Regulus Ends Equity Plans, Pulls Remaining Shares Post-Novartis Deal

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. ("Regulus") filed a Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to 20 previously effective Form S-8 registration statements covering shares reserved for issuance under multiple equity incentive and employee stock purchase plans dating back to 2012. The amendment withdraws or deregisters all shares of common stock that remain unsold or unissued under those plans.

The action follows the closing of Regulus’ merger with Novartis AG on 25 June 2025, pursuant to the 29 April 2025 Agreement and Plan of Merger. Redwood Merger Sub Inc. was merged into Regulus, leaving Regulus as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Novartis. Consequently, all public offerings of Regulus securities under the referenced S-8 statements have been terminated, and the company is removing these securities from registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

Because this filing is purely administrative—reflecting the company’s new private-company status—there are no financial results, earnings metrics, or operational updates included. The key implication for investors is confirmation that Regulus shares previously issuable under employee plans will no longer be offered or sold on a stand-alone basis.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Termination of all standalone equity incentive and ESPP offerings signals that Regulus securities will no longer trade independently following the Novartis merger.

Insights

Securities Counsel

TL;DR: Filing formally cancels unsold plan shares after Novartis acquisition; largely procedural, limited investment impact.

This Post-Effective Amendment fulfils a routine obligation under Rule 478 to deregister securities that are no longer to be offered once an issuer ceases to exist as an independent public company. By listing every original S-8—including those predating two reverse splits—the company ensures complete removal of plan shares from the SEC’s records. No new liabilities or obligations arise, and there is no dilution risk for former public shareholders because their merger consideration was fixed at closing. From a governance standpoint, this cleans up Regulus’ registration ledger and signals full integration into Novartis’ private reporting structure.

Portfolio Manager

TL;DR: Administrative clean-up post-merger; negligible effect on former RGLS public float or valuation.

Investors already captured value through the Novartis take-out. The deregistration of unsold option and ESPP shares removes potential future share issuance, but given conversion in the merger this has no bearing on ongoing equity supply. For index or fund managers, the filing merely confirms that RGLS is no longer a standalone ticker. Overall market impact is neutral; no cash flows, synergies, or post-deal guidance are addressed here.

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2025

 

Registration Statement No. 333-184324

Registration Statement No. 333-188606

Registration Statement No. 333-194294

Registration Statement No. 333-201988

Registration Statement No. 333-206511

Registration Statement No. 333-209654

Registration Statement No. 333-215793

Registration Statement No. 333-222434

Registration Statement No. 333-229514

Registration Statement No. 333-233414

Registration Statement No. 333-236020

Registration Statement No. 333-252733

Registration Statement No. 333-261402

Registration Statement No. 333-262112

Registration Statement No. 333-266800

Registration Statement No. 333-269184

Registration Statement No. 333-273027

Registration Statement No. 333-276484

Registration Statement No. 333-279542

Registration Statement No. 333-284604

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-8

 

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-184324)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-188606)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-194294)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-201988)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-206511)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-209654)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-215793)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-222434)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-229514)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-233414)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-236020)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-252733)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-261402)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-262112)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-266800)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-269184)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-273027)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-276484)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-279542)

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTATION STATEMENT (REGISTRATION NO. 333-284604)

 

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

Regulus Therapeutics Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Delaware	 	26-4738379
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	 	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 	 	 
  4224 Campus Point Court, Suite 210 San Diego, CA	 	92121
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	 	(Zip Code)

 

REGULUS THERAPEUTICS INC. 2009 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

REGULUS THERAPEUTICS INC. 2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

REGULUS THERAPEUTICS INC. 2012 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

REGULUS THERAPEUTICS INC. INDUCEMENT PLAN

REGULUS THERAPEUTICS INC. 2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

REGULUS THERAPEUTICS INC. 2021 INDUCEMENT PLAN

REGULUS THERAPEUTICS INC. 2022 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

(Full title of the plans)

 

 

 

Jaime Huertas

Secretary

Regulus Therapeutics Inc.

4224 Campus Point Court, Suite 210

San Diego, CA

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(858) 202-6300

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

Copies to:

 

Catherine J. Dargan, Esq.

Michael J. Riella, Esq.

Kerry S. Burke, Esq.

Covington & Burling LLP

One CityCenter

850 Tenth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001-4956

+1 (202) 662-6000  

 

 

 

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.

 

Large accelerated filer	¨	 	Accelerated filer	¨
 	 	 	 	 
Non-accelerated filer	x	 	Smaller reporting company	x
 	 	 	 	 
 	 	 	Emerging growth company	¨

 

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. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

DEREGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

 

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (this “Post-Effective Amendment”) relates to each of the following Registration Statements on Form S-8 (each, a “Registration Statement” and collectively, the “Registration Statements”) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Regulus Therapeutics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Registrant”), to deregister any and all shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), registered but unsold or otherwise unissued under each such Registration Statement as of the date hereof:

 

 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-184324), filed with the SEC on October 5, 2012, registering the offer and sale of (i) 3,398,638* shares of Common Stock, subject to outstanding options under the Registrant’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”), (ii) 5,630,419* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Registrant’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”), and (iii) 150,000* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Registrant’s 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2012 ESPP”);
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-188606), filed with the SEC on May 15, 2013, registering the offer and sale of (i) 1,433,272* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Plan, and (ii) 358,318* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-194294), filed with the SEC on March 4, 2014, registering the offer and sale (i) 1,671,493* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Plan, and (ii) 417,873* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-201988), filed with the SEC on February 9, 2015, registering the offer and sale of (i) 1,957,781* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Plan, and (ii) 489,445* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-206511), filed with the SEC on August 21, 2015, registering the offer and sale of 1,000,000* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Registrant’s Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”);
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-209654), filed with the SEC on February 23, 2016, registering the offer and sale of (i) 2,106,770* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Plan, and (ii) 500,000* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-215793), filed with the SEC on January 27, 2017, registering the offer and sale of (i) 2,116,992* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Plan, and (ii) 500,000* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-222434), filed with the SEC on January 5, 2018, registering the offer and sale of (i) 4,158,205* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Plan, and (ii) 500,000* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-229514), filed with the SEC on February 5, 2019, registering the offer and sale of (i) 352,720* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Plan, and (ii) 41,666* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-233414), filed with the SEC on August 22, 2019, registering the offer and sale of 3,881,477* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Registrant’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”);
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-236020), filed with the SEC on January 22, 2020, registering the offer and sale of 4,166,860* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan;

 

 

 

 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-252733), filed with the SEC on February 4, 2021, registering the offer and sale of (i) 3,371,635* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan, and (ii) 83,332* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-261402), filed with the SEC on November 29, 2021, registering the offer and sale of 2,000,000* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Registrant’s 2021 Inducement Plan;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-262112), filed with the SEC on January 12, 2022, registering the offer and sale of (i) 7,298,559* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan, and (ii) 41,666* shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 ESPP;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-266800), filed with the SEC on August 11, 2022, registering the offer and sale of 129,107 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Registrant’s 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2022 ESPP”);
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-269184), filed with the SEC on January 11, 2023, registering the offer and sale of (i) 842,013 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan, (ii) 50,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 ESPP, and (iii) 340,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Inducement Plan;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-273027), filed with the SEC on June 29, 2023, registering the offer and sale of 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-276484), filed with the SEC on January 12, 2024, registering the offer and sale of (i) 1,011,133 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan, (ii) 50,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 ESPP, and (iii) 490,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Inducement Plan;
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-279542), filed with the SEC on May 20, 2024, registering the offer and sale of 9,500,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan; and
 	 	 
 	·	Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-284604), filed with the SEC on January 30, 2025, registering the offer and sale of (i) 5,127,314 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan, and (ii) 50,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 ESPP.

 

*            Represents the number of shares registered prior to giving effect to (i) the 1-for-12 reverse stock split effected on October 3, 2018 and (ii) the 1-for-10 reverse stock split effected on June 28, 2022, as applicable.

 

On June 25, 2025, pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 29, 2025 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Registrant, Novartis AG, a company limited by shares (Aktiengesellschafl) incorporated under the laws of Switzerland (“Parent”), and Redwood Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), Merger Sub merged with and into the Registrant, with the Registrant surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”).

 

As a result of the Merger, the Registrant has terminated any and all offerings and sales of its securities pursuant to the Registration Statements. In accordance with an undertaking made by the Registrant in each Registration Statement to remove from registration, by means of a post-effective amendment, any of the securities registered under the Registration Statements that remain unissued at the termination of the offerings, the Registrant hereby files the Post-Effective Amendment to deregister all securities registered but unsold or otherwise unissued under each Registration Statement, if any, as of the date hereof.

 

The foregoing description of the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2025.

 

 

 

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 the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of East Hanover, State of New Jersey on June 25, 2025.

 

 	Regulus Therapeutics Inc.
 	 	 
 	By:	/s/ Jaime Huertas
 	 	Name:	Jaime Huertas
 	 	Title:	Secretary

 

No other person is required to sign this Post-Effective Amendment in reliance upon Rule 478 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

FAQ

Why did Regulus Therapeutics (RGLS) file this Post-Effective Amendment to Form S-8?

The amendment deregisters all unsold shares from prior equity plans because Regulus became a wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis on 25 June 2025.

How many Form S-8 registration statements are affected by the deregistration?

Twenty separate S-8 statements, dating from 2012 to 2025, are being amended to remove unsold shares.

Does this filing include any financial or earnings information for RGLS?

No. The filing is strictly administrative and contains no financial results or operational data.

What happens to employee stock options and ESPP shares after the merger with Novartis?

Any remaining unissued shares under Regulus plans are deregistered and will not be offered; treatment of outstanding awards is governed by the merger agreement.

Is Regulus Therapeutics still a publicly traded company after 25 June 2025?

No. Following the merger, Regulus is a wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis AG and its independent public trading has ceased.