424(b)(3)
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333–140034
PROSPECTUS
3,172,168 Shares of Common Stock
Issuable Upon Exercise of Outstanding Warrants
Issued in Registered Direct Offerings
CYCLACEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value
Issuable Upon Exercise of Outstanding Warrants
 
Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“we,” “us,” or “our company”), is registering 3,172,168 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 par value, which we may issue upon exercise of warrants to purchase common stock we issued as part of “registered direct” offerings, as follows: (i) warrants to purchase up to 1,062,412 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.44 per share we issued on February 16, 2007, such warrants expiring on February 16, 2014. We refer to these warrants as the February 2007 Warrants; (ii) warrants to purchase up to 692,256 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share we issued on July 29, 2009, such warrants expiring on July 29, 2014. We refer to these warrants as July 2009 warrants; (iii) warrants to purchase up to 712,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.26 per share we issued on January 13, 2010, such warrants expiring on January 13, 2015. We refer to these warrants as the January 13, 2010 Warrants; and (iv) warrants to purchase up to 705,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.85 per share we issued on January 25, 2010, such warrants expiring on January 25, 2015. We refer to these warrants as the January 25, 2010 Warrants, and collectively with the February 2007 Warrants, July 2009 Warrants and the January 13, 2010 Warrants, the “outstanding registered direct warrants.”
To the extent any holder of our outstanding registered direct warrants determines to exercise its warrants, we will receive the payment of the exercise price in connection with such exercise.
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CYCC.” On June 16, 2010, the last reported sale price for our common stock was $1.74 per share.
Investing in our securities involves significant risks. We strongly recommend that you read carefully the risks we describe in this prospectus and the risk factors that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus from our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 before deciding whether to invest in our common stock.
 
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 June 22, 2010.

 

 


 

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You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference carefully before you invest. Such documents contain important information you should consider when making your investment decision. See “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” on page 58. You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus or documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus and any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, 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 that date.
 

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
Because this is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should carefully read the more detailed information contained in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference carefully before you invest. Our business involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the information under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10.
As used in this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, the terms “we,” “us,” “our company,” “the Company” and “Cyclacel” refer to Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Our Company
We are a biopharmaceutical business dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, mechanism-targeted drugs to treat cancer and other serious disorders. We are focused on delivering leading edge therapeutic management of cancer patients based on a clinical development pipeline, led by sapacitabine, of novel drug candidates. Our core area of expertise, and a foundation of the Company since our inception, is in cell cycle biology; the processes by which cells divide and multiply. We focus primarily on the development of orally available anticancer agents that target the cell cycle with the aim of slowing the progression or shrinking the size of tumors, and enhancing the quality of life and improving survival rates of cancer patients.
We are focusing our clinical development priorities on:
    Sapacitabine in acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, in elderly patients;
 
    Sapacitabine in myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS, in older patients; and
 
    Sapacitabine in non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC.
The Company has additional ongoing programs in clinical development which are currently pending the availability of clinical data. Once these data become available and are reviewed, we will determine the feasibility of pursuing further development and/or partnering of these assets including sapacitabine in combination with seliciclib, seliciclib in nasopharyngeal cancer, or NPC, and NSCLC and CYC116.
We were founded by Professor Sir David Lane, a recognized leader in the field of tumor suppressor biology who discovered the p53 protein, which operates as one of the body’s own anticancer agents by regulating cell cycle targets. Our Chief Scientist, Professor David Glover, is a recognized leader in the biology of mitosis or cell division. Professor Glover discovered, among other cell cycle targets, the mitotic kinases, Polo and Aurora, enzymes that act in the mitosis phase of the cell cycle.
Although our resources are primarily directed towards advancing our anticancer drug candidate sapacitabine through in-house development activities we are also progressing, but with lower levels of investment than in previous years, our other novel drug series which are at earlier stages. Taken together, our pipeline covers all four phases of the cell cycle, which we believe will improve the chances of successfully developing and commercializing novel drugs that work on their own or in combination with approved conventional chemotherapies or with other targeted drugs to treat human cancers.

 

 


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Sapacitabine
Our lead candidate, sapacitabine, is an orally available prodrug of CNDAC, which is a novel nucleoside analog, or a compound with a structure similar to a nucleoside. A prodrug is a compound that has a therapeutic effect after it is metabolized within the body. CNDAC has a significantly longer residence time in the blood when it is produced in the body through metabolism of sapacitabine than when it is given directly. Sapacitabine acts through a dual mechanism whereby the compound interferes with DNA synthesis and repair by causing single-strand DNA breaks and induces arrest of the cell division cycle at G2/M checkpoint. A number of nucleoside drugs, such as gemcitabine, or Gemzar®, from Eli Lilly, and cytarabine, also known as Ara-C, a generic drug, are in wide use as conventional chemotherapies. Both sapacitabine and its major metabolite, CNDAC, have demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in both blood and solid tumors in preclinical studies. In a liver metastatic mouse model, sapacitabine was shown to be superior to gemcitabine and 5-FU, two widely used nucleoside analogs, in delaying the onset and growth of liver metastasis. We have retained worldwide rights to commercialize sapacitabine, except for Japan, for which Daiichi-Sankyo Co., Ltd, or Daiichi-Sankyo, has a right of first negotiation.
We are currently exploring sapacitabine in both hematological cancers and solid tumors. To date, sapacitabine has been evaluated in approximately 400 patients in several Phase 1 and 2 studies and has shown signs of anti-cancer activity.
Hematological Cancers
Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes
In December 2007, at the ASH annual meeting, we reported interim results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of oral sapacitabine in patients with advanced leukemias and MDS. The data demonstrated that sapacitabine had a favorable safety profile and promising anti-leukemic activity in patients with relapsed and refractory AML and MDS when administered by two different dosing schedules. The primary objective of the study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose, or MTD, of sapacitabine administered twice daily for seven consecutive days every 21 days or three consecutive days per week for two weeks every 21 days. The MTD was reached at 375 mg on the seven-day schedule and 475 mg on the three-day schedule. Dose-limiting toxicity was gastrointestinal which included abdominal pain, diarrhea, small bowel obstruction and neutropenic colitis. One patient treated at the MTD of 375 mg on the seven-day schedule died of complications from neutropenic colitis. Among 46 patients, 42 with AML and 4 with MDS, in this dose escalating study, the best responses were complete remission, or CR, or complete remission without platelet recovery, or CRp, in six patients for an Overall Response Rate of 13%. In addition, 15 patients had a significant decrease in bone marrow blasts including seven with blast reduction to 5% or less. The study was conducted at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and is led by Hagop Kantarjian, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Chairman of the Leukemia Department and Dr. William Plunkett, Professor and Chief, Section of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Experimental Therapeutics.
Phase 2 randomized clinical trial in elderly patients with AML previously untreated or in first relapse
In December 2007, we initiated an open-label, multicenter, randomized Phase 2 clinical trial of oral sapacitabine in 60 elderly patients with AML aged 70 or older who are previously untreated or in first relapse. The Phase 2 study, led by Dr. Kantarjian, has a primary endpoint of 1-year survival rate of three dosing schedules of sapacitabine in elderly patients with previously untreated or first relapsed AML. Secondary objectives are to assess CR or CRp, partial remission, or PR, duration of CR or CRp, or major hematological improvement and their corresponding durations, transfusion requirements, number of hospitalized days and safety. The study uses a selection design with the objective of identifying a dosing schedule among three different arms, A. 200 mg twice daily for seven days every 3-4 weeks, B. 300 mg twice daily for seven days every 3-4 weeks, and C. 400 mg twice daily for three days per week for two weeks every 3-4 weeks, which produces a better 1-year survival rate in the event that all three dosing schedules are active. Each arm enrolled and treated 20 patients. Approximately 55% of patients had AML de novo and the rest had AML preceded by antecedent hematological disorder, or AHD, such as MDS, or myeloproliferative disease. Eighty percent of the patients were untreated and 20% in first relapse. We completed enrollment of 60 AML patients in this study in October 2008. In December 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of ASH we reported 1-year survival data.

 

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The primary endpoint of 1-year survival was 35% on Arm A, 30% on Arm C and 10% on Arm B. The median overall survival was 212 days on Arm C (range of 13 to over 654 days), 197 days on Arm A (range of 26 to over 610 days) and 100 days on Arm B (range of 6 to over 646 days). Overall response rate, or ORR, a secondary endpoint, was 45% on Arm A, 35% on Arm C and 25% on Arm B with CR rate of 25% on Arm C and 10% on Arms A and B. Thirty-day mortality was 10% on Arm C and Arm A and 20% on Arm B. Approximately 30% of all patients received sapacitabine for at least 6 cycles. Fifteen patients who survived one year or more received an average of 12 treatment cycles.
Exploratory subgroup analysis suggests that (i) Arm C may be more effective for de novo AML and (ii) Arm A may be more effective for AML preceded by AHD, such as MDS.
The 3-day dosing schedule in Arm C was selected for further clinical development in elderly patients with de novo AML based on a 1-year survival rate of 30%, ORR of 35% with durable CRs. The 7-day dosing schedule in Arm A was selected for further clinical development in elderly patients with AML preceded by AHD based on a 1-year survival rate of 35%, ORR of 45% with durable hematological improvement.
Randomized Phase 2 clinical trial in older patients with MDS as a second-line treatment
In September 2008, we advanced sapacitabine into Phase 2 development as a second-line treatment in patients aged 60 or older with MDS who are previously treated with hypomethylating agents. The MDS stratum of the study is designed as a protocol amendment expanding the ongoing Phase 2 trial of sapacitabine in AML described above, to include a cohort of patients with MDS. Patients with MDS often progress to AML. The primary objective of the MDS stratum is to evaluate the 1-year survival rate of three dosing schedules of sapacitabine. Secondary objectives are to assess the number of patients who have achieved CR or CRp, PR, hematological improvement and their corresponding durations, transfusion requirements, number of hospitalization days and safety. The study uses a selection design with the objective of identifying a dosing schedule which produces a better 1-year survival rate for each stratum in the event that all three dosing schedules are active.
In June 2010, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, meeting we reported interim response data for the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of sapacitabine in older patients with MDS. The study has recently completed enrollment of 61 patients aged 60 or older with MDS who were previously treated with azacitidine or decitabine or both. In this three-arm study, Arms B & C enrolled 20 patients each while Arm C enrolled 21 patients across the same three randomized dosing schedules of sapacitabine (Arms A, B and C) tested in the AML stratum of the study. All patients have received at least one hypomethylating agent and 15 patients (25%) have received two hypomethylating agents, i.e., azacitidine and decitabine. Approximately 51% of the 61 patients had baseline bone marrow blast counts above 10%. Based on interim data, the overall response rate is 24% on Arm A, the 7-day low dose schedule, 35% on Arm B, the 7-day high dose schedule, and 10% on Arm C, the 3-day high dose schedule. Two patients achieved complete remission and both were treated on Arm A. Thirty-day mortality from all-causes is 4.8% on Arm A, 0% on Arm B and 15% on Arm C. Approximately 34% of the patients received 4 or more cycles of sapacitabine.

 

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Pivotal trial plan for sapacitabine for the treatment of hematological malignancies
In December 2009, we announced that we held a Type A meeting with the FDA to discuss a randomized Phase 3 study design for our oral sapacitabine capsules in AML and separately in MDS. Based on the FDA’s confirmation that the proposed study design would be acceptable for a SPA, we submitted a SPA request during the first quarter of 2010. Should the SPA be granted we would plan to start such a study during 2010. The SPA process allows for official FDA evaluation of clinical protocols of a Phase 3 clinical trial intended to form the primary basis for an efficacy claim. A SPA provides trial sponsors with an FDA agreement that the design and analysis of the trial adequately address objectives in support of a submission for a marketing application if the trial is performed according to the SPA. The SPA may only be changed through a written agreement between the sponsor and the FDA, or if the FDA becomes aware of a substantial scientific issue essential to product efficacy or safety. However, a SPA does not provide any assurance that a marketing application would be approved by the FDA. Furthermore, Phase 3 clinical trials are time-consuming and expensive, and because we have limited resources, we may be required to collaborate with a third party or raise additional funds. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to do so.
Solid Tumors
Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with refractory solid tumors or lymphomas
Two Phase 1 studies of sapacitabine were completed by Daiichi-Sankyo, from which we in-licensed sapacitabine, evaluating 87 patients in refractory solid tumors. In addition, we conducted a Phase 1b dose escalation clinical trial in patients with refractory solid tumors or lymphomas. Preliminary results of the Phase 1b study were reported at the EORTC-NCI-AACR Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics meeting in November 2006. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the safety profile of sapacitabine administered twice daily for 14 consecutive days or 7 consecutive days every 21 days. Of the 37 treated patients, 28 received the drug twice daily for 14 days and 9 received the drug twice daily for 7 days. The dose-limiting toxicity was reversible myelosuppression. One patient treated at the maximum tolerated dose died of candida sepsis in the setting of grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Non-hematological toxicities were mostly mild to moderate. The best response by investigator assessment was stable disease in 13 patients, five with non-small cell lung cancer, two with breast cancer, two with ovarian cancer and one each with colorectal cancer, adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and parotid acinar carcinoma.
Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
In January 2009, we began treating patients in a Phase 2, open label, single arm, multicenter clinical trial in patients with NSCLC who have had one prior chemotherapy. This study builds on the observation of prolonged stable disease of four months or longer experienced by heavily pretreated NSCLC patients involved in two Phase 1 studies of sapacitabine. The multicenter Phase 2 trial is led by Philip D. Bonomi, M.D., at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the rate of response and stable disease in patients with previously treated NSCLC. Secondary objectives are to assess progression-free survival, duration of response, duration of stable disease, 1-year survival, overall survival and safety. The study will enroll approximately 40 patients and has a lead-in phase for dose escalation with the objective of defining a recommended dose followed by a second stage in which patients will be treated at the recommended dose.

 

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Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, or CTCL
In April 2007, we initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with advanced CTCL, a cancer of T-lymphocytes, or white blood cells, which causes disfiguring skin lesions and severe itching. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate tolerability and response rate of 50 mg and 100 mg regimens of sapacitabine both twice a day for three days per week for two weeks in a three week cycle in patients with progressive, recurrent, or persistent CTCL on or following two systemic therapies. The study uses a selection design to choose an optimal dose if both are active. Secondary objectives are to assess response duration, time to response, time to progression and relief of pruritus or itching. Non-hematological toxicities were mostly mild to moderate. The best response by investigator assessment was partial response in 3 patients out of 16 enrolled. We stopped the trial in order to re-direct our resources to sapacitabine clinical trials with a higher priority.
EU Orphan Designation
During May 2008, we received designation from the European Medicines Evaluation Agency, or EMEA, for sapacitabine as an orphan medicine in two separate indications: AML and MDS. The EMEA’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, or COMP, adopted a positive opinion on the Company’s application to designate sapacitabine as an orphan medicinal product for the indications of AML and MDS. The objective of European orphan medicines legislation is to stimulate research and development of medicinal products for rare diseases by providing incentives to industry. An orphan designation in the European Union confers a range of benefits to sponsor companies including market exclusivity for a period of 10 years, EMEA scientific advice on protocol development, direct access to the centralized procedure for review of marketing authorizations, EMEA fee reductions and eligibility for grant support from European agencies.
Seliciclib
Our second drug candidate, seliciclib, is a novel, first-in-class, orally available, CDK inhibitor. The compound selectively inhibits a spectrum of enzyme targets -CDK2/E, CDK2/A, CDK7 and CDK9- that are central to the process of cell division and cell cycle control. The target profile of seliciclib is differentiated from the published target profile of other CDK inhibitors. Its selectivity is differentiated by recent publications by independent investigators which showed that seliciclib (i) is more active against NSCLC cells with K-Ras or N-Ras mutations than those with wild type Ras and (ii) overcomes resistance to letrozole (Femara®) in breast cancer cells caused by a particular form of cyclin E in complex with CDK2. Preclinical studies have shown that the drug works by inducing cell apoptosis, or cell suicide, in multiple phases of the cell cycle. To date, seliciclib has been evaluated in approximately 450 patients in several Phase 1 and 2 studies and has shown signs of anti-cancer activity. We have retained worldwide rights to commercialize seliciclib.
Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with refractory solid tumors
We have completed two Phase 1 trials that enrolled 24 healthy volunteers and three Phase 1 trials that enrolled a total of 84 cancer patients testing different doses and schedules. The primary toxicities observed were of a non-hematological nature, including asthenia or weakness, elevation of liver enzymes, hypokalemia or decreased potassium levels, nausea and vomiting and elevation in creatinine. Although these trials were designed to test safety rather than efficacy of seliciclib given alone as monotherapy in patients with solid tumors who failed multiple previous treatments, several of these patients appeared to have benefited from seliciclib treatment.
Seliciclib was shown in a further Phase 1 study sponsored and conducted by independent investigators to have clinical antitumor activity in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer, measured as a decrease in the size of primary tumor and involved lymph nodes, as well as an increase in tumor cell deaths by biomarker analyses.

 

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Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with NSCLC or breast cancer
Four Phase 2 trials have been conducted in cancer patients to evaluate the tolerability and antitumor activities of seliciclib alone or in combination with standard chemotherapies used in the treatment of advanced NSCLC or breast cancer. Interim data from two Phase 2 open-label studies of a total of 52 patients with NSCLC, suggest that seliciclib treatment did not aggravate the known toxicities of standard first and second-line chemotherapies nor appear to cause unexpected toxicities, although these trials were not designed to provide statistically significant comparisons. The combination of seliciclib with a standard dose of Capecitabine (Xeloda®) was not well tolerated in patients with advanced breast cancer.
Seliciclib is currently being investigated in the Phase 2b APPRAISE study as a treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC. APPRAISE is a double-blinded, randomized study of single agent seliciclib versus best supportive care in patients with NSCLC treated with at least two prior systemic therapies. APPRAISE is led by Chandra P. Belani, M.D. at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University. The study’s main objective is to learn the anti-tumor activity of seliciclib as a single agent in refractory NSCLC and help determine further development strategies. The study design is randomized discontinuation. All patients receive seliciclib at a dose of 1200 mg twice a day for three days for at least three cycles of two weeks each. Patients who achieve stable disease after three cycles will be randomized to continue on seliciclib or receive placebo with best supportive care. Patients in the placebo arm who progress will be given the option to cross-over and again receive seliciclib. The primary efficacy endpoint of APPRAISE is doubling progression free survival, or PFS, measured in the randomized portion of the study.
In August 2008, we announced that an independent data review committee, or IDRC, completed a review of the first interim analysis data from the study. The IDRC assessed the safety profile of seliciclib and recommended that the study continue after reviewing data from 173 patients with previously-treated NSCLC, of whom 45 proceeded into the blinded portion of the study and were randomized to receive either seliciclib or best supportive care. Based on the interim data, the IDRC reached the following main conclusions: there were no safety concerns that would warrant stopping the study; there was no trend favoring the seliciclib treatment arm; and as a definitive conclusion could not be reached because of the low number of events, it was recommended that the study be continued. Based on our cost versus benefit analysis, we decided not to enroll additional patients. The APPRAISE trial continues with the 191 patients already enrolled until the last enrolled patient has completed follow-up. In accordance with the protocol, we remain blinded to the study data.
Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with NPC
In November 2007, we commenced a Phase 2 multicenter, international, blinded randomized study of oral seliciclib as a single agent in patients with NPC. The primary objective is to evaluate 6-month progression free survival, or PFS, of two dosing schedules of seliciclib in approximately 75 patients with previously treated NPC. Secondary objectives are overall survival, response rate, response duration, safety and tolerability. The first part of the study is designed to confirm safety and tolerability of 400 mg twice a day for four days per week or 800 mg once a day for four days per week of seliciclib. It is open to approximately 12 to 24 patients with advanced solid tumors as well as patients with NPC. The second part of the study is designed to detect major differences between the two dosing schedules of seliciclib and a placebo group in terms of 6-month PFS in approximately 51 patients. The start of the second part of the study is dependent on clinical data from the lead-in phase and available resources.

 

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In May 2009, at the ASCO annual meeting, we reported interim data from the lead-in portion of the Phase 2 study which demonstrated that oral seliciclib could be safely administered in two dosing schedules which were well tolerated and met the criteria for proceeding to the randomized stage of the study. Seliciclib treatment resulted in prolonged stable disease in 70% of previously-treated NPC patients, including 3 with stable disease lasting longer than 8 months, suggesting seliciclib inhibits tumor growth in NPC. The data support further clinical development of oral seliciclib in NPC.
CYC116
In June 2007, we initiated a multicenter Phase 1 pharmacologic clinical trial of CYC116, an orally-available inhibitor of Aurora kinase A and B and VEGFR2, in patients with advanced solid tumors. The multicenter Phase 1 trial, now completed, is designed to examine the safety and tolerability of CYC116 in patients with advanced solid tumors. The primary objective of the study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose. Secondary objectives are to evaluate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of the drug and document anti-tumor activity. Aurora kinases, or AK, are a family of serine/threonine protein kinases discovered by Professor David Glover, our Chief Scientist, that are only expressed in actively dividing cells and are crucial for the process of cell division or mitosis. These proteins, which have been found to be over-expressed in many types of cancer, have generated significant scientific and commercial interest as cancer drug targets. VEGFR2 is a receptor protein that plays a key regulatory role in the angiogenesis pathway, or blood vessel formation. VEGFR is targeted by recently approved drugs such as bevacizumab and sorafenib indicated for the treatment of several solid cancers, such as breast, colorectal, kidney, liver and lung. We have retained worldwide rights to commercialize CYC116. Further work on CYC116 will be undertaken when appropriate levels of resource are available to direct to the program.
Other programs
We have allocated limited resources to other programs allowing us to maintain and build on our core competency in cell cycle biology and related drug discovery. In our second generation CDK inhibitor program, we have discovered several series of CDK inhibitors that we believe may prove to be more potent anticancer agents than seliciclib based on preclinical observations. Our polo-like kinase or Plk inhibitor program targets the mitotic phase of the cell cycle with the objective of identifying potent and selective small molecule inhibitors of Plk1, a kinase active during mitosis. Plk was discovered by Professor David Glover, our Chief Scientist. The Company has a number of earlier stage programs for which limited or no resources will be allocated. For example, extensive preclinical data published by independent investigators evidence activity by our CDK inhibitors, including seliciclib, in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases of aberrant cell proliferation including glaucoma, lupus nephritis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, polycystic kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In our GSK-3 inhibitor program we have demonstrated evidence of activity in preclinical models of Type 2 Diabetes.
Where appropriate we intend to progress such programs through collaboration with groups that specialize in the particular mechanism of action or disease area until such times that these programs can be partnered and/or progressed should funding become available.
Commercial products
We have exclusive rights to sell and distribute three products in the United States and Canada used primarily to manage the effects of radiation or chemotherapy in cancer patients: Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid and Numoisyn® Lozenges. All three products are approved in the United States under FDA 510 (k) or medical device registrations.

 

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Xclair® Cream
Xclair® is an aqueous cream containing sodium hyaluronate, or hyaluronic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid that is formulated to relieve symptoms associated with radiation dermatitis. Sodium hyaluronate is the key water-regulating substance in human skin. Sodium hyaluronate has high viscoelasticity and lubricity. When sodium hyaluronate solution is applied on the surface of skin, it forms an air permeable layer that keeps skin moist and smooth. Small molecular weight sodium hyaluronate can penetrate into the dermis where it combines with water to promote microcirculation, nutrient absorption, and metabolism. Glycyrrhetinic acid reduces inflammation and is believed to have immunomodulatory properties.
Numoisyn® Liquid
Numoisyn® Liquid is an oral solution used to replace natural saliva when salivary glands are damaged. The viscosity of Numoisyn® Liquid is similar to that of natural saliva. Linseed extract in Numoisyn® Liquid contains mucins that provide superior viscosity and reduced friction compared to water or carboxymethylcellulose or CMC solutions. Linseed extract significantly reduces the symptoms of dry mouth with increasing effect over time while Numoisyn® Liquid is used.
Numoisyn® Lozenges
Numoisyn® Lozenges dissolve slowly while moved around in the mouth. They contain sorbitol and malic acid to stimulate normal salivation and provide temporary relief of dry mouth in patients who have some residual secretory function and taste perception. Numoisyn® Lozenges support saliva’s natural protection of teeth so that teeth are not damaged with repeated and use of the lozenges. They are sugar free and buffered with calcium to protect teeth. Numoisyn® Lozenges have been demonstrated to be safe and effective for long-term use and are well tolerated by patients. Use of Numoisyn® Lozenges improves subjective symptoms of dry mouth and does not cause bacteria or plaque formation or loss of tooth enamel hardness.
Legal Proceedings
On April 27, 2010, we were served with a complaint filed by Celgene Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware seeking a Declaratory Judgment that four of our own patents, claiming the use of romidepsin injection in T-cell lymphomas, are invalid and not infringed by Celgene’s products. The four patents cited in the complaint do not involve our clinical development candidates or our commercial products.  On June 17, 2010, we filed our Answer and Counterclaims to the declaratory judgment complaint. We have filed counterclaims charging Celgene with infringement of each of our four patents and seek damages for Celgene’s infringement as well as injunctive relief.  The four patents directly involve the use and administration of Celgene’s ISTODAX® (romidepsin for injection) product.
Corporate Information
Our corporate headquarters are located at 200 Connell Drive, Suite 1500, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, 07922, and our telephone number is (908) 517-7330. This is also where our marketing, medical and regulatory functions are located. Our research facility is located in Dundee, Scotland, which is also the center of our translational work and development programs.

 

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THE OFFERING
     
Common stock which may be issued by us
  Up to 3,172,168 shares issuable upon exercise of our outstanding registered direct warrants.
 
   
Common stock outstanding as of June 16, 2010
  36,948,986 shares.
 
   
Use of proceeds
  Upon exercise of the outstanding registered direct warrants, if at all, we may receive up to a total of $32.1 million in proceeds. However, we cannot predict the timing or the amount of the exercise of the outstanding registered direct warrants. Any proceeds we may receive will be used by us for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, the advancement of our drug candidates in clinical trials, and to meet working capital needs. The amounts and timing of the expenditures will depend on numerous factors, such as the timing and progress of our clinical trials and research and development efforts, technological advances and the competitive environment for our drug candidates. We expect from time to time to evaluate the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies for which a portion of the net proceeds may be used, although we currently are not planning or negotiating any such transactions. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from the exercise of the outstanding registered direct warrants by their holders. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of these proceeds, if any. We will also pay the costs related to the registration of the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the outstanding registered direct warrants.
 
   
Risk factors
  The shares of common stock offered hereby involve a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10.
 
   
Dividend policy
  We currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. Therefore, we do not currently anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock.
 
   
Trading Symbol
  Our common stock currently trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CYCC.”
Although we have other outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part covers only the issuance of the shares of common stock upon the exercise of our 3,172,168 outstanding registered direct warrants.

 

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RISK FACTORS
Any investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Investors should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase shares of our common stock. Each of the following risk factors, either alone or taken together, could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our company. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our operating results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including the risks we face as described below and elsewhere in this prospectus.
We believe regulatory agencies will not accept registration pathways based on Phase 2 data and, therefore, we will need to conduct randomized Phase 3 studies, which are time-consuming and expensive.
Regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to, the FDA, have in certain instances accepted Phase 2 data from uncontrolled studies as sufficient for approval in indications where an unmet medical need exists or in exceptional circumstances. However, in September 2009, the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC), which is the cancer drug advisory panel of the FDA, voted in favor of completion of a randomized trial prior to regulatory approval with respect to drugs submitted for approval as treatments for patients with AML and likely in respect of drugs submitted for approval as treatments for patients with other forms of cancer. Therefore, we believe that to gain regulatory approval from the FDA, we will need to conduct a randomized Phase 3 trial. Randomized Phase 3 studies are time-consuming and expensive, and because we have limited resources any such requirements may adversely impact our operating results and financial condition and delay or block our ability to commercialize our lead drug candidates.
Even if we believe that the data collected from clinical trials of our drug candidates are promising with respect to safety and efficacy, such data may not be deemed sufficient by regulatory authorities to warrant product approval. Clinical data can be interpreted in different ways. Regulatory officials could interpret such data in different ways than we do which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. The FDA, other regulatory authorities or we may suspend or terminate clinical trials at any time. Any failure or significant delay in completing clinical trials for our lead drug candidates, or in receiving regulatory approval for the commercialization of our lead drug candidates, may adversely affect our business.
The current economic conditions and financial market turmoil could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Economic conditions remain difficult with the continuing uncertainty in the global credit markets, the financial services industry and the United States capital markets and with the United States economy as a whole experiencing a period of substantial turmoil and uncertainty characterized by unprecedented intervention by the United States federal government and the failure, bankruptcy, or sale of various financial and other institutions. We believe the current economic conditions and financial market turmoil could adversely affect our operations, business and prospects, as well as our ability to obtain funds and manage our liquidity. If these circumstances persist or continue to worsen, our future operating results could be adversely affected, particularly relative to our current expectations.

 

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We are at an early stage of development as a company and we do not have, and may never have, any products that generate significant revenues.
We are at an early stage of development as a company and have a limited operating history on which to evaluate our business and prospects. While we have earned modest product revenues from the ALIGN business acquired in October 2007, since beginning operations in 1996, we have not generated any product revenues from our product candidates currently in development. We cannot guarantee that any of our product candidates currently in development will ever become marketable products and we do not anticipate material revenues from the ALIGN products in the foreseeable future. We must demonstrate that our drug candidates satisfy rigorous standards of safety and efficacy for their intended uses before the FDA, and other regulatory authorities in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere. Significant additional research, preclinical testing and clinical testing is required before we can file applications with the FDA or other regulatory authorities for premarket approval of our drug candidates. In addition, to compete effectively, our drugs must be easy to administer, cost-effective and economical to manufacture on a commercial scale. We may not achieve any of these objectives. Sapacitabine and seliciclib, our most advanced drug candidates for the treatment of cancer, are currently our only drug candidates in Phase 2 clinical trials. A combination trial of sapacitabine and seliciclib and CYC116 are currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. We cannot be certain that the clinical development of these or any other drug candidates in preclinical testing or clinical development will be successful, that we will receive the regulatory approvals required to commercialize them or that any of our other research and drug discovery programs will yield a drug candidate suitable for investigation through clinical trials. Our commercial revenues from our product candidates currently in development, if any, will be derived from sales of drugs that will not become marketable for several years, if at all.
We have a history of operating losses and we may never become profitable. Our stock is a highly speculative investment.
We have incurred operating losses in each year since beginning operations in 1996 due to costs incurred in connection with our research and development activities and selling, general and administrative costs associated with our operations, and we may never achieve profitability. As of March 31, 2010, our accumulated deficit was $227.8 million. Our net loss for each of the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2010 was $5.1 million. Our net loss applicable to common stockholders from inception through March 31, 2010 was $268.8 million. Our drug candidates are in the mid-stages of clinical testing and we must conduct significant additional clinical trials before we can seek the regulatory approvals necessary to begin commercial sales of our drugs. We expect to incur continued losses for several years, as we continue our research and development of our drug candidates, seek regulatory approvals, commercialize any approved drugs and market and promote the ALIGN products: Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid and Numoisyn® Lozenges. If our drug candidates are unsuccessful in clinical trials or we are unable to obtain regulatory approvals, or if our drugs are unsuccessful in the market, we will not be profitable. If we fail to become and remain profitable, or if we are unable to fund our continuing losses, particularly in light of the current economic conditions, you could lose all or part of your investment.
Capital markets are currently experiencing a period of disruption and instability, which has had and could continue to have a negative impact on the availability and cost of capital.
The general disruption in the United States capital markets has impacted the broader worldwide financial and credit markets and reduced the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole. These global conditions could persist for a prolonged period of time or worsen in the future. Our ability to access the capital markets may be restricted at a time when we would like, or need, to access those markets, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions. The resulting lack of available credit, lack of confidence in the financial sector, increased volatility in the financial markets could materially and adversely affect the cost of debt financing and the proceeds of equity financing may be materially adversely impacted by these market conditions.

 

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If we fail to comply with the continued listing requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market our common stock price may be delisted and the price of our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets could be negatively impacted.
Our common stock is currently listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market. We must satisfy NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements, including among other things, a minimum stockholders’ equity of $10.0 million and a minimum bid price for our common stock of $1.00 per share, or risk delisting, which would have a material adverse affect on our business. A delisting of our common stock from the NASDAQ Global Market could materially reduce the liquidity of our common stock and result in a corresponding material reduction in the price of our common stock. In addition, delisting could harm our ability to raise capital through alternative financing sources on terms acceptable to us, or at all, and may result in the potential loss of confidence by investors, suppliers, customers and employees and fewer business development opportunities. During 2009, Cyclacel received notification from the NASDAQ Stock Market that the Company was not in compliance with the minimum $10 million stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing set forth in NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5450(b)(1)(A). On January 27, 2010, NASDAQ notified the Company that it regained compliance with the minimum $50 million market value of listed securities requirement and that it currently complies with all other applicable standards for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market. Accordingly, the Company’s shares of common and preferred stock will continue to trade on The NASDAQ Global Market.
Raising additional capital in the future may not be available to us on reasonable terms, if at all, when or as we require additional funding. If we issue additional shares of our common stock or other securities that may be convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, our common stock, our existing stockholders would experience further dilution. If we fail to obtain additional funding, we may be unable to complete the development and commercialization of our lead drug candidate, sapacitabine, or continue to fund our research and development programs.
We have funded all of our operations and capital expenditures with proceeds from the issuance of public equity securities, private placements of our securities, interest on investments, licensing revenue, government grants, research and development tax credits and product revenue. In order to conduct the lengthy and expensive research, preclinical testing and clinical trials necessary to complete the development and marketing of our drug candidates, we will require substantial additional funds. Based on our current operating plans of focusing on the advancement of sapacitabine, we expect our existing resources to be sufficient to fund our planned operations for at least the next twelve months. To meet our long-term financing requirements, we may raise funds through public or private equity offerings, debt financings or strategic alliances. Raising additional funds by issuing equity or convertible debt securities may cause our stockholders to experience substantial dilution in their ownership interests and new investors may have rights superior to the rights of our other stockholders. Raising additional funds through debt financing, if available, may involve covenants that restrict our business activities and options. To the extent that we raise additional funds through collaborations and licensing arrangements, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our drug discovery and other technologies, research programs or drug candidates, or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. Additional funding may not be available to us on favorable terms, or at all, particularly in light of the current economic conditions. If we are unable to obtain additional funds, we may be forced to delay or terminate our current clinical trials and the development and marketing of our drug candidates including sapacitabine.

 

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Our committed equity financing facility with Kingsbridge may not be available to us if we elect to make a draw down or may require us to make additional “blackout” or other payments to Kingsbridge, which may result in dilution to our stockholders.
On December 10, 2007 and as amended on November 24, 2009, we entered into the committed equity financing facility, or CEFF, with Kingsbridge Capital Limited, or Kingsbridge. The CEFF entitles us to sell and obligates Kingsbridge to purchase from us the lesser of 4,084,590 shares of our common stock or $60 million of our common stock, during the three years term of the CEFF, subject to certain conditions and restrictions. Kingsbridge will not be obligated to purchase shares under the CEFF unless certain conditions are met, which include, among other things, a minimum price for our common stock of $0.40 per share, effectiveness of the registration statement covering the shares subject to the CEFF and the continued listing of our stock on The NASDAQ Global Market. However, because we have not declared dividends on our preferred stock for several quarters during fiscal year 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, we are not able to use our Registration Statement on Form S-3, which covers the shares subject to the CEFF and therefore, we cannot access the CEFF until such time as an effective registration statement covering such shares be in place. This may limit our ability to access capital markets on short notice or make the cost of capital more expensive.
As of June 16, 2010, following the sale of an aggregate of 2,818,232 shares of our common stock during the period from December 2009 through March 2010, the CEFF entitles us to sell and obligates Kingsbridge to purchase from us the lesser of 1,266,358 or $55.9 million of our shares of common stock during the remaining term of the CEFF which ends on December 10, 2010.
Kingsbridge is permitted to terminate the CEFF if it determines that a material and adverse event has occurred affecting our business, operations, properties or financial condition and if such condition continues for a period of 10 days from the date Kingsbridge provides us notice of such material and adverse event. In such a case, we would be unable to access any capital through the CEFF.
We are entitled, in certain circumstances, to deliver a blackout notice to Kingsbridge to suspend the use of the registration statement which became effective in December 2007, and prohibit Kingsbridge from selling shares. If we deliver a blackout notice in the 15 trading days following the settlement of a draw down, or if the registration statement is not effective in circumstances not permitted by the CEFF, then we must make a payment to Kingsbridge, or issue Kingsbridge additional shares in lieu of this payment, calculated on the basis of the number of shares held by Kingsbridge exclusive of shares that Kingsbridge may hold pursuant to exercise of the Kingsbridge warrant and the change in the market price of our common stock during the period in which the use of the registration statement is suspended. If the trading price of our common stock declines during a suspension of the registration statement, the blackout or other payment to be made by us could be significant.
Should we sell shares to Kingsbridge under the CEFF, or issue shares in lieu of a blackout payment, it will have a dilutive effective on the holdings of our current stockholders, and may result in downward pressure on the price of our common stock. If we draw down under the CEFF, we will issue shares to Kingsbridge at a discount of up to 20% from the volume weighted average price of our common stock. If we draw down amounts under the CEFF when our share price is decreasing, we will need to issue more shares to raise the same amount than if our stock price was higher. Issuances in the face of a declining share price will have an even greater dilutive effect than if our share price were stable or increasing, and may further decrease our share price.

 

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To the extent we elect to fund the development of a drug candidate or the commercialization of a drug at our expense, we will need substantial additional funding.
We plan to market drugs on our own, with or without a partner, that can be effectively commercialized and sold in concentrated markets that do not require a large sales force to be competitive. To achieve this goal, we will need to establish our own specialized sales force, marketing organization and supporting distribution capabilities. The development and commercialization of our drug candidates is very expensive, including our anticipated Phase 3 clinical trials for sapacitabine. To the extent we elect to fund the full development of a drug candidate or the commercialization of a drug at our expense, we will need to raise substantial additional funding to:
    fund research and development and clinical trials connected with our research;
 
    fund clinical trials and seek regulatory approvals;
 
    build or access manufacturing and commercialization capabilities;
 
    implement additional internal control systems and infrastructure;
 
    commercialize and secure coverage, payment and reimbursement of our drug candidates, if any such candidates receive regulatory approval;
 
    maintain, defend and expand the scope of our intellectual property; and
 
    hire additional management, sales and scientific personnel.
Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:
    the scope, rate of progress and cost of our clinical trials and other research and development activities;
 
    the costs and timing of seeking and obtaining regulatory approvals;
 
    the costs of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights;
 
    the costs associated with establishing sales and marketing capabilities;
 
    the effect of competing technological and market developments; and
 
    the payment, other terms and timing of any strategic alliance, licensing or other arrangements that we may establish.
If we are not able to secure additional funding when needed, especially in light of the current economic conditions and financial market turmoil, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our clinical trials or research and development programs or future commercialization efforts.

 

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If we do not realize the expected benefits from the restructuring plans we announced in September 2008 and June 2009, our operating results and financial conditions could be negatively impacted.
In September 2008 and June 2009, we announced a strategic restructuring designed to focus our resources on our lead drug, sapacitabine, while maintaining the Company’s core competency in drug discovery and cell cycle biology. We cannot guarantee that we will not have to undertake additional restructuring activities, that any of our restructuring efforts will be successful, or that we will be able to realize the cost savings and other anticipated benefits from our restructuring. If we are unable to realize the expected operational efficiencies from our restructuring activities, our operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Any future workforce and expense reductions may have an adverse impact on our internal programs, strategic plans, and our ability to hire and retain key personnel, and may also be distracting to our management.
Further workforce and expense reductions in addition to those carried out in September 2008 and June 2009 could result in significant delays in implementing our strategic plans. In addition, employees, whether or not directly affected by such reduction, may seek future employment with our business partners or competitors. Although our employees are required to sign a confidentiality agreement at the time of hire, the confidential nature of certain proprietary information may not be maintained in the course of any such future employment. In addition, any additional workforce reductions or restructurings would be expected to involve significant expense as a result of contractual terms in certain of our existing agreements, including potential severance obligations as well as any payments that may, under certain circumstances, be required under our agreement with the Scottish Enterprise. Further, we believe that our future success will depend in large part upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel. We may have difficulty retaining and attracting such personnel as a result of a perceived risk of future workforce and expense reductions. Finally, the implementation of expense reduction programs may result in the diversion of the time and attention of our executive management team and other key employees, which could adversely affect our business.
Budget constraints resulting from our restructuring plan may negatively impact our research and development, forcing us to delay our efforts to develop certain product candidates in favor of developing others, which may prevent us from commercializing our product candidates as quickly as possible.
Research and development is an expensive process. As part of our restructuring plan, we have decided to focus our clinical development priorities on sapacitabine, while still possibly continuing to progress additional programs pending the availability of clinical data and the availability of funds, at which time we will determine the feasibility of pursuing, if at all, further advanced development of seliciclib, CYC116 or additional programs. Because we have had to prioritize our development candidates as a result of budget constraints, we may not be able to fully realize the value of our product candidates in a timely manner, if at all.
If we fail to enter into and maintain successful strategic alliances for our drug candidates, we may have to reduce or delay our drug candidate development or increase our expenditures.
An important element of our strategy for developing, manufacturing and commercializing our drug candidates is entering into strategic alliances with pharmaceutical companies or other industry participants to advance our programs and enable us to maintain our financial and operational capacity.

 

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We face significant competition in seeking appropriate alliances. We may not be able to negotiate alliances on acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, these alliances may be unsuccessful. If we fail to create and maintain suitable alliances, we may have to limit the size or scope of, or delay, one or more of our drug development or research programs. If we elect to fund drug development or research programs on our own, we will have to increase our expenditures and will need to obtain additional funding, which may be unavailable or available only on unfavorable terms.
We are exposed to risks related to foreign currency exchange rates.
Some of our costs and expenses are denominated in foreign currencies. Most of our foreign expenses are associated with our research and development operations of our United Kingdom-based wholly-owned subsidiary. When the United States dollar weakens against the British pound, the United States dollar value of the foreign currency denominated expense increases, and when the United States dollar strengthens against the British pound, the United States dollar value of the foreign currency denominated expense decreases. Consequently, changes in exchange rates, and in particular a weakening of the United States dollar, may adversely affect our results of operations.
We are exposed to risk related to the marketable securities we may purchase.
We may invest cash not required to meet short term obligations in short term marketable securities. We may purchase securities in United States government, government-sponsored agencies and highly rated corporate and asset-backed securities subject to an approved investment policy. Historically, investment in these securities has been highly liquid and has experienced only very limited defaults. However, recent volatility in the financial markets has created additional uncertainty regarding the liquidity and safety of these investments. Although we believe our marketable securities investments are safe and highly liquid, we cannot guarantee that our investment portfolio will not be negatively impacted by recent or future market volatility or credit restrictions.
Clinical trials are expensive, time consuming, subject to delay and may be required to continue beyond our available funding.
Clinical trials are expensive, complex can take many years to conduct and may have uncertain outcomes. We estimate that clinical trials of our most advanced drug candidates may be required to continue beyond our available funding and may take several years more to complete. The designs used in some of our trials have not been used widely by other pharmaceutical companies. Failure can occur at any stage of the testing and we may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, the clinical trial process that could delay or prevent commercialization of our current or future drug candidates, including but not limited to:
    delays in securing clinical investigators or trial sites for our clinical trials;
    delays in obtaining institutional review board, or IRB, and other regulatory approvals to commence a clinical trial;
    slower than anticipated rates of patient recruitment and enrollment, or reaching the targeted number of patients because of competition for patients from other trials or other reasons;
    negative or inconclusive results from clinical trials;
    unforeseen safety issues;

 

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    uncertain dosing issues may or may not be related to suboptimal pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behaviors;
    approval and introduction of new therapies or changes in standards of practice or regulatory guidance that render our clinical trial endpoints or the targeting of our proposed indications obsolete;
    inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment or problems with investigator or patient compliance with the trial protocols;
    inability to replicate in large controlled studies safety and efficacy data obtained from a limited number of patients in uncontrolled trials;
    inability or unwillingness of medical investigators to follow our clinical protocols; and
    unavailability of clinical trial supplies.
If we suffer any significant delays, setbacks or negative results in, or termination of, our clinical trials, we may be unable to continue development of our drug candidates or generate revenue and our development costs could increase significantly.
Adverse events have been observed in our clinical trials and may force us to stop development of our product candidates or prevent regulatory approval of our product candidates.
Adverse or inconclusive results from our clinical trials may substantially delay, or halt entirely, any further development of our drug candidates. Many companies have failed to demonstrate the safety or effectiveness of drug candidates in later stage clinical trials notwithstanding favorable results in early stage clinical trials. Previously unforeseen and unacceptable side effects could interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials of our drug candidates and could result in the FDA or other regulatory authorities denying approval of our drug candidates. We will need to demonstrate safety and efficacy for specific indications of use, and monitor safety and compliance with clinical trial protocols throughout the development process. To date, long-term safety and efficacy has not been demonstrated in clinical trials for any of our drug candidates. Toxicity and “serious adverse events” as defined in trial protocols have been noted in preclinical and clinical trials involving certain of our drug candidates. For example, neutropenia and gastro-intestinal toxicity were observed in patients receiving sapacitabine and elevations of liver enzymes and decrease in potassium levels have been observed in patients receiving seliciclib.
In addition, we may pursue clinical trials for sapacitabine and seliciclib in more than one indication. There is a risk that severe toxicity observed in a trial for one indication could result in the delay or suspension of all trials involving the same drug candidate. Even if we believe the data collected from clinical trials of our drug candidates are promising with respect to safety and efficacy, such data may not be deemed sufficient by regulatory authorities to warrant product approval. Clinical data can be interpreted in different ways. Regulatory officials could interpret such data in different ways than we do which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. The FDA, other regulatory authorities or we may suspend or terminate clinical trials at any time. Any failure or significant delay in completing clinical trials for our drug candidates, or in receiving regulatory approval for the commercialization of our drug candidates, may severely harm our business and reputation.

 

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If our understanding of the role played by CDKs or AKs in regulating the cell cycle is incorrect, this may hinder pursuit of our clinical and regulatory strategy.
Our development of small molecule inhibitors of CDK and AK is based on our understanding of the mechanisms of action of CDK and AK inhibitors and their interaction with other cellular mechanisms. One of our drug candidates, seliciclib, is a CDK inhibitor, and CYC116 is an AK and VEGFR2 inhibitor. Although a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are attempting to develop CDK or AK inhibitor drugs for the treatment of cancer, no CDK or AK inhibitor has yet reached the market. If our understanding of the role played by CDK or AK inhibitors in regulating the cell cycle is incorrect, seliciclib and/or CYC116 may fail to produce therapeutically relevant results hindering our ability to pursue our clinical and regulatory strategy.
We are making use of biomarkers, which are not scientifically validated, and our reliance on biomarker data may thus lead us to direct our resources inefficiently.
We are making use of biomarkers in an effort to facilitate our drug development and to optimize our clinical trials. Biomarkers are proteins or other substances whose presence in the blood can serve as an indicator of specific cell processes. We believe that these biological markers serve a useful purpose in helping us to evaluate whether our drug candidates are having their intended effects through their assumed mechanisms, and thus enable us to identify more promising drug candidates at an early stage and to direct our resources efficiently. We also believe that biomarkers may eventually allow us to improve patient selection in connection with clinical trials and monitor patient compliance with trial protocols.
For most purposes, however, biomarkers have not been scientifically validated. If our understanding and use of biomarkers is inaccurate or flawed, or if our reliance on them is otherwise misplaced, then we will not only fail to realize any benefits from using biomarkers, but may also be led to invest time and financial resources inefficiently in attempting to develop inappropriate drug candidates. Moreover, although the FDA has issued for comment a draft guidance document on the potential use of biomarker data in clinical development, such data are not currently accepted by the FDA or other regulatory agencies in the United States, the European Union or elsewhere in applications for regulatory approval of drug candidates and there is no guarantee that such data will ever be accepted by the relevant authorities in this connection. Our biomarker data should not be interpreted as evidence of efficacy.
Due to our reliance on contract research organizations or other third parties to conduct clinical trials, we may be unable to directly control the timing, conduct and expense of our clinical trials.
We do not have the ability to independently conduct clinical trials required to obtain regulatory approvals for our drug candidates. We must rely on third parties, such as contract research organizations, data management companies, contract clinical research associates, medical institutions, clinical investigators and contract laboratories to conduct our clinical trials. In addition, we rely on third parties to assist with our preclinical development of drug candidates. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or regulatory obligations or meet expected deadlines, if the third parties need to be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our preclinical development activities or clinical trials may be extended, delayed, suspended or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize our drug candidates.

 

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To the extent we are able to enter into collaborative arrangements or strategic alliances, we will be exposed to risks related to those collaborations and alliances.
Although we are not currently party to any collaboration arrangement or strategic alliance that is material to our business, in the future we expect to be dependent upon collaborative arrangements or strategic alliances to complete the development and commercialization of some of our drug candidates particularly after the Phase 2 stage of clinical testing. These arrangements may place the development of our drug candidates outside our control, may require us to relinquish important rights or may otherwise be on terms unfavorable to us.
We may be unable to locate and enter into favorable agreements with third parties, which could delay or impair our ability to develop and commercialize our drug candidates and could increase our costs of development and commercialization. Dependence on collaborative arrangements or strategic alliances will subject us to a number of risks, including the risk that:
    we may not be able to control the amount and timing of resources that our collaborators may devote to the drug candidates;
    our collaborators may experience financial difficulties;
    we may be required to relinquish important rights such as marketing and distribution rights; business combinations or significant changes in a collaborator’s business strategy may also adversely affect a collaborator’s willingness or ability to complete our obligations under any arrangement;
    a collaborator could independently move forward with a competing drug candidate developed either independently or in collaboration with others, including our competitors; and
    collaborative arrangements are often terminated or allowed to expire, which would delay the development and may increase the cost of developing our drug candidates.
We have no manufacturing capacity and will rely on third party manufacturers for the late stage development and commercialization of any drugs or devices we may develop or sell.
We do not currently operate manufacturing facilities for clinical or commercial production of our drug candidates under development or our currently marketed ALIGN products. We currently lack the resources or the capacity to manufacture any of our products on a clinical or commercial scale. We depend upon a third party, Sinclair, to manufacture the commercial products sold by our ALIGN subsidiary and we can not rely upon Sinclair to continue to supply the products. We anticipate future reliance on a limited number of third party manufacturers until we are able, or decide to, expand our operations to include manufacturing capacities. Any performance failure on the part of manufacturers could delay late stage clinical development or regulatory approval of our drug, the commercialization of our drugs or our ability to sell our commercial products, producing additional losses and depriving us of potential product revenues.
If the FDA or other regulatory agencies approve any of our drug candidates for commercial sale, or if we significantly expand our clinical trials, we will need to manufacture them in larger quantities and will be required to secure alternative third-party suppliers to our current suppliers. To date, our drug candidates have been manufactured in small quantities for preclinical testing and clinical trials and we may not be able to successfully increase the manufacturing capacity, whether in collaboration with our current or future third-party manufacturers or on our own, for any of our drug candidates in a timely or economic manner, or at all. Significant scale-up of manufacturing may require additional validation studies, which the FDA and other regulatory bodies must review and approve. If we are unable to successfully increase the manufacturing capacity for a drug candidate whether for late stage clinical trials or for commercial sale or are unable to secure alternative third-party suppliers to our current suppliers, the drug development, regulatory approval or commercial launch of any related drugs may be delayed or blocked or there may be a shortage in supply. Even if any third party manufacturer makes improvements in the manufacturing process for our drug candidates, we may not own, or may have to share, the intellectual property rights to such innovation.

 

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As we evolve from a company primarily involved in discovery and development to one also involved in the commercialization of drugs and devices, we may encounter difficulties in managing our growth and expanding our operations successfully.
In order to execute our business strategy, we will need to expand our development, control and regulatory capabilities and develop financial, manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities or contract with third parties to provide these capabilities for us. If our operations expand, we expect that we will need to manage additional relationships with various collaborative partners, suppliers and other third parties. Our ability to manage our operations and any growth will require us to make appropriate changes and upgrades, as necessary, to our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures wherever we may operate. Any inability to manage growth could delay the execution of our business plan or disrupt our operations.
The failure to attract and retain skilled personnel and key relationships could impair our drug development and commercialization efforts.
We are highly dependent on our senior management and key scientific, technical and sales and marketing personnel. Competition for these types of personnel is intense. The loss of the services of any member of our senior management, scientific, technical or sales or marketing staff may significantly delay or prevent the achievement of drug development and other business objectives and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. We also rely on consultants and advisors to assist us in formulating our strategy. All of our consultants and advisors are either self-employed or employed by other organizations, and they may have conflicts of interest or other commitments, such as consulting or advisory contracts with other organizations, that may affect their ability to contribute to us. The success of the commercialization of the ALIGN products depends, in large part, on our continued ability to develop and maintain important relationships with distributors and research and medical institutions. Failure to do that could have a material adverse effect on our ability to commercialize the ALIGN products.
We intend to expand and develop new drug candidates. We will need to hire additional employees in order to continue our clinical trials and market our drug candidates and medical devices. This strategy will require us to recruit additional executive management and scientific and technical personnel. There is currently intense competition for skilled executives and employees with relevant scientific and technical expertise, and this competition is likely to continue. The inability to attract and retain sufficient scientific, technical and managerial personnel could limit or delay our product development efforts, which would adversely affect the development of our drug candidates and commercialization of our potential drugs and growth of our business.

 

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Our drug candidates are subject to extensive regulation, which can be costly and time-consuming, and we may not obtain approvals for the commercialization of any of our drug candidates.
The clinical development, manufacturing, selling and marketing of our drug candidates are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere. These regulations also vary in important, meaningful ways from country to country. We are not permitted to market a potential drug in the United States until we receive approval of an NDA from the FDA. We have not received an NDA approval from the FDA for any of our drug candidates.
Obtaining an NDA approval is expensive and is a complex, lengthy and uncertain process. The FDA approval process for a new drug involves completion of preclinical studies and the submission of the results of these studies to the FDA, together with proposed clinical protocols, manufacturing information, analytical data and other information in an Investigational New Drug, or IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin. Clinical development typically involves three phases of study: Phase 1, 2 and 3. The most significant costs associated with clinical development are the pivotal or suitable for registration late Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trials as they tend to be the longest and largest studies conducted during the drug development process. After completion of clinical trials, an NDA may be submitted to the FDA. In responding to an NDA, the FDA may refuse to file the application, or if accepted for filing, the FDA may grant marketing approval, request additional information or deny the application if it determines that the application does not provide an adequate basis for approval. In addition, failure to comply with the FDA and other applicable foreign and U.S. regulatory requirements may subject us to administrative or judicially imposed sanctions. These include warning letters, civil and criminal penalties, injunctions, product seizure or detention, product recalls, total or partial suspension of production and refusal to approve either pending NDAs, or supplements to approved NDAs.
Despite the substantial time and expense invested in preparation and submission of an NDA or equivalents in other jurisdictions, regulatory approval is never guaranteed. The FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere exercise substantial discretion in the drug approval process. The number, size and design of preclinical studies and clinical trials that will be required for FDA or other regulatory approval will vary depending on the drug candidate, the disease or condition for which the drug candidate is intended to be used and the regulations and guidance documents applicable to any particular drug candidate. The FDA or other regulators can delay, limit or deny approval of a drug candidate for many reasons, including, but not limited to:
    those discussed in the risk factor which immediately follows;
    the fact that the FDA or other regulatory officials may not approve our or our third party manufacturer’s processes or facilities; or
    the fact that new regulations may be enacted by the FDA or other regulators may change their approval policies or adoption of new regulations requiring new or different evidence of safety and efficacy for the intended use of a drug candidate.

 

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With regard to the ALIGN products, and following regulatory approval of any of our drug candidates, we are subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and restrictions, which may result in significant expense and limit our ability to commercialize our potential products.
With regard to our ALIGN products and our drug candidates, if any, approved by the FDA or by another regulatory authority, we are held to extensive regulatory requirements over product manufacturing, labeling, packaging, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion and record keeping. Regulatory approvals may also be subject to significant limitations on the indicated uses or marketing of the drug candidates. Potentially costly follow-up or post-marketing clinical studies may be required as a condition of approval to further substantiate safety or efficacy, or to investigate specific issues of interest to the regulatory authority. Previously unknown problems with the product or drug candidate, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, may result in restrictions on the marketing of the drug or device, and could include withdrawal of the drug or device from the market.
In addition, the law or regulatory policies governing pharmaceuticals may change. New statutory requirements may be enacted or additional regulations may be enacted that could prevent or delay regulatory approval of our drug candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of adverse government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the United States or elsewhere. If we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we might not be permitted to market our drugs and our business could suffer.
Our applications for regulatory approval could be delayed or denied due to problems with studies conducted before we in-licensed the rights to some of our product candidates.
We currently license some of the compounds and drug candidates used in our research programs from third parties. These include sapacitabine which was licensed from Daiichi-Sankyo. Our present research involving these compounds relies upon previous research conducted by third parties over whom we had no control and before we in-licensed the drug candidates. In order to receive regulatory approval of a drug candidate, we must present all relevant data and information obtained during our research and development, including research conducted prior to our licensure of the drug candidate. Although we are not currently aware of any such problems, any problems that emerge with preclinical research and testing conducted prior to our in-licensing may affect future results or our ability to document prior research and to conduct clinical trials, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval for our drug candidates.
We face intense competition and our competitors may develop drugs that are less expensive, safer, or more effective than our drug candidates.
A large number of drug candidates are in development for the treatment of leukemia, lung cancer, lymphomas and nasopharyngeal cancer. Several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have nucleoside analogs or other products on the market or in clinical trials which may be competitive to sapacitabine in both hematological and oncology indications. These include Celgene, Cephalon, Eisai, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Hospira, Pfizer, Seattle Genetics, Sunesis and Vion. We believe that we are currently the only company that has an orally available CDK-specific agent in Phase 2 clinical trials but that there are a number of companies, including AstraZeneca, Eisai, Pfizer, Piramal Life Sciences, Roche Merck and Bayer-Schering that are developing CDK inhibitors in early stage clinical trials in cancer patients. Although Aventis, a predecessor of Sanofi-Aventis, had previously announced that it has ceased Phase 2 development of alvocidib or flavopiridol, a CDK inhibitor, we believe that the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, or CTEP, is continuing to enroll patients in a CTEP sponsored trial in patients with chronic leukemia. A number of companies are pursuing discovery and research activities in each of the other areas that are the subject of our research and drug development programs. We believe that AstraZeneca, Entremed, Merck, jointly with Vertex, Nerviano Medical Sciences, Pfizer, Rigel, Sunesis and Takeda-Millennium have commenced Phase 1 or Phase 2 clinical trials of Aurora kinase inhibitors in patients with advanced cancers. Several companies have reported selection of Aurora kinase inhibitor candidates for development and may have started or are expected to start clinical trials within the next twelve months. We believe that Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Onconova and Nerviano Medical Sciences have commenced Phase 1 or Phase 2 clinical trials with Plk inhibitor candidates for oncology indications. For our ALIGN products, we believe that Beiersdorf, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Johnson & Johnson, MPM Medical and other companies market products for radiation dermatitis and xerostomia.

 

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Our competitors, either alone or together with collaborators, may have substantially greater financial resources and research and development staff. Our competitors may also have more experience:
    developing drug candidates;
    conducting preclinical and clinical trials;
    obtaining regulatory approvals; and
    commercializing product candidates.
Our competitors may succeed in obtaining patent protection and regulatory approval and may market drugs before we do. If our competitors market drugs that are less expensive, safer, more effective or more convenient to administer than our potential drugs, or that reach the market sooner than our potential drugs, we may not achieve commercial success. Scientific, clinical or technical developments by our competitors may render our drug candidates obsolete or noncompetitive. We anticipate that we will face increased competition in the future as new companies enter the markets and as scientific developments progress. If our drug candidates obtain regulatory approvals, but do not compete effectively in the marketplace, our business will suffer.
The commercial success of the ALIGN products and our drug candidates depends upon their market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare providers and payors and the medical community.
It is necessary that our and our distribution partners’ products, including Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid and Numoisyn® Lozenges achieve and maintain market acceptance. If our drug candidates are approved by the FDA or by another regulatory authority, the resulting drugs, if any, may not gain market acceptance among physicians, healthcare providers and payors, patients and the medical community. The degree of market acceptance of any of our approved drugs or devices will depend on a variety of factors, including:
    timing of market introduction, number and clinical profile of competitive drugs;
    our ability to provide acceptable evidence of safety and efficacy;
    relative convenience and ease of administration;
    cost-effectiveness;
    availability of coverage, reimbursement and adequate payment from health maintenance organizations and other third party payors;
    prevalence and severity of adverse side effects; and
    other potential advantages over alternative treatment methods.
If our drugs fail to achieve market acceptance, we may not be able to generate significant revenue and our business would suffer.

 

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If we are unable to compete successfully in our market place, it will harm our business.
There are existing products in the marketplace that compete with our products. Companies may develop new products that compete with our products. Certain of these competitors and potential competitors have longer operating histories, substantially greater product development capabilities and financial, scientific, marketing and sales resources. Competitors and potential competitors may also develop products that are safer, more effective or have other potential advantages compared to our products. In addition, research, development and commercialization efforts by others could render our products obsolete or non-competitive. Certain of our competitors and potential competitors have broader product offerings and extensive customer bases allowing them to adopt aggressive pricing policies that would enable them to gain market share. Competitive pressures could result in price reductions, reduced margins and loss of market share. We could encounter potential customers that, due to existing relationships with our competitors, are committed to products offered by those competitors. As a result, those potential customers may not consider purchasing our products.
There is uncertainty related to coverage, reimbursement and payment by healthcare providers and payors for the ALIGN products and newly approved drugs, if any. The inability or failure to obtain or maintain coverage could affect our ability to market the ALIGN products and our future drugs and decrease our ability to generate revenue.
The availability and levels of coverage and reimbursement of newly approved drugs by healthcare providers and payors is subject to significant uncertainty. The commercial success of the ALIGN products and our drug candidates in both the United States and international markets is substantially dependent on whether third party coverage and reimbursement is available. The United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health maintenance organizations and other third party payors in the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions are increasingly attempting to contain healthcare costs by limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement of new drugs and, as a result, they may not cover or provide adequate payment for our potential drugs. The ALIGN products and our drug candidates may not be considered cost-effective and reimbursement may not be available to consumers or may not be sufficient to allow the ALIGN products or our drug candidates to be marketed on a competitive basis.
In some countries, pricing of prescription drugs is subject to government control. In such countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take three to 12 months or longer following application to the competent authorities. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in such countries may require conducting an additional clinical trial comparing the cost-effectiveness of the drug to other alternatives. In the United States, the Medicare Part D drug benefit implemented in 2006 will limit drug coverage through formularies and other cost and utilization management programs, while Medicare Part B limits drug payments to a certain percentage of average price or through restrictive payment policies of “least costly alternatives” and “inherent reasonableness” Our business could be materially harmed if coverage, reimbursement or pricing is unavailable or set at unsatisfactory levels.
We may be exposed to product liability claims that may damage our reputation and we may not be able to obtain adequate insurance.
Because we conduct clinical trials in humans, we face the risk that the use of our drug candidates will result in adverse effects. We believe that we have obtained reasonably adequate product liability insurance coverage for our trials. We cannot predict, however, the possible harm or side effects that may result from our clinical trials. Such claims may damage our reputation and we may not have sufficient resources to pay for any liabilities resulting from a claim excluded from, or beyond the limit of, our insurance coverage.

 

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As we market commercialized products through our ALIGN subsidiary we are exposed to additional risks of product liability claims. These risks exist even with respect to drugs and devices that are approved for commercial sale by the FDA or other regulatory authorities in the United States, the European Union or elsewhere and manufactured in facilities licensed and regulated by the FDA or other such regulatory authorities. We have secured limited product liability insurance coverage, but may not be able to maintain such insurance on acceptable terms with adequate coverage, or at a reasonable cost. There is also a risk that third parties that we have agreed to indemnify could incur liability. Even if we were ultimately successful in product liability litigation, the litigation would consume substantial amounts of our financial and managerial resources and may exceed insurance coverage creating adverse publicity, all of which would impair our ability to generate sales of the litigated product as well as our other potential drugs.
We may be subject to damages resulting from claims that our employees or we have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.
Many of our employees were previously employed at universities or other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although no claims against us are currently pending, we may be subject to claims that these employees or we have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. A loss of key research personnel or their work product could hamper or prevent our ability to commercialize certain potential drugs, which could severely harm our business. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
Defending against claims relating to improper handling, storage or disposal of hazardous chemical, radioactive or biological materials could be time consuming and expensive.
Our research and development involves the controlled use of hazardous materials, including chemicals, radioactive and biological materials such as chemical solvents, phosphorus and bacteria. Our operations produce hazardous waste products. We cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or discharge and any resultant injury from those materials. Various laws and regulations govern the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials. We may be sued for any injury or contamination that results from our use or the use by third parties of these materials. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations may be expensive, and current or future environmental regulations may impair our research, development and production efforts.
We may be required to defend lawsuits or pay damages in connection with the alleged or actual violation of healthcare statutes such as fraud and abuse laws, and our corporate compliance programs can never guarantee that we are in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
Our commercialization efforts in the United States are subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to promotion and healthcare fraud and abuse, including federal and state anti-kickback, fraud and false claims laws. Anti-kickback laws make it illegal for a manufacturer to offer or pay any remuneration in exchange for, or to induce, the referral of business, including the purchase of a product. The federal government has published many regulations relating to the anti-kickback statutes, including numerous safe harbors or exemptions for certain arrangements. False claims laws prohibit anyone from knowingly and willingly presenting, or causing to be presented for payment to third-party payers including Medicare and Medicaid, claims for reimbursed products or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services not provided as claimed, or claims for medically unnecessary items or services.

 

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Our activities relating to the sale and marketing of our products will be subject to scrutiny under these laws and regulations. It may be difficult to determine whether or not our activities, comply with these complex legal requirements. Violations are punishable by significant criminal and/or civil fines and other penalties, as well as the possibility of exclusion of the product from coverage under governmental healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. If the government were to investigate or make allegations against us or any of our employees, or sanction or convict us or any of our employees, for violations of any of these legal requirements, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our stock price. Our activities could be subject to challenge for many reasons, including the broad scope and complexity of these laws and regulations, the difficulties in interpreting and applying these legal requirements, and the high degree of prosecutorial resources and attention being devoted to the biopharmaceutical industry and health care fraud by law enforcement authorities. During the last few years, numerous biopharmaceutical companies have paid multi-million dollar fines and entered into burdensome settlement agreements for alleged violation of these requirements, and other companies are under active investigation. Although we have developed and implemented corporate and field compliance programs as part of our commercialization efforts, we cannot assure you that we or our employees, directors or agents were, are or will be in compliance with all laws and regulations or that we will not come under investigation, allegation or sanction.
In addition, we may be required to prepare and report product pricing-related information to federal and state governmental authorities, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and under the Medicaid program. The calculations used to generate the pricing-related information are complex and require the exercise of judgment. If we fail to accurately and timely report product pricing-related information or to comply with any of these or any other laws or regulations, various negative consequences could result, including criminal and/or civil prosecution, substantial criminal and/or civil penalties, exclusion of the approved product from coverage under governmental healthcare programs including Medicare and Medicaid, costly litigation and restatement of our financial statements. In addition, our efforts to comply with this wide range of laws and regulations are, and will continue to be, time-consuming and expensive.
If we fail to enforce adequately or defend our intellectual property rights our business may be harmed.
Our commercial success depends in large part on obtaining and maintaining patent and trade secret protection for our drug candidates, the methods used to manufacture those drug candidates and the methods for treating patients using those drug candidates. Specifically, sapacitabine is covered in granted, composition of matter patents that expire in 2014 in the U.S. and 2012 outside the U.S. Sapacitabine is further protected by additional granted, composition of matter patents claiming certain, stable crystalline forms of sapacitabine and their pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic uses that expire in 2022. In early development, amorphous sapacitabine was used. We have used one of the stable, crystalline forms of sapacitabine in nearly all our Phase 1 and in all of our Phase 2 clinical studies. We have also chosen this form for commercialization. Additional patents claim certain medical uses and formulations of sapacitabine which have emerged in our clinical trials. Seliciclib is protected by granted, composition of matter patents that expire in 2016. Additional patents claim certain medical uses which have emerged from our research programs.
Failure to obtain, maintain or extend the patents could adversely affect our business. We will only be able to protect our drug candidates and our technologies from unauthorized use by third parties to the extent that valid and enforceable patents or trade secrets cover them.

 

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Our ability to obtain patents is uncertain because legal means afford only limited protections and may not adequately protect our rights or permit it to gain or keep any competitive advantage. Some legal principles remain unresolved and the breadth or interpretation of claims allowed in patents in the United States, the European Union or elsewhere can still be difficult to ascertain or predict. In addition, the specific content of patents and patent applications that are necessary to support and interpret patent claims is highly uncertain due to the complex nature of the relevant legal, scientific and factual issues. Changes in either patent laws or in interpretations of patent laws in the United States, the European Union or elsewhere may diminish the value of our intellectual property or narrow the scope of our patent protection. Our existing patents and any future patents we obtain may not be sufficiently broad to prevent others from practicing our technologies or from developing competing products and technologies. In addition, we generally do not control the patent prosecution of subject matter that we license from others and have not controlled the earlier stages of the patent prosecution. Accordingly, we are unable to exercise the same degree of control over this intellectual property as we would over our own.
Even if patents are issued regarding our drug candidates or methods of using them, those patents can be challenged by our competitors who may argue such patents are invalid and/or unenforceable. On April 27, 2010, we were served with a complaint filed by Celgene Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware seeking a Declaratory Judgment that four of our own patents, claiming the use of romidepsin injection in T-cell lymphomas, are invalid and not infringed by Celgene’s products. The four patents cited in the complaint do not involve our clinical development candidates or our commercial products.  On June 17, 2010, we filed our Answer and Counterclaims to the declaratory judgment complaint. We have filed counterclaims charging Celgene with infringement of each of our four patents and seek damages for Celgene’s infringement as well as injunctive relief.  The four patents directly involve the use and administration of Celgene’s ISTODAX® (romidepsin for injection) product.
Patents also will not protect our drug candidates if competitors devise ways of making or using these product candidates without legally infringing our patents. The U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic, or FD&C, Act and FDA regulations and policies and equivalents in other jurisdictions provide incentives to manufacturers to challenge patent validity or create modified, noninfringing versions of a drug in order to facilitate the approval of abbreviated new drug applications for generic substitutes. These same types of incentives encourage manufacturers to submit new drug applications that rely on literature and clinical data not prepared for or by the drug sponsor.
Proprietary trade secrets and unpatented know-how are also very important to our business. We rely on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not believe that patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. Our employees, consultants, contractors, outside scientific collaborators and other advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose our confidential information to competitors, and confidentiality agreements may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Enforcing a claim that a third party obtained illegally and is using trade secrets is expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how. Failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.

 

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Intellectual property rights of third parties may increase our costs or delay or prevent us from being able to commercialize our drug candidates and/or the ALIGN products.
There is a risk that we are infringing or will infringe the proprietary rights of third parties because patents and pending applications belonging to third parties exist in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere in the world in the areas of our research and/or the ALIGN products. Others might have been the first to make the inventions covered by each of our or our licensors’ pending patent applications and issued patents and might have been the first to file patent applications for these inventions. We are aware of several published patent applications, and understand that others may exist, that could support claims that, if granted, could cover various aspects of our developmental programs, including in some cases particular uses of our lead drug candidate sapacitabine, seliciclib or other therapeutic candidates, or gene sequences and techniques that we use in the course of our research and development. In addition, we understand that other applications and patents exist relating to potential uses of sapacitabine and seliciclib that are not part of our current clinical programs for these compounds. Numerous third-party United States and foreign issued patents and pending applications exist in the area of kinases, including CDK, AK and Plk for which we have research programs. For example, some pending patent applications contain broad claims that could represent freedom to operate limitations for some of our kinase programs should they be issued unchanged. Although we intend to continue to monitor these applications, we cannot predict what claims will ultimately be allowed and if allowed what their scope would be. In addition, because the patent application process can take several years to complete, there may be currently pending applications, unknown to us, which may later result in issued patents that cover the production, manufacture, commercialization or use of our drug candidates. If we wish to use the technology or compound claimed in issued and unexpired patents owned by others, we will need to obtain a license from the owner, enter into litigation to challenge the validity of the patents or incur the risk of litigation in the event that the owner asserts that we infringe its patents. In one case we have opposed a European patent relating to human aurora kinase and the patent has been finally revoked (no appeal was filed). We are also aware of a corresponding U.S. patent containing method of treatment claims for specific cancers using aurora kinase modulators which, if held valid, could potentially restrict the use of our aurora kinase inhibitors once clinical trials are completed.
There has been substantial litigation and other proceedings regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Defending against third party claims, including litigation in particular, would be costly and time consuming and would divert management’s attention from our business, which could lead to delays in our development or commercialization efforts. If third parties are successful in their claims, we might have to pay substantial damages or take other actions that are adverse to our business. As a result of intellectual property infringement claims, or to avoid potential claims, we might:
    be prohibited from selling or licensing any product that we may develop unless the patent holder licenses the patent to us, which it is not required to do;
    be required to pay substantial royalties or grant a cross license to our patents to another patent holder;
    decide to move some of our screening work outside Europe;
    be required to pay substantial damages for past infringement, which we may have to pay if a court determines that our product candidates or technologies infringe a competitor’s patent or other proprietary rights; or
    be required to redesign the formulation of a drug candidate so it does not infringe, which may not be possible or could require substantial funds and time.

 

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The development programs for our two lead drug candidates are based in part on intellectual property rights we license from others, and any termination of those licenses could seriously harm our business.
We have in-licensed certain patent rights in connection with the development programs for each of our two lead drug candidates. Both of these license agreements impose payment and other material obligations on us. Under the Daiichi-Sankyo license, we are obligated to pay license fees, milestone payments and royalties. We are also obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize products based on the licensed rights and to use reasonable efforts to obtain regulatory approval to sell the products in at least one country by September 2011, unless we have in-licensed certain patent rights in connection with the development programs for each of our two lead drug candidates. Under both of the license agreements relating to these drug candidates we are obligated to pay license fees, milestone payments and royalties. We are also obligated to use reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize products based on the licensed patents.
Pursuant to the Daiichi-Sankyo license under which we license sapacitabine, we are obligated to pay license fees, milestone payments and royalties, provide regular progress reports and use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize products based on the licensed rights and obtain regulatory approval to sell the products in at least one country by September 2011, unless we are prevented from doing so by virtue of certain causes outside of our reasonable control, including but not limited to difficulties in patient recruitment into trials or significant, unexpected change in regulatory requirements affecting the development of our drug. Pursuant to the CNRS and Institut Curie license under which we license seliciclib, we are obligated to pay license fees, milestone payments and royalties and provide regular progress reports.
Although we are currently in compliance with all of our material obligations under these licenses, if we were to breach any such obligations our counterparties may be entitled to terminate the licenses. This would restrict or delay or eliminate our ability to develop and commercialize these drug candidates, which could adversely affect our business. With respect to seliciclib we hold a license from CNRS and Institut Curie under which we are obligated to pay license fees, milestone payments and royalties. We are obligated to use reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize products based on the licensed patents. Although we are currently in compliance with all of our material obligations under these licenses, if we were to breach any such obligations our counterparties could attempt to terminate the licenses and there can be no assurance as to what would constitute exceptional cause. This would restrict or delay or eliminate our ability to develop and commercialize these drug candidates, which could adversely affect our business.
Failure to achieve and maintain internal controls in accordance with Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.
We just recently completed a restatement of our financial statements and filed an amendment to our Annual Report of Form 10-K as and for the year ended December 31, 2009, in which we reported a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting for the year then ended, specifically related to the operational failure of the controls in place to ensure the correct computation of net loss per share and presentation of preferred stock dividends in the consolidated statement of cash flows. If we fail to maintain our internal controls or fail to implement required new or improved controls, as such control standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important in the prevention of financial fraud. If we cannot produce reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors may lose confidence in our reported financial information, and there could be a material adverse effect on our stock price.

 

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We incur increased costs and management resources as a result of being a public company, and we still may fail to comply with public company obligations.
As a public company, we face and will continue to face increased legal, accounting, administrative and other costs and expenses as a public company that we would not incur as a private company. Compliance with the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as well as other rules of the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the NASDAQ Global Market resulted in a significant initial cost to us as well as an ongoing compliance costs. As a public company, we are subject to Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act relating to internal control over financial reporting. We completed, and later revisited, our formal process to evaluate our internal controls for purposes of Section 404. In performing this assessment, our management identified a deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting. As our business grows and changes, there can be no assurances that we can maintain the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting that constitutes a material weakness under standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, as of December 31, 2009. Specifically related to the operational failure of the controls in place to ensure the correct computation of net loss per share and presentation of preferred stock dividends in the statement of cash flows. Due to this deficiency, we concluded that the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting existed as of December 31, 2009 and continued as of March 31, 2010. Solely as a result of this material weakness, management concluded that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework,” issued by the COSO. As our business grows and changes, there can be no assurances that we can maintain the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our operating results could be harmed. We have completed a formal process to evaluate our internal control over financial reporting. However, guidance from regulatory authorities in the area of internal controls continues to evolve and substantial uncertainty exists regarding our on-going ability to comply by applicable deadlines. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock.
Our common stock may have a volatile public trading price.
An active public market for our common stock has not developed. Our stock can trade in small volumes which may make the price of our stock highly volatile. The last reported price of our stock may not represent the price at which you would be able to buy or sell the stock. The market prices for securities of companies comparable to us have been highly volatile. Often, these stocks have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations for reasons that are both related and unrelated to the operating performance of the individual companies. In addition, the stock market as a whole and biotechnology and other life science stocks in particular have experienced significant recent volatility. Like our common stock, these stocks have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations for reasons unrelated to the operating performance of the individual companies. In addition, due to our existing stock price, we may not continue to qualify for continued listing on the NASDAQ Global Market. To maintain listing, we are required to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share and, among other requirements, to maintain a minimum stockholders equity value of $10 million. Factors giving rise to this volatility may include:
    disclosure of actual or potential clinical results with respect to product candidates we are developing;
    regulatory developments in both the United States and abroad;
    developments concerning proprietary rights, including patents and litigation matters;

 

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    public concern about the safety or efficacy of our product candidates or technology, or related technology, or new technologies generally;
    public announcements by our competitors or others; and
    general market conditions and comments by securities analysts and investors.
Fluctuations in our operating losses could adversely affect the price of our common stock.
Our operating losses may fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis. Some of the factors that may cause our operating losses to fluctuate on a period-to-period basis include the status of our preclinical and clinical development programs, level of expenses incurred in connection with our preclinical and clinical development programs, implementation or termination of collaboration, licensing, manufacturing or other material agreements with third parties, non-recurring revenue or expenses under any such agreement, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Period-to-period comparisons of our historical and future financial results may not be meaningful, and investors should not rely on them as an indication of future performance. Our fluctuating losses may fail to meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors. Our failure to meet these expectations may cause the price of our common stock to decline.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about us, if they change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline. Moreover, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and provisions of Delaware law may make an acquisition more difficult and could result in the entrenchment of management.
We are incorporated in Delaware. Anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may make a change in control or efforts to remove management more difficult. Also, under Delaware law, our board of directors may adopt additional anti-takeover measures.
We have the authority to issue up to 5 million shares of preferred stock and to determine the terms of those shares of stock without any further action by our stockholders. If the board of directors exercises this power to issue preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting stock and vote the stock they acquire to remove management or directors.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws also provides staggered terms for the members of our board of directors. Under Section 141 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our directors may be removed by stockholders only for cause and only by vote of the holders of a majority of voting shares then outstanding. These provisions may prevent stockholders from replacing the entire board in a single proxy contest, making it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us without the consent of our board of directors. These provisions could also delay the removal of management by the board of directors with or without cause. In addition, our directors may only be removed for cause and amended and restated bylaws limit the ability our stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders.

 

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Under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may not engage in a business combination with any holder of 15% or more of its capital stock until the holder has held the stock for three years unless, among other possibilities, the board of directors approves the transaction. Our board of directors could use this provision to prevent changes in management. The existence of the foregoing provisions could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.
Certain severance-related agreements in our executive employment agreements may make an acquisition more difficult and could result in the entrenchment of management.
In March 2008 (as amended in December 2008 with respect to our President and Chief Executive Officer), we entered into employment agreements with our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, which contain severance arrangements in the event that such executive’s employment is terminated without “cause” or as a result of a “change of control” (as each such term is defined in each agreement). The financial obligations triggered by these provisions may prevent a business combination or acquisition that would be attractive to stockholders and could limit the price that investors would be willing to pay in the future for our stock.
In the event of an acquisition of our common stock, we cannot assure our common stockholders that we will be able to negotiate terms that would provide for a price equivalent to, or more favorable than, the price at which our shares of common stock may be trading at such time.
We may not effect a consolidation or merger with another entity without the vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of our preferred stock (in addition to the approval of our common stockholders), unless the preferred stock that remains outstanding and its rights, privileges and preferences are unaffected or are converted into or exchanged for preferred stock of the surviving entity having rights, preferences and limitations substantially similar, but no less favorable, to our convertible preferred stock.
In addition, in the event a third party seeks to acquire our company or acquire control of our company by way of a merger, but the terms of such offer do not provide for our preferred stock to remain outstanding or be converted into or exchanged for preferred stock of the surviving entity having rights, preferences and limitations substantially similar, but no less favorable, to our preferred stock, the terms of the Certificate of Designations of our preferred stock provide for an adjustment to the conversion ratio of our preferred stock such that, depending on the terms of any such transaction, preferred stockholders may be entitled, by their terms, to receive up to $10.00 per share in common stock, causing our common stockholders not to receive as favorable a price as the price at which such shares may be trading at the time of any such transaction. As of June 16, 2010, there were 1,213,142 shares of our preferred stock issued and outstanding. If the transaction were one in which proceeds were received by the Company for distribution to stockholders, and the terms of the Certificate of Designations governing the preferred stock were strictly complied with, approximately $13 million would be paid to the preferred holders before any distribution to the common stockholders, although the form of transaction could affect how the holders of preferred stock are treated. In such an event, although such a transaction would be subject to the approval of our holders of common stock, we cannot assure our common stockholders that we will be able to negotiate terms that would provide for a price equivalent to, or more favorable than, the price at which our shares of common stock may be trading at such time. Thus, the terms of our preferred stock might hamper a third party’s acquisition of our company.

 

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Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and certain provisions of Delaware law may delay or prevent a change in our management and make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change in our board of directors and management teams. Some of these provisions:
    authorize the issuance of preferred stock that can be created and issued by the board of directors without prior stockholder approval, commonly referred to as “blank check” preferred stock, with rights senior to those of our common stock;
    provide for the board of directors to be divided into three classes; and
    require that stockholder actions must be effected at a duly called stockholder meeting and prohibit stockholder action by written consent.
In addition, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which limits the ability of large stockholders to complete a business combination with, or acquisition of, us. These provisions may prevent a business combination or acquisition that would be attractive to stockholders and could limit the price that investors would be willing to pay in the future for our stock.
These provisions also make it more difficult for our stockholders to replace members of our board of directors. Because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions could in turn affect any attempt to replace our current management team. Additionally, these provisions may prevent an acquisition that would be attractive to stockholders and could limit the price that investors would be willing to pay in the future for our common stock.
We may have limited ability to pay cash dividends on the convertible preferred stock.
Delaware law may limit our ability to pay cash dividends on the convertible preferred stock. Under Delaware law, cash dividends on our convertible preferred stock may only be paid from surplus or, if there is no surplus, from the corporation’s net profits for the current or preceding fiscal year. Delaware law defines “surplus” as the amount by which the total assets of a corporation, after subtracting its total liabilities, exceed the corporation’s capital, as determined by its board of directors. Since we are not profitable, our ability to pay cash dividends will require the availability of adequate surplus. Even if adequate surplus is available to pay cash dividends on the convertible preferred stock, we may not have sufficient cash to pay dividends on the convertible preferred stock or we may choose not to declare the dividends. If that was to happen, holders of preferred stock would be granted certain additional rights until such dividends were paid.
If we continue not to declare the quarterly dividends on our 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock for a total of six quarterly dividend periods, we will have to grant additional rights to our holders of preferred stock with respect to the management of the Company.
On April 6, 2009, June 22, 2009, October 19, 2009, January 7, 2010 and March 29, 2010, our board of directors resolved, pursuant to the Certificate of Designations, not to declare payment of the quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, with respect to the dividends that would otherwise been payable on May 1, 2009, August 1, 2009, November 1, 2009, February 1, 2010 and May 1, 2010, respectively. To the extent that any dividends payable on the preferred stock are not paid, such unpaid dividends are accumulated. We have not declared dividends with respects to five quarters and if dividends with respect to at least six quarters (whether or not consecutive) are not paid, the size of our board of directors will be increased by two and the holders of the preferred stock will have the right to vote to fill the two vacancies created thereby until all accrued but unpaid dividends have been paid in full, at which time such right is terminated.

 

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Our common and convertible preferred stock may experience extreme price and volume fluctuations, which could lead to costly litigation for the Company and make an investment in the Company less appealing.
The market price of our common and convertible preferred stock may fluctuate substantially due to a variety of factors, including:
    additions to or departures of our key personnel;
    announcements of technological innovations or new products or services by us or our competitors;
    announcements concerning our competitors or the biotechnology industry in general;
    new regulatory pronouncements and changes in regulatory guidelines;
    general and industry-specific economic conditions;
    changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;
    variations in our quarterly results;
    announcements about our collaborators or licensors; and
    changes in accounting principles.
The market prices of the securities of biotechnology companies, particularly companies like us without product revenues and earnings, have been highly volatile and are likely to remain highly volatile in the future. This volatility has often been unrelated to the performance of particular companies. In the past, companies that experience volatility in the market price of their securities have often faced securities class action litigation. Moreover, market prices for stocks of biotechnology-related and technology companies frequently reach levels that bear no relationship to the performance of these companies. These market prices generally are not sustainable and are highly volatile. Whether or not meritorious, litigation brought against us could result in substantial costs, divert our management’s attention and resources and harm our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, due to our stock price from time to time, we may not continue to qualify for continued listing on the NASDAQ Global Market. Please see Risk Factor: Our common stock may have a volatile public trading price.
The future sale of our common and preferred stock and future issuances of our common stock upon conversion of our preferred stock, could negatively affect our stock price.
If our common or preferred stockholders sell substantial amounts of our stock in the public market, or the market perceives that such sales may occur, the market price of our common and preferred stock could fall. Thus if holders of preferred stock elect to convert their shares to shares of common stock at renegotiated prices, and the holders of an aggregate of 833,671 preferred stock have elected to so convert into an aggregate of 1,655,599 common stock, such conversion as well as the sale of substantial amounts of our common or preferred stock, could cause dilution to existing holders of our common stock, thereby also negatively affecting the price of our common stock.

 

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If we exchange the convertible preferred stock for debentures, the exchange will be taxable but we will not provide any cash to pay any tax liability that any convertible preferred stockholder may incur.
An exchange of convertible preferred stock for debentures, as well as any dividend make-whole or interest make-whole payments paid in our common stock, will be taxable events for United States federal income tax purposes, which may result in tax liability for the holder of convertible preferred stock without any corresponding receipt of cash by the holder. In addition, the debentures may be treated as having original issue discount, a portion of which would generally be required to be included in the holder’s gross income even though the cash to which such income is attributable would not be received until maturity or redemption of the debenture. We will not distribute any cash to the holders of the securities to pay these potential tax liabilities.
If we automatically convert the convertible preferred stock, there is a substantial risk of fluctuation in the price of our common stock from the date we elect to automatically convert to the conversion date.
We may automatically convert the convertible preferred stock into common stock if the closing price of our common stock has exceeded $35.30. There is a risk of fluctuation in the price of our common stock between the time when we may first elect to automatically convert the preferred and the automatic conversion date.
We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, the outcome of the review of our strategic alternatives and other factors and will be at the discretion of our board of directors. Accordingly, investors will have to rely on capital appreciation, if any, to earn a return on their investment in our common stock. Furthermore, we may in the future become subject to contractual restrictions on, or prohibitions against, the payment of dividends.
The number of shares of common stock which are registered, including the shares to be issued upon exercise of our outstanding warrants, is significant in relation to our currently outstanding common stock and could cause downward pressure on the market price for our common stock.
The number of shares of common stock registered for resale, including those shares which are to be issued upon exercise of our outstanding warrants, is significant in relation to the number of shares of common stock currently outstanding. If the security holder determines to sell a substantial number of shares into the market at any given time, there may not be sufficient demand in the market to purchase the shares without a decline in the market price for our common stock. Moreover, continuous sales into the market of a number of shares in excess of the typical trading volume for our common stock, or even the availability of such a large number of shares, could depress the trading market for our common stock over an extended period of time.
If persons engage in short sales of our common stock, including sales of shares to be issued upon exercise of our outstanding warrants, the price of our common stock may decline.
Selling short is a technique used by a stockholder to take advantage of an anticipated decline in the price of a security. In addition, holders of options and warrants will sometimes sell short knowing they can, in effect, cover through the exercise of an option or warrant, thus locking in a profit. A significant number of short sales or a large volume of other sales within a relatively short period of time can create downward pressure on the market price of a security. Further sales of common stock issued upon exercise of our outstanding warrants could cause even greater declines in the price of our common stock due to the number of additional shares available in the market upon such exercise, which could encourage short sales that could further undermine the value of our common stock. You could, therefore, experience a decline in the value of your investment as a result of short sales of our common stock.

 

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Our distribution rights to the ALIGN products are licensed from others, and any termination of that license could harm our business.
We have in-licensed from Sinclair the distribution rights to the ALIGN products. This license agreement imposes obligations on us. Although we are currently in compliance with all of our material obligations under this license, if we were to breach any such obligations, Sinclair would be permitted to terminate the license. This would restrict us from distributing the ALIGN products.
If our supplier upon whom we rely fails to produce on a timely basis the finished goods in the volumes that we require or fails to meet quality standards and maintain necessary licensure from regulatory authorities, we may be unable to meet demand for our products, potentially resulting in lost revenues.
Our licensor and supplier Sinclair contracts with third party manufacturers to supply the finished goods to us to meet our needs. If any of Sinclair’s third party manufacturers service providers do not meet our or our licensor’s requirements for quality, quantity or timeliness, or do not achieve and maintain compliance with all applicable regulations, demand for our products or our ability to continue supplying such products could substantially decline. As the third party manufacturers are the sole supplier of the products any delays may impact our sales.
In all the countries where we sell or may sell our products, governmental regulations exist to define standards for manufacturing, packaging, labeling and storing. All of our suppliers of raw materials and contract manufacturers must comply with these regulations. Failure to do so could result in supply interruptions. In the United States, the FDA requires that all suppliers of pharmaceutical bulk material and all manufacturers of pharmaceuticals for sale in or from the United States achieve and maintain compliance with the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice or cGMP regulations and guidelines. Failure of our third-party manufacturers to comply with applicable regulations could result in sanctions being imposed on them or us, including fines, injunctions, civil penalties, disgorgement, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, license revocation, seizures or recalls of products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could significantly and adversely affect supplies of our products. In addition, before any product batch produced by our manufacturers can be shipped, it must conform to release specifications pre-approved by regulators for the content of the pharmaceutical product. If the operations of one or more of our manufacturers were to become unavailable for any reason, any required FDA review and approval of the operations of an alternative supplier could cause a delay in the manufacture of our products.
Our customer base is highly concentrated.
Our principal customers are a small number of wholesale drug distributors. These customers comprise a significant part of the distribution network for pharmaceutical products in the United States. Three large wholesale distributors, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc. and McKesson Corporation, control a significant share of the market in the United States. Our ability to distribute any product, including Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid and Numoisyn® Lozenges and to recognize revenues on a timely basis is substantially dependent on our ability to maintain commercially reasonable agreements with each of these wholesale distributors and the extent to which these distributors, over whom we have no control, comply with such agreements. Our agreements with wholesaler distributors may contain terms that are not favorable, given our relative lack of market leverage as a company with only three approved products or other factors, which could adversely affect our commercialization of Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid and Numoisyn® Lozenges. The loss of any of these customers could materially and adversely affect our ability to distribute our products, resulting in a negative impact on our operations and financial condition.

 

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We may be unable to accurately estimate demand and monitor wholesaler inventory of Xclair ® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid or Numoisyn® Lozenges. Although we attempt to monitor wholesaler inventory of Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid or Numoisyn® Lozenges, we also rely on third party information, which is inherently uncertain and may not be accurate, to assist us in monitoring estimated inventory levels and prescription trends. Inaccurate estimates of the demand and inventory levels of the product may cause our revenues to fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and may cause our operating results for a particular quarter to be below expectations.
Inventory levels of Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid or Numoisyn® Lozenges held by wholesalers can also cause our operating results to fluctuate unexpectedly. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2010, approximately 85% and 91%, respectively, of our product sales in the United States were to three wholesalers, Cardinal Health, Inc., McKesson Corporation and AmerisourceBergen. Inventory levels held by those wholesalers can cause our operating results to fluctuate unexpectedly if our sales to wholesalers do not match end user demand. We have entered into inventory management agreements with these U.S. wholesalers under which they provide us with data regarding inventory levels at these wholesalers. However, these wholesalers may not be completely effective in matching inventory levels to end user demand, as they make estimates to determine end user demand. In addition, inventory is held at retail pharmacies and other non-wholesaler locations, for which we have no inventory management agreements and have no control in respect to their buying patterns. Also, the non-retail sector in the United States, which includes government institutions and large health maintenance organizations, tends to be less consistent in terms of buying patterns, and often causes quarter-over-quarter fluctuations in inventory and ordering patterns. We attempt to monitor inventory of Xclair®, Numoisyn® Liquid or Numoisyn® Lozenges in the United States through the use of internal sales forecasts and the expiration dates of product shipped, among other factors.
The commercialization of our products is substantially dependent on our ability to develop effective sales and marketing capabilities.
Our successful commercialization of Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid and Numoisyn® Lozenges in the United States will depend on our ability to establish and maintain an effective sales and marketing organization in the United States. We hired trained and deployed additional marketing personnel and a small oncology specialty sales force. We may increase or decrease the size of our sales force in the future, depending on many factors, including the effectiveness of the sales force, the level of market acceptance of Xclair® Cream, Numoisyn® Liquid and Numoisyn® Lozenges and the results of our clinical trials. Prior to our launches of these products, we had never sold or marketed any products.
For our product candidates currently under development, our strategy is to develop compounds through the Phase 2 stage of clinical testing and market or co-promote certain of our drugs on our own. We have limited sales, marketing or distribution capabilities. We will depend primarily on strategic alliances with third parties, which have established distribution systems and sales forces, to commercialize our drugs. To the extent that we are unsuccessful in commercializing any drugs or devices ourselves or through a strategic alliance, product revenues will suffer, we will incur significant additional losses and our share price will be negatively affected.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand a company’s future prospects and make informed investment decisions. This prospectus contains such “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be made directly in this prospectus, and they may also be made a part of this prospectus by reference to other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is known as “incorporation by reference.”
Words such as “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are management’s present expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements might include one or more of the following:
    anticipated results of financing activities;
    anticipated agreements with marketing partners;
    anticipated clinical trial timelines or results;
    anticipated research and product development results;
    projected regulatory timelines;
    descriptions of plans or objectives of management for future operations, products or services;
    forecasts of future economic performance; and
    descriptions or assumptions underlying or relating to any of the above items.
Please also see the discussion of risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10.
In light of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties, the results and events discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference might not occur. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or the date of the document incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We are not under any obligation, and we expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to Cyclacel or to any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS
Upon exercise of the outstanding registered direct warrants, if at all, we may receive up to a total of $32.1 in proceeds, comprised of the exercise in full of (i) the 1,062,412 February 2007 Warrants, at an exercise price of $8.44 per share, (ii) the 692,256 July 2009 Warrants, at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, (iii) the 712,500 January 13, 2010 Warrants, at an exercise price of $3.26 per share, and (iv) the 705,000 January 25, 2010 Warrants, at an exercise price of $2.85 per share. However, we cannot predict the timing or the amount of the exercise of the outstanding registered direct warrants. Any proceeds we may receive will be used by us for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, the advancement of our drug candidates in clinical trials, and to meet working capital needs. The amounts and timing of the expenditures will depend on numerous factors, such as the timing and progress of our clinical trials and research and development efforts, technological advances and the competitive environment for our drug candidates. We expect from time to time to evaluate the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies for which a portion of the net proceeds may be used, although we currently are not planning or negotiating any such transactions. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from the exercise of the outstanding registered direct warrants by their holders. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of these proceeds, if any. We will also pay the costs related to the registration of the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the outstanding registered direct warrants.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The shares of common stock underlying the outstanding registered direct warrants are being offered directly by the Company, without an underwriter, and the holders of such outstanding registered direct warrants may purchase the shares of common stock directly from the Company, by exercising their outstanding registered direct warrants as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities — Warrants.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Description of Common Stock
We are authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share. As of June 16, 2010, 36,948,986 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding. The following descriptions of our common stock and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws are only summaries, and we encourage you to review complete copies of these documents, which have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Dividends, Voting Rights and Liquidation
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable, and the shares of common stock to be issued upon completion of this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of common stock have no preferences or rights of conversion, exchange, pre-emption or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of all of our debts and obligations and after liquidation payments to holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any.
Delaware Law and Certain Charter and By-law Provisions
The provisions of (1) Delaware law, (2) our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and (3) our amended and restated bylaws discussed below could discourage or make it more difficult to accomplish a proxy contest or other change in our management or the acquisition of control by a holder of a substantial amount of our voting stock. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish, or could deter, transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interests or in our best interests. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies formulated by the board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control of us. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions also are intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management.
Delaware Statutory Business Combinations Provision. We are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner or another prescribed exception applies. For purposes of Section 203, a “business combination” is defined broadly to include a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder, and, subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with his or her affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior, did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

 

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Classified Board of Directors; Removal of Directors for Cause. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes, each serving staggered three-year terms ending at the annual meeting of our stockholders. All directors elected to our classified board of directors will serve until the election and qualification of their respective successors or their earlier resignation or removal. The board of directors is authorized to create new directorships and to fill such positions so created and is permitted to specify the class to which any such new position is assigned. The person filling such position would serve for the term applicable to that class. The board of directors (or its remaining members, even if less than a quorum) is also empowered to fill vacancies on the board of directors occurring for any reason for the remainder of the term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred. Members of the board of directors may only be removed for cause and only by the affirmative vote of 80% of our outstanding voting stock. These provisions are likely to increase the time required for stockholders to change the composition of the board of directors. For example, in general, at least two annual meetings will be necessary for stockholders to effect a change in a majority of the members of the board of directors.
Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Proposals and Stockholder Nominations of Directors. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that, for nominations to the board of directors or for other business to be properly brought by a stockholder before a meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must first have given timely notice of the proposal in writing to our Secretary. For an annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice generally must be delivered not less than 45 days nor more than 75 days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of the proxy statement for the previous year’s annual meeting. For a special meeting, the notice must generally be delivered by the later of 90 days prior to the special meeting or ten days following the day on which public announcement of the meeting is first made. Detailed requirements as to the form of the notice and information required in the notice are specified in the amended and restated bylaws. If it is determined that business was not properly brought before a meeting in accordance with our bylaw provisions, such business will not be conducted at the meeting.
Special Meetings of Stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors.
No Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not permit our stockholders to act by written consent. As a result, any action to be effected by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders.
Super-Majority Stockholder Vote Required for Certain Actions. The Delaware General Corporation Law provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of our outstanding voting stock to amend or repeal any of the provisions discussed in this section of this prospectus entitled “Anti-Takeover Provisions” or to reduce the number of authorized shares of common stock or preferred stock. This 80% stockholder vote would be in addition to any separate class vote that might in the future be required pursuant to the terms of any preferred stock that might then be outstanding. In addition, an 80% vote is also required for any amendment to, or repeal of, our amended and restated bylaws by the stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws may be amended or repealed by a simple majority vote of the board of directors.

 

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Preferred Stock
We have the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of June 16, 2010, 1,213,142 shares of our preferred stock were outstanding (see “6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock” below). The description of preferred stock provisions set forth below is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designations relating to each series of preferred stock.
The board of directors has the right, without the consent of holders of common stock, to designate and issue one or more series of preferred stock, which may be convertible into common stock at a ratio determined by the board of directors. A series of preferred stock may bear rights superior to common stock as to voting, dividends, redemption, distributions in liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, and other relative rights and preferences. The board may set the following terms of any series preferred stock, and a prospectus supplement will specify these terms for each series offered:
    the number of shares constituting the series and the distinctive designation of the series;
    dividend rates, whether dividends are cumulative, and, if so, from what date; and the relative rights of priority of payment of dividends;
    voting rights and the terms of the voting rights;
    conversion privileges and the terms and conditions of conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate;
    redemption rights and the terms and conditions of redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which shares may be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates;
    sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of shares;
    rights in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights of priority of payment; and
    any other relative powers, preferences, rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the series.
Dividends on outstanding shares of preferred stock will be paid or declared and set apart for payment before any dividends may be paid or declared and set apart for payment on the common stock with respect to the same dividend period.
If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the assets available for distribution to holders of preferred stock are insufficient to pay the full preferential amount to which the holders are entitled, then the available assets will be distributed ratably among the shares of all series of preferred stock in accordance with the respective preferential amounts (including unpaid cumulative dividends, if any) payable with respect to each series.
Holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any shares of any class of capital stock of the corporation. The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable. The rights of the holders of preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.

 

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We have previously issued 2,990,000 shares of preferred stock in one series, designated as 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, of which 1,213,142 are currently outstanding and are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CYCCP.”
6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock
General
Our board of directors has designated 2,990,000 shares of the preferred stock that were issued as convertible preferred stock on November 3, 2004. The shares of convertible preferred stock are duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. These shares will not have any preemptive rights if we issue other series of preferred stock. The convertible preferred stock is not subject to any sinking fund. We have no obligation to retire the convertible preferred stock. The convertible preferred stock has a perpetual maturity and may remain outstanding indefinitely, subject to the holder’s right to convert the convertible preferred stock and our right to cause the conversion of the convertible preferred stock and exchange or redeem the convertible preferred stock at our option. Any convertible preferred stock converted, exchanged or redeemed or acquired by us will, upon cancellation, have the status of authorized but unissued shares of convertible preferred stock. We will be able to reissue these cancelled shares of convertible preferred stock.
Dividends
When and if declared by our board of directors out of the legally available funds, holders of the convertible preferred stock are entitled to receive cash dividends at an annual rate of 6% of the liquidation preference of the convertible preferred stock. Dividends are payable, and have been paid since February 1, 2005, quarterly on the first day of February, May, August and November. If any dividends are not declared, they will accrue and be paid at such later date, if any, as determined by our board of directors. Dividends on the convertible preferred stock will be cumulative from the issue date. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear on our stock books not more than 60 days nor less than 10 days preceding the payment dates, as fixed by our board of directors. If the convertible preferred stock is called for redemption on a redemption date between the dividend record date and the dividend payment date and the holder does not convert the convertible preferred stock (as described below), the holder shall receive the dividend payment together with all other accrued and unpaid dividends on the redemption date instead of receiving the dividend on the dividend date. Dividends payable on the convertible preferred stock for any period greater or less than a full dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Accrued but unpaid dividends will not bear interest.
If we do not pay or set aside cumulative dividends in full on the convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends, all dividends declared upon shares of the convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends will be declared on a pro rata basis until all accrued dividends are paid in full. For these purposes, “pro rata” means that the amount of dividends declared per share on the convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends bear to each other will be the same ratio that accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of the convertible preferred stock and such other preferred stock bear to each other. We will not be able to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of our stock ranking on the same basis as the convertible preferred stock as to dividends or liquidation preferences unless we have paid or set aside full cumulative dividends, if any, accrued on all outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock.

 

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Unless we have paid or set aside cumulative dividends in full on the convertible preferred stock and any other of the convertible preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends:
    we may not declare or pay or set aside dividends on common stock or any other stock ranking junior to the convertible preferred stock as to dividends or liquidation preferences, excluding dividends or distributions of shares, options, warrants or rights to purchase common stock or other stock ranking junior to the convertible preferred stock as to dividends; or
    we will not be able to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of our other stock ranking junior to the convertible preferred stock as to dividends or liquidation preferences, except in very limited circumstances.
Under Delaware law, we may only make dividends or distributions to our stockholders from:
    our surplus; or
    the net profits for the current fiscal year or the fiscal year before which the dividend or distribution is declared under certain circumstances.
On April 6, 2009, June 22, 2009, October 19, 2009, January 7, 2010, and March 29, 2010, our board of directors resolved, pursuant to the Certificate of Designations, not to declare the quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s 6% Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock with respect to the dividends that would otherwise been payable on May 1, 2009, August 1, 2009, November 1, 2009, February 1, 2010 and May 1, 2010, respectively. To the extent that any dividends payable on the preferred stock are not paid, such unpaid dividends are accrued. We have not declared dividends with respect to five quarters and if dividends with respect to at least six quarters (whether or not consecutive) are not paid on the preferred stock, the size of our board of directors could be increased by two members and the holders of the preferred stock, voting separately as a class, will have the right to vote to fill the two vacancies created thereby until all accrued but unpaid dividends have been paid in full, at which time such right is terminated. As of March 30, 2010, approximately $1.4 million of dividends remain accrued and unpaid.
Conversion
Conversion Rights
Holders of our convertible preferred stock may convert the convertible preferred stock at any time into a number of shares of common stock determined by dividing the $10 liquidation preference by the conversion price of $23.50, being the original conversion price of $2.35 as adjusted following a reverse stock split, subject to adjustment as described below. This conversion price is equivalent to a conversion rate of approximately 0.42553 shares of common stock for each share of convertible preferred stock. We will not make any adjustment to the conversion price for accrued or unpaid dividends upon conversion. We will not issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion. However, we will instead pay cash for each fractional share based upon the market price of the common stock on the last business day prior to the conversion date. If we call the convertible preferred stock for redemption, the holder’s right to convert the convertible preferred stock will expire at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption, unless we fail to pay the redemption price.

 

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Automatic Conversion
Unless we redeem or exchange the convertible preferred stock, we may elect to convert some or all of the convertible preferred stock into shares of our common stock if the closing price of our common stock has exceeded 150% of the conversion price for at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days ending within five trading days prior to the notice of automatic conversion. If we elect to convert less than all of the shares of convertible preferred stock, we shall select the shares to be converted by lot or pro rata or in some other equitable manner in our discretion. On or after November 3, 2007, we may not elect to automatically convert the convertible preferred stock if full cumulative dividends on the convertible preferred stock for all past dividend periods have not been paid or set aside for payment.
Conversion Price Adjustment — General
The conversion price of $23.50 will be adjusted if:
  (1)   we dividend or distribute common stock on shares of our common stock;
 
  (2)   we subdivide or combine our common stock;
 
  (3)   we issue to all holders of common stock certain rights or warrants to purchase our common stock at less than the current market price;
 
  (4)   we dividend or distribute to all holders of our common stock shares of our capital stock or evidences of indebtedness or assets, excluding:
    those rights, warrants, dividends or distributions referred to in (1) or (3), or
 
    dividends and distributions paid in cash;
  (5)   we made a dividend or distribution consisting of cash to all holders of common stock;
 
  (6)   we purchase common stock pursuant to a tender offer made by us or any of our subsidiaries; and
 
  (7)   a person other than us or any of our subsidiaries makes any payment on a tender offer or exchange offer and, as of the closing of the offer, the board of directors is not recommending rejection of the offer. We will only make this adjustment if the tender or exchange offer increases a person’s ownership to more than 25% of our outstanding common stock, and only if the payment per share of common stock exceeds the current market price of our common stock. We will not make this adjustment if the offering documents disclose our plan to engage in any consolidation, merger, or transfer of all or substantially all of our properties and if specified conditions are met.
If we implement a stockholder rights plan, this new rights plan must provide that, upon conversion of the existing convertible preferred stock the holders will receive, in addition to the common stock issuable upon such conversion, the rights under such rights plan regardless of whether the rights have separated from the common stock before the time of conversion. The distribution of rights or warrants pursuant to a stockholder rights plan will not result in an adjustment to the conversion price of the convertible preferred stock until a specified triggering event occurs.

 

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The occurrence and magnitude of certain of the adjustments described above is dependent upon the current market price of our common stock. For these purposes, “current market price” generally means the lesser of:
    the closing sale price on certain specified dates, or
    the average of the closing prices of the common stock for the ten trading day period immediately prior to certain specified dates.
We may make a temporary reduction in the conversion price of the convertible preferred stock if our board of directors determines that this decrease would be in our best interest. We may, at our option, reduce the conversion price if our board of directors deems it advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of common stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock or rights to acquire stock or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes.
Conversion Price Adjustment — Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
If we are involved in a transaction in which shares of our common stock are converted into the right to receive other securities, cash or other property, or a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets under which the holders of our common stock shall be entitled to receive other securities, cash or other property, then appropriate provision shall be made so that the shares of convertible preferred stock will convert into:
  (1)   if the transaction is a common stock fundamental change, as defined below, common stock of the kind received by holders of common stock as a result of common stock fundamental change in accordance with paragraph (1) below under the subsection entitled “— Fundamental Change Conversion Price Adjustments,” and
 
  (2)   if the transaction is not a common stock fundamental change, and subject to funds being legally available at conversion, the kind and amount of the securities, cash or other property that would have been receivable upon the recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange by a holder of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the convertible preferred stock immediately prior to the recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange, after giving effect to any adjustment in the conversion price in accordance with paragraph (2) below under the subsection entitled “— Fundamental Change Conversion Price Adjustments.”
The company formed by the consolidation, merger, asset acquisition or share acquisition shall provide for this right in its organizational document. This organizational document shall also provide for adjustments so that the organizational document shall be as nearly practicably equivalent to adjustments in this section for events occurring after the effective date of the organizational document.
The following types of transactions, among others, would be covered by this adjustment:
  (1)   we recapitalize or reclassify our common stock, except for:
    a change in par value,
 
    a change from par value to no par value,
 
    a change from no par value to par value, or
 
    a subdivision or combination of our common stock.

 

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  (2)   we consolidate or merge into any other person, or any merger of another person into us, except for a merger that does not result in a reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of common stock,
 
  (3)   we sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets and holders of our common stock become entitled to receive other securities, cash or other property, or
 
  (4)   we undertake any compulsory share exchange.
Fundamental Change Conversion Price Adjustments
If a fundamental change occurs, the conversion price will be adjusted as follows:
  (1)   in the case of a common stock fundamental change, the conversion price shall be the conversion price after giving effect to any other prior adjustments effected pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the purchaser stock price, as defined below, and the denominator of which is the applicable price, as defined below. However, in the event of a common stock fundamental change in which:
    100% of the value of the consideration received by a holder of our common stock is common stock of the successor, acquirer or other third party, and cash, if any, paid with respect to any fractional interests in such common stock resulting from such common stock fundamental change, and
 
    All of our common stock shall have been exchanged for, converted into or acquired for, common stock of the successor, acquirer or other third party, and any cash with respect to fractional interests,
 
    the conversion price shall be the conversion price in effect immediately prior to such common stock fundamental change multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is one (1) and the denominator of which is the number of shares of common stock of the successor, acquirer or other third party received by a holder of one share of our common stock as a result of the common stock fundamental change; and
  (2)   in the case of a non-stock fundamental change, the conversion price shall be the lower of:
    the conversion price after giving effect to any other prior adjustments effected pursuant to the preceding paragraph and
 
    the product of
A. the applicable price, and
B. a fraction, the numerator of which is $10 and the denominator of which is (x) the amount of the redemption price for one share of convertible preferred stock if the redemption date were the date of the non-stock fundamental change (or if the date of such non-stock fundamental change falls within the period beginning on the first issue date of the convertible preferred stock through October 31, 2005, the twelve-month period commencing November 1, 2005 and the twelve-month period commencing November 1, 2006, the product of 106.0%, 105.4% or 104.8%, respectively, and $10) plus (y) any then-accrued and unpaid distributions on one share of convertible preferred stock.

 

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Holders of convertible preferred stock may receive significantly different consideration upon conversion depending upon whether a fundamental change is a non-stock fundamental change or a common stock fundamental change. In the event of a non-stock fundamental change, the shares of convertible preferred stock will convert into stock and other securities or property or assets, including cash, determined by the number of shares of common stock receivable upon conversion at the conversion price as adjusted in accordance with (2) above. In the event of a common stock fundamental change, under certain circumstances, the holder of convertible preferred stock will receive different consideration depending on whether the holder converts his or her shares of convertible preferred stock on or after the common stock fundamental change.
Definitions for the Fundamental Change Adjustment Provision
applicable price” means:
    in a non-stock fundamental change in which the holders of common stock receive only cash, the amount of cash received by a holder of one share of common stock, and
    in the event of any other fundamental change, the average of the daily closing price for one share of common stock during the 10 trading days immediately prior to the record date for the determination of the holders of common stock entitled to receive cash, securities, property or other assets in connection with the fundamental change or, if there is no such record date, prior to the date upon which the holders of common stock shall have the right to receive such cash, securities, property or other assets.
common stock fundamental change” means any fundamental change in which more than 50% of the value, as determined in good faith by our board of directors, of the consideration received by holders of our common stock consists of common stock that, for the 10 trading days immediately prior to such fundamental change, has been admitted for listing or admitted for listing subject to notice of issuance on a national securities exchange or quoted on The NASDAQ National Market, except that a fundamental change shall not be a common stock fundamental change unless either:
    we continue to exist after the occurrence of the fundamental change and the outstanding convertible preferred stock continues to exist as outstanding convertible preferred stock, or
    not later than the occurrence of the fundamental change, the outstanding convertible preferred stock is converted into or exchanged for shares of preferred stock, which preferred stock has rights, preferences and limitations substantially similar, but no less favorable, to those of the convertible preferred stock.
fundamental change” means the occurrence of any transaction or event or series of transactions or events pursuant to which all or substantially all of our common stock shall be exchanged for, converted into, acquired for or shall constitute solely the right to receive cash, securities, property or other assets, whether by means of an exchange offer, liquidation, tender offer, consolidation, merger, combination, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise. However, for purposes of adjustment of the conversion price, in the case of any series of transactions or events, the fundamental change shall be deemed to have occurred when substantially all of the common stock shall have been exchanged for, converted into or acquired for, or shall constitute solely the right to receive, such cash, securities, property or other assets, but the adjustment shall be based upon the consideration that the holders of our common stock received in the transaction or event as a result of which more than 50% of our common stock shall have been exchanged for, converted into or acquired for, or shall constitute solely the right to receive, such cash, securities, property or other assets.

 

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non-stock fundamental change” means any fundamental change other than a common stock fundamental change.
purchaser stock price” means the average of the daily closing price for one share of the common stock received by holders of the common stock in the common stock fundamental change during the 10 trading days immediately prior to the date fixed for the determination of the holders of the common stock entitled to receive such common stock or, if there is no such date, prior to the date upon which the holders of the common stock shall have the right to receive such common stock.
Dividend Make-Whole Payment
If we elect to automatically convert, or the holder voluntarily converts, some or all of the convertible preferred stock into shares of our common stock prior to November 3, 2007, we will make an additional payment equal to the total value of the aggregate amount of cumulative dividends that would have accrued and become payable on the convertible preferred stock from the date of original issue through and including November 3, 2007, less any dividends already paid on the convertible preferred stock. This additional payment is payable by us, in cash, or, at our option, in shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. In the event of an automatic conversion or any voluntary conversion undertaken after we provide notice of an automatic conversion, the shares of common stock issued in payment of the dividend make-whole payment will be valued at 150% of the conversion price on the effective date of the conversion. In all other circumstances, any shares of our common stock issued in payment of the dividend make-whole payment will be valued at the greater of (i) 95% of the average closing price of our common stock for the two trading days prior to the effective date of conversion or (ii) $2.00, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on October 28, 2004. In the event of an automatic conversion, the notice of automatic conversion will specify whether we will make the dividend make-whole payment in cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. We will not issue fractional shares for any additional payment upon conversion but will instead make a cash adjustment for any fractional share payment. However, given the date referenced has passed, these provisions are no longer applicable.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, the holders of the convertible preferred stock shall receive a liquidation preference of $10 per share and all accrued and unpaid dividends through the distribution date. Holders of any class or series of preferred stock ranking on the same basis as your convertible preferred stock as to liquidation shall also be entitled to receive the full respective liquidation preferences and any accrued and unpaid dividends through the distribution date. Only after the preferred stock holders have received their liquidation preference and any accrued and unpaid dividends will we distribute assets to common stock holders or any of our other stock ranking junior to the shares of convertible preferred stock upon liquidation. If upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, we do not have enough assets to pay in full the amounts due on the convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking on the same basis with the convertible preferred stock as to liquidation, the holders of the convertible preferred stock and such other preferred stock will share ratably in any such distributions of our assets:
    first in proportion to the liquidation preferences until the preferences are paid in full, and
    then in proportion to the amounts of accrued but unpaid dividends.

 

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After we pay any liquidation preference and accrued dividends, holders of the convertible preferred stock will not be entitled to participate any further in the distribution of our assets. The following events will not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of Cyclacel:
    the sale of all or substantially all of the assets;
    our merger or consolidation into or with any other corporation; or
    our liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reorganization immediately followed by a reincorporation as another corporation.
Optional Redemption
On or after November 6, 2007 we may redeem the convertible preferred stock, out of legally available funds, in whole or in part, at our option, at the redemption prices listed below. The redemption price is as follows for the 12-month period beginning November 1 of the following years, beginning November 6, 2007 and ending on October 31, 2008 in the case of the first period:
         
    Redemption  
Year   Price  
2007
  $ 10.42  
2008
    10.36  
2009
    10.30  
2010
    10.24  
2011
    10.18  
2012
    10.12  
2013
    10.06  
and $10.00 at November 1, 2014 and thereafter. In each case we will pay accrued and unpaid dividends to, but excluding, the redemption date. We are required to give notice of redemption not more than 60 and not less than 20 days before the redemption date.
If we redeem less than all of the shares of convertible preferred stock, we shall select the shares to be redeemed by lot or pro rata or in some other equitable manner in our sole discretion.
Exchange Provisions
We may exchange the convertible preferred stock in whole, but not in part, for debentures on any dividend payment date on or after November 1, 2005 at the rate of $10 principal amount of debentures for each outstanding share of convertible preferred stock. Debentures will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000, as discussed in the section entitled “Description of Debentures” below. If the exchange results in an amount of debentures that is not an integral multiple of $1,000, we will pay in cash an amount in excess of the closest integral multiple of $1,000. We will mail written notice of our intention to exchange the convertible preferred stock to each record holder not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the exchange date.

 

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We refer to the date fixed for exchange of the convertible preferred stock for debentures as the “exchange date.” On the exchange date, the holder’s rights as a stockholder of Cyclacel shall cease, the shares of convertible preferred stock will no longer be outstanding, and will only represent the right to receive the debentures and any accrued and unpaid dividends, without interest. We may not exercise our option to exchange the convertible preferred stock for the debentures if:
    full cumulative dividends on the convertible preferred stock to the exchange date have not been paid or set aside for payment, or
    an event of default under the indenture would occur on conversion, or has occurred and is continuing.
Voting Rights
Holders of our convertible preferred stock have no voting rights except as described below or as required by law. Shares of our convertible preferred stock held by us or any entity controlled by us will not have any voting rights.
If we have not paid dividends on the convertible preferred stock or on any outstanding shares of preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends with the convertible preferred stock in an aggregate amount equal to at least six quarterly dividends whether or not consecutive, we will increase the size of our board of directors by two additional directors. So long as dividends remain due and unpaid, holders of the convertible preferred stock, voting separately as a class with holders of preferred stock ranking on the same basis as to dividends having like voting rights, will be entitled to elect two additional directors at any meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected. These directors will be appointed to classes on the board as determined by our board of directors. These voting rights will terminate when we have declared and either paid or set aside for payment all accrued and unpaid dividends. The terms of office of all directors so elected will terminate immediately upon the termination of these voting rights. On April 6, 2009, June 22, 2009, October 19, 2009, January 7, 2010, and March 29, 2010, our board of directors resolved, pursuant to the Certificate of Designations, not to declare payment of the quarterly cash dividend on our convertible preferred stock scheduled for May 1, 2009, August 1, 2009, November 1, 2009, February 1, 2010 and May 1, 2010, respectively.
Without the vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of convertible preferred stock, we may not:
    adversely change the rights, preferences and limitations of the convertible preferred stock by modifying our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or
    authorize, issue, reclassify any of our authorized stock into, increase the authorized amount of, or authorize or issue any convertible obligation or security or right to purchase, any class of stock that ranks senior to the convertible preferred stock as to dividends or distributions of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the stock.
No class vote on the part of convertible preferred stock shall be required (except as otherwise required by law or resolution of our board of directors) in connection with the authorization, issuance or increase in the authorized amount of any shares of capital stock ranking junior to or on parity with the convertible preferred stock both as to the payment of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, including our common stock and the convertible preferred stock.

 

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In addition, without the vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of convertible preferred stock we may not:
    enter into a share exchange that affects the convertible preferred stock,
    consolidate with or merge into another entity, or
    permit another entity to consolidate with or merge into us,
unless the convertible preferred stock remains outstanding and its rights, privileges and preferences are unaffected or it is converted into or exchanged for convertible preferred stock of the surviving entity having rights, preferences and limitations substantially similar, but no less favorable, to the convertible preferred stock.
In determining a majority under these voting provisions, holders of convertible preferred stock will vote together with holders of any other preferred stock that rank on parity as to dividends and that have like voting rights.
Warrants
The following is a brief summary of the terms of the outstanding registered direct warrants. The shares underlying the outstanding registered direct warrants are being registered by us in this prospectus.
    The February 2007 Warrants — on February 16, 2007, as part of a “registered direct” offering of our units, we sold warrants to purchase up to 1,062,412 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.44 per share of common stock, such warrants expiring at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 16, 2014.
    The July 2009 Warrants — on July 29, 2009, as part of a “registered direct” offering of our units, we sold warrants to purchase up to 735,222 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share of common stock, such warrants expiring at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 29, 2014. As of June 16, 2010, warrants to purchase up to 692,256 shares of common stock remain outstanding. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable warrant, except upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrant if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the warrants.
    The January 13, 2010 Warrants — on January 13, 2010, as part of a “registered direct” offering of our units, we sold warrants to purchase up to 712,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.26 per share of common stock, such warrants expiring at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 13, 2015. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable warrant, except upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrant if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the warrants.

 

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    The January 25, 2010 Warrants — on January 25, 2010, as part of a “registered direct” offering of our units, we sold warrants to purchase up to 705,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.85 per share of common stock, such warrants expiring at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on January 25, 2015. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable warrant, except upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrant if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the warrants.
Exercisability. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances, including in the event of a stock dividend, or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation.
Exercise of Warrants. The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form set forth in the warrant completed and executed as indicated, either accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised or, under certain circumstances, by means of a cashless exercise, as provided for in the warrant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder will not be required to physically surrender the warrant unless and until the aggregate warrant shares represented by the warrant are exercised.
Cashless Exercise. If, at any time during the warrant exercisability period, the holder is not permitted to sell shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the relevant warrant pursuant to the registration statement or an exemption from registration is not available, and the fair market value of our common stock exceeds the exercise price of the warrants, the holder may elect to effect a cashless exercise of the warrants, in whole or in part, by surrendering the warrants to us, together with delivery to us of a duly executed exercise notice, and canceling a portion of the relevant warrant in payment of the purchase price payable in respect of the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws and the restriction on transfer set forth in the relevant subscription agreement, the warrants may not be transferred at the option of the holders without our consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, upon surrender of the warrants to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
Exchange Listing. We do not plan on making an application to list the warrants on The NASDAQ Global Market, any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. The common stock underlying the warrants is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market.
Fundamental Transactions. In the event of any fundamental transaction, as described in the warrants, and generally including any merger with or into another entity (whether or not we are the surviving entity but excluding a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of incorporation), sale of all or substantially all of our assets, tender offer or exchange offer, our consummation of a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) or reclassification of our common stock, then upon any subsequent exercise of a warrant, the holder shall have the right to receive, as alternative consideration, for each share of our common stock that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such fundamental transaction, the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of Cyclacel, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable upon or as a result of such transaction by a holder of the number of shares of our common stock for which the warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such event.

 

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Waivers and Amendments. The provisions of each warrant may be amended and we may take any action prohibited by the warrant, or omit to perform any act required to be performed pursuant to the warrant, only with the written consent of the holder of that warrant.
Rights as a Stockholder. The warrantholders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. However, we will pay to the warrantholder, in lieu of the issuance of any fractional share which is otherwise issuable to the warrantholder, an amount in cash based on the market value of the common stock on the last trading day prior to the exercise date.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CYCC.” Our preferred stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “CYCCP.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock. Their address is 59 Maiden Lane, Plaza Level, New York, NY 10038, and their telephone number is (800) 937-5449.

 

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DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON
INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “Delaware Law”) authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides for indemnification of officers, directors and other employees of our company to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law and that directors shall not be personally liable to our company or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (i) for any breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to our company or our stockholders, (ii) acts and omissions that are not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper benefit.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been information 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.

 

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MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Our common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “CYCC.” Our preferred stock currently trades on NASDAQ under the symbol “CYCCP.” The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices for the common stock as reported by NASDAQ:
                 
    High     Low  
2010
               
Quarter ended March 31, 2010
  $ 4.08     $ 1.00  
2009
               
Quarter ended March 31, 2009
  $ 0.54     $ 0.26  
Quarter ended June 30, 2009
  $ 1.66     $ 0.30  
Quarter ended September 30, 2009
  $ 1.24     $ 0.79  
Quarter ended December 31, 2009
  $ 1.69     $ 0.75  
2008
               
Quarter ended March 31, 2008
  $ 5.51     $ 2.40  
Quarter ended June 30, 2008
  $ 3.67     $ 1.66  
Quarter ended September 30, 2008
  $ 2.00     $ 0.84  
Quarter ended December 31, 2008
  $ 1.16     $ 0.23  
On June 16, 2010, we had approximately 55 registered holders of record of our common stock. On June 16, 2010, the closing sale price of our common stock as reported by NASDAQ was $1.74 per share.
Dividends
We have never declared any cash dividends with respect to our common stock. Future payment of dividends is within the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other relevant factors. Although there are no material restrictions limiting, or that are likely to limit, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock, we presently intend to retain future earnings, if any, for use in our business and have no present intention to pay cash dividends on our common stock.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering and the validity of the common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Mintz, Levin, Cohen, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C.
EXPERTS
The financial statements as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 incorporated by reference into this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any information we reference in this manner is considered part of this prospectus. Information contained in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the date of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, except to the extent that any information contained in any such document is deemed “furnished” in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission:
    Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 filed on May 19, 2010;
    Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on March 29, 2010, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on May 17, 2010 and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Annual Report of Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed on May 19, 2010;
    Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2010, January 11, 2010, January 13, 2010, January 21, 2010, January 25, 2010, January 27, 2010, March 16, 2010, March 31, 2010, April 20, 2010, May 13, 2010, May 27, 2010 and June 14, 2010;
    Our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2010;
    The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on March 8, 2004 (File No. 000-50626), which incorporates by reference the description of the shares of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-109653) filed on December 22, 2003 and declared effective by the SEC on March 17, 2004, and any amendment or reports filed with the SEC for purposes of updating such description; and
    The description of our preferred stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on October 27, 2004 (File No. 000-50626), which incorporates by reference the description of the shares of our preferred stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-119585) filed on October 7, 2004 and declared effective by the SEC on November 1, 2004, and any amendment or reports filed with the SEC for purposes of updating such description.

 

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We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus contained in the registration statement but not delivered with this prospectus at no cost to you, by writing or calling us at: 200 Connell Drive, Suite 1500, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922, telephone (908) 517-7330. Information about us is also available at our website at http://www.cyclacel.com. However, the information in our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC. These filings contain important information that does not appear in this prospectus. For further information about us, you may read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by us at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. You may obtain further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our SEC filings are also available on the SEC Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

 

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