As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Delaware |
20-5894398 |
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1180 Celebration Boulevard, Suite 103
Celebration, FL 34747
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. 2023 Employment Inducement Award Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
R. LaDuane Clifton, CPA
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
1180 Celebration Boulevard, Suite 103
Celebration, FL 34747
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(321) 939-3416
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Nathan Ajiashvili, Esq.
Latham & Watkins LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
(212) 906-1200
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer |
☐ |
Accelerated filer |
☐ |
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Non-accelerated filer |
☒ |
Smaller reporting company |
☒ |
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Emerging growth company |
☐ |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being filed with or included in this Registration Statement (by incorporation by reference or otherwise) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
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Item 3. |
Incorporation of Documents by Reference. |
The following documents filed with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:
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a. |
the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Commission on March 7, 2023 (File No. 001-36913); |
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b. |
the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 9, 2023, January 20, 2023 and February 24, 2023 (in each case, File No. 001-36913); and |
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c. |
the description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the prospectus included in the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File. No. 250945), which description is incorporated by reference into the Form 8-A (File No. 001-36913) filed with the Commission on January 5, 2021, pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as updated by “Description of the Registrant’s Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934” filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Commission on March 7, 2023 (File No. 001-36913) and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All reports and other documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof (except for any portions of the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and/or Item 7.01 thereof and any corresponding exhibits thereto not filed with the Commission) and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement, which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents or reports.
Any statement contained in this Registration Statement, in an amendment hereto or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed amendment to this Registration Statement or in any document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as to specific section of such statements as set forth therein.
Under no circumstances shall any information furnished under Item 2.02 and/or Item 7.01 of Current Report on Form 8-K and any corresponding exhibits thereto be deemed incorporated herein by reference unless such Current Report on Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.
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Item 4. |
Description of Securities. |
Not applicable.
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Item 5. |
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. |
Not applicable.
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Item 6. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or who is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.
Subsection (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”) empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and the indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Section 145 also empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 145.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”) provide that it will indemnify its directors to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or any other applicable law; provided, however, that the Registrant may modify the extent of such indemnification by individual contracts with its directors; and, provided, further, that the Registrant shall not be required to indemnify any director in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was authorized by the Registrant’s board of directors, (iii) such indemnification is provided by the Registrant, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Registrant under the DGCL or any other applicable law or (iv) such indemnification is required to be made under Article XI, Section 43(d) of the Bylaws. The Bylaws also provide that the Registrant has the power to indemnify its officers, employees and other agents as set forth in the DGCL or any other applicable law. The Registrant’s board of directors shall have the power to delegate the determination of whether indemnification shall be given to any such person to such officers or other persons as the Registrant’s board of directors shall determine.
The Bylaws provide that the Registrant will advance to any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, prior to the final disposition of the proceeding, promptly following request therefor, all expenses incurred by any director in connection with such proceeding; provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by a director in his or her capacity as a director (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Registrant of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under Article XI, Section 43 of the Bylaws or otherwise. The Bylaws provide that any right to indemnification or advances granted by the Bylaws to a director shall be enforceable by or on behalf of the person holding such right in any court of competent jurisdiction if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is denied, in whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within ninety (90) days of request therefor. To the extent permitted by law, the claimant in such enforcement action, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting the claim. In connection with any claim for indemnification, the Registrant shall be entitled to raise as a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the DGCL or any other applicable law for the Registrant to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Registrant (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because the director has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL or any other applicable law, nor an actual determination by the Registrant (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by a director to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, the burden of proving that the director is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article XI, Section 43 of the Bylaws or otherwise shall be on the Registrant.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers in which the Registrant has agreed to indemnify, defend and hold harmless, and also advance expenses as incurred, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, from damage arising from the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of the Registrant or its subsidiaries.
The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Registrant’s restated certificate of incorporation, Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
The Registrant expects to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage to (1) the Registrant’s directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to the Registrant with respect to indemnification payments that the Registrant may make to such directors and officers.
The Registrant has purchased and intends to maintain insurance on behalf of the Registrant and any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in that capacity, subject to certain exclusions and limits of the amount of coverage.
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Item 7. |
Exemption from Registration Claimed. |
Not applicable.
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Item 8. |
Exhibits. |
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* |
Filed herewith |
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Item 9. |
Undertakings. |
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Celebration, State of Florida, on this 7th day of March, 2023.
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Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. |
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By: |
/s/ R. LaDuane Clifton |
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R. LaDuane Clifton, CPA |
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Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer |
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KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Richard W. Pascoe. and R. LaDuane Clifton, CPA and each or any one of them, his lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Signature |
Title |
Date |
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/s/ Richard W. Pascoe |
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Richard W. Pascoe |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
March 7, 2023 |
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/s/ R. LaDuane Clifton |
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R. LaDuane Clifton, CPA |
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) |
March 7, 2023 |
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/s/ Timothy J. Sangiovanni |
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Timothy J. Sangiovanni, CPA |
Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) |
March 7, 2023 |
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/s/ Travis C. Mickle, Ph.D. |
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Travis C. Mickle, Ph.D. |
President and Director |
March 7, 2023 |
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/s/Matthew R. Plooster |
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Matthew R. Plooster |
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
March 7, 2023 |
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/s/ Tamara A. Favorito |
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Tamara A. Favorito |
Director |
March 7, 2023 |
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/s/ Joseph B. Saluri |
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Joseph B. Saluri |
Director |
March 7, 2023 |
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/s/ David S. Tierney |
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David S. Tierney |
Director |
March 7, 2023 |
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/s/ Christopher Posner |
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Christopher Posner |
Director |
March 7, 2023
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Exhibit 5.1
March 7, 2023
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1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020-1401 Tel: +1.212.906.1200 Fax: +1.212.751.4864 www.lw.com FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES Austin Milan Beijing Munich Boston New York Brussels Orange County Century City Paris Chicago Riyadh Dubai San Diego Düsseldorf San Francisco Frankfurt Seoul Hamburg Shanghai Hong Kong Silicon Valley Houston Singapore London Tel Aviv Los Angeles Tokyo Madrid Washington, D.C. |
Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
1180 Celebration Boulevard, Suite 103
Celebration, FL 34747
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8; 1,500,000 shares of Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share
To the addressee set forth above:
We have acted as special counsel to Zevra Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the issuance by the Company of up to 1,500,000 shares of common stock of the Company, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), issuable under the Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. 2023 Employment Inducement Award Plan (the “Plan”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the prospectus forming a part thereof, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Shares.
As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein only as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the recipients thereof, and have been issued by the Company for legal consideration in excess of par value in the circumstances contemplated by the Plan, assuming in each case that the individual grants or awards under the Plan are duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and duly granted or awarded and exercised in accordance with the requirements of law and the Plan (and the agreements and awards duly adopted thereunder and in accordance therewith), the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the DGCL.
This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Sincerely,
/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. 2023 Employment Inducement Award Plan of our report dated March 7, 2023, with respect to the financial statements of Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Orlando, Florida
March 7, 2023
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. (f/k/a KemPharm, Inc.) of our report dated March 30, 2022, relating to the financial statements of KemPharm, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2021, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2022.
/s/ RSM US LLP
Orlando, Florida
March 7, 2023
Exhibit 107.1
CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLE
FORM S-8
(Form Type)
Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table I: Newly Registered Securities
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Plan |
Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee Calculation Rule |
Amount Registered(1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Fee Rate |
Amount of Registration Fee |
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2023 Employment Inducement Award Plan |
Equity |
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share |
Rule 457(c) |
1,500,000(2) |
$5.45(3) |
$ 8,175,000.00 |
$110.20 per million dollars |
$900.89 |
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Total Offering Amounts |
$8,175,000.00 |
$900.89 |
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Total Fee Offsets |
$— |
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Net Fee Due |
$900.89 |
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(1) In accordance with Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), this registration statement shall be deemed to cover any additional securities that may from time to time be offered or issued under the Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. 2023 Employment Inducement Award Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the Inducement Plan.
(2) Consists of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock that may become issuable under the Inducement Plan pursuant to its terms.
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 2, 2023.