PEPG PepGen Inc

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 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

PEPGEN INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		85-3819886
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

321 Harrison Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02118

(781) 797-0979

(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

PepGen Inc. 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan

PepGen Inc. 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

PepGen Inc. 2024 Inducement Plan

(Full title of the plan)

James McArthur, Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

PepGen Inc.

321 Harrison Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02118

(781) 797-0979

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

Copies to:

Richard Hoffman, Esq.

Finnbarr Murphy, Esq.

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Alicia Tschirhart, Esq.

Goodwin Procter LLP

100 Northern Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

(617) 570-1000

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. ☐

 

 

 

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REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS E

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) is being filed by PepGen Inc. (the “registrant”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) to register 1,630,983 additional shares of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), reserved for issuance under the PepGen Inc. 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”) and 326,196 additional shares of its Common Stock, reserved for issuance under the 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2022 ESPP”), pursuant to the “evergreen” provisions of the 2022 Plan and the 2022 ESPP. The number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2022 Plan is subject to an automatic annual increase on each January 1, in an amount equal to the lesser of: (i) 5% of the outstanding shares on the immediately preceding December 31, or (ii) such lesser amount as determined by the Administrator. The number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2022 ESPP is subject to an automatic annual increase by the least of (i) one percent (1%) of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31st, (ii) 678,000 shares of Common Stock or (iii) such number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Administrator. The additional shares are of the same class as other securities relating to the 2022 Plan and the 2022 ESPP for which the registrant’s registration statements filed on Form S-8 with the Commission on May 10, 2022 (File No. 333-264822), March 23, 2023 (File No. 333-270790) and March 6, 2024 (File No. 333-277708) are effective.

Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8 regarding Registration of Additional Securities, the contents of the Registration Statements on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on May 10, 2022 (File No. 333-264822), March 23, 2023 (File No. 333-270790) and March 6, 2024 (File No. 333-277708) are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein.

This Registration Statement is also being filed for the purpose of registering 1,000,000 shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the PepGen Inc. 2024 Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”).

On August 15, 2024, the registrant’s board of directors adopted the Inducement Plan pursuant to which the registrant reserved 1,000,000 shares of its Common Stock, to be used exclusively for grants of equity awards to individuals who were not previously employees of the registrant, as an inducement material to the individual’s entry into employment with the registrant within the meaning of Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The Inducement Plan provides for the grant of equity-based awards in the form of non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, unrestricted stock awards, and dividend equivalent rights. The Inducement Plan was adopted by the registrant’s board of directors without stockholder approval pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules.

Part I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information.

The documents containing the information specified in this Item 1 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The documents containing the information specified in this Item 2 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

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Part II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents filed with the SEC:

	(a)	Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed by the registrant with the SEC on February 24, 2025 (including the information specifically incorporated by reference therein from the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (other than information furnished rather than filed);
	(b)	Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 29, 2025; and

	(c)	The description of the registrant’s common stock contained in the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-41374), filed by the registrant with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on May 3, 2022, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents that the registrant subsequently files pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all of the shares of common stock offered have been sold or which deregisters all of such shares then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or 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.

Under no circumstances will any information filed under current items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K be deemed incorporated herein by reference unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, authorizes a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities arising out of actions, suits and proceedings to which they are made or threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that they have served or are currently serving as a director or officer to a corporation. The indemnity may cover expenses (including attorneys’ fees) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the director or officer in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding if the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner the director or officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the director or officer’s conduct was unlawful.. Section 145 permits corporations to pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by directors and officers in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be

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indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145. In addition, Section 145 provides that a corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in their capacity as a director or officer, or arising out of their status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the director or officer against such liability under Section 145.

We have adopted provisions, in our third amended and restated certificate of incorporation and second amended and restated bylaws, that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. Consequently, an officer or director will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages or breach of fiduciary duty as an officer or director, except for liability for:

	•		any breach of the officer’s or director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

	•		any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

	•		any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payments of dividends; or

	•		any transaction from which the officer or director derived an improper personal benefit.

These limitations of liability do not limit or eliminate our rights or any stockholder’s rights to seek non-monetary relief, such as injunctive relief or rescission. The provisions will not alter director liability under other laws, such as the federal securities laws or other state or federal laws. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also authorizes us to indemnify our officers, directors and other agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.

In addition, our bylaws provide that:

	•		we will indemnify our directors, officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by law;

	•		we must advance expenses to our directors and officers, and may advance expenses to our employees and other agents, in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by law; and

	•		the rights provided in our amended and restated bylaws are not exclusive.

 

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements provide that we will indemnify each of our directors and executive officers and, at times, their affiliates to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We will advance expenses, including attorneys’ fees (but excluding judgments, fines and settlement amounts), to each indemnified director, executive officer or affiliate in connection with any proceeding in which indemnification is available and we will indemnify our directors and officers for any action or proceeding arising out of that person’s services as a director or officer brought on behalf of us or in furtherance of our rights. Additionally, certain of our directors or officers may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance provided by their affiliates or other third parties, which indemnification relates to and might apply to the same proceedings arising out of such director’s or officer’s services as a director referenced herein. Nonetheless, we have agreed in the indemnification agreements that our obligations to those same directors or officers are primary and any obligation of such affiliates or other third parties to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the expenses or liabilities incurred by those directors are secondary.

We also maintain general liability insurance which covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

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Part II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8. Exhibits.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.				Description
	4.1			Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on June 16, 2022 (File No. 001-41374)).
	4.2			Certificate of Correction to Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 10, 2022 (File No. 001-41374)).
	4.3			Certificate of Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of PepGen Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2024 (File No. 001-41374)).
	4.4			Second Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 15, 2024 (File No. 001-41374)).
	4.5			Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement among the Company and certain of its stockholders, dated July 30, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Company's Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-264335)).
	5.1	*		Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP.
	23.1	*		Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
	23.2	*		Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
	24.1	*		Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
	99.1			2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and form of award agreements thereunder (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-264335)).
	99.2			2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-264335)).
	99.3			PepGen Inc. 2024 Inducement Plan and forms of agreements thereunder (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2024 (File No. 001-41374)).
	107	*		Filing Fee Table

*	Filed herewith.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or

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decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) herein do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised 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. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Boston, State of Massachusetts, on this 24th day of February, 2025.

PEPGEN INC.
By:		/s/ James McArthur
		James McArthur, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James McArthur, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact or his 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 indicated as of February 24, 2025:

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Name		Title
/s/ James McArthur James McArthur, Ph.D.		President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Noel Donnelly Noel Donnelly, M.B.A.		Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Habib Joseph Dable Habib Joseph Dable		Director
/s/ Heidi Henson Heidi Henson		Director
/s/ Laurie Keating Laurie B. Keating, J.D.		Director
/s/ Howard Mayer		Director
Howard Mayer, M.D.
/s/ Joshua Resnick Joshua Resnick, M.D., M.B.A.		Director

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February 24, 2025

 

 

PepGen Inc.

321 Harrison Avenue, 8th Floor

Boston, MA 02118

 

 

Re: Securities Being Registered under Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

We have acted as your counsel in connection with your filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on or about the date hereof relating to an aggregate of 2,957,179 shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), of PepGen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), that may be issued pursuant to the Company’s 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 2024 Inducement Plan (collectively, the “Plans”).

We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinion set forth below. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinion set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company.

For purposes of the opinion set forth below, we have assumed that, at the time Shares are issued, the total number of then unissued Shares, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock issued, subscribed for, or otherwise committed to be issued, does not exceed the number of shares of Common Stock authorized by the Company’s certificate of incorporation.

The opinion set forth below is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Plans, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

This opinion letter and the opinion it contains shall be interpreted in accordance with the Core Opinion Principles as published in 74 Business Lawyer 815 (Summer 2019).

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ GOODWIN PROCTER LLP

 

GOODWIN PROCTER LLP

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EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the use of our report dated February 24, 2025, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of PepGen Inc., incorporated herein by reference.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

Phoenix, Arizona
February 24, 2025

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Exhibit 107

Calculation of Registration Fee

Form S-8

(Form Type)

PepGen Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Newly Registered Securities

Security Type	Security Class Title	Fee Calculation Rule	Amount Registered(1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share	Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Fee Rate	Amount of Registration Fee
Equity	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, reserved for issuance pursuant to the PepGen Inc. 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan	Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h)	1,630,983 (2)	$1.27 (5)	$2,071,348.41	$0.00015310	$317.13
Equity	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share reserved for issuance pursuant to the PepGen Inc. 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h)	326,196 (3)	$1.08 (6)	$352,128.58	$0.00015310	$53.92
Equity	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share reserved for issuance pursuant to the PepGen Inc. 2024 Inducement Plan	Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h)	1,000,000 (4)	$1.27 (5)	$1,270,000	$0.00015310	$194.44
Total Offering Amounts					$3,693,476.99		$565.49
Total Fees Previously Paid							—
Total Fee Offsets							—
Net Fee Due							$565.49

 

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(1)		Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), which become issuable under the 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”), 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2022 ESPP”) and the 2024 Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement shall also cover an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
(2)		Represents an automatic increase of 1,630,983 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 Plan, effective January 1, 2025. Shares available for issuance under the 2022 Plan were previously registered on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2022 (File No. 333-264822), March 23, 2023 (File No. 333-270790) and March 6, 2024 (File No. 333-277708).
(3)		Represents an automatic increase of 326,196 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 ESPP, effective January 1, 2025. Shares available for issuance under the 2022 ESPP were previously registered on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2022 (File No. 333-264822) and March 6, 2024 (File No. 333-277708).
(4)		Represents 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Inducement Plan.
(5)		Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the Securities Act. The price per share and aggregate offering price are calculated based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC on February 14, 2025, in accordance with Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act.
(6)		Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the Securities Act. The price per share and aggregate offering price are calculated based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC on February 14, 2025, in accordance with Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act. Under the 2022 ESPP, the purchase price of a share of Common Stock is equal to 85% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the offering date or the exercise date, whichever is less.

 

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