UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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| Item 3.01 | Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing. |
On June 29, 2023, Axcella Health Inc., (the “Company”) was notified by the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that, based upon the Company’s non-compliance with the $1.00 bid price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) as of June 28, 2023, the Company would be delisted at the opening of business on July 10, 2023 unless the Company timely requests a hearing before a Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) to address the deficiencies and present a plan to regain compliance.
The Company plans to timely request a hearing before the Panel, which request will stay any further delisting action by the Staff at least pending the ultimate outcome of the hearing and the expiration of any extension that may be granted by the Panel. The Company’s common stock will remain listed and eligible for trading on Nasdaq at least pending the ultimate conclusion of the hearing process.
As previously disclosed, on December 30, 2022, the Company received written notice from the Staff indicating that, based upon the closing bid price for the Company’s common stock for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the Company no longer satisfied the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market and, in accordance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules, was afforded a 180-calendar day grace period, through June 28, 2023 to regain compliance with the rule. The Company did not regain compliance with minimum bid price requirement by June 28, 2023 and the Staff did not grant the Company a second grace period to do so.
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On June 23, 2023, Margaret Koziel, M.D., who has served as the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, notified the Company of her resignation from the Company, effective immediately. The Company expects to engage Dr. Koziel to consult with and support the Company in connection with its previously announced program reprioritization and corporate restructuring.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this Current Report on Form 8-K constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the potential hearing with Panel. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, that the common stock will continue to trade under the symbol “AXLA”. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Please refer to the publicly filed documents of the Company, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, for risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s business which may affect the statements made in this Current Report on Form 8-K.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| AXCELLA HEALTH INC. | ||
| Date: June 29, 2023 | By: | /s/ William R. Hinshaw, Jr. |
| William R. Hinshaw, Jr. | ||
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||