KemPharm, Inc. (NASDAQ:KMPH) Files An 8-K Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing
Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
On September 27, 2019, KemPharm, Inc., or the Company, received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC, or NASDAQ, notifying the Company that the listing of its common stock was not in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) for continued listing on the NASDAQ Global Market, as the minimum bid price of the Company’s listed securities was less than $1.00 per share for the previous 30 consecutive business days. Under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has a period of 180 calendar days, or until March 25, 2020, to regain compliance with the rule referred to in this paragraph. To regain compliance, during this 180-day compliance period, the Company’s minimum bid price of listed securities must close at $1.00 per share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. The notice has no present impact on the listing of the Company’s securities on the NASDAQ Global Market.
In the event that the Company does not regain compliance with the NASDAQ Listing Rules prior to the expiration of the 180-day compliance period, the Company may be eligible for additional time to regain compliance to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(ii) by transferring to the Nasdaq Capital Market. To qualify, the Company would need to submit a Transfer Application and a $5,000 application fee. In addition, the Company would be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the minimum bid price requirement. In addition, the Company would need to provide written notice to Nasdaq of its intention to cure the minimum bid price deficiency during the second compliance period by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. As part of its review process, the Nasdaq staff will make a determination of whether it believes the Company will be able to cure this deficiency. Should the Nasdaq staff conclude that the Company will not be able to cure the deficiency, or should the Company determine not to submit a Transfer Application or make the required representation, Nasdaq will provide notice that the Company’s shares of common stock will be subject to delisting
If the Company does not regain compliance within the allotted compliance period(s), including any extensions that may be granted by Nasdaq, Nasdaq will provide notice that the Company’s shares of common stock will be subject to delisting. At such time, the Company may appeal the delisting determination to a Hearings Panel.
The Company intends to actively monitor its minimum bid price of listed securities and, as appropriate, will consider available options to resolve the deficiencies and regain compliance with the NASDAQ Listing Rules, including applying to transfer to the NASDAQ Capital Market or effecting a reverse stock split.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in maintaining the listing of its common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market, or, if transferred, on the NASDAQ Capital Market. This could impair the liquidity and market price of its common stock. In addition, the delisting of its common stock from a national exchange could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s access to capital markets, and any limitation on market liquidity or reduction in the price of its common stock as a result of that delisting could adversely affect the Company’s ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all.
About KemPharm, Inc. (NASDAQ:KMPH)
KemPharm, Inc. is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in the discovery and development of prodrugs. The Company uses its Ligand Activated Therapy (LAT) platform technology to create prodrugs. The Company’s product candidate, KP201/APAP, consists of KP201, its prodrug of hydrocodone, which is combined with acetaminophen (APAP). The Company is developing KP201/APAP as an immediate release (IR), a product candidate for the short-term, or no longer than 14 days for the management of acute pain. The Company has designed KP201/APAP with abuse-deterrent properties to address the epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States. The Company also focuses on developing the pipeline of additional prodrug product candidates that targets pain and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Company’s products include KP201/IR (APAP-free), KP511/ER, KP415, KP606/IR and KP746.