Filing Details

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No.  )¹

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

68234X102

(CUSIP Number)

JAMES KRATKY

BVF PARTNERS L.P.

44 Montgomery St., 40th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

(415) 525-8890

 

ADAM W. FINERMAN, ESQ.

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

March 14, 2019

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ☒.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. 

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							1,894,657
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							1,894,657
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				1,894,657
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, L.P.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							1,569,806
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							1,569,806
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				1,569,806
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.1%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE TRADING FUND OS LP

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☒

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

WC

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

CAYMAN ISLANDS

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

- 0 -

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

322,447

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

322,447

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

322,447

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

Less than 1%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

PN

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

BVF PARTNERS OS LTD.

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☒

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

CAYMAN ISLANDS

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

- 0 -

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

322,447

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

322,447

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

322,447

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

Less than 1%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				BVF PARTNERS L.P.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							4,042,989
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							4,042,989
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				4,042,989
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				10.4%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN, IA

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				BVF INC.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							4,042,989
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							4,042,989
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				4,042,989
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				10.4%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				CO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				MARK N. LAMPERT
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				USA
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							4,042,989
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							4,042,989
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				4,042,989
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				10.4%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

The following constitutes the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (the “Schedule 13D”).

Item 1.

Security and Issuer.

This statement relates to shares of the Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the “Shares”), of OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 800 Chesapeake Drive, Redwood City, California 94063.

Item 2.

Identity and Background.

(a)       This statement is filed by:

(i)

Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“BVF”);

(ii)

Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“BVF2”);

(iii)

Biotechnology Value Trading Fund OS, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“Trading Fund OS”);

(iv)

BVF Partners OS Ltd., a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“Partners OS”), which serves as general partner of Trading Fund OS;

(v)

BVF Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Partners”), which serves as the general partner of each of BVF and BVF2, the investment manager of Trading Fund OS, the sole member of Partners OS, and the investment manager of a certain managed account (the “Partners Managed Account”);

(vi)

BVF Inc., a Delaware corporation, which serves as the general partner of Partners; and

(vii)

Mark N. Lampert, who serves as the sole officer and director of BVF Inc.

Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.” Each of the Reporting Persons is party to that certain Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons are hereby filing a joint Schedule 13D.

(b)       The business address of BVF, BVF2, Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert is 44 Montgomery St., 40th Floor, San Francisco, California. The business address of Trading Fund OS and Partners OS is PO Box 309 Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.

(c)       The principal business of each of BVF, BVF2, and Trading Fund OS is investing in securities. The principal business of Partners OS is serving as the general partner of Trading Fund OS. The principal business of Partners is serving as the general partner of each of BVF and BVF2, the investment manager of Trading Fund OS, the sole member of Partners OS, and the investment manager of the Partners Managed Account. The principal business of BVF Inc. is serving as the general partner of Partners. The principal business of Mr. Lampert is serving as the sole officer and director of BVF Inc.

(d)       No Reporting Person has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)       No Reporting Person has, during the last five years, been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)       Mr. Lampert is a citizen of the United States of America.

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

The Shares purchased by BVF, BVF2 and Trading Fund OS were purchased with working capital (which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business) in open market purchases, except as otherwise noted. The aggregate purchase price of the 1,894,657 Shares beneficially owned by BVF is approximately $11,690,694, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 1,569,806 Shares beneficially owned by BVF2 is approximately $10,121,752, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 322,447 Shares beneficially owned by Trading Fund OS is approximately $1,950,397, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 256,079 Shares held in the Partners Managed Account is approximately $1,005,959, including brokerage commissions.

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction

On March 14, 2019, certain of the Reporting Persons entered into a Support Agreement (the “Support Agreement”) with the Issuer, in connection with that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 5, 2018, by and among the Issuer, Mereo BioPharma Group plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Mereo”), Mereo US Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mereo, and Mereo MergerCo One Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Mereo (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Support Agreement, the Reporting Persons have agreed, among other things, to vote their respective Shares in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and against any alternative proposal and against any action or agreement that would reasonably be expected to frustrate the purposes, prevent, delay or otherwise adversely affect the consummation of, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The foregoing summary of the Support Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Support Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2019, and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Reporting Persons purchased the Shares based on the Reporting Persons’ belief that the Shares, when purchased, were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity. The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors including, without limitation, the Issuer’s financial position and investment strategy, the price levels of the Shares, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Support Agreement including, without limitation, engaging in communications with management and the Board of the Issuer, engaging in discussions with stockholders of the Issuer and others about the Issuer and the Reporting Persons’ investment, making proposals to the Issuer concerning changes to the capitalization, ownership structure, board structure (including board composition) or operations of the Issuer, purchasing additional Shares, selling some or all of their Shares, engaging in short selling of or any hedging or similar transaction with respect to the Shares, or changing their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to above.

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a)       The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based on 38,690,089 Shares outstanding as of March 5, 2019, as disclosed in the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2019.

As of the close of business on March 15, 2019, (i) BVF beneficially owned 1,894,657 Shares, representing percentage ownership of approximately 4.9% of the Shares outstanding, (ii) BVF2 beneficially owned 1,569,806 Shares, representing percentage ownership of approximately 4.1% of the Shares outstanding, (iii) Trading Fund OS beneficially owned 322,447 Shares, representing percentage ownership of less than 1% of the Shares outstanding, and (iv) 256,079 Shares were held in the Partners Managed Account, representing percentage ownership of less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

Partners OS, as the general partner of Trading Fund OS, may be deemed to beneficially own the 322,447 Shares beneficially owned by Trading Fund OS, representing percentage ownership of less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

Partners, as the general partner of BVF and BVF2, the sole member of Partners OS, and the investment manager of Trading Fund OS and the Partners Managed Account, may be deemed to beneficially own the 4,042,989 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by BVF, BVF2, Trading Fund OS, and the Partners Managed Account, representing percentage ownership of approximately 10.4% of the Shares outstanding.

BVF Inc., as the general partner of Partners, may be deemed to beneficially own the 4,042,989 Shares beneficially owned by Partners, representing percentage ownership of approximately 10.4% of the Shares outstanding.

Mr. Lampert, as a director and officer of BVF Inc. may be deemed to beneficially own the 4,042,989 Shares beneficially owned by BVF Inc., representing percentage ownership of approximately 10.4% of the Shares outstanding.

(b)       Each of BVF, BVF2, and Trading Fund OS, shares with Partners voting and dispositive power over the Shares each such entity beneficially owns. Trading Fund OS, shares with Partners OS, voting and dispositive power over the Shares beneficially owned by Trading Fund OS. Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert share voting and dispositive power over the 4,042,989 Shares they may be deemed to beneficially own with BVF, BVF2, Trading Fund OS, Partners OS and the Partners Managed Account.

(c)       Schedule A annexed hereto lists all transactions in securities of the Issuer during the past sixty days by the Reporting Persons. All of such transactions were effected in the open market, except as otherwise noted.

(d)       No person other than the Reporting Persons is known to have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares.

(e)       Not applicable.

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

On March 14, 2019, certain of the Reporting Persons and the Issuer entered into the Support Agreement defined and described in Item 4 above, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2019.

On March 15, 2019, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D, with respect to securities of the Issuer, to the extent required by applicable law. A copy of this agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Partners is the general partner of each of BVF and BVF2 pursuant to limited partnership agreements which authorize Partners, among other things, to invest the funds of BVF and BVF2 in the Shares and other securities and to vote, exercise or convert and dispose of such securities. Pursuant to such limited partnership agreements, Partners is entitled to receive fees based on assets under management and allocations based on realized and unrealized gains on such assets.

Partners is the sole member of Partners OS and the investment manager of Trading Fund OS, pursuant to an investment management agreement which authorizes Partners, among other things, to invest the funds of Trading Fund OS in the Shares and other securities and to vote, exercise or convert and dispose of such securities. Pursuant to such investment management agreement, Partners is entitled to receive fees based on assets under management and allocations based on realized and unrealized gains on such assets

Pursuant to investment management agreements with certain of the Partners Managed Account, Partners and BVF Inc. have authority, among other things, to invest funds of certain of the Partners Managed Account in the Shares and other securities and to vote, exercise or convert and dispose of such securities. Pursuant to such investment management agreements, Partners and BVF Inc. receive fees based on realized and unrealized gains thereon.

Other than as described herein, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the Reporting Persons, or between the Reporting Persons and any other person, with respect to the securities of the Issuer.

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

99.1

Joint Filing Agreement by and among Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P., Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P., Biotechnology Value Trading Fund OS LP, BVF Partners OS Ltd., BVF Partners L.P., BVF Inc. and Mark N. Lampert, dated March 15, 2019.

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated: March 15, 2019

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.			BVF INC.
By:	BVF Partners L.P., its general partner		By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
By:	BVF Inc., its general partner			Mark N. Lampert
				President
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert
	President		/s/ Mark N. Lampert
			MARK N. LAMPERT
BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, L.P.
By:	BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert
	President
BVF PARTNERS L.P.
By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert
	President
BVF PARTNERS OS LTD.
By:	BVF Partners L.P., its sole member
By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert
	President
Biotechnology Value Trading Fund OS LP
By:	BVF Partners L.P., its investment manager
By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert
	President

SCHEDULE A

Transactions in the Securities of the Issuer During the Past Sixty Days

Class of Security

Securities Purchased / (Sold)

Price ($)

Date of Purchase / Sale

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.

Common Stock

44,2821

0.8350

03/14/2019

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, L.P.

Common Stock

115,0362

0.8350

03/14/2019

 

BVF Partners L.P.
(Through the BVF Partners L.P Managed Account)

Common Stock	(44,282)1	0.8350	03/14/2019
Common Stock	(115,036)2	0.8350	03/14/2019

 

---

¹ Represents an internal transfer from the Partners Managed Account to BVF.

² Represents an internal transfer from the Partners Managed Account to BVF2.