Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-220769

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated October 2, 2017)

 

9,333,334 Shares

 

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering 9,333,334 shares of our common stock.

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “OCX.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on February 8, 2019 was $4.00 per share.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to purchase our common stock.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

		Per Share				Total
Public offering price		$	3.75000			$	35,000,002
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1)		$	0.25688			$	2,397,500
Proceeds, before expenses, to us		$	3.49312			$	32,602,502

 

 

(1)

See “Underwriting” beginning on page S-20 of this prospectus supplement for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

 

We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 1,400,000 shares of common stock at the public offering price.

 

The underwriter expects to deliver the shares of common stock on or about February 12, 2019.

 

Sole Book-Running Manager

 

Piper Jaffray

 

Co-Manager

 

Janney Montgomery Scott

 

Prospectus Supplement dated February 8, 2019

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT	S-1
MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA	S-1
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY	S-2
THE OFFERING	S-5
RISK FACTORS	S-6
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	S-14
USE OF PROCEEDS	S-15
DIVIDEND POLICY	S-15
DILUTION	S-15
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING	S-16
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS	S- 17
UNDERWRITING	S-20
LEGAL MATTERS	S-26
EXPERTS	S-26
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	S-26
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE	S-26

 

 

Prospectus	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
SUMMARY	2
RISK FACTORS	4
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	5
USE OF PROCEEDS	6
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS	6
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER	7
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK	7
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	9
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	15
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	17
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	18
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	22
LEGAL MATTERS	24
EXPERTS	24
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE	24
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	25

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, provides more general information. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, all information incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the additional information described under “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page S-26 of this prospectus supplement. These documents contain information you should consider when making your investment decision. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein filed prior to the date of this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document filed after the date of this prospectus supplement and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and in any free writing prospectuses we may provide to you in connection with this offering. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with any information that is different. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus supplement outside the United States. This prospectus supplement does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

 

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference herein or in the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

 

MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA

 

This prospectus contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business and the markets for our products, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets and their projected growth rates, as well as market research, estimates and forecasts prepared by our management. We obtained the industry, market and other data throughout this prospectus from our own internal estimates and research, as well as from publicly available information, industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third-parties, including governmental agencies.

 

Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. We believe that these sources and estimates are reliable but have not independently verified them and cannot guarantee their accuracy or completeness. We caution you not to give undue weight to such projections, assumptions and estimates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty. You should carefully consider these risk factors, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as modified and superseded, before you decide to invest in our securities. The occurrence of any of the following risks could harm our business. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our operations. You should also refer to the other information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our financial statements and the notes to those statements and the information set forth in the section entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Risks Related to our Business Operations

 

We have limited capital, marketing, and sales resources and no distribution resources for the commercialization of DetermaVu™.

 

If we are successful in completing the remaining steps of Analytical Validation, CLIA Validation, and Clinical Validation for DetermaVu™, we will need to build our own marketing and sales capability, which will require the investment of significant financial and management resources to recruit, train, and manage a sales force and build-out a health care regulatory compliance program. In the alternative, due to our limited capital resources, we may need to enter into marketing arrangements with other diagnostic companies for DetermaVu™. Under such marketing arrangements we may license marketing rights to one or more other companies or to one or more joint venture companies formed to market DetermaVu™, and we might receive only a royalty on sales of DetermaVu™ or an equity interest in a joint venture company. As a result, our revenues from the sale of DetermaVu™ may be substantially less than the amount of revenues and gross profits that we might receive if we were to market DetermaVu™ ourselves.

 

We may experience delays in conducting the additional validation studies necessary for the commercialization of DetermaVu™, or we may encounter unanticipated results or findings.

 

Having concluded our R&D validation study, our next step prior to commercialization of DetermaVu™ will be to conduct an analytical validation study, and, assuming successful completion, a CLIA validation and clinical validation study thereafter. Clinical validation is the final step prior to commercial launch of a laboratory-developed test, or LDT, and we are targeting completion of a clinical validation during the second half of 2019. If these studies are completed successfully, we plan to commercialize or to arrange for the commercialization of the test as a laboratory-developed test to be run solely in our clinical laboratory in Alameda, CA. Until we perform these studies, we will not know whether we can successfully complete the development of DetermaVu™. We have limited experience conducting analytical and clinical validation and have not yet performed a clinical utility demonstration in our lab. We may not be able to successfully complete this testing for DetermaVu™ or any other test we may develop. While we plan to make DetermaVu^TM commercially available in the second half of 2019, there can be no assurance that there will be no delays in the successful completion of the clinical validation study and commercialization of DetermaVu™, due to any number factors some of which may not be within our control. Any delays in the successful completion of the additional validation studies for DetermaVu™ could cause us to incur significant additional costs and delay the completion of development and commercial launch of DetermaVu™. We may encounter unanticipated results or finding in the studies subsequent to our R&D validation study; our earlier test results may not be predictive of future test results with DetermaVu™ or any other future candidate tests. We have performed only limited R&D work for any other test or for any other intended patient population outside of lung cancer, and we have conducted no R&D work outside of cancer. Our immune system interrogation approach and technology may not ultimately have application in any other population, and we may be unable to identify any future candidates and tests for any other cancer or any other disease population.

 

Our testing of DetermaVu™ is conducted in a single, CLIA-certified laboratory. Our operations as a clinical laboratory are subject to oversight by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, or CLIA, as well as certain state agencies, and any failure to maintain our CLIA or applicable state permits and licenses may affect our ability to commercialize DetermaVu^TM.

 

We are subject to CLIA, a federal law regulating clinical laboratories that perform testing on specimens derived from humans for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of disease. Our clinical laboratory must be certified under CLIA in order for us to perform testing on human specimens. CLIA is intended to ensure the quality and reliability of clinical laboratories in the United States by mandating specific standards in the areas of personnel qualifications, administration, and participation in proficiency testing, patient test management, quality control, quality assurance and inspections. We have a current certificate under CLIA to perform routine chemistry. To renew this certificate, we are subject to survey and inspection every two years. Moreover, CLIA inspectors may make periodic inspections of our clinical laboratory outside of the renewal process.

 

 

In addition, our proprietary test must also be recognized as part of our accredited programs under CLIA so that we can offer it in our laboratory. A laboratory that is certified as “high complexity” under CLIA, may develop, manufacture, validate and use proprietary tests referred to as LDTs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, defines LDTs as an in vitro diagnostic test that is designed, manufactured and used within a single laboratory, or a laboratory with a single CLIA certificate. CLIA requires that a laboratory establish certain performance characteristics relating to analytical validity, including accuracy, precision, analytical specificity, analytical sensitivity and establishment of a reference range, for any LDT that has not received FDA clearance or approval prior to release of any test results from such LDT. The laboratory’s analytical validation of such LDT is reviewed during its routine biennial survey. The CLIA program does not address the clinical validity of any test. The regulatory and compliance standards applicable to such testing may change over time and any such changes could have a material adverse effect on our business. The CLIA regulations would apply to the use of DetermaVu™ in our clinical laboratory.

 

The law also requires us to maintain a state laboratory license to conduct testing in that state. Our laboratory is located in California and must maintain a California state license. California laws establish standards for day-to-day operation of our clinical laboratory, including the training and skills required of personnel and quality control. In addition, several other states require that we hold licenses to test specimens from patients in those states. For example, Maryland is just one of several states that require out-of-state laboratories to have a state laboratory license to perform diagnostic tests on samples originating from Maryland residents. Other states may have similar requirements or may adopt similar requirements in the future. Additionally, both New York and Washington State are exempt from CLIA and have their own stricter clinical laboratory regulatory programs. We could be required to comply with those states’ programs in the event we accept specimens from New York or Washington. We do not have immediate plans to market our tests for commercial use in the European Union and as a result, at this time we do not believe we are subject to EU or EU member state post-market regulations related to our tests.

 

If we were to lose our CLIA certification or California laboratory license, whether as a result of a revocation, suspension or limitation, we would no longer be able to offer our tests, which would limit our revenue and harm our business. If we were to lose our license in other states where we are required to hold licenses, we would not be able to test specimens from those states. If we perform testing on samples originating in a state where we require a license, but do not currently have one, we could be subject to fines, sanctions, and may be denied permits or licenses in the future.

 

If our laboratory facilities become damaged or inoperable, or we are required to vacate any facility, our ability to provide services and pursue our research and development and commercialization efforts may be jeopardized.

 

We do not have any clinical laboratory facilities outside of our facility in Alameda, California. Our facility and equipment could be harmed or rendered inoperable by natural or man-made disasters, including fire, flooding and power outages, which may render it difficult or impossible for us to perform our tests or provide laboratory services for some period of time. The inability to perform our tests or the backlog of tests that could develop if any of our facilities is inoperable for even a short period of time may result in the loss of customers or harm to our reputation or relationships with key researchers, collaborators, and customers, and we may be unable to regain those customers or repair our reputation in the future. Furthermore, our facilities and the equipment we use to perform our research and development work could be costly and time-consuming to repair or replace.

 

Additionally, a key component of our research and development process involves using biological samples and the resulting data sets and medical histories, as the basis for our diagnostic test development. In some cases, these samples are difficult to obtain. If the parts of our laboratory facilities where we store these biological samples are damaged or compromised, our ability to pursue our research and development projects, commercialization of DetermaVu™, as well as our reputation, could be jeopardized. We carry insurance for damage to our property and the disruption of our business, but this insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our potential losses and may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.

 

Further, if our laboratory becomes inoperable we may not be able to license or transfer our proprietary technology to a third-party, with established state licensure and CLIA certification under the scope of which our diagnostic tests could be performed following validation and other required procedures, to perform the tests. Even if we find a third-party with such qualifications to perform our tests, such party may not be willing to perform the tests for us on commercially reasonable terms. Moreover, we believe our test is currently subject to enforcement discretion by the FDA because we believe the test currently qualifies as an LDT. If, however, we are required to find a third-party laboratory to conduct our testing services, we believe this would change our status and the FDA would consider such test offered through a third-party to then be a medical device subject to active FDA regulation and enforcement. In that case, we may be required to obtain premarket clearance or approval prior to offering our tests, which would be time-consuming and costly and could result in delays in our ability to sell or offer our tests.

 

 

If the FDA takes the position that DetermaVu™ is not within the scope of its policy on enforcement discretion for laboratory-developed tests, or otherwise determines that it will seek to actively regulate DetermaVu™, responding to such a regulatory position could lead to delays in commercialization, or (if encountered after commercialization) requirements to halt the commercial provision of our test until FDA marketing authorization is obtained, or enforcement action from the FDA.

 

Although we believe we are within the scope of the FDA’s policy on enforcement discretion for laboratory-developed tests , the initial commercialization and continued commercial availability of an LDT is subject to uncertainty given the FDA’s latitude in interpreting and applying its laws and policies. For example, although the FDA has historically exercised enforcement discretion over most LDTs, it does not consider tests to be subject to this enforcement discretion if they were or are designed or manufactured completely, or partly, outside of the laboratory that offers and uses them, or if they are offered “over-the-counter” (as opposed to being available to patients only when prescribed by a health care provider). Even for tests that appear to fall within FDA’s previously stated policy on enforcement discretion, the FDA may decide to regulate certain LDTs on a case-by-case basis at any time.

 

In December 2018 the FDA Commissioner and the Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) expressed significant concerns regarding disparities between some LDTs and in vitro diagnostics that have been reviewed and cleared or approved by FDA. If the FDA were to determine that our tests are not within the policy for LDTs for any reason, including new rules, policies, or guidance, or due to changes in statute, our tests may become subject to FDA requirements, including pre-market review. If required, the regulatory marketing authorization process may involve, among other things, successfully completing additional clinical trials and submitting a pre-market clearance (510(k)) submission or filing a de novo or pre-market approval application with the FDA. If pre-market review and approval is required by the FDA, we may need to incur additional expenses or require additional time to seek it, or we may be unable to satisfy FDA standards, and our tests may not be cleared or approved on a timely basis, if at all, and the labeling claims permitted by the FDA may not be consistent with our currently planned claims or adequate to support adoption of and reimbursement for our tests. Ongoing compliance with FDA regulations would increase the cost of conducting our business, and subject us to inspection by and the regulatory requirements of the FDA, for example registration and listing, adherence to good manufacturing practices under the Quality System Regulation, and medical device reporting, and enforcement action in the event we fail to comply with these requirements. Our laboratory is operating under CLIA and is not currently operating as a device manufacturing facility following FDA’s Quality System Regulation. Because these standards differ, we may face challenges establishing FDA-compliant quality systems or be unable to do so. If after commercialization under the LDT framework our tests are allowed to remain on the market but there is uncertainty about the regulatory status of our tests, including questions that may be raised if competitors object to our regulatory positioning as an LDT, we may encounter ongoing regulatory and legal challenges and related costs. Such challenges or related developments (for example if the labeling claims the FDA allows us to make are more limited than the claims we currently plan to make) may impact our commercialization efforts as orders or reimbursement may be less than anticipated. Any of these regulatory developments may cause our business to suffer.

 

If we are successful in commercializing DetermaVu^TM, we will be obligated to comply with numerous additional federal and state statutes and regulations pertaining to our business, and be subject to government oversight and scrutiny for our compliance with such laws. Laboratory and health care regulatory compliance efforts are expensive and time-consuming, and failure to maintain compliance with applicable laws could result in enforcement action which could be detrimental to our business.

 

If we are successful in commercializing DetermaVu^TM and particularly if payment becomes available from government or commercial payers for DetermaVu^TM we will be subject to extensive and frequently changing federal and state laws governing various aspects of our business. We will be subject to ongoing compliance with laws addressing our laboratory licensure and certification at the federal and state level; advertising and promotion (including laws enforced by the Federal Trade Commission); and laws intended to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in healthcare programs (including among others the Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA), the Stark Law, and applicable state law equivalents).

 

These laws and regulations are complex and are subject to interpretation by the courts and by government agencies. If one or more such agencies alleges that we may be in violation of any of these requirements, regardless of the outcome, it could damage our reputation and adversely affect important business relationships with third parties. Any action brought against us for violation of these or other laws or regulations, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws and regulations, we may be subject to any applicable penalty associated with the violation, including civil and criminal penalties, damages and fines, and in some circumstances we could be required to refund payments received by us from payers, or even be excluded from participation in healthcare programs. Any of the foregoing consequences could seriously harm our business and our financial results.

 

 

We plan to adopt policies and procedures designed to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Developing a compliance infrastructure is costly and time-consuming, and even a well-designed and implemented compliance program cannot necessarily prevent all violations of relevant laws. We may be subject to enforcement action based on the actions or omissions of employees or contractors, including our anticipated sales force.

 

The commercial success of DetermaVu^TM depends on the availability and sufficiency of third-party payer coverage and reimbursement, which may be limited or unavailable.

 

Our ability to successfully commercialize DetermaVu^TM will depend, in significant part, on the extent to which appropriate reimbursement levels can be obtained for patients. Physicians will be hesitant to order a diagnostic test for a patient where they may be left with a large out-of-pocket fee through co-payments or co-insurance or unreimbursed balances. Third-party payers, including Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers, are increasingly challenging the prices charged for healthcare products and services. In addition, legislative proposals to reform health care or reduce government insurance programs may result in lower prices or the actual inability of prospective customers to purchase DetermaVu^TM. Furthermore, even if reimbursement is available, it may not be available at price levels sufficient for us to realize a positive return on our investment. We have never successfully obtained reimbursement for any test and may never be able to obtain reimbursement from any third-party payer; without such coverage and reimbursement, we may not achieve market acceptance of our test and may never be profitable.

 

The United States government and state legislatures have shown significant interest in implementing cost containment programs to limit the growth of government-paid healthcare costs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and coverage. Adoption of government controls and measures, and tightening of restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could exclude or limit DetermaVu^TM from coverage. Even if DetermaVu^TM receives coverage and reimbursement from third-party payers, such coverage policies and reimbursement rates may change at any time, might not be adequate, or less favorable coverage polices and reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future. If we are unable to obtain and maintain sufficient third-party coverage and adequate reimbursement for DetermaVu^TM, its commercial success may be greatly hindered and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

We may need to conduct additional studies in order to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of DetermaVu^TM to the satisfaction of our target customers and their third-party payers. Such studies might require us to commit a significant amount of management time and financial and other resources.

 

We may from time to time be involved in or subject to legal proceedings, and unfavorable outcomes of such legal proceedings may adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

We may from time to time be involved in, subject to, or threatened with legal proceedings related to, or incidental to the conduct of, our business. Such legal proceedings can be complex, costly, and disruptive to business operations by diverting the attention and energies of management and other key personnel. For example, after the public announcement of this offering, we received a letter from Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, or Chardan, claiming entitlement to certain fees pursuant to an engagement letter unrelated to this offering. We believe Chardan’s claims are without merit and intend to vigorously defend against any claims that may be brought by Chardan. However, we are unable to predict the outcome of this matter, or its effect on us or our financial position. The assessment of the outcome of any legal proceeding, including our potential liability, if any, is a highly subjective process that requires judgments about future events that are not within our control. In addition, defense and settlement costs for any legal proceeding can be substantial, even with respect to claims that have no merit.

  

Risks Related to our Intellectual Property

 

We rely on patents and trade secrets, and our financial success will be dependent, in part, on our ability to obtain commercially valuable patent claims, protect our intellectual property rights and operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others.

 

We rely primarily on patents and contractual obligations with employees and third parties to protect our proprietary rights. We have sought, and intend to continue to seek, appropriate patent protection for important and strategic components of our proprietary technologies by filing patent applications in the United States and certain foreign countries. We may also use license agreements both to access technologies developed by other companies and universities and to convey certain intellectual property rights to others. Our financial success will be dependent, in part, on our ability to obtain commercially valuable patent claims, protect our intellectual property rights and operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others.

 

With regard to our DetermaVu™, we exclusively license from Wistar two patent families with claims directed to compositions of matter and methods useful for detection of lung cancer using specific biomarkers or a panel of specific biomarkers. The first patent family has patent applications pending in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, including Australia, Canada, China, India, and Japan, where, if issued, such patents would expire in 2036. The second patent family has patent applications pending in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, including Australia, Canada, China, India, and Japan, where, if issued, such patents would expire in 2037.

 

In addition to relying on patents, we rely on trade secrets, know-how, and continuing technological advancement to maintain our competitive position. We have entered into intellectual property, invention, and non-disclosure agreements with our employees, and it is our practice to enter into confidentiality agreements with our consultants. These measures may not prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our trade secrets and know-how, and others may independently develop similar trade secrets and know-how or obtain access to our trade secrets, know-how, or proprietary technology.

 

 

We may not be able to obtain patent protection for our diagnostic test if our pending U.S. patent applications are found to be directed to unpatentable subject matter.

 

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on several patent cases in recent years, either narrowing the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances or weakening the rights of patent owners in certain situations. For example, recent cases have held that diagnostic methods merely reciting a correlation between a naturally occurring event and a diagnostic outcome associated with that event is not patentable subject matter. If our pending U.S. patent applications are found to be directed to unpatentable subject matter by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, or any patents issuing from our pending patent applications are invalidated based on these decisions, we may be unable to prevent competitors from developing similar diagnostic tests. Additionally, there have been recent proposals for additional changes to the patent laws of the United States and other countries that, if adopted, could impact our ability to enforce our proprietary technology. Depending on future actions by the U.S. Congress, U.S. courts, the USPTO and the relevant law-making bodies in other countries, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing patents and patents that we might obtain in the future.

 

Changes to the patent laws in the United States and other jurisdictions could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our diagnostic test.

 

Our success is heavily dependent on intellectual property, particularly patents. Obtaining and enforcing patents in the biopharmaceutical industry involves both technological and legal complexity and is costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain. Patent reform legislation in the United States and other countries, including the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy-Smith Act, signed into law in September 2011, could increase those uncertainties and costs. The Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art and provide more efficient and cost-effective avenues for competitors to challenge the validity of patents. In addition, the Leahy-Smith Act has transformed the U.S. patent system into a “first to file” system. The first-to-file provisions, however, only became effective in March 2013. Accordingly, it is not yet clear what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our business. However, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could make it more difficult to obtain patent protection for our inventions and increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our or our collaboration partners’ patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our or our collaboration partners’ issued patents, all of which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Other companies or organizations may challenge our patent rights or may assert patent rights that prevent us from developing and commercializing our diagnostic test.

 

Any patent applications that we file and any patents that we hold or later obtain could be challenged by third parties and declared invalid or infringing of third party claims. A patent interference proceeding may be instituted with the USPTO when more than one person files a patent application covering the same technology, or if someone wishes to challenge the validity of an issued patent filed before March 16, 2013. At the completion of the interference proceeding, the USPTO will determine which competing applicant is entitled to the patent, or whether an issued patent is valid. Patent interference proceedings are complex, highly contested legal proceedings, and the USPTO’s decision is subject to appeal. This means that if an interference proceeding arises with respect to any of our patent applications, we may experience significant expenses and delay in obtaining a patent, and if the outcome of the proceeding is unfavorable to us, the patent could be issued to a competitor rather than to us. In addition to interference proceedings, the USPTO can reexamine issued patents at the request of a third party seeking to have the patent invalidated. An inter partes review proceeding allows third parties to challenge the validity of an issued patent where there is a reasonable likelihood of invalidity. This means that patents owned or licensed by us may be subject to re-examination and may be lost if the outcome of the re-examination is unfavorable to us.

 

Post Grant Review under the Leahy-Smith Act makes available opposition-like proceedings in the United States. As with the USPTO interference proceedings, Post Grant Review proceedings will be very expensive to contest and can result in significant delays in obtaining patent protection or can result in a denial of a patent application. Further, a derivation proceeding may be instituted by the USPTO or an inventor alleging that a patent or application was derived from the work of another inventor.

 

Oppositions to the issuance of patents may be filed under European patent law and the patent laws of certain other countries. As with the USPTO interference proceedings, these foreign proceedings can be very expensive to contest and can result in significant delays in obtaining a patent or can result in a denial of a patent application.

 

 

The enforcement of patent rights often requires litigation against third party infringers, and such litigation can be costly to pursue. Even if we succeed in having new patents issued or in defending any challenge to issued patents, our patents may not be comprehensive enough to provide us with meaningful patent protection against our competitors.

 

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, the value of our technology could be materially adversely affected and our business would be harmed.

 

In addition to patents, we rely on trade secrets, know-how, and continuing technological advancement to maintain our competitive position. The molecular diagnostics that we are developing use gene expression classifiers or algorithms, which are mathematical models that weight the biomarkers to produce a score. We will treat the mathematical models as trade secrets. We have entered into intellectual property, invention, and non-disclosure agreements with our employees, and it is our practice to enter into confidentiality agreements with our consultants. These measures, however, may not prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our trade secrets and know-how, or that others may not independently develop similar trade secrets and know-how or obtain access to our trade secrets, know-how, or proprietary technology.

 

We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or other intellectual property, which could be expensive, time-consuming and unsuccessful.

 

Competitors may infringe our patents, trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file infringement claims, which can be expensive and time-consuming and divert the time and attention of our management and scientific personnel. Any claims we assert against perceived infringers could provoke these parties to assert counterclaims against us alleging that we infringe their patents, in addition to counterclaims asserting that our patents are invalid or unenforceable, or both. In any patent infringement proceeding, a court may decide that a patent of ours is invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and that we do not have the right to stop the other party from using the invention at issue. Even if the validity of such patents is upheld, the court may construe the patent’s claims narrowly or decide that we do not have the right to stop the other party from using the invention at issue on the grounds that our patent claims do not cover the invention. An adverse outcome in a litigation or proceeding involving our patents could limit our ability to assert our patents against those parties or other competitors, and may curtail or preclude our ability to exclude third parties from making and selling similar or competitive products. Any of these occurrences could adversely affect our competitive business position, business prospects and financial condition. Similarly, if we assert trademark infringement claims, a court may determine that the marks we have asserted are invalid or unenforceable, or that the party against whom we have asserted trademark infringement has superior rights to the marks in question, in which case, we could ultimately be forced to cease use of such trademarks.

 

Even if we establish infringement, the court may decide not to grant an injunction against further infringing activity and instead award only monetary damages, which may or may not be an adequate remedy. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during litigation. There could also be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the price of shares of our common stock. Moreover, we may not have sufficient financial or other resources to file and pursue such infringement claims, which typically last for years before they are concluded. Even if we ultimately prevail in such claims, the monetary cost of such litigation and the diversion of the attention of our management and scientific personnel could outweigh any benefit we receive as a result of the proceedings.

 

We may not be able to enforce our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

 

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents, if issued, on our diagnostic test candidate in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive. The requirements for patentability may differ in certain countries, particularly in developing countries. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we may obtain patent protection, but where patent enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our diagnostic test in jurisdictions where we do not have any issued or licensed patents or where any future patent claims or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing with us.

 

 

Moreover, our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights may be adversely affected by unforeseen changes in foreign intellectual property laws. Additionally, laws of some countries outside of the United States and Europe do not afford intellectual property protection to the same extent as the laws of the United States and Europe. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of some countries, including India, China and certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property rights. This could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or the misappropriation of our other intellectual property rights. For example, many foreign countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner must grant licenses to third parties. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in certain countries outside the United States and Europe. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, if our ability to enforce our patents to stop infringing activities is inadequate. These products may compete with our diagnostic test, and our patents, if issued, or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

 

Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions, whether or not successful, could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and resources from other aspects of our business. Furthermore, while we intend to protect our intellectual property rights in major markets for our diagnostic test, we cannot ensure that we will be able to initiate or maintain similar efforts in all jurisdictions in which we may wish to market our diagnostic test. Accordingly, our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights in such countries may be inadequate.

 

If we are sued for infringing intellectual property rights of third parties, such litigation could be costly and time consuming and could prevent or delay us from developing or commercializing our diagnostic test.

 

There is a substantial amount of intellectual property litigation in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and we may become party to, or threatened with, litigation or other adversarial proceedings regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our current or future diagnostic test, including interference proceedings before the USPTO, misappropriation claims, or other allegations. The outcome of intellectual property litigation is subject to uncertainties that cannot be adequately quantified in advance. For example, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries have produced a significant number of patents, and it may not always be clear to industry participants, including us, which patents cover various types of products or methods of use. The coverage of patents is subject to interpretation by the courts, and the interpretation is not always uniform. If we were sued for patent infringement, we would need to demonstrate that our diagnostic test or methods either do not infringe the patent claims of the relevant patent or that the patent claims are invalid or unenforceable, and we may not be able to do this. Proving invalidity is difficult. For example, in the United States, proving invalidity requires a showing of clear and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption of validity enjoyed by issued patents.

 

In addition, several of our employees have executed proprietary rights, non-disclosure and non-competition agreements, or similar agreements with their previous employers, who may allege these employees have used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information. Even if we are successful in these proceedings, we may incur substantial costs, and the time and attention of our management and scientific personnel could be diverted in pursuing these proceedings, which could significantly harm our business and operating results. We may also not have sufficient resources to bring these actions to a successful conclusion.

 

If we are found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, we may have to pay monetary damages, lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel, or be forced to cease developing, manufacturing or commercializing the infringing diagnostic test. Alternatively, we may be required to obtain a license from such third party in order to use the infringing technology and continue developing, manufacturing or marketing the infringing diagnostic test. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees if we are found to have willfully infringed a patent. A finding of infringement could prevent us from commercializing our diagnostic test or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could materially harm our business. Claims that we have misappropriated the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties could have a similar negative impact on our business.

 

Patent terms may be inadequate to protect our competitive position on our diagnostic test for an adequate amount of time.

 

Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new diagnostic tests, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. We expect to seek extensions of patent terms in the United States and, if available, in other countries where we are prosecuting patents. In the United States, the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 permits a patent term extension of up to five years beyond the normal expiration of the patent, which is limited to the approved indication or any additional indications approved during the period of extension. However, the applicable authorities, including the FDA and the USPTO in the United States, and any equivalent regulatory authorities in other countries, may not agree with our assessment of whether such extensions are available, and may refuse to grant extensions to our patents, or may grant more limited extensions than we request. If this occurs, our competitors may be able to take advantage of our investment in development and clinical trials by referencing our clinical and preclinical data and launch their product earlier than might otherwise be the case.

 

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

Because our management will have broad discretion and flexibility in how the net proceeds from this offering are used, our management may use the net proceeds in ways with which you disagree or which may not prove effective.

 

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to support DetermaVu™ commercialization efforts and additional clinical studies to support reimbursement and adoption, to initiate future product development, and for general corporate and working capital purposes. We have not allocated specific amounts of the net proceeds from this offering for any of the foregoing purposes. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion and flexibility in applying the net proceeds of this offering. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for our company.

 

There may be future sales or other dilution of our equity, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

We are generally not restricted from issuing additional common stock, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock. We may, in the future, seek additional capital through a combination of public and private offerings of common stock, or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent a right to receive, common stock. We may also participate in debt financings. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of common stock, or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent a right to receive, common stock, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected. The incurrence of indebtedness, if obtained, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and could involve restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. Moreover, we will issue additional shares of our common stock upon the exercise of currently outstanding options warrants. Such issuances may involve a significant number of our common shares at prices less than the offering price in this offering.

 

Holders of a substantial number of shares of our common stock are entitled to rights, subject to certain restrictions, to require us to register such common stock upon the occurrence of certain events. If such rights are exercised, the presence of those additional shares of common stock trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

 

You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of the common stock you purchase.

 

Because the purchase price per share of common stock in this offering is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding prior to this offering, investors in this offering will suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of common stock. Based on the public offering price of $3.75 per share in this offering, if you purchase securities in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of approximately $2.96 per share in net tangible book value of our common stock. See “Dilution” for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur in connection with this offering.

 

Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be your sole source of gain.

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, but for reinvestment in our business. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent upon the repayment of loans under an existing credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors as our board of directors deems relevant. See “Dividend Policy.” As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the SEC filings that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, including but not limited to those regarding our strategy, plans, objectives, expectations, prospects, future operations, capital resources, financial position, projected costs of and progress with development of our diagnostic test, regulatory requirements and approvals, commercialization of our diagnostic test, collaborations, competition, market exclusivity, intellectual property, and compliance with NYSE American LLC, or NYSE American, listing standards are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “potential,” “likely,” “projects,” “continue,” “will,” and “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements. These important factors include those set forth herein under “Risk Factors.” These factors and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein should be read as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements whenever they appear in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Except as required by law, we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We expect to receive net proceed proceeds from this offering of approximately $32.1 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions of $2.4 million and the expenses of this offering payable by us (estimated to be $0.5 million). If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock in full, the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $37.0 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions of $2.8 million and the expenses of the offering payable by us.

 

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (including met proceeds from the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our common stock) to support DetermaVu™ commercialization efforts and additional clinical studies to support reimbursement and adoption, to initiate future product development, and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

 

Except as noted above, we have not determined the amounts we plan to spend on any of the areas listed above or the timing of such expenditures. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds from this offering. Pending the application of the net proceeds as described above, we expect to invest the net proceeds from this offering in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment grade, and interest-bearing instruments.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future, but intend to retain our capital resources for reinvestment in our business. Under an existing credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, we have agreed not to pay dividends or to make any distributions or to redeem to repurchase any capital stock without Silicon Valley Bank’s prior written consent. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent upon the repayment of the loans from Silicon Valley Bank, our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the offering price per share you will pay in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.

 

Our net tangible book value as of September 30, 2018 was approximately $7.5 million, or $0.19 per share. Our net tangible book value is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities. Net tangible book value per share represents net tangible book value divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2018.

 

After giving effect to the issuance and sale of 9,333,334 shares of common stock in this offering at the public offering price of $3.75 per share, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, the as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2018 would have been approximately $39.6 million, or $0.79 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $0.60 per share to our existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in as-adjusted net tangible book value of approximately $2.96 per share to purchasers of our securities in this offering. We determine dilution per share to investors participating in this offering by subtracting as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the assumed public offering price per share paid by investors participating in this offering.

 

The following table illustrates this dilution (without giving effect to any exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock in this offering):

 

Public offering price per share						$	3.75
Net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2018		$	0.19
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering			0.60
As adjusted net tangible book value per share as at September 30, 2018, after giving effect to this offering							0.79
Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering						$	2.96

 

 

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock in full, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, the as adjusted net tangible book value would be approximately $0.87 per share, representing an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value per share of $0.68 per share to existing shareholders, and an immediate dilution of $2.88 per share to investors participating in this offering.

 

The above discussion and table are based on 40,664,496 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and excludes:

 

	●	4,035,339 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2018, with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.70 per share;
	●	4,540,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding under our 2010 Stock Option Plan as of September 30, 2018 with a weighted-average exercise price of $2.94 per share, of which options to acquire 575,000 shares of our common stock have been exercised for net proceeds to us of $942,500 subsequent to September 30, 2018;
	●	230,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan as of September 30, 2018 with a weighted-average exercise price of $2.40 per share; and
	●	4,770,000 shares of our common stock available for future grants under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan as of September 30, 2018.

 

To the extent that any outstanding options or warrants are exercised, new options, restricted stock or restricted stock units are issued under our equity incentive plan, shares of common stock are sold under our employee stock purchase plan or we otherwise issue additional shares of common stock or other equity or convertible debt securities in the future, you will experience further dilution.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

 

We are offering shares of our common stock.

 

DESCRIPTION OF OUR Capital STOCK

 

On August 27, 2018, our shareholders approved an amendment to our articles of incorporation to increase the number of shares of common stock we are authorized to issue from 50,000,000 to 85,000,000. All other material terms and provisions of our common stock are described in the section titled “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock – Common Stock” in the accompanying prospectus. No changes were made to our authorized preferred stock.  As of January 31, 2019, we had 41,239,496 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.  As of January 31, 2019, we had 5,000,000 shares of our preferred stock authorized, of which no shares were issued and outstanding.

 

Securities Exchange Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “OCX.”

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

 

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

 

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and taxable disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed herein. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, in each case, in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock.

 

This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

	●	U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;
	●	persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;
	●	persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;
	●	banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;
	●	brokers, dealers or traders in securities;
	●	“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
	●	partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);
	●	tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;
	●	persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
	●	persons who hold or receive our common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; and
	●	tax-qualified retirement plans.

 

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

 

THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND TAXABLE DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

 

 

Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder

 

For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

	●	an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
	●	a corporation (or other entity treated as such) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
	●	an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
	●	a trust that (i) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (ii) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Distributions

 

As discussed under “Dividend Policy” above, we do not anticipate declaring or paying dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we make distributions of cash or property on our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “–Sale or Other Taxable Disposition.”

 

Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

 

If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

 

Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

 

A Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:

 

	●	the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);
	●	the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or
	●	our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest, or USRPI, by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation, or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

 

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.

 

Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

 

With respect to the third bullet point above, we do not believe we are currently, and do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. However, there can be no assurance that we currently are not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.

 

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Payments of dividends on our common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a United States person and the holder either certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any dividends on our common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting, if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

 

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

 

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on our common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (i) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

 

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our common stock.

 

 

UNDERWRITING

 

Piper Jaffray & Co. is acting as the sole bookrunner for this offering. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a purchase agreement between us and Piper Jaffray, as the representative of the several underwriters named therein, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters have agreed to purchase from us, the number of shares of our common stock set forth opposite its name below.

Underwriters		Number of Shares
Piper Jaffray & Co.			8,400,001
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC			933,333
Total			9,333,334

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the purchase agreement, the underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the shares sold under the purchase agreement if any of these shares are purchased.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to losses or claims resulting from material misstatements in or omissions from this prospectus supplement, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, certain free writing prospectuses that may be used in the offering and in any marketing materials used in connection with this offering and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

 

The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares, and other conditions contained in the purchase agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

 

Commissions and Discounts

 

The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $0.15413 per share. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of this offering may be changed.

 

We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 1,400,000 additional shares of our common stock at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of its option to purchase additional shares.

 

						Total
		Per Share				Without Option				With Option
Public offering price		$	3.75000			$	35,000,002			$	40,250,002
Underwriting discounts and commissions paid by us		$	0.25688			$	2,397,500			$	2,757,125
Proceeds to us, before expenses		$	3.49312			$	32,602,502			$	37,492,877

 

The estimated offering expenses payable by us, exclusive of the underwriting discounts and commissions, are approximately $0.5 million, including $75,000 we have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses.

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the trading symbol “OCX.”

 

 

No Sales of Similar Securities

 

We and each of our directors, executive officers and our largest shareholder, BioTime, Inc., have agreed that we and they will not, without the prior written consent of Piper Jaffray, subject to certain limited exceptions, directly or indirectly:

 

	●	offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive our common stock (including without limitation, common stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the holder in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) whether now owned or hereafter acquired;
	●	enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the holder’s securities;
	●	subject to certain exceptions, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock in each case that would require us to file a registration statement within the next 90 days of the date of the lock-up agreement; or
	●	publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing,

 

for a period of 90 days, respectively, after the public offering date set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. However, these restrictions will not apply to transfers of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for our common stock: (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts made by the holder, (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the holder or the immediate family of the holder, (iii) if the holder is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity (a) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the holder or (b) in distributions of shares of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for our common stock to limited partners, limited liability company members or stockholders of the holder, (iv) if the holder is a trust, to the beneficiary of such trust, or (v) by testate succession or intestate succession; provided, that (a) such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (b) the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the 90-day restricted period for subsequent transfers, and (c) no filing by any holder under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, is required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer during the 90-day restricted period.

 

In addition the restrictions will also not apply to (i) the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to our equity incentive plans, provided that they shall apply to any securities issued upon such exercise and (ii) the establishment of any contract, instruction or plan that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act; provided, that no sales of the holder’s securities shall be made pursuant to such a plan prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, and such a plan may only be established if no public announcement of the establishment or existence thereof, and no filing with the SEC or other regulatory authority in respect thereof or transactions thereunder or contemplated thereby, is required or made voluntarily by the holder, us or any other person during the 90-day restricted period.

 

During the 90-day restricted period, we may issue securities to our directors, officers, employees and consultants pursuant to our equity benefit plans.

 

Piper Jaffray may, in its sole discretion and at any time or from time to time before the termination of the applicable restricted period, release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements. There are no existing agreements between the underwriters and any of our shareholders who will execute a lock-up agreement providing consent to the sale of shares prior to the expiration of the applicable restricted period.

 

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

 

Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit the underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing shares of our common stock. However, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of our common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

 

 

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in this offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option to purchase additional shares. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of the option to purchase additional shares. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of our common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the closing of this offering.

 

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchase to cover its short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on NYSE American, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

 

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distributions of Shares

 

In connection with this offering, the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail. In addition, the underwriters may facilitate Internet distribution for this offering to certain of its Internet subscription customers. The underwriters may allocate a limited number of shares for sale to its online brokerage customers. An electronic prospectus is available on the Internet websites maintained by the underwriters. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the websites of any such underwriter is not part of this prospectus.

 

Other Relationships

 

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are a full service financial institution engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and their respective affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

 

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

Selling Restrictions

 

European Economic Area

 

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State) an offer to the public of any shares of our common stock may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any shares of our common stock may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:

 

	(a)	to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
	(b)	to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or
	(c)	in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of shares of our common stock shall result in a requirement for the publication by us or any underwriter of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

 

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any shares of our common stock in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares of our common stock to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any shares of our common stock, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State, and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

 

United Kingdom

 

This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person being referred to as a “relevant person”). This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

Canada

 

The shares of our common stock may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares of our common stock must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

 

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if the prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

 

Hong Kong

 

The shares of our common stock may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares of our common stock which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

 

 

Singapore

 

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares of our common stock may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares of our common stock be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the SFA), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.

 

Where the shares of our common stock are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

	(a)	a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or
	(b)	a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

 

shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares of our common stock pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

	(a)	to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than $200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;
	(b)	where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or
	(c)	where the transfer is by operation of law.

 

Switzerland

 

The shares of our common may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (the SIX) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares of our common stock or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

 

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, or the shares of our common stock have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares of our common stock will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, and the offer of shares of our common stock has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (CISA). Accordingly, no public distribution, offering or advertising, as defined in CISA, its implementing ordinances and notices, and no distribution to any non-qualified investor, as defined in CISA, its implementing ordinances and notices, shall be undertaken in or from Switzerland, and the investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under CISA does not extend to acquirers of common shares.

 

United Arab Emirates

 

This offering has not been approved or licensed by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (the UAE), Securities and Commodities Authority of the UAE and/or any other relevant licensing authority in the UAE including any licensing authority incorporated under the laws and regulations of any of the free zones established and operating in the territory of the UAE, in particular the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), a regulatory authority of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The offering does not constitute a public offer of securities in the UAE, DIFC and/or any other free zone in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law, Federal Law No 8 of 1984 (as amended), DFSA Offered Securities Rules and Nasdaq Dubai Listing Rules, accordingly, or otherwise. The shares of our common stock may not be offered to the public in the UAE and/or any of the free zones.

 

 

The shares of our common stock may be offered and issued only to a limited number of investors in the UAE or any of its free zones who qualify as sophisticated investors under the relevant laws and regulations of the UAE or the free zone concerned.

 

France

 

This prospectus (including any amendment, supplement or replacement thereto) is not being distributed in the context of a public offering in France within the meaning of Article L. 411-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier).

 

This prospectus has not been and will not be submitted to the French Autorité des marchés financiers (the AMF) for approval in France and accordingly may not and will not be distributed to the public in France.

 

Pursuant to Article 211-3 of the AMF General Regulation, French residents are hereby informed that:

 

	(a)	the transaction does not require a prospectus to be submitted for approval to the AMF;
	(b)	persons or entities referred to in Point 2°, Section II of Article L.411-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code may take part in the transaction solely for their own account, as provided in Articles D. 411-1, D. 734-1, D. 744-1, D. 754-1 and D. 764-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code; and
	(c)	the financial instruments thus acquired cannot be distributed directly or indirectly to the public otherwise than in accordance with Articles L. 411-1, L. 411-2, L. 412-1 and L. 621-8 to L. 621-8-3 of the Monetary and Financial Code.

 

This prospectus is not to be further distributed or reproduced (in whole or in part) in France by the recipients of this prospectus. This prospectus has been distributed on the understanding that such recipients will only participate in the issue or sale of our common stock for their own account and undertake not to transfer, directly or indirectly, our common stock to the public in France, other than in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and in particular with Articles L. 411-1 and L. 411-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US), Seattle, Washington. Goodwin Proctor LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel to the underwriters.

 

EXPERTS

 

The balance sheets of OncoCyte Corporation as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement in reliance on the report of OUM & Co. LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address for the SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov.

 

Our website address is www.oncocyte.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website, is not, and shall not be deemed to be, incorporated in this prospectus supplement or considered a part thereof.

 

We make available, free of charge, through our investor relations section of our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, statements of changes in beneficial ownership of securities and amendments to those reports and statements as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished with the SEC.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have filed separately with the SEC. You should read the information incorporated by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the following information or documents that we have filed with the SEC (excluding those portions of any Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to the General Instructions of Form 8-K):

 

●

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2018, as amended by Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2018;

 

●

Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018 filed with the SEC on May 15, 2018, August 14, 2018 and November 13, 2018, respectively;

 

●

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2018, April 2, 2018, April 4, 2018, April 23, 2018, May 30, 2018, June 19, 2018, August 1, 2018, August 9, 2018, August 29, 2018, October 23, 2018, January 28, 2019 and January 29, 2019; and

 

●

The description of our common stock included in our registration statement on Form 10, as filed with the SEC on November 23, 2015 and amended on December 21, 2015 and December 29, 2015.

 

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering (excluding those portions of such reports and documents furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC) will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

 

Any statement contained in any document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or any additional prospectus supplements modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, but not delivered with the prospectus supplement, other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this prospectus supplement incorporates. You should direct any requests to:

 

OncoCyte Corporation

1010 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 102

Alameda, California 94501

(510) 775-0515

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

$50,000,000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

 

We may, from time to time in one or more offerings, offer and sell up to $50.0 million in the aggregate of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase shares of common stock or preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities.

 

This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. We will provide the specific terms of the securities offered in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Please read carefully this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference before you invest in any of our securities. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “OCX.” On September 29, 2017, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $7.55 per share. The aggregate market value of our outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates, based upon this price, was approximately $51.4 million. During the 12-month period ending on the date of this prospectus, we have not offered any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and other future filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a discussion of the factors we urge you to consider carefully before deciding to purchase our securities.

 

We may sell these securities directly to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. For additional information on the methods of sale, please see the section titled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. If any underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is October 16, 2017

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
SUMMARY	2
RISK FACTORS	4
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	5
USE OF PROCEEDS	6
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS	6
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER	7
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK	7
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	9
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	15
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	17
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	18
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	22
LEGAL MATTERS	24
EXPERTS	24
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE	24
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	25

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $50.0 million any of the securities described in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will, to the extent required by law, provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to a particular offering. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between any statement contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

The information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document, 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, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or the time of any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

You may rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, or the information contained in any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.

 

As permitted by SEC rules and regulations, the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part includes additional information not contained in this prospectus. This prospectus also contains summaries of certain provisions of the documents described herein, but all summaries are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual documents. You may read the registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC, and you may obtain copies of the actual documents summarized herein (if and when filed with the SEC), at the SEC’s website or at its offices described in the section of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. Before making an investment decision, please carefully read this entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, especially the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and our financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “OncoCyte,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to OncoCyte Corporation.

 

Overview

 

Our mission is to develop highly accurate, easy to administer, non-invasive molecular diagnostic tests to improve the standard of care for cancer diagnosis to better meet the needs of patients, physicians and payers. Our initial focus will be confirmatory diagnostics, utilizing novel liquid biopsy technology, for use in conjunction with imaging to confirm initial suspicious imaging results such as lung nodules and breast lumps within certain oncology indications. In addition, we may develop screening diagnostics as potential replacements for screening imaging protocols that do not meet the needs of patients, health care providers or payers. For some indications, we may also pursue the probability of recurrence of a specific cancer through the development of prognostics; or companion diagnostics that help a physician determine which therapy is the optimal treatment for the patient.

 

Our initial liquid biopsy diagnostic tests will be confirmatory diagnostics and are being developed to reduce false positive results associated with current diagnostic protocols. These new diagnostic tests are intended to:

 

	●	Reduce unnecessary and sometimes risky procedures, as well as lower the cost of care through the avoidance of more expensive diagnostic procedures, including invasive biopsy and cystoscopic procedures;
	●	Improve the quality of life for cancer patients by reducing the anxiety associated with non-definitive diagnoses; and
	●	Improve health outcomes through avoidance of unnecessary invasive procedures.

 

We are currently developing diagnostic tests for three types of cancer: lung cancer, breast cancer, and bladder cancer. Our strategic focus is to develop diagnostic tests in areas of high unmet need.

 

We received Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments, or CLIA, certification of registration from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In addition, our laboratory has passed inspection by the California Department of Public Health and is now fully licensed and operational.

 

Corporate Information

 

We were incorporated in 2009 in the state of California. Our principal executive offices are located at 1010 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 102, Alameda, California 94501. Our telephone number is (510) 775-0515. Our website address is www.oncocyte.com. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and references to our website in this prospectus are inactive textual references only. We were a majority-owned subsidiary of BioTime, Inc., or BioTime, until February 17, 2017, when BioTime’s shareholdings became less than 50% of our outstanding shares of common stock.

 

The Securities We May Offer

 

We may, from time to time in one or more offerings, offer and sell up to $50.0 million in the aggregate of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities. The prices and terms of our offer and sale of such securities will be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide offerees with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities being offered, including, to the extent applicable:

 

 

	●	designation or classification;
	●	aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price;
	●	maturity, if applicable;
	●	original issue discount, if any;
	●	rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any;
	●	redemption, conversion, exchange or sinking fund terms, if any;
	●	conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange;
	●	ranking;
	●	restrictive covenants, if any;
	●	voting or other rights, if any; and
	●	important U.S. federal income tax considerations.

 

The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

The following is a general summary of the securities we may offer with this prospectus. For more specific information regarding any offering of securities, please read the prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you in connection with a particular offering, together with any exhibits that may be filed setting forth the terms of the securities.

 

Common Stock

 

Our Articles of Incorporation currently authorize the issuance of up to 50,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value. As of August 7, 2017, there were outstanding 31,336,487 shares of common stock, no par value. Each holder of record of common stock is entitled to one vote for each outstanding share owned, on every matter properly submitted to the shareholders for their vote. Subject to any dividend rights of holders of any of the preferred stock that we may issue from time to time, holders of common stock are entitled to any dividend declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future, but intend to retain our capital resources for reinvestment in our business.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our Articles of Incorporation currently authorize the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value. We may issue preferred stock in one or more series, at any time, with such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions as our board of directors may determine, all without further action of our shareholders. Any series of preferred stock which may be authorized by our board of directors in the future may be senior to and have greater rights and preferences than our common stock. There are no shares of preferred stock presently outstanding and we have no present plan, arrangement, or commitment to issue any preferred stock.

 

 

Debt Securities

 

We may offer general debt obligations, which may be secured or unsecured, senior or subordinated and convertible into common stock. In this prospectus, we refer to debt securities having any or all of these features as the “debt securities.” We may issue debt securities under a note purchase agreement or under an indenture to be entered between us and a trustee. A form of the indenture is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The indenture does not limit the amount of securities that may be issued under it and provides that debt securities may be issued in one or more series. Senior debt securities will have the same rank as other indebtedness that is not subordinated. Subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to any senior debt on terms set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, subordinated debt securities will be effectively subordinated to creditors and preferred shareholders of our subsidiaries. Our board of directors will determine the terms of each series of debt securities we may offer.

 

In addition to the form of indenture, supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of debt securities we may offer under this prospectus will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will be incorporated by reference from another report that we file with the SEC.

 

Warrants

 

We may offer warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We may issue the warrants by themselves or together with shares or common stock or preferred stock or with debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Our board of directors will determine the terms of the warrants, including the class and number of underlying shares, the purchase price and any other rights and privileges, which will be set forth in the form of warrant or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate.

 

Units

 

We may offer units comprised of any combination of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants to purchase any of these securities, in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent, which will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of any unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Before making an investment decision with respect to our securities, we urge you to carefully consider the risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We expect to update these risk factors from time to time in the periodic and current reports that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus, which will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Please also carefully consider the other information included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as may be updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. In connection with any specific offering, we also expect to provide risk factors and other information in the applicable prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus. If one or more of the adverse events relevant to these risks and uncertainties actually occurs, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be severely harmed. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may have similar adverse effects on us.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements pertaining to the results of CLIA and validity studies of our lung cancer test, our ability to implement commercialization plans and the timing of these plans, as well as future financial or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, potential opportunities, and any statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates”) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including risks inherent in the development or commercialization of potential diagnostic tests or products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, the need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights, and the need to obtain third party reimbursement for patients’ use of any diagnostic tests we commercialize. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and the filings we make with the SEC. The disclosure in this prospectus, including any forward-looking statement, speaks only as of its date, the date of this prospectus, or the date of any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as applicable. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Except as described in any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus in connection with a specific offering, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered under this prospectus for working capital and general corporate purposes, including continued development of its first assay, DetermaVu™, a confirmatory lung cancer diagnostic. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or in-license additional product candidates or complementary assets or businesses; however, we currently have no agreements, commitments or understandings to complete any such transaction.

 

We have not yet identified the amounts we intend to spend on these areas or the timing of the expenditures, which will be based on many factors. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion regarding the use of, and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered under this prospectus. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest bearing, investment-grade securities. We cannot predict whether these investments will yield a favorable return.

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods presented, our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends. We had no shares of preferred stock outstanding and no preferred stock dividend requirements during these periods, so these ratios are the same. For purposes of computing these ratios, “earnings” consist of our net loss plus our fixed charges, and “fixed charges” consist of an estimate of the interest within rental expense, the interest payments on our loan payable to Silicon Valley Bank, amortization of debt discount on the loan payable to Silicon Valley Bank, and the interest payments on our equipment leases.

 

In each of the periods presented, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, and the extent of such deficiencies in each period is shown below.

 

		Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,				Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2017				2016				2015				2014				2013
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		—				—				—				—				—				—
Deficiency of earnings available to cover combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		$	(3,804	)		$	(8,509	)		$	(11,168	)		$	(8,735	)		$	(4,986	)		$	(3,495	)

 

 

SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

 

We may offer shares of common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities and warrants to purchase any of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or in units. We may offer up to $50.0 million of securities under this prospectus. The prices and terms of any offering will be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide offerees with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities being offered.

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

 

The following description of our common stock and preferred stock, together with any additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or any related free writing prospectus, summarizes the material terms and provisions of our common stock and preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future common stock and preferred stock that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any class or series of these securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. For the complete terms of our common stock and preferred stock, please refer to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date, which are incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The terms of these securities may also be affected by the California Corporations Code, as may be amended from time to time. The summaries below are qualified in their entirety by reference to our Articles of Incorporation, as in effect at the time of any offering of securities under this prospectus.

 

Common Stock

 

General

 

Our Articles of Incorporation currently authorize the issuance of up to 50,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value. As of August 7, 2017, there were outstanding 31,336,487 shares of common stock, no par value. Each holder of record of common stock is entitled to one vote for each outstanding share owned, on every matter properly submitted to the shareholders for their vote.

 

Subject to any dividend rights of holders of any of the preferred stock that we may issue from time to time, holders of common stock are entitled to any dividend declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future, but intend to retain our capital resources for reinvestment in our business.

 

Subject to the prior payment of any liquidation preference to holders of any preferred stock that we may issue from time to time, holders of common stock are entitled to receive on a pro rata basis all of our remaining assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock in the event of the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our operations. Holders of common stock do not have any preemptive rights to become subscribers or purchasers of additional shares of any class of our capital stock.

 

All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The shares of common stock offered under this prospectus or upon the conversion of any preferred stock or debt securities or exercise of any warrants offered pursuant to this prospectus, when paid for and issued in accordance with the applicable definitive documents under which they are to be issued, will also be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Securities Exchange Listing

 

Our common stock listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “OCX.”

 

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our Articles of Incorporation currently authorize the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value. We may issue preferred stock in one or more series, at any time, with such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions as our board of directors may determine, all without further action of our shareholders. Any series of preferred stock which may be authorized by our board of directors in the future may be senior to and have greater rights and preferences than our common stock. There are no shares of preferred stock presently outstanding and we have no present plan, arrangement, or commitment to issue any preferred stock.

 

The rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions of any class or series of preferred stock may be subordinated to, pari passu with or senior to any of those of any present or future class or series of preferred stock or common stock. Our board of directors is also expressly authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series prior or subsequent to the issue of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock and may adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock and reduce the likelihood that holders of our common stock will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.

 

The particular terms of each class or series of preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus, including redemption privileges, liquidation preferences, voting rights, dividend rights or conversion rights, will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the preferred stock offered thereby. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the terms of the class or series of preferred stock we may offer, including:

 

	●	the distinctive designation and the maximum number of shares in the class or series;
	●	the number of shares we are offering and purchase price per share;
	●	the liquidation preference, if any;
	●	the terms on which dividends, if any, will be paid;
	●	the voting rights, if any;
	●	the terms and conditions, if any, on which the shares of the class or series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series of authorized capital;
	●	the terms on which the shares may be redeemed, if at all;
	●	any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;
	●	a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; and
	●	any or all other preferences, rights, restrictions, including restrictions on transferability and qualifications of shares of the class or series.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements or free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any debt securities we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below. However, no prospectus supplement shall fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness. We had no outstanding registered debt securities as of June 30, 2017. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the “indenture,” we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

We may issue debt securities under a note purchase agreement or under an indenture to be entered between us and a trustee. A form of the indenture is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We use the term “trustee” to refer to the trustee under the indenture.

 

The following summaries of material provisions of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities and the indenture are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture and any supplemental indentures applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.

 

General

 

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in an officers’ certificate or by a supplemental indenture. Debt securities may be issued in separate series without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:

 

	●	the title;
	●	the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;
	●	any limit on the amount that may be issued;
	●	whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, and, if so, the terms and who the depositary will be;
	●	the maturity date;
	●	whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;
	●	the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
	●	whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
	●	the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;
	●	the place where payments will be made;

 

 

	●	restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;
	●	our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
	●	the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;
	●	provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any, including the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant thereto or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option, to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;
	●	whether the indenture will restrict our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to:

 

	○	incur additional indebtedness;
	○	issue additional securities;
	○	create liens;
	○	pay dividends or make distributions in respect of our authorized capital or the authorized capital of our subsidiaries;
	○	redeem authorized capital;
	○	place restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets;
	○	make investments or other restricted payments;
	○	sell or otherwise dispose of assets;
	○	enter into sale-leaseback transactions;
	○	engage in transactions with shareholders or affiliates;
	○	issue or sell share of our subsidiaries; or
	○	effect a consolidation or merger;

 

	●	whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios;
	●	a discussion of certain material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;
	●	information describing any book-entry features;
	●	the applicability of the provisions in the indenture on discharge;
	●	whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
	●	the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;
	●	the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; and
	●	any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

 

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms under which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities (including securities of a third party). We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or preferred stock or other securities (including securities of a third party) that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

 

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or to sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.

 

Events of Default under the Indenture

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:

 

	●	if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 90 days and the time for payment has not been extended;
	●	if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase or otherwise, and the time for payment has not been extended;
	●	if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the trustee or we and the trustee receive notice from the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and
	●	if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

 

We will describe in each applicable prospectus supplement any additional events of default relating to the relevant series of debt securities.

 

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default arises due to the occurrence of certain specified bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events, the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

 

 

Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:

 

	●	the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the indenture; and
	●	subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.

 

The indenture provides that if an event of default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture, or that the trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of the relevant series of debt securities, or that would involve the trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the indenture, the trustee will be entitled to indemnification against all costs, expenses and liabilities that would be incurred by taking or not taking such action.

 

A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:

 

	●	the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;
	●	the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense or to be incurred in compliance with instituting the proceeding as trustee; and
	●	the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer.

 

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities, or other defaults that may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.

 

The indenture provides that if a default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder notice of the default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs and 30 days after it is known by a responsible officer of the trustee or written notice of it is received by the trustee, unless such default has been cured or waived. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal or premium of, or interest on, any debt security or certain other defaults specified in an indenture, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors, or responsible officers of the trustee, in good faith determine that withholding notice is in the best interests of holders of the relevant series of debt securities.

 

 

Modification of Indenture; Waiver

 

Subject to the terms of the indenture for any series of debt securities that we may issue, we and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to the following specific matters:

 

	●	to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture;
	●	to comply with the provisions described above under “—Consolidation, Merger or Sale”;
	●	to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
	●	to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture;
	●	to provide for the issuance of, and establish the form and terms and conditions of, the debt securities of any series as provided under “—General,” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;
	●	to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee;
	●	to provide for uncertificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;
	●	to add such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred to us in the indenture; or
	●	to change anything that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect.

 

In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, subject to the terms of the indenture for any series of debt securities that we may issue or otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

	●	extending the stated maturity of the series of debt securities;
	●	reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any debt securities; or
	●	reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver.

 

Discharge

 

The indenture provides that, subject to the terms of the indenture and any limitation otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we may elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:

 

	●	register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;
	●	replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;
	●	maintain paying agencies;
	●	hold monies for payment in trust;
	●	recover excess money held by the trustee;
	●	compensate and indemnify the trustee; and
	●	appoint any successor trustee.

 

 

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. See “—Legal Ownership of Securities” below for a further description of the terms relating to any book-entry securities.

 

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the definitive documents applicable to the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

 

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

 

If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

 

	●	issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or
	●	register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.

 

Information Concerning the Trustee

 

The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture and is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur. However, upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment.

 

 

We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

 

All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

 

Ranking Debt Securities

 

Subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement.

 

Senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally in right of payment to all our other senior unsecured debt. The indenture does not limit the amount of senior debt securities that we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.

 

Existing Debt

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had $2.0 million in a loan payable to Silicon Valley Bank (which may be increased by $3.0 million subject to certain conditions), capital lease obligations for equipment amounting to $0.7 million, and an account payable to BioTime of $2.5 million associated with the BioTime shares we hold as available-for-sale securities. We have no other material existing debt.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

General

 

We may offer warrants for the purchase of shares of common stock or preferred stock or debt securities, in one or more series. We may issue the warrants by themselves or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe in particular the terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The terms of any warrants offered by a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

 

We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant or warrant agreement, which may include a form of warrant certificate, as applicable, that describes the terms of the particular series of warrants we may offer before the issuance of the related series of warrants. We may issue the warrants under a warrant agreement that we will enter into with a warrant agent to be selected by us. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any registered holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the form of warrant or warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete form of warrant or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, that contain the terms of the warrants.

 

 

The particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the issue. Those terms may include:

 

	●	the title of such warrants;
	●	the aggregate number of such warrants;
	●	the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
	●	the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which the price of such warrants may be payable;
	●	the terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;
	●	the price at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;
	●	the date on which the right to exercise such warrants will commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
	●	any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;
	●	if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
	●	if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security;
	●	if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
	●	information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
	●	the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;
	●	U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants, if material; and
	●	any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange or exercise of such warrants.

 

Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the number of common stock or preferred stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrants may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

 

We will specify the place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised in the form of warrant, warrant agreement or warrant certificate and applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant or warrant certificate, as applicable, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of any warrant agent, or any other office (including ours) indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants (or the warrants represented by such warrant certificate) are exercised, a new warrant or a new warrant certificate, as applicable, will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

 

 

Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, holders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities purchasable upon exercise, including (i) in the case of warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock, the right to vote or to receive any payments of dividends or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up on the common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise, if any; or (ii) in the case of warrants for the purchase of debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, any premium or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the indenture.

 

Outstanding Warrants

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had outstanding warrants to purchase 3,049,221 shares of common stock, with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.41 per share. The warrants may be exercised for cash or, under certain circumstances, on a cashless basis, in which case we will deliver, upon exercise, the number of shares with respect to which the warrant is being exercised reduced by a number of shares having a value (as determined in accordance with the terms of the applicable warrant) equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares with respect to which the warrant is being exercised.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. The terms of any units offered by a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.

 

We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the series of units we may offer under this prospectus, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.

 

General

 

We may offer units comprised of any combination of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants to purchase any of these securities, in one or more series. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including:

 

	●	the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
	●	any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and
	●	any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.

 

 

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described in the sections of this prospectus titled “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrant included in each unit, respectively.

 

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units

 

Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.

 

We and any unit agent (including any of its agents) may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.

 

LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

 

We may issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee or depositary or warrant agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in “street name” will be indirect holders.

 

Book-Entry Holders

 

We may issue securities in book-entry form only, if we so specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

 

Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Global securities will be registered in the name of the depositary. Consequently, for global securities, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

 

As a result, investors in a global security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.

 

 

Street Name Holders

 

We may terminate a global security or issue securities that are not issued in global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

 

For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any such trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not legal holders, of those securities.

 

Legal Holders

 

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee or third party employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

 

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the legal holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with its participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the legal holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture, or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the legal holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the legal holders contact the indirect holders is up to the legal holders.

 

Special Considerations for Indirect Holders

 

If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form because the securities are represented by one or more global securities or in street name, please check with your own institution to find out:

 

	●	how it handles securities payments and notices;
	●	whether it imposes fees or charges;
	●	how it would handle a request for the legal holders’ consent, if ever required;
	●	whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a legal holder, if that is permitted in the future;
	●	how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for legal holders to act to protect their interests; and
	●	if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

 

Global Securities

 

A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.

 

 

Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we issue to, deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.

 

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and legal holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

 

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued as a global security, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

 

Special Considerations for Global Securities

 

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s bank, broker or other financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

 

If securities are issued only as global securities, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

	●	an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;
	●	an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank, broker or other financial institution for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above;
	●	an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;
	●	an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in the global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;
	●	the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in the global security. We and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way;
	●	the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in the global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and
	●	financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in the global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

 

 

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

 

In a few special situations described below, a global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own names, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.

 

A global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:

 

	●	if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days;
	●	if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or
	●	if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and neither we nor any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell these securities directly to one or more investors. We may also sell these securities through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. The applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

 

	●	the name or names of any agents, underwriters or dealers;
	●	the purchase price of the securities being offered and the net proceeds we will receive from the sale;
	●	any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
	●	any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;
	●	any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
	●	any securities exchanges or markets on which such securities may be listed.

 

We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:

 

	●	a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time;
	●	market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
	●	prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
	●	negotiated prices.

 

Agents

 

We may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of our securities for the period of their appointment or to sell our securities on a continuing basis. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any fees or commissions we will pay the agent in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Underwriters

 

If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if they purchase any of the securities of that series. We may change from time to time any public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to dealers. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will name any underwriter involved in the offering and sale of securities, describe any discount or other compensation and describe the nature of any material relationship in any applicable prospectus supplement. Only underwriters we name in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement.

 

We may have agreements with the agents and underwriters to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities related to offerings under this prospectus, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities related to offerings under this prospectus, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

 

 

Trading Markets and Listing of Securities

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is currently listed on the NYSE American. We may elect to list or qualify for trading any other class or series of securities on any securities exchange or other market, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

 

Stabilization Activities

 

Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of these activities at any time.

 

Passive Market Making

 

Any underwriter who is a qualified market maker on the NYSE American may engage in passive market making transactions in securities listed on the NYSE American in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. A passive market maker must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as a passive market maker. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security. If all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of any common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units offered under this prospectus and any supplement hereto will be passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US), Seattle, Washington.

 

EXPERTS

 

The balance sheets of OncoCyte Corporation as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement in reliance on the report of OUM & Co. LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

We are “incorporating by reference” certain documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information in the documents incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Statements contained in documents that we file with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus, including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information.

 

We hereby incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents that we have filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act File No. 001-37648 (other than current reports on Form 8-K, or portions thereof, furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K):

 

	●	Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2017;
	●	Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, as filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017 and August 14, 2017, respectively;
	●	Our Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on February 24, 2017, February 27, 2017, March 3, 2017, March 6, 2017, March 10, 2017, April 28, 2017, June 21, 2017, July 26, 2017 and August 15, 2017;
	●	Our proxy statement on Schedule 14A for our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017; and
	●	The description of our common stock included in our registration statement on Form 10, as filed with the SEC on November 23, 2015 and amended on December 21, 2015 and December 29, 2015.

 

All documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than current reports on Form 8-K, or portions thereof, furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K) (i) after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement and (ii) after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the date of filing of the documents, unless we specifically provide otherwise. Information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information previously filed with the SEC. To the extent that any information contained in any current report on Form 8-K or any exhibit thereto, was or is furnished to, rather than filed with the SEC, such information or exhibit is specifically not incorporated by reference.

 

 

Upon written or oral request made to us at the address or telephone number below, we will, at no cost to the requester, provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus (other than an exhibit to a filing, unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing), but not delivered with this prospectus:

 

OncoCyte Corporation

1010 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 102

Alameda, California 94501

(510) 775-0515

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus omits certain information that is included in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and its exhibits. Since this prospectus may not contain all of the information that you may find important, we urge you to review the full text of these documents. If we have filed a contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, please read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement in this prospectus, including statements incorporated by reference as discussed above, regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.

 

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with these requirements, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, information statements, and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C., 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an internet site that contains these materials at www.sec.gov. In addition, we provide free access to these materials through our website, www.oncocyte.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC.

 

 

9,333,334 Shares

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sole Book-Running Manager

 

Piper Jaffray

 

Co-Manager

 

Janney Montgomery Scott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 8, 2019