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Prospectus Supplement

Filed Pursuant To Rule 424(b)(5)

(to the Prospectus dated November 20, 2014)

Registration Statement No. 333-199219

 

 

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Up to $3,475,000 of shares of
Common Stock

 

We have entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, which we refer to as the sales agreement, with FBR Capital Markets & Co., or FBR, dated December 5, 2016, relating to the sale of shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus supplement. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, under this prospectus we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $3,475,000 from time to time through FBR, acting as agent.

 

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “ONTX.” On December 2, 2016, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $2.62 per share.  As of December 2, 2016, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates, which we may refer to as the public float, was approximately $14,058,110, which was calculated based on 5,365,691 shares of outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates and on a price per share of $2.62, the closing price of our common stock on December 2, 2016. In no event will we sell our common stock in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12 calendar month period so long as our public float remains below $75.0 million. During the 12 calendar month period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus supplement, and including this offering, we have offered securities with an aggregate market value of approximately $2,785,000 pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.

 

Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the NASDAQ Global Market, the existing trading market for our common stock, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law. FBR is not required to sell any specific amount, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

FBR will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate equal to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, FBR may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of FBR may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to FBR with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Investing in these securities involves risks, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement is truthful and complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

FBR

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is December 5, 2016.

 



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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

S-1

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

S-2

CORPORATE INFORMATION

S-5

THE OFFERING

S-6

RISK FACTORS

S-7

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

S-9

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

S-11

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

S-12

USE OF PROCEEDS

S-13

DILUTION

S-14

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

S-16

EXPERTS

S-17

LEGAL MATTERS

S-17

 

Prospectus

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

1

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

1

INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

1

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

2

RISK FACTORS

4

ONCONOVA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

4

CORPORATE INFORMATION

7

USE OF PROCEEDS

7

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

7

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

7

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

8

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

10

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

13

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

13

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

14

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

15

EXPERTS

16

LEGAL MATTERS

16

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and FBR has not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and FBR is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you in the sections of this prospectus supplement entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of this offering and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part, the accompanying prospectus dated November 20, 2014, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, before the date of this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

 

For purposes of this prospectus,  references to “Onconova,” “Onconova Therapeutics,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

We have filed or incorporated by reference exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

 

This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 



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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

The following summary highlights certain information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, any free writing prospectus that we have been authorized to use and the documents incorporated by reference herein and in the accompanying base prospectus. This summary does not contain all the information you will need in making your investment decision. You should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, any free writing prospectus that we have been authorized to use and the documents incorporated by reference herein and in the accompanying base prospectus. You should pay special attention to the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and the financial statements and other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

Our Business

 

Overview

 

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule product candidates primarily to treat cancer. Using our proprietary chemistry platform, we have created an extensive library of targeted anti-cancer agents designed to work against cellular pathways important to cancer cells. We believe that the product candidates in our pipeline have the potential to be efficacious in a variety of cancers. We have one Phase 3 clinical-stage product candidate and two other clinical-stage product candidates (one of which is being developed for treatment of acute radiation syndromes) and several preclinical programs. Substantially all of our current effort is focused on our lead product candidate, rigosertib. Rigosertib is being tested in both intravenous and oral formulations as a single agent, and the oral formulation is also being tested in combination with azacitidine, in clinical trials for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS, and related cancers.

 

In December 2015, we enrolled the first patient in a randomized controlled Phase 3 clinical trial of rigosertib IV in a population of patients with higher-risk MDS after failure of hypomethylating agent, or HMA, therapy. The trial, which we refer to as INSPIRE, is expected to enroll approximately 225 patients at more than 100 sites globally. The primary endpoint of INSPIRE is overall survival, and an interim analysis is anticipated. We anticipate reporting topline data from the INSPIRE trial in 2018.

 

In January 2016, we completed a sale of common stock and warrants for net proceeds of approximately $1.6 million. In July 2016, we completed a rights offering of units of common stock and warrants for net proceeds of $15.8 million. In the first half of 2016, we took significant actions to conserve cash, including reduction in personnel and expenditures. While we will continue to take cash conservation actions where appropriate, our costs will increase in subsequent quarters as more INSPIRE sites open and more patients enroll in the INSPIRE trial. We believe that our cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our ongoing trials and operations into the fourth quarter of 2017, although there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We are exploring various sources of funding for continued development of rigosertib in MDS and acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML, as well as our ongoing operations. If we raise additional funds through strategic collaborations and alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, which may include existing collaboration partner, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies or product candidates, including rigosertib, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be successful in obtaining such financing in sufficient amounts, on terms acceptable to us, or at all.  In addition, there can be no assurance that we will obtain approvals necessary to market our products or achieve profitability or sustainable, positive cash flow. If we are unable to successfully raise sufficient additional capital, through future financings or through strategic and collaborative arrangements, we will not have sufficient cash to fund our ongoing trials and operations.  Due to our ongoing losses and our accumulated deficit in combination with these factors, the opinion of our independent registered public accounting firm on our audited consolidated financial statements for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 contains an explanatory paragraph regarding substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

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Rigosertib

 

Rigosertib is a small molecule that inhibits cellular signaling by acting as a Ras mimetic. This is believed to be mediated by the binding of rigosertib to the Ras-binding domain, or RBD, found in many Ras effector proteins, including the Raf and PI3K kinases. This mechanism of action provides a new approach to block the interactions between Ras and its targets containing RBD sites. Rigosertib is being tested as a single agent and in combination with azacitidine, in clinical trials of patients with MDS and related cancers. We have enrolled more than 1,200 patients in rigosertib clinical trials. We were a party to a license and development agreement with Baxalta, which granted Baxalta certain rights to commercialize rigosertib in Europe.  The Baxalta agreement was terminated on August 30, 2016, at which time the European rights reverted to us at no cost. We are party to a collaboration agreement with SymBio, which grants SymBio certain rights to commercialize rigosertib in Japan and Korea. We have retained development and commercialization rights to rigosertib in the rest of the world, including in the United States and Europe, although we could consider licensing commercialization rights to other territories as we continue to seek additional funding.

 

Rigosertib IV for higher-risk MDS

 

In early 2014, we announced topline survival results from our “ONTIME” trial, a multi-center Phase 3 clinical trial of rigosertib IV as a single agent. The ONTIME trial did not meet its primary endpoint in the intent-to-treat population, although improvements in median overall survival were observed in various pre-specified and exploratory subgroups of higher-risk MDS patients.

 

During 2014 and 2015, we held meetings with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, and several European national regulatory authorities to discuss and seek guidance on a path for approval of rigosertib IV in higher-risk MDS patients whose disease had failed HMA therapy. After discussions with the FDA and EMA, we refined our patient eligibility criteria by defining a more homogenous patient population. After regulatory feedback, input from key opinion leaders in the U.S. and Europe and based on learnings from the ONTIME study, we designed a new randomized controlled Phase 3 trial, referred to as INSPIRE, with overall survival as a primary endpoint. The INSPIRE trial will enroll higher-risk MDS patients under 82 years of age who have progressed on, or failed to respond to, previous treatment with HMAs within the first nine months after initiation of HMA therapy, and had their last dose of HMA within six months prior to enrollment in the trial.  The primary endpoint of this study is overall survival, and an interim analysis is anticipated.  This randomized trial of approximately 225 patients is expected to be conducted at more than 100 sites globally. The first patient in the INSPIRE trial was enrolled at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in December 2015 and, as of October 3, 2016, 157 clinical sites are open and can recruit patients. The first patient in Europe was enrolled in March, 2016 and the first patient in Japan was enrolled in July, 2016.

 

Rigosertib oral in combination with azacitidine for MDS and AML

 

We have completed enrollment in the Phase 2 portion of an open label Phase 1/2 clinical trial testing rigosertib oral in combination with the approved dose of injectable azacitidine for patients with higher-risk MDS and AML.  This study is based on our published preclinical data demonstrating synergistic activity of this combination. The Phase 2 portion of the trial was designed to assess whether treatment with rigosertib, in combination with the approved dose of injectable azacitidine, reduces the number of bone marrow blasts, improves peripheral blood counts and can resensitize the marrow blast cells to azacitidine for patients who were previously exposed to azacitidine.  Patient enrollment in the Phase 2 portion of this trial was completed in the fourth quarter of 2015 and interim data were summarized by way of an oral presentation at the ASH Annual Meeting in December 2015 and updated at the European Hematology Association Congress in June 2016.

 

The Phase 2 trial included both patients with first-line MDS (that is, patients not previously treated with HMAs) and patients with second-line MDS (i.e. patients whose disease had failed prior HMA therapy). The presentation at ASH included results from a total of 37 MDS patients treated with the recommended Phase 2 dose of oral rigosertib (560 mg AM/280 mg PM) plus the full standard dose of injectable azacitidine.  The combination of

 

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oral rigosertib and azacitidine was generally well tolerated, with a median duration of treatment of four months (range 1 to 27 months).

 

At the time of the ASH presentation, 30 MDS patients were evaluable for efficacy assessment per 2006 IWG criteria.  Twenty-three of 30 patients (77%) responded to the combination therapy, including six patients who had complete remissions. Hematologic improvement was observed in 13 of 26 patients that were evaluable for this part of the analysis.  Notably, 16 of 19 (84%) HMA-naïve patients had a response to the combination therapy and 7 of 11 (64%) patients whose disease had previously failed HMAs responded.  Additional data collection on efficacy and safety will be presented at the ASH Annual Meeting in December 2016. In September 2016, we held an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with FDA on the use of oral rigosertib in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of patients with MDS.  Based on these discussions, we plan to design a randomized, controlled Phase 3 clinical trial comparing the combination of oral rigosertib plus azacitidine to azacitidine plus placebo in 1st-line HR-MDS patients.  The primary endpoint of this pivotal trial will be overall response rate, or ORR; ORR will be a composite of complete remission, or CR, and partial remission, or PR.  We may also pursue additional available paths from FDA for accelerated or enhanced review and further input on the development of a final trial protocol.

 

Rigosertib oral for lower-risk MDS

 

Higher-risk MDS patients suffer from a shortfall in normal circulating blood cells, or cytopenias, as well as elevated levels of cancer cells, or blasts in their bone marrow and peripheral blood, whereas lower-risk MDS patients suffer mainly from cytopenias, that is low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets. Thus, lower-risk MDS patients depend on transfusions and growth factors or other therapies to improve their low blood counts.

 

We have explored single agent rigosertib oral as a treatment for lower-risk MDS in two Phase 2 clinical trials, 09-05 and 09-07. In December 2013, we presented data at the Annual ASH Meeting from the 09-05 Phase 2 trial. To date, Phase 2 clinical data have shown encouraging signs of efficacy of single agent oral rigosertib in transfusion-dependent, lower-risk MDS patients. Rigosertib has been generally well tolerated, except for urinary side effects at higher dose levels. Future clinical trials will be needed to evaluate dosing and schedule modifications and their impact on efficacy and toxicity of oral rigosertib in lower-risk MDS patients.

 

Data presented from the 09-05 trial also suggested the potential of a genomic methylation assessment of bone marrow cells to prospectively identify lower-risk MDS patients likely to respond to oral rigosertib. We therefore expanded the 09-05 trial by adding an additional cohort of 20 patients to advance the development of this genomic methylation test. Enrollment in this expansion cohort has been completed. We are working with academic collaborators to refine this genomic methylation test.

 

Other Programs

 

The vast majority of the Company’s efforts are now devoted to the advanced stage development of rigosertib for unmet medical needs of MDS patients. Other programs are either paused, inactive or require only minimal internal resources and efforts.

 

Briciclib

 

Briciclib, another of our product candidates, is a small molecule targeting an important intracellular regulatory protein, cyclin D1, which is often found at elevated levels in cancer cells. Cyclin D1 expression is regulated through a process termed cap-dependent translation, which requires the function of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E protein, or eIF4E. In vitro evidence indicates briciclib binds to eIF4E, blocking cap-dependent translation of cyclin D1 and other cancer proteins, such as c-MYC, leading to tumor cell death. We have been conducting a Phase 1 multisite dose-escalation trial of briciclib in patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to current therapies. Safety and efficacy assessments are complete in six of the seven dose-escalation cohorts of patients in this trial. As of December 2015, the briciclib IND is on full clinical hold following a drug product lot testing failure. We

 

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will be required to undertake appropriate remedial actions prior to re-initiating the clinical trial and completing the final dose-escalation cohort.

 

Recilisib

 

Recilisib is a product candidate being developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense for acute radiation syndromes. We have completed four Phase 1 trials to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of recilisib in healthy human adult subjects using both subcutaneous and oral formulations. We have also conducted animal studies and clinical trials of recilisib under the FDA’s Animal Efficacy Rule, which permits marketing approval for new medical countermeasures for which conventional human efficacy studies are not feasible or ethical, by relying on evidence from studies in appropriate animal models to support efficacy in humans. Ongoing studies of recilisib, focusing on animal models and biomarker development to assess the efficacy of recilisib are being conducted by third parties with government funding. We anticipate that any future development of recilisib beyond these ongoing studies would be conducted solely with government funding or by collaboration.

 

Preclinical Product Candidates

 

In addition to our three clinical-stage product candidates, we have several product candidates that target kinases, cellular metabolism or cell division in preclinical development. We may explore additional collaborations to further the development of these product candidates as we focus internally on our more advanced programs..

 

You can get more information regarding our business and industry by reading our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other reports we file with the SEC.  See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Information by Reference.”

 

CORPORATE INFORMATION

 

We were incorporated in Delaware in December 1998 and commenced operations in January 1999.  Our principal executive offices are located at 375 Pheasant Run, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940, and our telephone number is (267) 759-3680. Our website address is www.onconova.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock to be offered by us

Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $3,475,000.

 

In no event will we sell our common stock in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12 calendar month period so long as our public float remains below $75.0 million.

 

 

Common stock to be outstanding after this offering

Up to 8,086,230 shares, assuming sales of 1,326,335 shares of our common stock in this offering at an offering price of $2.62 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on December 2, 2016. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering.

 

 

Manner of offering

“At-the-market” offering that may be made from time to time through our sales agent, FBR Capital Markets & Co. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-15 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

Use of proceeds

We currently expect to use the net proceeds primarily to fund the development of our clinical and preclinical programs, for other research and development activities and for general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures and funding working capital needs. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-14 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

Nasdaq Global Market symbol

“ONTX.”

 

 

Risk Factors

Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully read and consider the “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement.

 

The number of shares of our common stock outstanding after the offering is based on 6,759,895 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2016, and excludes as of such date:

 

·                  709,227 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding at September 30, 2016 with a weighted average exercise price of approximately $56.46 per share;

 

·                  3,525,771 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants at September 30, 2016 with a weighted average exercise price of approximately $4.77 per share;

 

·                  43,401 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Equity Compensation Plan at September 30, 2016; and

 

·                  any additional shares of common stock that we may issue to Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC, or Lincoln Park, pursuant to a purchase agreement we entered into on October 8, 2015, which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitation set forth therein, Lincoln Park is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of an additional $15 million of shares of our common stock over the term of the purchase agreement, should we elect to sell shares to Lincoln Park.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual operating results, cash flows and financial condition. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks, including those set forth below and those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as any amendment or update to our risk factors reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, and you should also carefully consider any other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus.

 

Any of the risks we describe below or in the information incorporated herein by reference in this prospectus could cause our business, financial condition or operating results to suffer. The market price of our common stock could decline if one or more of these risks and uncertainties develop into actual events. You could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Associated with this Offering

 

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of any net proceeds from this offering, you may not agree with how we use the proceeds, and the proceeds may not be invested successfully.

 

Our management will have broad discretion as to the use of any net proceeds from this offering and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of this offering. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of any proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock in this offering, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that the proceeds will be invested in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for you.

 

You will experience immediate dilution.

 

The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 1,326,335 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $2.62 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on December 2, 2016, for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,475,000, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, you will experience immediate dilution of $0.98 per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2016 after giving effect to this offering at the assumed offering price. The exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants and other issuances of our common stock described in this prospectus will result in further dilution of your investment. See the section entitled “Dilution” below for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering.

 

Our shareholders may experience significant dilution as a result of future equity offerings or issuances and exercise of outstanding options and warrants.

 

In order to raise additional capital or pursue strategic transactions, we may in the future offer, issue or sell additional shares of common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other transaction at a price per share or that have an exercise price or conversion price per shares that is equal to or greater than the price for the securities purchased by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing shareholders. The price per share at which we sell or issue additional shares of common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock future transactions may be higher or lower than such price.

 

Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock.

 

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public markets could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity

 

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securities. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common stock would have on the market price of our common stock.

 

We do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future and, therefore, any return on your investment in our common stock must come from increases in the fair market value and trading price of our common stock.

 

We do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future and, therefore, any return on your investment in our common stock must come from increases in the fair market value and trading price of our common stock.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated in this prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places throughout this prospectus and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, our ongoing and planned non-clinical development and clinical trials, the timing of and our ability to make regulatory filings and obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates, protection of our intellectual property portfolio, the degree of clinical utility of our product candidates, particularly in specific patient populations, our ability to develop commercial functions, expectations regarding clinical trial data, our results of operations, cash needs, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth and strategies, the industry in which we operate and the trends that may affect the industry or us.

 

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events, competitive dynamics and industry change, and depend on the economic circumstances that may or may not occur in the future or may occur on longer or shorter timelines than anticipated. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this prospectus, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and events in the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.

 

Actual results could differ materially from our forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including risks related to:

 

·                  our need for additional financing for our INSPIRE trial and other operations, and our ability to obtain sufficient funds on acceptable terms when needed, and our plans and future needs to scale back operations if adequate financing is not obtained;

 

·                  our ability to continue as a going concern;

 

·                  our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

 

·                  the success and timing of our preclinical studies and clinical trials, including site initiation and patient enrollment, and regulatory approval of protocols for future clinical trials;

 

·                  our ability to enter into, maintain and perform collaboration agreements with other pharmaceutical companies, for funding and commercialization of our clinical product candidates or preclinical compounds, and our ability to achieve certain milestones under those agreements;

 

·                  the difficulties in obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our product candidates, and the labeling under any approval we may obtain;

 

·                  our plans and ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize our product candidates

 

·                  our failure to recruit or retain key scientific or management personnel or to retain our executive officers;

 

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·                  the size and growth of the potential markets for our product candidates and our ability to serve those markets;

 

·                  regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

 

·                  the rate and degree of market acceptance of any of our product candidates;

 

·                  obtaining and maintaining intellectual property protection for our product candidates and our proprietary technology;

 

·                  the successful development of our commercialization capabilities, including sales and marketing capabilities;

 

·                  recently enacted and future legislation and regulation regarding the healthcare system;

 

·                  the success of competing therapies and products that are or become available;

 

·                  our ability to maintain the listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange;

 

·                  the potential for third party disputes and litigation; and

 

·                  the performance of third parties, including contract research organizations and third-party manufacturers.

 

Any forward-looking statements that we make in this prospectus speak only as of the date of such statement, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

 

You should also read carefully the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement and set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate. 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 timeframe, or at all.

 

We obtained the industry, market and competitive position data in this prospectus and the documents incorporated into this prospectus from our own internal estimates and research as well as from industry and general publications and research surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and surveys generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. We believe this data is accurate in all material respects as of the date of this prospectus.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the common stock offered by this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about us, as well as our common stock, we refer you to the registration statement and to its exhibits and schedules.

 

In addition, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings, including the registration statement, are available to the public from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. To receive copies of public records not posted to the SEC’s website at prescribed rates, you may complete an online form at www.sec.gov, send a fax to (202) 772-9337 or submit a written request to the SEC, Office of FOIA/PA Operations, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information.

 

We also make available free of charge on our website, www.onconova.com, all materials that we file electronically with the SEC, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 reports and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.  Information contained on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

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INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:

 

·                                          Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 that we filed with the SEC on March 28, 2016, including the information required by Part III, Items 10 through 14, of Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders filed on April 13, 2016;

 

·                                          Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016, that we filed with the SEC on May 11, 2016, August 15, 2016 and November 14, 2016, respectively;

 

·                                          Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 6, 2016, February 4, 2016, February 17, 2016, March 9, 2016, May 23, 2016, May 31, 2016, July 13, 2016, August 30, 2016 and December 5, 2016;

 

·                                          The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on July 23, 2013 (Registration no. 001-36020) with the SEC, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;

 

·                                          All documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended , or the Exchange Act after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement; and

 

·                                          All documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus and before we stop offering the securities under this prospectus.

 

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You can request those documents from us, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at: Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., 375 Pheasant Run, Newtown, Pennsylvania, 18940, (267) 759-3036, Attention: Benjamin Hoffman.

 

The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus, commencing on the date on which the filing is made.

 

Information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 (or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit) in any past or future Current Report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, unless otherwise specified in such report, is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The amount of proceeds from this offering will depend upon the number of shares of our common stock sold and the market price at which they are sold. There can be no assurance that we will be able to sell any shares under or fully utilize the sales agreement with FBR as a source of financing. We currently expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock under this prospectus to fund the development of our clinical and preclinical programs, for other research and development activities and for general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures and funding our working capital needs.  We expect from time to time to evaluate the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies for which a portion of the net proceeds may be used, although we currently are not planning or negotiating any such transactions.

 

The amounts actually expended for each purpose may vary significantly depending upon numerous factors, including the amount and timing of the proceeds from this offering and progress with the clinical development of our product candidates. Expenditures will also depend upon the establishment of collaborative arrangements with other companies, the availability of additional financing and other factors. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of shares of our common stock.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses of the proceeds from this offering. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of such proceeds. Pending the use of the net proceeds from this offering as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

 

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DILUTION

 

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

 

The net tangible book value of our common stock as of September 30, 2016, was approximately $10.0 million, or approximately $1.48 per share. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets less total liabilities divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding.

 

Dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers for our common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately following the completion of this offering.

 

After giving effect to the sale of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus at an assumed public offering price of $2.62 per share (the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on December 2, 2016), and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2016 would have been approximately $13.2 million, or approximately $1.64 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $0.16 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value of approximately $0.98 per share to purchasers of our common stock in this offering, as illustrated by the following table:

 

Assumed public offering price per share

 

 

 

$

2.62

 

Net tangible book value per share at September 30, 2016

 

$

1.48

 

 

 

Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering

 

0.16

 

 

 

As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2016 after giving effect to this offering

 

 

 

1.64

 

Dilution per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering

 

 

 

$

0.98

 

 

The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 1,326,335 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $2.62 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on December 2, 2016, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $3,475,000. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices. An increase of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $2.62 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $3,475,000 is sold at that price, would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $1.71 per share and would increase the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors to $1.91 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $2.62 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $3,475,000 is sold at that price, would decrease our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $1.49 per share and would decrease the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors to $0.13 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us.

 

The information discussed above is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

The above table is based on 6,759,895 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2016, and excludes as of such date:

 

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·                  709,227 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding at September 30, 2016 with a weighted average exercise price of approximately $56.46 per share;

 

·                  3,525,771 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants at September 30, 2016 with a weighted average exercise price of approximately $4.77 per share;

 

·                  43,401 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Equity Compensation Plan at September 30, 2016; and

 

·                  any additional shares of common stock that we may issue to Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC, or Lincoln Park, pursuant to a purchase agreement we entered into on October 8, 2015, which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitation set forth therein, Lincoln Park is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of an additional $15 million of shares of our common stock over the term of the purchase agreement, should we elect to sell shares to Lincoln Park.

 

To the extent that outstanding options are exercised, you will experience further dilution. 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 convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We have entered into the sales agreement with FBR under which we may issue and sell our common stock from time to time through FBR acting as sales agent. Sales of shares of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made by any method that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the NASDAQ Capital Market, the existing trading market for our common stock, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law. We may instruct FBR not to sell common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us from time to time. We or FBR may suspend the offering of common stock upon notice and subject to other conditions.

 

FBR will offer our common stock subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement as agreed upon by us and FBR. Each time we wish to issue and sell common stock under the sales agreement, we will notify FBR of the number of shares to be issued, the time period during which such sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of shares that may be sold in one day, any minimum price below which sales may not be made and other sales parameters as we deem appropriate. Once we have so instructed FBR, unless FBR declines to accept the terms of the notice, FBR has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of FBR under the sales agreement to sell our common stock are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet.

 

We will pay FBR commissions for its services in acting as agent in the sale of common stock at a commission rate equal to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We have also agreed to reimburse FBR for certain specified expenses, including the fees and disbursements of its legal counsel in an amount not to exceed $25,000. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding commissions and reimbursements payable to FBR under the terms of the sales agreement, will be approximately $150,000.

 

Settlement for sales of common stock will generally occur on the third business day following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and FBR in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, FBR may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of FBR may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to FBR against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

The offering of our common stock pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all of our common stock subject to the sales agreement, or (ii) termination of the sales agreement as provided therein.

 

FBR and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees.

 

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EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and for the years then ended, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and incorporated by reference herein have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and are included in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firms as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Pepper Hamilton LLP of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FBR is being represented in connection with this offering by Duane Morris LLP, Newark, New Jersey.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

GRAPHIC

 

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc.

 

$100,000,000

Common Stock, Preferred Stock,

Debt Securities, Warrants and Units

and

228,647 Shares of Common Stock

 

This prospectus covers our offer and sale from time to time of any combination of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer and sell. Each time we offer and sell securities we will provide specific terms of the securities offered in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities and may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. The aggregate offering price of all securities sold by us under this prospectus may not exceed $100,000,000.

 

This prospectus also covers the resale by selling stockholders, including those identified in the “Selling Stockholders” section of this prospectus, of up to an aggregate of 228,647 shares of our common stock. A prospectus supplement or amendment may also be required in connection with certain sales of common stock by the selling stockholders. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We will not receive proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders.

 

You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you purchase any of our securities. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

The securities may be offered and sold by us or selling stockholders from time to time at fixed prices, at market prices or at negotiated prices, and may be offered and sold to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ONTX”. On October 2, 2014, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $4.29 per share.

 

As of August 29, 2014, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates, or the public float, was $66,251,060, which was calculated based on shares of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates and on a price of $5.22 per share, the last reported sale price for our common stock, on August 29, 2014. Other than the securities offered by this prospectus, we have not offered any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information.

 

Investing in these securities involves risks, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus and of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as revised or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful and complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

This prospectus is dated November 20, 2014.

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

1

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

1

INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

1

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

2

RISK FACTORS

 

4

ONCONOVA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

4

CORPORATE INFORMATION

 

7

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

7

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

 

7

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

7

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

8

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

10

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

13

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

13

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

14

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

15

EXPERTS

 

16

LEGAL MATTERS

 

16

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC. This prospectus covers the primary offering by us of up to an aggregate of $100,000,000 of securities and the secondary offering by the selling stockholders identified herein of up to an aggregate of 228,647 shares of our common stock. We may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus and the selling stockholders may offer and sell shares of common stock in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer and sell. Each time we offer and sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” before investing in any of the securities offered.

 

We have filed or incorporated by reference exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

 

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

Neither we nor any selling stockholder has authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference facilities by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC at its principal office at 100 F Street NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549-1004. The SEC maintains an Internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our SEC filings are accessible through the Internet at that website. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with the SEC, at our website at www.onconova.com. The content contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus.

 

Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in this prospectus, the terms “Onconova,” “Onconova Therapeutics,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:

 

·                  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 that we filed with the SEC on March 20, 2014, including the information required by Part III, Items 10 through 14, of Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders filed on April 29, 2014;

 

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·                  Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014, that we filed with the SEC on May 15, 2014 and August 14, 2014, respectively;

 

·                  Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 20, 2014, March 7, 2014, May 2, 2014 and May 23, 2014;

 

·                  The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on July 23, 2013 (Registration no. 001-36020) with the SEC, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;

 

·                  All documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement; and

 

·                  All documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus and before we stop offering the securities under this prospectus.

 

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You can request those documents from us, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at: Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., 375 Pheasant Run, Newtown, Pennsylvania, 18940, (267) 759-3036, Attention: Benjamin Hoffman.

 

The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus, commencing on the date on which the filing is made.

 

Information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 (or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit) in any past or future Current Report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, unless otherwise specified in such report, is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain, and any prospectus supplement may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places throughout this prospectus and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, our ongoing and planned non-clinical development and clinical trials, the timing of and our ability to make regulatory filings and obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates, protection of our intellectual property portfolio, the degree of clinical utility of our product candidates, particularly in specific patient populations, our ability to develop commercial functions, expectations regarding clinical trial data, our results of operations, cash needs, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth and strategies, the industry in which we operate and the trends that may affect the industry or us.

 

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events, competitive dynamics and industry change, and depend on the economic circumstances that may or may not occur in the future or may occur on longer or shorter timelines than anticipated. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this prospectus, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and events in the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.

 

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Actual results could differ materially from our forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including risks related to:

 

·                  our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

 

·                  the success and timing of our nonclinical studies and clinical trials;

 

·                  the difficulties in obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our product candidates, and the labeling under any approval we may obtain;

 

·                  our plans and ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates;

 

·                  our failure to recruit or retain key scientific or management personnel or to retain our executive officers;

 

·                  the size and growth of the potential markets for our product candidates and our ability to serve those markets;

 

·                  regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

 

·                  the rate and degree of market acceptance of any of our product candidates;

 

·                  obtaining and maintaining intellectual property protection for our product candidates and our proprietary technology;

 

·                  the successful development of our commercialization capabilities, including sales and marketing capabilities;

 

·                  recently enacted and future legislation and regulations regarding the healthcare system;

 

·                  the success of competing therapies and products that are or become available;

 

·                  our dependence on collaboration agreements with other pharmaceutical companies, such as Baxter Healthcare SA, or Baxter, and SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited, or SymBio, for commercialization of our products and our ability to achieve certain milestones under those agreements; and

 

·                  the performance of third parties, including contract research organizations and third-party manufacturers.

 

Any forward-looking statements that we make in this prospectus speak only as of the date of such statements, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

 

You should also read carefully the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as revised or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate. 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 timeframe, or at all.

 

We obtained the industry, market and competitive position data in this prospectus and the documents incorporated into this prospectus from our own internal estimates and research as well as from industry and general publications and research surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and surveys generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. We believe this data is accurate in all material respects as of the date of this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual operating results, cash flows and financial condition. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as revised or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should also carefully consider any other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus or include in any applicable prospectus supplement. Each of the risks described in these sections and documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment.

 

ONCONOVA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

Overview

 

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drug candidates to treat cancer. Using our proprietary chemistry platform, we have created an extensive library of targeted anti-cancer agents designed to work against specific cellular pathways important to cancer cells. We believe that the drug candidates in our pipeline have the potential to be efficacious in a wide variety of cancers without causing harm to normal cells. We have three clinical-stage product candidates and several preclinical programs.

 

Rigosertib

 

Rigosertib, our most advanced product candidate, is being tested as a single agent and in combination with azacitidine and with chemoradiation therapy, in clinical trials of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS, and other cancers. To date, we have enrolled more than 1,000 patients in rigosertib clinical trials. We have collaboration agreements with Baxter Healthcare SA, or Baxter, and SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited, or SymBio, which grant Baxter certain rights to commercialize rigosertib in Europe and SymBio in Japan and Korea. We have retained development and commercialization rights to rigosertib in the rest of the world, including in the United States. Rigosertib is believed to act in cancer cells as an inhibitor of two important cellular signaling pathways, PI3K and PLK, both of which are frequently over-active in cancer cells. By inhibiting the PI3K pathway, rigosertib promotes tumor cell apoptosis. By modulating PLK pathway activity in cancer cells, rigosertib inhibits cellular division, leading to chromosome disorganization and death in these cells.

 

Rigosertib IV for higher risk MDS

 

In February 2014, we announced top-line results of a Phase 3 trial of an intravenous formulation of rigosertib, or rigosertib IV, in higher-risk MDS patients who had progressed on, failed to respond to, or relapsed after prior therapy with hypomethylating agents, or HMAs. Although the results of this study showed numerical improvement in median overall survival in the rigosertib treated patients, the observed improvement in survival of 2.4 months was not sufficient to establish the required level of statistical significance and, therefore did not achieve the primary endpoint of the trial.

 

During the second quarter of this year, we met with the FDA to discuss the future development of rigosertib IV for higher-risk MDS patients. Based on that meeting, we believe that we may be able to seek approval of rigosertib IV specifically for patients who had progressed on or failed to respond to previous treatment with HMAs. These type of patients are also known collectively as Primary HMA Failures. In addition, together with Baxter, our commercialization partner in Europe, we have met with several European national regulatory agencies to discuss the unmet medical need and appropriate regulatory pathways in Primary HMA Failure patients within Europe. We anticipate a further update of our development plan for rigosertib IV in higher-risk MDS patients during the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Oral Rigosertib for lower-risk MDS

 

In December 2013, we presented data at the Annual ASH Meeting from our Phase 2 trial of an oral formulation of rigosertib in lower-risk MDS patients. Unlike higher-risk MDS patients who suffer from a shortfall in normal blood cells, or cytopenias, and elevated levels of cancer, or blast, cells in their bone marrow, lower-risk MDS patients suffer from cytopenias only, typically low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and/or platelets. Thus, all MDS patients need interventions to improve their low blood counts, either by therapeutic approaches or by transfusions. Phase 2 clinical data revealed the activity of single agent oral rigosertib in transfusion-dependent, lower-risk MDS patients and the potential of a DNA-based test performed on bone marrow cells of patients before they receive oral rigosertib to identify lower-risk MDS

 

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patients who are more likely to respond to oral rigosertib. We are currently enrolling an additional 20 lower-risk MDS patients in this Phase 2 trial to expand our data on the utility of this genomic DNA test for the identification of patients likely to respond to rigosertib. If we and Baxter mutually agree to progress the development of oral rigosertib in lower-risk MDS patients, we would be entitled to a milestone payment of $25 million under our development and license agreement with Baxter, and we would be required to use our commercially reasonable efforts to progress the development of rigosertib for this indication to a drug approval application in Europe.

 

In addition, recruitment is continuing in a second Phase 2 trial of oral rigosertib in lower-risk MDS patients to explore oral rigosertib dose and schedule optimization. We are comparing continuous dosing with interrupted (two out of three weeks) dosing in a three-week treatment cycle in both of the ongoing Phase 2 trials. Based on the anticipated timing of the DNA-based test and dosing optimization data, which we expect to receive in the fourth quarter of 2014, we believe that a pivotal study of oral rigosertib in lower-risk MDS patients will not commence before the first half of 2015. Any such pivotal study will depend on the results of the ongoing Phase 2 trials and would be subject to regulatory discussions and guidance.

 

Oral rigosertib in combination with azacitidine in MDS and AML

 

We have completed the Phase 1 portion of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of oral rigosertib in combination with azacitidine, and we are now enrolling patients in the Phase 2 portion at multiple sites in the U.S. and Europe. In the Phase 1 portion of the trial, the combination therapy was well tolerated in the study population. The combination dosing schedule of oral rigosertib in the final cohort (two doses per day; 560mg in the morning and 280 mg in the afternoon) given during weeks one, two and three of a four-week treatment cycle) with the indicated dose of azacitidine (75 mg/m2 administered every day either subcutaneously or intravenously, given during week two of a four-week treatment cycle) has been selected for the Phase 2 portion of the trial. The Phase 2 portion of the trial has been designed to assess whether treatment with rigosertib, in combination with azacitidine, has a benefical effect on bone marrow and peripheral blood blast cell counts and symptoms of disease progression in patients with MDS and AML. We expect to present results of the Phase 1 portion of this combination trial in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Oral rigosertib in head and neck and other carcinomas

 

We recently announced results from a single-agent Phase 2 study of oral rigosertib in patients with second- and third-line head and neck cancers and other refractory cancers. In this trial, oral rigosertib was well tolerated in advanced cancer patients. Stable disease, lasting up to nine months, was the best response observed in the head and neck cancer patients. One patient with lung cancer and one patient with anal cancer also achieved stable disease. Based on these findings, we have concluded that there is not sufficient justification for further development of oral rigosertib as a single agent in these indications.

 

A Phase 1 study of oral rigosertib in combination with chemoradiotherapy (platinum plus radiation) has been initiated in head and neck and other carcinoma patients. We expect to have evaluable data from this study in 2015.

 

Briciclib

 

Our second clinical-stage product candidate is briciclib, a small molecule targeting an important intracellular regulatory protein, cyclin D1, which is often found at elevated levels in cancer cells. We have initiated a multi-center Phase 1 clinical trial testing IV briciclib in adult patients with advanced cancer and solid tumors. Upon completion of this ongoing Phase 1 trial, we will assess potential further development for briciclib.

 

Recilisib

 

Our third clinical-stage product candidate, recilisib, is being developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense for acute radiation syndromes. We have conducted animal studies and clinical trials of recilisib under the FDA’s Animal Efficacy Rule, which permits marketing approval for new medical countermeasures for which human efficacy studies are not feasible or ethical, by relying on evidence from animal studies in appropriate animal models to support efficacy in humans. We have completed four Phase 1 trials to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of recilisib in healthy human adult subjects using both subcutaneous and oral formulations. Ongoing studies of recilisib are being conducted with government funding, and we anticipate that any future development of recilisib beyond our ongoing studies would be conducted solely with government funding.

 

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Preclinical Product Candidates

 

In addition to our three clinical-stage product candidates, we have several product candidates that target kinases, cellular metabolism or cell division in preclinical development. We intend to explore additional collaborations to further the development of these product candidates as we focus internally on our more advanced programs.

 

Our operations to date have included our organization and staffing, business planning, raising capital, in-licensing technology from research institutions, identifying potential product candidates, developing product candidates and building strategic alliances, as well as undertaking non-clinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidates.

 

Since commencing operations, we have dedicated a significant portion of our resources to our development efforts for our clinical-stage product candidates, particularly rigosertib. We anticipate that a significant portion of our operating expenses will continue to be related to research and development as we continue to advance rigosertib and our other clinical-stage product candidates and, to a lesser extent, our preclinical programs. In July 2013, we completed our initial public offering, or IPO, of common stock, from which we received net proceeds of $79.8 million. Prior to the consummation of the IPO, we funded our operations primarily through the sale of preferred stock amounting to $144.7 million, including $50.0 million that Baxter invested in our Series J Preferred Stock in 2012, as well as proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt and a stockholder loan amounting to $26.8 million in the aggregate, all of which was later converted into shares of our preferred stock, which shares converted to common stock upon the IPO. We have also received upfront payments of $7.5 million from SymBio and $50.0 million from Baxter in connection with our collaboration agreements with those parties. We have also received an aggregate of $8.0 million from The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or LLS, under a funding agreement.

 

We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we continue the development and clinical trials of, and seek regulatory approval for, our product candidates, even if milestones under our license and collaboration agreements are met. If we obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses. We do not currently have an organization for the sales, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical products. We may rely on licensing and co-promotion agreements with strategic or collaborative partners for the commercialization of our products in the United States and other territories. If we choose to build a commercial infrastructure to support marketing in the United States for any of our product candidates that achieve regulatory approval, such commercial infrastructure could be expected to include a targeted, oncology sales force supported by sales management, internal sales support, an internal marketing group and distribution support. To develop the appropriate commercial infrastructure internally, we would have to invest financial and management resources, some of which would have to be deployed prior to having any certainty about marketing approval.

 

Furthermore, we have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, additional costs associated with operating as a public company. Accordingly, we will seek to fund our operations primarily through business development transactions, public equity or debt financings or other sources. Other additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed or on less favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy.

 

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You can get more information regarding our business and industry by reading our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other reports we file with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Information by Reference.”

 

CORPORATE INFORMATION

 

We were incorporated in Delaware in December 1998 and commenced operations in January 1999. Our principal executive offices are located at 375 Pheasant Run, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940, and our telephone number is (267) 759-3680. Our website address is www.onconova.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we anticipate that the net proceeds from our sale of any securities will be used to fund the development of our clinical and preclinical programs, for other research and development activities and for general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures and funding our working capital needs. We expect from time to time to evaluate the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies for which a portion of the net proceeds may be used, although we currently are not planning or negotiating any such transactions. Pending such uses, we may invest the net proceeds in investment grade interest-bearing securities.

 

The amounts actually expended for each purpose may vary significantly depending upon numerous factors, including the amount and timing of the proceeds from this offering and progress with our clinical development programs. Expenditures will also depend upon the establishment of collaborative arrangements with other companies, the availability of additional financing and other factors. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of securities.

 

In the case of sales by selling stockholders, we will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales.

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

 

Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $35.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and $62.1 million, $29.9 million and $26.3 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. “Earnings” consists of net loss from continuing operations before income tax expense and fixed charges. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense, capitalized interest and the portion of rents that we believe to be representative of the interest factor. Currently, we have no shares of preferred stock outstanding and have not paid any dividends on preferred stock in the periods presented.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

We may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities, warrants or units to purchase any of such securities, with a total value of up to $100,000,000, from time to time in one or more offerings under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. In connection with each offering, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered, including, to the extent applicable:

 

·                  designation or classification;

 

·                  aggregate offering price;

 

·                  rates and times of payment of dividends;

 

·                  redemption, conversion or exchange terms;

 

·                  conversion or exchange prices or rates and any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange;

 

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·                  restrictive covenants;

 

·                  voting or other rights; and

 

·                  important federal income tax considerations.

 

The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no prospectus supplement will offer a security that is not included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness or offer a security of a type that is not described in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 75,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of September 30, 2014, 21,692,240 shares of our common stock, and no shares of our preferred stock, were outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

Subject to the preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters voted on by stockholders, including the election of directors. Holders of our common stock do not have any conversion, redemption, sinking fund or preemptive rights. In the event of our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in any assets remaining after the satisfaction in full of the prior rights of creditors and the aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred stock then outstanding. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. All outstanding shares of our common stock are, and any shares of common stock that we may issue in the future will be, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Preferred Stock

 

We may issue any class of preferred stock in any series. Our board of directors has the authority, subject to limitations prescribed under Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations and restrictions. Our board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock.

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law and Provisions in Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law

 

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Section 203 generally prohibits a public 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:

 

·                  prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

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·                  upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding specified shares; or

 

·                  at or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 662/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Section 203 defines a “business combination” to include:

 

·                  any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

·                  any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation to or with the interested stockholder;

 

·                  subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

·                  subject to exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

·                  the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

 

In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as any person that is:

 

·                  the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation;

 

·                  an affiliate or associate of the corporation who was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within three years immediately prior to the relevant date; or

 

·                  the affiliates and associates of the above.

 

Under specific circumstances, Section 203 makes it more difficult for an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period, although the stockholders may, by adopting an amendment to the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, elect not to be governed by this section, effective 12 months after adoption.

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not exclude us from the restrictions of Section 203. We anticipate that the provisions of Section 203 might encourage companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance with our board of directors since the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if a majority of the directors then in office approve either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder.

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change of control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock. Among other things, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws will:

 

·                  permit our board of directors to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as they may designate;

 

·                  provide that all vacancies on our board of directors, including as a result of newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;

 

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·                  require that any action to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and not be taken by written consent;

 

·                  provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide advance notice in writing, and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice;

 

·                  not provide for cumulative voting rights, thereby allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election; and

 

·                  provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the board of directors or by such person or persons requested by a majority of the board of directors to call such meetings.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Wells Fargo Shareowner Services.

 

Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ONTX.”

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of our debt securities. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. The following description of debt securities will apply to the debt securities offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of debt securities may specify different or additional terms.

 

We may offer under this prospectus up to $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of secured or unsecured debt securities, or if debt securities are issued at a discount, or in a foreign currency or composite currency, such principal amount as may be sold for an initial public offering price of up to $100,000,000. The debt securities may be either senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities offered hereby will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee. A form of indenture, which will be qualified under, subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

 

General

 

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and detailed or determined in the manner provided in a board of directors’ resolution, an officers’ certificate or by an indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the series, including any pricing supplement.

 

We can issue debt securities that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any pricing supplement, relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the initial offering price, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities:

 

·                  the title of the debt securities;

 

·                  the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;

 

·                  any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

·                  the date or dates on which we will pay the principal on the debt securities;

 

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·                  the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

·                  the place or places where the principal of, and premium and interest on, the debt securities will be payable;

 

·                  the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities;

 

·                  any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities;

 

·                  the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;

 

·                  the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

·                  whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;

 

·                  the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

 

·                  the currency of denomination of the debt securities;

 

·                  the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, and premium and interest on, the debt securities will be made;

 

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·                  if payments of principal of, and premium or interest on, the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

 

·                  the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, and premium or interest on, the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

 

·                  any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;

 

·                  any addition to or change in the events of default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

·                  any addition to or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

·                  any other terms of the debt securities, which may modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series; and

 

·                  any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities.

 

We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable and/or convertible into shares of our common stock or any class or series of preferred stock. The terms, if any, on which the debt securities may be exchanged and/or converted will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion, either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, in which case the number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the prospectus supplement.

 

We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Payment of Interest and Exchange

 

Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as Depositary, or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a book-entry debt security), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a certificated debt security), as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Certificated Debt Securities

 

You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at the trustee’s office or paying agencies in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

 

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You may transfer certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, and premium and interest on, certificated debt securities only by surrendering the old certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either we or the trustee will reissue the old certificate to the new holder or we or the trustee will issue a new certificate to the new holder.

 

Book-Entry Debt Securities

 

We may issue the debt securities of a series in the form of one or more book-entry debt securities that would be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the prospectus supplement. We may issue book-entry debt securities in either temporary or permanent form. We will describe in the prospectus supplement the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any book-entry debt security.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities or any combination of the foregoing. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the prospectus supplement.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will include specific terms relating to the offering. We will file the form of any warrant agreement with the SEC, and you should read the warrant agreement for provisions that may be important to you. The prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following terms:

 

·                  the title of the warrants;

 

·                  the aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

·                  the designation, number and terms of the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;

 

·                  the exercise price of the warrants;

 

·                  the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

 

·                  the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued;

 

·                  if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;

 

·                  if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;

 

·                  any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

·                  any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange, exercise, amendment or termination of the warrants; and

 

·                  any adjustments to the terms of the warrants resulting from the occurrence of certain events or from the entry into or consummation by us of certain transactions.

 

We currently have outstanding warrants to purchase 4,597 shares of common stock, issued in connection with a credit facility obtained in 2007. The warrants are immediately exercisable and expire in July 2016. The exercise price per share is $13.05.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

As specified in any applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more warrants, debt securities, shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock or any combination of such securities.

 

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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

Selling Stockholders for the Secondary Offering of up to 228,647 Shares of Common Stock

 

This prospectus also relates to the possible resale by certain of our stockholders of up to an aggregate of 228,647 shares of our common stock which were previously acquired by such stockholders through several private placements of our preferred stock completed by us prior to our IPO, which were all converted to shares of our common stock in connection with our IPO. In connection with such private placements, these persons have registration rights with respect to their shares as described further below under the heading “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.” The term “selling stockholders” includes the stockholders listed below and their transferees, pledgees, donees, assignees or other successors. Additional information about selling stockholders, including the number of shares of common stock owned by them before and after the offering, will be set forth in a post-effective amendment. In addition to selling their shares pursuant to this registration statement, the selling stockholders may sell or transfer all or a portion of their shares of our common stock pursuant to any available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including Rule 144, if available.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the selling stockholders have sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares of common stock. All of the information contained in the table below is based solely upon information provided to us by the selling stockholders or otherwise known by us. In addition to the shares offered hereby, the selling stockholders may otherwise beneficially own our shares of common stock as a result of, among others, open market purchases, which information is not obtainable by us without undue effort and expense. The selling stockholders may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time or from time to time since the date on which the information regarding the shares beneficially owned was last known by us, all or a portion of the shares beneficially owned in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

The number of shares outstanding and the percentages of beneficial ownership are based on 21,692,240 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2014.

 

For the purposes of the following table, the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and such information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under Rule 13d-3, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which a selling stockholder has sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any shares which that selling stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days of the date of this prospectus through the exercise of any stock option.

 

Name of Selling Stockholder

 

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
Prior to the
Offering

 

Number of
Shares
Offered

 

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
After the
Offering

 

% of Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
After the
Offering

 

DKG Leasing-2000 LLC

 

1,185

 

1,185

 

0

 

0

%

ICMC Strategic Asset Fund, Ltd.

 

1,425

 

1,425

 

0

 

0

 

Kathryn Jane McDonald

 

187

 

187

 

0

 

0

 

Utkarsh Palnitkar

 

15,325

 

15,325

 

0

 

0

 

Radha Gurram Reddy

 

5,746

 

5,746

 

0

 

0

 

 

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

 

We entered into an Eighth Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement on July 27, 2012, with certain holders of our common and preferred stock. Under the stockholders’ agreement, holders of shares of our preferred stock have been granted registration rights with respect to the shares of common stock issued upon conversion as further described below.

 

Demand Registration Rights

 

At any time, the holders of 25% or more of the shares having demand registration rights may request that we register all or a portion of their shares of common stock. We will effect the registration as requested, unless, in the good faith judgment of our board of directors, such registration would be materially detrimental to us and our stockholders and should be delayed. We have the right to defer the filing of such registration statement once for up to 120 days during any 12-month period. We are not obligated to file a registration statement pursuant to this provision on more than two occasions. In addition, when we are eligible for the use of Form S-3, or any successor form, holders of a majority of the shares having demand registration rights may make unlimited requests that we register all or a portion of their common stock for sale under

 

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the Securities Act on Form S-3, or any successor form, so long as the aggregate price to the public in connection with any such offering is at least $500,000. However, we are not obligated to file a Form S-3 pursuant to this provision on more than two occasions in any 12-month period.

 

Piggyback Registration Rights

 

In addition, if at any time we register any shares of our stock, the holders of all shares having registration rights are entitled to notice of the filing of the applicable registration statement and to include all or a portion of their common stock in the registration.

 

The secondary offering of up to 228,647 shares of our common stock is being made pursuant to the exercise of these piggyback registration rights.

 

Other Provisions

 

In the event that any registration in which the holders of registrable shares participate pursuant to the stockholders’ agreement is an underwritten public offering, the number of registrable shares to be included may, in specified circumstances, be limited due to market conditions. The number of registrable shares to be excluded from registration pursuant to the above shall not be reduced below 20% of the shares to be offered.

 

We will pay all registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions, and the reasonable fees and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions, and the reasonable fees and expenses of a single special counsel for the selling stockholders, related to any demand or piggyback registration.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, may sell the securities in one or more of the following ways (or in any combination) from time to time:

 

·                  to or through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale by them;

 

·                  directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser;

 

·                  through agents;

 

·                  through block trades in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; or

 

·                  in any manner, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Each time we offer and sell securities under this prospectus, we will file a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

·                  the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

·                  the purchase price of such securities and the proceeds to be received by us, if any;

 

·                  any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

 

·                  any public offering price;

 

·                  any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

·                  any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed.

 

Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

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If we and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, use underwriters in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:

 

·                  negotiated transactions;

 

·                  at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed;

 

·                  at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

·                  at prices related to prevailing market prices; or

 

·                  at negotiated prices.

 

Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any securities will be conditioned on customary closing conditions and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities, if any are purchased.

 

We and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

We and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.

 

In offering the shares covered by this prospectus, the selling stockholders, and any broker-dealers and any other participating broker-dealers who may execute sales for the selling stockholders, may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with these sales. Any profits received by the selling stockholders and the compensation of such broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, to indemnification by us and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters or agents may be required to make. Underwriters and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market other than the common stock which is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The securities, other than the common stock, may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and for the years then ended, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and incorporated by reference herein have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and for the year ended December 31, 2011, by EisnerAmper LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their respective reports thereon incorporated by reference herein, and are included in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firms as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Pepper Hamilton LLP will provide us with an opinion as to certain legal matters in connection with the securities being offered hereby.

 

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Up to $3,475,000 of shares of

 

Common Stock

 


 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 


 

FBR

 

December 5, 2016