UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

  

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 27, 2020

 

Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-36856   46-2783806
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

399 Thornall Street, First Floor
Edison, New Jersey
  08837
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

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

 

N/A

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

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Emerging growth company x

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing this Current Report on Form 8-K for the purpose of incorporating by reference into the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-229534) the items filed herewith as Exhibits 5.1 and 23.1. 

 

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
     
5.1   Opinion of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
     
23.1   Consent of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Dated: March 27, 2020 HEPION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
   
  By:  /s/ Robert Foster
  Name: Robert Foster
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

  Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
  30 Rockefeller Plaza
  New York, New York 10112-0015
  212.653.8700 main
    212.653.8701 fax
    www.sheppardmullin.com

 

March 27, 2020

 

Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
399 Thornall Street, First Floor

Edison, NJ 08837

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 (333-229534)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the above-referenced registration statement (the “Registration Statement”), the base prospectus dated February 19, 2019 (the “Base Prospectus”), and the prospectus supplement dated March 27, 2020 (collectively with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), relating to the offering by the Company of up to $4,600,000 of shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”). The Shares are covered by the Registration Statement and we understand that the Shares are to be offered and sold in the manner described in the Prospectus.  This opinion is being delivered at the request of the Company and in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).  

 

For purposes of this opinion, we have examined such documents and reviewed such questions of law as we have considered necessary and appropriate for the purposes of our opinion set forth below.  In rendering our opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.  We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements or instruments, that such agreements or instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements or instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties.  As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for as described in the Prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of New York, as currently in effect, and no opinion is expressed with respect to any other laws or any effect that such other laws may have on the opinions expressed herein.

 

This opinion letter has been prepared, and is to be understood, in accordance with customary practice of lawyers who regularly give and lawyers who regularly advise recipients regarding opinions of this kind, is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and is provided solely for purposes of complying with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and no opinions may be inferred or implied beyond the matters expressly stated herein.  The opinions expressed herein are rendered and speak only as of the date hereof and we specifically disclaim any responsibility to update such opinions subsequent to the date hereof or to advise you of subsequent developments affecting such opinions.

 

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We consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 27, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. We also consent to the reference of our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus and in each case in any amendment or supplement thereto.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 and Section 11 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Prospectus within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act or the related rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

 

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter  & Hampton LLP

 

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