form_s-3.htm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2008
Registration No. 333-                   
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
_________________________________________________

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
_________________________________________________
 
SCOLR Pharma, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
91-1689591
(State of Incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
19204 North Creek Parkway, Suite 100
Bothell, WA 98011
(425) 368-1050
 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Daniel O. Wilds
President and Chief Executive Officer
SCOLR Pharma, Inc.
19204 North Creek Parkway, Suite 100
Bothell, WA 98011
 (425) 368-1050
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

_________________________________________________

Copies to:
Bruce A. Robertson
Garvey Schubert Barer
1191 Second Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 464-0125
_________________________________________________

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time as described in the prospectus.
 
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨
 

 
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.   x
 
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨
 
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registrations 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 or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
 Large accelerated filer o  Accelerated filer o    Non-accelerated filer o     Smaller reporting company x
     (Do not check if a Smaller Reporting Company)  
                                                                                   
 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
             
Title of Each Class of
Securities to Be Registered(1)
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price (2)(3)
   
Amount of
Registration
Fee(3)
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share(4)
           
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share
           
Warrants(4)
           
Debt Securities
           
Total
$
40,000,000.00
        
 
$
1,572.00
(1)
There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock, an indeterminate number of warrants to purchase capital stock and an indeterminate amount of debt securities of the registrant as may be sold from time to time by the registrant.  Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock and such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase shares of common stock or preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.  There is also being registered such indeterminate number of shares of common stock or preferred stock as may be issued upon conversion or exchange of any other securities that provide for conversion or exchange.  No separate consideration will be received for the common stock or preferred stock issued upon such conversion or exchange.  The aggregate offering price of all securities that the registrant may sell from time to time pursuant to this registration statement will not exceed $40,000,000.  The aggregate amount of registrant’s securities registered hereunder that may be sold in “at the market” offerings for the account of the registrant is limited to that which is permissible under Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act.
(2)
An indeterminate number or amount of our securities, as may from time to time be sold, is being registered pursuant to this registration statement.  The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely for the purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(3)
Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(0) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).  Pursuant to General Instruction II(D) of Form S-3, the table does not specify by each class information as to the proposed maximum aggregate offering price. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or with other securities registered hereunder.
(4)
$21,057,695 aggregate maximum offering amount of the Company’s Common Stock and Warrants to Purchase Common Stock (the "Previously Registered Securities") were registered under registration statement no. 333-129275 (the "Prior Registration Statement") filed on October 27, 2005, and have not yet been issued and sold.  Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(5) and 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933,  the Previously Registered Securities are being including in this registration statement.  In accordance with Rule 415(a)(6), the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated upon effectiveness of this registration statement.
 

 
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 or until this 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 in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The registrant may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 14, 2008
 
PROSPECTUS
SCOLR Pharma, Inc.
$40,000,000
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
WARRANTS
DEBT SECURITIES
_________________________________________________

    This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission using a “shelf” registration process. Under this process, we may offer our securities from time to time in one or more offerings at an aggregate public offering price of up to $40 million.
 
    This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that describes the amount, price and terms of the securities we offer. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described below under “Information Incorporated by Reference.”
 
    You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than those registered by this prospectus, nor is it an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in jurisdictions where an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. The information contained or incorporated in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our common stock.
 
    We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. We and our agents reserve the sole right to accept or reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of securities. The prospectus supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
 
    Our common stock is traded on the NYSE Alternext US under the symbol “DDD.” On November 13, 2008, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE Alternext US was $0.99  per share.
 
    Our principal executive offices are located at 19204 North Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Bothell, WA 98011. The telephone number of our principal executive offices is (425) 368-1050.

    In this prospectus and in documents incorporated in this prospectus, references to the “Company,” “SCOLR,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to SCOLR Pharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

    “Controlled Delivery Technology” is a registered trademark of SCOLR Pharma, Inc. Other trademarks referred to in this prospectus belong to their respective owners.

    Investing in our securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus and in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making a decision to purchase our securities.
 

 
    Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
The date of this prospectus is                , 2008.

 
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference into these documents contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” “will,” “foresee” and similar expressions to identify these forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time we or our representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements may be included in various filings that we make with the SEC, or press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our authorized executive officers. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained herein, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to any forward-looking statements. You are advised, however, to consult any additional disclosures we have made or will make in our reports to the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this prospectus.
 
THE COMPANY
 
We are a specialty pharmaceutical company. Our corporate objective is to combine our formulation experience and knowledge with our proprietary and patented Controlled Delivery Technology (CDT®) platform to develop novel pharmaceutical, over-the-counter (OTC) and nutritional products. Our CDT platform is based on multiple issued and pending patents and other intellectual property for the programmed release or enhanced performance of active pharmaceutical ingredients and nutritional products.
 
Our innovative drug delivery technologies enable us to formulate tablets or capsules that release their active agents predictably and programmably over a specified timeframe of up to 24 hours. Our platform is designed to reduce the frequency of drug administration, improve the effectiveness of the drug treatment, ensure greater patient compliance with a treatment program, reduce side effects, and/or increase drug safety. In addition, our technology can be incorporated into oral formulations to increase the solubility characteristics of previously non-soluble and sparingly-soluble drugs without employing costly or complex nano-crystalization, micro-milling or coated particle technologies.
 
We have developed multiple private label extended-release nutritional products incorporating our CDT platform that are sold by national retailers. In October 2005, we entered into a strategic alliance with a subsidiary of Perrigo Company for the manufacture, marketing, distribution, sale and use of certain dietary supplement products in the United States. We receive royalty payments based on a percentage of Perrigo’s net profits derived from the sales of products covered by our agreement.
 
Our lead product candidate is a CDT-based extended-release formulation of ibuprofen, an analgesic that is sold in immediate-dose products as Advil® and Motrin®, among others, as well as generically.  On November 6, 2008, we reported favorable top-line results from our pivotal phase III trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of our 12-hour CDT 600 mg extended-release ibuprofen for the OTC market. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of multiple doses of our extended-release ibuprofen in dental pain following third molar extraction. The first primary endpoint was to demonstrate analgesic efficacy for the 8-12 hour period after the first dose of our extended-release ibuprofen as compared to placebo. The second primary endpoint measured the durability of effect of our formulation by the proportion of subjects in the extended-release group with meaningful improvement in pain intensity from baseline at all three assessment periods of 24, 36, and 48 hours. Both endpoints achieved positive, statistically significant results, at the
 
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p<0.0001 level.  There are currently no extended-release formulations of ibuprofen approved for use in North America. In addition, our Abbreviated New Drug Application, or ANDA, for a 12 hour extended-release pseudoephedrine formulation was accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as of August 5, 2008. Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that is widely used to relieve sinus pressure related to allergies and the common cold.
 
We continue to support our strategic alliances and collaborations, including our collaboration and license agreement with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to pursue development and commercialization of an undisclosed oral prescription drug with significant potential for the cardiopulmonary market using our CDT technology. However, we have deferred development work on other products in development, including CDT-based extended release formulations of ondansetron, rivastigmine and risperidone, pending additional funding or partnership interest. We are developing other products that we have not disclosed for competitive reasons, and we are evaluating additional drugs as potential development candidates for expanding our growing portfolio of CDT applications.
 
We were incorporated on October 12, 1994, in Delaware under the name Caddy Systems, Inc. From April 1995 to July 2002, we operated under the name Nutraceutix, Inc. In July 2002, we changed our name to SCOLR, Inc. and to SCOLR Pharma, Inc. in July 2004. SCOLR is an acronym for “Self-Correcting Oral Linear Release,” an important feature of our lead technology.
 
Our principal executive offices are located at 19204 North Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Bothell, WA 98011. The telephone number of our principal executive offices is (425) 368-1050. Our website is www.scolr.com. Information contained on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus. Our filings with the SEC are available without charge on our website.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE OFFERING

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process.  Under this shelf process, we may from time to time offer up to $40 million in total of
  
·  
shares of our common stock (including the associated preferred stock purchase rights);

·  
shares of our preferred stock;

·  
warrants to purchase shares of common stock or preferred stock;

·  
debt securities; or,

·  
any combination of our common stock, preferred stock, warrants or debt securities.
 
When we use the term “securities” in this prospectus, we mean any of the securities we may offer with this prospectus, unless we say otherwise.  The total dollar amount of all securities that we may issue will not exceed $40 million.  This prospectus, including the following summary, describes the general terms that may apply to the securities.  A more detailed description of the securities can be found in this prospectus under the headings “Description of the Preferred Stock,”  “Description of the Warrants” and “Description of the Debt Securities” A detailed description of our common stock is incorporated by reference herein.  See “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”  The specific terms of any particular securities that we may offer will be described in a separate supplement to this prospectus.
 
Common Stock.   We may offer shares of our common stock.  Our common stock currently is listed on the NYSE Alternext US under the symbol “DDD.”

 
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Preferred Stock.   We may offer our preferred stock in one or more series.  For any particular series we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific designation; the aggregate number of shares offered; the rate and periods, or manner of calculating the rate and periods, for dividends, if any; the stated value and liquidation preference amount, if any; the voting rights, if any; the terms on which the series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, if any; the redemption terms, if any; and any other specific terms.
 
Warrants.   We may offer warrants to purchase our common stock and preferred stock.  For any particular warrants we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the underlying security; expiration date; the exercise price or the manner of determining the exercise price; the amount and kind, or the manner of determining the amount and kind, of any security to be delivered by us upon exercise; and any other specific terms.  We may issue the warrants under warrant agreements between us and one or more warrant agents.
 
Debt Securities.  Our debt securities may be senior or subordinated in right of payment and may be convertible into preferred stock, common stock or other securities or property.  For any particular debt securities we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific designation, the aggregate principal or face amount and the purchase price; the ranking, whether senior or subordinated; the stated maturity; the redemption terms, if any; the conversion terms, if any; the rate or manner of calculating the rate and the payment dates for interest, if any; the amount or manner of calculating the amount payable at maturity and whether that amount may be paid by delivering cash, securities or other property; and any other specific terms.  We will issue the senior and subordinated debt securities under separate indentures between us and a trustee we will identify in an applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Listing.   If any securities are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will say so.

 
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RISK FACTORS
  
The securities offered by this prospectus involve a high degree of risk. You should only acquire our securities if you can afford to lose your entire investment. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, as well as all of the other information set forth in this prospectus, before making a decision to purchase our securities.
 
 
We have incurred substantial operating losses since we started doing business and we expect to continue to incur substantial losses in the future, which may negatively impact our ability to run our business.
 
We have incurred net losses since 2000, including net losses of $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, $10.6 million in 2007, and $10.7 million in 2006. We have accumulated net losses of approximately $61.1 million from our inception through September 30, 2008, and we expect to continue to incur significant operating losses in the future.
 
We plan to continue the costly process of simultaneously conducting clinical trials and preclinical research for multiple product candidates. Our product development program may not lead to commercial products, either because our product candidates fail to be effective, are not attractive to the market, or because we lack the necessary financial or other resources or relationships to pursue our programs through commercialization. Our net losses are likely to continue as we advance preclinical research and clinical trials, apply for regulatory approvals, develop our product candidates, and support commercialization of our potential products.
 
We have funded our operations primarily through the issuance of equity securities and we may not be able to generate positive cash flow in the future. We expect that we will need to seek additional funds through the issuance of equity securities or other sources of financing. If we are unable to obtain necessary additional financing, our ability to run our business will be adversely affected and we may be required to reduce the scope of our research and business activity or cease our operations.
 
We do not have sufficient cash to fund the development of our drug delivery operations. If we are unable to obtain additional equity or debt financing in the future, we will be required to delay, reduce or eliminate the pursuit of licensing, strategic alliances and development of drug delivery programs.
 
We anticipate that, based on our current operating plan, our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with expected royalties from third parties, will be sufficient to fund our operations through the end of 2009. Our current operating plan reflects reductions in personnel, marketing and other expenses implemented earlier this year. We are actively managing our liquidity by limiting our clinical and development expenses to our lead products and supporting our existing alliances and collaborations. We have deferred expenditures on new projects pending additional funding or partnership opportunities. We plan to continue efforts to enter into collaboration and licensing agreements for our product candidates, including extended-release ibuprofen, that may provide additional funding for our operations. If we are unsuccessful with these efforts, we may have to curtail operations or planned development activities.
 
We will need to raise additional capital to fund operations, conduct clinical trials, continue research and development projects, and commercialize our product candidates. The timing and amount of our need for additional financing will depend on a number of factors, including:
 
 
the structure and timing of collaborations with strategic partners and licensees;
 
 
our timetable and costs for the development of marketing operations and other activities related to the commercialization of our product candidates;
 
 
the progress of our research and development programs and expansion of such programs;
 
 
the emergence of competing technologies and other adverse market developments; and,
 
 
the prosecution, defense and enforcement of potential patent claims and other intellectual property rights.
 
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Additional equity or debt financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, substantial dilution to our existing stockholders may result which could decrease the market price of our common stock due to the sale of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market, or the perception that these sales could occur. These sales, or the perception of possible sales, could also impair our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, the terms of any equity financing may adversely affect the rights of our existing stockholders. If we raise additional funds through strategic alliance or licensing arrangements, we may be required to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies or product candidates, or to grant licenses on terms that are unfavorable to us, which could substantially reduce the value of our business.
 
If we are unable to obtain sufficient additional financing, we would be unable to meet our obligations and we would be required to delay, reduce or eliminate some or all of our business operations, including the pursuit of licensing, strategic alliances and development of drug delivery programs.
 
Our limited experience in preparing applications for regulatory approval of our products, and our lack of experience in obtaining such approval, may increase the cost of and extend the time required for preparation of necessary applications.
 
Each OTC or pharmaceutical product we develop will require a separate costly and time consuming regulatory approval before we or our collaborators can manufacture and sell it in the United States or internationally. The regulatory process to obtain market approval for a new drug takes many years and requires the expenditure of substantial resources. We have had only limited experience in preparing applications and do not have experience in obtaining regulatory approvals. As a result, we believe we will rely primarily on third party contractors to help us prepare applications for regulatory approval, which means we will have less control over the timing and other aspects of the regulatory process than if we had our own expertise in this area. Our limited experience in preparing applications and obtaining regulatory approval could delay or prevent us from obtaining regulatory approval and could substantially increase the cost of applying for such approval.
 
 
We may not obtain regulatory approval for our products, which would materially impair our ability to generate revenue.
 
We may encounter delays or rejections during any stage of the regulatory approval process based upon the failure of clinical data to demonstrate compliance with, or upon the failure of the product to meet the FDA’s requirements for safety, efficacy, quality, and/or bioequivalence; and, those requirements may become more stringent due to changes in regulatory agency policy or the adoption of new regulations. For example, after submission of a marketing application, in the form of an NDA or ANDA, the FDA may deny the application, may require additional testing or data, and/or may require post marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of a product. In addition, the terms of approval of any marketing application, including the labeling content, may be more restrictive than we desire and could affect the marketability of products incorporating our controlled release technology.
 
Certain products incorporating our technology will require the filing of an NDA. A full NDA must include complete reports of preclinical, clinical, and other studies to prove adequately that the product is safe and effective, which involves among other things, full clinical testing, and as a result requires the expenditure of substantial resources. In certain cases involving controlled release versions of FDA-approved immediate release products, we may be able to rely on existing publicly available safety and efficacy data to support an NDA for controlled release products under Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA when such data exists for an approved immediate release or controlled release version of the same active chemical ingredient. We can provide no assurance, however, that the FDA will accept a Section 505(b)(2) NDA, or that we will be able to obtain publicly available data that is useful. The Section 505(b)(2) NDA process is a highly uncertain avenue to approval because the FDA’s policies on Section 505(b)(2) have not yet been fully developed. There can be no assurance that the FDA will approve an application submitted under Section 505(b)(2) in a timely manner or at all. Our inability to rely on the 505(b)(2) process would increase the cost and extend the time frame for FDA approvals.
 
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If our clinical trials are not successful or take longer to complete than we expect, we may not be able to develop and   commercialize our products.
 
In order to obtain regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of potential products utilizing our CDT platform, we or our collaborators will be required to complete clinical trials in humans to demonstrate the safety and efficacy, or in certain cases, the bioequivalence, of the products. However, we or our collaborators may not be able to commence or complete these clinical trials in any specified time period, or at all, either because the appropriate regulatory agency objects or for other reasons, including:
 
 
unexpected delays in the initiation of clinical sites;
 
 
slower than projected enrollment of eligible patients;
 
 
competition with other ongoing clinical trials for clinical investigators or eligible patients;
 
 
scheduling conflicts with participating clinicians;
 
 
limits on manufacturing capacity, including delays of clinical supplies; and,
 
 
the failure of our products to meet required standards.
 
We also rely on academic institutions and clinical research organizations to conduct, supervise or monitor some or all aspects of clinical trials involving our product candidates. We have less control over the timing and other aspects of these clinical trials than if we conducted the monitoring and supervision on our own. Third parties may not perform their responsibilities for our clinical trials on our anticipated scheduled or consistent with a clinical trial protocol.
 
Even if we complete a clinical trial of one of our potential products, the clinical trial may not indicate that our product is safe or effective to the extent required by the FDA or other regulatory agency to approve the product. If clinical trials do not show any potential product to be safe, efficacious, or bioequivalent, or if we are required to conduct additional clinical trials or other testing of our products in development beyond those that we currently contemplate, we may be delayed in obtaining, or may not obtain, marketing approval for our products. Our product development costs may also increase if we experience delays in testing or approvals, which could allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do and would impair our ability to commercialize our products.
 
We face intense competition in the drug delivery business, and our failure to compete effectively would decrease our ability to generate meaningful revenues from our products.
 
The drug delivery business is highly competitive and is affected by new technologies, governmental regulations, health care legislation, availability of financing, litigation and other factors. Many of our competitors have longer operating histories and greater financial, research and development, marketing and other resources than we do. We are subject to competition from numerous other entities that currently operate or intend to operate in the industry. These include companies that are engaged in the development of controlled-release drug delivery technologies and products as well as other manufacturers that may decide to undertake in-house development of these products. Some of our direct competitors in the drug delivery industry include Biovail, Inc., Penwest, SkyePharma PLC, Depomed, Elan, Flamel, Impax Laboratories, Inc., Labopharm, and KV Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 
Many of our competitors have more extensive experience than we have in conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals, and manufacturing and marketing pharmaceutical products. Many competitors also have competing products that have already received regulatory approval or are in late-stage development, and may have collaborative arrangements in our target markets with leading companies and research institutions.
 

Our competitors may develop or commercialize more effective, safer or more affordable products, or obtain more effective patent protection, than we are able to develop, commercialize or obtain. As a result, our competitors may commercialize products more rapidly or effectively than we do, which would adversely affect our competitive position, the likelihood that our products will achieve market acceptance, and our ability to generate meaningful revenues from our products.
 
If we fail to comply with extensive government regulations covering the manufacture, distribution and labeling of our products, we may have to withdraw our products from the market, close our facilities or cease our operations.
 
Our products, potential products, and manufacturing and research activities are subject to varying degrees of regulation by a number of government authorities in the United States (including the Drug Enforcement Agency, FDA, Federal Trade Commission, and Environmental Protection Agency) and in other countries. For example, our activities, including preclinical studies, clinical trials, manufacturing, distribution, and labeling are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and comparable authorities outside the United States. Also, our statements and our customers’ statements regarding dietary supplement products are subject to regulation by the FTC. The FTC enforces laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive trade practices, including false or misleading advertising. In recent years, the FTC has brought a number of actions challenging claims by nutraceutical companies.
 
Each OTC or pharmaceutical product we develop will require a separate costly and time consuming regulatory approval before we or our collaborators can manufacture and sell it in the United States or internationally. Even if regulatory approval is received, there may be limits imposed by regulators on a product’s use or it may face subsequent regulatory difficulties. Approved products are subject to continuous review and the facilities that manufacture them are subject to periodic inspections. Furthermore, regulatory agencies may require additional and expensive post-approval studies. If previously unknown problems with a product candidate surface, or the manufacturing or laboratory facility is deemed non-compliant with applicable regulatory requirements, an agency may impose restrictions on that product or on us, including requiring us to withdraw the product from the market, close the facility, and/or pay substantial fines.
 
We also may incur significant costs in complying with environmental laws and regulations. We are subject to federal, state, local and other laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling, and disposal of materials and certain waste products. The risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials cannot be completely eliminated. If an accident occurs, we could be held liable for any damages that result and these damages could exceed our resources.
 
Our ability to commercialize products containing pseudoephedrine may be adversely impacted by retail sales controls, legislation, and other measures designed to counter diversion and misuse of pseudoephedrine in the production of methamphetamine, an illegal drug.
 
We are engaged in the development of an extended-release formulation of pseudoephedrine. On March 10, 2006, Congress enacted the Patriot Act, which included the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. Among its various provisions, this national legislation placed restrictions on the purchase and sale of all products containing pseudoephedrine and imposed quotas on manufacturers relating to the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine. Many states have also imposed statutory and regulatory restrictions on the manufacture, distribution and sale of pseudoephedrine products. We believe that such quotas and restrictions resulted in delays in obtaining materials necessary for the development of our pseudoephedrine product. Our ability to commercialize products containing pseudoephedrine and the market for such products may be adversely impacted by existing or new retail sales controls, legislation and market changes relating to diversion and misuse of pseudoephedrine in the production of methamphetamine.
 
If we cannot establish collaborative arrangements with leading individuals, companies and research institutions, we may have to discontinue the development and commercialization of our products.

 
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We have limited experience in conducting full scale clinical trials, preparing and submitting regulatory applications, or manufacturing and selling pharmaceutical products. In addition, we do not have sufficient resources to fund the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of our products. We expect to seek collaborative arrangements and alliances with corporate and academic partners, licensors and licensees to assist with funding research and development, to conduct clinical testing, and to provide manufacturing, marketing, and commercialization of our product candidates. We may rely on collaborative arrangements to obtain the regulatory approvals for our products.
 
For our collaboration efforts to be successful, we must identify partners whose competencies complement ours. We must also enter into collaboration agreements with them on terms that are favorable to us and integrate and coordinate their resources and capabilities with our own. We may be unsuccessful in entering into collaboration agreements with acceptable partners or negotiating favorable terms in these agreements.
 
If we cannot establish collaborative relationships, we will be required to find alternative sources of funding and to develop our own capabilities to manufacture, market, and sell our products. If we were not successful in finding funding and developing these capabilities, we would have to terminate the development and commercialization of our products.
 
If our existing or new collaborations are not successful, we will have to establish our own commercialization capabilities, which would be expensive and time consuming and could delay the commercialization of the affected product.
 
Some of our products are being developed and commercialized in collaboration with corporate partners. Under these collaborations, we may be dependent on our collaborators to fund some portion of development, to conduct clinical trials, to obtain regulatory approvals for, and manufacture, market and sell products using our CDT platform.
 
We have very limited experience in manufacturing, marketing and selling pharmaceutical products. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in developing these capabilities.
 
Our existing collaborations may be subject to termination on short notice. If any of our collaborations are terminated, we may be required to devote additional resources to the product covered by the collaboration, seek a new collaborator on short notice or abandon the product. The terms of any additional collaborations or other arrangements that we establish may not be favorable to us.
 
Our collaborations or other arrangements may not be successful because of factors such as:
 
 
our collaborators may have insufficient economic motivation to continue their funding, research, development, and commercialization activities;
 
 
our collaborators may discontinue funding any particular program, which could delay or halt the development or commercialization of any product candidates arising out of the program;
 
 
our collaborators may choose to pursue alternative technologies or products, either on their own or in collaboration with others, including our competitors;
 
 
our collaborators may lack sufficient financial, technical or other capabilities to develop these product candidates;
 
 
we may underestimate the length of time that it takes for our collaborators to achieve various clinical development and regulatory approval milestones; or,
 
 
our collaborators may be unable to successfully address any regulatory or technical challenges they may encounter.
 
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We have no manufacturing capabilities and will be dependent on third party manufacturers.
 
We do not have commercial scale facilities to manufacture any products we may develop in accordance with requirements prescribed by the FDA. Consequently, we have to rely on third party manufacturers of the products we are evaluating in clinical trials. If any of our product candidates receive FDA or other regulatory authority approval, we will rely on third-party contractors to perform the manufacturing steps for our products on a commercial scale. We may be unable to identify manufacturers on acceptable terms or at all because the number of potential manufacturers is limited and the FDA and other regulatory authorities, as applicable, must approve any replacement manufacturer, including us, and we or any such third party manufacturer may be unable to formulate and manufacture our drug products in the volume and of the quality required to meet our clinical and commercial needs. We will be dependent upon these third parties to supply us in a timely manner with products manufactured in compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) or similar manufacturing standards imposed by foreign regulatory authorities where our products will be tested and/or marketed. While the FDA and other regulatory authorities maintain oversight for cGMP compliance of drug manufacturers, contract manufacturers may at times violate cGMPs. The FDA and other regulatory authorities may take action against a contract manufacturer who violates cGMPs. We currently rely on Catalent Pharma Solutions, LLC (formerly Cardinal Health PTS, LLC) for the production of a number of our product candidates. If Catalent or other third party manufacturers are unable to provide adequate products and services to us, we could suffer a delay in our clinical trials and the development of or the submission of products for regulatory approval. In addition, we would not have the ability to commercialize products as planned and deliver products on a timely basis, and we may have higher product costs or we may be required to cease distribution or recall some or all batches of our products.
 
If we fail to protect and maintain the proprietary nature of our intellectual property, our business, financial condition and ability to compete would suffer.
 
We principally rely on patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and contract law to establish and protect our proprietary rights. We own or have exclusive rights to several U.S. patents and patent applications and we expect to apply for additional U.S. and foreign patents in the future. The patent positions of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and bio-pharmaceutical firms, including ours, are uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal issues are largely unresolved. The coverage claimed in our patent applications can be significantly reduced before a patent is issued, and the claims allowed on any patents or trademarks we hold may not be broad enough to protect our technology. In addition, our patents or trademarks may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or the patents of others may impede our collaborators’ ability to commercialize the technology covered by our owned or licensed patents. Moreover, any current or future issued or licensed patents, or trademarks, or existing or future trade secrets or know-how, may not afford sufficient protection against competitors with similar technologies or processes, and the possibility exists that certain of our already issued patents or trademarks may infringe upon third party patents or trademarks or be designed around by others. In addition, there is a risk that others may independently develop proprietary technologies and processes that are the same as, or substantially equivalent or superior to ours, or become available in the market at a lower price. There is a risk that we have infringed or in the future will infringe patents or trademarks owned by others, that we will need to acquire licenses under patents or trademarks belonging to others for technology potentially useful or necessary to us, and that licenses will not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. We cannot assure you that:
 
 
our patents or any future patents will prevent other companies from developing similar or functionally equivalent products or from successfully challenging the validity of our patents;
 
 
any of our future processes or products will be patentable;
 
 
any pending or additional patents will be issued in any or all appropriate jurisdictions;
 
 
our processes or products will not infringe upon the patents of third parties; or,
 
 
we will have the resources to defend against charges of patent infringement by third parties or to protect our own patent rights against infringement by third parties.
 
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We may have to litigate to enforce our patents or trademarks or to determine the scope and validity of other parties’ proprietary rights. Litigation could be very costly and divert management’s attention. An adverse outcome in any litigation could adversely affect our financial results and stock price.
 
We also rely on trade secrets and proprietary know-how, which we seek to protect by confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, advisors, and collaborators. There is a risk that these agreements may be breached, and that the remedies available to us may not be adequate. In addition, our trade secrets and proprietary know-how may otherwise become known to or be independently discovered by others.
 
Significant expenses in applying for patent protection and prosecuting our patent applications will increase our need for capital and could harm our business and financial condition.
 
We intend to continue our substantial efforts in applying for patent protection and prosecuting pending and future patent applications both in the United States and internationally. These efforts have historically required the expenditure of considerable time and money, and we expect that they will continue to require significant expenditures. If future changes in United States or foreign patent laws complicate or hinder our efforts to obtain patent protection, the costs associated with patent prosecution may increase significantly.
 
If we fail to attract and retain key executive and technical personnel we could experience a negative impact on our ability to develop and commercialize our products and our business will suffer.
 
The success of our operations will depend to a great extent on the collective experience, abilities and continued service of relatively few individuals. We are dependent upon the continued availability of the services of our employees, many of whom are individually key to our future success. For example, if we lose the services of our President and CEO, Daniel O. Wilds, or our Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Stephen J. Turner, we could experience a negative impact on our ability to develop and commercialize our CDT technology, our financial results, and our stock price. We also rely on members of our scientific staff for product research and development. The loss of the services of key members of this staff could substantially impair our ongoing research and development and our ability to obtain additional financing. We do not carry key man life insurance on any of our personnel.
 
In addition, we are dependent upon the continued availability of Dr. Reza Fassihi, a member of our board of directors with whom we have a consulting agreement. The agreement may be terminated by either party on 30 days’ notice. If our relationship with Dr. Fassihi is terminated, we could experience a negative impact on our ability to develop and commercialize our CDT technology.
 
Our success also significantly depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel. We face intense competition for personnel in the drug delivery industry. To compete for personnel, we may need to pay higher salaries and provide other incentives than those paid and provided by more established entities. Our limited financial resources may hinder our ability to provide such salaries and incentives. Our personnel may voluntarily terminate their relationship with us at any time, and the process of locating additional personnel with the combination of skills and attributes required to carry out our strategy could be lengthy, costly, and disruptive. If we lose the services of key personnel, or fail to replace the services of key personnel who depart, we could experience a severe negative impact on our financial results and stock price.
 
Future laws or regulations may hinder or prohibit the production or sale of our products.
 
We may be subject to additional laws or regulations in the future, such as those administered by the FDA or other federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities. Laws or regulations that we consider favorable, such as the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, DSHEA, may be repealed. Current laws or regulations may be interpreted more stringently. We are unable to predict the nature of such future laws, regulations or interpretations, nor can we predict what effect they may have on our business. Possible effects or requirements could include the following:
 
 
the reformulation of certain products to meet new standards;
 
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the recall or discontinuance of certain products unable to be reformulated;
 
 
imposition of additional record keeping requirements;
 
 
expanded documentation of the properties of certain products; or,
 
 
expanded or different labeling, or scientific substantiation.
 
Any such requirement could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
 
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.
 
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our operating results could be harmed.
 
A significant number of shares of our common stock are or will be eligible for sale in the open market, which could drive down the market price for our common stock and make it difficult for us to raise capital.
 
As of October 31, 2008, 41,130,270 shares of our common stock were outstanding, and there were 7,502,253 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, restricted stock, and warrants. Our stockholders may experience substantial dilution if we raise additional funds through the sale of equity securities, and sales of a large number of shares by us or by existing stockholders could materially decrease the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities. The risk of dilution and the resulting downward pressure on our stock price could also encourage stockholders to engage in short sales of our common stock. By increasing the number of shares offered for sale, material amounts of short selling could further contribute to progressive price declines in our common stock.
 
Our stock price is subject to significant volatility.
 
The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly. Those fluctuations could be based on various factors in addition to those otherwise described in this report, including:
 
 
general conditions in the healthcare industry;
 
 
general conditions in the financial markets;
 
 
our failure or the failure of our collaborative partners, for any reason, to obtain FDA approval for any of our products or products we license;
 
 
for those products that are ultimately approved by the FDA, the failure of the FDA to approve such products in a timely manner consistent with the FDA’s historical approval process;
 
 
our failure, or the failure of our third-party partners, to successfully commercialize products approved by the FDA;
 
 
our failure to generate product revenues anticipated by investors;
 
 
problems with our sole contract manufacturer;
 
 
the exercise of our right to redeem certain outstanding warrants to purchase our common stock;
 
 
the sale of additional debt and/or equity securities by us;
 
 
announcements by us or others of the results of preclinical testing and clinical trials and regulatory actions, technological innovations or new commercial therapeutic products; and,
 
 
developments or disputes concerning patent or any other proprietary rights.
 
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Certain provisions in our charter documents and otherwise may discourage third parties from attempting to acquire control of our company, which may have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
 
Our board of directors has the authority, without obtaining stockholder approval, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such shares without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provide for special advance notice provisions for proposed business at annual meetings. In addition, Delaware and Washington law contain certain provisions that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a hostile takeover of our company. Further, we have a stockholder rights plan that is designed to cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire our company without approval of our board of directors, and thereby make a hostile takeover attempt prohibitively expensive for a potential acquiror. These provisions, among others, may have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, control of our company, even if stockholders may consider such a change in control to be in their best interests, which may cause the price of our common stock to suffer.

 
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED STOCK

The following description of our preferred stock, together with the additional information we include in any prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus.  For the complete terms of our preferred stock, please refer to our Certificate of Incorporation, together with all amendments thereto, and our Bylaws, together will all amendments thereto that are filed as exhibits to our reports incorporated by reference into the registration statement that includes this prospectus.  The General Corporation Law of Delaware may also affect the terms of our preferred stock.
 
Preferred Stock That We May Offer and Sell to You
 
Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended authorizes our Board of Directors, without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more classes or series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series of the designation of such series, without further vote or action by the stockholders.  We may amend our Certificate of Incorporation from time to time to increase the number of authorized shares of preferred stock.  Any such amendment would require the approval of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote.  As of the date of this prospectus 30,000 of the authorized shares of our preferred stock have been designated as “Series A Junior Preferred Stock” and are reserved for issuance pursuant to our Stockholder Rights Agreement.  See “Incorporation of Documents By Reference.”   No shares of preferred stock are outstanding.
 
The particular terms of any series of preferred stock being offered by us under this shelf registration statement will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock.

Those terms may include:

·  
the title and liquidation preference per share of the preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

·  
the purchase price of the preferred stock;

·  
the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends will be paid and the date from which dividends will begin to accumulate;

·  
any redemption or sinking fund provisions of the preferred stock;

·  
any conversion provisions of the preferred stock;

·  
the voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; and,

·  
any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock.
 
The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.
 
The description of preferred stock above and the description of the terms of a particular series of preferred stock in the prospectus supplement are not complete.  You should refer to the applicable certificate of designations for complete information.  The prospectus supplement will also contain a description of U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the preferred stock, if material.

 
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Voting Rights
 
The General Corporation Law of Delaware provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock.  This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designations.
 
Other
 
Our issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control.  Our issuance of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock or other preferred stock or could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of common stock or other preferred stock.  The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
 
Transfer Agent and Registrar
 
The transfer agent and registrar for the preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

We may offer any combination of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities.  We may issue the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities under separate indentures between us, as issuer, and the trustee or trustees identified in a prospectus supplement.  Further information regarding the trustee may be provided in the prospectus supplement.  The form for each type of indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
 
The prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any debt securities we may offer and may supplement the terms summarized below.  The following summaries of the debt securities and the indentures are not complete.  We urge you to read the indentures filed as exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus and the description of the additional terms of the debt securities included in the prospectus supplement.
 
General
 
Within the total dollar amount of this shelf registration statement, we may issue an unlimited principal amount of debt securities in separate series.  We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series.  The debt securities will have terms that are consistent with the indentures.  Senior debt securities will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.  Subordinated debt securities will be paid only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness, including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been made.
 
The indentures might not limit the amount of other debt that we may incur or whether that debt is senior to the debt securities offered by this prospectus, and might not contain financial or similar restrictive covenants.  The indentures might not contain any provision to protect holders of debt securities against a sudden or dramatic decline in our ability to pay our debt.
 
The prospectus supplement will describe the debt securities and the price or prices at which we will offer the debt securities.  The description will include:

·  
the title and form of the debt securities;

·  
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities or the series of which they are a part;

·  
the person to whom any interest on a debt security of the series will be paid;

·  
the date or dates on which we must repay the principal;

·  
the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest;

·  
if any, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, and the dates on which we must pay interest;

·  
the place or places where we must pay the principal and any premium or interest on the debt securities;

·  
the terms and conditions on which we may redeem any debt security, if at all;

·  
any obligation to redeem or purchase any debt securities, and the terms and conditions on which we must do so;

·  
the denominations in which we may issue the debt securities;
 
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·  
the manner in which we will determine the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities;

·  
the currency in which we will pay the principal of and any premium or interest on the debt securities;

·  
the principal amount of the debt securities that we will pay upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity;

·  
the amount that will be deemed to be the principal amount for any purpose, including the principal amount that will be due and payable upon any maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any date;

·  
if applicable, that the debt securities are defeasible and the terms of such defeasance;

·  
if applicable, the terms of any right to convert debt securities into, or exchange debt securities for, shares of our debt securities, preferred stock or common stock or other securities or property;

·  
whether we will issue the debt securities in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the respective depositaries for the global securities and the terms of the global securities;

·  
the subordination provisions that will apply to any subordinated debt securities;

·  
any addition to or change in the events of default applicable to the debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount of any of the debt securities due and payable;

·  
any addition to or change in the covenants in the indentures; and,

·  
any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the applicable indentures.
 
We may sell the debt securities at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount.  We will describe U.S.  federal income tax considerations, if any, applicable to debt securities sold at an original issue discount in the prospectus supplement.  An “original issue discount security” is any debt security sold for less than its face value, and which provides that the holder cannot receive the full face value if maturity is accelerated.  The prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities will describe the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity upon the occurrence of an event of default.  In addition, we will describe U.S.  federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or unit other than U.S.  dollars in the prospectus supplement.
 
Conversion and Exchange Rights
 
The prospectus supplement will describe, if applicable, the terms on which you may convert debt securities into or exchange them for debt securities, preferred stock and common stock or other securities or property.  The conversion or exchange may be mandatory or may be at your option.  The prospectus supplement will describe how the amount of debt securities, number of shares of preferred stock and common stock or other securities or property to be received upon conversion or exchange would be calculated.

 
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Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities
 
The indebtedness underlying any subordinated debt securities will be payable only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness, as defined in the applicable indenture and any indenture supplement, including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been made.  If we distribute our assets to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceedings, we must first pay all amounts due or to become due on all senior indebtedness before we pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, the subordinated debt securities.  In the event the subordinated debt securities are accelerated because of an event of default, we may not make any payment on the subordinated debt securities until we have paid all senior indebtedness or the acceleration is rescinded.  If the payment of subordinated debt securities accelerates because of an event of default, we must promptly notify holders of senior indebtedness of the acceleration.
 
If we experience a bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors.  The indenture for subordinated debt securities may not limit our ability to incur additional senior indebtedness.
 
Form, Exchange and Transfer
 
We will issue debt securities only in fully registered form, without coupons, and only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise.  The holder of a debt security may elect, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities, to exchange them for other debt securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of similar terms and aggregate principal amount.
 
Holders of debt securities may present them for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer duly executed, at the office of the transfer agent we designate for that purpose.  We will not impose a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require a payment sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange.  We will name the transfer agent in the prospectus supplement.  We may designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, but we must maintain a transfer agent in each place where we will make payment on debt securities.
 
If we redeem the debt securities, we will not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security during a specified period prior to mailing a notice of redemption.  We are not required to register the transfer of or exchange of any debt security selected for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of the debt security being redeemed.
 
Global Securities
 
The debt securities may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of all debt securities of that series.  Each global security will be registered in the name of a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement.  We will deposit the global security with the depositary or a custodian, and the global security will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer.
 
No global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and no transfer of a global security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the depositary or any nominee or successor of the depositary unless:

·  
the depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary; or,
 
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·  
the depositary is no longer in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation.
  
The depositary will determine how all securities issued in exchange for a global security will be registered.
 
As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security, we will consider the depositary or the nominee to be the sole owner and holder of the global security and the underlying debt securities.  Except as stated above, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the global security or any debt security registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of certificated debt securities and will not be considered to be the owners or holders of the global security or underlying debt securities.  We will make all payments of principal, premium and interest on a global security to the depositary or its nominee.  The laws of some jurisdictions require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form.  These laws may prevent you from transferring your beneficial interests in a global security.
 
Only institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee and persons that hold beneficial interests through the depositary or its nominee may own beneficial interests in a global security.  The depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants.  Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or any such participant.
 
The policies and procedures of the depositary may govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security.  We and the trustee will assume no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a global security.
 
Payment and Paying Agents
 
We will pay principal and any premium or interest on a debt security to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest.

We will pay principal and any premium or interest on the debt securities at the office of our designated paying agent.  Unless the prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the corporate trust office of the trustee will be the paying agent for the debt securities.
 
Any other paying agents we designate for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the prospectus supplement.  We may designate additional paying agents, rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, but we must maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities.
 
The paying agent will return to us all money we pay to it for the payment of the principal, premium or interest on any debt security that remains unclaimed for a specified period.  Thereafter, the holder may look only to us for payment, as an unsecured general creditor.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
 
Under the terms of the indentures, so long as any securities remain outstanding, we may not consolidate or enter into a share exchange with or merge into any other person, in a transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation, or sell, convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

·  
the successor assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indentures; and,
 
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·  
we meet the other conditions described in the indentures.
 
Events of Default
 
Each of the following will constitute an event of default under each indenture:

·  
failure to pay any interest on any debt security when due, for more than a specified number of days past the due date;

·  
failure to deposit any sinking fund payment when due;

·  
failure to perform any covenant or agreement in the indenture that continues for a specified number of days after written notice has been given by the trustee or the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series;

·  
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and,

·  
any other event of default specified in the prospectus supplement.
 
If an event of default occurs and continues, both the trustee and holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable.  The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived.
 
Except for its duties in case of an event of default, the trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity.  If they provide this indemnification and subject to conditions specified in the applicable indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
 
No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any proceeding with respect to the indentures, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy, unless:

·  
the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

·  
the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series have made a written request upon the trustee, and have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee, to institute the proceeding;

·  
the trustee has failed to institute the proceeding for a specified period of time after its receipt of the notification; and,

·  
the trustee has not received a direction inconsistent with the request within a specified number of days from the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series.

Modification and Waiver
 
We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters, including:
 
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·  
to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; and,

·  
to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series.
 
In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of notes may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected.  However, we and the trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of the holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

·  
extending the fixed maturity of the series of notes;

·  
reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or any premium payable upon the redemption, of any debt securities; or

·  
reducing the percentage of debt securities the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment.
 
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest on any debt security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be amended without each holder’s consent.
 
Except in limited circumstances, we may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the indentures.  In limited circumstances, the trustee may set a record date.  To be effective, the action must be taken by holders of the requisite principal amount of such debt securities within a specified period following the record date.
 
Defeasance
 
To the extent stated in the prospectus supplement, we may elect to apply the provisions in the indentures relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, or to defeasance of restrictive covenants, to the debt securities of any series.  The indentures provide that, upon satisfaction of the requirements described below, we may terminate all of our obligations under the debt securities of any series and the applicable indenture, known as legal defeasance, other than our obligation:

·  
to maintain a registrar and paying agents and hold monies for payment in trust;

·  
to register the transfer or exchange of the notes; and,

·  
to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes.
 
In addition, we may terminate our obligation to comply with any restrictive covenants under the debt securities of any series or the applicable indenture, known as covenant defeasance.
 
We may exercise our legal defeasance option even if we have previously exercised our covenant defeasance option.  If we exercise either defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be accelerated because of the occurrence of events of default.
 
 
20


To exercise either defeasance option as to debt securities of any series, we must irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee money and/or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States that will provide money in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the debt securities.  We may only establish this trust if, among other things:

·  
no event of default shall have occurred or be continuing;

·  
in the case of legal defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or there has been a change in law, which in the opinion of our counsel, provides that holders of the debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

·  
in the case of covenant defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred; and,

·  
we satisfy other customary conditions precedent described in the applicable indenture.
 
Notices
 
We will mail notices to holders of debt securities as indicated in the prospectus supplement.
 
Title
 
We may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered as the absolute owner, whether or not such debt security may be overdue, for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.
 
Governing Law
 
The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise.
 
 
21


DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.
 
General
 
We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common stock or preferred stock in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock or preferred stock, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from such shares of common stock or preferred stock. We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including, but not limited to:

·  
the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;

·  
the currency for which the warrants may be purchased;

·  
if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

·  
the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which such shares of common stock or preferred stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

·  
the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants;

·  
the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

·  
any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

·  
the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

·  
the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

·  
federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; and,

·  
any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.
 
Exercise of Warrants
 
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase shares of our common stock or preferred stock on the terms and conditions and at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. Seattle, Washington time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will terminate.
 
22

 
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver upon exercise of the warrants.
 
Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at our corporate offices, we will issue and deliver the shares of common stock or preferred stock issuable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender shares of common stock as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.
 
Enforceability of Rights By Holders of Warrants
 
In the event we engage the services of a warrant agent, any such warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
We may sell the securities being offered hereby at prices and under terms then prevailing, at prices related to the then current market price or in negotiated transactions from time to time in one or more of the following ways:

·  
directly to one or more purchasers;

·  
through one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or best-efforts basis;

·  
through broker-dealers, who may act as agents or principals, including a block trade in which a broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

·  
through agents;

·  
in privately negotiated transactions; or,

·  
in any combination of these methods of sale.
 
We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the terms of the offering of securities, including:

·  
the name or names of any agents or underwriters, dealers or agents;

·  
the number of shares and purchase price of the common stock being offered and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

·  
any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

·  
any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
 
23

 
·  
any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and,

·  
any securities exchange on which the common stock or the warrants may be listed.
  
The distribution of securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
 
Agents
 
We may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment or to sell securities on a continuing basis. Agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from us. Agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of the securities for whom they sell as principals. Each particular agent will receive compensation in amounts negotiated in connection with the sale, which might be in excess of customary commissions. Agents and any other participating broker-dealers may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with sales of the shares. Accordingly, any commission, discount or concession received by them and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. We have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their securities. As of the date of this prospectus, there are no special selling arrangements between any broker-dealer or other person and us. No period of time has been fixed within which the securities will be offered or sold.
 
If required under applicable state securities laws, we will sell the securities only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states, we may not sell securities 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 complied with.
 
Underwriters
 
If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or re-allow or pay to dealers. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe any such underwriter in the prospectus supplement naming the underwriter and the nature of any such relationship.
 
Direct Sales
 
We may also sell the securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

 
Stabilization Activities
 
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of our securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the common stock originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of our common stock to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE Alternext US or otherwise.
 
Costs
 
We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the securities (including the shares of our common stock or preferred stock issuable upon any conversion, exercise or exchange of any securities which provide for such conversion, exercise or exchange), as well as the expense of all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to sales of the securities by us.
 
We may suspend the use of this prospectus if we learn of any event that causes this prospectus to include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in the prospectus or necessary to make the statements in the prospectus not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing. If this type of event occurs, a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if required, will be distributed to the selling stockholders, if any.
 
USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Except as otherwise described in the applicable prospectus, prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered hereunder will be added to our general funds and used for research and development in our drug delivery business, working capital and general corporate purposes.
 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document that we file at the SEC’s public reference facilities at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public free of charge at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and at our website at http://www.scolr.com.
 
This prospectus is a part of the registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. We have also filed exhibits and schedules with the registration statement that are excluded from this prospectus. You should refer to the registration statement for additional information about us and the securities being offered in this prospectus. Statements that we make in this prospectus relating to any documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or any document incorporated by reference into the registration statement may not be complete and you should review the referenced document itself for a complete understanding of its terms.

 
25


INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with them, which means that we can disclose information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus. You should review that information to understand the nature of any investment by you in our common stock. Information we file with the SEC in the future will update and supersede the information in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement:

·  
our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007;

·  
our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008;

·  
our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 16, 2008, May 2, 2008 and  June 24, 2008;

·  
the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on February 3, 2004, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating this information; and,

·  
the description of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock Purchase Rights attached to each share of the Company’s common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on November 6, 2002.
 
If you would like a copy of any of these documents, at no cost, please write or call us at:
 
SCOLR Pharma, Inc.
19204 North Creek Parkway, Suite 100
Bothell, WA 98011
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: (425) 368-1050
 
 LEGAL MATTERS
 
Garvey Schubert Barer will issue a legal opinion as to the validity of the issuance of the securities offered under this prospectus.
 
EXPERTS
 
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.

 
26


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The registrant may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 14, 2008



 
SCOLR Pharma, Inc.
$40,000,000
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
WARRANTS
DEBT SECURITIES
 
Prospectus
 
    , 2008

 

 
 
 

 
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14.
OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
The following table sets forth our estimated costs and expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting commissions and discounts, if any. All of the amounts shown are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees.
 
   
To be Paid by the
Registrant
 
SEC registration fee
  $ 1,572  
NYSE Alternext US registration fee
  $ 45,000  
Legal fees and expenses
  $ 75,000  
Accounting fees and expenses
  $ 40,000  
Transfer agent’s fees
  $ 5,000  
Miscellaneous fees and expenses
  $ 15,000  
Total
  $ 181,572  
 
ITEM 15.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
Our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors shall not be personally liable for breach of her or his fiduciary duty unless the breach involves: (i) the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) acts or omissions in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases; or (iv) any transaction from which such director derives improper personal benefit.
 
The effect of this provision is to eliminate our rights and the rights of our stockholders through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of her or his fiduciary duty of care as a director including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior except in the situations described in clauses (i) through (iv) above. The limitations summarized above, however, do not affect our or our stockholders ability to seek non-monetary remedies, such as an injunction or rescission, against a director for breach of her or his fiduciary duty.
 
Our bylaws require us to indemnify and hold harmless certain persons from personal liability incurred as a result of their position with us or certain other entities. This provision extends to our current and former directors and officers and persons serving other entities on our behalf. The provision requires us to indemnify such persons to the full extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “General Corporation Law”).
 
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law generally permits a company to indemnify an officer or director who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding because of his or her position with the company. However, such indemnification is permitted only if the officer or director acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
 
We maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy covering certain liabilities that may be incurred by our directors and officers in connection with the performance of their duties. The entire premium for such insurance is paid by us.
 
See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 17 herein.

 
 

 
ITEM 16.
EXHIBITS
 
The following exhibits are filed with this registration statement.
 
  
 
  
 
  
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
No.
 
 
  
Description
 
 
  
Filed
Herewith
 
 
  
Exhibit
No.
 
 
  
File No.
 
 
  
Filing Date
 
 
4.1
  
Certificate of Incorporation of SCOLR Pharma, Inc. as amended
  
 
  
3
  
001-31982
  
8/13/2004
4.2
  
Certificate of designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
  
 
  
1.1
  
000-24693
  
11/6/2002
4.3
  
Rights Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2002, by and between SCOLR Pharma, Inc. and OTR, Inc.
  
 
  
1.1
  
000-24693
  
11/6/2002
4.4
  
Bylaws of SCOLR Pharma, Inc. as amended
  
 
  
3
  
001-31982
  
5/17/2004
4.5
 
Form of Senior Debt Securities Indenture
 
X
           
4.6
 
Form of Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture
 
X
           
5.1
  
Opinion of Garvey Schubert Barer
  
X
  
 
  
 
  
 
23.1
  
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
  
X
  
 
  
 
  
 
23.2
  
Consent of Garvey Schubert Barer (included in Exhibit 5.1)
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
    If necessary, the Registrant will file as an exhibit to an amendment to the Registration Statement or to a report filed under the Exchange Act (i) any underwriting, remarketing or agency agreement relating to securities offered hereby, (ii) the instruments setting forth with respect to legality of the securities offered hereby, (iii) a statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed the terms of any debt securities, preferred stock, warrants or units, (iv) any additional required opinions of counsel charges, (v) the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee on Form T-1 and (vi) any required opinion of counsel to the Registrant as to certain tax matters relative to securities offered hereby.
 
    The Registrant undertakes to provide to each stockholder requesting the same a copy of each exhibit referred to herein upon payment of a reasonable fee limited to the Registrant’s reasonable expenses in furnishing such exhibit.
 
ITEM 17.
UNDERTAKINGS
 
A.            The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
(1)           To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
(i)           To include any Prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 
 


(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 Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% 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), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 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 Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) (§230.424(b) of this chapter) that is part of the registration statement.
 
(2)           That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.
 
(3)           To remove from registration by means of post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
 
(4)           That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
 
(i)           If the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B (§230.430B of this chapter):
 
(A)           Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) (§230.424(b)(3) of this chapter) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and,
 
(B)           Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) (§230.424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) of this chapter) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) (§230.415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) of this chapter) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus.  As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.  Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
 

 
(ii)           If the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C (§230.430C of this chapter), each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A (§230.430A of this chapter), shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness.  Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
 
(5)           That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
 
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:
 
(i)           Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§230.424 of this chapter);

(ii)           Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
 
(iii)          The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and,
 
(iv)          Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
 
B.             The undersigned 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 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.
 
C.            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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
****

 
 

 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bothell, State of Washington, on November 14, 2008.
 
 
  SCOLR PHARMA, INC.  
       
 
By:
/s/ DANIEL O. WILDS  
    President and 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 Daniel O. Wilds, Alan M. Mitchel and Richard M. Levy as his or true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and Registration Statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act) to this Registration Statement, 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 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 their substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Form S-3 Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
Signature
  
Title
  
Date
     
 
/s/ DANIEL O. WILDS
 
 
President, Chief Executive Officer
   
November 14, 2008
Daniel O. Wilds
 
(Principal Executive Officer) and Director
 
 
     
 
/s/ MICHAEL N. TAGLICH
   
Director
   
November 14, 2008
Michael N. Taglich
 
 
 
 
     
 
/s/ RANDALL L-W. CAUDILL
 
 
Director
   
November 14, 2008
Randall L-W. Caudill
 
 
 
 
     
 
/s/ REZA FASSIHI
   
Director
   
November 14, 2008
Reza Fassihi
   
     
 
/s/ HERBERT L. LUCAS, JR.
   
Director
   
November 14, 2008
Herbert L. Lucas, Jr.
   
     
 
/s/ GREGORY L. WEAVER
   
Director
   
November 14, 2008
Gregory L. Weaver
 
 
 
 
     
 
/s/ WAYNE L. PINES
   
Director
   
November 14, 2008
Wayne L.  Pines
 
 
 
 
     
 

 
 
Signature
  
Title
  
Date
     
 
/s/ JEFFREY B. REICH
   
Director
   
November 14, 2008
Jeffrey B. Reich
 
 
 
 
     
 
/s/ BRUCE S. MORRA
 
 
Director
   
November 14, 2008
Bruce S. Morra
 
 
 
 
     
 
/s/ RICHARD M. LEVY
   
Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
   
November 14, 2008
Richard M. Levy
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)  
     


EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference herein:
 
  
 
  
 
  
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
No.
 
 
  
Description
 
 
  
Filed
Herewith
 
 
  
Exhibit
No.
 
 
  
File No.
 
 
  
Filing Date
 
 
4.1
  
Certificate of Incorporation of SCOLR Pharma, Inc. as amended
  
 
  
3
  
001-31982
  
8/13/2004
4.2
  
Certificate of designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
  
 
  
1.1
  
000-24693
  
11/6/2002
4.3
  
Rights Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2002, by and between SCOLR Pharma, Inc. and OTR, Inc.
  
 
  
1.1
  
000-24693
  
11/6/2002
4.4
  
Bylaws of SCOLR Pharma, Inc. as amended
  
 
  
3
  
001-31982
  
5/17/2004
4.5
 
Form of Senior Debt Securities Indenture
 
X
           
4.6
 
Form of Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture
 
X
           
5.1
  
Opinion of Garvey Schubert Barer
  
X
  
 
  
 
  
 
23.1
  
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
  
X
  
 
  
 
  
 
23.2
  
Consent of Garvey Schubert Barer (included in Exhibit 5.1)