As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 14, 2020

 

Registration No. 333-

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

PRECIPIO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   3826   91-1789357

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

4 Science Park

New Haven, Connecticut 06511

(203) 787-7888

(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

  

Ilan Danieli

Chief Executive Officer

Precipio, Inc.

4 Science Park

New Haven, Connecticut 06511

(203) 787-7888

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

 

Copies to:

Thomas A. Rose

Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP

1185 Avenue of the Americas, 37th Floor

New York, NY 10036

(212) 930-9700

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box: ¨

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨

 

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

 

Large Accelerated Filer   ¨   Accelerated Filer   ¨
Non-Accelerated Filer   x   Smaller Reporting Company   x
Emerging Growth Company   ¨        

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)
      Amount of
Registration
Fee(2)
 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share   $ 1,749,242     $ 227.05  

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(2) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) based on an estimate of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

 

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus dated January 14, 2020

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Shares

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “PRPO.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on January 13, 2020 was $1.91 per share.

 

This prospectus relates to the offer and sale of up to 920,654 shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of Precipio, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC, or Lincoln Park or the Selling Stockholder.

 

The shares of common stock being offered by the Selling Stockholder have been or may be issued pursuant to the purchase agreement dated September 7, 2018 that we entered into with Lincoln Park. See “The Lincoln Park Transaction” for a description of that agreement and “Selling Stockholder” for additional information regarding Lincoln Park. The prices at which Lincoln Park may sell the shares will be determined by the prevailing market price for the shares or in negotiated transactions.

 

We are not selling any securities under this prospectus and will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling Stockholder.

 

The Selling Stockholder may sell the shares of common stock described in this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information about how the Selling Stockholder may sell the shares of common stock being registered pursuant to this prospectus. The Selling Stockholder is an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

We will pay the expenses incurred in registering the shares, including legal and accounting fees. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” on page 8 in this prospectus to read about the factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.

 

We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required. You should read the entire prospectus and any amendments or supplements carefully before you make your investment decision.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is January 14, 2020 

  

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
Prospectus Summary 1
The Offering 6
Risk Factors 8
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 21
Use of Proceeds 22
Selling Stockholder 23
Price Range of Common Stock 24
Capitalization 25
Dilution 26
Dividend Policy 27
Description of Capital Stock 28
Plan of Distribution 37
Legal Matters 39
Experts 39
Where You Can Find More Information 39
Market and Industry Data and Forecasts 40
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference 40

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or any free writing prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance, as to the reliability of any other information that others may give you. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus, or other earlier date stated in this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such date.

 

For investors outside of the United States: we have not done anything that would permit this offering outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States.

 

 

 

 

  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before buying shares of our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, especially the “Risk Factors” and our Quarterly Report on form 10-Q for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2019 and our financial statements and the related notes our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2019, before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.

 

Overview

 

Precipio, Inc., and its subsidiaries, (collectively, “we”, “us”, “our”, the “Company” or “Precipio”) is a cancer diagnostics company providing diagnostic products and services to the oncology market. We have built and continue to develop a platform designed to eradicate the problem of misdiagnosis by harnessing the intellect, expertise and technologies developed within academic institutions, and delivering quality diagnostic information to physicians and their patients worldwide. We operate a cancer diagnostic laboratory located in New Haven, Connecticut and have partnered with a number of institutions to capture the expertise, experience and technologies developed within academia so that we can provide a better standard of cancer diagnostics and aim to solve the growing problem of cancer misdiagnosis. We also operate a research and development facility in Omaha, Nebraska which will focus on further development of various technologies, among them ICE-COLD-PCR, or ICP, the patented technology described further below, which was exclusively licensed to us by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., or Dana-Farber, at Harvard University, in addition to IV-Cell, and HemeScreen, further discussed below. The research and development center focuses on the development of these technologies, which we believe will enable us to commercialize these and other technologies developed with our current and future academic partners. Our platform connects patients, physicians and diagnostic experts residing within academic institutions. Launched in 2017, the platform facilitates the following relationships:

 

  · Patients: patients may search for physicians in their area and consult directly with academic experts that are on the platform. Patients may also have access to new academic discoveries as they become commercially available.

 

  · Physicians: physicians can connect with academic experts to seek consultations on behalf of their patients and may also provide consultations for patients in their area seeking medical expertise in that physician’s relevant specialty. Physicians will also have access to new diagnostic solutions to help improve diagnostic accuracy.

 

  · Academic Experts: academic experts on the platform can make themselves available for patients or physicians seeking access to their expertise.  Additionally, these experts have a platform available to commercialize their research discoveries.

 

We intend to continue updating our platform to allow for patient-to-patient communications and allow individuals to share stories and provide support for one another, to allow physicians to consult with their peers to discuss and share challenges and solutions, and to allow academic experts to interact with others in academia on the platform to discuss their research and cross-collaborate.

 

Industry

 

We believe that there is currently a significant problem with unaddressed rates of misdiagnosis across numerous disease states (particularly in cancer) due to an inefficient and commoditized industry. We believe that the diagnostic industry focuses primarily on competitive pricing and test turnaround times, at the expense of quality and accuracy. Increasingly complex disease states are met with eroding specialization rather than increased expertise. According to a study conducted by the National Coalition of Health, this results in an industry with cancer misdiagnosis rates up to 28%, which is failing to meet the needs of physicians, patients and the healthcare system as a whole. New technologies offer improved accuracy; however, many are either inaccessible or are not economically practical for clinical use. Despite much publicity of the industry transitioning from fee-per-service to value-based payments, this transition has not yet occurred in diagnostics. When a patient is misdiagnosed, physicians end up administering incorrect treatments, often creating adverse effects rather than improving outcomes. We believe that Insurance Providers, Medicare and Medicaid waste valuable dollars on the application of incorrect treatments and can incur substantial downstream costs. Most importantly however, patients pay the ultimate price of misdiagnosis with increased morbidity and mortality. According to a report by Pinnacle Health, the estimated cost of misdiagnosis within the healthcare system is $5 billion annually. We believe that the academic path of specialization produces the critical expertise necessary to correctly diagnose disease and that academic institutions have an unlocked potential to address this problem. Our solution is to create an exclusive platform that harnesses academic expertise and proprietary technologies to deliver the highest standard of diagnostic accuracy and patient care. Physicians, hospitals, payers and, most importantly, patients all benefit from more accurate diagnostics.

 

1

 

 

Market

 

As a services and technology commercialization company, we currently participate in two components within the U.S. domestic oncology diagnostics market. The first is the clinical pathology services market, which is estimated to reach a $26.1 billion annual market by 2024 with a compound annual growth rate of 6.16%. The second component is the liquid biopsy reagents/kits market. According to the Piper Jaffray report from September 2015, the domestic oncology liquid biopsy market estimate is over $28 billion per year and includes screening, therapy selection, treatment monitoring and recurrence. The current market size for colon, lung and melanoma is 426,000 new cases per year and over 2.5 million people living with cancer, creating a potential market opportunity of $8.2 billion. We believe additional opportunities exist in clinical trials searching for low cost and high quality solutions for patient selection and treatment monitoring. 

  

Our Platform

 

Our platform is designed to provide physicians and their patients, access to necessary academic expertise and technology in order to better provide diagnoses. To our knowledge, we are the only company focused on addressing the issue of diagnostic accuracy with an innovative, robust and scalable business model by:

 

  · Providing physicians and their patients access to world-class academic experts and technologies;

 

  · Leveraging the largest network of academic experts by adding numerous leading academic institutions to our platform;

 

  · Allowing payers to benefit from quality-based outcomes to their patients and increase the likelihood of cost savings; and

 

  · Enabling cross-collaboration between physicians and academic institutions to advance research and discovery.

 

Our customers are oncologists who biopsy their patients in order to confirm or rule out the presence of cancer. After our customers send the samples to us, we conduct all the technical tests at our New Haven facility. We then transmit the test results to pathologists who have access to our laboratory information system from their respective offices, enabling them to review and render their diagnostic interpretation of the test results for reporting. We have developed a proprietary algorithm that is applied to each sample submitted to us for testing, resulting in our ability to render a more precise and accurate diagnosis. The final results are prepared by pathologists and integrated into the final report by us, and are then delivered electronically through our portal to the referring clinician. The patient’s insurance is billed for the services; we are paid for the technical work done at our laboratory; and the pathologists are paid by us for their diagnostic interpretation.

 

Our Technology

 

  1. ICE-COLD-PCR

 

ICP technology was developed at Harvard and is licensed exclusively to us by Dana-Farber. ICP is a unique, proprietary, patented specimen enrichment technology that increases the sensitivity of molecular based tests from approximately 90-95% to 99.99%. Traditional molecular testing is done on tumor biopsies. These tests are typically conducted at disease onset, when the patient undergoes a biopsy. In the typical course of treatment, a patient is rarely re-biopsied, and therefore, genetic information is based solely on the initial biopsy. Tumors are known to shed cells into the patient’s bloodstream where they circulate alongside normal cells; however, existing testing methodologies are not sufficiently sensitive to differentiate between tumor and normal cells. The increased sensitivity provided by ICP allows for testing of genetic mutations that occur within tumors to be conducted on peripheral blood samples, termed liquid biopsies. This technical capability enables physicians to test for genetic mutations through a simple blood test rather than an invasive biopsy extracted from the actual tumor. The results of such tests can be used for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic decisions. The technology is encapsulated within a chemical (reagent) used during the specimen preparation process, which enriches (amplifies) the tumor DNA detected within the blood sample while suppressing the normal DNA. In addition to offering this technology as a clinical service, we are developing panels that will be sold as reagent to other laboratories to enable this testing in their facilities, thereby improving their test sensitivity and more accurate diagnoses via liquid biopsies. The business model of selling reagents to other laboratories expands the reach and impact of our technology while eliminating the reimbursement risks from running the tests in-house.

 

Gene sequencing is performed on tissue biopsies taken surgically from the tumor site in order to identify potential therapies that will be more effective in treating the patient. There are several limitations to this process. First, surgical procedures have several limitations, including:

 

  · Cost: surgical procedures are usually performed in a costly hospital environment.

 

  · Surgical access: various tumor sites are not always accessible (e.g. brain tumors), in which cases no biopsy is available for diagnosis.

 

  · Risk: patient health may not permit undergoing an invasive surgery; therefore, a biopsy cannot be obtained at all.

 

  · Time: the process of scheduling and coordinating a surgical procedure often takes time, delaying the start of patient treatment.

 

2

 

 

Second, there are several tumor-related limitations that provide a challenge to obtaining such genetic information from a tumor:

 

  · Tumors are heterogeneous by nature: a tissue sample from one area of the tumor may not properly represent the tumor’s entire genetic composition; thus, the diagnostic results from a tumor may be incomplete and non-representative.

  

  · Metastases: in order to accurately test a patient with metastatic disease, ideally an individual biopsy sample should be taken from each site (if those sites are even known). These biopsies are very difficult to obtain; therefore, physicians often rely on biopsies taken only from the primary tumor site.

 

We license the ICP technology from Dana-Farber through a license agreement referred to herein as the License Agreement. The License Agreement grants us an exclusive license to the ICP technology, subject to a non-exclusive license granted to the U.S. government, in the areas of mutation detection using Sanger (di-deoxy) sequencing and mitochondrial DNA analysis for all research, diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic uses in humans, animals, viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants or fossilized material. The License Agreement also grants us a non-exclusive license in the areas of mutation detection using DHPLC, surveyor-endonuclease-based mutation detection and second generation sequencing techniques. We paid Dana-Farber an initial license fee and are required to make milestone payments with respect to the first five licensed products or services we develop using the licensed technology, as well as royalties ranging from high single to low double digits on net sales of licensed products and services for sales made by us and sales made to any distributors. The License Agreement remains in effect until we cease to sell licensed products or services under said agreement. Dana-Farber has the right to immediately terminate the License Agreement if (i) we cease to carry on our business with respect to licensed products and services, (ii) we fail to make any payments under the License Agreement (subject to a cure period), (iii) we fail to comply with due diligence obligations under the License Agreement (subject to a cure period), (iv) we default in our obligations to procure and maintain insurance as required by the License Agreement, (v) any of our officers is convicted of a felony relating to the manufacture, use, sale or importation of licensed products under the License Agreement, (vi) we materially breach any provision of the License Agreement (subject to a cure period), or (vii) we or Dana-Farber become insolvent. We may terminate the License Agreement for convenience upon 180 days’ prior written notice.

 

  2. IV-Cell

 

The diagnostic process of hematopoietic diseases involves conducting cell-culture tests by the cytogenetic laboratory to imitate in-vivo conditions. The four groups of cell lineages cultured are:

 

  · Myeloid cells – indicating myeloid neoplasms (MDS, AML, CML)

 

  · B-cells – indicating B-cell neoplasms (B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma)

 

  · T-cells – indicating T-cell neoplasms (T-cell lymphoma)

 

  · Plasma cells – indicating plasma cell neoplasms (multiple myeloma)

 

The cytogeneticist must decide up front which cell lineage to select to be cultured. In most cases, due to specimen limitation, low cellularity, or cell viability, the cytogeneticist can select only one of the above cell lines to culture. Often, the initial clinical suspicion is not in line with the final diagnosis determined by the pathologist based on the rest of the work up. Our internal data has shown that this occurs in approximately 50% of bone marrow biopsies. If the wrong cell lineage is selected, the diagnosis may be compromised (or return a false negative diagnosis) because the lab will be culturing and investigating the wrong cells (essentially “going down the wrong path”).

 

We have developed IV-Cell, a proprietary culture media that addresses the problem of selective culturing – by creating a universal media that enables simultaneous culturing of all 4 hematopoietic cell lineages. This ensures that no cell lineage is missed in the diagnostic process, and the technician is able to select any of the 4 lineages during the culturing process. Our Company’s proprietary cell-culture media represents a significant advancement over an inefficient and decades-old method employed throughout the cytogenetics diagnostics market. IV-Cell was validated in our laboratory in parallel with existing reagents available on the market and has successfully demonstrated superior results. Subsequently, IV-Cell has been used at our laboratory for the past 12 months on >500 clinical specimens, producing superior diagnostic results. IV-Cell also produces chromosomes with an average band resolution of 500, approximately 25% higher than achieved with standard culture media.

 

This is a key component of both obtaining critical diagnostic and prognostic information to efficiently arrive at an accurate diagnosis of various blood and bone marrow-related cancers. Currently available media on the market require manual, up-front selection of one target cell lineage, thereby reducing the likelihood of a correct result.

 

Precipio designed the IV-Cell media to deliver a higher resolution of the chromosome bands, enabling a deeper look at the chromosomes, and resulting in faster and more accurate analysis. IV-Cell includes all necessary components required to conduct the cell culturing including fetal bovine serum and all necessary mitogens in pre-mixed format, ready to use by the cytogenetics laboratory without the need for any reconstitution or preparation. With the use of only one complete media, The Company’s IV-Cell provides a reduction in the cost of reagent purchasing, inventory management and quality control tasks instead of current industry use of multiple cell culture media types that require reconstitution and further preparation before use.

 

3

 

 

IV-Cell is commercialized on an RUO (“Research Use Only”) basis, and FDA clearance or approval is not currently required for clinical use, to cancer cytogenetics labs, which enables laboratories to culture multiple cell lineages simultaneously, thereby increasing the likelihood of selecting the correct one for analysis. We intend to commercialize this technology by providing major laboratories with access to the media. This can be achieved via a direct supply contract, whereby we will contract with a manufacturer (under license) to produce the media, and supply it to laboratories.

  

  3. HemeScreen

 

Each year, an estimated 140,000 patients are diagnosed with diseases in the MPN or MDS blood cancer categories. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (the “NCCN”) guidelines require that these patients be tested for genetic mutations in four key genes:

 

  · JAK2 (V617F)

 

  · JAK2 (exon 12)

 

  · CALR

 

  · MPL

 

The clinical significance of these mutations is substantial to patient treatment. A positive result in either of the JAK2 mutations indicates the patient may be eligible for a targeted therapy. A positive result in the CALR or MPL gene indicates a good prognosis, meaning the disease is less aggressive, and the physician may therefore choose to treat the patient in a less aggressive manner. The results of these genetic tests are critical to determining a treatment plan, and therefore both the importance, and the speed of which the results are delivered, may significantly impact patient care.

 

At the current reimbursement levels (approximately $600 for full panel at Medicare rates) and given the costs to run the tests, laboratories running the test in house must either batch samples to gain efficiency, or send the test out to another reference laboratory. Most hospital laboratories don’t have the volume and patient frequency to economically justify running the test, and therefore send the test out. This has created an industry average turnaround time for results of between 2-4 weeks (depending on the lab providing the test).

 

We have developed and patented a proprietary screening panel for all 4 genes in one rapid scanning panel. The test screens for the presence of these mutations in a very economic manner. Due to the improved economics, laboratories can reduce the batch requirements for the test while still enjoying a positive economic model and reducing the turnaround time for results, providing improved clinical service to physicians.

 

We offer two HemeScreen commercial options:

 

1.     Reference send-out to the Company. We offer an average of a 2-day TAT for the test, lower than the industry average of approximately 2 weeks.

 

2.     The Company to provide the reagents on an RUO (Research Use Only) basis), and a laboratory can set up the test In-house test as an LDT (Laboratory Developed Test).

 

At an average reimbursement rate of approximately $600 per test, the US Market Revenue Potential is approximately $84M/year, in addition to international demand.

 

Our Products & Services

 

Our initial product offering consists of clinical diagnostic services harnessing the expertise of pathologists from premier academic institutions and the commercialization and application of our various technologies. Our clinical diagnostic services focus on the diagnosis of different hematopoietic or blood-related cancers and the delivery of an accurate diagnosis to oncologists, with demonstrated superior results through the harnessing of subspecialized academic pathologists. We intend to enter into additional partnerships with premiere academic institutions during 2019 that will potentially broaden and strengthen our academic expert network, although there is no guarantee that such partnership opportunities will be available. Our cutting-edge liquid biopsy technology, ICP, enables detection of abnormalities in blood samples down to as low as .01%. Our proprietary cytogenetics media IV-Cell enables laboratories to arrive at more accurate results while reducing inventory and other operating costs. Our proprietary HemeScreen panel enables hospitals and laboratories to run an important genetic mutation test at a lower cost, resulting in faster results delivered to physicians and their patients. Our customers are oncologists, hospitals, reference laboratories, and pharma and biotech companies. We believe that these technologies enable our customers to achieve more accurate results for their patients, with improved economics as well as clinical outcomes.

 

4

 

 

We built and obtained CLIA certification to operate our New Haven laboratory. The laboratory is approximately 3,000 square feet and has several sub-departments such as flow cytometry, immuno-histochemistry, cytogenetics, and molecular testing. The laboratory is currently operated by five lab technicians and is supervised by a laboratory manager and a medical director. Our laboratory is inspected every two years by a Connecticut state-appointed inspector, and once approved, we are issued a CLIA-certificate. Furthermore, the laboratory supervisor and medical director must conduct a self-inspection every two years (rotating with the state inspection) and must submit those results to the state department of health. Current active laboratory certifications can be found on http://www.precipiodx.com/accreditations.html

 

The laboratory operations are governed by Standard Operating Procedure manuals, or SOPs, which detail each aspect of the laboratory environment including the work flow, quality control, maintenance, and safety. These SOPs are reviewed and approved annually and signed off by the laboratory manager and medical director.

 

Recent Developments

  

None.

  

Corporate Information

 

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in March 1997. Our principal executive office is located at 4 Science Park, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, and our telephone number is (203) 787-7888. Our website address is www.precipiodx.com. We do not incorporate the information on or accessible through our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus. Our current and future annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC are available, free of charge, through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. Our SEC filings can be accessed through the investors section of our website. The information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not intended to be part of this prospectus or any report we file with, or furnish to, the SEC and incorporated by reference herein. Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “PRPO.”

  

5

 

 

THE OFFERING

 

Common stock to be offered by the Selling Stockholder hereunder   920,654 shares we may sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement from time to time after the date of this prospectus;
     
Common stock outstanding prior to this offering   8,018,117 shares as of January 9, 2020
   
Common stock to be outstanding after giving effect to the issuance of 920,654 shares under the Purchase Agreement registered hereunder   8,938,771 shares
     
Use of Proceeds   This prospectus relates to shares of our common stock that may be offered and sold from time to time by Lincoln Park. We will receive no proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by Lincoln Park in this offering.  We may receive up to $10,000,000 aggregate gross proceeds under the Purchase Agreement from any sales we make to Lincoln Park pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. We have previously received $8,250,758 in aggregate gross proceeds from prior sales of 3,226,667 shares under the Purchase Agreement. We have $1,749,242 of gross proceeds remaining from any sales to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement and any proceeds that we receive from such sales will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”
     
Risk factors  

This investment involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before making an investment decision.

     
Symbol on The NASDAQ Capital Market   “PRPO”

 

Purchase Agreement with Lincoln Park

 

On September 7, 2018, we entered into a purchase agreement with Lincoln Park, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which Lincoln Park has agreed to purchase from us up to an aggregate of $10,000,000 of our common stock (subject to certain limitations) from time to time over the term of the Purchase Agreement. Additionally, on September 7, 2018, we entered into a registration rights agreement with Lincoln Park, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we are required to file with the SEC a registration statement that includes this prospectus to register for resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, the shares of common stock that have been or may be issued to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, we issued 40,000 shares of our common stock to Lincoln Park as consideration for its commitment to purchase shares of our common stock under the Purchase Agreement, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Commitment Shares.

 

We do not have the right to commence any sales of our common stock to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement until certain conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, all of which are outside of Lincoln Park’s control, have been satisfied, including that the SEC has declared effective the registration statement that includes this prospectus. Thereafter, we may, from time to time and at our sole discretion, on any single business day on which the closing price of our common stock is not less than $1.50 per share (subject to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction as provided in the Purchase Agreement), direct Lincoln Park to purchase shares of our common stock in amounts up to 30,000 shares, which amounts may be increased to up to 36,666 shares depending on the market price of our common stock at the time of sale and subject to a maximum commitment by Lincoln Park of $1,000,000 per single purchase, which we refer to in this prospectus as “regular purchases”, plus other “accelerated amounts” and/or “additional accelerated amounts” under certain circumstances. We will control the timing and amount of any sales of our common stock to Lincoln Park. The purchase price of the shares that may be sold to Lincoln Park in regular purchases under the Purchase Agreement will be based on the market price of our common stock preceding the time of sale as computed under the Purchase Agreement. The purchase price per share will be equitably adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, or other similar transaction occurring during the business days used to compute such price. We may at any time in our sole discretion terminate the Purchase Agreement without fee, penalty or cost upon one business day notice.  There are no restrictions on future financings, rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages in the Purchase Agreement or Registration Rights Agreement, other than a prohibition on our entering into certain types of transactions that are defined in the Purchase Agreement as “Variable Rate Transactions”. Lincoln Park may not assign or transfer its rights and obligations under the Purchase Agreement. 

 

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As of January 9, 2020, there were 8,018,117 shares of our common stock outstanding, of which 7,876,750 shares were held by non-affiliates. As of the date of this prospectus, we have already received approximately $8.3 million from the sale of 3,226,667 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park which were registered pursuant to registration statements on Form S-1A (File No. 333-227364) filed on September 13, 2018, registration statement on Form S-1 (333-229478) filed on February 1, 2019 and registration statement on Form S-1 (333-233175) filed on August 9, 2019. Although the Purchase Agreement provides that we may sell up to $10,000,000 of our common stock to Lincoln Park, only 920,654 additional shares of our common stock are being offered under this prospectus, which may be issued to Lincoln Park, if and when we sell shares to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement. Depending on the market prices of our common stock at the time we elect to issue and sell shares to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement, we may need to register additional shares of our common stock in order to receive aggregate gross proceeds equal to the $10,000,000 total commitment available to us under the Purchase Agreement. We have previously received $8,250,758 in aggregate gross proceeds from prior sales of 3,226,667 shares under the Purchase Agreement. We have $1,749,242 of gross proceeds remaining from any sales to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement. If all of the 920,654 shares offered by Lincoln Park under this prospectus were issued and outstanding as of January 9, 2020, such shares would represent approximately 10.3% of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding and approximately 10.5% of the total number of outstanding shares held by non-affiliates, in each case as of the date hereof. If we elect to issue and sell more than the 920,654 shares offered under this prospectus to Lincoln Park, which we have the right, but not the obligation, to do, we must first register for resale under the Securities Act any such additional shares, which could cause additional substantial dilution to our stockholders. The number of shares ultimately offered for resale by Lincoln Park is dependent upon the number of shares we sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement.

 

Under applicable rules of The NASDAQ Capital Market, in no event may we issue or sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement more than 19.99% of the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the Purchase Agreement which limitation we refer to as the Exchange Cap, unless (i) we obtain stockholder approval to issue shares of common stock in excess of the Exchange Cap or (ii) the average price of all applicable sales of our common stock to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement equals or exceeds $7.092 (which represents the closing consolidated bid price of our common stock on September 7, 2018, plus an incremental amount to account for our issuance of the Commitment Shares to Lincoln Park), such that issuances and sales of our common stock to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement would be exempt from the Exchange Cap limitation under applicable NASDAQ rules. On December 20, 2018, we received the requisite approval of our shareholders to issue shares of common stock in excess of the Exchange Cap.

 

The Purchase Agreement also prohibits us from directing Lincoln Park to purchase any shares of common stock if those shares, when aggregated with all other shares of our common stock then beneficially owned by Lincoln Park and its affiliates, would result in Lincoln Park and its affiliates having beneficial ownership, at any single point in time, of more than 4.99% of the then total outstanding shares of our common stock, as calculated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and Rule 13d-3 thereunder, which limitation we refer to as the Beneficial Ownership Cap.

 

Issuances of our common stock in this offering will not affect the rights or privileges of our existing stockholders, except that the economic and voting interests of each of our existing stockholders will be diluted as a result of any such issuance. Although the number of shares of common stock that our existing stockholders own will not decrease, the shares owned by our existing stockholders will represent a smaller percentage of our total outstanding shares after any such issuance to Lincoln Park.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes in our Quarterly report on form 10Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2019, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2019 and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2019, before deciding to invest in our common stock. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could suffer materially, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Strategy

 

There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an opinion on our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, incorporated by reference, that states that the consolidated financial statements were prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America applicable for a going concern, which assume that we will realize our assets and discharge our liabilities in the ordinary course of business. We have incurred substantial operating losses and have used cash in our operating activities for the past few years. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we had a net loss of $15.7 million, negative working capital of $12.0 million and net cash used in operating activities of $6.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we had a net loss of $9.5 million, negative working capital of $1.7 million and net cash used in operating activities of $7.0 million. We are not current in making payments to all lenders and vendors. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern. We also cannot be certain that additional financing, if needed, will be available on acceptable terms, or at all, and our failure to raise capital when needed could limit our ability to continue our operations. There remains substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

To date, we have experienced negative cash flow from development of our diagnostic technology, as well as from the costs associated with establishing a laboratory and building a sales force to market our products and services. We expect to incur substantial net losses for the foreseeable future to further develop and commercialize our diagnostic technology. We also expect that our selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to increase due to the additional costs associated with market development activities and expanding our staff to sell and support our products. Our ability to achieve or, if achieved, sustain profitability is based on numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the market acceptance of our products, competitive product development and our market penetration and margins. We may never be able to generate sufficient revenue to achieve or, if achieved, sustain profitability.

 

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with further development and commercialization of our diagnostic technology and any future tests, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if ever. We may never become profitable and you may never receive a return on an investment in our securities. An investor in our securities must carefully consider the substantial challenges, risks and uncertainties inherent in the development and commercialization of tests in the medical diagnostic industry. We may never successfully commercialize our diagnostic technology or any future tests, and our business may fail.

 

We will require significant additional financing to sustain our operations and without it we will not be able to continue operations.

 

At September 30, 2019, we had a working capital deficit of $1.7 million. We had an operating cash flow deficit of $7.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $6.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. We do not currently have sufficient financial resources to fund our operations or those of our subsidiaries. Therefore, we need additional funds to continue these operations.

 

To facilitate ongoing operations and product development, on September 7, 2018, the Company entered into the LP Purchase Agreement pursuant to which Lincoln Park has agreed to purchase up to an aggregate of $10,000,000 of common stock of the Company (subject to certain limitations) from time to time over the term of the LP Purchase Agreement.

 

On December 20, 2018 the Company obtained shareholder approval of the $10,000,000 Lincoln Park Purchase Agreement. Per the terms of the LP Purchase Agreement, we may direct Lincoln Park to purchase up to $10,000,000 worth of shares of our common stock under our agreement over a 24-month period generally in amounts up to 30,000 shares of our common stock, which may be increased to up to 36,666 shares of our common stock depending on the market price of our common stock at the time of sale and subject to a maximum commitment by Lincoln Park of $1,000,000 per regular purchase, on any business day on which the closing price of our common stock is not less than $1.5 per share (subject to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction as provided in the Purchase Agreement).

 

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The extent we rely on Lincoln Park as a source of funding will depend on a number of factors including, the prevailing market price of our common stock and the extent to which we are able to secure working capital from other sources. If obtaining sufficient funding from Lincoln Park were to prove unavailable or prohibitively dilutive, we will need to secure another source of funding in order to satisfy our working capital needs. Even if we sell all $10,000,000 under the Purchase Agreement to Lincoln Park, we may still need additional capital to fully implement our business, operating and development plans. Should the financing we require to sustain our working capital needs be unavailable or prohibitively expensive when we require it, the consequences could be a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects. As of January 9, 2020, we have already received approximately $8.3 million from the sale of 3,226,667 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park.

   

We will need to raise substantial additional capital to commercialize our diagnostic technology, and our failure to obtain funding when needed may force us to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or collaboration efforts or force us to restrict or cease operations.

 

As of September 30, 2019, our cash balance was $1.7 million and our working capital was approximately negative $1.7 million. Due to our recurring losses from operations and the expectation that we will continue to incur losses in the future, we will be required to raise additional capital to complete the development and commercialization of our current product candidates and to pay off our obligations. To date, to fund our operations and develop and commercialize our products, we have relied primarily on equity and debt financings. When we seek additional capital, we may seek to sell additional equity and/or debt securities or to obtain a credit facility, which we may not be able to do on favorable terms, or at all. Our ability to obtain additional financing will be subject to a number of factors, including market conditions, our operating performance and investor sentiment. If we are unable to raise additional capital when required or on acceptable terms, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development and/or commercialization of one or more of our product candidates, restrict or cease our operations or obtain funds by entering into agreements on unattractive terms.

 

We have incurred losses since our inception and expect to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We cannot be certain that we will achieve or sustain profitability.

 

We have incurred losses since our inception and expect to incur losses in the future. As of September 30, 2019, we had a net loss of $9.5 million, negative working capital of $1.7 million and net cash used in operating activities of $7.0 million. To date, we have experienced negative cash flow from development of our diagnostic technology, as well as from the costs associated with establishing a laboratory and building a sales force to market our products and services. We expect to incur substantial net losses for the foreseeable future to further develop and commercialize our diagnostic technology. We also expect that our selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to increase due to the additional costs associated with market development activities and expanding our staff to sell and support our products. Our ability to achieve or, if achieved, sustain profitability is based on numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the market acceptance of our products, competitive product development and our market penetration and margins. We may never be able to generate sufficient revenue to achieve or, if achieved, sustain profitability.

 

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with further development and commercialization of our diagnostic technology and any future tests, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if ever. We may never become profitable and you may never receive a return on an investment in our securities. An investor in our securities must carefully consider the substantial challenges, risks and uncertainties inherent in the development and commercialization of tests in the medical diagnostic industry. We may never successfully commercialize our diagnostic technology or any future tests, and our business may fail.  

 

We have been, and may continue to be, subject to costly litigation.

 

We have been, and may continue to be, subject to legal proceedings. Due to the nature of our business and our lack of sufficient capital resources to pay our obligations on a timely basis, we may be subject to a variety of regulatory investigations, claims, lawsuits and other proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. The results of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty due to the uncertainty inherent in litigation, including the effects of discovery of new evidence or advancement of new legal theories, the difficulty of predicting decisions of judges and juries and the possibility that decisions may be reversed on appeal. Such litigation has been, and in the future, could be, costly, time-consuming and distracting to management, result in a diversion of resources and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

In addition, we may settle some litigation through the issuance of equity securities which may result in significant dilution to our stockholders.

 

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The commercial success of our product candidates will depend upon the degree of market acceptance of these products among physicians, patients, health care payors and the medical community and on our ability to successfully market our product candidates.

 

Our products may never gain significant acceptance in the marketplace and, therefore, may never generate substantial revenue or profits for us. Our ability to achieve commercial market acceptance for our existing and future products will depend on several factors, including:

 

  · our ability to convince the medical community of the clinical utility of our products and their potential advantages over existing diagnostics technology;

 

  · the willingness of physicians and patients to utilize our products; and

 

  · the agreement by commercial third-party payors and government payors to reimburse our products, the scope and amount of which will affect patients’ willingness or ability to pay for our products and will likely heavily influence physicians’ decisions to recommend our products.

   

In addition, physicians may rely on guidelines issued by industry groups, such as the NCCN, medical societies, such as the College of American Pathologists, or CAP, or other key oncology-related organizations before utilizing any diagnostic test. Although we have a study underway to demonstrate the clinical utility of our existing products, none of our products are, and may never be, listed in any such guidelines.

 

We believe that publications of scientific and medical results in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at leading conferences are critical to the broad adoption of our products. Publication in leading medical journals is subject to a peer-review process, and peer reviewers may not consider the results of studies involving our products sufficiently novel or worthy of publication. The failure to be listed in physician guidelines or to be published in peer-reviewed journals could limit the adoption of our products. Failure to achieve widespread market acceptance of our products would materially harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

If we cannot compete successfully with our competitors, including new entrants in the market, we may be unable to increase or sustain our revenue or achieve and sustain profitability.

 

The medical diagnostic industry is intensely competitive and characterized by rapid technological progress. We face significant competition from competitors ranging in size from diversified global companies with significant research and development resources to small, specialized firms whose narrower product lines may allow them to be more effective in deploying related PCR technology in the genetic diagnostic industry. Our closest competitors fall largely into two groups, consisting of companies that specialize in oncology and offer directly competing services to our diagnostic services, offering their services to oncologists and pathology departments within hospitals, as well as large commercial companies that offer a wide variety of laboratory tests that range from simple chemistry tests to complex genetic testing. The technologies associated with the molecular diagnostics industry are evolving rapidly and there is intense competition within such industry. Certain molecular diagnostics companies have established technologies that may be competitive to our product candidates and any future tests that we develop. Some of these tests may use different approaches or means to obtain diagnostic results, which could be more effective or less expensive than our tests for similar indications. Moreover, these and other future competitors have or may have considerably greater resources than we do in terms of technology, sales, marketing, commercialization and capital resources. These competitors may have substantial advantages over us in terms of research and development expertise, experience in clinical studies, experience in regulatory issues, brand name exposure and expertise in sales and marketing as well as in operating central laboratory services. Many of these organizations have financial, marketing and human resources greater than ours; therefore, there can be no assurance that we can successfully compete with present or potential competitors or that such competition will not have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.

 

In July 2017, we commenced a study to demonstrate the impact of academic pathology expertise on diagnostic accuracy. There is no assurance that this study, or other studies or trials we may conduct, will demonstrate favorable results. If the results of this study, or other studies or trials we may conduct, demonstrate unfavorable or inconclusive results, customers may choose our competitors’ products over our products and our commercial opportunities may be reduced or eliminated.

 

We believe that many of our competitors spend significantly more on research and development-related activities than we do. Our competitors may discover new diagnostic tools or develop existing technologies to compete with our diagnostic technology. Our commercial opportunities will be reduced or eliminated if these competing products are more effective, are more convenient or are less expensive than our product candidates.

 

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We may not be able to develop new products or enhance the capabilities of our systems to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and customer requirements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

Our success depends on our ability to develop new products and applications for our diagnostic technology in existing and new markets, while improving the performance and cost-effectiveness of our systems. New technologies, techniques or products could emerge that might offer better combinations of price and performance than our current or future products and systems. Existing or future markets for our products, as well as potential markets for our diagnostic product candidates, are characterized by rapid technological change and innovation. It is critical to our success that we anticipate changes in technology and customer requirements and successfully introduce new, enhanced and competitive technologies to meet our customers’ and prospective customers’ needs on a timely and cost-effective basis. At the same time, however, we must carefully manage the introduction of new products. If customers believe that such products will offer enhanced features or be sold for a more attractive price, they may delay purchases until such products are available. We may also have excess or obsolete inventory of older products as we transition to new products and our experience in managing product transitions is very limited. If we do not successfully innovate and introduce new technology into our product lines or effectively manage the transitions to new product offerings, our revenues and results of operations will be adversely impacted.

 

Competitors may respond more quickly and effectively than we do to new or changing opportunities, technologies, standards or customer requirements. We anticipate that we will face increased competition in the future as existing companies and competitors develop new or improved products and as new companies enter the market with new technologies.

 

We are subject to concentrations of revenue risk and concentrations of credit risk in accounts receivable.

 

We have had certain customers whose revenue individually represented 10% or more of our total revenue, or whose accounts receivable balances individually represented 10% or more of our total accounts receivable.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2019, two customers represented approximately 29% of our total revenue and for the three months ended September 30, 2018 one customer accounted for 17% of our total revenue. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, one customer accounted for 23% and 36% of our total revenue, respectively.  We expect to maintain the relationship with these customers, however, the loss of, or significant decrease in demand from, any of our top customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, one customer accounted for 10% and 23% of our total accounts receivable, respectively, and another customer accounted for 11% and less than 10% our total accounts receivable, respectively.  The business risks associated with this concentration, including increased credit risks for these and other customers and the possibility of related bad debt write-offs, could negatively affect our margins and profits. Additionally, the loss of any of our top customers, whether through competition or consolidation, or a disruption in sales to such a customer, could result in a decrease of the Company’s future sales, earnings and cash flows.  Generally, we do not require collateral or other securities to support our accounts receivable and while we are directly affected by the financial condition of our customers, management does not believe significant credit risks exist at September 30, 2019. 

 

We currently depend on the services of pathologists and the loss of the services of these pathologists would adversely impact our ability to develop, commercialize and deliver our products.

 

We currently depend on the services of pathologists to review and render their diagnostic interpretation of our test results and to prepare the final diagnostic results that we integrate into our final report for our customers. Although we are in the process of adding new academic partners, it would be difficult to replace the services provided by the pathologists at our current partner if their services became unavailable to us for any reason prior to adding other academic partners. If this academic partner does not successfully carry out its contractual duties or obligations and meet expected deadlines; if this partner needs to be replaced, or if the quality or accuracy of the services provided by the pathologists at this partner were compromised for any reason, we would likely not be able to provide our services in a manner expected by our customers, and our financial results and the commercial prospects for our products could be harmed. The loss of the services of these pathologists would severely harm our ability to develop, commercialize and deliver our products, and our business, financial condition and operating results would be materially adversely affected.

 

We may experience temporary disruptions and delays in processing biological samples at our facilities.

 

We may experience delays in processing biological samples caused by software and other errors. Any delay in processing samples could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We depend upon a limited number of key personnel, and if we are not able to retain them or recruit additional qualified personnel, the commercialization of our product candidates and any future tests that we develop could be delayed or negatively impacted.

 

Our success is largely dependent upon the continued contributions of our officers and employees. Our success also depends in part on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified scientific, commercial and administrative personnel. In order to pursue our test development and commercialization strategies, we will need to attract and hire additional personnel with specialized experience in a number of disciplines, including assay development, laboratory and clinical operations, sales and marketing, billing and reimbursement. There is intense competition for personnel in the fields in which we operate. If we are unable to attract new employees and retain existing employees, the development and commercialization of our product candidates and any future tests could be delayed or negatively impacted. If any of them becomes unable or unwilling to continue in their respective positions, and we are unable to find suitable replacements, our business and financial results could be materially negatively affected.

 

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We will need to increase the size of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in managing growth.

 

We are a small company with 45 full-time employees as of September 30, 2019. Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including the need to identify, attract, retain, motivate and integrate highly skilled personnel. We may increase the number of employees in the future depending on the progress of our development of diagnostic technology. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our product candidates and to compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to manage any future growth effectively. To that end, we must be able to:

 

  · integrate additional management, administrative, manufacturing and regulatory personnel;

 

  · maintain sufficient administrative, accounting and management information systems and controls; and

 

  · hire and train additional qualified personnel.

 

We may not be able to accomplish these tasks, and our failure to accomplish any of them could harm our financial results.

 

We currently have limited experience in marketing products. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities and retain the proper talent to execute on our sales and marketing strategy, we may not be able to generate product revenue.

 

We have developed limited experience in marketing our products and services. We intend to continue to develop our in-house marketing organization and sales force, which will require significant capital expenditures, management resources and time. We will have to compete with other diagnostic companies to recruit, hire, train and retain marketing and sales personnel.

 

If we are unable to further grow our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, we may pursue collaborative arrangements regarding the sales and marketing of our product candidates or future products, however, we may not be able to establish or maintain such collaborative arrangements, or if we are able to do so, they may not have effective sales forces. Any revenue we receive will depend upon the efforts of such third parties, which may not be successful. We may have little or no control over the marketing and sales efforts of such third parties and our revenue from product sales may be lower than if we had commercialized our product candidates ourselves. We also face competition in our search for third parties to assist us with the sales and marketing efforts of our product candidates.

   

Cybersecurity risks could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which may harm our ability to operate effectively and may cause our business and reputation to suffer.

 

Cybersecurity refers to the combination of technologies, processes and procedures established to protect information technology systems and data from unauthorized access, attack, or damage. We rely on our information systems to provide security for processing, transmission and storage of confidential information about our patients, customers and personnel, such as names, addresses and other individually identifiable information protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, (“HIPAA”), other privacy laws. Cyber-attacks are increasingly more common, including in the health care industry. The regulatory environment surrounding information security and privacy is increasingly demanding, with the frequent imposition of new and changing requirements. Compliance with changes in privacy and information security laws and with rapidly evolving industry standards may result in our incurring significant expense due to increased investment in technology and the development of new operational processes.

 

We have not experienced any known attacks on our information technology systems that compromised any confidential information. We maintain our information technology systems with safeguard protection against cyber-attacks including passive intrusion protection, firewalls and virus detection software. However, these safeguards do not ensure that a significant cyber-attack could not occur. Although we have taken steps to protect the security of our information systems and the data maintained in those systems, it is possible that our safety and security measures will not prevent the systems’ improper functioning or damage or the improper access or disclosure of personally identifiable information such as in the event of cyber-attacks.

 

Security breaches, including physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses, attacks by hackers and similar breaches can create system disruptions or shutdowns or the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. If personal information or protected health information is improperly accessed, tampered with or disclosed as a result of a security breach, we may incur significant costs to notify and mitigate potential harm to the affected individuals, and we may be subject to sanctions and civil or criminal penalties if we are found to be in violation of the privacy or security rules under HIPAA or other similar federal or state laws protecting confidential personal information. In addition, a security breach of our information systems could damage our reputation, subject us to liability claims or regulatory penalties for compromised personal information and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Our ability to use net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal tax purposes is subject to limitation and risk that could further limit our ability to utilize our net operating losses.

 

Under U.S. federal income tax law, a corporation’s ability to utilize its net operating losses, or NOLs, to offset future taxable income may be significantly limited if it experiences an “ownership change” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. In general, an ownership change will occur if there is a cumulative change in a corporation’s ownership by “5-percent shareholders” that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. A corporation that experiences an ownership change will generally be subject to an annual limitation on the use of its pre-ownership change NOLs equal to the value of the corporation immediately before the ownership change, multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt rate (subject to certain adjustments). The annual limitation for a taxable year generally is increased by the amount of any “recognized built-in gains” for such year and the amount of any unused annual limitation in a prior year. On December 22, 2017, a law commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the TCJ Act, was enacted in the United States. Certain provisions of the TCJ Act impact the ability to utilize NOLs generated in 2018 and forward; any limitation to our annual use of NOLs could require us to pay a greater amount of U.S. federal (and in some cases, state) income taxes, which could reduce our after-tax income from operations for future taxable years and adversely impact our financial condition.

 

Reimbursement and Regulatory Risks Relating to Our Business

 

Governmental payers and health care plans have taken steps to control costs.

 

Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers have increased their efforts to control the costs of health care services, including clinical testing services. They may reduce fee schedules or limit/exclude coverage for certain types of tests that we perform. Medicaid reimbursement varies by state and is subject to administrative and billing requirements and budget pressures. We expect efforts to reduce reimbursements, impose more stringent cost controls and reduce utilization of testing services will continue. These efforts, including changes in laws or regulations, may have a material adverse impact on our business.

 

Changes in payer mix could have a material adverse impact on our net sales and profitability.

 

Testing services are billed to physicians, patients, government payers such as Medicare, and insurance companies. Tests may be billed to different payers depending on a particular patient’s medical insurance coverage. Government payers have increased their efforts to control the cost, utilization and delivery of health care services as well as reimbursement for laboratory testing services. Further reductions of reimbursement for Medicare and Medicaid services or changes in policy regarding coverage of tests or other requirements for payment, such as prior authorization or a physician or qualified practitioner’s signature on test requisitions, may be implemented from time to time. Reimbursement for the laboratory services component of our business is also subject to statutory and regulatory reduction. Reductions in the reimbursement rates and changes in payment policies of other third party payers may occur as well. Such changes in the past have resulted in reduced payments as well as added costs and have decreased test utilization for the clinical laboratory industry by adding more complex new regulatory and administrative requirements. As a result, increases in the percentage of services billed to government payers could have an adverse impact on our net sales.

  

Our laboratories require ongoing CLIA certification.

 

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or CLIA, extended federal oversight to virtually all clinical laboratories by requiring that they be certified by the federal government or by a federally-approved accreditation agency. The CLIA requires that all clinical laboratories meet quality assurance, quality control and personnel standards. Laboratories must also undergo proficiency testing and are subject to inspections.

 

The sanctions for failure to comply with the CLIA requirements include suspension, revocation or limitation of a laboratory’s CLIA certificate, which is necessary to conduct business, cancellation or suspension of the laboratory’s approval to receive Medicare and/or Medicaid reimbursement, as well as significant fines and/or criminal penalties. The loss or suspension of a CLIA certification, imposition of a fine or other penalties, or future changes in the CLIA law or regulations (or interpretation of the law or regulations) could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

We believe that we are in compliance with all applicable laboratory requirements, but no assurances can be given that our laboratories will pass all future certification inspections.

 

Failure to comply with HIPAA could be costly.

 

HIPAA and associated regulations protect the privacy and security of certain patient health information and establish standards for electronic health care transactions in the United States. These privacy regulations establish federal standards regarding the uses and disclosures of protected health information. Our laboratories are subject to HIPAA and its associated regulations. If we fail to comply with these laws and regulations we could suffer civil and criminal penalties, fines, exclusion from participation in governmental health care programs and the loss of various licenses, certificates and authorizations necessary to operate our patient testing business. We could also incur liabilities from third party claims.

 

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Our failure to comply with any applicable government laws and regulations or otherwise respond to claims relating to improper handling, storage or disposal of hazardous chemicals that we use may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Our research and development and commercial activities involve the controlled use of hazardous materials and chemicals. We are subject to federal, state, local and international laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials and waste products. If we fail to comply with applicable laws or regulations, we could be required to pay penalties or be held liable for any damages that result and this liability could exceed our financial resources. We cannot be certain that accidental contamination or injury will not occur. Any such accident could damage our research and manufacturing facilities and operations, resulting in delays and increased costs.

 

We may become subject to the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, False Claims Act, Civil Monetary Penalties Law and may be subject to analogous provisions of applicable state laws and could face substantial penalties if we fail to comply with such laws.

 

There are several federal laws addressing fraud and abuse that apply to businesses that receive reimbursement from a federal health care program. There are also a number of similar state laws covering fraud and abuse with respect to, for example, private payors, self-pay and insurance. Currently, we receive a substantial percentage of our revenue from private payors and from Medicare. Accordingly, our business is subject to federal fraud and abuse laws, such as the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark Law, the False Claims Act, the Civil Monetary Penalties Law and other similar laws. Moreover, we are already subject to similar state laws. We believe we have operated, and intend to continue to operate, our business in compliance with these laws. However, these laws are subject to modification and changes in interpretation, and are enforced by authorities vested with broad discretion. Federal and state enforcement entities have significantly increased their scrutiny of healthcare companies and providers which has led to investigations, prosecutions, convictions and large settlements. We continually monitor developments in this area. If these laws are interpreted in a manner contrary to our interpretation or are reinterpreted or amended, or if new legislation is enacted with respect to healthcare fraud and abuse, illegal remuneration, or similar issues, we may be required to restructure our affected operations to maintain compliance with applicable law. There can be no assurances that any such restructuring will be possible or, if possible, would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

 

Anti-Kickback Statute

 

A federal law commonly referred to as the “Anti-Kickback Statute” prohibits the knowing and willful offer, payment, solicitation or receipt of remuneration, directly or indirectly, in return for the referral of patients or arranging for the referral of patients, or in return for the recommendation, arrangement, purchase, lease or order of items or services that are covered, in whole or in part, by a federal healthcare program such as Medicare or Medicaid. The term “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value such as gifts, discounts, rebates, waiver of payments or providing anything at less than its fair market value. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or the PPACA, amended the intent requirement of the Anti-Kickback Statute such that a person or entity can be found guilty of violating the statute without actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate the statute. Further, the PPACA now provides that claims submitted in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute constitute false or fraudulent claims for purposes of the federal False Claims Act, or FCA, including the failure to timely return an overpayment. Many states have adopted similar prohibitions against kickbacks and other practices that are intended to influence the purchase, lease or ordering of healthcare items and services reimbursed by a governmental health program or state Medicaid program. Some of these state prohibitions apply to remuneration for referrals of healthcare items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial payors and self-pay patients.

  

Stark Law

 

Section 1877 of the Social Security Act, or the Stark Law, prohibits a physician from referring a patient to an entity for certain “designated health services” reimbursable by Medicare if the physician (or close family members) has a financial relationship with that entity, including an ownership or investment interest, a loan or debt relationship or a compensation relationship, unless an exception to the Stark Law is fully satisfied. The designated health services covered by the law include, among others, laboratory and imaging services. Some states have self-referral laws similar to the Stark Law for Medicaid claims and commercial claims.

 

Violation of the Stark Law may result in prohibition of payment for services rendered, a refund of any Medicare payments for services that resulted from an unlawful referral, $15,000 civil monetary penalties for specified infractions, criminal penalties, and potential exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, and potential false claims liability. The repayment provisions in the Stark Law are not dependent on the parties having an improper intent; rather, the Stark Law is a strict liability statute and any violation is subject to repayment of all amounts arising out of tainted referrals. If physician self-referral laws are interpreted differently or if other legislative restrictions are issued, we could incur significant sanctions and loss of revenues, or we could have to change our arrangements and operations in a way that could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, damage to our reputation, results of operations and financial condition.

 

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False Claims Act

 

The FCA prohibits providers from, among other things, (1) knowingly presenting or causing to be presented, claims for payments from the Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs that are false or fraudulent; (2) knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement to get a false or fraudulent claim paid or approved by the federal government; or (3) knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. The “qui tam” or “whistleblower” provisions of the FCA allow private individuals to bring actions under the FCA on behalf of the government. These private parties are entitled to share in any amounts recovered by the government, and, as a result, the number of “whistleblower” lawsuits that have been filed against providers has increased significantly in recent years. Defendants found to be liable under the FCA may be required to pay three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties ranging between $5,500 and $11,000 for each separate false claim.

 

There are many potential bases for liability under the FCA. The government has used the FCA to prosecute Medicare and other government healthcare program fraud such as coding errors, billing for services not provided, and providing care that is not medically necessary or that is substandard in quality. The PPACA also provides that claims submitted in connection with patient referrals that result from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute constitute false claims for the purpose of the FCA, and some courts have held that a violation of the Stark law can result in FCA liability, as well. In addition, a number of states have adopted their own false claims and whistleblower provisions whereby a private party may file a civil lawsuit in state court. We are required to provide information to our employees and certain contractors about state and federal false claims laws and whistleblower provisions and protections.

 

Civil Monetary Penalties Law

 

The Civil Monetary Penalties Law prohibits, among other things, the offering or giving of remuneration to a Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary that the person or entity knows or should know is likely to influence the beneficiary’s selection of a particular provider or supplier of items or services reimbursable by a federal or state healthcare program. This broad provision applies to many kinds of inducements or benefits provided to patients, including complimentary items, services or transportation that are of more than a nominal value. This law could affect how we have to structure our operations and activities.

 

Products and services offered RUO may be subject to regulatory scrutiny.

 

Certain of our products are currently labeled and sold for RUO and not for the diagnosis or treatment of disease. Because such products are not intended for diagnostic use, and the products do not include clinical or diagnostic claims or provide directions for use as diagnostic products, they are not subject to the same level of regulation by the FDA as medical devices. In particular, while the FDA regulations require that RUO products be appropriately labeled, “For Research Use Only,” the regulations do not subject such products to the FDA’s pre- and post-market controls for medical devices. Pursuant to FDA guidance on RUO products, a company may not make clinical or diagnostic claims about an RUO product or provide clinical directions or clinical support services to customers of RUO products. A product labeled RUO but deemed by the FDA to be intended for clinical diagnostic use may be viewed by the FDA as adulterated and misbranded under the FDCA and subject to FDA enforcement action. The FDA considers the totality of the circumstances surrounding distribution and use of a product labeled as RUO, including how the product is marketed and to whom, when determining its intended use. If the FDA were to disagree with our RUO classification or modify its approach to regulating products labeled for RUO, we could experience reduced revenue or increased compliance and other costs, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. In the event that the FDA requires marketing authorization of our RUO products in the future, the FDA may not ultimately grant any clearance, authorization or approval requested by us in a timely manner, or at all.

  

Intellectual Property Risks Related to Our Business

 

We cannot be certain that measures taken to protect our intellectual property will be effective.

 

We rely upon trade secrets, copyright and trademark laws, non-disclosure agreements and other contractual confidentiality provisions to protect our confidential and proprietary information that we are not seeking patent protection for various reasons. Such measures, however, may not provide adequate protection for our trade secrets or other proprietary information. If such measures do not protect our rights, third parties could use our technology and our ability to compete in the market would be reduced.

 

We depend on certain technologies that are licensed to us. We do not control these technologies and any loss of our rights to them could prevent us from selling some of our products.

 

We have entered into license agreements with third parties for certain licensed technologies that are, or may become, relevant to the products we market, or plan to market, including our license agreement with Dana-Farber pursuant to which we license our ICP technology. In addition, we may in the future elect to license third party intellectual property to further our business objectives and/or as needed for freedom to operate for our products. We do not and will not own the patents, patent applications or other intellectual property rights that are the subject of these licenses. Our rights to use these technologies and employ the inventions claimed in the licensed patents, patent applications and other intellectual property rights are or will be subject to the continuation of and compliance with the terms of those licenses.

 

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We might not be able to obtain licenses to technology or other intellectual property rights that we require. Even if such licenses are obtainable, they may not be available at a reasonable cost or multiple licenses may be needed for the same product (e.g., stacked royalties). We could therefore incur substantial costs related to royalty payments for licenses obtained from third parties, which could negatively affect our gross margins. Further, we could encounter delays in product introductions, or interruptions in product sales, as we develop alternative methods or products. 

  

In some cases, we do not or may not control the prosecution, maintenance, or filing of the patents or patent applications to which we hold licenses, or the enforcement of these patents against third parties. As a result, we cannot be certain that drafting or prosecution of the licensed patents and patent applications by the licensors have been or will be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or will result in valid and enforceable patents and other intellectual property rights. 

 

Third parties may assert ownership or commercial rights to inventions we develop.

 

Third parties may in the future make claims challenging the inventorship or ownership of our intellectual property. For example, third parties that have been introduced to or have benefited from our inventions may attempt to replicate or reverse engineer our products and circumvent ownership of our inventions. In addition, we may face claims that our agreements with employees, contractors, or consultants obligating them to assign intellectual property to us are ineffective, or in conflict with prior or competing contractual obligations of assignment, which could result in ownership disputes regarding intellectual property we have developed or will develop and interfere with our ability to capture the commercial value of such inventions. Litigation may be necessary to resolve an ownership dispute, and if we are not successful, we may be precluded from using certain intellectual property, or may lose our exclusive rights in that intellectual property. Either outcome could have an adverse impact on our business.

 

Third parties may assert that our employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information or misappropriated trade secrets.

 

Although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of a former employer or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.

 

The testing, manufacturing and marketing of medical diagnostic devices entails an inherent risk of product liability and personal injury claims.

 

To date, we have experienced no product liability or personal injury claims, but any such claims arising in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Potential product liability or personal injury claims may exceed the amount of our insurance coverage or may be excluded from coverage under the terms of our policy or limited by other claims under our umbrella insurance policy. Additionally, our existing insurance may not be renewed by us at a cost and level of coverage comparable to that presently in effect, if at all. In the event that we are held liable for a claim against which we are not insured or for damages exceeding the limits of our insurance coverage, such claim could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and thus potentially a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

All of our diagnostic technology development and our clinical services are performed at two laboratories, and in the event either or both of these facilities were to be affected by a termination of the lease or a man-made or natural disaster, our operations could be severely impaired.

 

We are performing all of our diagnostic services in our CLIA laboratory located in New Haven, Connecticut and our research and development operations are based in our facility in Omaha, Nebraska. Despite precautions taken by us, any future natural or man-made disaster at these laboratories, such as a fire, earthquake or terrorist activity, could cause substantial delays in our operations, damage or destroy our equipment and testing samples or cause us to incur additional expenses.

 

In addition, we are leasing the facilities where our laboratories operate. We are currently in compliance with all and any lease obligations, but should the leases terminate for any reason, or if at any time either of the laboratories is moved due to conditions outside our control, it could cause substantial delay in our diagnostics operations, damage or destroy our equipment and biological samples or cause us to incur additional expenses. In the event of an extended shutdown of either laboratory, we may be unable to perform our services in a timely manner or at all and therefore would be unable to operate in a commercially competitive manner. This could harm our operating results and financial condition.

 

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Further, if we have to use a substitute laboratory while our facilities were shut down, we could only use another facility with established state licensure and accreditation under CLIA. We may not be able to find another CLIA-certified facility and comply with applicable procedures, or find any such laboratory that would be willing to perform the tests for us on commercially reasonable terms. Additionally, any new laboratory opened by us would be subject to certification under CLIA and licensure by various states, which would take a significant amount of time and result in delays in our ability to continue our operations.

 

An impairment in the carrying value of our intangible assets could negatively affect our results of operations.

 

A significant portion of our assets are intangible assets which are reviewed at least annually for impairment. If we do not realize our business plan, our intangible assets may become impaired resulting in an impairment loss in our results of operations.

 

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Risks Related to Our Common Stock

 

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, which could negatively affect us and holders of our common stock.

 

There has been, and continues to be, a limited public market for our common stock, and an active trading market for our common stock has not and may never develop or, if developed, be sustained. The trading price of our common stock may be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include:

 

  · actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results:

 

  · actual or anticipated changes in our growth rate relative to our competitors;

 

  · competition from existing products or new products that may emerge;

 

  · announcements by us, our academic institution partners, or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, collaborations, or capital commitments;

 

  · failure to meet or exceed financial estimates and projections of the investment community or that we provide to the public and the revision of any financial estimates and projections that we provide to the public;

 

  · issuance of new or updated research or reports by securities analysts;

 

  · fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;

 

  · share price and volume fluctuations attributable to inconsistent trading volume levels of our shares;

 

  · additions, transitions or departures of key management or scientific personnel;

 

  · disputes or other developments related to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters, and our ability to obtain patent protection for our technologies;

 

  · changes to reimbursement levels by commercial third-party payors and government payors, including Medicare, and any announcements relating to reimbursement levels;

 

  · Government shut-down or partial shut-downs impacting the financial markets, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other related agencies;

 

  · announcement or expectation of additional debt or equity financing efforts;

 

  · sales of our common stock by us, our insiders, or our other stockholders; and

 

  · general economic and market conditions

 

These and other market and industry factors may cause the market price and demand for our common stock to fluctuate substantially, regardless of our actual operating performance, which may limit or prevent investors from readily selling their shares of our common stock and may otherwise negatively affect the liquidity of our common stock. In addition, the stock market in general has experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. In the past, when the market price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have instituted securities class action litigation against the company that issued the stock. If any of our stockholders brought a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit. Such a lawsuit could also divert the time and attention of our management.

 

The price of our stock may be vulnerable to manipulation.

 

We believe our common stock has been the subject of significant short selling by certain market participants. Short sales are transactions in which a market participant sells a security that it does not own. To complete the transaction, the market participant must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The market participant is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of required replacement. If the price at the time of replacement is lower than the price at which the security was originally sold by the market participant, then the market participant will realize a gain on the transaction. Thus, it is in the market participant’s interest for the market price of the underlying security to decline as much as possible during the period prior to the time of replacement.

 

Because our unrestricted public float has been small relative to other issuers, previous short selling efforts have impacted, and may in the future continue to impact, the value of our stock in an extreme and volatile manner to our detriment and the detriment of our shareholders. Efforts by certain market participants to manipulate the price of our common stock for their personal financial gain may cause our stockholders to lose a portion of their investment, may make it more difficult for us to raise equity capital when needed without significantly diluting existing stockholders, and may reduce demand from new investors to purchase shares of our stock.

 

If we cannot continue to satisfy Nasdaq listing maintenance requirements and other rules, our securities may be delisted, which could negatively impact the price of our securities.

 

Although our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, we may be unable to continue to satisfy the listing maintenance requirements and rules. If we are unable to satisfy The NASDAQ Stock Market, or NASDAQ, criteria for maintaining our listing, our securities could be subject to delisting.

 

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On March 26, 2019, we were notified by the Listing Qualifications Staff of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC that we did not meet the Bid Price Requirement and that the Staff had determined to delist our securities unless we timely request a hearing before the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel. On April 25, 2019, prior to the hearing, we filed the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware, pursuant to which we effected a reverse stock split. The reverse stock split became effective as of 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on April 26, 2019. The Common Stock began trading on a split-adjusted basis on the Nasdaq Capital Market at the market open on April 29, 2019.   On May 2, 2019 the Company had a hearing with the Hearing Panel Nasdaq regarding the reverse stock split and the steps undertaken by the Company in order to regain compliance with the minimum bid price of $1.00. On May 15, 2019, we received a letter from the NASDAQ stating that because the Company’s common stock maintained a closing bid price at or above $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive business days, the Company had regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market, as set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), and that the matter is now closed.

   

Although we currently meet the Nasdaq requirements, there is risk that our stock price could decline below $1.00 again in the future, which may result in further delisting risk if we were to not be in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement.

 

If Nasdaq delists our securities, we could face significant consequences, including:

 

  · a limited availability for market quotations for our securities;

 

  · reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;

 

  · a determination that our common stock is a “penny stock,” which will require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in reduced trading;

 

  · activity in the secondary trading market for our common stock;

 

  · limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and

 

  · a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

 

In addition, we would no longer be subject to Nasdaq rules, including rules requiring us to have a certain number of independent directors and to meet other corporate governance standards.

 

Increased costs associated with corporate governance compliance may significantly impact our results of operations.

 

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses due to our compliance with regulations and disclosure obligations applicable to us, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as rules implemented by the SEC, and Nasdaq. The SEC and other regulators have continued to adopt new rules and regulations and make additional changes to existing regulations that require our compliance. In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act, was enacted. There are significant corporate governance and executive compensation related provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act that have required the SEC to adopt additional rules and regulations in these areas. Stockholder activism, the current political environment, and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact, in ways we cannot currently anticipate, the manner in which we operate our business. Our management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance programs and monitoring of public company reporting obligations, and as a result of the new corporate governance and executive compensation related rules, regulations, and guidelines prompted by the Dodd-Frank Act, and further regulations and disclosure obligations expected in the future, we will likely need to devote additional time and costs to comply with such compliance programs and rules. These rules and regulations will cause us to incur significant legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate, and weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls could adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, which we may be required to include in our periodic reports that we file with the SEC under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and could harm our operating results, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, or result in a restatement of our prior period financial statements. If we are not able to demonstrate compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that our internal control over financial reporting is perceived as inadequate, or that we are unable to produce timely or accurate financial statements, investors may lose confidence in our operating results, and the price of our common stock could decline.

 

We are required to comply with certain of the SEC rules that implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This assessment needs to include the disclosure of any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified by our management or our independent registered public accounting firm. During the evaluation and testing process, if we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting or if we are unable to complete our evaluation, testing, and any required remediation in a timely fashion, we will be unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective.

 

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These developments could make it more difficult for us to retain qualified members of our Board of Directors, or qualified executive officers. We are presently evaluating and monitoring regulatory developments and cannot estimate the timing or magnitude of additional costs we may incur as a result. To the extent these costs are significant, our general and administrative expenses are likely to increase. 

  

We have not paid dividends on our common stock in the past and do not expect to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any return on investment may be limited to the value of our common stock.

 

No cash dividends have been paid on our common stock. We expect that any income received from operations will be devoted to our future operations and growth. We do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the near future. Payment of dividends would depend upon our profitability at the time, cash available for those dividends, and other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on an investor’s investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates. Investors in our common stock should not rely on an investment in our company if they require dividend income.

 

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for our common stock relies in part on the research and reports that equity research analysts publish about us and our business. We do not control these analysts. The price of our common stock could decline if one or more equity research analysts downgrade our common stock or if they issue other unfavorable commentary or cease publishing reports about us or our business.

 

The sale or issuance of our common stock to Lincoln Park may cause significant dilution and the sale of the shares of common stock acquired by Lincoln Park, or the perception that such sales may occur, could cause the price of our common stock to fall.

 

On September 7, 2018, we entered into the LP Purchase Agreement pursuant to which Lincoln Park has agreed to purchase up to an aggregate of $10,000,000 of our common stock (subject to certain limitations) from time to time over the term of the LP Purchase Agreement.

 

On December 20, 2018 we obtained shareholder approval of the $10,000,000 Lincoln Park Purchase Agreement. Per the terms of the LP Purchase Agreement, we may direct Lincoln Park to purchase up to $10,000,000 worth of shares of our common stock under our agreement over a 24-month period

 

The extent we rely on Lincoln Park as a source of funding will depend on a number of factors including, the prevailing market price of our common stock and the extent to which we are able to secure working capital from other sources. The purchase price for the shares that we may sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock. Depending on market liquidity at the time, sales of such shares may cause the trading price of our common stock to fall. We generally have the right to control the timing and amount of any future sales of our shares to Lincoln Park. Additional sales of our common stock, if any, to Lincoln Park will depend upon market conditions and other factors to be determined by us. We may ultimately decide to sell to Lincoln Park all, some or none of the additional shares of our common stock that may be available for us to sell pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If and when we do sell shares to Lincoln Park, after Lincoln Park has acquired the shares, Lincoln Park may resell all, some or none of those shares at any time or from time to time in its discretion. Therefore, sales to Lincoln Park by us could result in substantial dilution to the interests of other holders of our common stock. Additionally, the sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock to Lincoln Park, or the anticipation of such sales, could make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and at a price that we might otherwise wish to effect sales.

 

As of January 9, 2020, we have already received approximately $8.3 million from the sale of 3,226,667 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park.

 

The issuance of our common stock to creditors or litigants may cause significant dilution to our stockholders and cause the price of our common stock to fall.

 

We may seek to settle outstanding obligations to vendors, debtholders or litigants in any litigation through the issuance of our common stock or other security to such persons. Such issuances may cause significant dilution to our stockholders and cause the price of our common stock to fall.

  

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, including the sections entitled “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business,” contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s belief and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

  · our use of the net proceeds from this offering;

 

  · the progress, timing and amount of expenses associated with our development and commercialization activities;

 

  · our plans and ability to develop and commercialize new products and services, and make improvements to our existing products and services;

 

  · our ability to protect our intellectual property and operate our business without infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others;

 

  · our ability or the amount of time it will take to achieve successful reimbursement of our existing and future products and services from third-party payors, such as commercial insurance companies and health maintenance organizations, and government insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid;

 

  · the accuracy of our estimates of the size and characteristics of the markets that may be addressed by our products;

 

  · the success of our study to demonstrate the impact of academic pathology expertise on diagnostic accuracy, and any other studies or trials we may conduct;

 

  · our intention to seek, and our ability to establish, strategic collaborations or partnerships for the development or sale of our products and the effectiveness of such collaborations or partnerships;

 

  · our expectations as to future financial performance, expense levels and liquidity sources;

 

  · our anticipated cash needs and our estimates regarding our capital requirements and our needs for additional financing, as well as our ability to obtain such additional financing on reasonable terms;

 

  · our ability to compete with other companies that are or may be developing or selling products that are competitive with our products;

 

  · our ability to build a sales force to market our products and services, and anticipated increases in our sales and marketing costs due to an expansion in our sales force and marketing activities;

 

  · federal and state regulatory requirements, including potential United States Food and Drug Administration regulation of our products or future products;

 

  · anticipated trends and challenges in our potential markets;

 

  · our ability to attract and retain key personnel; and

 

  · other factors discussed elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could materially affect results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements in this prospectus represent our views as of the date of this prospectus. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

This prospectus relates to shares of our common stock that may be offered and sold from time to time by Lincoln Park. We will receive no proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by Lincoln Park in this offering. We may receive up to $10,000,000 aggregate gross proceeds from any sales we make to Lincoln Park pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of our common stock to Lincoln Park pursuant to the Purchase Agreement will be up to approximately $9,808,000 over an approximately 24-month period, assuming that we sell the full amount of our common stock that we have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Lincoln Park under that agreement and other estimated fees and expenses. See “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus for more information. As of the date of this prospectus, we have $1,749,242 of aggregate proceeds remaining having already received approximately $8,250,758 from the sale 3,226,667 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park exclusive of the 920,654 shares of common stock registered hereunder.

 

We expect to use any proceeds that we receive under the Purchase Agreement for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

22

 

  

SELLING STOCKHOLDER

 

This prospectus relates to the possible resale by the selling stockholder, Lincoln Park, of shares of common stock that have been or may be issued to Lincoln Park pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. We are filing the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part pursuant to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, which we entered into with Lincoln Park on September 7, 2018 concurrently with our execution of the Purchase Agreement, in which we agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to sales by Lincoln Park of the shares of our common stock that have been or may be issued to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement.

 

Lincoln Park, as the selling stockholder, may, from time to time, offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus any or all of the shares that we have issued or may sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement. The selling stockholder may sell some, all or none of its shares. We do not know how long the selling stockholder will hold the shares before selling them, and we currently have no agreements, arrangements or understandings with the selling stockholder regarding the sale of any of the shares.

 

The following table presents information regarding the selling stockholder and the shares that it may offer and sell from time to time under this prospectus. The table is prepared based on information supplied to us by the selling stockholder, and reflects its holdings as of January 9, 2020. Neither Lincoln Park nor any of its affiliates has held a position or office, or had any other material relationship, with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder.

 

Selling Stockholder   Shares
Beneficially
Owned Before
this
Offering
   

Percentage of

Outstanding
Shares
Beneficially
Owned Before
this Offering

   

Shares to be
Sold in this
Offering
Assuming
The
Company
issues the
Maximum
Number of

Shares Under
the

Purchase
Agreement

   

Percentage of
Outstanding
Shares

Beneficially

Owned After this

Offering

 
Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (1)     68,412 (2)     0.85 %(3)     920,654 (4)     0.85 %
                                 

 

  (1) Josh Scheinfeld and Jonathan Cope, the Managing Members of Lincoln Park Capital, LLC, are deemed to be beneficial owners of all of the shares of common stock owned by Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC. Messrs. Cope and Scheinfeld have shared voting and investment power over the shares being offered under the prospectus filed with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Purchase Agreement. Lincoln Park Capital, LLC is not a licensed broker dealer or an affiliate of a licensed broker dealer.

 

  (2) Represents an aggregate of  68,412 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase our common stock, at certain fixed prices (that may be subject to adjustment as provided in such warrants), which warrants were acquired by Lincoln Park in connection with prior public offerings of securities. Lincoln Park may not convert these notes or exercise these warrants if such shares, when aggregated with all other shares of our common stock then beneficially owned by Lincoln Park and its affiliates, would result in Lincoln Park and its affiliates having beneficial ownership of more than 4.99% of the then total outstanding shares of our common stock, as calculated in accordance with the terms of such warrants. In accordance with rule 13d-3(d) under the Exchange Act, we have excluded from the number of shares beneficially owned prior to the offering all of the shares of common stock that Lincoln Park may be required to purchase pursuant to the Purchase Agreement because the issuance of such shares is solely at our discretion and is subject to certain conditions, the satisfaction of all of which are outside of Lincoln Park’s control, including the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part becoming and remaining effective. Furthermore, under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, issuances and sales of shares of our common stock to Lincoln Park are subject to certain limitations on the amounts we may sell to Lincoln Park at any time, including the Exchange Cap and the Beneficial Ownership Cap. See the description under the heading “The Lincoln Park Transaction” for more information about the Purchase Agreement.

 

  (3) Based on 8,018,117 outstanding shares of our common stock as of January 9, 2020.

 

  (4) Although the Purchase Agreement provides that we may sell up to $10,000,000 of our common stock to Lincoln Park, only 920,654 shares of our common stock are being offered under this prospectus, which may be sold by us to Lincoln Park at our discretion from time to time over a 24-month period commencing after the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, including that the SEC has declared effective the registration statement that includes this prospectus. Depending on the price per share at which we sell our common stock to Lincoln Park pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we may need to sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement more shares of our common stock than are offered under this prospectus in order to receive aggregate gross proceeds equal to the $10,000,000 total commitment available to us under the Purchase Agreement. If we choose to do so, we must first register for resale under the Securities Act such additional shares. The number of shares ultimately offered for resale by Lincoln Park is dependent upon the number of shares we sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement. As of the date of this prospectus, we have $1,749,242 of aggregate proceeds remaining having already received approximately $8,250,758 from the sale of 3,226,667 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1A (File No.: 333-227364) filed on September 13, 2018, registration statement on Form S-1 (333-229478) filed on February 1, 2019 and registration statement on Form S-1 (333-233175) filed on August 9, 2019.

  

23

 

 

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

 

On June 29, 2017, Precipio (then known as “Transgenomic, Inc.”, or “Transgenomic”), completed a reverse merger or, the Merger, with Precipio Diagnostics, LLC, a privately held Delaware limited liability company or, Precipio Diagnostics, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 12, 2016, as amended on February 2, 2017 and June 29, 2017, by and among Transgenomic, Precipio Diagnostics and New Haven Labs Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Transgenomic.

 

Since June 30, 2017, the trading date following the consummation of the Merger, our common stock has traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “PRPO.”

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the closing prices of our common stock as reported on the market exchange noted above. The per share prices reflect a 1-for-15 reverse stock split effected on April 26, 2019:

 

    Fiscal Year 2020  
    High     Low  
First Quarter (through January 9, 2020)   $ 1.99     $ 1.90  
                 

 

    Fiscal Year 2019  
    High     Low  
First Quarter   $ 3.90     $ 1.83  
Second Quarter   $ 9.15     $ 1.89  
Third Quarter   $ 4.08     $ 2.18  
Fourth Quarter   $ 2.60     $ 1.81  

 

    Fiscal Year 2018  
    High     Low  
First Quarter   $ 19.50     $ 7.15  
Second Quarter   $ 8.19     $ 5.43  
Third Quarter   $ 7.58     $ 4.92  
Fourth Quarter   $ 6.03     $ 2.25  

 

On January 9, 2020, the closing price of our common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market was $1.90 per share. As of January 9, 2020, there were approximately 58 holders of record and 8,018,117 shares of our common stock outstanding.

  

24

 

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2019:

 

  · on an actual basis

 

  · on a pro forma basis to give effect to:

 

  · the receipt of approximately $1,689,000 subsequent to September 30, 2019, as a result of the sale of 810,000 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (333-233175) declared effective on August 21, 2019;

 

  · the issuance of 72,000 shares of our common stock, subsequent to September 30, 2019, as a result of the conversion of convertible promissory notes, totaling approximately $150,000.

 

  · on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give further effect to (i) our sale of 920,654 shares of common stock in this offering and our receipt of the net proceeds therefrom at an assumed public offering price of $1.90 per share, representing the closing price of our common stock on January 9, 2020, after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us:

 

The following information is illustrative only, and our cash and capitalization following the completion of the sale to Lincoln Park of the shares registered for resale pursuant to this prospectus will change based on the per share price of the common stock sold to Lincoln Park. You should read this table in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2019.

 

    As of September 30, 2019        
    Actual     Pro Forma     Pro Forma
As Adjusted
 
    (in thousands)        
Cash   $ 1,683     $ 3,372     $ 5,096  
Current maturities of long-term debt     454       454       454  
Current maturities of convertible notes, less debt discounts and debt issuance costs     34       28       28  
Long-term debt     207       207       207  
Common stock warrant liability and derivative liability     1.773       1,773       1,773  
Finance leases and operating leases (current & long term)     771       771       771  
Stockholders' equity:                        
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 15,000,000 shares authorized, actual, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted, 47 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019, actual, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted                  
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 150,000,000 shares authorized, actual, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted; 7,136,117 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019, actual; 8,018,117 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; 8,938,771 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted;     71       80       89  
Additional paid-in capital     72,381       74,068       75,783  
Accumulated deficit     (57,158 )     (57,158 )     (57,158 )
Total stockholders' equity     15,294       16,990       18,714  
Total capitalization   $  12,055     $ 13,757     $ 15,481  

 
 

25

 

  

The preceding data is based on 7,136,117 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2019. This number excludes the following, all of which, if issued by the Company, would be dilutive to our stockholders:

 

  · 493,908 common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2019, at a weighted average exercise price of $8.30 per share;

 

  · 909,189 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that were outstanding as of September 30, 2019 at a weighted-average exercise price of $19.46 per share;

 

  · 25,293 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of common shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan after the date of this prospectus ;

 

  · 20,888 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of 47 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock; and

 

  · 301,734 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of convertible promissory notes outstanding as of September 30, 2019, which amount may increase significantly if certain notes are not repaid or converted within 180 days of the issuance or if there is a decline in the Company’s stock price.

  

Also, to the extent that we issue any common stock to vendors, lenders, litigants or potential litigants, the issuance of such securities could result in significant dilution to our stockholders.

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our common stock, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. As of September 30, 2019, our historical net tangible book value was $(3.2) million, or $(0.45) per share of common stock, based on 7,136,117 shares of our common stock outstanding at September 30, 2019. Our historical net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets reduced by the amount of our total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2019.

 

Our pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2019 was $(1.5), million, or $(0.19), per share of common stock. Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding, taking into account the receipt of approximately $1,689,000 subsequent to September 30, 2019, as a result of the sale of 810,000 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park and the issuance of 72,000 shares of our common stock subsequent to September 30, 2019 as a result of the conversion of convertible promissory notes, totaling approximately $150,000. After giving effect to the sale by us of 920,654 shares of our common stock in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $1.90 per share, the closing price of our common stock on January 9, 2020, after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2019 would have been $0.2 million, or $0.02 per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $0.21 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $1.88 per share to our new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:

 

Assumed public offering price per share           $ 1.90  
Historical net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2019   $ (0.45 )        
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to the pro forma adjustments described above   $ 0.26          
                 
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2019   $ (0.19 )        
Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering   $ 0.21          
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering             0.02  
Dilution per share to new investors in this offering           $ 1.88  

 

  

26

 

 

The preceding data is based on 7,136,117 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2019. This number excludes the following, all of which, if issued by the Company, would be dilutive to our stockholders:

 

  · 493,908 common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2019, at a weighted average exercise price of $8.30 per share;

 

  · 909,189 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that were outstanding as of September 30, 2019 at a weighted-average exercise price of $19.46 per share;

 

  · 25,293 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of common shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan after the date of this prospectus;

 

  · 20,888 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of 47 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock; and

 

  · 301,734 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of convertible promissory notes outstanding as of September 30, 2019, which amount may increase significantly if certain notes are not repaid or converted within 180 days of the issuance or if there is a decline in the Company’s stock price.

 

To the extent that stock options are exercised or new stock options are issued under our equity incentive plans, there will be further dilution to investors purchasing common stock in this offering. In addition, we need to raise additional capital because of market conditions and strategic considerations. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

Also, to the extent that we issue any common stock to vendors, lenders, litigants or potential litigants, the issuance of such securities could result in significant dilution to our stockholders.

   

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid dividends on our common stock. We do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. Any future determination to declare dividends will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on various factors, including applicable laws, our results of operations, financial condition, future prospects and any other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Investors should not purchase our common stock with the expectation of receiving cash dividends.

 

27

 

  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of January 9, 2020, there were 8,018,117 shares of our common stock outstanding and 47 shares of Series B preferred stock outstanding convertible into an aggregate of 20,888 shares of common stock. In addition, as of January 9, 2020 options to purchase 501,148 shares of our common stock were outstanding at a weighted average exercise price of $8.21 per share, 18,053 shares of our common stock were reserved for future grants under our stock option plans and warrants to purchase 909,189 shares of our common stock were outstanding at a weighted average exercise price of $19.46 per share.

 

The following description of our capital stock and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated by-laws and certificate of designation are summaries of material terms and provisions and are qualified by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated by-laws and certificates of designation, copies of which have been previously filed with the SEC.

 

Common Stock

 

We may issue shares of our common stock from time to time. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Subject to the preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. Upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our company, holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets which are legally available for distribution after payment of all debts and other liabilities and liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of 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 have designated and issued and may designate and issue in the future.

 

Preferred Stock

 

We may issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series. The 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized are undesignated as to preferences, privileges and restrictions, other than as set forth herein. Our Board of Directors will determine the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of each wholly unissued series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, including dividend rights, conversion rights, terms of redemption or repurchase, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series.

 

The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the state of our incorporation, provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class (or, in some cases, as a series) on an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation if the amendment would change the par value, the number of authorized shares of the class or the powers, preferences or special rights of the class or series so as to adversely affect the class or series, as the case may be. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

 

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 our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, financings and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.  

 

Series B Preferred Stock

 

On August 25, 2017, we filed a Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Certificate of Designation”) with the State of Delaware, which designates 6,900 shares of our preferred stock as Series B Senior Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”). The Series B Preferred Stock has a stated value of $1,000 per share and a par value of $0.01 per share.

 

28

 

 

If, prior to the second anniversary of the original issue date of the Series B Preferred Stock, we sell or grant any option to purchase or sell or grant any right to reprice, or otherwise dispose of or issue, any of our common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of our common stock at an effective price per share that is lower than the then effective conversion price, then the conversion price will be reduced to equal the higher of (A) such lower price or (B) $0.75, subject to an exception for the following types of issuances (i) issuances to our employees, officers or directors pursuant to any stock or option plan adopted by a majority of the non-employee members of our Board of Directors or committee thereof, (ii) issuances upon the exercise or exchange of any securities issued in connection with the August 2017 Offering or convertible into shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the date of the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the August 2017 Offering, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of the underwriting agreement to increase the number of securities or decrease the exercise, exchange or conversion price, or (iii) issuances pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our Board of Directors, provided that such securities are “restricted securities” under Rule 144 and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith during the 90-day period following the original issuance date of the Series B Preferred Stock, and provided that any such issuance is to a person or its equity holders that is an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of our company and will provide our company with additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but will not include a transaction in which we issue securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities (the issuances referred to in (i) through (iii) above, the “Exempt Issuances”). 

  

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

 

In addition, in the event we consummate a merger or consolidation with or into another person or other reorganization event in which our shares of common stock are converted or exchanged for securities, cash or other property, or we sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets or we or another person acquire 50% or more of our outstanding shares of common stock, then following such event, the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Shares the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property which the holders would have received had they converted the Series B Preferred Shares immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. Any successor to us or surviving entity is required to assume the obligations under the Series B Preferred Shares.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event we are not the surviving entity of a fundamental transaction or in the event of a reverse merger or similar transaction where we are the surviving entity, then, automatically and contemporaneous with the consummation of such transaction, the surviving entity (or our company in the event of a reverse merger or similar transaction) will purchase the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock by paying and issuing, in the event that such consideration given to the holders of our common stock is non-cash consideration, as the case may be, to each holder an amount equal to the cash consideration plus the non-cash consideration in the form issuable to the holders of our common stock (in the case of a reverse merger or similar transaction, shares of common stock issuable to the holders of the acquired company) per share of our common stock in the fundamental transaction multiplied by the number of shares of common stock underlying the shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by the holder on the date immediately prior to the consummation of the fundamental transaction. Such amount will be paid in the same form and mix (whether securities, cash or property, or any combination of the foregoing) as the consideration received by holders of our common stock in the fundamental transaction.

 

With certain exceptions, as described in the Series B Certificate of Designation, shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or Series B Preferred Shares, have no voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Series B Preferred Shares remain outstanding, the Series B Certificate of Designation provides that we may not, without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the then-outstanding Series B Preferred Shares, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series B Preferred Shares or alter or amend the Series B Certificate of Designation, (b) increase the number of authorized shares of Series B Preferred Shares or (c) amend our Certificate of Incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of holders of Series B Preferred Shares.

 

Each Series B Preferred Share is convertible at any time at the holder’s option into a number of shares of common stock equal to $1,000 divided by the Series B Conversion Price. The “Series B Conversion Price” was initially $37.50 and is subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, distributions, subdivisions and combinations and, as discussed above, certain dilutive issuances of our common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of our common stock. In November 2017, at the time of our issuance of our Series C Preferred Stock, the conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock was reduced from $37.50 per share to $21.00 per share. In February 2018, we entered into an equity purchase agreement and, as a result, the conversion price of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was automatically adjusted from the reduced $21.00 per share price to $15.60 per share. On March 21, 2018, the Series B Conversion Price was reduced from $15.60 to $11.25 as a result of our letter agreement with certain holders of shares of our Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock (the “Letter Agreement”). In April 2018, as a result of a securities purchase agreement pursuant to which we agreed to issue up to approximately $3,296,703 in Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes, the conversion price of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was automatically adjusted from $11.25 per share to $4.50 per share On November 29, 2018, as a result of the Amendment Agreement, the conversion price of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was automatically adjusted from $4.50 per share to $2.25 per share and is subject to further adjustment as set forth in the Series B Certificate of Designation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Series B Certificate of Designation further provides that we may not effect any conversion of Series B Preferred Shares, with certain exceptions, to the extent that, after giving effect to an attempted conversion, the holder of Series B Preferred Shares (together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or any of such holder’s affiliates) would beneficially own a number of shares of our common stock in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the shares of our common stock then outstanding after giving effect to such exercise (the “Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that upon notice to us, the holder may increase or decrease the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation, provided that in no event may the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 9.99% and any increase in the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until 61 days following notice of such increase from the holder to us. 

  

As of January 9, 2020, 47 shares of Series B Preferred Stock are outstanding. 

  

29

 

 

Antitakeover Effects of Delaware Law and Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws

 

Certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and, as a consequence, they might also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions are also designed in part to encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. These provisions might also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. However, we believe that the advantages gained by protecting our ability to negotiate with any unsolicited and potentially unfriendly acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals, including those priced above the then-current market value of our common stock, because, among other reasons, the negotiation of such proposals could improve their terms.

 

Delaware Takeover Statute

 

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

 

  · before the stockholder became interested, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

  · upon consummation of the transaction which 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 for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

  · at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds 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, transfer, lease, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation;

 

  · 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 entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.

 

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Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us and encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with our board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions include the items described below.

 

Board composition and filling vacancies. In accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board is divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms, with one class being elected each year. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that directors may be removed only for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders the majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Furthermore, any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of our board, may only be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors then in office even if less than a quorum.

 

No written consent of stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that all stockholder actions are required to be taken by a vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting, and that stockholders may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting. This limit may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions and would prevent the amendment of our by-laws or removal of directors by our stockholder without holding a meeting of stockholders.

 

Meetings of stockholders. Our amended and restated by-laws provide that only a majority of the members of our board of directors then in office may call special meetings of stockholders and only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated by-laws limit the business that may be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders to those matters properly brought before the meeting.

 

Advance notice requirements. Our amended and restated by-laws establish advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of stockholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our corporate secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year. The notice must contain certain information specified in our amended and restated by-laws. 

  

Amendment to certificate of incorporation and by-laws. As required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, any amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation must first be approved by a majority of our board of directors, and if required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, must thereafter be approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment, and a majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, Our amended and restated by-laws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority vote of the directors then in office, subject to any limitations set forth in the amended and restated by-laws; and may also be amended by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment, or, if the board of directors recommends that the stockholders approve the amendment, by the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment, in each case voting together as a single class.

 

Undesignated preferred stock. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for authorized shares of preferred stock. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in the best interests of us or our stockholders, our board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder or stockholder group. In this regard, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation grants our board of director’s broad power to establish the rights and preferences of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance may also adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of these holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of us.

 

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Choice of forum. Our amended and restated by-laws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty, any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation or our by-laws, or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Although our amended and restated by-laws contain the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could rule that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

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

 

Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “PRPO.”

  

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THE LINCOLN PARK TRANSACTION

 

General

 

On September 7, 2018, we entered into the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement with Lincoln Park. Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Lincoln Park has agreed to purchase from us up to $10,000,000 of our common stock (subject to certain limitations) from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, we are required to file with the SEC a registration statement that includes a prospectus to register for resale under the Securities Act the shares that have been or may be issued to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, at the time we executed the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, we issued 40,000 Commitment Shares to Lincoln Park as consideration for its commitment to purchase shares of our common stock under the Purchase Agreement.

 

We do not have the right to commence any sales to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement until certain conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, all of which are outside of Lincoln Park’s control, have been satisfied, including the registration statement registering the shares being issued and sold to Lincoln Park being declared effective by the SEC. Thereafter, we may, from time to time and at our sole discretion, on any single business day on which the closing price of our common stock is not less than $1.50 per share (subject to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction as provided in the Purchase Agreement), direct Lincoln Park to purchase shares of our common stock in regular purchases in amounts up to 30,000 shares which amounts may be increased to up to 36,666 shares depending on the market price of our common stock at the time of sale and subject to a maximum commitment by Lincoln Park of $1,000,000 per singular regular purchase. The purchase price per share sold in a regular purchase will be based on the market price of our common stock immediately preceding the time of sale as computed under the Purchase Agreement. Lincoln Park may not assign or transfer its rights and obligations under the Purchase Agreement.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, we have already received approximately $8.3 million from the sale of 3,226,667 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park which were sold to Lincoln Park pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-1A (File No.: 333-227364) filed on September 13, 2018, registration statement on Form S-1 (333-229478) filed on February 1, 2019 and registration statement on Form S-1 (333-233175) filed on August 9, 2019.

 

The Purchase Agreement also prohibits us from directing Lincoln Park to purchase any shares of common stock if those shares, when aggregated with all other shares of our common stock then beneficially owned by Lincoln Park and its affiliates, would result in Lincoln Park exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Cap.

 

Purchase of Shares Under the Purchase Agreement

 

Under the Purchase Agreement, on any business day selected by us on which the closing price of our common stock is not less than $1.50 per share (subject to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction as provided in the Purchase Agreement), we may direct Lincoln Park to purchase up to 30,000 shares of our common stock in a regular purchase on such business day, provided, however, that (i) the Regular Purchase may be increased to up to 33,333 shares, provided that the closing sale price of our common stock is not below $7.50 on the purchase date (subject to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction as provided in the Purchase Agreement) and (ii) the Regular Purchase may be increased to up to 36,666 shares, provided that the closing sale price of our common stock is not below $11.25 on the purchase date(subject to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction as provided in the Purchase Agreement) (such share amount limitation, the “Regular Purchase Share Limit”). In each case, Lincoln Park’s maximum commitment in any single Regular Purchase may not exceed $1,000,000. The Regular Purchase Share Limit is subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split or other similar transaction; provided, that if after giving effect to such full proportionate adjustment, the adjusted Regular Purchase Share Limit would preclude us from requiring Lincoln Park to purchase common stock at an aggregate purchase price equal to or greater than $100,000 in any single Regular Purchase, then the Regular Purchase Share Limit will not be fully adjusted, but rather the Regular Purchase Share Limit for such Regular Purchase shall be adjusted as specified in the Purchase Agreement, such that, after giving effect to such adjustment, the Regular Purchase Share Limit will be equal to (or as close as can be derived from such adjustment without exceeding) $100,000.

   

The purchase price per share for each such Regular Purchase will be equal to the lower of:

 

  · the lowest sale price for our common stock on the purchase date of such shares; or

 

  · the arithmetic average of the three lowest closing sale prices for our common stock during the 10 consecutive business days ending on the business day immediately preceding the purchase date of such shares.

 

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In addition to Regular Purchases described above, we may also direct Lincoln Park, on any business day on which we have properly submitted a Regular Purchase notice directing Lincoln Park to purchase the maximum number of shares of our common stock that we are then permitted to include in a single Regular Purchase notice and the closing sale price of our common stock on such business day is not below $3.75 per share (subject to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction as provided in the Purchase Agreement), to purchase an additional amount of our common stock, which we refer to as an Accelerated Purchase, not to exceed the lesser of:

 

  · 25% of the aggregate shares of our common stock traded during all or, if certain trading volume or market price thresholds specified in the Purchase Agreement are crossed on the applicable Accelerated Purchase date, which is defined as the next business day following the purchase date for the corresponding Regular Purchase, the portion of the normal trading hours on the applicable Accelerated Purchase date prior to such time that any one of such thresholds is crossed, which period of time on the applicable Accelerated Purchase date we refer to as the Accelerated Purchase Measurement Period; and

 

  · 3 times the number of purchase shares purchased pursuant to the corresponding Regular Purchase.

 

The purchase price per share for each such Accelerated Purchase will be equal to the lower of:

 

  · 96% of the volume weighted average price of our common stock during the applicable Accelerated Purchase Measurement Period on the applicable Accelerated Purchase date; and

 

  · the closing sale price of our common stock on the applicable Accelerated Purchase date.

 

We may also direct Lincoln Park, not later than 1:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a business day on which an Accelerated Purchase has been completed and all of the shares to be purchased thereunder (and under the corresponding Regular Purchase) have been properly delivered to Lincoln Park in accordance with the Purchase Agreement prior to such time on such business day, and provided that the closing price of our common stock on the business day immediately preceding such business day is not less than $3.75 per share (subject to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction as provided in the Purchase Agreement), to purchase an additional amount of our common stock, which we refer to as an Additional Accelerated Purchase, of up to the lesser of:

 

  · 25% of the aggregate shares of our common stock traded during a certain portion of the normal trading hours on such Accelerated Purchase date as determined in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, which period of time we refer to as the Additional Accelerated Purchase Measurement Period; and

 

  · 3 times the number of purchase shares purchased pursuant to the Regular Purchase corresponding to the Accelerated Purchase that was completed on such Accelerated Purchase date on which an additional accelerated Purchase notice was properly received.

 

We may, in our sole discretion, submit multiple Additional Accelerated Purchase notices to Lincoln Park prior to 1:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a single Accelerated Purchase date, provided that all prior Accelerated Purchases and Additional Accelerated Purchases (including those that have occurred earlier on the same day) have been completed and all of the shares to be purchased thereunder (and under the corresponding Regular Purchase) have been properly delivered to Lincoln Park in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.

 

The purchase price per share for each such Additional Accelerated Purchase will be equal to the lower of:

 

  · 96% of the volume weighted average price of our common stock during the applicable Additional Accelerated Purchase Measurement Period on the applicable Additional Accelerated Purchase date; and

 

  · the closing sale price of our common stock on the applicable Additional Accelerated Purchase date.

 

In the case of the Regular Purchases, Accelerated Purchases and Additional Accelerated Purchases, the purchase price per share will be equitably adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction occurring during the business days used to compute the purchase price.

 

Other than as described above, there are no trading volume requirements or restrictions under the Purchase Agreement, and we will control the timing and amount of any sales of our common stock to Lincoln Park.

  

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Events of Default

 

Events of default under the Purchase Agreement include the following:

 

  · the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part lapses for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop order), or any required prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus are unavailable for the resale by Lincoln Park of our common stock offered hereby, and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of 10 consecutive business days or for more than an aggregate of 30 business days in any 365-day period;

  

  · suspension by our principal market of our common stock from trading for a period of one business day;

 

  · the de-listing of our common stock from The NASDAQ Capital Market, our principal market, provided our common stock is not immediately thereafter trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NYSE Market, the OTC Bulletin Board or OTC Markets (or nationally recognized successor thereto);

 

  · the failure of our transfer agent to issue to Lincoln Park shares of our common stock within two business days after the applicable date on which Lincoln Park is entitled to receive such shares;

 

  · any breach of the representations or warranties or covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement or Registration Rights Agreement that has or could have a material adverse effect on us and, in the case of a breach of a covenant that is reasonably curable, that is not cured within five business days;

 

  · if at any time the Exchange Cap is reached, to the extent applicable;

 

  · any voluntary or involuntary participation or threatened participation in insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings by or against us; or

 

  · if at any time we are not eligible to transfer our common stock electronically.

 

Lincoln Park does not have the right to terminate the Purchase Agreement upon any of the events of default set forth above. During an event of default, all of which are outside of Lincoln Park’s control, we may not direct Lincoln Park to purchase any shares of our common stock under the Purchase Agreement.

 

Our Termination Rights

 

We have the unconditional right, at any time, for any reason and without any payment or liability to us, to give notice to Lincoln Park to terminate the Purchase Agreement. In the event of bankruptcy proceedings by or against us, the Purchase Agreement will automatically terminate without action of any party.

 

No Short-Selling or Hedging by Lincoln Park

 

Lincoln Park has agreed that neither it nor any of its affiliates shall engage in any direct or indirect short-selling or hedging of our common stock during any time prior to the termination of the Purchase Agreement.

 

Prohibitions on Variable Rate Transactions

 

There are no restrictions on future financings, rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages in the Purchase Agreement or Registration Rights Agreement other than a prohibition on entering into a “Variable Rate Transaction,” as defined in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Effect of Performance of the Purchase Agreement on Our Stockholders

 

All 920,654 shares registered in this offering which have been or may be issued or sold by us to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement are expected to be freely tradable. It is anticipated that shares registered in this offering will be sold over a period of up to 24-months commencing on the date that the registration statement including this prospectus becomes effective. The sale by Lincoln Park of a significant amount of shares registered in this offering at any given time could cause the market price of our common stock to decline and to be highly volatile. Sales of our common stock to Lincoln Park, if any, will depend upon market conditions and other factors to be determined by us. We may ultimately decide to sell to Lincoln Park all, some or none of the additional shares of our common stock that may be available for us to sell pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If and when we do sell shares to Lincoln Park, after Lincoln Park has acquired the shares, Lincoln Park may resell all, some or none of those shares at any time or from time to time in its discretion. Therefore, sales to Lincoln Park by us under the Purchase Agreement may result in substantial dilution to the interests of other holders of our common stock. In addition, if we sell a substantial number of shares to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement, or if investors expect that we will do so, the actual sales of shares or the mere existence of our arrangement with Lincoln Park may make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and at a price that we might otherwise wish to effect such sales. However, we have the right to control the timing and amount of any additional sales of our shares to Lincoln Park and the Purchase Agreement may be terminated by us at any time at our discretion without any cost to us.

  

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Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, we have the right, but not the obligation, to direct Lincoln Park to purchase up to $10,000,000 of our common stock. Depending on the price per share at which we sell our common stock to Lincoln Park pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we may need to sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement more shares of our common stock than are offered under this prospectus in order to receive aggregate gross proceeds equal to the $10,000,000 total commitment available to us under the Purchase Agreement. If we choose to do so, we must first register for resale under the Securities Act such additional shares of our common stock, which could cause additional substantial dilution to our stockholders. The number of shares ultimately offered for resale by Lincoln Park under this prospectus is dependent upon the number of shares we direct Lincoln Park to purchase under the Purchase Agreement.

 

The Purchase Agreement prohibits us from issuing or selling to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement (i) shares of our common stock in excess of the Exchange Cap, unless we obtain stockholder approval to issue shares in excess of the Exchange Cap, such consent was obtained on December 20, 2018, or if the average price of all applicable sales of our common stock to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement equal or exceed $7.09, such that the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement are exempt from the Exchange Cap limitation under applicable NASDAQ rules, and (ii) any shares of our common stock if those shares, when aggregated with all other shares of our common stock then beneficially owned by Lincoln Park and its affiliates, would exceed the Beneficial Ownership Cap.

 

The following table sets forth the amount of gross proceeds we would receive from our sale of shares being registered in this prospectus, to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement at varying purchase prices:

 

Assumed Average
Purchase Price Per
Share
    Number of Registered
Shares
to be Issued if Full
Purchase
(1)
    Percentage of
Outstanding Shares
After Giving Effect to
the Issuance
to Lincoln Park (2)
    Proceeds from the Sale of
Shares to
Lincoln Park Under the
$10M
Purchase Agreement
 
$ 1.50       920,654       10.3 %   $ 1,380,981  
$ 1.90 (3)     920,654       10.3 %   $ 1,749,242  
$ 4.00       437,310       5.2 %   $ 1,749,240  
$ 6.00       291,540       3.5 %   $ 1,749,240  
$ 8.00       218,655       2.7 %   $ 1,749,240  

  

  (1) Although the Purchase Agreement provides that we may sell up to $10,000,000 of our common stock to Lincoln Park, we are only registering at this time under the registration statement that includes this prospectus a total of 920,654 shares of our common stock that may be sold to Lincoln Park as purchase shares under the Purchase Agreement, which may or may not cover all the shares we ultimately sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement, depending on the purchase price per share. As a result, we have included in this column only those shares that we are registering in this offering. As of the date of this prospectus, we have already received approximately $8.3 from the sale of 3,226,667 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park which were sold to Lincoln Park pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1A (File No.: 333-227364) filed on September 13, 2018, registration statement on Form S-1 (333-229478) filed on February 1, 2019 and registration statement on Form S-1 (333-233175) filed on August 9, 2019.

 

  (2) The denominator is based on 8,018,117 shares of our common stock outstanding as of January 9, 2020, adjusted to include the number of shares set forth in the adjacent column which we would have sold to Lincoln Park, assuming the purchase price in the adjacent column. The numerator is based on the number of shares issuable under the Purchase Agreement at the corresponding assumed purchase price set forth in the adjacent column.

 

  (3) The closing sale price of our shares on January 9, 2020.

   

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The common stock offered by this prospectus is being offered by the selling stockholder, Lincoln Park. The common stock may be sold or distributed from time to time by the selling stockholder directly to one or more purchasers or through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices, or at fixed prices, which may be changed. The sale of the common stock offered by this prospectus could be effected in one or more of the following methods:

 

  · ordinary brokers’ transactions;

 

  · transactions involving cross or block trades;

 

  · through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents

 

  · “at the market” into an existing market for the common stock;

 

  · in other ways not involving market makers or established business markets, including direct sales to purchasers or sales effected through agents;

 

  · in privately negotiated transactions; or

 

  · any combination of the foregoing.

 

In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the shares may be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states, the shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from the state’s registration or qualification requirement is available and complied with.

 

Lincoln Park is an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act.

 

Lincoln Park has informed us that it intends to use an unaffiliated broker-dealer to effectuate all sales, if any, of the common stock that it may purchase from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Such sales will be made at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price. Each such unaffiliated broker-dealer will be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. Lincoln Park has informed us that each such broker-dealer will receive commissions from Lincoln Park that will not exceed customary brokerage commissions.

 

Brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the shares as agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts, or concessions from the selling stockholder and/or purchasers of the common stock for whom the broker-dealers may act as agent. The compensation paid to a particular broker-dealer may be less than or in excess of customary commissions. Neither we nor Lincoln Park can presently estimate the amount of compensation that any agent will receive.

 

We know of no existing arrangements between Lincoln Park or any other stockholder, broker, dealer, underwriter or agent relating to the sale or distribution of the shares offered by this prospectus. At the time a particular offer of shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed that will set forth the names of any agents, underwriters or dealers and any compensation from the selling stockholder, and any other required information.

 

We will pay the expenses incident to the registration, offering, and sale of the shares to Lincoln Park. We have agreed to indemnify Lincoln Park and certain other persons against certain liabilities in connection with the offering of shares of common stock offered hereby, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act or, if such indemnity is unavailable, to contribute amounts required to be paid in respect of such liabilities. Lincoln Park has agreed to indemnify us against liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from certain written information furnished to us by Lincoln Park specifically for use in this prospectus or, if such indemnity is unavailable, to contribute amounts required to be paid in respect of such liabilities.

 

Lincoln Park has represented to us that at no time prior to the Purchase Agreement has Lincoln Park or its agents, representatives or affiliates engaged in or effected, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, any short sale (as such term is defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act) of our common stock or any hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to our common stock. Lincoln Park agreed that during the term of the Purchase Agreement, it, its agents, representatives or affiliates will not enter into or effect, directly or indirectly, any of the foregoing transactions. 

  

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We have advised Lincoln Park that it is required to comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act. With certain exceptions, Regulation M precludes the selling stockholder, any affiliated purchasers, and any broker-dealer or other person who participates in the distribution from bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase any security which is the subject of the distribution until the entire distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids or purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with the distribution of that security. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the securities offered by this prospectus.

 

This offering will terminate on the earlier of (i) termination of the Purchase Agreement or (ii) the date that all shares offered by this prospectus have been sold by Lincoln Park.

 

Our common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “PRPO”.

  

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DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with various actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, a derivative action, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses including attorneys' fees incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such actions, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation's certificate of incorporation, bylaws, agreement, and a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide that we will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, each person that such section grants us the power to indemnify.

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for:

 

· any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;

 

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

 

· payments of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; or

 

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

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, offices or controlling persons of ours, pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of ours in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered hereunder, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP, New York, New York.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Precipio, Inc. as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2018, have been audited by Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to the extent and for the periods as set forth in their report thereon, and incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act that registers the shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as part of the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and our common stock, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document, are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, we refer you to the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. The reports and other information we file with the SEC can be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington D.C. 20549. Copies of these materials can be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at the principal offices of the SEC, 100 F Street, NE, Washington D.C. 20549. You may obtain information regarding the operation of the public reference room by calling 1(800) SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers like us that file electronically with the SEC. 

 

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We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the SEC’s public reference room and the web site of the SEC referred to above.

 

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA AND FORECASTS

 

Market data and certain industry data and forecasts included in this prospectus were obtained from internal company surveys, market research, publicly available information, reports of governmental agencies and industry publications and surveys. We have relied upon industry publications as our primary sources for third-party industry data and forecasts. Industry surveys, publications and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources, nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Similarly, internal surveys, industry forecasts and market research, which we believe to be reliable based upon our management’s knowledge of the industry, have not been independently verified. Forecasts are particularly likely to be inaccurate, especially over long periods of time. In addition, we do not know what assumptions regarding general economic growth were used in preparing the forecasts we cite. Statements as to our market position are based on recently available data. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding our industry data presented herein, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. While we believe our internal business research is reliable and market definitions are appropriate, neither such research nor definitions have been verified by any independent source. This prospectus may only be used for the purpose for which it has been published.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

This prospectus omits some information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits included in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part for further information about us and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. Information contained in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we have filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference the following documents listed below (excluding any document or portion thereof to the extent such disclosure is furnished and not filed):

 

· Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2019;

 

· Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 16, 2019 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30 2019, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2019; our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2019;

 

· Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC January 7, 2019, January 22, 2019, January 30, 2019,  February 14, 2019, March 11, 2019, March 27, 2019, April 26, 2019, May 15, 2019, May 23, 2019, June 10, 2019, June 19, 2019,  June 20, 2019, August 14, 2019, September 26, 2019, October 3, 2019, November 5, 2019,  November 26, 2019, December 4, 2019 and January 14, 2020

 

· The portions of our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A relating to our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019 that are deemed “filed” with the SEC under the Exchange Act

 

40

 

 

In addition, we hereby incorporate by reference into this prospectus all documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of this Registration Statement and before we terminate the offering under this prospectus. These documents include periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K (other than current reports or portions thereof furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K, unless specifically incorporated herein), as well as proxy statements. 

 

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents which we incorporate by reference in this prospectus (not including exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference to such documents). Requests should be directed to:

 

Precipio, Inc.

4 Science Park

New Haven, CT 06511

(203) 787-7888

 

A copy of any or all of the foregoing documents which we incorporate by reference in this prospectus may be accessed on our corporate web site at http://www.precipiodx.com (Click the “Investors” link and then the “SEC Filings” link).

 

41

 

 

Shares

 

 

Common Stock

 

PROSPECTUS

 

, 2020

 

42

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The following table sets forth all expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of the common stock being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee.

 

    Total  
SEC registration fee   $ 227  
Printing and engraving expenses     1,000  
Legal fees and expenses     5,000  
Accounting fees and expenses     17,000  
Transfer agent and registrar fees     1,000  
Miscellaneous     1,000  
         
Total   $ 25,227  

 

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Section 145(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor because the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which he or she shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, he or she is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court shall deem proper.

 

Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under Section 145 of the DGCL. 

 

Section 9.1 of Article IX of the Registrant’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to date (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and Section 1 of Article V of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended to date (the “Bylaws”) provide that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Registrant or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director or officer of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Registrant to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may thereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Registrant to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Registrant to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and that such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporate or Bylaws, as applicable, the Registrant will indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Registrant. The right to indemnification conferred by the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws is a contract right and includes the right to be paid by the Registrant the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); and provided, further, that, if the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware requires it, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the Registrant of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as applicable, or otherwise (hereinafter an “undertaking”).

 

II-1

 

 

Section 9.2 of Article IX of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 2 of Article V of the Bylaws provide that if a claim under Section 9.1 of Article IX of the Certificate of Incorporation or under Section 1 of Article V of the Bylaws, as applicable, is not paid in full by the Registrant within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Registrant, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Registrant to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or part in any such suit, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses), it shall be a defense that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Likewise, in any suit by the Registrant to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Registrant shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the indemnitee has not met such standards. Neither the failure of the Registrant (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Registrant (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right under such indemnification provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as applicable, or by the Registrant to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or to such advancement of expenses shall be on the Registrant.

 

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provisions provided for in its charter documents, and the Registrant intends to enter into indemnification agreements with any new directors and executive officers in the future.

 

The Registrant also maintains a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy that insures the Registrant’s directors and officers against such liabilities as are customarily covered by such policies.

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

During the past three years, we have sold and issued the following unregistered securities.

 

II-2

 

 

We issued unregistered securities in connection with the Merger as previously disclosed and included in our 10-Q filed on August 22, 2017, November 20, 2017, and 8-Ks filed on February 2, 2017 and June 30, 2017.

 

On January 20, 2015, the Company entered into a series of Unsecured Convertible Promissory Notes with seven accredited investors in the principal amount of $925,000. The Company also issued, to its placement agent for the notes, a convertible promissory note, upon the same terms and conditions as the notes, in an aggregate principal amount equal to 5% of the proceeds received by the Company, or $46,250. The notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock. On January 13, 2017, all but one investor exercised their conversion rights relating to their respective notes, including the agent’s note, and agreed to convert an aggregate amount of $499,359 of principal and interest due under the notes and agent’s note into 925 shares of the Company’s common stock. On January 17, 2017, the non-converting investor agreed to extend the maturity date of its note pursuant to an amendment that provides for two-thirds of the outstanding principal amount of the note must be paid upon the earlier to occur of the close of the Company’s merger with Precipio Diagnostics, LLC or June 16, 2017 (such applicable date, the “Deferred Maturity Date”).  On June 21 2017, the non-converting investor agreed to further extend the Deferred Maturity Date of the note until the earlier to occur of (1) the closing of a public offering by the Company of either common stock, convertible preferred stock or convertible preferred notes or (2) August 16, 2017. On August 31, 2017, the Company made payment of two-thirds of the then outstanding principal amount, which was more than 10 days after the Deferred Maturity Date and constituted an event of default under the terms of the Note. The non-converting investor agreed to waive the event of default under the Note and in consideration of this waiver, the Company issued the non-converting investor warrant to purchase 666 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share. The balance was satisfied by the issuance to the non-converting investor of registered common shares on February 12, 2018.

 

On April 13, 2017, Transgenomic completed the sale of the promissory notes in the amount of $1.2 million and the issuance of warrants to acquire 2,667 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $225 per share, subject to anti-dilution protection. Aegis capital Corp. acted as placement agent for the bridge financing and received warrants to acquire 373 shares of Transgenomic common stock at an exercise price of $225.00 per share.

 

On October 31, 2017, the Company entered into a Debt Settlement Agreement with certain of its accounts payable creditors and in connection with the settlement, the Company agreed to issue to certain of the creditors, namely Paul Hasting LLP, Mount Sinai, Montefiore Medical Center and Allergan Sales LLC, warrants to purchase approximately 7,207 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $112.50 per share. The warrants are exercisable on the date of issuance and will expire five years from the date of issuance.

 

On April 20, 2018, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Debt Financing Agreement“) with Osher Capital Partners LLC, M2B Funding Corp and Alpha Capital Anstalt pursuant to which the Company issued up to approximately $3,296,703 in 8% Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes with 100% common stock warrant coverage. The transaction consists of unregistered 8% Senior Secured Convertible Notes bearing interest at a rate of 8.00% annually and an original issue discount of 9%. The initial notes were convertible at a price of $7.50 per share, provided that if the note is not repaid within 180 days, the conversion price shall be adjusted to 80% of the lowest volume weighted average price during the prior 10 days, subject to a minimum conversion price of $4.50 per share. The transaction consisted of multiple drawdowns between April 20, 2018 and September 20, 2018. In aggregate, the closings provided the Company with $3,000,000 of gross proceeds for the issuance of notes with an aggregate principal of $3,296,703. The notes are payable by the Company on the earlier of (i) the one year anniversary of each note’s closing date or (ii) upon the closing of a qualified offering, namely the Company raising gross proceeds of at least $7,000,000.

 

On September 7, 2018, we issued the 40,000 Commitment Shares to Lincoln Park, as further discussed herein. The Commitment Shares were issued to Lincoln Park in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

 

On November 29, 2018, we entered into an amendment and restatement agreement (the “Amendment Agreement”) amending and restating the terms of the Debt Financing Agreement. The Amendment Agreement provided for the issuance of up to $1,318,681 of additional notes together with applicable warrants, in one or more tranches, on substantially the same terms and conditions as the notes and warrants granted in connection with the Debt Financing Agreement, subject to certain adjustments to their terms. For the notes issued under the Debt Financing Agreement as well as the notes issued pursuant to the Amendment Agreement, the conversion price in effect on any conversion date has been amended so that it shall be equal to the greater of $3.75 or $0.75 above the closing bid price of our common stock on the date prior to the original issue date. In the event the notes are not paid in full prior to 180 days after the original issue date, the conversion price shall be equal to 80% of the lowest VWAP in the 10 trading days prior to the date of the notice of conversion, but in no event below the floor price of $2.25. In aggregate, the notes issued under the Amendment Agreement provided the Company with $1,100,000 of gross proceeds for the issuance of Notes with an aggregate principal of $1,208,791 and the Company issued to the investors 300,115 warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company with an exercise price of $5.40 and a five-year term. 

 

II-3

 

 

On September 17, 2018, October 23, 2018 and November 7, 2018 we entered into an Exchange Agreements (the “Exchange Agreements”) with three institutional investors pursuant to which we agreed to issue promissory notes, due January 1, 2021 in exchange for amounts owed to certain vendors pursuant to certain debt settlement agreements, dated October 31, 2017. The Exchange was being made in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under the Exchange Agreements, we exchanged up to an aggregate principal amount of $3,165,903 due under the debt settlement agreements for convertible notes totaling $2,765,568. Pursuant to the terms of the notes, we shall pay to the noteholders the aggregate principal amount of the notes in eighteen (18) equal installments beginning on August 1, 2019 and ending on January 1, 2021. In accordance with the terms of the notes, the noteholders shall have the right, to convert at the then applicable conversion price any amount of the notes up to $300,000 on any given trading day, with a maximum conversion amount up to $500,000 during a period of five (5) trading days. The conversion price shall be the lesser of (i) the average volume average weighted price for the five trading days prior to the date of conversion multiplied by 1.65 and (ii) $15.00.

 

On March 12, 2018, we entered into a settlement agreement (the “Crede Agreement”) with Crede Capital Group LLC (“Crede”) pursuant to which we agreed to pay to Crede a total sum of $1.925 million (the “Settlement Amount”) over a period of 16 months payable in a combination of cash and stock in accordance with terms contained in the Crede Agreement. On January 15, 2019, we entered into an amendment and restatement agreement with Crede (the “Crede Amendment”), in order to enable us to provide Crede with an alternative means of payment of the Settlement Amount, which was $1.45 million on the date of the Crede Amendment, by issuing to Crede a convertible note in the amount of $1,450,000 (the “Crede Note”). The Crede Note was issued on January 15, 2019, as amended and restated on January 28, 2019, and is payable by the Company on the earlier of (i) the two year anniversary after the original issuance date or (ii) upon the closing of a qualified offering, namely the Company raising gross proceeds of at least $4,000,000.

 

On January 29, 2019, we entered into a settlement agreement with Leviston (the “Leviston Agreement”), at which time we issued to Leviston a convertible note in the amount of $700,000 (the “Leviston Note”). The Leviston Note is payable by the Company (i) in fourteen equal monthly installments commencing on the earlier to occur of (x) the last day of the month upon which a registration statement to be filed by the Company covering the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the Note is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission and (y) the six month anniversary of the date of issuance, (ii) upon the closing of a qualified offering, namely the Company raising gross proceeds of at least $4,000,000 or (iii) such earlier date as the Leviston Note is required or permitted to be repaid as provided by the terms of the Leviston Note. The Company, at its option, may redeem some or all of the then outstanding principal amount of the Leviston Note for cash. The conversion price of the Leviston Note in effect on any Conversion Date shall equal the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date of Conversion Date.

 

On April 16, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement agreement (“Amendment No.2 Agreement”) amending and restating the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 20, 2018 (as first amended pursuant to the Amendment Agreement dated November 29, 2018). The Amendment No. 2 Agreement provided the Company with approximately $900,000 of gross proceeds for the issuance of notes with an aggregate principal of approximately $989,011 (the “April 2019 Bridge Notes”) together with applicable warrants, with substantially the same terms and conditions as the previously issued bridge notes and related warrants. In connection with the April 2019 Bridge Note issuances, the Company issued to the investors 147,472 warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company with a five year term and exercise price of $5.40. The April 2019 Bridge Notes were issued to investors that previously participated in the April 20, 2018 Securities Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Amendment No.2 Agreement, the warrants issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 20, 2018 (as amended from time to time) were amended such that the exercise price of such warrants was amended from $7.50 to $5.40 and any warrant that had a one-year term was amended to have a five-year term.

 

On May 14, 2019, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Company was provided with approximately $1,000,000 of gross proceeds for the issuance of notes with an aggregate principal of approximately $1,098,901 (the “May 2019 Bridge Notes”) together with applicable warrants, with substantially the same terms and conditions as the previously issued bridge notes and related warrants that were issued in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 20, 2018 (as amended from time to time). In connection with the May 2019 Bridge Note issuances, the Company issued to the investors 154,343 warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company with a five year term and exercise price of $9.56. The May 2019 Bridge Notes were issued to investors that previously participated in the Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 20, 2018.  

 

Unless otherwise stated above, the issuance of the above securities was deemed to be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof, as a transaction by an issuer not involving a public offering.

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a) Exhibits.

 

The exhibits to the registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index to this registration statement and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b) Financial Statement Schedule.

 

None.

 

II-4

 

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)           To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

(2)           That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)           To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

The Registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(a) The Registrant will provide to the underwriter at the closing as specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

(b) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

II-5

 

 

(c) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

II-6

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 14th day of January, 2020.

 

  PRECIPIO, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Ilan Danieli
   
  Ilan Danieli
  Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Ilan Danieli and Carl Iberger, and each of them, with full power of substitution and re-substitution and full power to act without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney in fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, including any and all post effective amendments and amendments thereto, and any registration statement relating to the same offering as this Registration Statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys in fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys in fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on the 14th day of January, 2020.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Ilan Danieli   Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal   January 14, 2020
Ilan Danieli   Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Carl Iberger   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial   January 14, 2020
Carl Iberger   Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Douglas Fisher, M.D.   Chairman of the Board of Directors   January 14, 2020
Douglas Fisher, M.D.        
         
/s/ Kathleen LaPorte   Director   January 14, 2020
Kathleen LaPorte        
         
/s/ Mark Rimer   Director   January 14, 2020
Mark Rimer        
         
/s/ Richard Sandberg   Director   January 14, 2020
Richard Sandberg        
         
/s/ Jeffrey Cossman, M.D.   Director   January 14, 2020
Jeffrey Cossman, M.D.        
         
/s/ David Cohen   Director   January 14, 2020
David Cohen        

 

II-7

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 12, 2016 by and among Transgenomic, Inc., New Haven Labs Inc. and Precipio Diagnostics, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 13, 2016).
2.2   First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 3, 2017 by and among Transgenomic, Inc., New Haven Labs Inc. and Precipio Diagnostics, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2017).
2.3   Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 27, 2017 by and among Transgenomic, Inc., New Haven Labs Inc. and Precipio Diagnostics, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
3.1   Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
3.3   Certificate of Elimination (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
3.4   Certificate of Designation for Series B Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 31, 2017).
3.5   Certificate of Designation for Series C Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 6, 2017).
3.6   Certificate of Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated April 25, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2019).
4.1   Form of Certificate of the Company’s Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-32174) filed on March 10, 2000).
4.2   Form of Offering Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 23, 2017).
4.3   Form of Underwriter Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 23, 2017).
4.4   Form of Conversion Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 23, 2017).
4.5   Form of Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 6, 2017).
4.6   Form of Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2017).
5.1*   Opinion Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP
10.1   License Agreement between the Company and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute dated October 8, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2009).
10.2   Waiver Letter Agreement by and among the Company, Potomac Capital Partners, L.P., MAZ Partners, LP, David Wambeke and Craig-Hallum Capital Group, LLC dated as of January 10, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2017).
10.3   First Amendment to Unsecured Convertible Promissory Note by and among the Company and MAZ Partners LP, dated as of January 17, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 20, 2017).
10.4   Termination and Tenth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of February 3, 2017, by and among Third Security Senior Staff 2008 LLC, as administrative agent and a lender, the other lenders party thereto and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2017).
10.5   Promissory Note, dated February 2, 2017 between the Company and Precipio Diagnostics, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2017).
10.6   Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2017 by and between the Company and the investors set forth on Schedule A attached thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2017).
10.7   Form of Promissory Note, issued by the Company to certain investors, dated as of April 13, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2017).
10.8   Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, issued by the Company to certain investors, dated as of April 13, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2017).
10.9   Precipio Diagnostics, LLC Subordinated Promissory Note, issued by Precipio to the Company, dated as of April 13, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2017).
10.10   Subordination Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2017, by and between the Company and Webster Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2017).

 

 

 

 

10.11   Side Letter to extend Maturity Date of Unsecured Convertible Promissory Note by and between the Company and MAZ Partners LP, dated as of June 21, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 27, 2017).
10.12†   Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex D of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on December 29, 2017).
10.13†   Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2017).
10.14†   Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Company Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2017).
10.15†   Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2017).
10.16   Securities Purchase Agreement with the Private Placement Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
10.17   Investors’ Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
10.18   Exchange Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
10.19   New Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
10.20   Form of New Bridge Promissory Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
10.21   Form of New Bridge Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
10.22   Form of Side Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2017).
10.23#   Amended and Restated Pathology Services Agreement, dated March 21, 2017, by and between the Company and Yale University (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K/A filed on July 31, 2017).
10.24   Lease, dated July 11, 2017, by and between the Company and Science Park Development Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8K/A filed on July 31, 2017).
10.25   Underwriting Agreement, dated August 22, 2017, by and among the Company and the underwriters party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 23, 2017).
10.26   Placement Agency Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2017, by and between Precipio, Inc. and Aegis Capital Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 3, 2017).
10.27   Debt Settlement Agreement, dated October 31, 2017, by and among Precipio, Inc., the Creditors and Collateral Services, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 6, 2017).
10.28   Security Agreement, dated October 31, 2017, by and between Precipio, Inc. and Collateral Services LLC, in its capacity as collateral agent for the Vendors (as defined therein) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 6, 2017).
10.29   Amendment, dated November 9, 2017, to Placement Agency Agreement, dated November 2, 2017, by and between Precipio, Inc. and Aegis Capital Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2017).
10.30   Form of 8% Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2018).
10.31   Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2018).
10.32   Form of Security Agreement by and among the Company and the investors named therein, dated April 20, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2018).
10.33   Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein, dated April 20, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2018).
10.34   Employment Agreement dated August 7, 2018 between the Company and Ilan Danieli (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(a) to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 9, 2018).
10.35   Employment Agreement dated August 7, 2018 between the Company and Carl Iberger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(b) to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 9, 2018).

 

 

 

 

10.36   Employment Agreement dated August 7, 2018 between the Company and Ahmed Zaki Sabet (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(c) to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 9, 2018).
10.37   Employment Agreement dated August 7, 2018 between the Company and Stephen Miller  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(d) to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 9, 2018).
10.38   Employment Agreement dated August 7, 2018 between the Company and Ayman Mohamed (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(e) to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 9, 2018).
10.39   Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and Lincoln Park Capital Fund LLC dated September 7, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 13, 2018).
10.40   Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 7, 2018, by and between Precipio, Inc. and Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 13, 2018).
10.41   Exchange Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein dated September 17, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 20, 2018).
10.42   Form of Promissory Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 20, 2018).
10.43   Form of Letter Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s form 8-K filed on September 25, 2018).
10.44   Amendment Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein, dated November 29, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 3, 2018).
10.45   Form of 8% Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 3, 2018).
10.46   Form of Letter Agreement regarding repricing of warrants (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 3, 2018).
10.47   Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 3, 2018).
10.48   Amendment and Restated Agreement dated January 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 22, 2019
10.49   Form of Convertible Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 30, 2019). Settlement Agreement dated January 29, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 30, 2019).
10.50   Amendment No. 2 Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein, dated April 16, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed on April 16, 2019).
10.51   Form of 8% Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note relating to Amendment No. 2 Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed on April 16, 2019).
10.52   Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock relating to Amendment No. 2 Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed on April 16, 2019).
10.53   Form of 8% Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated May 14, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2019).
10.54   Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated May 14, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2019).
10.55   Form of Security Agreement by and among the Company and the investors named therein, dated May 14, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2019).
10.56   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein, dated May 14, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2019).
21.1   Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1   Consent of Marcum LLP.
23.2*   Consent of Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*   Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

January 14, 2020

 

VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

 

Re: Precipio, Inc., Form S-1 Registration Statement

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We refer to the above-captioned registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) filed by Precipio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the registration of the offering by the Company of up to 920,654 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share to be sold by the selling stockholder listed in the Registration Statement under “Selling Stockholder” (the “Selling Stockholder”). The Shares are being sold to the Selling Stockholder pursuant to the terms of that certain purchase agreement dated September 7, 2018 between the Company and the Selling Stockholder.

 

We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinions set forth below. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company.

 

The opinion set forth below is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,  
   
/s/ Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP  

 

1185 Avenue of the Americas | 37th Floor | New York, NY | 10036

T (212) 930 9700 | F (212) 930 9725 | WWW.SRF.LAW

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 21.1

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT

 

Name   State of Incorporation or Organization
Precipio Diagnostics, Inc.   Connecticut

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S CONSENT

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Precipio, Inc. on Form S-1 of our report, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, dated April 16, 2019, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Precipio, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Precipio, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2018. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Marcum llp  
Marcum llp  
Hartford, CT  
January 14, 2020