As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2020

Registration No. 333-                  

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ADIAL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
1180 Seminole Trail, Suite 495

Charlottesville, Virginia 22901

(434) 422-9800

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

William B. Stilley, III
President and Chief Executive Officer
Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
1180 Seminole Trail, Suite 495
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
(434) 422-9800

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

Copies to:

Leslie Marlow, Esq.
Hank Gracin, Esq.
Patrick J. Egan, Esq.
Gracin & Marlow, LLP
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue, 26^th Floor
New York, NY 10174
Telephone: (212) 907-6457
Facsimile: (212) 208-4657

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

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, as amended, check the following box: ☒

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, 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(d) 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: ☐

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.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the registrant has not elected 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. ☐ 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

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 of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

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

2,115,000 Shares of Common Stock

This prospectus relates to the resale of up to 2,115,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of certain outstanding warrants issued by us in a private placement.

We are not selling any shares of common stock and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the warrant shares by the Selling Stockholders under this prospectus. Upon the exercise of the warrants for all 2,115,000 shares of our common stock by payment of cash, however, we will receive aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $4.23 million.

These shares will be resold from time to time by the entities listed in the section titled “Selling Stockholders” beginning on page 10, which we refer to as the Selling Stockholders. The shares of common stock offered under this prospectus by the Selling Stockholders are issuable upon exercise of warrants issued in a private placement pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement entered into by and among Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Selling Stockholders, dated as of June 9, 2020 (the “Purchase Agreement”). We are not selling any securities under this prospectus and will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of securities by the Selling Stockholders.

The Selling Stockholders may sell the shares of common stock described in this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about how a selling stockholder may sell its shares of common stock in the section titled “Plan of Distribution” on page 12. We will pay the expenses incurred in registering the securities covered by the prospectus, including legal and accounting fees.

Our common stock and the warrants issued in our initial public offering are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols “ADIL” and “ADILW.” On July 1, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $[____] per share. The last reported sale price of our warrants on July 1, 2020 was $[____] per warrant. We urge prospective purchasers of our common stock to obtain current information about the market prices of our common stock and our warrants issued in connection with our initial public offering in July 2018.

We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and, as such, elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for future filings.

Investing in our securities involves significant risks, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus beginning on page 5.

See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 12 of this prospectus for more information on this offering.

No underwriter or person has been engaged to facilitate the sale of warrant shares in this offering. All costs associated with the registration were borne by us.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is          , 2020

Table of Contents 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus that we may specifically authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We have not, and the Selling Stockholders has not, authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to offer and sell our securities. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

For investors outside the United States: We have not and the Selling Stockholders has not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

This prospectus includes statistical and other industry and market data that we obtained from industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. We believe that the data obtained from these industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies are reliable. The Company is ultimately responsible for all disclosure included in this prospectus.

This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed or have been incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described in this prospectus under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Smaller Reporting Company – Scaled Disclosure

Pursuant to Item 10(f) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as indicated herein, we have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to “smaller reporting companies,” including providing two years of audited financial statements.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained in this prospectus and discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” included in the 2019 Form 10-K, as revised or supplemented by subsequent filings, which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks. In these circumstances, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “predict,” “poise,” “project,” “potential,” “suggest,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this prospectus and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, we caution you that these statements are based on our projections of the future that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, to differ. The section in this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and the sections in our periodic reports, including the 2019 Form 10-K entitled “Business,” and in the 2019 Form 10-K and the 2020 Form 10-Q entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as other sections in this prospectus and the documents or reports incorporated by reference into this prospectus, discuss some of the factors that could contribute to these differences. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about:

Our current product candidates are undergoing clinical development and have not been approved by the FDA or the European Commission. These product candidates have not been, nor may they ever be, approved by any regulatory agency or competent authorities nor marketed anywhere in the world.

We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as our current plans, estimates and beliefs. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this document, particularly in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to this prospectus and incorporated by reference herein completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are made as of the date of this prospectus and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds upon the sale of Selling Stockholders Shares by the Selling Stockholders in this offering. We will receive approximately $4.23 million of proceeds if all the Warrants are exercised for cash. We currently intend to use these proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information, as of July 2, 2020, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by each of the following:

As of July 2, 2020, we had 13,449,603 shares of common stock outstanding.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, the rules include shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of profits interest units, warrants or other rights that are either immediately exercisable or exercisable on or before September 2, 2020, which is approximately 60 days after the date of this prospectus. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.

Except as otherwise noted below, the address for each of the individuals and entities listed in this table is c/o Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1001 Research Park Blvd., Suite 100, Charlottesville, Virginia 22911.

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS  

The shares of common stock being offered by the Selling Stockholders are those issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. For additional information regarding the issuance of these securities, see “Prospectus Summary—Registered Direct Offering of Common Stock and Concurrent Private Placement of Warrants” on page 3 of this prospectus. We are registering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants in order to permit the Selling Stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the Warrants, the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and other financings completed by us, the Selling Stockholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to each selling stockholder, including (i) the shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholder prior to this offering, (ii) the number of shares being offered by the selling stockholder pursuant to this prospectus and (iii) the selling stockholder’s beneficial ownership after completion of this offering. The registration of the shares of common stock issuable to the Selling Stockholders upon the exercise of the Warrants does not necessarily mean that the Selling Stockholders will sell all or any of such shares, but the number of shares and percentages set forth in the final two columns below assume that all shares of common stock being offered by the Selling Stockholders are sold.

The table is based on information supplied to us by the Selling Stockholders, with beneficial ownership and percentage ownership determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and includes voting or investment power with respect to shares of stock. This information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a Selling Stockholder and the percentage ownership of that Selling Stockholder, shares of common stock subject to warrants held by that Selling Stockholder that are exercisable within 60 days after June 30, 2020, are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The percentage of beneficial ownership after this offering is based on 13,449,603 shares of common stock outstanding on June 30, 2020.

This prospectus covers the resale of 2,115,000 shares of our common stock that may be sold or otherwise disposed of by the Selling Stockholders. Such shares are issuable to the Selling Stockholders upon the exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants are immediately exercisable on the date of their issuance and expire five (5) years from the date they became exercisable. All of the Warrants have an exercise price of $2.00 per share. See “Prospectus Summary — Registered Direct Offering of Common Stock and Concurrent Private Placement of Warrants” above for a complete description of the Warrants. The Selling Stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering, but the number of shares and percentages set forth in the final two columns below assume that all shares of common stock being offered by the Selling Stockholders are sold. See “Plan of Distribution.”

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each selling stockholder of the securities and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A selling stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction, a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each selling stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until no Selling Stockholders owns any Warrants or any shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they 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.

Pursuant to applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

DESCRIPTION OF OUR SECURITIES

The following description of our capital stock and the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws. We have filed copies of these documents with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

General

Our authorized capital stock consists of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Common Stock

Common stock outstanding. There are 13,449,603 shares of our common stock outstanding on the date hereof.

Voting rights. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders, except on matters relating solely to terms of preferred stock.

Dividend rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. See “Dividend Policy.”

Rights upon liquidation. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock, if any, then outstanding.

Other rights. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority to issue preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion right, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, without further vote or action by the stockholders. Although we have no present plans to issue any other shares of preferred stock, the issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase such shares, could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock, could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the common stock, and could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change of control of us or an unsolicited acquisition proposal. To date, no preferred stock has been issued.

Warrants

We have outstanding warrants to purchase 8,784,274 shares of common stock with exercise prices ranging from $.0054 to $7.63 and expiration dates from July 31, 2023 to December 31, 2031.

On July 31, 2018, we consummated our IPO and issued an aggregate of 1,464,000 units, each unit consisting of one share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock, at a public offering price of $5.00 per unit, before underwriting discounts and expenses. The warrants issued in the IPO are exercisable at any time after their original issuance and at any time up to the date that is five years after their original issuance. The warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and, at any time a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the warrants under the Securities Act is effective and available for the issuance of such shares, or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of such shares, by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of shares of common stock purchased upon such exercise. If a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the warrants under the Securities Act is not effective or available and an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is not available for the issuance of such shares, the holder may, in its sole discretion, elect to exercise the warrant through a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the warrant. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the exercise price. A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrant if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, provided that any increase in such percentage shall not be effective until 61 days following notice from the holder to us. The exercise price per whole share of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants is $6.25 per share (based on the initial public offering price of $5.00 per unit) or 125 % of public offering price of the common stock. The exercise price is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders. Subject to applicable laws, the warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent. The warrants issued in the IPO are trading on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ADILW.” The warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agent agreement between VStock Transfer, LLC, as warrant agent, and us. The warrants shall initially be represented only by one or more global warrants deposited with the warrant agent, as custodian on behalf of The Depository Trust Company (DTC) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC. In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our Common Stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.  

The representative of the underwriters in the IPO were issued warrants to purchase up to a total of 58,560 shares of common stock (4% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering, excluding the over-allotment). The warrants are exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four-year period commencing one year from the effective date of the offering, which period shall not extend further than five years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i). The warrants are exercisable at a per share price equal to $6.25 per share, or 125% of the public offering price per unit in the offering (based on the initial offering price of $5.00 per unit). The representative (or permitted assignees under Rule 5110(g)(1)) will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or hypothecate these warrants or the securities underlying these warrants, nor will they engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the warrants or the underlying securities for a period of 180 days from the effective date of the offering. In addition, the warrants provide for registration rights upon request, in certain cases. In addition, the warrants provide for registration rights upon request, in certain cases. The demand registration right provided will not be greater than five years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(iv). The piggyback registration right provided will not be greater than seven years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(v). We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities issuable on exercise of the warrants other than underwriting commissions incurred and payable by the holders. The exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrant exercise price or underlying shares will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of common stock at a price below the warrant exercise price.

As of the date of this prospectus, 1,575,112 shares of common stock remain issuable upon the exercise of the warrants issued in the IPO, including representatives warrants.

On February 25, 2019, we closed a firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to which we issued and sold 2,845,000 shares of our common stock together with a number of warrants to purchase 2,133,750 shares of our common stock. The combined public offering price was $3.25 per share of common stock and accompanying warrant. The warrants are exercisable upon issuance at a price of $4.0625 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, and will expire on February 26, 2024. The warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and, at any time a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the warrants under the Securities Act is effective and available for the issuance of such shares, or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of such shares, by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of shares of common stock purchased upon such exercise. If a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the warrants under the Securities Act is not effective or available and an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is not available for the issuance of such shares, the holder may, in its sole discretion, elect to exercise the warrant through a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the warrant. Except as otherwise provided in the warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of common stock, the holder of a warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the warrant. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, at our election, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the fair market value of any such fractional shares or round up to the next whole share. The warrants also provide that in the event of a fundamental transaction we are required to cause any successor entity to assume its obligations under the warrants. In addition, the holder of the warrant will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrant the kind and amount of securities, cash or property that the holder would have received had the holder exercised the warrant immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrant if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or, upon election of the holder, 9.99%) of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage, provided that any increase will not be effective until the 61^st day after such election.

On June 9, 2020, we entered into the Purchase Agreement pursuant to which we issued: (i) 2,820,000 shares of our common stock, and (ii) Warrrants, with a term of five years, to purchase an aggregate of up to 2,115,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share.

Stockholder Registration Rights

The Warrant that was issued to the Selling Stockholders, provided that as soon as practicable after the issuance of such Warrants (and in any event within 60 calendar days of the date of the Purchase Agreement), we would file a registration statement We agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration to become effective within 181 days following the Closing Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and to keep such registration statement effective at all times until no Selling Stockholder owns any Warrants or shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise thereof.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law

The provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws described below may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following exceptions:

In general, Section 203 defines business combination to include the following:

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that:

Board Classification

Our board of directors is divided into three classes, one class of which is elected each year by our stockholders. The directors in each class will serve for a three-year term. For more information on the classified board, see “Management—Board of Directors and Executive Officers.” The classification of our board of directors and the limitations on the ability of our stockholders to remove directors could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire, or discourage a third-party from seeking to acquire, control of us.

Potential Effects of Authorized but Unissued Stock

We have shares of common stock and preferred stock available for future issuance without stockholder approval. We may utilize these additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to facilitate corporate acquisitions or payment as a dividend on the 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 render more difficult or discourage a third-party attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, thereby protecting the continuity of our management. In addition, the board of directors has the discretion to determine designations, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences of each series of preferred stock, all to the fullest extent permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law and subject to any limitations set forth in our certificate of incorporation. The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to issue preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences applicable to such preferred stock is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible financings, acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.

Limitations of Director Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees

Our certificate of incorporation, limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for any:

These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under the federal or state securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.

Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law, and may indemnify employees and other agents. Our bylaws also provide that we are obligated to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding.

We have obtained a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our directors and officers for any and all expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such directors or officers or on his or her behalf in connection with any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our directors or officers, or any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request provided that such person follows the procedures for determining entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in the indemnification agreement. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might provide a benefit to us and our stockholders. Our results of operations and financial condition may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Our Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors.

Limits on Special Meetings

Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time only by the board of directors, Chairman or our Chief Executive Officer, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock.

Election and Removal of Directors

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of shares present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting and entitled to vote generally on the election of directors. Our stockholders may remove directors only with the vote of sixty percent (60%) of the stockholders, whether for cause or without cause. Our board of directors may appoint a director to fill a vacancy, including vacancies created by the expansion of the board of directors. This system of electing and removing directors may discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of our directors. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.

Amendments to Our Governing Documents

Generally, the amendment of our certificate of incorporation requires approval by our board of directors and a majority vote of stockholders. Any amendment to our bylaws requires the approval of either a majority of our board of directors or approval of at least sixty-six and two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of our outstanding capital stock in elections of our board of directors.

Exclusive Forum Selection

Our certificate of incorporation provides that to the fullest extent permitted by law, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders to our company or our stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against our company or any director, officer or employee of our company arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (4) any action asserting a claim arising against our company or any director or officer or other employee of our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Although our certificate contains the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could rule that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable. Investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Listing

Our common stock is listed for trading on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ADIL.” Our warrants issued in connection with our initial public offering in July 2018 are currently listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ADILW.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock offered in this offering is VStock Transfer, LLC. Its address is 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598. Its telephone number is (212) 828-8436.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus have been passed upon for us by Gracin & Marlow, LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the years in the two year period ended December 31, 2019 incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement have been so included in reliance on the report of Friedman LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, (such report includes an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern), given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering to sell. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not include all of the information contained in the registration statement and the exhibits, schedules and amendments to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and our common stock, we refer you to the registration statement and to the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus about the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference.

The SEC maintains an Internet website, which is located at www.sec.gov, that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You may access the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at the SEC’s Internet website. Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and we will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have filed separately with the SEC. You should read the information incorporated by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (Commission File No. 001-38323):

We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the common stock made by this prospectus and will become a part of this prospectus from the date that such documents are filed with the SEC. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided in this prospectus. Any statements in any such future filings will automatically be deemed to modify and supersede any information in any document we previously filed with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference to the extent that statements in the later filed document modify or replace such earlier statements.

We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You should direct any requests for documents to:

Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

1180 Seminole Trail, Suite 495

Charlottesville, VA 22901

Telephone (434) 422-9800

Attention: Corporate Secretary

You should rely only on information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

2,115,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UNDERLYING WARRANTS

PROSPECTUS

, 2020

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth all expenses to be paid by the registrant, other than any estimated underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with the offering and sale of the shares of common stock being registered. The Selling Stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts, commissions and transfer taxes applicable to shares of common stock sold by it. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee.

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Registrant is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who were, are, or are threatened to be made, parties 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 such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who were, are, or are threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’\ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred.

The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each of which will become effective immediately prior to the closing of this offering, provide for the indemnification of its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability for any:

The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation includes such a provision. Expenses incurred by any officer or director in defending any such action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition shall be paid by the Registrant upon delivery to it of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant.

Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, among other things, that a director who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.

As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Registrant has entered into indemnity agreements with each of its directors and executive officers, that require the Registrant to indemnify such persons against any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys’, witness or other professional fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (including derivative actions), whether actual or threatened, to which any such person may be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer or is or was acting or serving as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Registrant or any of its affiliated enterprises. Under these agreements, the Registrant is not required to provide indemnification for certain matters, including:

The indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder.

Except as otherwise disclosed under the heading “Legal Proceedings” in the “Business” section of this registration statement, there is at present no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of the Registrant’s directors or executive officers as to which indemnification is required or permitted, and the Registrant is not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.

The Registrant has an insurance policy in place that covers its officers and directors with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

During the last three years, we have issued unregistered securities to the persons described below. None of these transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering. We believe that each transaction was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering. The recipients both had access, through their relationship with us, to information about us.

On June 29, 2017, we issued 18,868 Class B Units to one (1) investor in consideration of the investor’s investment of $20,000.

On July 1, 2017, we issued Tony Goodman an option to purchase 60,000 Class A Units at an exercise price of $1.06 per Unit in consideration of his services as a director. Simultaneous with his appointment as a director on July 1, 2017, Mr. Goodman purchased from us 9,434 Class B Units for an aggregate of $10,000 (or $1.06 per unit).

On July 1, 2017, we issued to nine (9) directors an option for each director to purchase 30,000 Class A Units (for an aggregate of 270,000 Class A Units) at an exercise price of $1.06 per unit, with the options vesting over three years, the first 1/6 ^th vesting 6 months after the grant date, then 1/36th vesting each month for the remaining 30 months. The options have a term of ten years.

On July 1, 2017, we granted to each of Mr. Stilley and Mr. Truluck an option to purchase 279,000 and 162,000 Class A Units, respectively, at an exercise price of $1.06 per unit, vesting as to 1/6th of the Class A Units on the six month anniversary of the date of the grant and the remaining Class A Units vesting as to 1/36th of the Class A Units over the remaining 30 months. The options have a term of ten years.

On July 26, 2017, we granted to each of Dr. Zastawny an option to purchase 186,000 Class A Units at an exercise price of $1.06 per unit, with these options vesting over three years, the first 1/6 ^th vesting after 6 months, then 1/36 ^th vesting each month for the remaining 30 months. The options have a term of ten years.

On August 1, 2017, we granted Larry Goldman options to purchase 40,000 Class A units at an exercise price of $1.06 per Unit in consideration of his services to the Company. The options vest over three years, the first 1/6th vest after 6 months, then 1/36th vest each month for the remaining 30 months. The options have a term of ten years.

On August 1, 2017, we issued 18,868 Class B Units to one investor in consideration for his investment of $20,000 (or $1.06 per unit).

On September 1, 2017, we granted a consultant an option to purchase 30,000 Class A Units at an exercise price of $1.06 per unit, with the option vesting over three years, the first 1/6 ^th vesting four months after the grant date, then 1/36th vesting each month for the remaining 30 months. The option has a term of ten years.

On October 3, 2017, we converted from a Virginia limited liability company into a Virginia corporation, and on October 11, 2017 we thereafter reincorporated in Delaware by merging the Virginia corporation with and into Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Virginia corporation. We refer to this as the corporate conversion/reincorporation. As a result of the corporate conversion/reincorporation, all of the outstanding Class A and Class B Units and Profit Interest Units of ADial Pharmaceuticals, L.L.C were automatically converted into an aggregate of 3,268,005 shares of our common stock. The issuance of common stock to our members in the corporate conversion/reincorporation was exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of the exemption provided under Section 3(a)(9) thereof as the common stock was exchanged by us with our existing security holders exclusively and no commission or other remuneration was paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchange. The issuance of common stock by Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc was also exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.

On November 21, 2017, we issued to certain of our directors in consideration of our receipt of $100,000, a secured note in the principal amount of $115,00 together with a warrant with a cashless exercise feature exercisable to purchase shares of common stock equal to $115,000 divided by the initial offering price of our common stock in our initial public offering at an exercise price of equal to the price of common stock sold in our next financing of $250,000 or more.

On or about February 22 and March 1, 2018, we issued to certain of our directors, officers, and consultants senior secured notes in the principal amount of $510,000 (the “Senior Notes”), which are payable upon the earlier of August 1, 2018 or upon our consummation of our next debt or equity financing, including, without limitation, this offering and a change of control of us. In addition, upon the consummation by us of any debt or equity offering in the amount of $2,000,000 or more, the holders of the Senior Notes will be issued a number of units equal to 400% of the Senior Notes principal divided by the price per unit sold; and a warrants to purchase a number of units equal to 400% of the Senior Notes principal divided by the price per unit sold, with an exercise price equal to the price per unit sold in such offering.

On April 1, 2018, William B. Stilley, our CEO, Bankole Johnson, our Chairman at that time, and Joseph A. M. Truluck, our COO/CFO, were granted 197,673, 50,000, and 44,636 shares of common stock, respectively, such shares restricted from sale until March 31, 2021.

On June 3, 2018, we issued to one accredited institutional investor with which Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC had a pre-existing relationship a senior secured note in the principal amount of $325,000 (the “June 2018 Senior Note”), which is payable on March 5, 2019 or upon an earlier event of default, including, without limitation, a change of control of us. The June 2018 Senior Note is convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $2.00 per share, subject to adjustment for certain dilutive issuances. The investor also received a warrant to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock exercisable at $3.75 per share which will be exercisable for a term of five years. The warrant provides that in the event our next financing of $2,000,000 or more includes the issuance of more than one warrant with each share of common stock sold in such next financing, then, the number of shares of common stock issuable under the warrant will be equal to 300,000 multiplied by the number of warrants sold with the common stock in the next offering.

On July 31, 2018, upon the closing of our initial public offering, approximately $310,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible debt automatically converted into an aggregate of 700,854 units, comprised of 700,854 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 700,854 shares of common stock. The issuance of the units was exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of the exemption provided under Section 3(a)(9), as the exchange was made by us with our existing security holders exclusively and no commission or other remuneration was paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchange.

On July 31, 2018, upon the closing of our initial public offering, we also issued 388,860 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 444,608 shares of common stock to consultants and employees. The issuance of these securities was also exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof, as a transaction not involving a public offering.

On July 31, 2018, upon the closing of our initial public offering, we also issued 442,220 shares of common stock, warrants to purchase 497,330 shares of common stock, and warrants to purchase 480,600 units, each unit consisting of a share of common stock and a warrant to purchase a share of common stock debt holders. The issuance of these securities was also exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof, as a transaction not involving a public offering.

On November 12, 2018, we exchanged warrants to purchase 480,600 units having an exercise price of $5.00 per unit (each unit consisting of a share of common stock and a warrant to purchase a share of common stock at an exercise price of $6.25 per share) for two warrants, each warrant having an exercise price of $5.00, one warrant to purchase a share of common stock and a second warrant to purchase a warrant that is exercisable for a share of common stock at an exercise price of $6.25 per share. The issuance of the warrants was exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of the exemption provided under Section 3(a)(9), as the exchange was made by us with our existing security holders exclusively and no commission or other remuneration was paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchange.

On November 26, 2018, we issued 100,000 shares of common stock to a consultant in consideration of strategic management consulting services and investor relations services to be rendered to us.

On November 26, 2018, we issued 18,750 shares of common stock to a consultant in consideration of strategic management consulting services and investor relations services to be rendered to us.

On December 20, 2018, we issued 162,500 shares of our common stock following receipt on December 19, 2018 of a conversion notice from the holder of an outstanding convertible note in the principal amount of $325,000, thereupon retiring all outstanding debt instruments. The issuance of common stock was exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of the exemption provided under Section 3(a)(9) thereof as the common stock was exchanged by us with our existing security holder exclusively and no commission or other remuneration was paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchange.

On January 21, 2019, we exchanged a currently outstanding warrant to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock exercisable at a per share price of $3.75, with a cashless exercise feature, exercisable for a period of five years from its date of issuance for a new warrant to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.75, with a cashless exercise feature allowing for a maximum issuance of 125,000 shares of common stock upon a cashless exercise, exercisable until April 17, 2019. Subsequent to the exchange, the warrant holder partially exercised the warrant for a payment of $468,750, for issue of 125,000 shares of common stock. The warrant holder then exercised the remainder of the warrant via a cashless and was issued 125,000 shares of common stock, retiring the warrant. We issued the new warrant and the shares of common stock upon exercise of the new warrant in reliance on the exemption from registration provided for under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, as the issuance was made to an existing security holder, there was no additional consideration paid for the new warrant or the shares of common stock and no commission or other remuneration was paid.

On January 31, 2019, the Company issued 22,311 unregistered shares of common stock upon the full cashless exercise of a warrant to purchase 65,130 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.99 per share.

On February 4, 2019, we issued 1,083 shares following the exercise of 1,083 previous outstanding with an exercise price of $0.005 per share, or a total exercise price of $6.

On March 4, 2019, we issued 50,000 shares of common stock to a consultant in consideration of strategic management consulting services and investor relations services to be rendered to us.

On March 6, 2019, we issued 1,083 shares following the exercise of 1,083 previous outstanding with an exercise price of $0.005 per share, or a total exercise price of $6.

On March 15, 2019, we issued 18,750 shares of common stock to a consultant in consideration of strategic management consulting services and investor relations services to be rendered to us.

On March 29, 2019, we issued 25,000 shares of common stock to a consultant at the market price of $3.43 per share.

On April 22, 2019, we issued 50,000 shares of common stock to an investor relations consultant at a cost of $1.66 per share, the market price on the day of the agreement under which these shares were issued. 

On June 26, 2019, we issued 18,750 shares of common stock to an investor relations consultant at a cost of $3.80 per share, the market price on the day of the agreement under which these shares were issued.

During 2019, 61,005 unregistered shares of common stock were issued as a result of the exercise of warrants to purchase 61,005 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.005 per share for cash payments of $328.

On June 9, 2020, we entered into a securities purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued: (i) 2,820,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 in a registered direct offering, and (ii) warrants, with a term of five years, to purchase an aggregate of up to 2,115,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share in a concurrent private placement.

We did not pay or give, directly or indirectly, any commission or other remuneration, including underwriting discounts or commissions, in connection with any of the issuances of securities listed above. The recipients of the securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and appropriate legends were placed upon the stock certificates issued in these transactions. All recipients had adequate access, through their employment or other relationship with us or through other access to information provided by us, to information about us. The sales of these securities were made without any general solicitation or advertising.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this registration statement.

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section 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 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

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 section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 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.

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 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 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.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Charlottesville, State of Virginia, on the 2^nd day of July, 2020.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints William B. Stilley and Joseph Truluck, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, 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 to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them or their or his substitutes or substitute, 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.

EXHIBIT INDEX

4.30		Form of $6.25 Warrant to purchase common stock, dated November 12, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q, File No. 000-38323 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2018)
4.31		Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, File No. 001-38323 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2019)
4.32		Form of Warrant Agency Agreement dated February 25, 2019 between Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and VStock Transfer, LLC (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, File No. 001-38323 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2019)
4.33		Description of Securities (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, File No. 001-38323 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2020)
4.34		Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, File No. 001-38323 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2020)
5.1*		Opinion of Gracin & Marlow, LLP
10.1		License Agreement between the University of Virginia Patent Foundation and ADial Pharmaceuticals, L.L.C. effective January 21, 2011 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.2		Amendment #1 to License Agreement between University of Virginia Patent Foundation and ADial Pharmaceuticals, LLC effective October 21, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.3		Amendment #2 to License Agreement between University of Virginia Patent Foundation and ADial Pharmaceuticals, LLC effective May 18, 2016 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.4		Amendment #3 to License Agreement between University of Virginia Patent Foundation and ADial Pharmaceuticals, LLC effective March 27, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.5+		Executive Employment Agreement with William B. Stilley, III dated December 6, 2010 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.6+		Salary Forbearance Agreement with William B. Stilley, III dated August 17, 2016 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.7+		Consulting Agreement with Joseph Truluck dated April 25, 2016 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.8		Termination Agreement with Cato Holding Company dated March 14, 2016 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.9		Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 1, 2017 by and between ADial Pharmaceuticals, LLC and FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.10		Security Agreement dated May 1, 2017 by and between ADial Pharmaceuticals, LLC and FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.11		Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims entered into as of January 25, 2016 by and between Bankole Johnson and ADial Pharmaceuticals, LLC (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.12		Promissory Note issued to ADial Pharmaceuticals, L.L.C. by Bankole A. Johnson in the principal amount of $35,000, dated November 24, 2016 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.13		Form of Subscription Agreement to the Offering of Class B Units (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.14+		Consulting Agreement between ADial Pharmaceuticals, LLC and Crescendo Communications, LLC Agreed to and approved June 30, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.15+		Form of Employment Agreement to be entered into with William B. Stilley, III (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.16+		Employment Agreement to be entered into with Joseph A. M. Truluck (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.17		Indemnification Agreement (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)
10.18		Sublease Agreement with Inspyr Therapeutics, Inc. dated August 16, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-220368, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2017)

 

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