424B5 1 d403592d424b5.htm PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-176621

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated September 15, 2011)

 

LOGO

TRIUS THERAPEUTICS, INC.

$25,000,000

COMMON STOCK

 

 

Pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, we are offering up to $25,000,000 of shares of our common stock to Terrapin Opportunity, L.P., or Terrapin, pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement between us and Terrapin dated as of August 30, 2012, which we refer to as the Purchase Agreement. The offering price of such shares, net of commissions payable by us, will be at a discount of ranging between 3% to 5.3% from the volume weighted average price of our common stock at the time of sale, as reported on The NASDAQ Global Market. Upon each sale of our common stock to Terrapin under the Purchase Agreement, we have also agreed to pay Financial West Group, member FINRA/SIPC, or FWG, a placement agent fee of $2,000. The specific terms of any offering, other than the shares of common stock we agreed to issue to Terrapin in consideration of the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, will be provided by way of a further prospectus supplement.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus also cover the resale of all of these shares by Terrapin to the public. Terrapin is an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and any profits on the sales of shares of our common stock by Terrapin and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by Terrapin may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the trading symbol “TSRX.” On August 30, 2012, the last reported sales price for our common stock was $5.48 per share.

 

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE THE SECTION ENTITLED “RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE S-5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The date of this Prospectus Supplement is August 31, 2012


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

About This Prospectus Supplement

     S-1   

Prospectus Supplement Summary

     S-2   

The Offering

     S-4   

Risk Factors

     S-5   

Forward-Looking Information

     S-6   

Use Of Proceeds

     S-7   

Dividend Policy

     S-7   

Plan Of Distribution

     S-8   

Legal Matters

     S-10   

Experts

     S-10   

Where You Can Find More Information

     S-10   

Incorporation By Reference

     S-11   
Prospectus   

About This Prospectus

     1   

Summary

     2   

Risk Factors

     5   

Forward-Looking Information

     5   

Financial Ratios

     6   

Use of Proceeds

     6   

Description Of Capital Stock

     7   

Description Of Debt Securities

     12   

Description Of Warrants

     18   

Legal Ownership Of Securities

     21   

Plan Of Distribution

     24   

Legal Matters

     25   

Experts

     25   

Where You Can Find More Information

     25   

Incorporation By Reference

     26   


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement is a supplement to the accompanying prospectus, dated September 15, 2011, which is also a part of this document. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-176621), which we refer to as the Registration Statement, that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using the “shelf” registration process, and that was declared effective on September 15, 2011. Under this “shelf” registration process, we may from time to time sell any combination of securities described in the accompanying prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total of $100 million.

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the offering and also supplements, adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more general information, some of which may not apply to the securities. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. 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, 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 incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

This prospectus supplement contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the section entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

Unless stated otherwise, references in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to “Trius,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Trius Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the information incorporated herein and therein by reference include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

We are not making any representation to you regarding the legality of an investment in the securities by you under applicable law. We are not making an offer to sell the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our securities. You should read the entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors,” the financial statements and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making an investment decision. This prospectus supplement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of factors described under the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and in the risk factors set forth under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, and elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference. All references in this prospectus supplement to “$” are to U.S. dollars.

Our Business and Technologies

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for life threatening infections. We are developing tedizolid phosphate, an intravenous, or IV, and oral antibiotic, for the treatment of serious Gram-positive bacterial infections, for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, or ABSSSI, and pneumonia, and subsequently for other indications, including bacteremia. ABSSSI is a new classification for complicated skin and skin structure infections. Tedizolid phosphate is an IV and orally administered second generation oxazolidinone. In addition, we are discovering antibiotics for broad spectrum infections using our proprietary discovery platform under two government contracts: one funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, a part of the National Institutes of Health; and a second contract with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

In December 2011, we completed our first Phase 3 clinical trial of the oral dosage form of tedizolid phosphate for the treatment of ABSSSI, and in September 2011, we initiated our second Phase 3 clinical trial of the IV to oral transition therapy for the treatment of ABSSSI and we expect to report top-line data on this second Phase 3 clinical trial in early 2013. We currently expect to submit a New Drug Application to the Food & Drug Administration for tedizolid phosphate for the treatment of ABSSSI during the second half of 2013. We have also completed a Phase 1 clinical trial which evaluated the ability of tedizolid phosphate to penetrate into the lung, for potential use in treating lung infections. Based on the results of the study, we plan to initiate a Phase 3 program of tedizolid phosphate for the treatment of pneumonia in the first half of 2013 using the same 200 mg, once daily dose of tedizolid phosphate that we are currently testing for skin infections.

In July 2011, we signed an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Pharma AG to develop and commercialize tedizolid phosphate in China, Japan and substantially all other countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, excluding North and South Korea. We are evaluating potential strategic alliances for tedizolid phosphate in Europe.

Preclinical activities for our GyrB/ParE dual target development program, or Gyrase-B, are funded through Phase 1 clinical trials, subject to achievement of program milestones, by our NIAID contract. We are conducting Investigational New Drug enabling studies for Gyrase-B which has potent activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. We expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of Gyrase-B in 2013.

 

 

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General Information

We were originally incorporated as RexC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in California in June 2004 and changed our name to Rx3 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in September 2004. We subsequently changed our name to Trius Therapeutics, Inc. in February 2007 and reincorporated in Delaware in December 2007. Our principal executive offices are located at 6310 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 105, San Diego, California 92121, and our telephone number is (858) 452-0370. Our website address is www.triusrx.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our web site is not part of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us

Shares of common stock with aggregate gross sale proceeds of up to $25,000,000.

 

Proceeds of offering

The proceeds from this offering will vary depending on the number of shares that we offer and the offering price per share. We expect that our net maximum proceeds, after discounts and placement agent commissions and offering expenses, will be up to approximately $23,500,000. We may sell fewer than all of the shares offered by this prospectus supplement, in which case our net offering proceeds will be less, and we may raise less than the maximum $25,000,000 in gross offering proceeds permitted by this prospectus supplement.

 

Use of Proceeds

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including clinical trial and other research and development expenses, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses, and potential acquisitions of or investments in businesses, products and technologies that complement our business, although we have no present commitments or agreements to make any such acquisitions or investments. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement.

 

NASDAQ Global Market Symbol

TSRX

 

Risk Factors

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should read the description of risks set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement or otherwise incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to purchase our securities.

 

Effective Date

The Purchase Agreement governing this offering became effective on August 30, 2012.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you make a decision to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the information and documents incorporated by reference. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, operating results, prospects or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline and you may lose part or all of your investment. Moreover, the risks described are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business, operating results, prospects or financial condition.

Additional Risks Related to this Offering

Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from this offering, and we may not use the proceeds effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, delay the development of our product candidates and cause the price of our common stock to decline.

The sale of our common stock in this offering and any future sales of our common stock may depress our stock price.

If we elect to draw down amounts under the Purchase Agreement, which will result in the sale of additional shares of our common stock to Terrapin, any such draw downs will have a dilutive impact on our existing stockholders. Terrapin may resell some or all of the shares we issue to it pursuant to draw downs under the Purchase Agreement and such sales could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. To the extent of any such decline, any subsequent draw downs would require us to issue a greater number of shares of common stock to Terrapin in exchange for each dollar of proceeds received from the draw down. Under these circumstances, our existing stockholders would experience greater dilution and the total amount of the financing that we will be able to raise pursuant to the Purchase Agreement could be significantly lower than $25 million. Although Terrapin is precluded from short sales of shares acquired pursuant to draw downs under the Purchase Agreement, the sale of our common stock under the Purchase Agreement, or the perception that such sales could occur, may encourage short sales by third parties, which could contribute to further decline of our stock price.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents that we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following: our ability to meet our future financing needs and successfully complete our ongoing clinical trials and development programs and transition into commercialization; estimates regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; the success and timing of our preclinical studies and clinical trials; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; changes in our plans to develop and commercialize our product candidates; our ability to obtain additional financing; our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; and our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel.

These forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in “Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC or in any Current Report on Form 8-K. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. While we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this prospectus supplement, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or documents incorporated by reference herein and therein will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is a part and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments thereto.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The proceeds from this offering will vary depending on the number of shares that we offer and the offering price per share. We expect that our net maximum proceeds will be up to approximately $23,500,000. We may sell fewer than all of the shares offered by this prospectus supplement, in which case our net offering proceeds will be less, and we may raise less than the maximum $25,000,000 in gross offering proceeds permitted by this prospectus supplement.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including clinical and pre-clinical trial and other research and development expenses, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses, and potential acquisitions of or investments in businesses, products and technologies that complement our business, although we have no present commitments or agreements to make any such acquisitions or investments.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently anticipate that we will retain all future earnings to fund the operations of our business and do not anticipate paying dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

On August 30, 2012, we entered into the Purchase Agreement with Terrapin, which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Terrapin is committed to purchase from us up to $25,000,000 of our common stock over the approximately 24-month term of the Purchase Agreement, provided that, except as set forth in the immediately following sentence, we may not sell under the Purchase Agreement more than 7,757,607 shares of our common stock, or the Trading Market Limit, which is equal to one share less than twenty percent of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock on the effective date of the Purchase Agreement. The Trading Market Limit will not be applicable to the extent (and only for so long as) the average purchase price of all common stock issued by us to Terrapin, taking into account all discounts, equals or exceeds $5.48 per share (subject to adjustment), which represents the consolidated closing bid price per share of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on the effective date of the Purchase Agreement.

From time to time over the term of the Purchase Agreement, and at our sole discretion, we may present Terrapin with draw down notices to purchase an aggregate dollar amount of our common stock, or a draw down amount, over ten consecutive trading days or such other period mutually agreed upon by us and Terrapin, or the draw down period, with each draw down subject to limitations based on the price of our common stock and a limit of 2.5% of our market capitalization at the time of such draw down. We are able to present Terrapin with up to 24 draw down notices during the term of the Purchase Agreement, with only one such draw down notice allowed per draw down period and a minimum of five trading days required between each draw down period.

Once presented with a draw down notice, Terrapin is required to purchase a pro rata portion of the draw down amount on each trading day during the draw down period on which the daily volume weighted average price for our common stock equals or exceeds a threshold price determined by us for such draw down. The per share purchase price for these shares equals the daily volume weighted average price of our common stock on each date during the draw down period on which shares are purchased, less a discount ranging from 3.0% to 5.3%. If the daily volume weighted average price of our common stock falls below the threshold price on any trading day during a draw down period, the Purchase Agreement provides that Terrapin will not be required to purchase the pro rata portion of the draw down amount allocated to that day. However, at its election, Terrapin may buy the pro rata portion of the draw down amount allocated to that day at the threshold price less the discount described above.

The Purchase Agreement also provides that from time to time and at our sole discretion we may grant Terrapin the right to exercise options to purchase additional shares of our common stock during each draw down period for an amount of shares specified by us based on the trading price of our common stock. Upon Terrapin’s exercise of an option, we would sell to Terrapin the shares of our common stock subject to the option at a price per share equal to the greater of the daily volume weighted average price of our common stock on the day Terrapin notifies us of its election to exercise its option or the threshold price for the option determined by us, less a discount calculated in the same manner as it is calculated in the draw down notices.

In addition to our issuance of an aggregate of $25,000,000 of our shares of common stock to Terrapin pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Statement also covers the sale of those shares from time to time by Terrapin to the public. Terrapin is an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act.

Terrapin has informed us that it will use an unaffiliated broker-dealer to effectuate all sales, if any, of common stock that it may purchase from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Such sales will be made on the Nasdaq Global Market, or any other exchange that our common stock may be traded on at such time, at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price. Each such unaffiliated broker-dealer will be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. Terrapin has informed us that each such broker-dealer will receive fees and commissions from Terrapin that will not exceed customary brokerage fees and commissions. Terrapin also will pay other expenses associated with the sale of the common stock it acquires pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

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The shares of common stock may be sold in one or more of the following manners:

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers; or

 

   

a block trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction.

Terrapin has agreed that during the term of and for a period of 90 days after the termination of the Purchase Agreement, neither Terrapin nor any of its affiliates will, directly or indirectly, sell for value any of our securities except the shares that it owns or has the right to purchase pursuant to the provisions of a draw down notice. Terrapin has agreed that prior to and during the periods listed above neither it nor any of its affiliates will enter into a short position with respect to shares of our common stock except that Terrapin may sell shares that it is obligated to purchase under a pending draw down notice but has not yet taken possession of so long as Terrapin covers any such sales with the shares purchased pursuant to such draw down notice. Terrapin has further agreed that during the periods listed above it will not grant any option to purchase or acquire any right to dispose or otherwise dispose for value of any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or warrants to purchase, any shares of our common stock, or enter into any swap, hedge or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic risk of ownership of our common stock, except for the sales permitted by the prior two sentences.

In addition, Terrapin and any unaffiliated broker-dealer will be subject to liability under the federal securities laws and must comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of common stock by Terrapin or any unaffiliated broker-dealer. Under these rules and regulations, Terrapin and any unaffiliated broker-dealer:

 

   

may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities;

 

   

must furnish each broker that offers shares of our common stock covered by the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus that is a part of our Registration Statement with the number of copies of such prospectus and any prospectus supplement that are required by each broker; and

 

   

may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities other than as permitted under the Exchange Act.

These restrictions may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock purchased and sold by Terrapin and any unaffiliated broker-dealer.

We have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless Terrapin, its directors, officers, employees, partners and affiliates, and each person who controls Terrapin, against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act. We have agreed to pay up to $35,000 of Terrapin’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses (exclusive of disbursements and out-of-pocket expenses) incurred by Terrapin in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement and related transaction documentation. Further, we have agreed that if we issue a draw down notice and fail to deliver the shares to Terrapin on the applicable settlement date, and such failure continues for ten trading days, we will pay Terrapin as partial damages, cash or restricted shares of our common stock, at the option of Terrapin.

Terrapin has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless us and each of our directors, officers, employees and affiliates and persons who control us, against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act that may be based upon written information furnished by Terrapin to us for inclusion in a prospectus or prospectus supplement related to this transaction.

We and Terrapin have agreed that no shares of common stock may be issued to Terrapin pursuant to the Purchase Agreement to the extent that the issuance of such shares of common stock would result in the beneficial ownership by Terrapin of more than 9.9% of our then issued and outstanding shares of common stock (as calculated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated thereunder).

 

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We have entered into a placement agency agreement with FWG, pursuant to which FWG agreed to act as the placement agent in connection with the sale of shares of our common stock to Terrapin. Subject to our and FWG’s receipt of written confirmation from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, to the effect that FINRA’s Corporate Finance Department has determined not to raise any objection with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, we will pay FWG a placement fee of $2,000 upon each completed sale of our common stock to Terrapin under the Purchase Agreement, as compensation for its services in acting as placement agent in the sale of our common stock to Terrapin. We have also agreed to indemnify and hold harmless FWG against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to pay up to $15,000 in the aggregate for FWG’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of certain filings required to be made by FWG in connection with the transaction.

Please also see the information set forth under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the accompanying prospectus, and the disclosure set forth in our Current Report on Form 8-K relating to our equity line of credit arrangement with Terrapin, filed with the SEC on August 31, 2012, pursuant to the Exchange Act, which is incorporated herein by reference. For more information, please see the section entitled “Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Cooley LLP, San Diego, California.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC. The registration statement that contains this prospectus supplement, including the exhibits to the registration statement, contains additional information about us and the common stock offered by this prospectus supplement.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. Our public filings, including reports, proxy and information statements, are also available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that 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 (Commission File No. 001-34828):

 

   

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012, January 23, 2012, January 25, 2012, January 26, 2012, April 12, 2012, May 8, 2012, May 23, 2012 and August 31, 2012;

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC on March 14, 2012 (the “2011 Form 10-K”);

 

   

Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2012 and August 7, 2012, respectively;

 

   

The information specifically incorporated by reference into the 2011 Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 12, 2012; and

 

   

The description of our common stock set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on July 23, 2010, including any amendments thereto or reports filed for the purpose of updating this transaction.

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement all documents (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items) that are filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement and until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus supplement. These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements.

Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this document will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the document to the extent that a statement contained in this document or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this document modifies or supersedes the statement.

You can request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

Trius Therapeutics, Inc.

6310 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 105

San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 452-0370

ATTN: Michael Morneau

 

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PROSPECTUS

$100,000,000

TRIUS THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

From time to time, we may offer up to an aggregate of $100,000,000 of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants. We will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities 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 also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before buying any of the securities being offered.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “TSRX.” On September 14, 2011, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $6.44. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing, if any, on the Nasdaq Global Market or any securities market or other exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD REVIEW CAREFULLY THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES REFERENCED UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AS WELL AS THOSE CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND ANY RELATED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS, AND UNDER SIMILAR HEADINGS IN THE OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER OR SELL ANY SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

The securities may be sold directly by us to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions, discounts and over-allotment options 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 is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is September 15, 2011.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1   

SUMMARY

     2   

RISK FACTORS

     5   

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

     5   

FINANCIAL RATIOS

     6   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     6   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     7   

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     12   

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     18   

LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

     21   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     24   

LEGAL MATTERS

     25   

EXPERTS

     25   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     25   

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     26   

You should rely only on the information that we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representation. 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.

You should assume that the information 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 that 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 any sale of a security.


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities registered in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $100,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the securities offered. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement (and in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference” before buying any of the securities being offered.

 

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SUMMARY

The following summary provides an overview of selected information related to this offering and does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our securities. You should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the financial statements and related notes and other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectus, and the additional information described under the captions “WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION” and “INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE”, before buying securities in this offering.

Trius Therapeutics, Inc.

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for life threatening infections. We are developing torezolid phosphate, an intravenous, or IV, and oral antibiotic, for the treatment of serious gram-positive bacterial infections, initially for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, or ABSSSI, and subsequently for other indications. ABSSSI is a new classification for complicated skin and skin structure infections. We initiated our Phase 3 clinical program for torezolid phosphate for the treatment of ABSSSI in August 2010. In July 2011, we signed an exclusive collaboration agreement with Bayer Pharma AG, or Bayer, to develop and commercialize our lead Phase 3 antibiotic, torezolid phosphate in China, Japan and substantially all other countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, excluding North and South Korea, or the Bayer licensed territory. Under the collaboration agreement, we retain full development and commercialization rights outside of the Bayer licensed territory including the United States, Canada and the European Union. We intend to continue to evaluate potential ex-US territory strategic alliances for torezolid phosphate outside of the Bayer licensed territory. In August 2011, we reached agreement with the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, under the Special Protocol Assessment, or SPA, process, on the design of our second planned Phase 3 study for the intravenous and oral dosage forms of torezolid phosphate for treatment of ABSSSI. We expect to start this pivotal study in the fourth quarter of 2011.

In addition to our ongoing Phase 3 clinical program for the treatment of ABSSSI, we completed a Phase 1 clinical trial during the first quarter of 2011 which evaluated the ability of torezolid phosphate to penetrate into the lung for potential use in treating lung infections. Based on the results of the study, we plan to pursue further development of torezolid phosphate for the treatment of pneumonia using the same 200 milligram, once daily dose of torezolid phosphate that we are currently testing for skin infections. In addition, we are developing antibiotics for gram-negative infections using our proprietary discovery platform under three contracts: one funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, a part of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, a second funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, or DTRA, a part of the Department of Defense, and a new third contract that we entered into in April 2011 with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, or LLNL, a part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

We acquired worldwide rights to torezolid phosphate outside of South and North Korea from Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in January 2007. Since then we have progressed torezolid phosphate from filing an Investigational New Drug Application, or IND, into our first Phase 3 study. In addition, we have substantially lowered the manufacturing costs of torezolid phosphate.

We were originally incorporated as RexC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in California in June 2004 and changed our name to Rx3 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in September 2004. We subsequently changed our name to Trius Therapeutics, Inc. in February 2007 and reincorporated in Delaware in December 2007. Our principal executive offices are located at 6310 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 101, San Diego, California 92121, and our telephone number is (858) 452-0370. Our website address is www.triusrx.com. The information contained in or that can be accessed through our website is not part of this prospectus. Our filings may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 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 reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically

 

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with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov . The references to our internet address and the SEC’s internet address do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at those sites.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in this prospectus, the terms “Trius,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Trius Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation. The name TRIUS THERAPEUTICS is our trademark. All other trademarks and tradenames mentioned in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

The Securities We May Offer

We may offer shares of our common stock or preferred stock, various series of debt securities and warrants to purchase any of these securities with a total value of up to $100,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

 

   

designation or classification;

 

   

aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price;

 

   

maturity;

 

   

original issue discount;

 

   

rates and times of payment of interest, dividends or other payments;

 

   

redemption, conversion, exercise, exchange or sinking fund terms;

 

   

conversion, exchange or settlement prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion, exchange or settlement prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion, exchange or settlement;

 

   

ranking;

 

   

restrictive covenants;

 

   

voting or other rights, if any; and

 

   

certain federal income tax considerations.

A 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 shall 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 is a part.

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

We may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through underwriters, dealers or agents. We, and our underwriters, dealers or agents, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we do offer securities through underwriters or agents, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

   

the names of those underwriters or agents;

 

   

applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them;

 

   

details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and

 

   

the net proceeds to us.

 

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Common Stock. We may issue shares of our common stock from time to time. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share for the election of directors and on all other matters that require stockholder approval. Subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding preferred stock, in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in the assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any then outstanding preferred stock. Our common stock does not carry any preemptive rights enabling a holder to subscribe for, or receive shares of, any class of our common stock or any other securities convertible into shares of any class of our common stock, or any redemption rights.

Preferred Stock. We may issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series. Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to designate up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, liquidation preference and sinking fund terms, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. To date, our board of directors has not designated any shares of preferred stock.

We will fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series that we sell under this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. We urge you to read the prospectus supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of preferred stock being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contains the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.

Debt Securities. We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsubordinated debt that we may have and may be secured or unsecured. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all or some portion of our indebtedness. Convertible debt will be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours. Conversion may be mandatory or at the option of the holders of our debt securities and would be at prescribed conversion rates.

The debt securities will be issued under one or more documents called indentures, which are contracts between us and a trustee for the holders of the debt securities. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the debt securities. We urge you, however, to read the prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. Indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports we file with the SEC.

Warrants. We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities in one or more series, from time to time. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

The warrants will be evidenced by warrant certificates issued under one or more warrant agreements, which are contracts between us and an agent for the holders of the warrants. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the warrants. We urge you, however, to read the prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of warrants being offered, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants. Forms of warrant agreements and forms of warrants containing the terms of the warrants being offered have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental agreements and forms of warrants containing the terms of the warrants being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports we file with the SEC.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and in our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus, together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. These risks and uncertainties are not the only risks and uncertainties we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently view as immaterial, may also impair our business. If any of the risks or uncertainties described in our SEC filings or any prospectus supplement or any additional risks and uncertainties actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of securities being offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement could decline and you might lose all or part of your investment.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain, and any prospectus supplement may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. These forward-looking statements are subject to the “safe harbor” created by Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and may include, but are not limited to, statements concerning:

 

   

Our ability to obtain additional financing;

 

   

Our use of the net proceeds, if any, from this offering;

 

   

The accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements;

 

   

The success and timing of our preclinical studies and clinical trials;

 

   

Our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of torezolid phosphate and any other product candidates we may develop, and the labeling under any approval we may obtain;

 

   

Regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

 

   

The performance of third-party manufacturers;

 

   

Our plans to develop and commercialize our product candidates;

 

   

Our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates;

 

   

The successful development of our sales and marketing capabilities;

 

   

The size and growth of the potential markets for our product candidates and our ability to serve those markets;

 

   

The rate and degree of market acceptance of any future products;

 

   

The success of competing drugs that are or become available; and

 

   

Our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” the negative of these words and words or similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our views as of the date on which they were made with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. We discuss these risks in greater detail under the heading

 

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“Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and in our SEC filings. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of the document containing the applicable statement.

You should rely only on information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and understand that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in the foregoing documents by these cautionary statements.

Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or developments. You should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Before deciding to purchase our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference, in addition to the other information set forth in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

FINANCIAL RATIOS

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends for each of the periods presented:

 

       Year Ended December 31,        Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2011
 
       2006        2007        2008        2009        2010       

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

                                                           

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends

                                                           

For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to our combined fixed charges and preference dividends, earnings consist of our net loss for the period plus fixed charges. We had no capitalized interest during any period. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on debt outstanding, amortization of debt discount, and an estimate of the interest portion of rental expense. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends were less than one-to-one for each of the periods presented. Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $736,000 in 2006, $8.7 million in 2007, $20.8 million in 2008, $22.7 million in 2009, $23.9 million in 2010 and $20.1 million in the first six months of 2011.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. Except as described in any prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies that are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds primarily in some combination of government agency and/or corporate securities with the balance of the net proceeds held in money market funds in accordance with our investment policy.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

The following is a summary of the rights of our common stock and preferred stock. This summary is not complete. For more detailed information, please see our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Common Stock

Outstanding Shares. On September 14, 2011, there were 28,549,632 shares of common stock outstanding, held of record by 106 stockholders.

As of September 14, 2011, there were 863,401 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, 1,452,835 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, 138,000 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options under our 2010 Non-Employee Directors’ Plan, and up to 1,678,884 shares of common stock subject to outstanding warrants.

Voting Rights. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting rights. Because of this, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose.

Dividends. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, the holders of our outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.

Liquidation. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Rights and Preferences. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without stockholder approval, to issue from time to time up to an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, each series to have such rights and preferences, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences as our board of directors determines. The rights of the holders of common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock. We currently have no shares of preferred stock outstanding and we have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

 

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Our board of directors will fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series that we sell under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplements in the certificate of designation relating to each such series. We will incorporate by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as an exhibit to one or more current reports on Form 8-K, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. This description will include:

 

   

the title and stated value;

 

   

the number of shares we are offering;

 

   

the liquidation preference per share;

 

   

the purchase price per share;

 

   

the dividend rate per share, dividend period, payment date or dates and method of calculation for dividends;

 

   

whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

 

   

our right, if any, to defer payment of dividends and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

   

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

 

   

the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

 

   

the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights;

 

   

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

 

   

whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock or other securities of ours, including warrants, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances and the mechanism by which it may be adjusted, and the conversion period;

 

   

whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities or other securities of ours, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances it may be adjusted, and the exchange period;

 

   

voting rights, if any;

 

   

preemptive rights, if any;

 

   

restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

 

   

whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;

 

   

a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

 

   

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs;

 

   

any limitations on issuances of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock being issued as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and

 

   

any other specific terms, rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications or limitations of, or restrictions on the preferred stock.

If we issue and sell shares of preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.

 

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The laws of the state of Delaware, the state of our incorporation, provide that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of such preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, conversion or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that common stockholders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay, deter or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.

Warrants

As of August 31, 2011, a warrant exercisable for an aggregate of 16,384 shares of our common stock was outstanding and will be exercisable for a period of five years from August 2, 2010. In addition, warrants to purchase 1,662,500 shares of common stock were issued in a private placement transaction that closed on May 31, 2011. Such warrants are exercisable for a period of five years commencing on November 27, 2011. Each of the warrants contains a customary net issuance feature, which allows the warrant holder to pay the exercise price of the warrant by forfeiting a portion of the exercised warrant shares with a value equal to the aggregate exercise price.

Registration Rights

Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement

Under our amended and restated investor rights agreement, the holders of 11,263,950 shares of common stock, or their transferees, have the right to require us to register their shares with the SEC so that those shares may be publicly resold, or to include their shares in any registration statement we file. In addition, Forsythe Biotechnology Group, Inc. or its transferee has “piggyback” registration rights as described below with respect to an aggregate of 16,384 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants held by such entity.

Demand Registration Rights. At any time, the holders of at least 20% of the shares (or the holders of less than 20% so long as the aggregate number of securities requested to be sold under such registration statement is at least $5,000,000) having demand registration rights have the right to make up to two demands that we file a registration statement, subject to specified exceptions, conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters to limit the number of shares included in any such registration under certain circumstances.

Form S-3 Registration Rights. If we are eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, one or more holders of registration rights have the right to demand that we file a registration statement on Form S-3 so long as the aggregate amount of securities to be sold under the registration statement on Form S-3 is at least $1,000,000, subject to specified exceptions, conditions and limitations.

“Piggyback” Registration Rights. If we register any securities for public sale, holders of registration rights will have the right to include their shares in the registration statement. The underwriters of any underwritten offering will have the right to limit the number of shares having registration rights to be included in the registration statement, but not below 20% of the total number of shares included in the registration statement.

Expenses of Registration. Generally, we are required to bear all registration and selling expenses incurred in connection with the demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registrations described above, other than underwriting discounts and commissions.

Expiration of Registration Rights. The demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights discussed above will terminate five years following the closing of our initial public offering or, as to a given holder of registrable securities, when such holder is able to sell all of their registrable securities in a single 90-day period under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.

 

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Registration Rights with Respect to May 2011 Private Placement

In connection with a private placement of units consisting of common stock and warrants that closed on May 31, 2011, we entered into a registration rights agreement, or the Registration Rights Agreement, with the investors in the private placement. The Registration Rights Agreement required that we file a “resale” registration statement covering all of the shares of common stock and the common stock underlying the warrants issued in the private placement, up to the maximum number of shares able to be registered pursuant to applicable SEC regulations, within 30 days of the closing of the private placement. We filed a “resale” registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC on June 21, 2011, which was declared effective by the SEC on July 6, 2011. Under the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, we are obligated to maintain the effectiveness of the “resale” registration statement until all securities therein are sold or otherwise can be sold pursuant to Rule 144, without any restrictions. The Registration Rights Agreement contains customary terms and conditions for a transaction of this type, including certain customary cash penalties on us for our failure to satisfy specified filing and effectiveness time periods.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and our Charter Documents

Delaware Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, which regulates acquisitions of some Delaware corporations. In general, Section 203 prohibits, with some exceptions, a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

the board of directors of the corporation approved the business combination or the other transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder prior to the date of the business combination or other transaction;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder, the person owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers of the corporation and shares issued under employee stock plans under which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

   

on or subsequent to the date the person became an interested stockholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved the business combination and the stockholders of the corporation authorized the business combination at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 of the DGCL generally defines a “business combination” to include any of the following:

 

   

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

   

any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the corporation’s assets or outstanding stock involving the interested stockholder;

 

   

in general, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any of its stock to the interested stockholder;

 

   

any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of its stock owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

   

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as any person who, together with the person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock.

 

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Section 203 of the DGCL could depress our stock price and delay, discourage or prohibit transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, such as takeover attempts that might otherwise involve the payment to our stockholders of a premium over the market price of our common stock.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in our control or our management, which may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in our control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Among other things, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws:

 

   

permit our board of directors to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as they may designate (including the right to approve an acquisition or other change in control);

 

   

provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors;

 

   

provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;

 

   

require that any action to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and not be taken by written consent;

 

   

divide our board of directors into three classes;

 

   

provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide notice in writing in a timely manner, and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice;

 

   

do not provide for cumulative voting rights (therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose); and

 

   

provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board, our chief executive officer or by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors.

These and other provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. However, these provisions could delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of us, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current prices. Such provisions could also limit the ability of stockholders to remove current management or approve transactions that stockholders may deem to be in their best interests and, therefore, could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

The amendment of any of these provisions would require approval by the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our then outstanding common stock.

Nasdaq Global Market Listing

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “TSRX.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 480 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, New Jersey, 07310.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, 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 or free writing prospectus may differ from the terms we describe below. However, no prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus 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. As of the date of this prospectus, we have no outstanding registered debt securities.

We will issue the senior debt securities under the senior indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the senior indenture. We will issue the subordinated debt securities under the subordinated indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the subordinated indenture. We have filed forms of these documents as exhibits to the registration statement which includes this prospectus. We use the term “indentures” in this prospectus to refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture.

The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or Trust Indenture Act. We use the term “debenture trustee” to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable.

The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture 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 sell under this prospectus, as well as the indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.

General

We will describe in each applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms relating to a series of debt securities, 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;

 

   

the principal amount due at maturity, and whether the debt securities will be issued with any original issue discount;

 

   

whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States 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;

 

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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 payable;

 

   

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, the conditions upon 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;

 

   

the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities;

 

   

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 capital stock or the capital stock of our subsidiaries;

 

   

redeem capital stock;

 

   

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 stockholders or affiliates;

 

   

issue or sell stock 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 United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

 

   

information describing any book-entry features;

 

   

the procedures for any auction or remarketing, if any;

 

   

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;

 

   

the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

   

if other than dollars, the currency in which the series of debt securities will be denominated; 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.

 

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Conversion or Exchange Rights

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or our other securities. 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, preferred stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

The indentures do not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or 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 indentures or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible for our 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

The following are events of default under the indentures 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 or deferred;

 

   

if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable and the time for payment has not been extended or delayed;

 

   

if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, 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 debenture trustee or 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.

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 debenture 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 debenture 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 specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount 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 debenture 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 indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the debenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the debenture trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of

 

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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 debenture trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the debenture 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 applicable indenture; and

 

   

subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the debenture 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.

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

 

   

the holder has given written notice to the debenture 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 written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the debenture trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and

 

   

the debenture 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.

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

Modification of Indenture; Waiver

We and the debenture trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to 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 provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above 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 to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issuance, authorization and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture;

 

   

to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection 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 of our rights or powers under the indenture; or

 

   

to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series.

 

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In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the debenture 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, we and the debenture trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

   

extending the fixed 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 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

Each indenture provides that we can 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 debenture trustee;

 

   

compensate and indemnify the debenture trustee; and

 

   

appoint any successor trustee.

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the debenture trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, 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 or free writing prospectus, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide 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 or free writing prospectus with respect to that series. See “Legal Ownership of Securities” 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 indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, 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 indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, 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 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.

 

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We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus 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 Debenture Trustee

The debenture 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 applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the debenture 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. Subject to this provision, the debenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures 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.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, 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.

We will pay the 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 or free writing prospectus, 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 a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will designate the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee in the City of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus 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 debenture 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 indentures 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.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The indentures do not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities that we may issue and do not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future warrants we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any warrants we offer under a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may differ from the terms we describe below.

We will issue the warrants under a warrant agreement that we will enter into with a warrant agent to be selected by us. We have filed forms of the warrant agreements and the related warrant certificates for each type of warrant we may offer under this prospectus as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We use the term “warrant agreement” to refer to any of these warrant agreements. We use the term “warrant agent” to refer to the warrant agent under any of these warrant agreements. The warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ours in connection with the warrants and will not act as an agent for the holders or beneficial owners of the warrants.

The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement applicable to a particular series of warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus related to the warrants that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements that contain the terms of the warrants.

General

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms relating to a series of warrants. If warrants for the purchase of debt securities are offered, the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:

 

   

the offering price and the aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

   

the currencies in which the warrants are being offered;

 

   

the designation, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises a warrant;

 

   

the principal amount of the series of debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises a warrant and the price at which and currencies in which such principal amount may be purchased upon exercise;

 

   

the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which such right expires;

 

   

a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants; and

 

   

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants.

Warrants for the purchase of debt securities will be in registered form only.

If warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock are offered, the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:

 

   

the offering price and the aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

   

the total number of shares that can be purchased if a holder of the warrants exercises them and, in the case of warrants for preferred stock, the designation of the series of preferred stock that can be purchased upon exercise;

 

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in the case of warrants for preferred stock, the designation and terms of any series of preferred stock with which the warrants are being offered;

 

   

the price at which such common stock or preferred stock may be purchased upon exercise, including any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price and in the securities or other property receivable upon exercise;

 

   

the terms of any rights to redeem or call, or accelerate the expiration of, the warrants;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which that right expires;

 

   

a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants; and

 

   

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants.

Warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock will be in registered form only.

If the warrants are offered attached to common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will also describe the date on and after which the holder of the warrants can transfer them separately from the related common stock, series of preferred stock or debt securities.

A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Until any warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock are exercised, holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, including any rights to receive dividends or to exercise any voting rights, except to the extent set forth under “—Warrant Adjustments” below.

Exercise of Warrants

Each holder of a warrant is entitled to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, at the exercise price described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. After the close of business on the day when the right to exercise terminates (or a later date if we extend the time for exercise), unexercised warrants will become void.

A holder of warrants may exercise them by following the general procedure outlined below:

 

   

delivering to the warrant agent the payment required by the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus to purchase the underlying security;

 

   

properly completing and signing the reverse side of the warrant certificate representing the warrants; and

 

   

delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to the warrant agent within five business days of the warrant agent receiving payment of the exercise price.

If a holder of warrants complies with the procedures described above, such holder’s warrants will be considered to have been exercised when the warrant agent receives payment of the exercise price, subject to the transfer books for the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrant not being closed on such date. After a holder of warrants has completed those procedures and subject to the foregoing, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver to such holder the debt securities, common stock or preferred stock that such holder purchased upon exercise. If a holder of warrants exercises fewer than all of the warrants represented by a warrant certificate, a new warrant certificate will be issued to such holder for the unexercised amount of warrants. Holders of warrants will be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with transferring the underlying securities in connection with the exercise of the warrants.

 

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Amendments and Supplements to the Warrant Agreements

We may amend or supplement a warrant agreement without the consent of the holders of the applicable warrants to cure ambiguities in the warrant agreement, to cure or correct a defective provision in the warrant agreement, or to provide for other matters under the warrant agreement that we and the warrant agent deem necessary or desirable, so long as, in each case, such amendments or supplements do not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

Warrant Adjustments

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, the exercise price of, and the number of securities covered by, a common stock warrant or preferred stock warrant will be adjusted proportionately if we subdivide or combine our common stock or preferred stock, as applicable. In addition, unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, if we, without receiving payment:

 

   

issue capital stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or preferred stock, or any rights to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing, as a dividend or distribution to holders of our common stock or preferred stock, as applicable;

 

   

pay any cash to holders of our common stock or preferred stock other than a cash dividend paid out of our current or retained earnings or other than in accordance with the terms of the preferred stock;

 

   

issue any evidence of our indebtedness or rights to subscribe for or purchase our indebtedness to holders of our common stock or preferred stock; or

 

   

issue common stock or preferred stock or additional stock or other securities or property to holders of our common stock or preferred stock by way of spinoff, split-up, reclassification, combination of shares or similar corporate rearrangement,

then the holders of common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants, as applicable, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrants, in addition to the securities otherwise receivable upon exercise of the warrants and without paying any additional consideration, the amount of stock and other securities and property such holders would have been entitled to receive had they held the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, issuable under the warrants on the dates on which holders of those securities received or became entitled to receive such additional stock and other securities and property.

Except as stated above or as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the exercise price and number of securities covered by a common stock warrant and preferred stock warrant, and the amounts of other securities or property to be received, if any, upon exercise of those warrants, will not be adjusted or provided for if we issue those securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities, or securities carrying the right to purchase those securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities.

Holders of common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants may have additional rights under the following circumstances:

 

   

certain reclassifications, capital reorganizations or changes of the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable;

 

   

certain share exchanges, mergers, or similar transactions involving us and which result in changes of the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable; or

 

   

certain sales or dispositions to another entity of all or substantially all of our property and assets.

If one of the above transactions occurs and holders of our common stock or preferred stock are entitled to receive stock, securities or other property with respect to or in exchange for their securities, the holders of the common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants then outstanding, as applicable, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of their warrants the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property that they would have received upon the applicable transaction if they had exercised their warrants immediately before the transaction.

 

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LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

We can 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, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. 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 or its participants. 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 book-entry 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 holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depository participants or customers

 

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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 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 the 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 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 or in street name, you should 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 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 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 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 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 or free writing prospectus, 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 or free writing prospectus for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, 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 financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities

 

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transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a legal holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, 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 or broker 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 a 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 a 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 a 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.

 

   

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, the 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 name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.

The 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 or free writing prospectus 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 or free writing prospectus. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the common stock, preferred stock, warrants or debt securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

 

   

the name or names of any underwriters;

 

   

the purchase price of the securities and the 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 public offering price;

 

   

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more 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. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities related to this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

All securities we offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.

 

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Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment 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 the activities at any time.

Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Global Market may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock, preferred stock, warrants and debt securities, as applicable, on the Nasdaq Global Market 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. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. 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.

In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon by Cooley LLP, San Diego, California.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering under this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits which are part of the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We maintain a website at www.triusrx.com. Information contained in or accessible through our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this registration statement and prospectus the documents listed below, and any future filings we will make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus but prior to the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus (other than Current Reports or portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K):

 

   

Our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which was filed on March 25, 2011;

 

   

Our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011, which were filed on May 6, 2011 and August 15, 2011, respectively;

 

   

Our current reports on Form 8-K, which were filed on February 28, 2011, May 25, 2011, June 3, 2011, July 27, 2011, August 5, 2011 and August 17, 2011;

 

   

Our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed on April 20, 2011; and

 

   

The description of our common stock that is contained in the Form S-1 Registration Statement, filed with the SEC on June 21, 2011 (File No. 333-175050) under the Securities Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Trius Therapeutics, Inc.

6310 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 101

San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 452-0370

 

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