S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 7, 2025

Registration No. 333-   

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   84-3199512

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3000 Pegasus Park Drive

Suite 1430

Dallas, Texas 75247

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. 2020 Stock Incentive Plan

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. 2023 Inducement Plan

(Full titles of the plans)

Sean P. Nolan

Chief Executive Officer

3000 Pegasus Park Drive

Suite 1430

Dallas, Texas 75247

(214) 612-0000

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

 

 

Copies to:

Divakar Gupta

Madison A. Jones

Cooley LLP

55 Hudson Yards

New York, New York 10001

Telephone: (212) 479-6000

Facsimile: (212) 479-6275

 

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

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

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SHARES

Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. (the “Registrant”) is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for the purpose of registering (i) 10,247,165 additional shares of its common stock under the Registrant’s 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), pursuant to the provisions of the 2020 Plan providing for an automatic increase in the number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2020 Plan on January 1, 2025, (ii) 724,000 additional shares of its common stock under the Registrant’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2020 ESPP”), pursuant to the provisions of the 2020 ESPP providing for an automatic increase in the number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2020 ESPP on January 1, 2025 and (iii) 2,000,000 shares of its common stock under the Registrant’s 2023 Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”). The additional shares of common stock under the Inducement Plan represent an increase in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Inducement Plan, which increase was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors on December 12, 2024. In accordance with the instructional note to Part I of Form S-8 as promulgated by the Commission, the information specified by Part I of the Form S-8 has been omitted from this Registration Statement.

The Registrant previously registered shares of its common stock for issuance under the 2020 Plan and the 2020 ESPP on a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on September 29, 2020 (File No.  333-249130), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on May 11, 2021 (File No. 333-256013), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on March 31, 2022 (File No. 333-264025), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on March 28, 2023 (File No. 333-270915) and a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on March 19, 2024 (File No. 333-278070), and under its Inducement Plan on a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on December 20, 2023 (File No.  333-276161). Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the Registration Statements referenced above except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

 

  (a)

The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Commission on March 19, 2024.

 

  (b)

The information specifically incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December  31, 2023 from the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 18, 2024.

 

  (c)

the Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2024, August 12, 2024 and November 13, 2024, respectively.

 

  (d)

The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May  30, 2024, June  26, 2024 and June 26, 2024, to the extent the information in such report is filed and not furnished.


  (e)

The description of the Registrant’s common stock which is contained in Exhibit 4.1 in the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, filed on August 12, 2024, including any amendment or report filed with the Commission for the purpose of updating such description.

 

  (f)

All other reports and documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits furnished on such form that relate to such items) on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.


ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

 

          Incorporated by Reference  

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

   Schedule
Form
     File Number      Exhibit      Filing Date  
 4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as currently in effect      8-K        001-39536        3.1        September 29, 2020  
 4.2    Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation      8-K        001-39536        3.1        November 15, 2023  
 4.3    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, as currently in effect      S-1/A        333-248559        3.4        September 17, 2020  
 5.1*    Opinion of Cooley LLP.            
23.1*    Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).            
23.2*    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.            
24.1*    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Form S-8).            
99.1    2020 Stock Incentive Plan and Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice, Stock Option Agreement, Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement      S-1/A        333-248559        10.6        September 17, 2020  
99.2    2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan      S-1/A        333-248559        10.7        September 17, 2020  
99.3    Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. 2023 Inducement Plan.      S-8        333-276161        99.1        December 20, 2023  
99.4    Form of Option Grant Package under 2023 Inducement Plan.      S-8        333-276161        99.2        December 20, 2023  
99.5    Form of RSU Grant Package under 2023 Inducement Plan.      S-8        333-276161        99.3        December 20, 2023  
99.6*    Amendment to 2023 Inducement Plan            
107*    Filing Fee Table            

 

*

Filed herewith.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, State of Texas, on this 7th day of January, 2025.

 

TAYSHA GENE THERAPIES, INC.
By:   /s/ Sean P. Nolan
  Sean P. Nolan
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Sean P. Nolan and Kamran Alam, and each one of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in their name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Sean P. Nolan

Sean P. Nolan

  

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

(Principal Executive Officer)

  January 7, 2025

/s/ Kamran Alam

Kamran Alam

   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   January 7, 2025

/s/ Phillip B. Donenberg

Phillip B. Donenberg

   Director   January 7, 2025

/s/ Sean Stalfort

Sean Stalfort

   Director   January 7, 2025

/s/ Sukumar Nagendran, M.D.

Sukumar Nagendran, M.D.

  

President, Head of Research and

Development, and Director

  January 7, 2025

/s/ Alison Long, M.D., Ph.D.

Alison Long, M.D., Ph.D.

   Director   January 7, 2025

/s/ Laura Sepp-Lorenzino, Ph.D.

Laura Sepp-Lorenzino, Ph.D.

   Director   January 7, 2025
EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

Madison A. Jones

+1 202 728 7087

madison.jones@cooley.com

January 7, 2025

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc.

3000 Pegasus Park Drive, Suite 1430

Dallas, Texas, 75247

We have acted as counsel to Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) covering the offering of up to 12,971,165 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Common Stock”), consisting of (a) 10,247,165 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Company’s 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “SIP”), (b) 724,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) and (c) 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s 2023 Inducement Plan (together with the SIP and ESPP, the “Plans”).

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement and the related prospectuses, (b) the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as currently in effect, (c) the Plans and (d) such other records, documents, opinions, certificates, memoranda and instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials, and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all persons other than the Company where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently verified such matters.

Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the Plans, the Registration Statement and the related prospectuses, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as to shares issued pursuant to deferred payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such deferred payments are made in full).

This opinion is limited to the matters expressly set forth in this letter, and no opinion has been or should be implied, or may be inferred, beyond the matters expressly stated. This opinion speaks only as to law and facts in effect or existing as of the date hereof, and we have no obligation or responsibility to update or supplement this letter to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in law that may hereafter occur.

Cooley LLP 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20004-2400

t: +1 202 842 7800 f: +1 202 842 7899 cooley.com


We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Sincerely,

Cooley LLP

 

By:   /s/ Madison A. Jones
  Madison A. Jones

Cooley LLP 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20004-2400

t: +1 202 842 7800 f: +1 202 842 7899 cooley.com

EX-23.2

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 19, 2024 relating to the financial statements of Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas

January 7, 2025

EX-99.6

Exhibit 99.6

AMENDMENT TO TAYSHA GENE THERAPIES, INC.

2023 INDUCEMENT PLAN

A. Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, (the “Company”) established the Company’s 2023 Inducement Plan (the “Plan”).

B. The Plan currently provides for 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be reserved for issuance under the Plan; and

C. The Company now wishes to amend the Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan to an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares.

Effective immediately, the Plan is amended as follows:

 

  1.

The reference to “4,000,000 shares” in Section 2(a) of the Plan is hereby amended to reference “6,000,000 shares”.

 

  2.

In all other respects the Plan will remain the same.

***

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be executed as of December 12, 2024

 

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc.
By:   /s/ Sean P. Nolan
  Sean P. Nolan
  Chief Executive Officer
EX-FILING FEES

Exhibit 107

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLES

Form S-8

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc.

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

               
Security Type  

Security

Class

Title

  Fee
Calculation
Rule
  Amount to be
Registered (1)
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Share
 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering

Price

 

Fee

Rate

  Amount of
Registration
Fee
               
Equity   Common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Registrant’s 2020 Stock Incentive Plan   Other(4)   10,247,165(2)   $1.71(4)   $17,522,653   0.00015310   $2,682.72
               
Equity   Common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Registrant’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan   Other(5)   724,000(3)   $1.46(5)   $1,057,040   0.00015310   $161.84
               
Equity   Common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Registrant’s 2023 Inducement Plan   Other(4)   2,000,000(6)   $1.71(4)   $3,420,000   0.00015310   $523.61
         
Total Offering Amounts     $21,999,693     $3,368.17
         
Total Fees Previously Paid        
         
Total Fee Offsets        
         
Net Fee Due           $3,368.17

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock of Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. (the “Registrant”) that become issuable under the Registrant’s 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), the Registrant’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2020 ESPP”) and the Registrant’s 2023 Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar transaction effected that results in an increase to the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s common stock, as applicable.

(2)

Represents shares of common stock that were added to the shares reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan on January 1, 2025, pursuant to an evergreen provision contained in the 2020 Plan. Pursuant to such provision, the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each year for a period of 10 years, beginning on January 1, 2021 and continuing through (and including) January 1, 2030, in an amount equal to 5% of the total number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding on December 31 of the immediately preceding year, except that, before the date of any such increase, the Registrant’s board of directors may determine that the increase for such year will be a lesser number of shares.

(3)

Represents shares of common stock that were added to the shares reserved for future issuance under the 2020 ESPP on January 1, 2025, pursuant to an evergreen provision contained in the 2020 ESPP. Pursuant to such provision, the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 ESPP will automatically increase on January 1 of each year for a period of 10 years, beginning on January 1, 2021 and continuing through (and including) January 1, 2030, by the lesser of (a) 1% of the total number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding on December 31 of the immediately preceding year and (b) 724,000 shares, except that, before the date of any such increase, the Registrant’s board of directors may determine that the increase for such year will be less than the amount set forth in clauses (a) and (b).

(4)

Estimated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of $1.71 per share, which is the average of the high and low selling prices per share of the Registrant’s common stock on December 30, 2024 as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

(5)

Estimated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The offering price per share and the aggregate offering price are based upon $1.46 which is the average of the high and low selling prices per share of the Registrant’s common stock on December 30, 2024 as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market multiplied by 85%, which is the percentage of the price per share applicable to purchases under the 2020 ESPP.

(6)

Represents additional shares of common stock available for issuance under the Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. 2023 Inducement Plan approved by the Compensation Committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors on December 12, 2024.