associated Common Stock Warrant. The final public offering price per share and associated Common Stock Warrant or pre-funded warrant and associated Common Stock Warrant, as the case may be, will be determined by the Company, Placement Agent and the investors in this offering and may be a discount to the market price of the Company’s common stock.
(3) We estimate the total expenses of this offering will be approximately $       .

 

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 expect to deliver our shares, Common Stock Warrants and pre-funded warrants, if any, to purchasers in the offering on or about _____, 2024.

 

Roth Capital Partners

 

______________ , 2024

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  PAGE
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 1
   
THE OFFERING 3
   
RISK FACTORS 5
   
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 7
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 8
   
MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK 8
   
DIVIDEND POLICY 8
   
CAPITALIZATION 9
   
DILUTION 11
   
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 12
   
MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 13
   
EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION 18
   
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION 21
   
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS 26
   
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON STOCK 27
   
DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED STOCK 28
   
DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING WARRANTS 36
   
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING 39
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 42
   
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES 44
   
LEGAL MATTERS 44
   
EXPERTS 44
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 44
   
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE 45

 

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You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before making an investment in the securities of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for more information. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. The Company has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This document may be used only in jurisdictions where offers and sales of these securities are permitted. You should assume that information contained in this prospectus, or in any prospectus supplement, is accurate only as of any date on the front cover of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. Unless otherwise noted in this prospectus, “Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals,” “Cyclacel,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

Smaller Reporting Company - Scaled Disclosure

 

Pursuant to Item 10(f) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as indicated herein, we have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to “smaller reporting companies,” including providing two years of audited financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights some information from this prospectus. It may not contain all the information important to making an investment decision. You should read the following summary together with the more detailed information regarding our Company and the securities being sold in this offering, including in the section titled “Risk Factors” and other information incorporated by reference herein.

 

Business Overview

 

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company working to develop innovative cancer medicines based on cell cycle, transcriptional regulation, epigenetics and mitosis biology. We are a pioneer company in the field of cancer cell cycle biology with a vision to improve patient healthcare by translating insights in cancer biology into medicines that can overcome resistance and ultimately increase a patient’s overall survival.

 

The transcriptional regulation program is evaluating fadraciclib, a CDK2/9 inhibitor, in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The epigenetic/anti-mitotic program is evaluating plogosertib (or plogo), a PLK1 inhibitor, in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Our strategy is to build a diversified biopharmaceutical business based on a pipeline of novel drug candidates addressing oncology and hematology indications.

 

We have retained rights to commercialize our clinical development candidates and our business objective is to enter into selective partnership arrangements with these programs. Substantially all our efforts to date have been devoted to performing research and development, conducting clinical trials, developing and acquiring intellectual property, raising capital and recruiting and training personnel.

 

Fadraciclib Phase 1/2 Study in Advanced Solid Tumors and Lymphoma (065-101; NCT#04983810)

 

The ongoing study is an open-label, multicenter, Phase 1/2 registration-directed trial using a streamlined design. Phase 1 explores both schedule and escalating doses of oral fadraciclib as a single-agent in a 28-day cycle with a primary objective of identifying maximum tolerated dose or MTD and/or the recommended Phase 2 dose or RP2D. Once RP2D has been established, the trial will immediately enter proof-of-concept, cohort stage, using a Simon 2-stage design, where single agent fadraciclib will be administered to patients in up to eight cohorts defined by histology or molecular subtype thought to be sensitive to the drug’s mechanism of action and informed by the clinical activity of fadraciclib in previous studies. The cohorts are expected to include patients with breast cancer (selected for metastatic, hormone receptor positive, HER-2 negative, post-CDK4/6 inhibitor; HER-2 refractory; or triple negative), colorectal (including KRAS mutant), endometrial, hepatobiliary, ovarian cancers, and certain lymphomas. An additional basket cohort will enroll patients with mechanistically relevant biomarkers, including CDKN2A and/or CDKN2B mutation or deletion, MCL1, MYC and/or cyclin E overexpression or amplification, regardless of histology. The protocol allows for expansion of a cohort based on exceeding certain futility criteria. The primary objective of Phase 2 is to achieve proof of concept and determine preliminary efficacy by overall response rate. Safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy will be investigated for all subjects. Exploratory objectives are to investigate clinical pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenomics of fadraciclib.

 

Encouraging preliminary data from the study were presented during a poster presentation at the 34th EORTC-NCI-AACR (ENA) Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. At our R&D Day on October 31, 2022 a principal investigator from Seoul National University Hospital showed preclinical data demonstrating sensitivity to fadra in biliary tract and pancreatic cancer cells obtained from patient specimens.

 

In the 065-101 study of oral fadraciclib, CDK2/9 inhibitor, a total of 47 patients have been dosed to date as monotherapy through six dose levels, of which 33 are evaluable for efficacy. Dose limiting toxicities of nausea and hyperglcemia were observed, which were controlled after dose interruption, with blood glucose levels returning to normal range after treatment.

 

Dose level 5 (100mg twice daily for 5 days per week, 4 out of 4 weeks) was the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) per protocol for the twice daily schedule and can be considered for continued development.

 

Evaluation of once daily dosing at dose level 6B (150mg once daily for 7 days per week, 4 out of 4 weeks) continues accrual with two patients treated.

 

To date, single agent activity, including complete response, partial response and stable disease, has been observed in certain patients with advanced endometrial, squamous non-small cell lung cancer and T-cell lymphoma. Encouraging signals of activity were also observed in certain patients with advanced cervical, hepatocellular, ovarian and pancreatic cancers. Fadraciclib tablets can be given orally with repeat dosing which has led to transient suppression of anti-apoptosis proteins with generally good tolerability and no Grade 3 or higher hematological toxicity in the first cycle. We believe that fadraciclib’s inhibition of CDK2 and CDK9 may be superior to inhibiting either CDK2 or CDK9 alone.

 

 

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Plogosertib Phase 1/2 Study in Advanced Solid Tumors and Lymphoma (140-101, Orally Dosed)

 

Similar to fadraciclib, this ongoing open-label Phase 1/2 registration-directed trial uses a streamlined design and seeks to first determine in a dose escalation stage the RP2D for single-agent plogosertib. Once RP2D has been established, the trial will immediately enter into proof-of-concept, cohort stage, using a Simon 2-stage design. In this stage plogosertib will be administered to patients in up to seven mechanistically relevant cohorts including patients with bladder, breast, colorectal (including KRAS mutant), hepatocellular and biliary tract, and lung cancers (both small cell and non-small cell), as well as lymphomas. An additional basket cohort will enroll patients with biomarkers relevant to the drug’s mechanism, including MYC amplified tumors. The protocol allows for expansion of individual cohorts based on response which may allow acceleration of the clinical development and registration plan for plogosertib. Fifteen patients have been treated at the first five dose escalation levels with no dose limiting toxicities observed. A new oral formulation of plogosterib is under development and further patients will be recruited to this study when the new formulation becomes available.

 

Corporate Information

 

We were incorporated in Delaware in August 1997. Our corporate headquarters are located at 200 Connell Drive, Suite 1500, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922, and our telephone number is 908-517-7330. Our employees are located in the United States and the United Kingdom.

 

We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and have elected to take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosure available for smaller reporting companies. As a result, the information that we provide may be different than you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.

 

Our corporate website address is www.cyclacel.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains an internet site that contains our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other information regarding our company, at www.sec.gov. These reports and other information concerning our company may also be accessed at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The contents of these websites are not incorporated into this prospectus. Further, our references to the URLs for these websites are intended to be inactive textual reference only.

 

Information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus. Our design logo, “Cyclacel,” and our other registered and common law trade names, trademarks, and service marks are the property of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

The trademarks, trade names, and service marks appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks, trade names, or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies or products.

 

Reverse Stock Split

 

Effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 15, 2023, we effected a reverse stock split of our outstanding common stock (“Reverse Split”). As a result of the Reverse Split, each of our stockholders received one new share of common stock for every 15 shares such stockholder held immediately prior to the effective time of the Reverse Split. The Reverse Split affected all of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock equally. The Reverse Split also affected our outstanding stock options, warrants and other exercisable or convertible securities and resulted in the shares underlying such instruments being reduced and the exercise price being increased proportionately. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the Reverse Split. Any fractional shares that would have otherwise resulted from the Reverse Split was paid in cash, at an amount equal to the resulting fractional interest in one share of the common stock to which the stockholder would otherwise be entitled, multiplied by the closing trading price of our common stock on December 15, 2023. Except where indicated therein, the documents incorporated by reference herein do not reflect the Reverse Split.

 

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Issuer   Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
     
Common stock to be offered                  shares of common stock.
     
Common Stock Warrants to be offered  

Common Stock Warrants to purchase up to       shares of our common stock, which will be exercisable immediately upon issuance and ending five years from the initial exercise date at an exercise price of $       per share of common stock.

 

Pre-funded warrants to be offered  

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 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 Stock Warrant will equal the price at which the common stock and the accompanying Common Stock Warrant are being sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.0001, and the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant will be $0.0001 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 a Common Stock Warrant for each share of common stock and for each pre-funded warrant sold in this offering, the number of Common Stock 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.

 

Common stock to be outstanding before this offering

 

  1,318,257 shares of common stock as of the date hereof (not including shares issuable upon exercisable warrants).

Public offering price

 

 

$       per share of common stock and accompanying Common Stock Warrant, or pre-funded warrants and accompanying Common Stock Warrant, as applicable.

 

Common stock to be outstanding after this offering            shares (assuming we sell only shares of common stock and no pre-funded warrants, and none of the Common Stock Warrants issued in this offering are exercised).
     
Use of proceeds   We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 8 of this prospectus for additional information.
     

Lock-up

 

 

We and each of our officers and directors have agreed to be subject to a lock-up period of days following the closing date of this offering. This means that, during the applicable lock-up period, we may not offer for sale, contract to sell, or sell any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of our common stock subject to certain customary exceptions. The Placement Agent may, in its sole discretion and without notice, waive the terms of any of these lock-up agreements. See “Plan of Distribution” on page 42.

 

Nasdaq Capital Market symbol   Our shares of common stock are traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CYCC”. There is no established public trading market for the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants, and we do not expect such markets to develop. We do not intend to apply for listing of the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Common Stock Warrants and pre-funded warrants will be limited.
     
Risk factors   Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk.  See “Risk Factors” on page 5 of this prospectus or incorporated herein by reference to read about factors that you should consider carefully before buying our securities.

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is based on 1,058,892 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2023, assumes we only sell shares of common stock in this offering and no Common Stock Warrants have been exercised, and excludes:

 

  · 142,796 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted average exercise price of $50.20 per share;

 

  · 34,498 shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted average exercise price of $16.26 per share;

 

  · 25,415 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plan as of December 31, 2023;

 

 

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  · 5,333 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our inducement equity incentive plan as of December 31, 2023;

 

  · 635,550 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted-average exercise price of $47.30 per share;

 

  ·

440 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 264 shares of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023;

 

  ·

6 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 335,273 shares of our 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023;

 

  ·

39,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 119,000 shares of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023; and

 

  ·

219,700 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of pre-funded warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023.

 

   

Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the outstanding options or warrants described above.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below, as well as the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 as well as subsequent filings with the SEC, and as incorporated by reference herein, and as the same may be amended, supplemented or superceded by the risks and uncertainties described under similar headings in the other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference herein. The risks described in these documents are not the only ones we face, but those that we consider to be material. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also read carefully the section herein titled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page 7.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds, including for any of the purposes described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Use of Proceeds”. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, cause the price of our securities to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending the application of these funds, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

 

You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the shares you purchase in this offering and may experience additional dilution in the future.

 

The combined public offering price per share of common stock and related Common Stock Warrant, and the combined public offering price of each pre-funded warrant and related Common Stock Warrant, will be substantially higher than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after giving effect to this offering. Assuming the sale of         shares of our common stock and Common Stock Warrants to purchase up to • shares of common stock at an assumed combined public offering price of $       per share and related Common Stock Warrants, the closing sale price per share of our common stock on the Nasdaq on     , 2024, assuming no sale of any pre-funded warrants in this offering, no exercise of the Common Stock Warrants being offered in this offering and after deducting the placement agent fees and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, you will incur immediate dilution of approximately $      per share. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing securities in this offering, investors may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid in this offering, if anything, in the event of the liquidation of our company. See the section entitled “Dilution” below for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you participate in this offering. To the extent shares are issued under outstanding options and warrants at exercise prices lower than the public offering price of our common stock in this offering, you will incur further dilution.

 

There is no public market for the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants being offered by us in this offering.

 

There is no established public trading market for the Common Stock Warrants or the pre-funded warrants, and we do not expect such markets to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active market, the liquidity of the Common Stock Warrants and pre-funded warrants will be limited.

 

The Common Stock Warrants and pre-funded warrants are speculative in nature.

 

The Common Stock Warrants and pre-funded warrants offered hereby do not confer any rights of share 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 common stock at a fixed price. Specifically, commencing on the date of issuance, holders of the Common Stock Warrants may acquire the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants at an exercise price of $       per share of common stock, and holders of the pre-funded warrants may acquire the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants at an exercise price of $0.0001 per share of common stock. Moreover, following this offering, the market value of the Common Stock Warrants and pre-funded warrants is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants will equal or exceed their respective public offering prices. There can be no assurance that the market price of the shares of common stock will ever equal or exceed the exercise price of the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants, and consequently, whether it will ever be profitable for holders of Common Stock Warrants to exercise the Common Stock Warrants or for holders of the pre-funded warrants to exercise the pre-funded warrants.

 

5

 

 

Holders of the Common Stock Warrants and pre-funded warrants offered hereby will have no rights as common stockholders with respect to the shares our common stock underlying such warrants until such holders exercise their Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants and acquire our common stock, except as otherwise provided in the applicable warrants.

 

Until holders of the Common Stock Warrants and the pre-funded warrants acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise thereof, such holders will have no rights with respect to the shares of our common stock underlying such warrants, except to the extent that holders of such warrants will have certain rights to participate in distributions or dividends paid on our common stock as set forth in the applicable warrants. Upon exercise of the Common Stock Warrants and the pre-funded warrants, the holders 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.

 

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, including our near-term business plans.

 

The Placement Agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the securities 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 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 support our continued operations, including our near-term continued operations. 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.

 

Purchasers who purchase our securities in this offering pursuant to a securities purchase agreement may have rights not available to purchasers that purchase without the benefit of a securities purchase agreement.

 

In addition to rights and remedies available to all purchasers in this offering under federal securities and state law, the purchasers that enter into a securities purchase agreement will also be able to bring claims of breach of contract against us. The ability to pursue a claim for breach of contract provides those investors with the means to enforce the covenants uniquely available to them under the securities purchase agreement including, but not limited to: (i) timely delivery of securities; (ii) agreement to not enter into any financings for  days from closing; and (iii) indemnification for breach of contract.

 

6

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions about future events, conditions and results and on information currently available to us. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections titled “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC.

 

Any statements in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements. Within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, these forward-looking statements include statements regarding:

 

  · the size and growth potential of the markets for our products, and our ability to serve those markets;

 

  · the rate and degree of market acceptance of our products;

 

  · our ability to expand our sales organization to address effectively existing and new markets that we intend to target;

 

  · the impact from future regulatory, judicial, and legislative changes or developments in the U.S. and foreign countries;

 

  · our ability to compete effectively in a competitive industry;

 

  · the success of competing technologies that are or may become available;

 

  · the performance of any third-party contract sales organizations, suppliers and manufacturers;

 

  · our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel;

 

  · the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, reimbursement rates, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

 

  · our ability to comply with the covenants and satisfy certain conditions of any debt facility;

 

  · our ability to obtain funding for our operations; and

 

  · our ability to attract collaborators and strategic partnerships.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expects,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative or plural of those terms, and similar expressions intended to identify statements about the future, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

 

You should refer to the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section contained in this prospectus and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.

 

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Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this prospectus, even if new information becomes available in the future.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $     based on an assumed public offering price, based on the last reported sale price on     , 2024, of $      per share of common stock and accompanying Common Stock Warrant, after deducting estimated Placement Agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the cash exercise of the Common Stock Warrants issued in this offering. However, because this is a best efforts offering and there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to the closing of this offering, the actual offering amount, Placement Agent’s fees and net proceeds to us are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the maximum amounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Pursuant to the tail provision in a certain engagement agreement with Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (“Ladenburg”), we may be obligated to pay certain cash fees to Ladenburg in the event that certain investors participate in this offering. Other than the potential cash fee to Ladenburg, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering.

 

Based on our planned use of the net proceeds, we estimate such funds, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient for us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least     . We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we expect.

 

MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock currently trades under the symbol “CYCC” on Nasdaq.

 

Stockholders

 

As of March 21, 2024, there were approximately 11 stockholders of record.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We intend to use future earnings, if any, in the operation and expansion of our business. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, based on our financial condition, results of operations, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business properties, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

8

 

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents, debt obligations, and capitalization as of December 31, 2023 (i) on an actual basis, adjusted for the effect of the reverse stock split; and (ii) on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give effect to the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock and Common Stock Warrants based on an assumed public offering price, based on the last reported sale price on , 2024 of $ per share, for total net proceeds of approximately $     (assuming no sale of pre-funded warrants).

 

    December 31,
2023
    As Adjusted  
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,378     $    
Total liabilities     8,198          
                 
Stockholders’ equity:                
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023;              
6% Convertible Exchangeable preferred stock; 335,273 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023. Aggregate preference in liquidation of  $4,006,512 as of December 31, 2023              
Series A convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 264 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023              
Series B convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 119,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023              
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023; 1,058,892 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023     1          
Additional paid-in capital     429,796          
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (908 )        
Accumulated deficit     (428,282 )        
Total stockholders’ equity     607          
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 8,805     $    

 

The foregoing pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative 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 this table together with our financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is based on 1,058,892 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2023, assumes we only sell shares of common stock in this offering and no exercise of any Common Stock Warrants, and excludes:

 

  · 142,796 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted average exercise price of $50.20 per share;

 

  · 34,498 shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted average exercise price of $16.26 per share;

 

  · 25,415 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plan as of December 31, 2023;

 

  · 5,333 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our inducement equity incentive plan as of December 31, 2023;

 

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  · 635,550 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted-average exercise price of $47.30 per share;

 

  · 440 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 264 shares of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023;

 

  · 6 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 335,273 shares of our 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023;

 

  · 39,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 119,000 shares of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023; and

 

  · 219,700 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of pre-funded warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023.

 

10

 

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our securities in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of common stock and accompanying Common Stock Warrant and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock immediately after this offering.

 

Our net tangible book value is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities. We had a net tangible book value as of December 31, 2023 of $607,000, or $0.57 per share of common stock.

 

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value is our pro forma net tangible book value, plus the effect of the sale of our securities in this offering at the public offering price of $      per share of common stock and accompanying Common Stock Warrant and after deducting the Placement Agent fees and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us. Our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2023 would have been approximately $     , or $     per share. This amount represents an immediate decrease in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of approximately $     per share to our existing stockholders, and an immediate dilution of $     per share to new investors participating in this offering. Dilution per share to new investors is determined by subtracting pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the public offering price per share paid by new investors. The final public offering price will be determined through negotiation between us, the Placement Agent and investors in the offering and may be at a discount to the current market price. Therefore, the assumed public offering price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final public offering price.

 

The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Assumed public offering price per share (attributing no value to the warrants)  $ 
Net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2023  $0.57 
Decrease in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering  $ 
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect of this offering  $ 
Dilution in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors  $ 

 

Each $0.50 increase (decrease) in the public offering price of $     per share and accompanying Common Stock Warrant would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share by $       , and the dilution per share to new investors in this offering by $       , assuming the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the Placement Agent fees and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Each increase of in the number of shares of common stock and accompanying Common Stock Warrant sold in this offering would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by approximately $      and the dilution per share to new investors in this offering by $        , assuming that the public offering price per share and accompanying Common Stock Warrant remains the same and after deducting Placement Agent fees and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is based on 1,058,892 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2023, assumes we only sell shares of common stock in this offering and no exercise of any Common Stock Warrants, and excludes:

 

  · 142,796 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted average exercise price of $50.20 per share;

 

  · 34,498 shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted average exercise price of $16.26 per share;

 

  · 25,415 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plan as of December 31, 2023;

 

  · 5,333 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our inducement equity incentive plan as of December 31, 2023;

 

  · 635,550 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023 at a weighted-average exercise price of $47.30 per share;

 

  · 440 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 264 shares of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023;

 

  · 6 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 335,273 shares of our 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023;

 

  · 39,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of 119,000 shares of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding as of December 31, 2023; and

 

  · 219,700 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of pre-funded warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023.

 

To the extent that any outstanding warrants or options are exercised, new options or other equity awards are issued under our equity incentive plans, or we issue additional shares in the future, there will be further dilution to new investors participating in this offering. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or equity-based securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 21, 2024 for (a) each of our named executive officers, (b) each of our directors, (c) all of our current directors and executive officers as a group and (d) each stockholder known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock or Preferred Stock.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. We deem shares of common stock that may be acquired by an individual or group within 60 days of March 21, 2024 pursuant to the exercise of options to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table. Except as indicated in footnotes to this table, we believe that the stockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown to be beneficially owned by them based on information provided to us by these stockholders. Percentage of ownership of common stock is based on 1,318,257 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 21, 2024.

 

Name of Beneficial Owners  Number of
Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned
   Percentage of
Common Stock
Owned
   Number of
Shares of
Preferred Stock
Beneficially
Owned
   Percentage of
Preferred Stock
Owned
 
Dr. Samuel L. Barker   4,155    *    0    0 
Dr. Kenneth M. Ferguson(1)   2,548    *    0    0 
Dr. Christopher Henney   4,089    *    0    0 
Paul McBarron(2)   16,426    1.25%   0    0 
Spiro Rombotis(3)   30,306    2.30%   1,600    * 
Dr. Robert Spiegel   4,073    *    0    0 
Dr. Brian Schwartz(4)   10,440    *    0    0 
Karin Walker(5)   4,190    *    0    0 
Executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons)(6)   76,227    5.78%   0    0 
5% or more stockholders                    
Entities affiliated with Lind Global Fund II LP(7)   102,250    7.76%   0    0 
Entities affiliated with Altium Growth Fund, LP(8)   82,032    6.22%   0    0 

 

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

 

(1) Includes options to purchase 175 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of March 21, 2024.

 

(2) Includes options to purchase 370 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of March 21, 2024.

 

(3) Includes options to purchase 703 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of March 21, 2024. Does not include 46 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Kalliopi Rombotis, Mr. Rombotis’ mother. Mr. Rombotis disclaims beneficial ownership of the foregoing shares.

 

(4) Includes options to purchase 4,176 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of March 21, 2024.

 

(5) Includes options to purchase 9 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of March 21, 2024.

 

(6) See footnotes 1 through and including 5.

 

(7) Based solely on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 4, 2024 by Lind Global Fund II, LP. Lind Global Partners II LLC, the general partner of Lind Global Fund II LP, may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Lind Global Fund II LP. Jeff Easton, the managing member of Lind Global Partners II LLC, may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Lind Global Fund II LP.

 

(8) Based solely on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 10, 2024 by Altium Growth Fund, LP. Altium Capital Management, LP is the investment adviser of, and may be deemed to beneficially own securities, owned by the Altium Growth Fund, LP (the “Fund”). Altium Growth GP, LLC is the general partner of, and may be deemed to beneficially own securities, owned by the Fund.

 

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MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The Board of Directors

 

Our charter provides that our business is to be managed by or under the direction of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes for purposes of election. One class is elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to serve for a three-year term. Our Board of Directors currently consists of three classes, as set forth below. We also have two directors who are elected by holders of our 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

Set forth below, as of March 21, 2024, are the names of the directors, their ages, their offices in the Company, if any, their principal occupations or employment for at least the past five years, the length of their tenure as directors and the names of other public companies in which such persons hold or have held directorships during the past five years. Additionally, information about the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to our Board of Directors’ conclusion at the time of filing of this prospectus that each person listed below should serve as a director is set forth below:

 

Name  Age  Position
Spiro Rombotis  65  President and Chief Executive Officer; Class 2 Director
Paul McBarron  63  Executive Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary; Class 3 Director
Dr. Christopher Henney  83  Chairman; Class 3 Director
Dr. Robert Spiegel  74  Vice Chairman; Class 3 Director
Dr. Samuel L. Barker  81  Class 2 Director on behalf of our holders of Preferred Stock
Dr. Kenneth M. Ferguson  68  Class 1 Director on behalf of our holders of Preferred Stock
Dr. Brian Schwartz  62  Class 2 Director; Interim Chief Medical Officer
Karin L. Walker  60  Class 1 Director

 

Board Diversity Matrix
(as of March 21, 2024)

 

This table provides information on the diversity of our current Board of Directors:

 

      8  
Total Number of Directors     Male     Female  
Part I: Gender Identity              
Directors     7     1  
Part II: Demographic Background              
White     6     1  
Did not Disclose Demographic Background           1  

 

Class 1 Director (Term to Expire in 2025)

 

Karin L. Walker. Ms. Walker has served as a director of the Company since November 2020 and has over 30 years of extensive finance experience in biopharmaceuticals, including in public biotechnology companies and technology companies. Ms. Walker currently serves as the Chief Accounting Officer of Prothena Corporation plc, a late-stage clinical biotechnology company with expertise in protein dysregulation and a pipeline of investigational therapeutics focused on neurodegenerative and rare peripheral amyloid diseases, and has held this position since 2013. Prior to joining Prothena, she was Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer of Affymax, Inc., a position she held from 2012 to 2013. From 2009 to 2012, Ms. Walker was Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller at Amyris Inc. From 2006 to 2009, she was Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller for CV Therapeutics, Inc. Ms. Walker also held senior financial leadership positions at Knight Ridder Digital, Accellion, Niku Corporation, Financial Engines, Inc. and NeoMagic Corporation. Ms. Walker also served as a director and Audit Committee Chair for LifeSci Acquisition Corp. (a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company) in 2020. Ms. Walker earned her B.S. in business from the California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and is a certified public accountant (CPA). We believe that Ms. Walker’s qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and her many years’ experience in finance.

 

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Preferred Stock Class 1 Director (Term to Expire in 2025)

 

Dr. Kenneth M. Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson has worked in the biopharmaceutical industry for 30 years, and has led Research and Development operations in a number of publicly funded biotechnology companies. Dr. Ferguson is currently an operating partner at Accelerator Life Science Partners. He served at ICOS Corporation, at various times in its history, as President, Vice President of Therapeutic Development and Senior Director of Research. He was co-team leader of ICOS’ joint venture with Eli Lilly and Company that resulted in the launch of Cialis®/Adcirca® for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Subsequently, Dr. Ferguson was Vice President of Development and Chief Development Officer at Omeros Corporation and was involved in the approval and the launch of its first product for use in cataract surgery. Dr. Ferguson has also served as President and CEO of privately held Imvaxyn Corporation, a company dedicated to the exploration of new vaccine technology and was Chief Scientific Officer of EMulate Therapeutics. Dr. Ferguson graduated in biological sciences from Cornell University, obtained his PhD in pharmacology from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center Dallas, and completed his postdoctoral studies at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York. We believe Dr. Ferguson’s qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include his extensive knowledge and business experience in the biotechnology industry, including as an executive in public companies, where he developed specific expertise in research and development of pharmaceutical products.

 

Class 2 Directors (Terms to expire in 2026)

 

Spiro Rombotis. Mr. Rombotis joined Cyclacel as its first CEO in 1997 and has over 38 years at three public biotechs and two pharmas. He participated in in-licensing, clinical development, regulatory approval, partnering and commercial launch of several drugs, mainly in inflammation and hematology/oncology, including Abelcet®, Evacet/Myocet®, ProHance®, Remicade® and Reopro®. Major functional roles included international operations and business development as Vice President at Liposome (subsequently acquired by Elan) and previously Vice President in the pharmaceuticals division of Bristol-Myers Squibb. He began his career in the early ’80s, after training at Novartis, as one of the first employees of Centocor (subsequently acquired by Johnson & Johnson). He holds an MBA and MPH (Hospital & Health Services Management) with honors, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and a BA, Williams College (1981 James A. Garfield Scholar). He serves on the Board of Trustees of BioNJ, the NJ biotech association. We believe Mr. Rombotis’ qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of our Company, his extensive knowledge and experience in the biotechnology and life sciences industry and his leadership, strategic guidance and operational vision.

 

Brian Schwartz, M.D. Dr. Schwartz has served as a director of the company since December 2020 and as our interim Chief Medical Officer since January 2024. Dr. Schwartz has wide-ranging experience as a drug development expert in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries primarily in oncology, hematology, and rare diseases. From June 2008 to 2020, he served as Senior Vice President, Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer of ArQule Inc., which was acquired for $2.7 billion by Merck & Co. in 2020. Prior to ArQule, Dr. Schwartz was Chief Medical Officer at Ziopharm, having previously held several senior leadership roles at Bayer and LEO Pharma. He is a current Board Member of Enlivex Pharmaceuticals and also served as a director of LifeSci Acquisition Corp, Mereo Biopharma and Infinity. In addition, he serves as an advisor and independent consultant for numerous biotech and investment companies. He received his medical degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, completed a fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada and practiced medicine prior to his career in the biopharmaceutical industry. We believe Dr. Schwartz’s qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include his extensive knowledge and experience in the biotechnology and life science industry.

 

Preferred Stock Class 2 Director (Term to Expire in 2026)

 

Samuel L. Barker. Dr. Barker has served as a director of the Company since September 2014. In 2001, Dr. Barker co-founded Clearview Projects, Inc., a provider of partnering and transaction services to biopharmaceutical companies, where he was active until September 2010, having served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 2003 to 2004. Dr. Barker served in a series of leadership positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company until his retirement in 1999. His positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb included service as Executive Vice President, Worldwide Franchise Management and Strategy during 1998; President, United States Pharmaceuticals from 1992 to 1998; and President, Bristol-Myers Squibb Intercontinental Commercial Operations from 1989 to 1991. Prior to 1989, Dr. Barker held executive positions in research and development, manufacturing, business development and served as President of U.S. commercial operations at Squibb Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Barker has served as a director of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since 2001 and as Chairman from 2005 to 2012. Dr. Barker also served as a director of Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2006 to 2014 and AtheroGenics, Inc. from 2005 to 2009. Dr. Barker received his B.S. from Henderson State College, his M.S. from the University of Arkansas and his Ph.D. from Purdue University. We believe that Dr. Barker’s qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include his extensive experience in senior leadership positions in the global pharmaceutical industry, where he developed specific expertise in the identification, development, commercialization and partnering of pharmaceutical products.

 

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Class 3 Directors (Term to Expire in 2024)

 

Paul McBarron. Mr. McBarron has served as a director of the Company since March 2006. Mr. McBarron joined Cyclacel in January 2002 and has over 30 years of experience with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He has served as a financial executive at Sterling Drug, Sanofi-Winthrop and SmithKline Beecham and, from 1996 to 2001, as a senior member of the finance team at Shire Pharmaceuticals plc, where he held the positions of Director of Corporate Finance and Group Financial Controller. He joined Shire when it was an emerging public company. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young and served on the Scottish Lifesciences Association Board. We believe Mr. McBarron’s qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include his role as Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Operating Officer of our Company, his experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and his expertise in financial areas and operations.

 

Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D. D.Sc. Dr. Henney has served as a director of the Company since March 2006. Dr. Henney became Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company in October 2020. Dr. Henney had served as a director of Xcyte Therapies Inc., acquired by the Company in 2006, since March 2005, and continued on as Vice Chairman of the Company. Previously, Dr. Henney co-founded three major publicly held U.S. biotechnology companies, Immunex, ICOS and Dendreon, and held a seat on the board of directors and executive positions at each company. From 1995 to January 2003, Dr. Henney was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dendreon Corporation. During part of 2016, he was also interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Cascadian Therapeutics Inc. and a board member of Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., both biotechnology companies. Dr. Henney was a director of Prothena Corporation plc from 2013 until May 2022. Dr. Henney received a Ph.D. in experimental pathology from the University of Birmingham and a D.Sc. from the same university for contributions to the field of immunology. In 2012, Dr. Henney was inducted into the Biotechnology Hall of Fame. We believe Dr. Henney’s qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include his extensive knowledge and business experience in the biotechnology industry, including a diversified background as an executive in public companies and as a board member of many public companies, giving him a breadth of knowledge and valuable understanding of our business.

 

Robert J. Spiegel, M.D. Dr. Spiegel has served as a director of the Company since September 2018. Dr. Spiegel has over 30 years of extensive R&D and operational experience in biopharmaceuticals, including large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and academic startups as well as an advisor to venture capital and private equity funds. Dr. Spiegel has also served as a director of Athenex, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company, since August 2020, of Geron Corp., a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company, since May 2010, and of Ayala Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage oncology company, since December 2017. Dr. Spiegel was an Assistant Professor and Director of the Developmental Therapeutics Program at New York University Medical Center and then spent 25 years at Schering-Plough (subsequently acquired by Merck & Co.), where he joined as the first Director for Oncology Clinical Research. He subsequently held a series of senior executive positions, including Senior Vice President for Worldwide Clinical Research and Chief Medical Officer. During his time at Schering-Plough he led teams that took numerous drug candidates through clinical development and was involved with over 30 New Drug Application approvals by the U.S. FDA. For the last seven years, he has been a consultant to the biotech industry and has served on the Scientific Advisory Board and Board of Directors of multiple biotech companies. Dr. Spiegel received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his specialty training at the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health (NIH). We believe Dr. Spiegel’s qualifications to serve on the Board of Directors include his extensive knowledge and business experience in the biotechnology industry, including a diversified background as an executive in public companies and as a board member of several public companies, giving him a breadth of knowledge and valuable understanding of our business.

 

Director Independence

 

Our Board of Directors has reviewed the materiality of any relationship that each of our directors has with the Company, either directly or indirectly. Based upon this review, our Board of Directors has determined that each of the following directors is an “independent director” as such term is defined by rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., or Nasdaq:

 

  · Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D., D.Sc.

 

  · Robert J. Spiegel, M.D.

 

  · Samuel L. Barker, Ph.D.

 

  · Kenneth M. Ferguson, Ph.D.

 

  · Karin L. Walker

 

The Board of Directors has established three standing committees: (1) the Compensation and Organization Development Committee, (2) the Audit Committee, and (3) the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of these committees meets the independence requirements applicable to each such committee as prescribed by Nasdaq and the SEC. In September 2018, the Board of Directors also reconstituted the Science and Technology Committee.

 

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Committees of the Board of Directors and Meetings

 

Meeting Attendance. During fiscal 2023, there were 11 meetings of our Board of Directors, and the Compensation and Organization Development Committee, the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Science and Technology Committee met collectively a total of 14 times. No director attended fewer than 55% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors or of the committees of the Board of Directors on which they served during fiscal 2023. We have adopted a policy encouraging our directors to attend annual meetings of stockholders. Five of our then directors attended our annual stockholders’ meeting held on June 13, 2023. Each of the committees of the Board of Directors is described below.

 

Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee met six times during fiscal 2023. The Audit Committee during such period had four members: Karin L. Walker (Chair), Dr. Christopher Henney, Dr. Samuel L. Barker and Dr. Robert J. Spiegel. Karin L. Walker was appointed as Chairman of the Audit Committee on February 18, 2021. All members of the Audit Committee satisfy the current independence standards promulgated by Nasdaq and the SEC, as such standards apply specifically to members of audit committees. The Board of Directors has determined that Karin L. Walker is an “audit committee financial expert,” as the SEC has defined that term in Item 407 of Regulation S-K.

 

Our Audit Committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in the Audit Committee’s written charter and include the authority to retain and terminate the services of our independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews annual financial statements, considers matters relating to accounting policy and internal controls and reviews the scope of annual audits. For additional information, please see the report of the Audit Committee set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement. A copy of the Audit Committee’s written charter is publicly available on our website at www.cyclacel.com.

 

Compensation and Organization Development Committee. Our Compensation and Organization Development Committee met three times during fiscal 2023. The Compensation and Organization Development Committee is composed entirely of directors who are not our current or former employees, all of whom qualify as independent under the definition promulgated by Nasdaq and the SEC. The Compensation and Organization Development Committee currently has three members: Dr. Samuel L. Barker (Chairman), Dr. Christopher S. Henney and Dr. Kenneth M. Ferguson. Our Compensation and Organization Development Committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in its written charter and include reviewing, approving and making recommendations regarding our compensation policies, practices and procedures to ensure that legal and fiduciary responsibilities of the Board of Directors are carried out and that such policies, practices and procedures contribute to our success. The Compensation and Organization Development Committee also administers our 2020 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan, our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and our Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended. Our Compensation and Organization Development Committee is responsible for the determination of the compensation of our chief executive officer, and shall conduct its decision making process with respect to that issue without the chief executive officer present.

 

A copy of the Compensation and Organization Development Committee’s written charter is publicly available on our website at www.cyclacel.com.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once during fiscal 2023. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Dr. Christopher S. Henney (Chairman), Karin L. Walker and Dr. Robert J. Spiegel, three of whom qualify as independent under the definition promulgated by Nasdaq and the SEC. The functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are set forth in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter and include evaluating and making recommendations to the full Board of Directors as to the size and composition of the Board of Directors and its committees, evaluating and making recommendations as to potential candidates, and evaluating the performance of the Board of Directors. Generally, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates recommended by stockholders as well as from other sources such as other directors or officers, third party search firms or other appropriate sources. Once identified, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate a candidate’s qualifications in accordance with its guiding principles as set forth in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s written charter. Additionally, the Nominating Committee will consider issues of diversity among its members in identifying and considering nominees for director, and strive where appropriate to achieve a diverse balance of backgrounds, perspectives, experience, age, gender, ethnicity and country of citizenship on our board of directors and its committees.

 

A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s written charter is publicly available on our website at www.cyclacel.com.

 

Science and Technology Committee. The Science and Technology Committee, which met four times during fiscal 2023, consists of Dr. Robert J. Spiegel (Chairman), Dr. Samuel L. Barker, Dr. Kenneth M. Ferguson and Dr. Brian Schwartz.

 

The responsibilities of the Science and Technology Committee are set forth in the Science and Technology Committee’s charter and include providing oversight on behalf of the Board of Directors of our overall strategic direction and investment in research and development (“R&D”) and technological and scientific initiatives. The Science and Technology Committee also assists the Board of Directors and our management in evaluating risks and potential commercial value of technical profiles regarding our R&D programs and technology, as they might impact our business performance, growth and competitive position.

 

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Board Leadership Structure

 

Dr. Christopher Henney serves as the Chairman of our Board of Directors and Mr. Rombotis serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Christopher Henney is an independent director under the definition promulgated by Nasdaq and the SEC, and we believe that it is preferable for one of our independent directors to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. We also believe that this structure is the most effective structure for us and our stockholders at this time because a separate chairman (i) can provide the Chief Executive Officer with guidance and feedback on his performance, (ii) provides a more effective channel for the Board of Directors to express views on management, and (iii) allows the Chairman to focus on stockholder interests and corporate governance while providing Mr. Rombotis with the ability to focus his attention on managing our day-to-day operations. As Dr. Henney has significant senior level pharmaceutical industry experience, he is particularly well-suited to serve as Chairman.

 

We recognize that different board leadership structures may be appropriate for companies in different situations. We will continue to re-examine our corporate governance policies and leadership structures on an ongoing basis to ensure that they continue to meet the Company’s needs.

 

Role in Risk Oversight

 

Management is responsible for managing the risks that we face. The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing management’s approach to risk management that is designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives and risks associated with our clinical trials, to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance stockholder value. The involvement of the full Board of Directors in reviewing our strategic objectives and plans, including with respect to our clinical trials, is a key part of the Board of Directors’ assessment of management’s approach and tolerance to risk. A fundamental part of risk management is not only understanding the risks a company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for us. In setting our business strategy, our Board of Directors assesses the various risks being mitigated by management and determines what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for us.

 

While the Board of Directors has ultimate oversight responsibility for overseeing management’s risk management process, various committees of the Board of Directors assist it in fulfilling that responsibility. Notably, the Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of risk management in the areas of financial reporting, internal controls and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews legal and regulatory compliance risks and the Compensation and Organization Development Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of the evaluation and management of risks related to our compensation policies and practices.

 

Policy Prohibiting Hedging

 

Our Insider Trading Policy provides that no employee, officer or director may acquire, sell or trade in any interest or position relating to the future price of Company securities, such as a put option, a call option or a short sale (including a short sale “against the box”), or engage in hedging transactions (including “cashless collars”).

 

Stockholder Communications to the Board of Directors

 

Generally, stockholders who have questions or concerns should contact our Investor Relations department at (908) 517-7330 or e-mail at ir@cyclacel.com. However, stockholders wishing to submit written communications directly to the Board of Directors should send their communications to our Secretary, Paul McBarron, Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 200 Connell Drive, Suite 1500, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922.

 

All stockholder communications will be considered by the independent members of our Board of Directors. Items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board may be excluded, such as:

 

  · junk mail and mass mailings;
  · resumes and other forms of job inquiries;
  · surveys; and
  · solicitations or advertisements.

 

In addition, any material that is unduly hostile, threatening, or illegal in nature may be excluded, provided that any communication that is filtered out will be made available to any independent director upon request.

 

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EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table shows the compensation paid or accrued during the last two fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023 to (1) our President and Chief Executive Officer, (2) our Executive Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, and (3) our former Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.

 

Name and Principal Position  Year   Salary
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Option
Awards
($)(1)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(2)
   Total
($)
 
Spiro Rombotis    2023    560,131    0    48,581    52,337    661,049 
President and Chief Executive Officer   2022    546,470    169,406    -    47,675    763,551 
                               
Paul McBarron(3)   2023    304,214    0    31,003    17,398    352,615 
Executive Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary   2022    279,568    93,655    -    21,452    394,675 
                               
Mark Kirschbaum, MD    2023    396,760    0    31,003    52,855    480,618 
Former Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer   2022    381,500    97,644    -    44,699    523,843 

 

(1) These amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value for option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. A discussion of the assumptions used in determining grant date fair value may be found in our Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. No Options were granted during the year ended December 31, 2022 to Spiro Rombotis, Paul McBarron, or Mark Kirschbaum. Options were granted during the year ended December 31, 2023 to Spiro Rombotis, Paul McBarron, and Mark Kirschbaum in the amounts of 7,333 shares, 4,680 shares, and 4,680 shares, respectively.

 

(2) Consists of the following for all executive officers: Payments for private medical and health insurance, life insurance and permanent health insurance; and matching contributions made under the Company’s U.S. 401(k) Plan and U.K. Group Personal Pension Plan.

 

(3) Mr. McBarron’s compensation was translated from British pound sterling to the U.S. dollar using the exchange rates of 1.35104 as of December 31, 2022 and 1.24361 as of December 31, 2023.

 

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

 

The Compensation and Organization Development Committee of our Board of Directors makes decisions regarding the compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation and Organization Development Committee is composed entirely of independent directors and meets in executive sessions to discuss and formulate its recommendation for the Chief Executive Officer’s base salary and bonus. The Compensation and Organization Development Committee does not rely solely on any predetermined formula or a limited set of criteria in evaluating the Chief Executive Officer’s performance for the year but does consider the achievement of preset goals as part of its deliberations.

 

The evaluation is based on the Chief Executive Officer’s success in achieving his performance goals, which include financial, strategic and leadership objectives. The Chief Executive Officer also provides the Compensation and Organization Development Committee with a self-review of his performance as part of the Company’s review process. The Compensation and Organization Development Committee also approves the annual compensation (including base salary, bonus, and stock-based compensation) for our other named executive officers based on:

 

  · the executive’s scope of responsibilities;
  · an informed market assessment of competitive practices for similar roles within peer group companies;
  · evaluations of performance for the year, as assessed by the Chief Executive Officer, supported by the Company’s performance review process and the executive’s self-assessment; and
  · recommendations by our Chief Executive Officer for each named executive officer with respect to base salary, cash bonus, and stock-based compensation.

 

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The Compensation and Organization Development Committee is authorized to engage and retain independent consultants and other experts to assist in fulfilling its responsibilities, and the Committee engages periodically an external consultant to provide independent verification of market position and ensure the appropriateness of executive compensation. During the year ended December 31, 2023, our Compensation and Organization Development Committee retained Radford, part of the Aon Rewards Solutions practice, or Radford, an independent, executive compensation consulting firm, to review and provide recommendations concerning our non-employee director and executive director compensation programs. Radford performed services solely on behalf of the Compensation and Organization Development Committee and has no relationship with the Company or management beyond the performance of such services (except that Aon plc provides directors & officers insurance services to the Company). The Compensation and Organization Development Committee has assessed the independence of Radford pursuant to SEC rules and the corporate governance rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market and has concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Radford from independently representing the Compensation and Organization Development Committee.

 

Committee Consideration of the Company’s 2022 Shareholder Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

 

At our 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, approximately 85.6% of the shares voted at the meeting approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers. Given that a majority of the shares voted approved the ‘say on pay’ advisory proposal, the Committee did not implement specific changes and continued with its performance-based compensation philosophy and its balanced approach to various components of its compensation program. However, the Compensation Committee does monitor the results of the annual advisory ‘say-on-pay’ proposal and refers to such results as one of many factors considered in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities.

 

During the most recent year ended December 31, 2023, the Board of Directors and the Compensation and Organization Development Committee reviewed the annual compensation for our executive officers. The Compensation and Organization Development Committee determined to provide increases in base salary for 2023 to Spiro Rombotis, Paul McBarron and Mark Kirschbaum, raising annual salaries to $560,131, £244,622 (or $304,214) and $396,760, respectively.

 

We granted 3,840, 2,080, and 2,080 restricted stock units to Spiro Rombotis, Paul McBarron and Mark Kirschbaum, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

Spiro Rombotis, President and Chief Executive Officer. On April 28, 2023, we entered into a two-year employment agreement with Mr. Spiro Rombotis, effective January 1, 2023.

 

Mr. Rombotis’ current annual base salary is $560,131, which may be increased in the future in accordance with the terms of his employment agreement. Mr. Rombotis was paid an annual base salary of $560,131 for the year ending December 31, 2023 and $546,470 for the year ending December 31, 2022. Mr. Rombotis is also eligible for a yearly incentive cash bonus, based on a percentage of his then current base salary, if he meets certain corporate and individual performance criteria set by the Compensation and Organization Development Committee at the beginning of each year of employment. The agreement also provides for reimbursement of reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by Mr. Rombotis in connection with his performance of his services. Mr. Rombotis is also entitled to certain employment benefits in accordance with the Company’s benefit policies in effect from time to time.

 

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In addition, Mr. Rombotis also agreed to certain confidentiality and assignment of inventions obligations and will be subject to certain non-competition obligations for a period of one year following termination of his employment.

 

For further information on terms regarding termination and change-in-control of the Company, see “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control” below.

  

Paul McBarron, Executive Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary. On April 28, 2023, we entered into a two-year employment agreement with Mr. Paul McBarron, effective January 1, 2023. Mr. McBarron’s current annual base salary is £244,622, or $304,214, which may be increased in the future in accordance with the terms of his employment agreement.

 

Mr. McBarron was paid an annual base salary of £244,622, or $304,214 for the year ending December 31, 2023 and £226,133, or $279,568, for the year ending December 31, 2022, respectively. Mr. McBarron is also eligible for a yearly incentive cash bonus based on a percentage of his then current base salary, if he meets certain corporate and individual performance criteria set by the Compensation and Organization Development Committee at the beginning of each year of employment. The agreement also provides for reimbursement of reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by Mr. McBarron in connection with the performance of his services. Mr. McBarron is also entitled to certain employment benefits in accordance with the Company’s benefit policies in effect from time to time.

 

In addition, Mr. McBarron also agreed to certain confidentiality and assignment of inventions obligations and will be subject to certain non-competition obligations for a period of one year following termination of his employment.

 

For further information on terms regarding termination and change-in-control of the Company, see “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control” below.

 

Mark Kirschbaum, Former Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. On October 17, 2020, we entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Mark Kirschbaum, effective October 23, 2020. We terminated Dr. Kirschbaum’s employment on January 25, 2024.

 

Prior to his termination, Dr. Kirschbaum’ annual base salary was $396,760. Dr. Kirschbaum was paid an annual base salary of $396,760 for the year ending December 31, 2023 and $381,500 for the year ending December 31, 2022.

 

In addition, Dr. Kirschbaum also agreed to certain confidentiality and assignment of inventions obligations and will be subject to certain non-competition obligations for a period of one year following termination of his employment.

 

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2023 Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table shows grants of stock options outstanding on the last day of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, to each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. As applicable, the figures described in this section have been adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split completed on December 15, 2023.

 

Name  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
Exercisable
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
Unexercisable
   Option
Exercise
Price(1) 
($)
   Option
Expiration
Date
 
Spiro Rombotis   22(2)        3,096.00    02/18/2025 
    121(3)        2,120.40    12/07/2025 
    104(4)        522.00    12/29/2027 
    95(4)        468.00    02/22/2028 
    1,693(5)        213.00    01/04/2029 
    11,666(6)        64.80    12/11/2030 
    8,444(8)   4,222    51.75    12/13/2031 
    0(9)   7,333    8.70    06/27/2033 
Paul McBarron   14(2)        3,096    02/18/2025 
    72(3)        2,120.40    12/07/2025 
    86(4)        522.00    12/29/2027 
    79(4)        468.00    02/22/2028 
    900(5)        213.00    01/04/2029 
    8,000(6)        64.80    12/11/2030 
    4,444(8)   2,222    51.75    12/13/2031 
    0(9)   4,680    8.70    06/27/2033 
Mark Kirschbaum (10)   8,000(7)   0    56.55    10/23/2030 
    4,444(8)   2,222    51.75    12/13/2031 
    0(9)   4,680    8.70    06/27/2033 

 

(1) The option exercise price is the closing price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on the date the option was granted.

 

(2) These options were granted on February 18, 2015, and vest ratably on a monthly basis over 36 months.

 

(3) These options were granted on December 7, 2015, and vest ratably on a monthly basis over 36 months.

 

(4) Certain performance criteria were deemed to have been met in 2018 and 2019, and as such, performance-based options granted in 2017 and 2018 vested.

 

(5) These options were granted on January 4, 2019 and included part of the 2018 bonus award, and vest ratably on a monthly basis over 36 months.

 

(6) These options were granted on December 11, 2020, and vest ratably on a monthly basis over 36 months.

 

(7) These options were granted on October 23, 2020 and vest over 36 months as to one third (1/3) of the shares on the first anniversary of the Grant Date and as to one thirty-sixth (1/36) of the total number shares monthly thereafter.

 

(8) These options were granted on December 13, 2021, and vest ratably on a monthly basis over 36 months.

 

(9) These options were granted on June 27, 2023, and vest on achievement of certain performance criteria.

 

(10) We terminated Dr. Kirschbaum’s employment on January 25, 2024. These options have ceased vesting as of January 25, 2024, and have not been exercised as of February 6, 2024.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control

 

We have entered into agreements that require us to make payments and/or provide benefits to certain of our executive officers in the event of a termination of employment or change-in-control. Our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, or 2006 Plan, our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, or 2015 Plan, our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, or 2018 Plan, and our 2020 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan, or 2020 Plan (and collectively with the 2006 Plan, 2015 Plan, and 2018 Plan the “Plans”) provide for payments to named executive officers in connection with a termination or a change-in-control of the Company.

 

The following summarizes the potential payments to certain of our executive officers with whom we have entered into an employment agreement that includes a payment upon termination and/or a change-in-control, as further described below.

 

Spiro Rombotis, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Rombotis’s employment agreement provides for certain severance arrangements. In the event that Mr. Rombotis’s employment is terminated “without cause,” other than termination in connection with a “change of control” (each as defined in the employment agreement), we will be required to pay Mr. Rombotis (i) all accrued but unpaid compensation up to the time of such termination; (ii) for a period of twelve months following such termination, severance payments in the form of his base salary as in effect immediately prior to such termination, or Severance Payments, including form of continuation coverage of his medical care and life insurance on the same terms as applicable to other executive employees, unless Mr. Rombotis obtains substitute coverage; and (iii) a period of six months in which to exercise all vested options held by Mr. Rombotis. In the event that Mr. Rombotis’s employment is terminated within six months following a “change-in-control” event, Mr. Rombotis will be entitled to (i) all accrued but unpaid compensation up to the time of such termination; (ii) Severance Payments for a period of 24 months; (iii) out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by Mr. Rombotis in connection with his and his family’s relocation to London; and (iv) eighteen months’ accelerated vesting of any options held by him. In the event of termination due to his death or disability, we will pay Mr. Rombotis (or his estate, as the case may be) (i) all accrued but unpaid compensation up to the time of such termination and (ii) Severance Payments for a period of twelve months. He (or his estate, as the case may be) would also be entitled to a period of twelve months in which all of his vested options can be exercised.

 

Paul McBarron, Executive Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary. Mr. McBarron’s employment agreement provides for certain severance arrangements. In the event that Mr. McBarron’s employment is terminated “without cause,” other than termination in connection with a “change of control” (each as defined in his employment agreement), we will be required to pay Mr. McBarron (i) all accrued but unpaid compensation up to the time of such termination; (ii) Severance Payments for a period of twelve months following such termination; and (iii) a period of six months in which to exercise all vested options held by Mr. McBarron. In the event that Mr. McBarron’s employment is terminated within six months following a “change-in-control” event, Mr. McBarron will be entitled (i) all accrued but unpaid compensation up to the time of such termination; (ii) Severance Payments for a period of twelve months; and (iii) eighteen months’ accelerated vesting of any options held by him. In the event of termination due to his death or disability, we will pay Mr. McBarron (or his estate, as the case may be) all accrued but unpaid compensation up to the time of such termination and Severance Payments for a period of twelve months. He (or his estate, as the case may be) would also be entitled to a period of twelve months in which all of his vested options can be exercised.

 

Potential payments to each named executive officer under our Plans in connection with a termination or a change-in-control of the Company. The following summarizes the potential payments to each named executive officer under the Plans in connection with a termination or a change-in-control of the Company.

 

Termination For Cause. If an award recipient’s service relationship with the Company terminates for “cause” (as defined in the Plans), then any unexercised award shall terminate immediately upon his or her termination of service.

 

Termination Without Cause. If an award recipient’s service relationship with the Company terminates for any reason other than for “cause” (excluding death or disability), then the recipient generally may exercise the award, to the extent vested, within 30 days (in our 2006 Plan) or three months (in our 2015 Plan, 2018 Plan, and 2020 Plan), of such termination to the extent that the award is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of the award as set forth in the award agreement). If the recipient dies within three months following such a termination, the award generally may be exercised, to the extent vested, within 180 days’ or one year (as per the 2006 Plan, 2015 Plan, 2018 Plan, and 2020 Plan, respectively) of the recipient’s death. If an award recipient’s service relationship with the Company terminates due to his or her death, the award recipient’s personal representative, estate, or the person who acquires the right to exercise the award by bequest or inheritance, as the case may be, generally may exercise the award, to the extent the award was vested on the date of termination, within one year from the date of the recipient’s death. Pursuant to the 2006 Plan, if an award recipient’s service relationship with the Company terminates due to his or her disability, the recipient, the recipient’s personal representative, estate, or the person who acquires the right to exercise the award by bequest or inheritance, as the case may be, generally may exercise the award, to the extent exercisable on the date of termination, within one year from the date of the recipient’s termination, or if the recipient dies during such one-year period, within the later of one year from the date of the recipient’s termination and 180 days from the recipient’s death. In no event may an award be exercised later than the expiration of the term of the award as set forth in the award agreement. Pursuant to the 2015 Plan, 2018 Plan, and 2020 Plan, with regard to options outstanding on the date of an individual’s termination due to disability, he or she may exercise any option to the extent that the option is exercisable but has not been exercised on the date of termination. Such an individual is also entitled to any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had he or she not become disabled. Exercise may only occur during the one-year period after the date of termination. With regard to stock grants and stock-based awards outstanding on the date of an individual’s termination due to disability, to the extent the forfeiture provisions or the Company’s rights of repurchase have not lapsed, they shall be exercisable; provided, however, that in the event such forfeiture provisions or rights of repurchase lapse periodically, they shall lapse to the extent of a pro rata portion of the shares subject to such stock grant or stock-based award through the date of disability as would have lapsed had the individual not become disabled.

 

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Change-in-Control. Pursuant to the terms of the Plans, in the event of a change-in-control (as defined in the Plans), all outstanding awards granted under the Plans will be either:

 

  · assumed by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation; or
  · substituted with an equivalent award by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation.

 

However, in the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute an award:

 

  · awards consisting of options, stock appreciation rights and rights to purchase restricted stock will become fully vested and immediately exercisable, including awards that would not otherwise have become vested or exercisable; and
  · all other awards will become fully earned and eligible to receive a payout.

 

For the purposes of the Plans, a participant’s award will be considered assumed if, following the change-in-control, the assumed award confers, for each share of the Company’s common stock subject to the award immediately prior to the change-in-control, the right to receive the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the change-in-control for each share of common stock held on the effective date of the transaction; provided, however, that if the consideration received in the change-in-control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent, the committee administering the plan may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration per share to be received upon the exercise of the award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of the Company’s common stock in the change-in-control.

 

Under the Plans, a change-in-control is the occurrence of one of the following events:

 

  · a person, partnership, joint venture, corporation or other entity, or two or more of any of the foregoing acting as a group (or any “person” within the meaning of Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company, a Subsidiary, or an employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or a Subsidiary, become(s) the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Company;

 

  · during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors (together with any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors then in office;

 

  · all or substantially all of the business of the Company is disposed of pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or the Company combines with another Company and is the surviving corporation (unless the stockholders of the Company immediately following such merger, consolidation, combination, or other transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the aggregate voting stock or other ownership interests of (x) the entity or entities, if any, that succeed to the business of the Company or (y) the combined company);

 

  · the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitutes less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or the stockholders of the Company approve a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

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Director Compensation

 

The following table shows the total compensation paid or accrued during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 to each of our non-employee directors. Directors who are employed by us are not compensated for their service on our Board of Directors. As applicable, the figures described in this section have been adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split completed on December 15, 2023.

 

Name  Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
   Option
Awards
($)(1)(2)
   Stock
Awards
($)(1)(3)
   Total
($)
 
Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D. D.Sc  $105,500   $18,991   $12,500   $136,991 
Robert J. Spiegel, M.D.  $84,500   $18,991   $12,500   $115,991 
Samuel L. Barker, Ph.D.  $66,500   $18,991   $12,500   $97,991 
Kenneth M. Ferguson, Ph.D.  $54,000   $18,991   $12,500   $85,491 
Brian Schwartz, M.D.  $53,000   $18,991   $12,500   $84,491 
Karin L. Walker  $64,000   $18,991   $12,500   $95,491 

 

(1) These amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of options and restricted stock units granted to each director during the year ended December 31, 2023 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. A discussion of the assumptions used in determining grant date fair value may be found in Note 11 to our financial statements included on our Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

 

(2) The fair value of the options granted on June 30, 2023 was $6.71 per share. Each non-employee director held an aggregate of 2,829 stock options as of December 31, 2023.

 

(3) The fair value of RSUs granted on June 30, 2023 was $8.84 per share. Each non-employee director held an aggregate of 1,415 RSUs as of December 31, 2023.

 

Director Compensation Program

 

Under the terms of our Director Compensation Program, the non-employee members of our Board of Directors are paid a fixed annual fee, payable on a quarterly basis, in arrears, on the first day of each quarter, as follows:

 

Chairman of the Board  $85,000 
Vice Chairman of the Board  $65,000 
Other Non-Management Board Members  $45,000 

 

The Chair of each of the various committees of the Board of Directors will also receive the following fixed annual fee, payable on a quarterly basis, in arrears, on the first day of each quarter, as follows:

 

Audit  $15,000 
Compensation and Organization Development  $10,000 
Nominating and Corporate Governance  $8,000 
Science and Technology  $8,000 

 

The non-Chair members of each of the various committees of the Board of Directors will also receive the following fixed annual member fee, payable on a quarterly basis, in arrears, on the first day of each quarter, as follows:

 

Audit  $7,500 
Compensation and Organization Development  $5,000 
Nominating and Corporate Governance  $4,000 
Science and Technology  $4,000 

 

In addition, the non-employee members of our Board of Directors are entitled to receive stock options and / or restricted stock options (RSUs) on their initial appointment to the Board and on an annual basis on the date of the Company’s annual meeting, such options and RSUs to vest fully on the first anniversary of the date of the grant. The non-employee directors are also reimbursed for customary business expenses in connection with attending Board of Directors and committee meetings.

 

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table provides certain aggregate information with respect to all of our equity compensation plans in effect as of December 31, 2023. As applicable, the figures described in this section have been adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split completed on December 15, 2023.

 

   (a)   (b)   (c) 
Plan Category  Number of
Securities to be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
   Weighted
average
exercise price
of outstanding
options,
warrants,
and rights
   Number of
Securities
remaining
available for
future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities
reflected in
column (a))
 
Total equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)   137,446   $59.11    22,466 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(2)   8,000   $56.55    5,333 

 

(1) Consists of our 2018 Plan, our 2015 Plan, and our 2006 Plan. The Plans provide for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units. There were no shares available for issuance, as of the date hereof, under the 2006 Plan or the 2015 Plan.

 

(2) Consists of our 2020 Plan. The 2020 Plan provides for the grant of nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

 

Our Audit Committee reviews and approves in advance all related-party transactions. Except as described below, there have been no transactions during our last two fiscal years with our directors and officers and beneficial owners of more than 5% of our voting securities and their affiliates.

 

On December 21, 2023, in an insider private placement, we entered into an Insider Securities Purchase Agreement pursuant to which we agreed to sell in a private placement (i) 6,070 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 6,070 shares of common stock, on the same terms as the unregistered warrants issued to certain institutional investors (the “Purchasers” and such warrants, the “Private Warrants”), to Spiro Rombotis, our Chief Executive Officer, and (ii) 1,886 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 1,886 shares of common stock on the same terms as the Private Warrants issued to the Purchasers in the Offerings to Paul McBarron, our Executive Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Each such share of common stock and accompanying warrant was sold at a purchase price of $3.315, which was the same purchase price for the shares of common stock sold in a concurrent registered direct offering.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Common Stock

 

We are authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share. As of March 21, 2024, 1,318,257 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding. The following descriptions of our common stock and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws are only summaries, and we encourage you to review complete copies of these documents, which have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports with the SEC.

 

Transfer Agent

 

Our transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.

 

Listing

 

Our common stock is listed for quotation on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CYCC.”

 

Dividends, Voting Rights and Liquidation

 

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable, and the shares of common stock to be issued upon completion of this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of common stock have no preferences or rights of conversion, exchange, pre-emption or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of all of our debts and obligations and after liquidation payments to holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any.

 

Delaware Law and Certain Charter and By-law Provisions

 

The provisions of (1) Delaware law, (2) our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and (3) our amended and restated bylaws discussed below could discourage or make it more difficult to accomplish a proxy contest or other change in our management or the acquisition of control by a holder of a substantial amount of our voting stock. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish, or could deter, transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interests or in our best interests. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies formulated by the board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control of us. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions also are intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management.

 

Delaware Statutory Business Combinations Provision. We are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner or another prescribed exception applies.

 

For purposes of Section 203, a “business combination” is defined broadly to include a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder, and, subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with his or her affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior, did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

 

Classified Board of Directors; Removal of Directors for Cause. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes, each serving staggered three-year terms ending at the annual meeting of our stockholders. All directors elected to our classified board of directors will serve until the election and qualification of their respective successors or their earlier resignation or removal. The board of directors is authorized to create new directorships and to fill such positions so created and is permitted to specify the class to which any such new position is assigned. The person filling such position would serve for the term applicable to that class. The board of directors (or its remaining members, even if less than a quorum) is also empowered to fill vacancies on the board of directors occurring for any reason for the remainder of the term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred. Members of the board of directors may only be removed for cause and only by the affirmative vote of 80% of our outstanding voting stock. These provisions are likely to increase the time required for stockholders to change the composition of the board of directors. For example, in general, at least two annual meetings will be necessary for stockholders to effect a change in a majority of the members of the board of directors.

 

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Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Proposals and Stockholder Nominations of Directors. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that, for nominations to the board of directors or for other business to be properly brought by a stockholder before a meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must first have given timely notice of the proposal in writing to our Secretary. For an annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice generally must be delivered not less than 45 days nor more than 75 days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of the proxy statement for the previous year’s annual meeting. For a special meeting, the notice must generally be delivered by the later of 90 days prior to the special meeting or ten days following the day on which public announcement of the meeting is first made. Detailed requirements as to the form of the notice and information required in the notice are specified in the amended and restated bylaws. If it is determined that business was not properly brought before a meeting in accordance with our bylaw provisions, such business will not be conducted at the meeting.

 

Special Meetings of Stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors.

 

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not permit our stockholders to act by written consent. As a result, any action to be effected by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders.

 

Super-Majority Stockholder Vote Required for Certain Actions. The Delaware General Corporation Law provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of our outstanding voting stock to amend or repeal any of the provisions discussed in this section of this prospectus entitled “Anti-Takeover Provisions” or to reduce the number of authorized shares of common stock or preferred stock. This 80% stockholder vote would be in addition to any separate class vote that might in the future be required pursuant to the terms of any preferred stock that might then be outstanding. In addition, an 80% vote is also required for any amendment to, or repeal of, our amended and restated bylaws by the stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws may be amended or repealed by a simple majority vote of the board of directors.

 

Preferred Stock

 

We have the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of March 21, 2024, 335,273 shares of our preferred stock were outstanding as 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock (see “6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock” below), 264 shares of our preferred stock were outstanding as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (see “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” below), and no shares of our preferred stock were outstanding as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (see “Series B Convertible Preferred Stock” below). The description of preferred stock provisions set forth below is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designations relating to each series of preferred stock.

 

The board of directors has the right, without the consent of holders of common stock, to designate and issue one or more series of preferred stock, which may be convertible into common stock at a ratio determined by the board of directors. A series of preferred stock may bear rights superior to common stock as to voting, dividends, redemption, distributions in liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, and other relative rights and preferences. The board may set the following terms of any series of preferred stock:

 

  · the number of shares constituting the series and the distinctive designation of the series;

 

  · dividend rates, whether dividends are cumulative, and, if so, from what date; and the relative rights of priority of payment of dividends;

 

  · voting rights and the terms of the voting rights;

 

  · conversion privileges and the terms and conditions of conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate;

 

  · redemption rights and the terms and conditions of redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which shares may be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates;

 

  · sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of shares;

 

  · rights in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights of priority of payment; and

 

  · any other relative powers, preferences, rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the series.

 

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Dividends on outstanding shares of preferred stock will be paid or declared and set apart for payment before any dividends may be paid or declared and set apart for payment on the common stock with respect to the same dividend period.

 

If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the assets available for distribution to holders of preferred stock are insufficient to pay the full preferential amount to which the holders are entitled, then the available assets will be distributed ratably among the shares of all series of preferred stock in accordance with the respective preferential amounts (including unpaid cumulative dividends, if any) payable with respect to each series.

 

Holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any shares of any class of capital stock of the corporation. The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable. The rights of the holders of preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.

 

We have previously issued shares of preferred stock in three series, designated as 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, of which 335,273 are currently outstanding, as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, of which 264 are currently outstanding, and as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, of which no shares are currently outstanding. Our 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CYCCP.”

 

6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock

 

General

 

Our board of directors designated 2,046,813 shares of the preferred stock that were issued as convertible preferred stock on November 3, 2004. The shares of convertible preferred stock are duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. These shares will not have any preemptive rights if we issue other series of preferred stock. The convertible preferred stock is not subject to any sinking fund. We have no obligation to retire the convertible preferred stock. The convertible preferred stock has a perpetual maturity and may remain outstanding indefinitely, subject to the holder’s right to convert the convertible preferred stock and our right to cause the conversion of the convertible preferred stock and exchange or redeem the convertible preferred stock at our option. Any convertible preferred stock converted, exchanged or redeemed or acquired by us will, upon cancellation, have the status of authorized but unissued shares of convertible preferred stock. We will be able to reissue these cancelled shares of convertible preferred stock.

 

Dividends

 

When and if declared by our board of directors out of the legally available funds, holders of the convertible preferred stock are entitled to receive cash dividends at an annual rate of 6% of the liquidation preference of the convertible preferred stock. Dividends are payable quarterly on the first day of February, May, August and November. If any dividends are not declared, they will accrue and be paid at such later date, if any, as determined by our board of directors. Dividends on the convertible preferred stock will be cumulative from the issue date. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear on our stock books not more than 60 days nor less than 10 days preceding the payment dates, as fixed by our board of directors. If the convertible preferred stock is called for redemption on a redemption date between the dividend record date and the dividend payment date and the holder does not convert the convertible preferred stock (as described below), the holder shall receive the dividend payment together with all other accrued and unpaid dividends on the redemption date instead of receiving the dividend on the dividend date. Dividends payable on the convertible preferred stock for any period greater or less than a full dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Accrued but unpaid dividends will not bear interest.

 

If we do not pay or set aside cumulative dividends in full on the convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends, all dividends declared upon shares of the convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends will be declared on a pro rata basis until all accrued dividends are paid in full. For these purposes, “pro rata” means that the amount of dividends declared per share on the convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends bear to each other will be the same ratio that accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of the convertible preferred stock and such other preferred stock bear to each other. We will not be able to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of our stock ranking on the same basis as the convertible preferred stock as to dividends or liquidation preferences unless we have paid or set aside full cumulative dividends, if any, accrued on all outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock.

 

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Unless we have paid or set aside cumulative dividends in full on the convertible preferred stock and any other of the convertible preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends:

 

  · we may not declare or pay or set aside dividends on common stock or any other stock ranking junior to the convertible preferred stock as to dividends or liquidation preferences, excluding dividends or distributions of shares, options, warrants or rights to purchase common stock or other stock ranking junior to the convertible preferred stock as to dividends; or

 

  · we will not be able to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of our other stock ranking junior to the convertible preferred stock as to dividends or liquidation preferences, except in very limited circumstances.

 

Under Delaware law, we may only make dividends or distributions to our stockholders from:

 

  · our surplus; or

 

  · the net profits for the current fiscal year before which the dividend or distribution is declared under certain circumstances.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the company declared dividends of $0.15 per share quarterly. These dividends were paid on May 1, August 1 and November 1, 2022, and February 1, 2023, respectively.

 

Conversion

 

Conversion Rights

 

Holders of our convertible preferred stock may convert the convertible preferred stock at any time into a number of shares of common stock determined by dividing the $10.00 liquidation preference by the conversion price of $592,200. This conversion price is equivalent to a conversion rate of approximately 0.0000167 shares of common stock for each share of convertible preferred stock. We will not make any adjustment to the conversion price for accrued or unpaid dividends upon conversion. We will not issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion. However, we will instead pay cash for each fractional share based upon the market price of the common stock on the last business day prior to the conversion date. If we call the convertible preferred stock for redemption, the holder’s right to convert the convertible preferred stock will expire at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption, unless we fail to pay the redemption price.

 

Automatic Conversion

 

Unless we redeem or exchange the convertible preferred stock, we may elect to convert some or all of the convertible preferred stock into shares of our common stock if the closing price of our common stock has exceeded 150% of the conversion price for at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days ending within five trading days prior to the notice of automatic conversion. If we elect to convert less than all of the shares of convertible preferred stock, we shall select the shares to be converted by lot or pro rata or in some other equitable manner in our discretion. On or after November 3, 2007, we may not elect to automatically convert the convertible preferred stock if full cumulative dividends on the convertible preferred stock for all past dividend periods have not been paid or set aside for payment.

 

Conversion Price Adjustment - General

 

The conversion price of $592,200 will be adjusted if:

 

  (1) we dividend or distribute common stock in shares of our common stock;

 

  (2) we subdivide or combine our common stock;

 

  (3) we issue to all holders of common stock certain rights or warrants to purchase our common stock at less than the current market price;

 

  (4) we dividend or distribute to all holders of our common stock shares of our capital stock or evidences of indebtedness or assets, excluding:

 

  · those rights, warrants, dividends or distributions referred to in (1) or (3), or

 

  · dividends and distributions paid in cash;

 

  (5) we made a dividend or distribution consisting of cash to all holders of common stock;

 

  (6) we purchase common stock pursuant to a tender offer made by us or any of our subsidiaries; and

 

  (7) a person other than us or any of our subsidiaries makes any payment on a tender offer or exchange offer and, as of the closing of the offer, the board of directors is not recommending rejection of the offer. We will only make this adjustment if the tender or exchange offer increases a person’s ownership to more than 25% of our outstanding common stock, and only if the payment per share of common stock exceeds the current market price of our common stock. We will not make this adjustment if the offering documents disclose our plan to engage in any consolidation, merger, or transfer of all or substantially all of our properties and if specified conditions are met.

 

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If we implement a stockholder rights plan, this new rights plan must provide that, upon conversion of the existing convertible preferred stock the holders will receive, in addition to the common stock issuable upon such conversion, the rights under such rights plan regardless of whether the rights have separated from the common stock before the time of conversion. The distribution of rights or warrants pursuant to a stockholder rights plan will not result in an adjustment to the conversion price of the convertible preferred stock until a specified triggering event occurs.

 

The occurrence and magnitude of certain of the adjustments described above is dependent upon the current market price of our common stock. For these purposes, “current market price” generally means the lesser of:

 

  · the closing sale price on certain specified dates, or

 

  · the average of the closing prices of the common stock for the ten trading day period immediately prior to certain specified dates.

 

We may make a temporary reduction in the conversion price of the convertible preferred stock if our board of directors determines that this decrease would be in our best interest. We may, at our option, reduce the conversion price if our board of directors deems it advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of common stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock or rights to acquire stock or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes.

 

Conversion Price Adjustment - Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

 

If we are involved in a transaction in which shares of our common stock are converted into the right to receive other securities, cash or other property, or a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets under which the holders of our common stock shall be entitled to receive other securities, cash or other property, then appropriate provision shall be made so that the shares of convertible preferred stock will convert into:

 

  (1) if the transaction is a common stock fundamental change, as defined below, common stock of the kind received by holders of common stock as a result of common stock fundamental change in accordance with paragraph (1) below under the subsection entitled “- Fundamental Change Conversion Price Adjustments,” and

 

  (2) if the transaction is not a common stock fundamental change, and subject to funds being legally available at conversion, the kind and amount of the securities, cash or other property that would have been receivable upon the recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange by a holder of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the convertible preferred stock immediately prior to the recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange, after giving effect to any adjustment in the conversion price in accordance with paragraph (2) below under the subsection entitled “- Fundamental Change Conversion Price Adjustments.”

 

The company formed by the consolidation, merger, asset acquisition or share acquisition shall provide for this right in its organizational document. This organizational document shall also provide for adjustments so that the organizational document shall be as nearly practicably equivalent to adjustments in this section for events occurring after the effective date of the organizational document.

 

The following types of transactions, among others, would be covered by this adjustment:

 

  (1) we recapitalize or reclassify our common stock, except for:

 

  · a change in par value,

 

  · a change from par value to no par value,

 

  · a change from no par value to par value, or

 

  · a subdivision or combination of our common stock.

 

  (2) we consolidate or merge into any other person, or any merger of another person into us, except for a merger that does not result in a reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of common stock,

 

  (3) we sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets and holders of our common stock become entitled to receive other securities, cash or other property, or

 

  (4) we undertake any compulsory share exchange.

 

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Fundamental Change Conversion Price Adjustments

 

If a fundamental change occurs, the conversion price will be adjusted as follows:

 

  (1) in the case of a common stock fundamental change, the conversion price shall be the conversion price after giving effect to any other prior adjustments effected pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the purchaser stock price, as defined below, and the denominator of which is the applicable price, as defined below. However, in the event of a common stock fundamental change in which:

 

  · 100% of the value of the consideration received by a holder of our common stock is common stock of the successor, acquirer or other third party, and cash, if any, paid with respect to any fractional interests in such common stock resulting from such common stock fundamental change, and

 

  · All of our common stock shall have been exchanged for, converted into or acquired for, common stock of the successor, acquirer or other third party, and any cash with respect to fractional interests,

 

  · the conversion price shall be the conversion price in effect immediately prior to such common stock fundamental change multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is one (1) and the denominator of which is the number of shares of common stock of the successor, acquirer or other third party received by a holder of one share of our common stock as a result of the common stock fundamental change; and

 

  (2) in the case of a non-stock fundamental change, the conversion price shall be the lower of:

 

  · the conversion price after giving effect to any other prior adjustments effected pursuant to the preceding paragraph and

 

  · the product of

 

  A. the applicable price, and

 

  B. a fraction, the numerator of which is $10 and the denominator of which is (x) the amount of the redemption price for one share of convertible preferred stock if the redemption date were the date of the non-stock fundamental change (or if the date of such non-stock fundamental change falls within the period beginning on the first issue date of the convertible preferred stock through October 31, 2005, the twelve-month period commencing November 1, 2005 and the twelve-month period commencing November 1, 2006, the product of 106.0%, 105.4% or 104.8%, respectively, and $10) plus (y) any then-accrued and unpaid distributions on one share of convertible preferred stock.

 

Holders of convertible preferred stock may receive significantly different consideration upon conversion depending upon whether a fundamental change is a non-stock fundamental change or a common stock fundamental change. In the event of a non-stock fundamental change, the shares of convertible preferred stock will convert into stock and other securities or property or assets, including cash, determined by the number of shares of common stock receivable upon conversion at the conversion price as adjusted in accordance with (2) above. In the event of a common stock fundamental change, under certain circumstances, the holder of convertible preferred stock will receive different consideration depending on whether the holder converts his or her shares of convertible preferred stock on or after the common stock fundamental change.

 

Definitions for the Fundamental Change Adjustment Provision

 

“applicable price” means:

 

  · in a non-stock fundamental change in which the holders of common stock receive only cash, the amount of cash received by a holder of one share of common stock, and

 

  · in the event of any other fundamental change, the average of the daily closing price for one share of common stock during the 10 trading days immediately prior to the record date for the determination of the holders of common stock entitled to receive cash, securities, property or other assets in connection with the fundamental change or, if there is no such record date, prior to the date upon which the holders of common stock shall have the right to receive such cash, securities, property or other assets.

 

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“common stock fundamental change” means any fundamental change in which more than 50% of the value, as determined in good faith by our board of directors, of the consideration received by holders of our common stock consists of common stock that, for the 10 trading days immediately prior to such fundamental change, has been admitted for listing or admitted for listing subject to notice of issuance on a national securities exchange or quoted on The Nasdaq National Market, except that a fundamental change shall not be a common stock fundamental change unless either:

 

  · we continue to exist after the occurrence of the fundamental change and the outstanding convertible preferred stock continues to exist as outstanding convertible preferred stock, or

 

  · not later than the occurrence of the fundamental change, the outstanding convertible preferred stock is converted into or exchanged for shares of preferred stock, which preferred stock has rights, preferences and limitations substantially similar, but no less favorable, to those of the convertible preferred stock.

 

“fundamental change” means the occurrence of any transaction or event or series of transactions or events pursuant to which all or substantially all of our common stock shall be exchanged for, converted into, acquired for or shall constitute solely the right to receive cash, securities, property or other assets, whether by means of an exchange offer, liquidation, tender offer, consolidation, merger, combination, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise. However, for purposes of adjustment of the conversion price, in the case of any series of transactions or events, the fundamental change shall be deemed to have occurred when substantially all of the common stock shall have been exchanged for, converted into or acquired for, or shall constitute solely the right to receive, such cash, securities, property or other assets, but the adjustment shall be based upon the consideration that the holders of our common stock received in the transaction or event as a result of which more than 50% of our common stock shall have been exchanged for, converted into or acquired for, or shall constitute solely the right to receive, such cash, securities, property or other assets.

 

“non-stock fundamental change” means any fundamental change other than a common stock fundamental change.

 

“purchaser stock price” means the average of the daily closing price for one share of the common stock received by holders of the common stock in the common stock fundamental change during the 10 trading days immediately prior to the date fixed for the determination of the holders of the common stock entitled to receive such common stock or, if there is no such date, prior to the date upon which the holders of the common stock shall have the right to receive such common stock.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, the holders of the convertible preferred stock shall receive a liquidation preference of $10 per share and all accrued and unpaid dividends through the distribution date. Holders of any class or series of preferred stock ranking on the same basis as the convertible preferred stock as to liquidation shall also be entitled to receive the full respective liquidation preferences and any accrued and unpaid dividends through the distribution date. Only after the preferred stock holders have received their liquidation preference and any accrued and unpaid dividends will we distribute assets to common stock holders or any of our other stock ranking junior to the shares of convertible preferred stock upon liquidation. If upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, we do not have enough assets to pay in full the amounts due on the convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking on the same basis with the convertible preferred stock as to liquidation, the holders of the convertible preferred stock and such other preferred stock will share ratably in any such distributions of our assets:

 

  · first in proportion to the liquidation preferences until the preferences are paid in full, and

 

  · then in proportion to the amounts of accrued but unpaid dividends.

 

After we pay any liquidation preference and accrued dividends, holders of the convertible preferred stock will not be entitled to participate any further in the distribution of our assets. The following events will not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of Cyclacel:

 

  · the sale of all or substantially all of the assets;

 

  · our merger or consolidation into or with any other corporation; or

 

  · our liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reorganization immediately followed by a reincorporation as another corporation.

 

Optional Redemption

 

The Company may, at its option, redeem the Preferred Stock in whole or in part, out of funds legally available at the redemption price of $10.00 per share.

 

Exchange Provisions

 

We may exchange the convertible preferred stock in whole, but not in part, for debentures on any dividend payment date on or after November 1, 2005 at the rate of $10 principal amount of debentures for each outstanding share of convertible preferred stock. Debentures will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. If the exchange results in an amount of debentures that is not an integral multiple of $1,000, we will pay in cash an amount in excess of the closest integral multiple of $1,000. We will mail written notice of our intention to exchange the convertible preferred stock to each record holder not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the exchange date.

 

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We refer to the date fixed for exchange of the convertible preferred stock for debentures as the “exchange date.” On the exchange date, the holder’s rights as a stockholder of Cyclacel shall cease, the shares of convertible preferred stock will no longer be outstanding, and will only represent the right to receive the debentures and any accrued and unpaid dividends, without interest. We may not exercise our option to exchange the convertible preferred stock for the debentures if:

 

  · full cumulative dividends on the convertible preferred stock to the exchange date have not been paid or set aside for payment, or

 

  · an event of default under the indenture would occur on conversion, or has occurred and is continuing.

 

Voting Rights

 

Holders of our convertible preferred stock have no voting rights except as described below or as required by law. Shares of our convertible preferred stock held by us or any entity controlled by us will not have any voting rights.

 

The Certificate of Designations governing the Preferred Stock provides that if the Company fails to pay dividends on its Preferred Stock for six quarterly periods, holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to nominate and elect two directors to the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

Without the vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of convertible preferred stock, we may not:

 

  · adversely change the rights, preferences and limitations of the convertible preferred stock by modifying our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or

 

  · authorize, issue, reclassify any of our authorized stock into, increase the authorized amount of, or authorize or issue any convertible obligation or security or right to purchase, any class of stock that ranks senior to the convertible preferred stock as to dividends or distributions of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the stock.

 

No class vote on the part of convertible preferred stock shall be required (except as otherwise required by law or resolution of our board of directors) in connection with the authorization, issuance or increase in the authorized amount of any shares of capital stock ranking junior to or on parity with the convertible preferred stock both as to the payment of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, including our common stock and the convertible preferred stock.

 

In addition, without the vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of convertible preferred stock we may not:

 

  · enter into a share exchange that affects the convertible preferred stock, or

 

  · consolidate with or merge into another entity, or

 

  · permit another entity to consolidate with or merge into us,

 

unless the convertible preferred stock remains outstanding and its rights, privileges and preferences are unaffected or it is converted into or exchanged for convertible preferred stock of the surviving entity having rights, preferences and limitations substantially similar, but no less favorable, to the convertible preferred stock.

 

In determining a majority under these voting provisions, holders of convertible preferred stock will vote together with holders of any other preferred stock that rank on parity as to dividends and that have like voting rights.

 

Series A Preferred Stock

 

8,872 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock were issued in a underwritten public offering on July 21, 2017 (the “July 2017 Underwritten Public Offering”). Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder thereof, into a number of shares of common stock determined by dividing $1,000 by the initial conversion price of $600.00 per share, subject to a 4.99% blocker provision, or, upon election by a holder prior to the issuance of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, 9.99%, and is subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, distributions, subdivisions and combinations.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, 8,608 shares of the Series A Preferred Stock were converted into 14,333 shares of common stock. As of March 21, 2024, 264 shares of the Series A Preferred Stock remain issued and outstanding. The 264 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding at March 21, 2024, are convertible into 440 shares of common stock.

 

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In the event of a liquidation, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares are entitled to participate on an as-converted-to-common stock basis with holders of the common stock in any distribution of assets of the Company to the holders of the common stock. The Series A Certificate of Designation provides, among other things, that we shall not pay any dividends on shares of common stock (other than dividends in the form of common stock) unless and until such time as we pay dividends on each Series A Preferred Share on an as-converted basis. Other than as set forth in the previous sentence, the Series A Certificate of Designation provides that no other dividends shall be paid on Series A Preferred Shares and that we shall pay no dividends (other than dividends in the form of common stock) on shares of common stock unless we simultaneously comply with the previous sentence. The Series A Certificate of Designation does not provide for any restriction on the repurchase of Series A Preferred Shares by us while there is any arrearage in the payment of dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the Series A Preferred Shares.

 

With certain exceptions, as described in the Series A Certificate of Designation, the Series A Preferred Stock has no voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Series A Certificate of Designation provides that we shall not, without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series A Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Series A Certificate of Designation, (b) increase the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock or (c) effect a stock split or reverse stock split of the Series A Preferred Stock or any like event.

 

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the holder’s option into a number of shares of common stock equal to $1,000 divided by the Series A Conversion Price. The “Series A Conversion Price” was initially $600.00 and is subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, distributions, subdivisions and combinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Series A Certificate of Designation further provides that we shall not effect any conversion of Series A Preferred Stock, with certain exceptions, to the extent that, after giving effect to an attempted conversion, the holder of Series A Preferred Shares (together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or any of such holder’s affiliates) would beneficially own a number of shares of common stock in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the shares of our common stock then outstanding after giving effect to such exercise (the “Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that upon notice to the Company, the holder may increase or decrease the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation, provided that in no event shall the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 9.99% and any increase in the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until 61 days following notice of such increase from the holder to us.

 

Subject to certain conditions, at any time following the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, we will have the right to cause each holder of the Series A Preferred Stock to convert all or part of such holder’s Series A Preferred Stock in the event that (i) the volume weighted average price of our common stock for 30 consecutive trading days (the “Measurement Period”) exceeds 300% of the initial conversion price of the Series A Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment for forward and reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, stock dividends and similar transactions), (ii) the daily trading volume on each Trading Day during such Measurement Period exceeds $500,000 per trading day and (iii) the holder is not in possession of any information that constitutes or might constitute, material non-public information which was provided by the Company. Our right to cause each holder of the Series A Preferred Stock to convert all or part of such holder’s Series A Preferred Stock shall be exercised ratably among the holders of the then outstanding preferred stock.

 

The Series A Preferred Stock has no maturity date, will carry the same dividend rights as the common stock, and with certain exceptions contains no voting rights. In the event of any liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Series A Preferred Stock ranks senior to the common stock in the distribution of assets, to the extent legally available for distribution.

 

Series B Preferred Stock

 

237,745 shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock were issued in connection with a registered direct offering on December 18, 2020 (the “December 2020 Registered Direct Offering”). Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder thereof, into one third (1/3) share of common stock, subject to a 9.99% blocker provision, and is subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, distributions, subdivisions and combinations.

 

As of March 21, 2024, all shares of the Series B Preferred Stock have been converted into 79,248 shares of common stock and therefore none remain issued and outstanding.

 

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Outstanding Warrants

 

December 2023 Warrants

 

On December 21, 2023, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional investors (“Purchasers”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, we agreed to sell in a registered direct offering (“Registered Direct Offering”) 168,500 shares (“Shares”) of our common stock, and pre-funded warrants (“Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase up to 219,700 shares of common stock. The Pre-Funded Warrants have an exercise price of $0.001 per share and are immediately exercisable and can be exercised at any time after their original issuance until such Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. Each Share was sold at an offering price of $3.315 and each Pre-Funded Warrant was sold at an offering price of $3.314 (equal to the purchase price per Share minus the exercise price of the Pre-Funded Warrant).

 

Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, in a concurrent private placement (together with the Registered Direct Offering, the “Offerings”), we also issued to the Purchasers unregistered warrants (“Common Warrants”) to purchase up to 388,200 shares of common stock. Each Common Warrant has an exercise price of $3.19 per share, is exercisable immediately following their original issuance and will expire seven years from the original issuance date.

 

On December 21, 2023, in a separate concurrent insider private placement (the “Insider Private Placement”), we also entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain of our executive officers (the “Insider Securities Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which we sold in a private placement (i) 6,070 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 6,070 shares of common stock on the same terms as the Common Warrants issued to the Purchasers in the Offerings to Spiro Rombotis, our Chief Executive Officer, and (ii) 1,886 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 1,886 shares of common stock on the same terms as the Common Warrants issued to the Purchasers in the Offerings to Paul McBarron, our Executive Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Each such share of common stock and accompanying warrant was sold at a purchase price of $3.315, which was the same purchase price for the Shares sold in the Registered Direct Offering.

 

The placement agent for the Offerings received warrants that have substantially the same terms as the Warrants issued in the concurrent private placement to the Purchasers in the Offerings to purchase that number of shares of common stock equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock and Prefunded Warrants sold in the Offerings, or an aggregate of 23,769 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $4.14375 per share (the “Placement Agent Warrants”). The Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable immediately following the date of issuance and will expire five years from issuance.

 

December 2020 Warrants

 

As of March 21, 2024, warrants to purchase 44,657 shares of common stock issued pursuant to a securities purchase agreement in a December 2020 financing transaction remained outstanding. Each warrant shall be exercisable beginning on the 12-month anniversary of the date of issuance for a period of five years after the date of issuance, at an exercise price of $61.95 per warrant share. The exercise price of the warrants will be subject to adjustment in the event of any stock dividends and splits, reverse stock split, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction, as described in the warrants. The warrants may be exercised on a “cashless” basis.

 

April 2020 Warrants

 

As of March 21, 2024, 146,000 warrants issued pursuant to a securities purchase agreement in connection with an April 2020 equity financing remained outstanding, each with an exercise price of $75.00. The common warrants are 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. The common warrants were issued separately from the common stock and were eligible for transfer immediately after issuance. A common warrant to purchase one share of common stock was issued for every share of common stock purchased in this offering.

 

The common warrants are 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). 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.

 

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July 2017 Warrants

 

As of March 21, 2024, 24,968 warrants issued in connection with the July 2017 underwritten public offering remained outstanding, each with an exercise price of $600.00. All such warrants were issued in connection with the July 2017 underwritten public offering and are immediately exercisable. The warrants expire in 2024. Subject to limited exceptions, a holder of warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its warrants if the holder (together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or any of such holder’s affiliates) would beneficially own a number of shares of common stock in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of the shares of our common stock then outstanding after giving effect to such exercise.

 

The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of recapitalization events, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock. The warrant holders must pay the exercise price in cash upon exercise of the warrants, unless such warrant holders are utilizing the cashless exercise provision of the warrants. On the expiration date, unexercised warrants will automatically be exercised via the “cashless” exercise provision.

 

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, except as set forth therein.

 

Exercisability. The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of recapitalization events, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock.

 

Exercise of Warrants. All of the warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form set forth in the warrant completed and executed as indicated, either accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised or, under certain circumstances, by means of a cashless exercise, as provided for in the warrant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder will not be required to physically surrender the warrant unless and until the aggregate warrant shares represented by the warrant are exercised. The warrants are exercisable by delivery of a written notice, with payment made within two trading days of the delivery of the notice of exercise.

 

Cashless Exercise. If, at any time during the exercisability period of any of the warrants, the holder is not permitted to sell shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the relevant warrant pursuant to the registration statement or an exemption from registration is not available, and the fair market value of our common stock exceeds the exercise price of the warrants, the holder may elect to effect a cashless exercise of the warrants, in whole or in part, by surrendering the warrants to us, together with delivery to us of a duly executed exercise notice, and canceling a portion of the relevant warrant in payment of the purchase price payable in respect of the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise.

 

Buy-in Right. If we fail to issue shares of common stock to the holder of a warrant within three business days of our receipt of a duly executed exercise notice, then the holder or any third party on behalf of the holder may, for such holder’s account, purchase in an open market transaction or otherwise, shares of common stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the holder of shares of common stock issuable upon such exercise that the holder anticipated receiving from us. We shall (i) pay in cash to the holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of common stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares (as defined in such warrants) that we were required to deliver to the holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (ii) at the option of the holder, either reinstate the portion of the warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the holder the number of shares of common stock that would have been issued had we timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations thereunder.

 

Transferability. The warrants and all rights thereunder are transferable upon surrender of the applicable warrant at our principal office or at the principal office of our designated agent, together with a written assignment of the applicable warrant duly executed by the holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer.

 

Exchange Listing. We do not plan on making an application to list any of the warrants on The NASDAQ Capital Market, any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. The common stock underlying the warrants is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

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Fundamental Transactions. In the event of any fundamental transaction, as described in the warrants, and generally including any merger with or into another entity (whether or not we are the surviving entity but excluding a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of incorporation), sale of all or substantially all of our assets, tender offer or exchange offer, our consummation of a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) or reclassification of our common stock, then upon any subsequent exercise of a warrant, the holder shall have the right to receive, as alternative consideration, for each share of our common stock that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such fundamental transaction, the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of Cyclacel, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable upon or as a result of such transaction by a holder of the number of shares of our common stock for which the warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the warrants, in the event of a fundamental transaction (i) in which holders of common stock receive all cash or substantially all cash or (ii) with a person whose common stock or equivalent equity security is not quoted or listed on an eligible market, as defined in such warrant, and, in either case, at the request of the holder delivered within 30 days after consummation of the fundamental transaction, we (or our successor entity) must purchase such warrant from the holder by paying to the holder, within seven business days after such request (or, if later, on the effective date of the fundamental transaction), cash in an amount equal to the Black Scholes value, as defined in such warrant, of the remaining unexercised portion of such warrant or Option Warrant on the date of such fundamental transaction. Fundamental transactions shall not include any transaction in which we are not a voluntary party thereto.

 

Waivers and Amendments. The provisions of each warrant may be amended and we may not take any action prohibited by such warrant, or omit to perform any act required to be performed pursuant to such warrant, only with the written consent of the holder of that warrant.

 

Rights as a Stockholder. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

 

No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of any of the warrants. We will pay to the holder thereof, in lieu of the issuance of any fractional share which is otherwise issuable to the warrant holder, an amount in cash based on the market value of the common stock on the last trading day prior to the exercise date.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

 

Common Stock to be Issued as Part of this Offering

 

The material terms and provisions of our common stock and each other class of our securities which qualifies or limits our common stock are described above under the sections “Description of Capital Stock-- Common Stock,” and “Description of Capital Stock—Preferred Stock” of this prospectus.

 

Common Stock Warrants to be Issued as Part of this Offering

 

The following is a summary of certain terms and provisions of the Common Stock Warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the Common Stock Warrant, the form of which will be 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 the Common Stock Warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Common Stock Warrants. Pursuant to a warrant agency agreement between us and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent, the Common Stock Warrants will be issued in book-entry form and shall initially be represented only by one or more global warrants deposited with the warrant agent, as custodian, on behalf of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC.

 

Duration and Exercise Price

 

Each Common Stock Warrant offered hereby will have an exercise price equal to $         . The Common Stock Warrants will be immediately exercisable upon issuance and may be exercised until the fifth anniversary of the issuance date. The number of Common Stock Warrants outstanding, and the exercise price of those securities, will be adjusted proportionately in the event of a reverse or forward stock split of our common stock, a recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, payment of dividends or distributions in common stock to our common stock holders, or similar transactions. In the event that the Company effects a rights offering to its common stock holders or a pro rata distribution of its assets among its common stock holders, then the holder of the Common Stock Warrants will have the right to participate in such distribution and rights offering to the extent of their pro rata share of the Company’s outstanding common stock assuming they owned the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of their Common Stock Warrants. In the event of a “Fundamental Transaction” by the Company, such as a merger or consolidation of it with another company, the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in one or a series of related transactions, a purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer, or any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Company’s common stock, then the Common Stock Warrant holder will have the right to receive, for each share of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Common Stock Warrant, at the option of the holder, the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration payable as a result of the Fundamental Transaction, that would have been issued or conveyed to the Common Stock Warrant holder had the holder exercised the Common Stock Warrant immediately preceding the closing of the Fundamental Transaction. In lieu of receiving such common stock and additional consideration in the Fundamental Transaction, the Common Stock Warrant holder may elect to have the Company or the successor entity purchase the Common Stock Warrant holder’s Public Warrant for its fair market value measured by the Black Scholes method.

 

The Company will promptly notify the holders of Common Stock Warrants in writing of any adjustment to the exercise price or to the number of the outstanding Common Stock Warrants, declaration of a dividend or other distribution, a special non-recurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the common stock, the authorization of a rights offering, the approval of the stockholders required for any proposed reclassification of the common stock, a consolidation or merger by the Company, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, any compulsory share exchange, or the authorization of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company.

 

The Common Stock Warrants contain a contractual provision stating that all questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Common Stock Warrants are governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

There is no trading market available for the Common Stock Warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not intend to list the Common Stock Warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system.

 

Exercisability

 

The Common Stock 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 such holder’s Common Stock Warrants 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 Stock 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 Stock Warrants.

 

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Cashless Exercise

 

If, at the time a holder exercises its Common Stock Warrants, a registration statement registering the issuance or resale of the shares of common stock underlying the Common Stock Warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or 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 Stock Warrant.

 

Transferability

 

Subject to applicable laws, a warrant may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the Common Stock Warrant to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.

 

Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon the exercise of the Common Stock Warrants. Rather, the number of shares of common stock to be issued will, at our election, either be rounded up to the nearest whole number or we will pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price.

 

Trading Market

 

There is no established trading market for the Common Stock Warrants, and we do not expect an active trading market to develop. We do not intend to apply to list the Common Stock Warrants on any securities exchange or other trading market. Without a trading market, the liquidity of the Common Stock Warrants will be extremely limited.

 

Right as a Stockholder

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Common Stock Warrants or by virtue of the holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, such holder of Common Stock Warrants does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights, until such holder exercises such holder’s Common Stock Warrants.

 

Waivers and Amendments

 

No term of the Common Stock Warrants may be amended or waived without the written consent of the holders of the Common Stock Warrants purchased in this offering.

 

Pre-funded Warrants

 

The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the 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 will be 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. Pursuant to a warrant agency agreement between us and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent, the pre-funded warrants will be issued in book-entry form and shall initially be represented only by one or more global warrants deposited with the warrant agent, as custodian, on behalf of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC.

 

Duration and Exercise Price

 

Each pre-funded warrant offered hereby will have an initial exercise price per share of common stock equal to $0.0001. The pre-funded warrants will be immediately exercisable and will expire when 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 share dividends, share splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our shares of common stock and the exercise price. Subject to the rules and regulations of the applicable trading market, we may at any time during the term of the pre-funded warrant, subject to the prior written consent of the holders, reduce the then current exercise price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by our board of directors.

 

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 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 pre-funded warrant to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% of the outstanding shares of 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 beneficial ownership of outstanding shares after exercising the holder’s pre-funded warrants up to 9.99% of the number of our shares of 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 shares of common stock.

 

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Cashless Exercise

 

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.

 

Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants. Rather, at the Company’s election, the number of shares of common stock to be issued will be rounded up to the nearest whole number or the Company will pay a cash adjustment in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price.

 

Transferability

 

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

 

Trading Market

 

There is no trading market available for the pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not expect a trading market to develop. We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading market. Without a trading market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants will be extremely limited.

 

Right as a Shareholder

 

Except as otherwise provided in the pre-funded warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of common stock, the holders of the pre-funded warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our shares of common stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their pre-funded warrants. The pre-funded warrants will provide that holders have the right to participate in distributions or dividends paid on our shares of common stock.

 

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 shares of 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 shares of common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding shares of 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 on a net exercise basis.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Pursuant to a placement agency agreement, dated as of               , 2024, we have engaged Roth Capital Partners, LLC, or the Placement Agent, 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. This offering will terminate on , unless we decide to terminate the offering (which we may do at any time in our discretion) prior to that date. We will have one closing for all the securities purchased in this offering. The combined public offering price per share (or pre-funded warrant) and accompanying Common Stock Warrants will be fixed for the duration of this offering.

 

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

 

Investors purchasing securities offered hereby will have the option to execute a securities purchase agreement with us. In addition to rights and remedies available to all purchasers in this offering under federal securities and state law, the purchasers which enter into a securities purchase agreement will also be able to bring claims of breach of contract against us. The ability to pursue a claim for breach of contract is material to larger purchasers in this offering as a means to enforce the following covenants uniquely available to them under the securities purchase agreement: (i) a covenant to not enter into variable rate financings for a period of following the closing of the offering, subject to certain exceptions; and (ii) a covenant to not issue any shares of common stock or common stock equivalents or securities convertible into shares of common stock for days from closing of the offering, subject to certain exceptions. 

 

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            , 2024. 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 in the aggregate.

 

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
related Common Stock Warrant
   Per Pre-Funded Warrant
and related Common Stock Warrant
    Total
Public offering price  $       $      $  
Placement Agent fees(1)  $    $   $  
Proceeds to us before offering expenses(3)  $    $   $  

 

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 $    , all of which are payable by us. This figure includes the Placement Agent’s 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 in the aggregate.

 

Tail Fees

 

We have also agreed to pay the Placement Agent a tail fee equal to the cash compensation in this offering, if any investor, who was introduced to the Company by the Placement Agent or who the Placement Agent conducted discussions with on behalf of the Company during the term of its engagement, provides us with capital in any offering of the Company’s securities during the three month period following expiration or termination of our engagement of the Placement Agent. In addition, pursuant to the tail provision in a certain engagement agreement with Ladenburg, we may be obligated to pay certain cash fees and issue warrants to Ladenburg in the event that certain investors participate in this offering.

 

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 Stock Warrants and pre-funded warrants that we are offering, were negotiated between us, the Placement Agent and the investors in the offering based on the trading of our common stock prior to the offering, among other things. Other factors considered in determining the public offering price of the securities we are offering, as well as the exercise price of the Common Stock 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 were deemed relevant.

 

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Lock-up Agreements

 

We and each of our officers and directors have agreed to be subject to a lock-up period of days following the closing date of this offering. This means that, during the applicable lock-up period, we may not offer for sale, contract to sell, or sell any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of our common stock subject to certain customary exceptions. The Placement Agent may, in its sole discretion and without notice, waive the terms of any of these lock-up agreements. In addition, we have agreed to not issue any securities that are subject to a price reset based on trading prices of our common stock or upon a specified or contingent event in the future, or enter into an agreement to issue securities at a future determined price, for after the closing date of the offering.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar and Warrant Agent

 

The transfer agent and warrant agent is and will be Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.

 

Listing

 

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CYCC”.  There is no established public trading market for the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants, and we do not expect such markets to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply for a listing of the Common Stock Warrants or pre-funded warrants on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system.

 

Indemnification

 

We have agreed to indemnify the Placement Agent against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments that the Placement Agent may be required to make for these liabilities.

 

Other Relationships

 

From time to time, the Placement Agent and its affiliates may provide in the future, various advisory, investment and commercial banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of business, for which they will receive customary fees and commissions.

 

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 fees received by it and any profit realized on the sale of the securities by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. The Placement Agent will be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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. Under these rules and regulations, the Placement Agent may not (i) engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and (ii) 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 they have completed their 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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DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limits the liability of our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by such law.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the issuance of the securities offered by this prospectus. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel for the Placement Agent in connection with this offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023 incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs relating to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern) incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and other periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Our Internet address is www.cyclacel.com. There we make available free of charge, on or through the investor relations section of our website, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the SEC. The information found on our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

The SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

 

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

· Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the SEC on March 21, 2024;
   
· the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.12 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023; and
   
· all reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination or completion of the offering of securities under this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such reports and other documents.

 

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act in this prospectus, prior to the termination of this offering, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. Except as stated therein, the documents incorporated by reference herein do not reflect the reverse stock split effected at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 15, 2023.

 

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by contacting: 200 Connell Drive, Suite 1500, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922, telephone (908) 517-7330.

 

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CYCLACEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

    Shares of Common Stock

Common Stock Warrants to purchase up to     Shares of Common Stock

or

Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to     Shares of Common Stock and Accompanying

Common Stock Warrants to purchase up to     Shares of Common Stock

 

Up to     Shares of Common Stock Issuable Upon Exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Stock Warrants

 

PROSPECTUS

 

__________, 2024

 

Roth Capital Partners

 

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PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13 Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, payable by the Company in connection with the registration and sale of the common stock being registered. All amounts are estimates except the SEC registration fee.

 

    Amount to be
paid ($)
 
SEC registration fee   $ 3,000  
Legal fees and expenses     175,000  
FINRA fee     5,000  
Accounting fees and expenses     45,000  
Total   $ 228,000  

  

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such.

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to indemnify any director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reason to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, (i.e., one brought by or on behalf of the corporation), indemnification may be provided only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any director or officer in connection with the defense or settlement of such an action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be provided if such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine that the defendant is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

 

Pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation eliminates the liability of a director to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for such a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liabilities arising:

 

  · from any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

  · from acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

  · under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

  · from any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

We carry insurance policies insuring our directors and officers against certain liabilities that they may incur in their capacity as directors and officers.

 

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We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Pursuant to the indemnification agreements, agree to hold harmless and indemnify our directors and executive officers to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated by-laws and the DGCL, including for any amounts that such director or officer becomes obligated to pay because of any claim to which such director or officer is made or threatened to be made a party, witness or participant, by reason of such director’s or officer’s service as a director, officer, employee or other agent.

 

There are certain exceptions from our obligation to indemnify our directors and executive officers pursuant to the indemnification agreements, including for “short-swing” profit claims under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act losses that are as a result of conduct that is established by a final judgment as knowingly fraudulent or deliberately dishonest or that constituted willful misconduct, or that constituted a breach of the duty of loyalty to us or resulted in any improper personal profit or advantage, where payment is actually made to a director or officer under an insurance policy, indemnity clause, bylaw or agreement, except in respect of any excess beyond payment under such insurance, clause, bylaw or agreement, for indemnification which is not lawful, or in connection with any proceeding initiated by such director or officer, or any proceeding against us or our directors, officers, employees or other agents, unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was authorized by our board of directors, (iii) such indemnification is provided by us, in our sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in us under the DGCL, or (iv) the proceeding is initiated to enforce a claim for indemnification pursuant to the indemnification agreement.

 

All of our agreements and obligations contained in the indemnification agreements shall continue during the period when the director or officer who is a party to an indemnification agreement is our director, officer, employee or other agent (or is or is serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or other agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as such director or officer shall be subject to any possible claim or threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, arbitrational, administrative or investigative. In addition, the indemnification agreements provide for partial indemnification and advance of expenses.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Commission this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

On December 21, 2023, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional investors to issue unregistered warrants (“Private Warrants”) to purchase up to 388,200 shares of our common stock. Each Private Warrant has an exercise price of $3.19 per share, was exercisable immediately following its original issuance and will expire seven years from the original issuance date. The Private Warrants were sold in a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) and/or Rule 506 of the Securities Act. The offering closed on December 26, 2023. The gross proceeds were approximately $1.29 million before deducting the placement agent fees and other offering expenses. The placement agent also received warrants that have substantially the same terms as the Private Warrants to purchase that number of shares of our common stock equal to an aggregate of 23,769 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $4.14375 per share (the “Placement Agent Warrants”).

 

Additionally, in a separate concurrent insider private placement, we also sold to certain of our officers 7,956 shares of our common stock and Private Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 7,956 shares of our common stock, at a combined purchase price of $3.315 per share of common stock and accompanying Private Warrant.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)            The exhibits listed below are filed as part of or incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement on Form S-1. Where certain exhibits are incorporated by reference from a previous filing, the exhibit numbers and previous filings are identified in parentheses.

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
     
1.1**   Form of Placement Agency Agreement.
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, originally filed with the SEC on April 1, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.2   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on May 27, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.3   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on April 14, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.4   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, originally filed with the SEC on January 19, 2024, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.5   Certificate of Correction to Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, originally filed with the SEC on January 19, 2024, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.6   Second Amended and Restate Bylaws of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on May 7, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.7   Amendment No. 1 to the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on November 7, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.8   Certificate of Designation of 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on November 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.9   Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-218305), originally filed with the SEC on July 17, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
3.10   Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on December 22, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.1   Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-109653, originally filed with the SEC on February 17, 2004, as subsequently amended, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

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4.2   Specimen of Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-119585, originally filed with the SEC on October 21, 2004, as subsequently amended, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.3   Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Common Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on July 1, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2012, by and between the Company and Aspire Capital Fund, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on December 17, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.5   Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 14, 2013, by and between the Company and Aspire Capital Fund, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, originally filed with the SEC on November 14, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.6   Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Common Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-218305), originally filed with the SEC on July 17, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.7   Form of Pre-Funded Warrant (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on April 24, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.8   Form of Common Warrant (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on April 24, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.9   Form of Warrant (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on December 22, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.10   Form of Pre-Funded Common Stock Purchase Warrant (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on December 26, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.11   Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (previously filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on December 26, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.12**   Form of Common Warrant
     
4.13**   Form of Pre-Funded Warrant.
     
5.1**   Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
     
10.1†   Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on May 24, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.2†   2015 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on May 22, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.3†   Amended and Restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on June 14, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

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10.4#   Clinical Collaboration Agreement by and between Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center dated as of August 21, 2018 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.5   Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2020 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on November 12, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.6   Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2020 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on November 12, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.7†   Employment Agreement between Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Spiro Rombotis (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.8†   Employment Agreement between Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Paul McBarron (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.9   Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors (previously filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, originally filed with the SEC on November 29, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.10   Placement Agency Agreement by and between the Company and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., dated December 21, 2023 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on December 26, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.11   Securities Purchase Agreement, dated December 21, 2023, by and among the Company and the Purchasers (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on December 26, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.12   Securities Purchase Agreement, dated December 21, 2023, by and among the Company and Spiro Rombotis and Paul McBarron (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, originally filed with the SEC on December 26, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.13   Consulting Agreement by and between Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Brian Schwartz, M.D., dated January 26, 2024 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, originally filed with the SEC on March 15, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
10.14**   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement.
     
10.15**   Form of Warrant Agency Agreement.
     
21   Subsidiaries of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 21 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, originally filed with the SEC on March 26, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference).
     
23.1*   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
     
23.2**   Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
     
107*   Filing Fee Table.

  

Exhibits:

 

Indicates management compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

 

# Confidential treatment has been granted with respect to certain portions of this exhibit, which portions have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an application for confidential treatment pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

* Filed herewith.
   
** To be filed by amendment.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings.

 

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;

 

(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 set forth 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 Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

 

(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;

 

(2)            That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.

 

(4)            That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: 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.

 

(5)            Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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 SEC 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 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 whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, on March 22, 2024.

 

  CYCLACEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Paul McBarron
    Paul McBarron
    Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President, Finance

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Spiro Rombotis and Paul McBarron, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them, and to each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the registration statement on Form S-1 filed herewith, and any and all pre-effective and post-effective amendments to said registration statement, and any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of equity securities of the Company, and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys, 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 therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as each of us might or could do in person, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys, and each of them, or their substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Spiro Rombotis   President & Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   March 22, 2024
Spiro Rombotis  
         
/s/ Paul McBarron    Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President, Finance and Director (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   March 22, 2024
Paul McBarron  
         
/s/ Dr. Christopher Henney    Chairman   March 22, 2024
Dr. Christopher Henney        
         
/s/ Dr. Robert Spiegel   Vice Chairman   March 22, 2024
Dr. Robert Spiegel        
         
/s/ Dr. Samuel L. Barker   Director   March 22, 2024
Dr. Samuel L. Barker        
         
/s/ Kenneth Ferguson   Director   March 22, 2024
Kenneth Ferguson        
         
/s/ Dr. Brian Schwartz    Director   March 22, 2024
Dr. Brian Schwartz        
         
/s/ Karin L. Walker   Director   March 22, 2024
Karin L. Walker        

 

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