UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 18, 2019

 

ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-36856

 

46-2783806

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

IRS Employer

of incorporation or organization)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

399 Thornall Street, First Floor

Edison, NJ, 08837

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (732) 902-4000

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

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

 

o             Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Title of each class:

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered:

Common Stock

 

CTRV

 

Nasdaq Capital Market

 

 

 


 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On July 18, 2019, ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) filed a certificate of amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) to its certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate”) to change its name from “ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.” to “Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.” The name change became effective as of July 18, 2019.

 

The name change does not affect the rights of the Company’s security holders. There were no other changes to the Certificate. On July 23, 2019, the Company’s common stock, which trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market, will cease trading under the ticker symbol “CTRV” and commence trading under the ticker symbol “HEPA”. Along with the ticker symbol change, the Company’s common stock has been assigned a new CUSIP number of 426897 104.

 

A copy of the Certificate of Amendment effecting the name change, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on July 18, 2019, is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

A copy of the press release announcing the name change and the symbol change is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. dated July 18, 2019.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release of ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. dated July 22, 2019.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated: July 23, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTRAVIR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert Foster

 

 

 

Robert Foster

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CONTRAVIR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

(Pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

 

ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation duly organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify that:

 

1.      The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, is hereby amended solely to reflect a change in the name of the Corporation by replacing Article I thereof with the following:

 

“The name of this Corporation is Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.”

 

2.      The Board of Directors of the Corporation has adopted a resolution approving and declaring advisable the amendment described herein in accordance with the provisions of Section 242(b)(1) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

3.      The amendment described herein has been duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

4.      This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective on July 18, 2019.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 18 th  day of July, 2019.

 

 

 

/s/ Robert Foster

 

Robert Foster, CEO

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

ContraVir Pharmaceuticals Announces Name Change to Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Trading Symbol Change to “HEPA”

 

EDISON, N.J. ,  July 22, 2019 - ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTRV), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of liver disease arising from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”) and chronic viral infection, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the change of the Company’s name and stock symbol to Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and “HEPA,” respectively.

 

The Company’s new NASDAQ trading symbol will be effective as of the opening of trading on July 23, 2019, as will a new CUSIP number for the Company’s common stock of 426897104.

 

“We derived the name “Hepion” by combining the ancient Greek word for liver, “hepar,” with “Epione,” the goddess of soothing, or healing,” commented Dr. Robert Foster, the Company’s CEO. “Changing the Company’s name to Hepion Pharmaceuticals is a reflection of the significant potential our lead candidate, CRV431, has to treat inflammation, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma associated with liver disease, in addition to its potential as an antiviral.”

 

The Company’s new website will be available at www.hepionpharma.com on July 23, 2019.

 

About Hepion Pharmaceuticals

 

Hepion Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of targeted therapies for liver disease arising from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and chronic hepatitis virus infection (HBV, HCV, HDV). The company’s lead drug candidate, CRV431, reduces liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma tumor burden in experimental models of NASH. Preclinical studies also have demonstrated antiviral activities towards HBV, HCV, and HDV through several mechanisms. These diverse therapeutic activities result from CRV431’s potent inhibition of cyclophilin enzymes, which are involved in many disease processes. Currently in clinical phase development, CRV431 shows potential to play an important role in the overall treatment of liver disease - from triggering events through to end-stage disease.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimated,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Hepion Pharmaceuticals’ current expectations and actual results could differ materially.  There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, substantial competition; our ability to continue as a going concern; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties with respect to lengthy and expensive clinical trials, that results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future trial results; uncertainties of government or third party payer reimbursement; limited sales and marketing efforts and dependence upon third parties; and risks related to failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations. As with any drug candidates under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of new products. There are no guarantees that future clinical trials discussed in this press release will be completed or successful,

 

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or that any product will receive regulatory approval for any indication or prove to be commercially successful. Hepion Pharmaceuticals does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Hepion Pharmaceuticals’ Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Stephen Kilmer

Hepion Pharmaceuticals Investor Relations

Direct: (646) 274-3580

skilmer@hepionpharma.com

 

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