SEC Form S-8 filed by Elicio Therapeutics Inc.
$ELTX
Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Health Care
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2026
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ELICIO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 11-3430072 | |||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||
451 D Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
(857) 209-0050
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Incentive Award Plan
Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. 2024 Inducement Incentive Award Plan
(Full titles of the plans)
Robert Connelly
President & Chief Executive Officer
Elicio Therapeutics, Inc.
451 D Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
(857) 209-0050
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
William C. Hicks
Daniel A. Bagliebter
Allyson Wilkinson
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 542-6000
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 | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||||||||||
| 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. ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Registration Statement registers (i) 890,015 additional shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Registrant”), reserved under the Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Incentive Award Plan (the “2021 Plan”), representing an increase of 890,015 shares of Common Stock reserved under the 2021 Plan effective January 1, 2026 by operation of the 2021 Plan’s “evergreen” provision, (ii) 384,354 shares of Common Stock reserved under the Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2021 ESPP”), representing an increase of 384,354 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the 2021 ESPP’s “evergreen” provision effective January 1, 2024, January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, and (iii) 500,000 shares of Common Stock reserved under the Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. 2024 Inducement Incentive Award Plan (the “2024 Inducement Plan” and together with the 2021 Plan and the 2021 ESPP, the “Plans”).
This Registration Statement relates to securities of the same class as those for which earlier Registration Statements on Form S-8 were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 9, 2021 (File No. 333-252906), May 16, 2022 (File No. 333-264995), March 17, 2023 (File No. 333-270676), March 29, 2024 (File No. 333-278374), and March 31, 2025 (File No. 333-286242) (collectively, the “Prior Registration Statements”). Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of the Prior Registration Statements, to the extent relating to the registration of Common Stock issuable under the Plans are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
In accordance with the instructional Note to Part I of Form S-8 as promulgated by the SEC, the information specified by Part I of Form S-8 has been omitted from this Registration Statement on Form S-8 for offers of the Registrant’s Common Stock pursuant to the Plans. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the Plans covered by this Registration Statement as required by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or who is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.
Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and the indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Section 145 also empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 145.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director or officer to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for any breach of the officer’s or director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit, or (iv) with respect to directors, under Section 174 of the DGCL.
The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that the Registrant, shall have the power to provide rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to its current and former officers, directors, employees and agents and to any person who is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Registrant who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such person.
The Registrant entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws and intends to enter into indemnification agreements with any new directors and executive officers in the future.
The Registrant has purchased and intends to maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Registrant against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, from the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) through the sixth anniversary of the date on which the Effective Time occurred, the Registrant must indemnify and hold harmless each person who was at the Effective Time, or had been at any time prior to the date thereof, or who became prior to the Effective Time, a director or officer of the Registrant or Elicio Operating Company, respectively, against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, judgments, fines and reasonable fees, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. Each such person is also entitled to advancement of expenses incurred in the defense of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, provided that such person provides an undertaking required by the DGCL, to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification. From and after the Effective Time, the Registrant is required to maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, with an effective date as of the closing date of the Merger, on commercially available terms and conditions and with coverage limits customary for U.S. public companies similarly situated to the Registrant. In addition, the Registrant was required to purchase, prior to the Effective Time, a six-year prepaid “tail policy” for the non-cancellable extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of the Registrant’s then-existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies and Registrant’s existing fiduciary liability insurance policy (if any).
Further, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Registrant with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation of present and former directors and officers of the Registrant shall not be amended, modified or repealed for a period of six years from the Effective Time in a manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Effective Time, were officers and directors of the Registrant, unless such modification is required by applicable law.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Reference is made under this Item 8 to the exhibit list below, included in this Registration Statement.
| Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Form | Date | Number | Filed Herewith | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.1 | 8-K | 2/9/2021 | 3.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.2 | 8-K | 6/2/2023 | 3.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.3 | 8-K | 6/2/2023 | 3.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4 | 8-K | 6/2/2023 | 3.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.5 | 8-K | 2/9/2021 | 3.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.1 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23.1 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23.2 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24.1 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99.1# | S-1/A | 2/1/2021 | 10.6(a) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99.2# | S-1/A | 2/1/2021 | 10.6(b) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99.3# | S-1/A | 2/1/2021 | 10.6(c) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99.4# | S-1/A | 2/1/2021 | 10.6(d) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99.5# | 10-K | 3/12/2026 | 10.34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99.6# | 10-K | 3/29/2024 | 10.19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99.7# | 10-K | 3/29/2024 | 10.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99.8# | 10-K | 3/29/2024 | 10.21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 107 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
Item 9. Undertakings.
1. The Registrant hereby undertakes:
(a)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;
(ii)To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the 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 the 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(b)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such 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 that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)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.
2. The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the 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.
3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Boston, Massachusetts, on this 12th day of March, 2026.
| ELICIO THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
By: /s/ Robert Connelly | ||
| Robert Connelly | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert Connelly and Preetam Shah as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each agent with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments or any abbreviated registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) increasing the number of securities for which registration is sought, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power to act alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ Robert Connelly | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Robert Connelly | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||||
| /s/ Preetam Shah, Ph.D., M.B.A. | Chief Strategy and Financial Officer | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Preetam Shah | (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | |||||||||||||
| /s/ Julian Adams, Ph.D. | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Julian Adams, Ph.D. | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Carol Ashe | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Carol Ashe | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Allen Nissenson, M.D. | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Allen Nissenson, M.D. | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Yekaterina (Katie) Chudnovsky | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Yekaterina (Katie) Chudnovsky | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Robert R. Ruffolo, Jr., Ph.D. | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Robert R. Ruffolo, Jr., Ph.D. | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Karen Wilson | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Karen Wilson | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Jay Venkatesan, M.D. | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Jay Venkatesan, M.D. | ||||||||||||||