Phio Pharmaceuticals Announces $1.83 Million Registered Direct Offering Priced At-the-Market Under Nasdaq Rules

Rhea-AI Summary

Phio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PHIO) has announced a $1.83 million registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. The company will sell 610,000 shares of common stock at $3.00 per share. Additionally, in a concurrent private placement, Phio will issue unregistered warrants to purchase up to 1,220,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share, exercisable upon issuance and expiring in 24 months.

The offering, expected to close around January 17, 2025, is being exclusively placed by H.C. Wainwright & Co. The net proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The common stock shares are being offered under a shelf registration statement, while the warrants are being issued through a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

Positive

• Secured immediate funding of $1.83 million through registered direct offering
• Potential for additional capital through warrant exercises (up to 1,220,000 shares)

Negative

• Dilution of existing shareholders through issuance of 610,000 new shares
• Additional potential dilution if warrants are exercised (1,220,000 shares)
• At-the-market pricing indicates possible unfavorable market conditions

Insights

Financial Analyst

This $1.83 million registered direct offering represents a critical capital raise for PHIO, though at a concerning price point. At $3.00 per share, the offering is priced significantly below recent trading levels, indicating substantial dilution for existing shareholders. The concurrent issuance of warrants for 1.22 million shares at the same strike price could lead to additional dilution if exercised.

The structure of this financing - combining registered shares with a private placement of warrants - is a common approach for micro-cap biotechs, but the 2:1 warrant coverage ratio is notably aggressive. While the $1.83 million provides essential working capital, it's a relatively modest sum that may only extend the runway by a few quarters given typical burn rates in clinical-stage biotech firms.

The market's reaction will likely be negative due to:

• Significant dilution at current price levels
• High warrant coverage ratio creating future dilution risk
• The relatively small raise suggesting ongoing capital needs

Biotech Investment Specialist

This financing deal reveals deeper challenges in PHIO's current market position. The INTASYL® siRNA platform, while promising for cancer immunotherapy, faces intense competition in the RNAi therapeutic space. The terms of this raise - particularly the warrant structure and pricing - suggest institutional confidence in near-term clinical catalysts.

The vague allocation of proceeds to "working capital and other general corporate purposes" rather than specific clinical programs is concerning. For a clinical-stage biotech, investors typically expect capital raises to fund specific development milestones. The absence of such detail might indicate challenges in the current clinical programs or a need to shore up basic operations.

The involvement of H.C. Wainwright as placement agent is typical for micro-cap biotech deals, but the terms secured are relatively unfavorable, reflecting the challenging market environment for early-stage biotech financing and possibly company-specific concerns about PHIO's progress or market position.

Marlborough, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - January 16, 2025) - Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops therapeutics using its INTASYL® siRNA gene silencing technology to make the body's immune cells more effective in killing cancer cells, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 610,000 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $3.00 per share in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. In addition, in a concurrent private placement, the Company will issue short-term unregistered warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,220,000 shares of common stock. The short-term warrants will have an exercise price of $3.00 per share, will be exercisable upon issuance and expire twenty-four months following the date of issuance. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about January 17, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the offering are expected to be $1.83 million, before deducting the placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

The shares of common stock (but not the short-term warrants issued in the private placement or the shares of common stock underlying such short-term warrants) are being offered by the Company pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-279557) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on May 20, 2024 and became effective on July 1, 2024. The registered direct offering of the shares of common stock is being made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the shares of common stock being offered in the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and be available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the registered direct offering may also be obtained, when available, by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (212) 856-5711 or e-mail at placements@hcwco.com.

The short-term warrants described above are being issued in a concurrent private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of common stock underlying the short-term warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the short-term warrants and underlying shares of common stock may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.

Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing its proprietary INTASYL siRNA gene silencing technology to eliminate cancer.  INTASYL can target and silence virtually any gene with high degree of specificity across a wide range of cell types and tissues. INTASYL is designed to enhance the ability of immune cells to more effectively kill tumor cells.  INTASYL has also demonstrated enhancement adoptive cell therapy. Notably, INTASYL is a self-delivering RNAi technology focused on immuno-oncology therapeutics without the need for formulation enhancements or manipulations to reach its target. 

Phio's lead clinical program, PH-762, is an INTASYL compound that silences PD-1. PH-762 is a potential non-surgical treatment for skin cancers. The on-going Phase 1b trial (NCT# 06014086) received FDA clearance for an Investigational New Drug Application to evaluate PH-762 in the treatment of cutaneous SCC, melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma in second quarter of 2023. 

For additional information, visit the Company's website, www.phiopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "indicates," "plans," "expects," "suggests," "may," "would," "should," "potential," "designed to," "will," "ongoing," "estimate," "forecast," "target," "predict," "could" and similar references, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Examples of forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, among others, the ability of the Company to consummation of the offering, the satisfaction of the closing conditions of the offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, the possibility that our INTASYL® siRNA gene silencing technology will make the body's immune cells more effective in killing cancer cells and statements regarding our commercial and clinical strategy, development plans and timelines and other future events.  

These statements are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control.  Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including, but not limited to, the impact to our business and operations by inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, recession fears, the development of our product candidates, results from our preclinical and clinical activities, our ability to execute on business strategies, our ability to develop our product candidates with collaboration partners, and the success of any such collaborations, the timeline and duration for advancing our product candidates into clinical development, the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, the success of our efforts to commercialize our product candidates if approved, our ability to manufacture and supply our product candidates for clinical activities, and for commercial use if approved, the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our technology platform, our ability to obtain future financing, market and other conditions and those identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the caption "Risk Factors" and in other filings the Company periodically makes with the SEC. Readers are urged to review these risk factors and to not act in reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ from those contemplated by our forward-looking statements. Phio does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views, events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by law.  

Contact:
Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. 
Jennifer Phillips: jphillips@phiopharma.com 
Corporate Affairs  

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237444

FAQ

What is the size and price of PHIO's January 2025 registered direct offering?

Phio Pharmaceuticals is offering 610,000 shares at $3.00 per share, totaling $1.83 million in gross proceeds.

What are the terms of PHIO's warrant offering in January 2025?

The warrants allow purchase of up to 1,220,000 shares at $3.00 per share, are exercisable upon issuance, and expire after 24 months.

When will PHIO's January 2025 registered direct offering close?

The offering is expected to close on or about January 17, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

How will PHIO use the proceeds from its January 2025 offering?

Phio Pharmaceuticals intends to use the net proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Who is the placement agent for PHIO's January 2025 offering?

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.