QUEBEC CITY, July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the "Company") announced today that it has completed its previously announced registered direct offering of $7.8 million of units comprised of common shares and common share purchase warrants to certain institutional investors. Net proceeds from this offering, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses, total approximately $7 million. All of the securities were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to continue to fund the Company's ongoing drug development activities, primarily for the advancement of its zoptarelin doxorubicin (AEZS-108) program, secondly for its macimorelin acetate (AEZS-130) program, as well as for general corporate purposes and working capital.
Burrill Securities LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for the transaction.
As of July 30, 2013 and after issuing 5.2 million common shares at the closing of this offering, the Company had approximately 31.2 million common shares issued and outstanding, without giving effect to or assuming the exercise of any outstanding warrants.
A shelf registration statement relating to the common shares and warrants issued in the offering (and the common shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and has been declared effective. A prospectus supplement relating to the offering was filed with the SEC. Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained directly from Aeterna Zentaris Inc., 1405 du Parc-Technologique Boulevard, Quebec City, Canada G1P 4P5. This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of Aeterna Zentaris' common shares or warrants. No offer, solicitation or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.
About Aeterna Zentaris Inc.
Aeterna Zentaris is a specialty biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel treatments in oncology and endocrinology. The Company's pipeline encompasses compounds from drug discovery to regulatory approval. For more information, visit www.aezsinc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the risk that safety and efficacy data from any of our Phase 3 trials may not coincide with the data analyses from previously reported Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 clinical trials, the ability of the Company to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic conditions.
Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, unless required to do so by a governmental authority or by applicable law.
SOURCE Aeterna Zentaris Inc.