SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D/A
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 3)*
Athira Pharma, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
04746L104
(CUSIP Number)
Alexander Rakitin
Perceptive Advisors LLC
51 Astor Place, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(646) 205-5340
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
October 30, 2024
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. ☐
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
| * | The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. |
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
| CUSIP No. 04746L104 |
| 1. | Names of Reporting Persons.
Perceptive Advisors LLC | |||||
| 2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ☐ (b) ☒
| |||||
| 3. | SEC Use Only
| |||||
| 4. | Source of Funds (See Instructions)
AF | |||||
| 5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
☐ | |||||
| 6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware | |||||
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With
| 7. | Sole Voting Power
0 | ||||
| 8. | Shared Voting Power
5,402,964 | |||||
| 9. | Sole Dispositive Power
0 | |||||
| 10. | Shared Dispositive Power
5,402,964 | |||||
| 11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
5,402,964 | |||||
| 12. | Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
☐ | |||||
| 13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
14.1% | |||||
| 14. | Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IA | |||||
CUSIP No. 04746L104
| 1. | Names of Reporting Persons.
Joseph Edelman | |||||
| 2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ☐ (b) ☒
| |||||
| 3. | SEC Use Only
| |||||
| 4. | Source of Funds (See Instructions)
AF | |||||
| 5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
☐ | |||||
| 6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization
United States of America | |||||
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With
| 7. | Sole Voting Power
0 | ||||
| 8. | Shared Voting Power
5,479,348 | |||||
| 9. | Sole Dispositive Power
0 | |||||
| 10. | Shared Dispositive Power
5,479,348 | |||||
| 11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
5,479,348 | |||||
| 12. | Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
☐ | |||||
| 13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
14.2% | |||||
| 14. | Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IN | |||||
CUSIP No. 04746L104
| 1. | Names of Reporting Persons.
Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund, Ltd. | |||||
| 2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ☐ (b) ☒
| |||||
| 3. | SEC Use Only
| |||||
| 4. | Source of Funds (See Instructions)
WC | |||||
| 5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
☐ | |||||
| 6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization
Cayman Islands | |||||
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With
| 7. | Sole Voting Power
0 | ||||
| 8. | Shared Voting Power
5,402,964 | |||||
| 9. | Sole Dispositive Power
0 | |||||
| 10. | Shared Dispositive Power
5,402,964 | |||||
| 11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
5,402,964 | |||||
| 12. | Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
☐ | |||||
| 13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
14.1% | |||||
| 14. | Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO | |||||
| Item 2. | Identity and Background |
Item 2 of the Schedule 13D is amended and restated as follows:
| (a) | This Amendment No. 3 to the Schedule 13D is being filed by Perceptive Advisors LLC (“Perceptive Advisors”), Joseph Edelman (“Mr. Edelman”) and Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund, Ltd. (the “Master Fund,” and together with Perceptive Advisors and Mr. Edelman, each of the foregoing, a “Reporting Person,” and collectively, the “Reporting Persons”). Perceptive Advisors serves as the investment advisor to the Master Fund and Mr. Edelman is the managing member of Perceptive Advisors. The agreement among the Reporting Persons to file this Schedule 13D jointly in accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is attached as Exhibit 1 to the initial Schedule 13D filed February 8, 2021. |
| (b) | The address of the principal business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 51 Astor Place 10th Floor, New York, NY 10003. |
| (c) | The principal business of Perceptive Advisors is managing funds in connection with purchasing, holding and selling securities for investment purposes. The principal business of the Master Fund is to invest in securities. The principal occupation of Mr. Edelman is as the managing member of Perceptive Advisors and other related entities. |
| (d) | During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, nor to the Reporting Persons’ knowledge, any of the persons listed on Schedule A to this Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13D, has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors). |
| (e) | During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, nor to the Reporting Persons’ knowledge, any of the persons listed on Schedule A to this Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13D, has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree of final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws, other than the previously announced settlement order entered into by Perceptive Advisors with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated September 6, 2022 (File No. 3-21031). |
| (f) | Perceptive Advisors is a Delaware limited liability company. Mr. Edelman is a United States citizen. The Master Fund is a Cayman Islands corporation. |
Schedule A to this Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13D sets forth the information regarding the directors of the Master Fund.
| Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction |
Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is amended and restated as follows:
The Reporting Persons acquired the shares of Common Stock set forth in Item 5 and hold their shares of Common Stock for investment purposes. Mr. Edelman is a director of the Issuer.
Each Reporting Person expects to continuously review such person’s investment in the Issuer and, depending on various factors including but not limited to, the price of the shares of Common Stock, the terms and conditions of the transaction, prevailing market conditions and such other considerations as such Reporting Person deems relevant, may at any time or from time to time, and subject to any required regulatory approvals, acquire additional shares of Common Stock, preferred stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock from time to time on the open market, in privately- negotiated transactions, directly from the Issuer, or upon the exercise or conversion of securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.
Each Reporting Person also may, at any time, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and regulatory requirements dispose or distribute some or all of its of his Common Stock or such other securities as it or he owns or may subsequently acquire depending on various factors, including but not limited to, the price of the shares, the terms and conditions of the transaction and prevailing market conditions, as well as the liquidity and diversification objectives.
Consistent with their investment intent, each Reporting Person may from time to time discuss with the Issuer’s management, directors, other shareholders and others, the Issuer’s performance, business, strategic direction, capital structure, product development program, prospects and management, as well as various ways of maximizing stockholder value. Representatives of the Reporting Persons are engaged in discussions with the Issuer’s management and other third parties with respect to a potential extraordinary transaction involving the Issuer and other third parties. There is no assurance that any such transaction will develop or materialize, or if it does, as to its timing or whether the Reporting Persons will participate.
Except as indicated herein, no Reporting Person, as a stockholder of the Issuer, has any plans or proposals that relates or would result in any of the transactions or other matters specified in clauses (a) though (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. Each Reporting Person may, at any time and from time to time, review or reconsider its or his position and/or change its or his purpose and/or formulate plans or proposals with respect thereto.
| Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer |
Item 5 of the Schedule 13D is amended and supplemented as follows:
| (a) | The information set forth in rows 11 and 13 of the cover pages to this Schedule 13D is incorporated by reference. The percentage set forth in row 13 is based on 38,439,375 outstanding shares of Common Stock as of July 29, 2024, as reported by the Issuer in Amendment No. 1 to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2024. |
| (b) | The information set forth in rows 7 through 10 of the cover pages to this Schedule 13D is incorporated by reference. Mr. Edelman’s cover page includes 76,384 shares of Common Stock that may be acquired upon the exercise of vested options awarded to Mr. Edelman in connection with his role as a director of the Issuer. |
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: October 31, 2024
| PERCEPTIVE ADVISORS LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Joseph Edelman | |
| Name: Joseph Edelman | ||
| Title: Managing Member | ||
/s/ Joseph Edelman | ||
| JOSEPH EDELMAN | ||
| PERCEPTIVE LIFE SCIENCES MASTER FUND, LTD. | ||
| By: | Perceptive Advisors LLC | |
| By: | /s/ Joseph Edelman | |
| Name: Joseph Edelman | ||
| Title: Managing Member | ||
Schedule A
The following sets forth the name, address, principal occupation, citizenship and beneficial ownership of Ordinary Shares of each director of the Master Fund.
Master Fund | ||||||
Name and Citizenship | Position | Principal Business Address | Beneficial Ownership of Ordinary Shares | |||
Scott Dakers (United Kingdom) | Director | c/o Elian Fiduciary Services (Cayman) Limited 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town Grand Cayman KY1-9007 Cayman Islands | None | |||
Ernest A. Morrison (United Kingdom) | Director | Cox Hallett Wilkinson Milner House 18 Parliament Street P.O. Box HM 1561 Hamilton HM FX Bermuda | None | |||
James Nicholas (United States) | Director | c/o GenesisPoint LLC 30 Old Kings Highway S Darien, CT 06820 | None | |||
