S-1

Without Over-Allotment Option

With Over-Allotment Option

Assumed public offering price

Underwriting discounts and commissions (7.0%) (1)

Proceeds before expenses to us

S-1 1 s-1.htm S-1 S-1

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2023.

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________________________

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

______________________________________

EVOKE PHARMA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

2834

20-8447886

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 230

Solana Beach, CA 92075

Telephone: (858) 345-1494

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

______________________________________

David A. Gonyer, R.Ph.

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Evoke Pharma, Inc.

420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 230

Solana Beach, CA 92075

Telephone: (858) 345-1494

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

______________________________________

Copies to:

Matthew T. Bush
Cheston J. Larson
Anthony Gostanian
Latham and Watkins LLP
12670 High Bluff Drive
San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 523-5400

Richard A. Friedman
Stephen A. Cohen
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
(212) 653-8700

______________________________________

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.

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, check the following box. ☒

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

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

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

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


Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☒	Smaller reporting company	☒
		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

______________________________________

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 the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

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


PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS		SUBJECT TO COMPLETION		DATED , 2023

Shares of Common Stock

Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase up to Shares of Common Stock

Common Warrants to Purchase up to Shares of Common Stock

Shares of Common Stock underlying the Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants

Evoke Pharma, Inc.

We are offering shares of our common stock and accompanying common warrants to purchase up to shares of our common stock (the “Common Warrants”), at an assumed combined public offering price of $ per share of common stock and accompanying Common Warrant(equal to the last sale price of our common stock as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2023). The Common Warrants have an exercise price per share equal to % of the price per share of the common stock sold in the offering, are exercisable immediately, subject to certain limitations described herein, and will have a five-year term. We are also offering the shares of our common stock that are issuable from time to time upon exercise of the Common Warrants.

We are also offering to each purchaser whose purchase of shares of common stock in this offering would otherwise result in the purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% of our outstanding common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase, if the purchaser so chooses, pre-funded warrants (the "Pre-Funded Warrants"), in lieu of shares of common stock that would otherwise result in the purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% of our outstanding common stock. Subject to limited exceptions, a holder of Pre-Funded Warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Pre-Funded Warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable for one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.0001 per share of common stock. The public offering price per Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Common Warrant, is equal to the public offering price per share of common stock and accompanying Common Warrant less $0.0001. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable upon issuance and will expire when exercised in full. We are also offering the shares of our common stock that are issuable from time to time upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants. For each Pre-Funded Warrant we sell, the number of shares of common stock we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis. Because a Common Warrant is being sold together in this offering with each share of common stock and, in the alternative, each Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one share of common stock, the number of Common Warrants sold in this offering will not change as a result of a change in the mix of the shares of our common stock and Pre-Funded Warrants sold. The shares of common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, and the accompanying Common Warrants, can only be purchased together in this offering but will be issued separately and will be immediately separable upon issuance.

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “EVOK”. The closing price of our common stock on , 2023, as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market, was $ per share. There is no established

public trading market for the Pre-Funded Warrants or the Common Warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for listing of the Pre-Funded Warrants or the Common Warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Pre-Funded Warrants and the Common Warrants will be limited.

The public offering price per share of common stock and accompanying Common Warrant and any Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Common Warrant, as the case may be, will be determined by us at the time of pricing, may be at a discount to the current market price, and the recent market price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final public offering price.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.

We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined under federal securities law and we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements available to smaller reporting companies. See the section titled “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company.”

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


	Per share of Common Stock and accompanying Common Warrant	Per Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Common Warrant	Total
Public offering price	$	$
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)	$	$
Proceeds to us, before expenses	$	$

_________________

(1)

Does not include 1% management fee payable to the representative of the underwriters. See “Underwriting” beginning on page 31 of this prospectus for additional information regarding the compensation payable to the underwriters

We have granted the underwriter an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to additional shares of common stock from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, to cover over-allotments, if any.

The underwriter expects to deliver the shares to purchasers on or about , 2023.

Sole Book-Running Manager

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

____________________________

The date of this prospectus is , 2023.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page
Prospectus Summary	1
The Offering	6
Risk Factors	9
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	13
Use of Proceeds	14
Dividend Policy	15
Dilution	16
Description of Securities We Are Offering	18
Principal Stockholders	21
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences	23
Underwriting	30
Legal Matters	34
Experts	35
Where You Can Find More Information	36
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference	37

____________________________

Neither we nor the underwriter have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and the underwriter take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable free writing prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of its time of delivery or any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in a document incorporated by reference is inconsistent with a statement in another document incorporated by reference having a later date, the statement in the document having the late date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

We have not and the underwriter has not taken any action that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons who have come into possession of this prospectus in a jurisdiction outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is incorporated by reference or filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and in documents incorporated by reference. This summary is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our securities. You should read this entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading “Risk factors,” and our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making an investment decision. Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus to “Evoke Pharma,” “Evoke,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Evoke Pharma, Inc.

Overview

We are a specialty pharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development and commercialization of drugs to treat gastrointestinal (“GI”) disorders and diseases. Since our inception, we have devoted our efforts to developing our sole product, Gimoti® (metoclopramide) nasal spray, the first and only nasally-administered product indicated for the relief of symptoms in adults with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis. In June 2020, we received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for our 505(b)(2) New Drug Application for Gimoti (the “Gimoti NDA”). We launched commercial sales of Gimoti in the United States in October 2020 through our commercial partner, Eversana Life Science Services, LLC (“Eversana”).

Diabetic gastroparesis is a GI disorder affecting millions of patients worldwide, in which food in an individual’s stomach takes too long to empty resulting in a variety of serious GI symptoms and systemic metabolic complications. The gastric delay caused by gastroparesis can also compromise absorption of orally administered medications. In May 2023, we reported results from a study conducted by Eversana which showed diabetic gastroparesis patients taking Gimoti had significantly fewer physician office visits, emergency department visits, and inpatient hospitalizations compared to patients taking oral metoclopramide. This overall lower health resource utilization reduced patient and payor costs by approximately $15,000 during a six-month time period for patients taking Gimoti compared to patients taking oral metoclopramide.

Gastroparesis frequently occurs in individuals with diabetes, but is also observed in patients with prior gastric surgery, a preceding infectious illness, pseudo-obstruction, collagen vascular disorders and anorexia nervosa. In some patients with gastroparesis, no cause can be identified, which is referred to as idiopathic gastroparesis. According to the American Motility Society Task Force on Gastroparesis, the prevalence of gastroparesis is estimated to be up to 4% of the United States population. Signs and symptoms of gastroparesis may include nausea, early satiety, bloating, prolonged fullness, upper abdominal pain, vomiting and retching. Patients may experience any combination of signs and symptoms with varying frequency and degrees of severity.

Patients with diabetic gastroparesis may experience impaired glucose control due to unpredictable gastric emptying and altered absorption of orally administered drugs, which may affect the severity of their signs and symptoms. Any combination of issues or signs and symptoms may cause complications such as malnutrition, esophagitis, and Mallory‑Weiss tears. Gastroparesis adversely affects the lives of patients with the disease, resulting in decreased social interaction, poor work functionality, and the development of anxiety and/or depression.

We believe nasal spray administration has the potential to provide our target population of diabetic gastroparesis patients with a preferred treatment option over the tablet formulation for several important reasons: (1) unlike metoclopramide tablets which may be absorbed erratically due to gastroparesis itself, Gimoti is designed to bypass the digestive system to allow for more predictable absorption without needing to determine if a patient’s stomach is functioning; (2) during episodes of vomiting, Gimoti may provide predictable drug absorption through the nasal mucosa; and (3) for gastroparesis patients experiencing nausea and are not wanting to swallow a pill or water, a nasal spray may be better tolerated than an oral medication.

In January 2020, we entered into a commercial services agreement with Eversana (as amended to date, the “Eversana Agreement”) for the commercialization of Gimoti. Pursuant to the Eversana Agreement, Eversana commercializes and distributes Gimoti in the United States. Eversana also manages the marketing of Gimoti to targeted health care providers, as well as the sales and distribution of Gimoti in the United States. In 2020, we borrowed $5

million from Eversana pursuant to a revolving credit facility (the “Eversana Credit Facility”) which expires on December 31, 2026, unless terminated earlier pursuant to its terms. The maturity date of all amounts, including interest, borrowed under the Eversana Credit Facility will be 90 days after the expiration or earlier termination of the Eversana Agreement. The Eversana Agreement terminates on December 31, 2026, unless terminated earlier pursuant to its terms. Among other reasons, either party has the right to terminate the Eversana Agreement upon 30 days prior written notice if the net profit under the agreement is negative for any two consecutive calendar quarters (the “Net Profit Quarterly Termination Right”). As of September 30, 2023, either party has the right to exercise the Net Profit Quarterly Termination Right, which it may do for a 60-day period following the end of the quarter. Each party will continue to have the option to exercise this termination right for the 60-day period following the end of future quarters so long as the net profit under the agreement remains negative for consecutive quarters.

To date, we have only generated modest sales of Gimoti. We have incurred losses every year since our inception. These operating losses resulted from expenses incurred in connection with advancing Gimoti through development activities, from pre-commercialization and commercialization costs and from other general and administrative costs associated with operating our business. We expect to continue to incur operating losses until revenues from the sales of Gimoti exceed our expenses, if ever. We may never become profitable, or if we do, we may not be able to sustain profitability on a recurring basis.

Our Strategy

Our objective is to develop and bring to market products to treat acute and chronic GI disorders that are not satisfactorily treated with current therapies and represent significant market opportunities. Our business strategy is to:

•

Successfully commercialize Gimoti in the United States. Through our commercialization agreement with Eversana, we have built a commercial infrastructure to allow us to directly market Gimoti in the United States. We have engaged Eversana to utilize its internal sales organization, along with other commercial functions, for market access, marketing, distribution, and other related patient support services. If Eversana terminates the agreement, our plan moving forward to commercialize Gimoti is to initially employ a primarily digital marketing strategy. In addition, we may hire a select number of direct sales representatives to commercialize Gimoti.

•

Further development of Gimoti with a lower dosage strength to expand our market potential. We are evaluating the design of a single dose pharmacokinetics (“PK”) clinical trial of Gimoti, based on an FDA post-marketing commitment. This trial will be designed to characterize dose proportionality of a lower dosage strength of Gimoti to accommodate patients that may require further dosage adjustments, with initiation timing pending additional feedback from the FDA.

•

Seek partnerships to accelerate and maximize the potential for Gimoti. We continue to evaluate partnering opportunities with pharmaceutical companies that have established development and sales and marketing capabilities to potentially enhance and accelerate the development and commercialization of Gimoti, including the potential to explore regulatory approval outside the United States.

•

In-license or acquire additional clinical or commercial stage product candidates for the treatment of GI diseases. We may opportunistically in-license or acquire additional programs targeting GI diseases, leveraging our prior development experience.

Intellectual Property and Proprietary Rights

Overview

We are building an intellectual property portfolio for Gimoti in the United States and abroad. We seek patent protection in the United States and internationally for our product candidate, its methods of use and manufacture, and for other technologies, where appropriate. Our policy is to actively seek to protect our proprietary position by, among other things, filing patent applications in the United States and abroad relating to proprietary technologies that are important to the development of our business. We also rely on trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovation and in-licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our proprietary position. We cannot be sure that patents will be granted with respect to any of our pending patent applications or with respect to any patent applications

filed by us in the future, nor can we be sure that any of our existing patents or any patents that may be granted to us in the future will be commercially useful in protecting our technology.

Our business success will depend significantly on our ability to:

•

secure, maintain and enforce patent and other proprietary protection for our core technologies, inventions and know-how;

•

obtain and maintain licenses to key third-party intellectual property owned by such third parties;

•

preserve the confidentiality of our trade secrets; and

•

operate without infringing upon valid, enforceable third-party patents and other rights.

Patent Portfolio

Our patent portfolio consists of patents and patent applications, including the following U.S. patents and patent applications as of September 30, 2023:

•

U.S. Patents 8,334,281; 11,020,361, and 11,628,150, - Nasal Formulations of Metoclopramide. These patents are expected to expire no earlier than 2030, 2029, and 2029, respectively, and claim common priority with three pending US continuation applications (17/366,818; 17/366,829; and 17/366,839), each of which, if granted, would be expected to expire no earlier than 2029.

•

U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17/381,464 – Treatment of Symptoms Associated with Female Gastroparesis. If granted, this patent is not expected to expire earlier than 2032.

•

U.S. Patent 11,517,545 – Treatment of Moderate and Severe Gastroparesis. This patent is expected to expire no earlier than 2038 and claims common priority with pending US continuation application 18/047,364 which, if granted, would be expected to expire no earlier than 2037 (U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 18/047,364).

We have also been granted European and Canadian patents for pharmaceutical compositions comprising metoclopramide. These patents are expected to expire no earlier than 2029. We have also been granted European, Japanese, Russian and Mexican patents for the use of intranasal metoclopramide for treating diabetic gastroparesis in human females. These patents are expected to expire no earlier than 2032. Additional patent applications have been filed related to more recent clinical trial findings.

Patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, if all maintenance fees are timely paid, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years from its earliest U.S. non-provisional filing date. Various extensions may be available, but the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering our product candidate are obtained, once the patent life has expired, we may be open to competition from competitive products, including generics. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. As a result, our owned and licensed patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to ours.

Risks Affecting Our Business

Our business is subject to a number of risks, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects that you should consider before making a decision to invest in our securities. These risks are discussed more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus, and include the following:

•

Our business is entirely dependent on the success of Gimoti, which may never generate sufficient sales to become profitable.

•

Even if this offering is successful, we will require substantial additional funding and may be unable to raise capital when needed, which would force us to liquidate, dissolve or otherwise wind down our operations.

•

We have no internal sales, marketing or distribution capabilities currently and rely on Eversana, and may rely on other third parties, for the commercialization of Gimoti, and we and they may not be able to effectively market, sell and distribute Gimoti. If the Eversana Agreement is terminated, we would need to secure one or more third party service provider(s), or invest significant amounts of financial and management resources to develop our own capabilities, to commercialize Gimoti.

•

Any termination or suspension of, or delays in the completion of, the post-marketing PK trial of Gimoti or any other future clinical trials could result in increased costs to us, delay or limit our ability to generate revenue and adversely affect our commercial prospects.

•

We and Eversana will need to retain qualified sales and marketing personnel and collaborate in order to successfully commercialize Gimoti.

•

Use of Gimoti or any future product candidates we may develop could be associated with side effects, adverse events or other properties or safety risks, which could delay or preclude approval, cause us to suspend or discontinue clinical trials, abandon a product candidate, limit the commercial profile of the approved labeling, or result in other significant negative consequences that could severely harm our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition.

•

Even though FDA has approved Gimoti for the relief of symptoms in adults with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis, we will remain subject to significant post-marketing regulatory requirements and oversight.

•

It will be difficult for us to profitably sell Gimoti if coverage and reimbursement are limited.

•

We rely and will continue to rely on outsourcing arrangements for many of our activities, including commercialization activities and supply of Gimoti.

•

We face substantial competition, which may result in others selling their products more effectively than we do, and in others discovering, developing or commercializing product candidates before, or more successfully, than we do.

•

It is difficult and costly to protect our intellectual property rights, and we cannot ensure the protection of these rights. Any impairment of our intellectual property rights may materially affect our business.

•

Claims by third parties that we infringe their proprietary rights may result in liability for damages or prevent or delay our developmental and commercialization efforts.

•

Our recurring losses from operations have raised substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

•

We have incurred significant operating losses since inception, and we expect to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We may never become profitable or, if achieved, be able to sustain profitability.

•

If we fail to meet all applicable Nasdaq Capital Market requirements and Nasdaq determines to delist our common stock, the delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity of our common stock and the market price of our common stock could decrease.

Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company

We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies such as including: (i) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of

Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as amended; (ii) scaled executive compensation disclosures; and (iii) the requirement to provide only two years of audited financial statements, instead of three years.

Corporate Information

We were formed under the laws of the state of Delaware in January 2007. Our principal executive offices are located at 420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 230, Solana Beach, California 92075, and our telephone number is (858) 345-1494.

Our website address is www.evokepharma.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address as a factual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website.

THE OFFERING

Common stock offered by us

Up to                      shares of our common stock based on an assumed combined public offering price of $      per share of common stock and accompanying Common Warrant, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on   , 2023, and assuming no sale of any Pre-Funded Warrants. 

Pre-Funded Warrants offered by us 

We are also offering to each purchaser whose purchase of shares of common stock in this offering would otherwise result in the purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% of our outstanding common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase, if the purchaser so chooses, Pre-Funded Warrants, in lieu of shares of common stock that would otherwise result in the purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% of our outstanding common stock. Subject to limited exceptions, a holder of Pre-Funded Warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Pre-Funded Warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable for one share of our common stock. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable upon issuance for one share of our common stock and will expire when exercised in full. The purchase price of each Pre-Funded Warrant will equal the public offering price per share of common stock and accompanying Common Warrant less $0.0001, and the exercise price of each Pre-Funded Warrant will be $0.0001 per share. This offering also relates to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of any Pre-Funded Warrants sold in this offering. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise will be subject to certain further adjustments as described herein. See “Description of Securities” on page 19 of this prospectus.
 
For each Pre-Funded Warrant we sell, the number of shares of common stock we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis. Because a Common Warrant to purchase one share of our common stock is being sold together in this offering with each share of common stock and, in the alternative, each Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one share of common stock, the number of Common Warrants sold in this offering will not change as a result of a change in the mix of the shares of our common stock and Pre-Funded Warrant sold.


Common Warrants offered by us	Common Warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to shares of our common stock based on an assumed combined public offering price of $ per share of common stock and accompanying Common Warrant, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2023. Each share of our common stock and/or each Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one share of our common stock is being sold together with a Common Warrant to purchase share of our common stock. Each Common Warrant has an exercise price per share equal to $ per share (representing % of the price per share of the common stock sold in the offering), is immediately exercisable and will have a term of five-years from the date of issuance. The shares of common stock or the Pre-Funded Warrants, as the case may be, and the accompanying Common Warrants, can only be purchased together in this offering but will be issued separately and will be immediately separable upon issuance. This offering also relates to the offering of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Common Warrants. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise will be subject to certain further adjustments as described herein See “Description of Securities” on page 18 of this prospectus. Each Common Warrant is exercisable for share of our common stock (subject to adjustment as provided therein) at any time at the option of the holder, provided that the holder will be prohibited from exercising its Common Warrant for shares of our common stock if, as a result of such exercise, the holder, together with its affiliates, would own more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of the total number of shares of our common stock then issued and outstanding. However, any holder may increase such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, provided that any increase in such percentage shall not be effective until 61 days after such notice to us.
Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering	Shares (assuming no sale of any Pre-Funded Warrants and assuming none of the Common Warrants issued in this offering are exercised).

Use of proceeds	We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $ million (or $ million if the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full) at an assumed combined public offering price of $ per share and accompanying Common Warrant, which was the closing price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2023, after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, for working capital and general corporate purposes, including for commercialization activities. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, to in-license, acquire, or invest in complementary businesses, technologies, products or assets; however, we have no current


	commitments or obligations to do so. See “Use of Proceeds” for additional information.

Risk factors	See “Risk factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus and other information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors that you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities.
Market symbol and trading	Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “EVOK”. There is no established trading market for the Common Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply for the listing of the Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants on any national securities exchange or other trading market. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants will be limited.

The number of shares of our common stock that will be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is based on 3,343,070 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2023. The number of shares outstanding as of September 30, 2023 as used throughout this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, excludes:

•

639,601 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of September 30, 2023, at a weighted average exercise price of $14.09 per share; and

•

677,850 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 equity incentive award plan and our 2013 employee stock purchase plan as of September 30, 2023.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes or gives effect to:

•

no exercise of any outstanding options referred to above;

•

no exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants issued in this offering; and

•

no exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares from us.

RISK FACTORS

You should consider carefully the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as amended by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as may be further amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus and the information and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering before you make a decision to invest in our securities. If any of the following events actually occur, our business, operating results, prospects or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks described below are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations.

Risks Related to this Offering

Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception. We believe, based on our current operating plan, that our cash and cash equivalents as well as future cash flows from net sales of Gimoti, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operations into . This estimate of cash runway could be shortened if there are any significant increases in planned spending on commercialization activities, including for marketing and manufacturing of Gimoti, and our selling, general and administrative costs to support operations, or as a result of any termination of the Eversana Agreement. As of September 30, 2023, we and Eversana each have the right to exercise the Net Profit Quarterly Termination Right and terminate the Eversana Agreement, which right either party may exercise for a 60-day period following the end of the quarter. We and Eversana will continue to have the option to exercise this termination right for the 60-day period following the end of future quarters so long as the net profit under the agreement remains negative for consecutive quarters. If the Net Profit Quarterly Termination Right is exercised, the outstanding principal and interest under the Eversana Credit Facility would be due within 90 days after the effective date of such termination. This would materially and adversely affect our near-term liquidity needs and cash runway. Even if this offering is successful, we anticipate that we will be required to raise additional funds through debt, equity or other forms of financing, such as potential collaboration arrangements, to fund future operations and continue as a going concern. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise additional funds on acceptable terms, or at all. Because our business is entirely dependent on the success of Gimoti, if we are unable to secure additional financing, successfully commercialize Gimoti or identify and execute on other commercialization or strategic alternatives for Gimoti or our Company, we will be required to curtail all of our activities and may be required to liquidate, dissolve or otherwise wind down our operations. Any of these events could result in a complete loss of your investment in our securities.

Our estimates of the amount of cash necessary to fund our activities may prove to be wrong and we could spend our available financial resources much faster than we currently expect. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

•

the commercial success of Gimoti;

•

the repayment of the outstanding principal and interest under the Eversana Credit Facility, approximately $6.5 million as of September 30, 2023, to be payable if we or Eversana exercise the Net Profit Quarterly Termination Right, or upon other certain termination events;

•

the repayment of unreimbursed commercialization costs to Eversana, approximately $60.4 million as of September 30, 2023, to be payable only as net product profits are recognized, or upon certain termination events;

•

the costs of commercialization activities, including costs associated with commercial manufacturing and distribution;

•

competition with well-established products approved earlier by FDA, including oral and intravenous forms of metoclopramide, the same active ingredient in the nasal spray for Gimoti;

•

our ability to manufacture sufficient quantities of Gimoti to meet demand, including whether our contract manufacturers, suppliers, and/or consultants are able to meet appropriate timelines;

•

the progress and costs of the post-marketing commitment PK clinical trial of Gimoti to characterize dose proportionality of a lower dose strength of Gimoti and the costs of any additional clinical trials we may pursue to expand the indication of Gimoti;

•

our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce our patents and other intellectual property rights and the costs incurred in doing so;

•

claims by third parties that Gimoti and any other product candidates infringe their proprietary rights, which may result in liability for damages or prevent or delay our developmental and commercialization efforts;

•

the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing, co-promotion or other arrangements that we may establish;

•

costs associated with any other product candidates that we may develop, in-license or acquire; and

•

health epidemics and outbreaks or other natural or manmade disasters which could significantly disrupt our operations or the operations of third parties on whom we rely.

Additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. In addition, the terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of our stockholders. If adequate funds are not available to us, we may not be able to make scheduled debt payments on a timely basis, or at all, and may be required to delay, limit, reduce or cease our operations. Furthermore, the issuance of additional shares or other securities by us, or the possibility of such issuance, may cause the market price of our shares to decline and dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders. If we raise additional funds by incurring debt, the terms of the debt may involve significant cash payment obligations, as well as covenants and specific financial ratios that may restrict our ability to operate our business. We cannot provide any assurance that our existing capital resources will be sufficient to enable us to identify or execute a viable plan for continued clinical development of Gimoti or to otherwise continue as a going concern.

If you purchase our securities sold in this offering, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of your shares. In addition, we may issue additional equity or convertible debt securities in the future, which may result in additional dilution to investors.

Based on an assumed public offering price of $ per share and accompanying Common Warrant, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2023, and our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2023, if you purchase securities in this offering, you will experience an increase of $ per share in the net tangible book value of the common stock you purchase representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering and the assumed public offering price per share of common stock. The exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants, including those sold in this offering, will, however, result in dilution of your investment. In addition, to the extent we need to raise additional capital in the future and we issue additional shares of common stock or securities exercisable, convertible or exchangeable for our common stock, our then existing stockholders may experience dilution and the new securities may have rights senior to those of our common stock offered in this offering. See the section titled “Dilution” below for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering.

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of our existing cash and cash equivalents and the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section titled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether such proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of our existing cash and cash equivalents and the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management might not apply our existing cash and cash equivalents and the net proceeds from this offering in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

The sale of our common stock in this offering, including any shares issuable upon exercise of any Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants, and any future sales of our common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, may depress our stock price and our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings.

We may from time to time issue additional shares of common stock at a discount from the current trading price of our common stock. As a result, our stockholders would experience immediate dilution upon the purchase of any shares of our common stock sold at such discount. In addition, as opportunities present themselves, we may enter into financing or similar arrangements in the future, including the issuance of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. Sales of shares of our common stock in this offering, including any shares issuable upon exercise of any Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants issued in this offering and in the public market following this offering, or the perception that such sales could occur, may lower the market price of our common stock and may make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that our management deems acceptable, or at all.

There is no public market for the Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants being offered in this offering.

There is no established public trading market for the Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, including Nasdaq. Without an active market, the liquidity of the Pre-Funded Warrants and the Common Warrants will be limited.

We may not receive any additional funds upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants.

Each Pre-Funded Warrant may be exercised by way of a cashless exercise, meaning that the holder may not pay a cash purchase price upon exercise, but instead would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of our common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the Pre-Funded Warrants. Accordingly, we may not receive any additional funds upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants.

Each Common Warrant may be exercised by way of a cashless exercise if at the time of exercise hereof there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the Common Warrants to the holder.

Significant holders or beneficial holders of our common stock may not be permitted to exercise Pre-Funded Warrants that they hold.

A holder of a Pre-Funded Warrant will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any Pre-Funded Warrants which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise. Such percentage may be increased or decreased by written notice by the holder of the Pre-Funded Warrants to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%. Such increase or decrease will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to us. As a result, you may not be able to exercise your Pre-Funded Warrants for shares of our common stock at a time when it would be financially beneficial for you to do so. In such circumstance you could seek to sell your Pre-Funded Warrants to realize value, but you may be unable to do so in the absence of an established trading market for the Pre-Funded Warrants.

The Common Warrants being offered may not have value.

The Common Warrants being offered by us in this offering have an exercise price of $ per share, subject to certain adjustments, and expire five years following the date of issuance, upon which date such Common Warrants will expire and have no further value. In the event that the market price of our common stock does not exceed the exercise price of the Common Warrants during the period when they are exercisable, the Common Warrants may not have any value.

Holders of Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as common stockholders until such holders exercise their Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants and acquire our common stock.

Until holders of Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of such warrants, holders of Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants will have no rights with respect to the shares of our common stock underlying such Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants. Upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants, the holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to maintain our listing, we must meet minimum financial and other requirements, including requirements for a minimum amount of capital, a minimum closing bid price per share of $1.00 and continued business operations so that we are not characterized as a “public shell company.”

On May 24, 2023, we received a written notice from Nasdaq indicating that, based on our stockholders’ equity of $2.1 million as of March 31, 2023, as reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, we were not in compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the “Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”). As required by Nasdaq, we submitted our plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement on July 7, 2023. On July 19, 2023, Nasdaq granted us an extension until November 20, 2023 to regain compliance. Under the terms of the extension, we must provide to the Nasdaq staff a publicly available report that evidences such compliance and otherwise comply with conditions included in the extension notice. If we fail to evidence compliance upon filing our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 with the SEC and Nasdaq, we may be subject to delisting from The Nasdaq Capital Market. In the event we do not satisfy the terms of the extension, the Nasdaq staff will provide written notification to us that our securities will be delisted. At that time, we may appeal the Nasdaq staff’s determination to a Hearings Panel. There can no assurances that we will regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement or the other Nasdaq continued listing requirements.

In the event that our common stock is delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market and is not eligible for quotation or listing on another market or exchange, trading of our common stock could be conducted only in the over-the-counter market. In such event, it could become more difficult to dispose of, or obtain accurate price quotations for, our common stock, and there would likely also be a reduction in our coverage by securities analysts and the news media, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline further. Also, it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital if we are not listed on a major exchange.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, commercial activities to be conducted by Eversana, prospective products, product approvals, the pricing and reimbursement for Gimoti, future regulatory developments, research and development costs, the timing and likelihood of commercial success, the potential to develop future product candidates, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future results of current and anticipated products. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein also contain estimates and other statistical data made by independent parties and by us relating to market size and growth and other data about our industry. This data involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the markets in which we operate are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which we discuss in greater detail in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. For all forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $ million, or $ million if the underwriter exercises in full its option to purchase additional shares, based on an assumed public offering price of $ per share and accompanying Common Warrant, which was the closing price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2023, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. These estimates exclude the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants sold in this offering, if any.

Each $ increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per share and accompanying Common Warrant, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us by approximately $ million, assuming that the number of shares of common stock, Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of shares in the number of shares of common stock (or common stock underlying Pre-Funded Warrants) and accompanying Common Warrants offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us by approximately $ million, assuming the assumed public offering price per share of common stock and accompanying Common Warrant remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, for working capital and general corporate purposes, including for commercialization activities. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, to in-license, acquire, or invest in complementary businesses, technologies, products or assets; however, we have no current commitments or obligations to do so.

We believe, based on our current operating plan, that our cash and cash equivalents as well as future cash flows from net sales of Gimoti, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operations into . However, the amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the amount of future Gimoti sales, any unexpected increases in planned spending on commercialization activities, including as a result of any termination of the Eversana Agreement or otherwise for marketing and manufacturing of Gimoti, and our general and administrative costs to support operations, and other factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. We therefore cannot estimate with certainty the amount of net proceeds to be used for the purposes described above. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds. Pending the uses described above, we plan to invest the net proceeds from this offering in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination related to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors after considering our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our board of directors deems relevant, and subject to the restrictions contained in any future financing instruments.

DILUTION

If you invest in our securities in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the assumed public offering price per share and accompanying Common Warrant and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.

Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets less our total liabilities by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. Our historical net tangible book value (deficit) as of September 30, 2023 was approximately ($0.9) million, or ($0.26) per share, based on 3,343,070 shares of common stock outstanding as of that date.

After giving effect to the sale of shares of common stock and accompanying Common Warrants in this offering, at an assumed public offering price of $ per share and accompanying Common Warrant, which was the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2023, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2023 would have been approximately $ million, or $ per share. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value of $ per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $ per share to new investors purchasing shares of our securities in this offering.

The following table illustrates this dilution to new investors on a per share basis:


Assumed combined public offering price per share and accompanying Common Warrant			$
Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of September 30, 2023	$	(0.26)
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors participating in this offering
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering
Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering			$

Each $ increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per share and accompanying Common Warrant, which was the closing price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on , 2023, would increase (decrease) the as adjusted net tangible book value by $ per share and the dilution per share to new investors by $ per share, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We may also increase or decrease the number of shares of common stock and accompanying Common Warrants we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of shares in the number of shares and accompanying Common Warrant we are offering would increase (decrease) our as adjusted net tangible book value by approximately $ , or $ per share, and decrease (increase) the dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering by $ per share, assuming that the assumed public offering price per share and accompanying Common Warrant remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual public offering price, number of shares and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. Therefore, the assumed public offering price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final public offering price.

If the underwriter exercises its option to purchase additional shares in full, our as-adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2023 would be $ , or $ per share, representing an increase in the net tangible book value to existing stockholders of $ per share and immediate dilution of $ per share to new investors purchasing shares of our common stock and accompanying Common Warrants in this offering.

The foregoing tables and calculations (other than the historical net tangible book value calculation) are based on 3,343,070 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2023, and exclude:

•

639,601 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of September 30, 2023, at a weighted average exercise price of $14.09 per share;

•

677,850 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 equity incentive award plan and our 2013 employee stock purchase plan as of September 30, 2023; and

•

exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants issued in this offering.

Assuming the Pre-Funded Warrants were immediately and fully exercised, this would result in an as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering of $ million, or $ per share of common stock, which represents a dilution per share to new investors of $ , and an increase in net tangible book value per share to existing stockholders of $ .

In addition, to the extent that any outstanding options or warrants described above are exercised, new options are issued, or we issue additional shares of common stock or other equity or convertible debt securities in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

Common Stock

The description of our common stock under the section “Description of Capital Stock” in this prospectus is incorporated herein by reference.

Pre-Funded Warrants

General

The term “pre-funded” refers to the fact that the purchase price of the Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering includes almost the entire exercise price that will be paid under the pre-funded warrants, except for a nominal remaining exercise price of $0.0001. The purpose of the Pre-Funded Warrants is to enable investors that may have restrictions on their ability to beneficially own more than 4.99% (or, at the election of such purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding common stock following the consummation of this offering the opportunity to invest capital into the Company without triggering their ownership restrictions, by receiving Pre-Funded Warrants in lieu of shares of our common stock which would result in such ownership of more than 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, and receiving the ability to exercise their option to purchase the shares underlying the Pre-Funded Warrants at a nominal price at a later date.

The following is a brief summary of certain terms and conditions of the Pre-Funded Warrants being offered by us. The following description is subject in all respects to the provisions contained in the form of Pre-Funded Warrant, the form of which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Exercise price

Pre-Funded Warrants will have an exercise price of $0.0001 per share. The exercise price is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders.

Exercisability

The Pre-Funded Warrants are exercisable at any time after their original issuance and until exercised in full. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and by payment in full of the exercise price in immediately available funds for the number of shares of common stock purchased upon such exercise. As an alternative to payment in immediately available funds, the holder may elect to exercise the Pre-Funded Warrant through a cashless exercise, in which the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a Pre-Funded Warrant.

Exercise limitations

The Pre-Funded Warrants may not be exercised by the holder to the extent that the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own, after such exercise more than 4.99% of the shares of our common stock then outstanding (including for such purpose the shares of our common stock issuable upon such exercise). However, any holder may increase or decrease such beneficial ownership limitation upon notice to us, provided that such limitation cannot exceed 9.99%, and provided that any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation shall not be effective until 61 days after such notice is delivered. Purchasers of Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering may also elect prior to the issuance of the pre-funded warrants to have the initial exercise limitation set at 9.99% of our outstanding shares of common stock.

Transferability

Subject to applicable laws, the Pre-Funded Warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.

Exchange listing

There is no established trading market for the Pre-Funded Warrants. We do not intend to list the Pre-Funded Warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Pre-Funded Warrants will be limited.

Fundamental transactions

In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the Pre-Funded Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, upon consummation of such a fundamental transaction, the holders of the pre-funded warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the Pre-Funded Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction without regard to any limitations on exercise contained in the Pre-Funded Warrants.

No rights as a stockholder

Except as otherwise provided in the Pre-Funded Warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, the holders of a Pre-Funded Warrants does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the Pre-Funded Warrant. The Pre-Funded Warrants will provide that holders have the right to participate in distributions or dividends paid on our common stock.

Common Warrants

General

The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Common Warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the Common Warrant, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of Common Warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Common Warrants.

Duration and Exercise price

Each Common Warrant offered hereby has an initial exercise price per share equal to $ . The Common Warrants are immediately exercisable and will expire five years following the date of issuance. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock and the exercise price. Common Warrants will be issued in certificated form only.

Exercisability

The Common Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of such holder’s warrants to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% (or 9.99%, at the holder’s election) of our outstanding common stock immediately after exercise, except that upon notice from the holder to us, the holder may decrease or increase the limitation of ownership of outstanding

stock after exercising the holder’s warrants up to 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Common Warrants, provided that any increase in such limitation shall not be effective until 61 days following notice to us.

Cashless Exercise

If at the time of exercise hereof there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Common Warrants, then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Common Warrants.

Transferability

A Common Warrant may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the Common Warrant to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.

Fractional Shares

No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon the exercise of the Common Warrants. Rather, the number of shares of common stock to be issued will, at our election, either be rounded up to the nearest whole number or we will pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price.

Trading Market

There is no established trading market for any of the Common Warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for a listing for any of the Common Warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Common Warrants will be limited.

Rights as a Shareholder

Except as otherwise provided in the Common Warrants or by virtue of the holders’ ownership of shares of our common stock, the holders of warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our common stock, including any voting rights, until such warrant holders exercise their Common Warrants.

Fundamental Transaction

In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the Common Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the Common Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Common Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the Common Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.

Waivers and Amendments

No term of the Common Warrants may be amended or waived without the written consent of the holder of such Common Warrant.

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock as of September 30, 2023 by (i) each person or group of persons known by us to beneficially own at least 5% of our common stock, (ii) each of our named executive officers, (iii) each of our directors and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

The following table gives effect to the shares of common stock issuable within 60 days of September 30, 2023 upon the exercise of all options and other rights beneficially owned by the indicated stockholders on that date. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and includes voting and investment power with respect to shares. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 3,343,070 shares of common stock outstanding on September 30, 2023. Except as otherwise noted below, each person or entity named in the following table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock that he, she or it beneficially owns.

Unless otherwise indicated below, the address for each beneficial owner listed is c/o Evoke Pharma, Inc., 420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 230, Solana Beach, CA 92075. We believe, based on information provided to us that each of the stockholders listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.


Name of Beneficial Owner	Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering		Shares Beneficially Owned After to Offering
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Executive Officers and Directors
David A. Gonyer, R.Ph.(1)	145,950	4.2%	145,950	4.2%
Matthew J. D'Onofrio(2)	96,345	2.8%	96,345	2.8%
Marilyn R. Carlson, D.M.D., M.D.(3)	75,870	2.2%	75,870	2.2%
Cam L. Garner(4)	57,424	1.7%	57,424	1.7%
Todd C. Brady, M.D., Ph.D.(5)	26,351	*	26,351	*
Malcolm R. Hill, Pharm.D.(6)	26,249	*	26,249	*
Vickie W. Reed(7)	8,722	*	8,722	*
Kenneth J. Widder, M.D.(8)	25,580	*	25,580	*
All executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons)(9)	462,491	12.4%	462,491	12.4%

* Less than 1%

(1)

Includes (a) 23,416 shares held by a family trust of which Mr. Gonyer and his spouse are co-trustees and (b) 117,636 shares Mr. Gonyer has the right to acquire pursuant to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

(2)

Includes 76,512 shares Mr. D’Onofrio has the right to acquire pursuant to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

(3)

Includes 71,547 shares Dr. Carlson has the right to acquire pursuant to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

(4)

Includes (a) 19,633 shares held by Garner Investments, L.L.C., of which Mr. Garner is the managing member, (b) 8,333 shares held by The Garner Family Foundation of which Mr. Garner is Director, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, and (c) 29,458 shares that Mr. Garner has the right to acquire pursuant to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

(5)

Includes 26,018 shares Dr. Brady has the right to acquire pursuant to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

(6)

Includes 24,645 shares that Dr. Hill has the right to acquire pursuant to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

(7)

Includes 8,722 shares that Ms. Reed has the right to acquire pursuant to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

(8)

Includes 25,580 shares that Dr. Widder has the right to acquire pursuant to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

(9)

Includes 380,118 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options which are immediately exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2023.

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the shares of common stock and Pre-Funded Warrants and accompanying Common Warrants or components thereof, which we refer to collectively as the “Securities,” issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or foreign tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) in effect as of the date of this offering. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of the Securities. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Securities.

This discussion is limited to holders that hold the Securities as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the alternative minimum tax or the unearned income Medicare contribution tax. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to holders subject to particular rules, including, without limitation:

•

U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

•

persons holding the Securities as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

•

banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;

•

brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

•

“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

•

partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);

•

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

•

persons deemed to sell the Securities under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

•

persons for whom our stock and Pre-Funded Warrants constitutes “qualified small business stock” within the meaning of Section 1202 of the Code;

•

persons who hold or receive the Securities pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;

•

persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the stock being taken into account in an “applicable financial statement” (as defined in the Code);

•

“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds; and

•

tax-qualified retirement plans.

If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds the Securities, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level.

Accordingly, partnerships holding the Securities and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED AS LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

Allocation of Purchase Price

Each share of common stock or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable, and accompanying Common Warrant will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as an investment unit consisting of one share of our common stock or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable, and accompanying Common Warrant to purchase our common stock. In determining their tax basis for the common stock or Pre-Funded Warrant and the Common Warrant constituting an investment unit, holders of Securities should allocate their purchase price for the investment unit between the common stock or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable, and the Common Warrant on the basis of their relative fair market values at the time of issuance. The Company does not intend to advise holders of the Securities with respect to this determination, and holders of the Securities are advised to consult their tax and financial advisors with respect to the relative fair market values of the common stock or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable, and the Common Warrants for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Treatment of Pre-Funded Warrants

Although not free from doubt, a Pre-Funded Warrant should be treated as a share of our common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and a holder of Pre-Funded Warrants should generally be taxed in the same manner as a holder of common stock, as described below. Accordingly, no gain or loss should be recognized (other than with respect to cash paid in lieu of a fractional share) upon the exercise of a Pre-Funded Warrant (except in the case of a cashless exercise, the treatment of which for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not clear) and, upon exercise, the holding period of a Pre-Funded Warrant should carry over to the share of common stock received. Similarly, the tax basis of the Pre-Funded Warrant should carry over to the share of common stock received upon exercise, increased by the exercise price of $0.0001. The discussion below assumes the characterization described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the risks associated with the acquisition of Pre-Funded Warrants pursuant to this offering (including alternative characterizations).

Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders

Definition of a U.S. Holder

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. holder” is any beneficial owner of the Securities that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

•

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

•

a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

•

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

•

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more United States persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has made a valid election under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions

As described in the section entitled “Dividend Policy,” we do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants (other than certain distributions of common stock), such distributions will constitute dividends to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by a corporate U.S. holder may be eligible for a dividends received deduction, subject to applicable limitations. Dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, are generally taxed at the lower applicable capital gains rate provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below in the section relating to the sale or disposition of our common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants

Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition and (ii) such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock or Pre-Funded Warrant. Such capital gain or loss will be long- term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period in such common stock or Pre-Funded Warrant is more than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, generally will be subject to reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Sale or Other Disposition, Exercise or Expiration of Common Warrants

Upon the sale or other disposition of a Common Warrant (other than by exercise), a U.S. holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or other disposition and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Common Warrant. This capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period in such Common Warrant is more than one year at the time of the sale or other disposition. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

In general, a U.S. holder will not be required to recognize income, gain or loss upon exercise of a Common Warrant for its exercise price (except to the extent the U.S. holder receives a cash payment for a such fractional share that would otherwise have been issuable upon exercise of the Common Warrant, which will be treated as a sale as described above under “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants”). A U.S. holder’s tax basis in a share of common stock received upon exercise of Common Warrants will be equal to the sum of (i) the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Common Warrants exchanged therefor and (ii) the exercise price of such Common Warrants. A U.S. holder’s holding period in the shares of common stock received upon exercise will commence on the day after such U.S. holder exercises the Common Warrants. Although there is no direct legal authority as to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an exercise of a Common Warrant on a cashless basis, we intend to take the position that such exercise will not be taxable, either because the exercise is not a gain realization event or because it qualifies as a tax-free recapitalization. In the former case, the holding period of the shares of common stock received upon exercise of Common Warrants should commence on the day after the Common Warrants are exercised. In the latter case, the holding period of the shares of common stock received upon exercise of Common Warrants would include the holding period of the exercised Common Warrants. However, our position is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may treat a cashless exercise of a Common Warrant as a taxable exchange. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of an exercise of a Common Warrant on a cashless basis, including with respect to their holding period and tax basis in the common stock received.

If a Common Warrant expires without being exercised, a U.S. holder will recognize a capital loss in an amount equal to such holder’s tax basis in the Common Warrant. Such loss will be long-term capital loss if, at the time of the expiration, the U.S. holder’s holding period in such Common Warrant is more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Constructive Dividends on Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants

As described in the section entitled “Dividend Policy,” we do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. However, if at any time during the period in which a U.S. holder holds Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, we were to pay a taxable dividend to our stockholders and, in accordance with the anti-dilution provisions of the Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, the exercise price thereof were decreased, that decrease would be deemed to be the payment of a taxable dividend to a U.S. holder of the Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, to the extent of our earnings and profits, notwithstanding the fact that such holder will not receive a cash payment. If the exercise price is adjusted in certain other circumstances or other adjustments are made (or in certain circumstances, there is a failure to make adjustments), such adjustments may also result in the deemed payment of a taxable dividend to a U.S. holder. In addition, a holder of a Common Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant may, in some circumstances, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a result of an adjustment or the non-occurrence of an adjustment to the exercise price or number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Common Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the proper treatment of any adjustments to the Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants.

We are currently required to report the amount of any deemed distributions on our website or to the IRS and to holders not exempt from reporting. The IRS has proposed regulations addressing the amount and timing of deemed distributions, as well as obligations of withholding agents and filing and notice obligations of issuers in respect of such deemed distributions. If adopted as proposed, the regulations would generally provide that (i) the amount of a deemed distribution is the excess of the fair market value of the right to acquire stock immediately after the exercise price adjustment over the fair market value of the right to acquire stock (after the exercise price adjustment) without the adjustment, (ii) the deemed distribution occurs at the earlier of the date the adjustment occurs under the terms of the instrument and the date of the distribution of cash or property that results in the deemed distribution and (iii) we are required to report the amount of any deemed distributions on our website or to the IRS and to all holders (including holders that would otherwise be exempt from reporting). The final regulations will be effective for deemed distributions occurring on or after the date of adoption, but holders and withholding agents may rely on them prior to that date under certain circumstances.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

A U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding when such holder receives payments on the common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants (including constructive dividends) or receives proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition of common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants, or Common Warrants. Certain U.S. holders are exempt from backup withholding, including corporations and certain tax-exempt organizations. A U.S. holder will be subject to backup withholding if such holder is not otherwise exempt and such holder:

•

fails to furnish the holder’s taxpayer identification number, which for an individual is ordinarily his or her social security number;

•

furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number;

•

is notified by the IRS that the holder previously failed to properly report payments of interest or dividends;

•

or fails to certify under penalties of perjury that the holder has furnished a correct taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified the holder that the holder is subject to backup withholding.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption.

Tax Considerations Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders

For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of the Securities that is neither a U.S. holder nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions

As described in the section entitled “Dividend Policy,” we do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property (other than certain distributions of common stock) on our common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants, such will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below in the section relating to the sale or disposition of our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants. Because we may not know the extent to which a distribution is a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the time it is made, for purposes of the withholding rules discussed below we or the applicable withholding agent may treat the entire distribution as a dividend.

Subject to the discussion below on backup withholding and foreign accounts, dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants that are not effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty).

Non-U.S. holders will be entitled to a reduction in or an exemption from withholding on dividends as a result of either (a) an applicable income tax treaty or (b) the non-U.S. holder holding our common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants in connection with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and dividends being effectively connected with that trade or business. To claim such a reduction in or exemption from withholding, the non-U.S. holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed (a) IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) claiming an exemption from or reduction of the withholding tax under the benefit of an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established, or (b) IRS Form W-8ECI stating that the dividends are not subject to withholding tax because they are effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States, as may be applicable. These certifications must be provided to the applicable withholding agent prior to the payment of dividends and must be updated periodically. Non-U.S. holders that do not timely provide the applicable withholding agent with the required certification, but that qualify for a reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.

If dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder are effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), then, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (provided the non-U.S. holder provides appropriate certification, as described above), the non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such dividends on a net income basis at the regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year that are attributable to such dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

Exercise of Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants

A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the exercise of Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants into shares of common stock. However, if a cashless exercise of Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants results in a taxable exchange, as described in “- Treatment of Pre-Funded Warrants” and “- Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders - Sale or Other Disposition, Exercise or Expiration of Common Warrants,” the rules described below under “Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants” would apply.

Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants

Subject to the discussions below on backup withholding and foreign accounts, a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants unless:

•

the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);

•

the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or

•

our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants, or Common Warrants constitute U.S. real property interests (“USRPIs”) by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Gain described in the first bullet point above will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates. A non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.

A non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on any gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses of the non-U.S. holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States) provided the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we are not currently and do not anticipate becoming a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our other business assets and our non-U.S. real property interests, however, there can be no assurance we are not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future.

Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Constructive Dividends on Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants

As described in the section entitled “Dividend Policy,” we do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. However, if at any time during the period in which a non-U.S. holder holds Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants we were to pay a taxable dividend to our stockholders and, in accordance with the anti-dilution provisions of the Common Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, the exercise price of the warrants were decreased, that decrease would be deemed to be the payment of a taxable dividend to a non-U.S. holder to the extent of our earnings and profits, notwithstanding the fact that such holder will not receive a cash payment. If the exercise price is adjusted in certain other circumstances (or in certain circumstances, there is a failure to make adjustments), such adjustments may also result in the deemed payment of a taxable dividend to a non-U.S. holder. Any resulting withholding tax attributable to deemed dividends may be collected from other amounts payable or distributable to the non-U.S. holder. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the proper treatment of any adjustments to the Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Subject to the discussion below on foreign accounts, a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to distributions on our common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants we make to the non-U.S. holder (including constructive dividends with respect to Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants), provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know such holder is a United States person and the holder certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or other applicable certification. However, information returns generally will be filed with the IRS in connection with any distributions (including deemed distributions) made on our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants to the non-U.S. holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established.

Information reporting and backup withholding may apply to the proceeds of a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants within the United States, and information reporting may (although backup withholding generally will not) apply to the proceeds of a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants outside the United States conducted through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, in each case, unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a non-U.S. holder on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or other applicable form (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a U.S. person) or such owner otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”)) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends (including deemed dividends) paid on our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants, or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States-owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends (including deemed dividends). Because we may not know the extent to which a distribution is a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the time it is made, for purposes of these withholding rules we or the applicable withholding agent may treat the entire distribution as a dividend. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of these withholding provisions.

UNDERWRITING

We have entered into an underwriting agreement with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (“Laidlaw” or the “Representative”), as the representative of the underwriters named below and the sole book-running manager of this offering. Subject to the terms and conditions of an underwriting agreement between us and the Representative, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters have agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of our securities listed next to its name in the following table:


	Number of Shares and Accompanying Warrants
Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.
Total

The underwriters are committed to purchase all of the securities offered by us other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below, if it purchases any securities. The obligations of the underwriters may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the underwriting agreement. Furthermore, pursuant to the underwriting agreement, the underwriters’ obligations are subject to customary conditions, representations, and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, such as receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.

The underwriters are offering the above securities, subject to prior sale, when, as, and if issued to and accepted by it, subject to approval of legal matters by its counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel, or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Over-Allotment Option

We have granted a 30-day option to the underwriters, exercisable one or more times in whole or in part, to purchase up to an additional shares (equal to 15% of the number of shares of common stock sold in the offering) at $ per share, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, to cover over-allotments, if any.

Discounts, Commissions, and Expenses

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

____________

(1) Reflects underwriting discounts and commissions to the underwriter of $ , or seven percent (7%) per share. We have also agreed to issue the representative of the underwriters or its designees warrants to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to 5% of the securities sold in this offering and to reimburse the underwriters for certain offering expenses. In addition, we have agreed to pay a management fee to the representative equal to 1% of the gross proceeds received in this offering, which is not included in the underwriting discounts and commissions.

The underwriters propose to offer the securities offered by us to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. In addition, the underwriters may offer some of the securities to other securities dealers at such price less an expected concession of % of the purchase price per share. If all of the shares offered by us are not sold at the public offering price, the Representative may change the offering price and other selling terms by means of a supplement to this prospectus.

We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriter for its expenses in connection with this offering, up to $125,000, including fees of underwriter counsel. We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding the total underwriting discount, will be approximately $ .

Discretionary Accounts

The underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the securities offered hereby to any accounts over which they have discretionary authority.

Representative’s Warrants

Upon the closing of this offering, we have agreed to issue to the Representative or its designees warrants to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to five percent (5%) of the aggregate number of securities sold in this offering (the “Representative’s Warrants”). The Representative’s Warrants will be exercisable six months from the effective date of this registration statement and will expire five years from the effective date thereof. The exercise price of the warrants is equal to 125% of the offering price of the price per share of the securities offered hereby. The Representative’s Warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(e) of FINRA. The Representative (or permitted assignees under Rule 5110(e)) will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or hypothecate these warrants or the securities underlying these warrants, nor will they engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the warrants or the underlying securities for a period of 180 days from the effective date of the offering. In addition, the warrants provide for registration rights upon request, in certain cases. The one-time demand registration right provided will not be greater than five years from the effective date of the registration statement in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(C). The unlimited piggyback registration right provided will not be greater than seven years from the effective date of the registration statement in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(D). We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities issuable on exercise of the warrants other than underwriting commissions incurred and payable by the holders.

Lock-Up Agreements

Our executive officers and directors have agreed with the Representative to be subject to a lock-up period of 90 days following the date of closing of the offering pursuant to this prospectus. This means that, during the lock-up period, such persons may not offer for sale, contract to sell, sell, distribute, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of our Common Stock, subject to certain customary exceptions. The Representative may, in its sole discretion and without notice, waive the terms of any of these lock-up agreements. We have also agreed, in the underwriting agreement, that without prior written notice to the Representative, we will not offer, sell, issue or otherwise transfer or dispose of our securities for 90 days following the closing of this offering, subject to certain customary exceptions.

Indemnification

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions, and Penalty Bids

In connection with this offering, each underwriter may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of our securities. Specifically, such underwriter may over-allot in connection with this offering by selling more securities than are set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. This creates a short position in our securities for such underwriter’s own accounts. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of securities over-allotted by such underwriter is not greater than the number of securities that it may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of securities involved is greater than the number of securities in the over-allotment option. To close out a short position, such underwriter may elect to exercise all or part of the over-allotment option. Such underwriter may also elect to stabilize the price of our securities or reduce any short position by bidding for, and purchasing, securities in the open market.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter or dealer repays selling concessions allowed to it for distributing a security in this offering because the underwriter repurchases that security in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Finally, each underwriter may bid for, and purchase, shares of our securities in market-making transactions, including “passive” market-making transactions as described below.

These activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of our securities at a price that is higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the absence of these activities. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may discontinue any of these activities at any time without notice. These transactions may be affected on NASDAQ, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise.

In connection with this offering, the underwriters and selling group members, if any, or their affiliates may engage in passive market-making transactions in our Common Stock immediately prior to the commencement of sales in this offering, in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Rule 103 generally provides that:

•

a passive market maker may not affect transactions or display bids for our securities in excess of the highest independent bid price by persons who are not passive market makers;

•

net purchases by a passive market maker on each day are generally limited to 30% of the passive market maker’s average daily trading volume in our common stock during a specified two-month prior period or 200 shares, whichever is greater, and must be discontinued when that limit is reached; and

•

passive market-making bids must be identified as such.

Electronic Distribution

This prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by the underwriters, or by their affiliates. Other than this prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ websites and any information contained in any other websites maintained by an underwriter is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters in their capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.

Other than the prospectus in electronic or printed format, the information on the underwriters’ website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters in their capacity as underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors.

Certain Relationships

The Representative and its affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. The Representative has received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

Offers Outside the United States

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “EVOK".

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, San Diego, California. Certain legal matters relating to the offering will be passed upon for the underwriter by Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022 incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the registration statement have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of BDO USA, LLP (n/k/a BDO USA P.C.), an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The report on the financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits filed therewith. For further information about us and the common stock offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete, please see the copy of the contract or document that has been filed for the complete contents of that contract or document. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. The exhibits to the registration statement should be reviewed for the complete contents of these contracts and documents.

The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address is www.sec.gov.

We also maintain a website at www.evokepharma.com. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on our website, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus.

You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost to you, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Evoke Pharma, Inc.

Attn: Corporate Secretary

420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 230

Solana Beach, CA 92075

Telephone: (858) 345-1494

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information from other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 21, 2023;

•

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, and September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2023 , August 10, 2023, and November 9, 2023, respectively;

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2023, February 13, 2023, February 21, 2023, March 23, 2023, April 6, 2023, April 20, 2023, May 1, 2023, May 9, 2023, May 11, 2023, May 26, 2023, July 21, 2023, October 12, 2023, November 1, 2023, and November 9, 2023; and

•

our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders filed with the SEC on March 29, 2023; and

•

the description of our common stock set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A (Registration No. 001-36075) filed with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on September 17, 2013, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct any requests for documents to Evoke Pharma, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 230, Solana Beach, CA 92075; Telephone: (858) 345-1494.

You also may access these filings on our website at www.evokepharma.com. We do not incorporate the information on our website into this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus (other than those filings with the SEC that we specifically incorporate by reference into this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus).

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement.

Evoke Pharma, Inc.

____________________________________

PROSPECTUS

____________________________________

Sole Book-Running Manager

LAIDLAW & COMPANY (UK) LTD.

Until , 2023 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

, 2023

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

II-1

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the offering of the securities being registered. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the Financial Institution Regulatory Association (“FINRA”) filing fee.


Item	Amount paid or to be paid
SEC registration fee	$	4,428
FINRA listing fee		5,000
Printing and engraving expenses		*
Legal fee and expenses		*
Accounting fees and expenses		*
Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses		*
Miscellaneous expenses		*
Total	$	*

_______________

* To be filed by amendment.

II-2

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 102 of the DGCL permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that no director of the Company shall be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Our Bylaws provide that we will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Our Bylaws also provide that we will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by us against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers. These indemnification agreements may require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and officers for some expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director or officer in any action or proceeding arising out of his or her service as one of our directors or officers, or any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.

II-3

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

Any underwriting agreement or distribution agreement that we enter into with any underwriters or agents involved in the offering or sale of any securities registered hereby may require such underwriters or dealers to indemnify us, some or all of our directors and officers and our controlling persons, if any, for specified liabilities, which may include liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

II-4

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

None.

II-5

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) Exhibits. The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement.

_____________


Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit

1.1**		Underwriting Agreement

3.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 30, 2013.)

3.2		Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 20, 2022.)

3.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 30, 2013.)

4.1		Form of the Company’s Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on August 16, 2013.)

4.2**		Form of Pre-Funded Warrant

4.3**		Form of Common Warrant

5.1**		Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP

10.1#		Form of Indemnity Agreement for Directors and Officers (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on May 24, 2013.)

10.2#		Employment Agreement, effective as of December 1, 2013, between the Company and Marilyn R. Carlson (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016.)

10.3#		Evoke Pharma, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as amended and restated effective May 10, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 29, 2023.)

10.4†		Commercial Services Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2020, between the Company and Eversana Life Science Services, LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020.)

10.5†		3PL Agreement between the Company and Eversana Life Science Services, LLC dated August 27, 2020 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 12, 2020.)

10.6#		Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, as Amended and Restated Effective February 8, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 10, 2023.)

10.7†		Amendment No. 1 to the Commercial Services Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2022, between the Company and Eversana Life Sciences Services, LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 11, 2021.)

II-6


Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit

10.8†		Amendment No. 2 to the Commercial Services Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2022, between the Company and Eversana Life Sciences Services, LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 10, 2022.)

10.9#		Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of June 7, 2013, between the Company and David A. Gonyer (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 14, 2013.)

10.10#		Evoke Pharma, Inc. 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated effective May 10, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 29, 2023.)

10.11†		Loan Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2020, between the Company and Eversana Life Science Services, LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020.)

10.12†		Master Supply Agreement dated as of May 11, 2016 by and between the Company and Cosma S.p.A. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 15, 2016.)

10.13		Third Amendment to Standard Office Lease dated December 15, 2020 between the Company and SB Corporate Centre III-IV, LLC. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on December 22, 2020.)

10.14#		2013 Equity Incentive Award Plan and form of option agreement thereunder (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on August 30, 2013.)

10.15#		Amended and Restated Retention Letter, dated May 22, 2013, between the Company and David A. Gonyer (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 14, 2013.)

10.16#		Amended and Restated Retention Letter, dated May 22, 2013, between the Company and Matthew D’Onofrio (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 14, 2013.)

10.17†		Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2007, between the Company and Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on July 3, 2013.)

10.18†		Manufacturing Services Agreement dated November 7, 2017, between the Company and Patheon UK Limited (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2018.)

10.19		Standard Office Lease, dated as of December 19, 2016, between the Company and SB Corporate Centre III-IV, LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017.)

10.20#		Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of January 25, 2017 between the Company and Matthew D’Onofrio (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017.)

II-7


Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit

10.21		First Amendment to Standard Office Lease dated September 27, 2018 between the Company and SB Corporate Centre III-IV, LLC. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 6, 2019.)

10.22#		Amendment to Employment Agreement, effective as of January 25, 2017, between the Company and Marilyn R. Carlson (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017.)

10.23		Fifth Amendment to Standard Office Lease, dated August 24, 2022, between the Company and SB Corporate Centre III-IV, LLC. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 21, 2022.)

10.24		Sixth Amendment to Standard Office Lease, dated October 9, 2023 between the Company and SB Corporate Centre III-IV, LLC. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023.)

10.25		Second Amendment to Standard Office Lease dated December 6, 2019 between the Company and SB Corporate Centre III IV, LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020.)

10.26		Fourth Amendment to Standard Office Lease dated February 3, 2022 between the Company and SB Corporate Centre III-IV, LLC. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 9, 2022.)

23.1*		Consent of BDO USA, P.C., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

23.2**		Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1*		Power of Attorney (see signature page)

107*		Calculation of Filing Fee Table

† Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K.

# Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

* Filed herewith.

** To be filed by amendment.

(b) Financial statement schedules. Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the Financial Statements or notes thereto.

II-8

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(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 Securities and Exchange 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; and

(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.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) 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 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, 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 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;

(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;

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(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.

(6) 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 of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than 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.

(7) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(i) 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 thereof;

(ii) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(I) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

(iii) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Solana Beach, State of California, on November 9, 2023.


EVOKE PHARMA, INC.

By:	/s/ David A. Gonyer
Name:	David A. Gonyer, R.Ph.
Title:	Chief Executive Officer and Director

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints David A. Gonyer, R.Ph. and Matthew J. D’Onofrio, and each of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-1, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

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Name	Title	Date

/s/ David A. Gonyer	Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	November 9, 2023
David A. Gonyer, R.Ph.		November 9, 2023

/s/ Matthew J. D’Onofrio	President, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	November 9, 2023
Matthew J. D’Onofrio		November 9, 2023

/s/ Cam L. Garner	Chairman of the Board of Directors	November 9, 2023
Cam L. Garner	Chairman of the Board of Directors	November 9, 2023

/s/ Todd C. Brady	Director	November 9, 2023
Todd C. Brady, M.D., Ph.D.	Director	November 9, 2023

/s/ Malcolm R. Hill	Director	November 9, 2023
Malcolm R. Hill, Pharm.D.	Director	November 9, 2023

/s/ Vickie W. Reed	Director	November 9, 2023
Vickie W. Reed	Director	November 9, 2023

/s/ Kenneth J. Widder	Director	November 9, 2023
Kenneth J. Widder, M.D.	Director	November 9, 2023

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SEC Form S-1 filed by Evoke Pharma Inc.