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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2016

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

IDERA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		04-3072298
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

167 Sidney Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

(617) 679-5500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Vincent J. Milano

President and Chief Executive Officer

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

167 Sidney Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

(617) 679-5500

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copy to:

Mark J. Casey

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

167 Sidney Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

(617) 679-5500

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer		¨		Accelerated filer		x
Non-accelerated filer		¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered		Amount to be Registered(1)		Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(2)		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price		Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share		49,413,788		$1.88		$92,897,922		$9,354.83

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or pursuant to anti-dilution provisions of any of the securities.

(2)	Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act and based upon the average of the high and low prices on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 10, 2016.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling stockholders named in this prospectus may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and the selling stockholders named in this prospectus are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated March 11, 2016

PROSPECTUS

IDERA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

49,413,788 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

 

 

This prospectus relates to the possible resale from time to time of up to 49,413,788 shares of common stock of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares offered by this prospectus.

We have agreed to bear all of the expenses incurred in connection with the registration of these shares. The selling stockholders will pay or assume brokerage commissions and similar charges incurred for the sale of shares of our common stock.

The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus, or their respective pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest, may offer the shares from time to time through public or private transactions at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 12.

Our common stock is currently traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “IDRA.” On March 10, 2016, the closing sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.78 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations for our common stock.

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is             , 2016.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			1
RISK FACTORS			2
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION			3
USE OF PROCEEDS			4
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS			5
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			8
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			12
LEGAL MATTERS			14
EXPERTS			14
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			14
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE			14

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The selling stockholders are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of common stock.

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, including the risk factors set forth in the documents and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, that are incorporated by reference herein, such as the risk factors under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the SEC, as revised or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, all of which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before purchasing our common stock. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer, possibly materially. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could fall, and you may lose all or part of the money you paid to buy our common stock.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated in this prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, clinical trials, collaborations, intellectual property, cash resources, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “potential,” “likely,” “projects,” “continue,” “will,” and “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements. See “Risk Factors” for more information. These factors and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference should be read as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements whenever they appear in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates only as of the date that this prospectus is filed with the SEC and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares offered pursuant to this prospectus. The selling stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. For information about the selling stockholders, see “Selling Stockholders.”

The selling stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling stockholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in disposing of the shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares covered by this prospectus, including all registration and filing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and accountants.

 

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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The table below sets forth, to our knowledge, information concerning the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders as of February 25, 2016.

The information in the table below with respect to the selling stockholders has been obtained from the selling stockholders. When we refer to the “selling stockholders” in this prospectus, we mean the selling stockholders listed in the table below as offering shares, as well as their respective pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest who may hold any of the selling stockholders’ interest.

We do not know if, when or in what amounts the selling stockholders may offer their shares for sale. The selling stockholders may sell some, all or none of the shares offered by this prospectus. Because the number of shares the selling stockholders may offer and sell is not presently known, and because there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any of the shares, we cannot estimate the number of shares that will be held by each selling stockholder after completion of this offering. This table, however, presents the maximum number of shares of common stock that the selling stockholders may offer pursuant to this prospectus and the number of shares of common stock that would be beneficially owned after the sale of the maximum number of shares of common stock by each selling stockholder.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes voting or investment power with respect to shares. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, each selling stockholder named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock beneficially owned by it. The inclusion of any shares in this table does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership for any selling stockholder named below. This table does not include certain shares of our common stock held by affiliates of the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders may hold a pecuniary interest in such additional shares.

 

Name of Selling Stockholder		Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering								Number of Shares of Common Stock Being				Shares of Common Stock to be Beneficially Owned After Offering
		Number				Percentage (1)				Offered				Number				Percentage
Baker Bros. Advisors LP			6,946,409	(2)			5.7	%			49,413,788	(3)			0				0	%

 

(1)	Based on 121,275,678 shares of our common stock outstanding on February 15, 2016.

(2)

The shares of common stock reported as beneficially owned by Baker Bros. Advisors LP are held by (i) 14159, L.P. (35,105 shares after giving effect to the Beneficial Ownership Cap, as described below in this footnote), (ii) 667, L.P. (606,472 shares after giving effect to the Beneficial Ownership Cap) and (iii) Baker Brothers Life Sciences, L.P. (6,304,832 shares after giving effect to the Beneficial Ownership Cap). As a result of the application of the Beneficial Ownership Cap, this number does not include the following as being beneficially owned by the selling stockholders: (i) 919,591 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase common stock held by 14159, L.P., (ii) 4,640,773 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase common stock held by 667, L.P. and (iii) 36,907,015 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase common stock held by Baker Brothers Life Sciences, L.P. Julian C. Baker, a member of our board of directors, is a managing member of Baker Bros. Advisors LP and is a principal of Baker Bros. Advisors (GP), LLC, the sole general partner of Baker Bros. Advisors LP. Baker Bros. Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor to the selling stockholders. Accordingly, Mr. Baker may be deemed to have sole power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares of common stock held directly by the selling stockholders and indirectly by Baker Bros. Advisors LP and Baker Bros. Advisors (GP), LLC. Mr. Baker expressly disclaims beneficial ownership over shares held directly by the selling stockholders and indirectly by Baker Bros. Advisors LP and Baker Bros. Advisors (GP), LLC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, if any, by virtue of his pecuniary interest therein. Under the terms of the warrants issued to the selling stockholders, the selling stockholders are not permitted to exercise such warrants to purchase common stock to the extent that such exercise would result in the selling stockholders (and their affiliates) beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants to

 

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purchase common stock. This limitation on exercise of the warrants to purchase common stock issued to the selling stockholders is referred to in this footnote as the Beneficial Ownership Cap. The selling stockholders have the right to increase this beneficial ownership limitation in their discretion on 61 days’ prior written notice to us, provided that in no event are the selling stockholders permitted to exercise such warrants to purchase common stock to the extent that such exercise would result in the selling stockholders (and their affiliates) beneficially owning in the aggregate more than 19.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding or the combined voting power of our securities outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants to purchase common stock.

(3)

This number reflects the number of shares held by 14159, L.P., 667, L.P. and Baker Brothers Life Sciences, L.P. or issuable upon exercise of warrants held by 14159, L.P., 667, L.P. and Baker Brothers Life Sciences, L.P. without giving effect to the Beneficial Ownership Cap described in footnote (2) above.

Relationship with the Selling Stockholders

Mr. Baker, a member of our board of directors, is a managing member of Baker Bros. Advisors LP and is a principal of Baker Bros. Advisors (GP), LLC, the sole general partner of Baker Bros. Advisors LP. Baker Bros. Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor to the selling stockholders. Accordingly, Mr. Baker may be deemed to have sole power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares of common stock held directly by the selling stockholders and indirectly by Baker Bros. Advisors LP and Baker Bros. Advisors (GP), LLC. Mr. Baker expressly disclaims beneficial ownership over shares held directly by the selling stockholders and indirectly by Baker Bros. Advisors LP and Baker Bros. Advisors (GP), LLC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, if any, by virtue of his pecuniary interest therein. In addition, Kelvin M. Neu, also a member of our board of directors, is a managing director of Baker Bros. Advisors LP.

Public Offerings

On May 7, 2013, we consummated an underwritten public offering of (i) 17,500,000 shares of our common stock and related warrants to purchase up to 17,500,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.47 per share, which expire five years from the date of issuance, and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 15,816,327 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, which expire seven years from the date of issuance, and related warrants to purchase up to 15,816,327 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.47 per share, which expire five years from the date of issuance. We refer to this offering as the May 2013 Offering. The selling stockholders participated in the May 2013 Offering and purchased in the aggregate (i) 4,500,000 shares of our common stock and related warrants to purchase up to 4,500,000 shares of our common stock and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 15,816,327 shares of our common stock and related warrants to purchase up to 15,816,327 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000.

On September 30, 2013, we consummated an underwritten public offering of (i) 13,727,251 shares of our common stock, and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 4,175,975 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, which expire seven years from the date of issuance. We refer to this offering as the September 2013 Offering. The selling stockholders participated in the September 2013 Offering and purchased in the aggregate 1,365,000 shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 4,175,975 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $8,546,750.

On February 10, 2014, we consummated an underwritten public offering of (i) 7,867,438 shares of our common stock, and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 2,158,750 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, which expire seven years from the date of issuance. We refer to this offering as the February 2014 Offering. The selling stockholders participated in the February 2014 Offering and purchased in the aggregate 341,250 shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 2,158,750 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $9,978,410.

On February 19, 2015, we consummated an underwritten public offering of 23,000,000 shares of our common stock, which we refer to as the February 2015 Offering. The selling stockholders participated in the February 2015 Offering and purchased in the aggregate 5,333,333 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $19,999,999.

Registration Rights Agreement

On February 9, 2015, we entered a registration rights agreement with the selling stockholders relating to the registration for resale of the shares of our common stock held by the selling stockholders, including the shares of our

 

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common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of warrants. The registration rights agreement contains customary covenants and agreements by us, and customary indemnification obligations of us and the selling stockholders, including for liabilities under the Securities Act.

The registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, has been filed in accordance with the registration rights agreement.

The foregoing summary description of the registration rights agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 9, 2015, and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our capital stock is intended as a summary only and therefore is not complete. This description is based upon, and is qualified by reference to, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, each as amended from time to time, and by applicable provisions of Delaware corporate law. You should read our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, for the provisions that are important to you.

Common Stock

We are authorized to issue 280,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share. As of February 15, 2016, there were 121,275,678 shares of common stock outstanding.

Annual Meeting. Annual meetings of our stockholders are held on the date designated in accordance with our bylaws. Written notice must be mailed to each stockholder entitled to vote not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of a majority of our issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at such meeting constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at meetings of the stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called for any purpose by the board of directors, the chief executive officer or, if the office of chief executive officer is vacant, our president.

Voting Rights. For all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held. Our common stock does not have cumulative voting rights.

Dividends. If our board of directors declares a dividend, holders of common stock will receive payments from our funds that are legally available to pay dividends. However, this dividend right is subject to any preferential dividend rights that we have granted or may grant with respect to our preferred stock.

Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of the common stock will be entitled to share equally in all assets available for distribution to stockholders, subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at that time. The amount available for common stockholders is calculated after payment of liabilities.

Other Rights and Restrictions. Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights, and they have no right to convert their common stock into any other securities. Our common stock is not subject to redemption by us. The rights, preferences and privileges of common stockholders are subject to the rights of the stockholders of any series of preferred stock that are issued and outstanding or that we may issue in the future. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not restrict the ability of a holder of common stock to transfer his or her shares of common stock.

Put Right. Pursuant to the terms of a unit purchase agreement dated as of May 5, 1998, we issued and sold a total of 1,199,684 shares of common stock, which we refer to as the put shares, at a price of $16.00 per share. Under the terms of the unit purchase agreement, the initial purchasers, which we refer to as the put holders, of the put shares have the right, which we refer to as the put right, to require us to repurchase the put shares. The put right may not be exercised by any put holder unless all of the following occur:

 

•

we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs pursuant to applicable bankruptcy law, whether voluntarily or involuntarily,

 

•

all of our indebtedness and obligations, including without limitation the indebtedness under our outstanding notes, has been paid in full, and

 

•

all rights of the holders of any series or class of capital stock ranking prior and senior to the common stock with respect to liquidation, including without limitation the series A convertible preferred stock, have been satisfied in full.

We may terminate the put right upon written notice to the put holders if the closing sales price of our common stock exceeds $32.00 per share for the 20 consecutive trading days prior to the date of notice of termination. Because the

 

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put right is not transferable, in the event that a put holder has transferred put shares since May 5, 1998, the put right with respect to those shares has terminated. As a consequence of the put right, in the event we are liquidated, holders of shares of common stock that do not have put rights with respect to such shares may receive smaller distributions per share upon our liquidation than if there were no put rights outstanding.

As of February 15, 2016, we had repurchased or received documentation of the transfer of 399,950 put shares and 35,780 of the put shares continued to be held in the name of put holders. We cannot determine at this time what portion of the put rights of the remaining 763,954 put shares have terminated.

Transfer Agent and Registrar. Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is transfer agent and registrar for the common stock.

The Nasdaq Capital Market. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “IDRA.”

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which 1,500,000 has been designated Series A convertible preferred stock. As of February 15, 2016, there were 655 shares of Series A preferred stock outstanding. No other shares of preferred stock were outstanding.

We are authorized to issue “blank check” preferred stock, which may be issued in one or more series upon authorization of our board of directors. Our board of directors is authorized to fix the designation of the series, the number of authorized shares of the series, dividend rights and terms, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences and any other rights, powers, preferences and limitations applicable to each series of preferred stock. The authorized shares of our preferred stock are available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange on which our securities may be listed. If the approval of our stockholders is not required for the issuance of shares of our preferred stock, our board may determine not to seek stockholder approval.

A series of our preferred stock could, depending on the terms of such series, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt. Our board of directors will make any determination to issue such preferred shares based upon its judgment as to the best interests of our stockholders. Our directors, in so acting, could issue preferred stock having terms that could discourage an acquisition attempt through which an acquirer may be able to change the composition of our board of directors, including a tender offer or other transaction that some, or a majority, of our stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then-current market price of the stock.

Effects of Authorized but Unissued Stock

We have shares of common stock and preferred stock available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market. We may utilize these additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including for future public offerings to raise additional capital, or facilitate corporate acquisitions or for payment as a dividend on our capital stock. The existence of unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock may enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management or to issue preferred stock with terms that could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, a controlling interest in our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. In addition, if we issue preferred stock, the issuance could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock, and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.

Delaware Law and Specified Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions

Staggered Board. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide for the division of our board of directors into three classes as nearly equal in size as possible with staggered three-year terms. In addition, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that directors may only be removed for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the shares of our capital stock entitled to vote. Under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, any vacancy on the board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting

 

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from an enlargement of the board, may only be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office. The classification of the board of directors and the limitations on the removal of directors and filling of vacancies could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring, control of us.

Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that stockholders may take action only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not take action by written consent. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws further provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of the board of directors or by our chief executive officer or, if the office of chief executive officer is vacant, our president. In no event may our stockholders call a special meeting of stockholders.

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, must meet specified procedural requirements. These provisions may preclude stockholders from bringing matters before an annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders.

Supermajority Votes Required. The Delaware General Corporation Law provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the shares of our capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote to amend or repeal any of the provisions described in the prior three paragraphs.

Business Combinations. We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 prevents a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for three years following the date that such person became an interested stockholder, unless either the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our board of directors, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and stockholders in a prescribed manner or the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of our outstanding voting stock in the transaction in which such person became an interested stockholder. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the “interested stockholder” and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an “interested stockholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

Directors’ Liability. Our certificate of incorporation limits the personal liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and provides that no director will have personal liability to us or to our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, these provisions do not eliminate or limit the liability of any of our directors:

 

•

for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders

 

•

for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

•

for voting or assenting to unlawful payments of dividends, stock repurchases or other distributions; or

 

•

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Any amendment to or repeal of these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to such amendment or repeal. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

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Our certificate of incorporation provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers and we must advance expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to our directors and officers in connection with legal proceedings, subject to very limited exceptions.

We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The selling stockholders may offer and sell the shares covered by this prospectus from time to time. The term “selling stockholder” includes pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other non-sale related transfer. The selling stockholders will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale. Such sales may be made on one or more exchanges or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices and under terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price or in negotiated transactions. Each selling stockholder may sell its shares by one or more of, or a combination of, the following methods:

 

•

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;

 

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;

 

•

block trades in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

•

an over-the-counter distribution;

 

•

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

•

in privately negotiated transactions;

 

•

an underwritten public offering;

 

•

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

•

delivery of securities in settlement of short sales; and

 

•

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus.

In connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise, each selling stockholder is permitted to enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with such permitted transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with a selling stockholder. Each selling stockholder may also sell the common stock short and redeliver the shares to close out such permitted short positions. Each selling stockholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction. Each selling stockholder may also pledge shares to a broker-dealer or other financial institution, and, upon a default, such broker-dealer or other financial institution, may effect sales of the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction.

In effecting sales, broker-dealers or agents engaged by a selling stockholder may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions, discounts or concessions from the selling stockholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale.

In offering the shares covered by this prospectus, the selling stockholders and any broker-dealers who execute sales for the selling stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. Any profits realized by a selling stockholder and the compensation of any broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

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In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the shares must be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, some states may restrict the selling stockholders from selling their respective shares unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their respective affiliates. In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling stockholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against some liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

At the time a particular offer of shares is made, if required, we will distribute a prospectus supplement that will set forth the number of shares being offered and the terms of this offering, including the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent, the purchase price paid by any underwriter, any discount, commission and other item constituting compensation, any discount, commission or concession allowed or reallowed or paid to any dealer, and the proposed selling price to the public. In addition, we may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against some liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act.

We have agreed with the selling stockholders to cause the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part to remain effective until such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been sold or may be sold freely without limitations or restrictions as to volume or manner of sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares offered by this prospectus has been passed upon by Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at http://www.iderapharma.com. Our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. This prospectus omits some information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement for further information about us and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus much of the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below (File No. 001-31918) and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed) between the date of the initial registration statement and the effectiveness of the registration statement and following the effectiveness of the registration statement until the offering of the securities under the registration statement is terminated or completed:

 

(1)

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, including the information specifically incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

 

(2)

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2016 and January 8, 2016;

 

(3)

The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on December 4, 2003, as amended on August 17, 2007 and as further amended on December 7, 2007, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

(4)

All of our filings pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of filing the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement.

 

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You may request a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost, by writing or telephoning us using the following contact information below. We will provide copies of the exhibits to these filings only if they are specifically incorporated by reference in these filings.

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

167 Sidney Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

Attention: Investor Relations

(617) 679-5500

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the various expenses to be incurred in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered hereby, all of which will be borne by Idera Pharmaceuticals (except any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling stockholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in disposing of the shares). All amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee		$	9,355
Legal fees and expenses			30,000
Accounting fees and expenses			30,000
Miscellaneous expenses			10,000
Total expenses		$	79,355

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding to which he is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating court determines that such indemnification is proper under the circumstances.

Article EIGHTH of the registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that no director of the registrant shall be personally liable for any monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that the Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty.

Article NINTH of the registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a director or officer of the registrant (a) shall be indemnified by the registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any litigation or other legal proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the registrant) brought against him by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the registrant if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful and (b) shall be indemnified by the registrant against all expense (including attorneys’ fees) and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any action by or in the right of the registrant brought against him by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the registrant if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the registrant, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the registrant, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a director or officer has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation, the dismissal of an

 

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action without prejudice, he is required to be indemnified by the registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection therewith. Expenses shall be advanced to a director or officer at his request, provided that he undertakes to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses.

Indemnification is required to be made unless the registrant determines that the applicable standard of conduct required for indemnification has not been met. In the event of a determination by the registrant that the director or officer did not meet the applicable standard of conduct required for indemnification, or if the registrant fails to make an indemnification payment within 60 days after such payment is claimed by such person, such person is permitted to petition the court to make an independent determination as to whether such person is entitled to indemnification. As a condition precedent to the right of indemnification, the director or officer must give the registrant notice of the action for which indemnity is sought and the registrant has the right to participate in such action or assume the defense thereof.

Article NINTH of the registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation further provides that the indemnification provided therein is not exclusive, and provides that in the event that the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to expand the indemnification permitted to directors or officers the registrant must indemnify those persons to the full extent permitted by such law as so amended.

The registrant has obtained directors and officers insurance for the benefit of its directors and its officers.

Item 16. Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-3.

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);

 

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.

 

(2)

That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

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The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described herein, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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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 of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cambridge, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on March 11, 2016.

 

SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Vincent J. Milano and Louis J. Arcudi and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to any of them, and to each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed herewith and any and all pre-effective and post-effective amendments to said registration statement and generally to do all such things in our name and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and any and all amendments thereto.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ VINCENT J. MILANO		President, Chief Executive Officer and Director		March 11, 2016
Vincent J. Milano		(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ LOUIS J. ARCUDI, III		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer		March 11, 2016
Louis J. Arcudi, III, MBA		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ JAMES A. GERAGHTY		Chairman of the Board of Directors		March 11, 2016
James A. Geraghty
/s/ SUDHIR AGRAWAL		Director		March 11, 2016
Sudhir Agrawal, D. Phil.
/s/ JULIAN C. BAKER		Director		March 11, 2016
Julian C. Baker
/s/ YOUSSEF EL ZEIN		Director		March 11, 2016
Youssef El Zein
/s/ MARK GOLDBERG		Director		March 11, 2016
Mark Goldberg, M.D.

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/s/ MAXINE GOWEN		Director		March 11, 2016
Maxine Gowen, Ph.D.
/s/ KELVIN M. NEU		Director		March 11, 2016
Kelvin M. Neu, M.D.
/s/ WILLIAM S. REARDON		Director		March 11, 2016
William S. Reardon, CPA
/s/ EVE E. SLATER		Director		March 11, 2016
Eve E. Slater, M.D., F.A.C.C.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

EXHIBIT NUMBER		DESCRIPTION
4.1 (1)		Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended
4.2 (2)		Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant
4.3 (3)		Registration Rights Agreement, February 9, 2015, among the Registrant and the Selling Stockholders named therein
5.1		Opinion of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
23.1		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2		Consent of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 filed herewith)
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)

 

(1)	Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated August 6, 2015 (File No. 001-31918) and incorporated herein by reference.

(2)	Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated November 6, 1995, as amended (File No. 33-99024) and incorporated herein by reference.

(3)	Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 9, 2015 (File No. 001-31918) and incorporated herein by reference.

Exhibit 5.1

 

+1 617 526 6000 (t)

+1 617 526 5000 (f)

wilmerhale.com

March 11, 2016

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

167 Sidney Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

 

Re:	Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for the registration of the resale of an aggregate of 49,413,788 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), consisting of 6,946,409 shares of Common Stock (the “Common Shares”) held by certain stockholders of the Company (the “Selling Stockholders”) and 42,467,379 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) held by the Selling Stockholders. All of the Shares are being registered on behalf of the Selling Stockholders.

We are acting as counsel for the Company in connection with the registration for resale of the Shares. We have examined signed copies of the Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission. We have also examined and relied upon the minutes of meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors of the Company as provided to us by the Company, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company, each as restated and/or amended to date, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary for purposes of rendering the opinions hereinafter set forth.

In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents and the legal competence of all signatories to such documents.

We assume that the appropriate action will be taken, prior to the offer and sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders, to register and qualify the Shares for sale under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws.

We express no opinion herein as to the laws of any state or jurisdiction other than the state laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of America.

Our opinion below, insofar as it relates to the Common Shares being fully paid, is based solely on a certificate from the Chief Financial Officer of the Company confirming the Company’s receipt of the consideration called for by the applicable resolutions authorizing the issuance of the Common Shares.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that (i) the Common Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and the Common Shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and (ii) the Warrant Shares, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the warrants, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect.

Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred as to any other matters. This opinion is based upon currently existing statutes, rules, regulations and judicial decisions, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change in any of these sources of law or subsequent legal or factual developments which might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and to the use of our name therein and in the related prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

Very truly yours,
WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR LLP
By:		/s/ Stuart M. Falber
		Stuart M. Falber, Partner

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the registration of up to 49,413,788 shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated March 9, 2016, with respect to the financial statements of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

March 11, 2016