Stoke Therapeutics Announces Proposed Public Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. (STOK) announces a proposed underwritten public offering to raise up to $75 million through the sale of common stock. The company plans to use the proceeds for research, clinical development, manufacturing of product candidates, and general corporate purposes.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• The offering is subject to market conditions, and there is no guarantee of completion or the final size and terms of the offering.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Stoke Therapeutics' announcement of a proposed underwritten public offering to raise up to $75 million is a significant move for the company, signaling both a need for capital and a confidence in its potential growth. The offering's success hinges on market conditions and investor appetite for biotech stocks, which can be volatile. The additional 15% option for underwriters is a common practice, providing flexibility to manage over-allotments and stabilize the stock price post-offering.

The funds are earmarked for research and development, particularly for STK-001 and STK-002, which could be transformative for the company if successful. Investors should note, however, that biotech investments are high-risk due to the long development cycles and regulatory hurdles inherent in bringing new drugs to market. The impact on the stock will depend on the market's interpretation of the offering as a growth opportunity versus a dilution of existing shares.

Biotech Market Analyst

In the biotech industry, raising capital through public offerings is a common strategy to fund expensive and lengthy R&D processes. Stoke Therapeutics' focus on RNA-based medicines for severe diseases is a cutting-edge area with significant potential. The market's response to this offering will reflect the current sentiment towards biotech investments and Stoke's specific prospects.

Investors should consider the competitive landscape and the regulatory environment, as these factors will influence Stoke's ability to successfully bring its product candidates to market. The mention of 'late-stage development' of their products could indicate upcoming milestones which may catalyze the company's valuation if they are positive. However, the inherent risks of clinical trials mean that setbacks could adversely affect the stock value.

Securities Law Expert

From a legal perspective, Stoke's compliance with SEC regulations, including the use of a Form S-3 registration statement, is a routine part of conducting such offerings. The effectiveness of the registration statement and the role of J.P. Morgan Securities as the sole book-running manager indicate a standard, structured approach to capital raising. Prospective investors should review the prospectus supplement for details on the risks and specifics of the offering.

It's important to highlight that the legal disclaimer in the announcement is a precautionary measure to ensure that the offering is not misconstrued as an immediate sale, which would be subject to specific regulatory requirements and restrictions. Potential investors must be aware of the legal implications of investing in securities and the conditions that govern such transactions.

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: STOK), a biotechnology company dedicated to addressing the underlying cause of severe diseases by upregulating protein expression with RNA-based medicines, today announced a proposed underwritten public offering in which it intends to offer and sell, subject to market and other conditions, up to $75 million of shares of its common stock. In addition, Stoke intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the shares of common stock offered in the public offering. All of the shares of common stock are being offered by Stoke. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.

Stoke intends to use the net proceeds from the proposed offering, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents, to fund research, clinical and process development and manufacturing of its product candidates, including late-stage development of STK-001 and further development of STK-002, developing additional product candidates, working capital, capital expenditures, and for other general corporate purposes.

The shares are being offered by Stoke pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-265107) that was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 31, 2022. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to this offering will be filed with the SEC. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, by telephone at 866-803-9204 or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com. Electronic copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus will also be available on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Stoke, 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 registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Stoke Therapeutics

Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK), is a biotechnology company dedicated to addressing the underlying cause of severe diseases by upregulating protein expression with RNA-based medicines. Using Stoke’s proprietary TANGO (Targeted Augmentation of Nuclear Gene Output) approach, Stoke is developing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to selectively restore protein levels. Stoke’s first compound, STK-001, is in clinical testing for the treatment of Dravet syndrome, a severe and progressive genetic epilepsy. Dravet syndrome is one of many diseases caused by a haploinsufficiency, in which a loss of ~50% of normal protein levels leads to disease. Stoke is pursuing the development of STK-002 for the treatment of autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), the most common inherited optic nerve disorder. Stoke’s initial focus is haploinsufficiencies and diseases of the central nervous system and the eye, although proof of concept has been demonstrated in other organs, tissues, and systems, supporting its belief in the broad potential for its proprietary approach. Stoke is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the completion, timing of the closing and size of the underwritten offering and the anticipated gross proceeds of the offering and the use thereof. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they prove incorrect or do not fully materialize, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: statements the Company makes regarding the Company’s ability to advance, obtain regulatory approval of, and ultimately commercialize its product candidates, including STK-001; the timing of data readouts and interim and final results of preclinical and clinical trials; the receipt and timing of potential regulatory decisions; positive results in a clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent trials or successes in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage trials; the Company’s ability to fund development activities and achieve development goals into 2025; the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property; the direct or indirect impact of global business, political and macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, interest rate volatility, cybersecurity events, uncertainty with respect to the federal budget, instability in the global banking system and volatile market conditions, and global events, including public health crises, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts, such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; and other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and the other documents it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240326974905/en/

Stoke Media & Investor Contacts:

Dawn Kalmar

Chief Communications Officer

dkalmar@stoketherapeutics.com

781-303-8302

Eric Rojas

Vice President, Investor Relations

IR@stoketherapeutics.com

617-312-2754

Source: Stoke Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What is Stoke Therapeutics, Inc.'s (STOK) proposed underwritten public offering about?

Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. (STOK) announced a proposed underwritten public offering to raise up to $75 million through the sale of common stock.

How does Stoke Therapeutics plan to use the proceeds from the offering?

Stoke intends to use the net proceeds for research, clinical development, manufacturing of product candidates, and general corporate purposes.

Who is the sole book-running manager for the offering?

J.P. Morgan Securities is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

What is the registration statement under which the shares are being offered?

The shares are being offered by Stoke under a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-265107) declared effective by the SEC on May 31, 2022.