Filing Details

 UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

(Rule 13d-102)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED

PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)

(Amendment No. 6)¹

 

ESSA Pharma Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Shares, without par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

29668H708

(CUSIP Number)

July 8, 2022

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

☐

Rule 13d-1(b)

☒

Rule 13d-1(c)

☐

Rule 13d-1(d)

 

 

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

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

4,712,590

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

4,712,590

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

4,712,590

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

10.7%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

PN

  

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

BVF I GP LLC

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☒

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

4,712,590

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

4,712,590

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

4,712,590

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

10.7%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

  

 

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

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

3,491,779

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

3,491,779

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

3,491,779

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

7.9%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

PN

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

BVF II GP LLC

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☒

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

3,491,779

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

3,491,779

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

3,491,779

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

7.9%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

  

 

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

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Cayman Islands

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

357,472

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

357,472

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

357,472

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

Less than 1%

12

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

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Cayman Islands

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

357,472

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

357,472

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

357,472

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

Less than 1%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

BVF GP Holdings LLC

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☒

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

8,204,369

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

8,204,369

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

8,204,369

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

18.6%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

  

 

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

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

8,748,629

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

8,748,629

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

8,748,629

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

19.9%

12

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

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

8,748,629

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

8,748,629

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

8,748,629

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

19.9%

12

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

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

United States

NUMBER OF

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

0 shares

OWNED BY

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

8,748,629

PERSON WITH

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0 shares

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

8,748,629

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

8,748,629

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

19.9%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN

  

Item 1(a).

Name of Issuer:

 

ESSA Pharma Inc., a Canada corporation (the “Issuer”).

 

Item 1(b).

Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

 

Suite 720, 999 West Broadway

Vancouver, British Columbia,

Canada, V5Z 1K5

 

Item 2(a).

Name of Person Filing

Item 2(b).

Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence

Item 2(c).

Citizenship

 

Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. (“BVF”)

44 Montgomery St., 40^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

BVF I GP LLC (“BVF GP”)

44 Montgomery St., 40^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P. (“BVF2”)

44 Montgomery St., 40^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

BVF II GP LLC (“BVF2 GP”)

44 Montgomery St., 40^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

Biotechnology Value Trading Fund OS LP (“Trading Fund OS”)

PO Box 309 Ugland House

Grand Cayman, KY1-1104

Cayman Islands

Citizenship: Cayman Islands

 

BVF Partners OS Ltd. (“Partners OS”)

PO Box 309 Ugland House

Grand Cayman, KY1-1104

Cayman Islands

Citizenship: Cayman Islands

 

BVF GP Holdings LLC (“BVF GPH”)

44 Montgomery St., 40^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

BVF Partners L.P. (“Partners”)

44 Montgomery St., 40^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

BVF Inc.

44 Montgomery St., 40^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

Mark N. Lampert (“Mr. Lampert”)

44 Montgomery St., 40^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: United States

 

Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.”

 

Item 2(d).

Title of Class of Securities:

 

Common Shares, without par value (the “Shares”)

 

Item 2(e).

CUSIP Number:

 

29668H708

 

Item 3.

If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

 

		/x/	Not applicable.
	(a)	/ /	Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
	(b)	/ /	Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
	(c)	/ /	Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act.
	(d)	/ /	Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.
	(e)	/ /	An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
	(f)	/ /	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
	(g)	/ /	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).
	(h)	/ /	A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
	(i)	/ /	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act.
	(j)	/ /	A non-U.S. institution, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
	(k)	/ /	Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ____

Item 4.

Ownership

 

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:

 

As of the close of business on July 12, 2022, the Reporting Persons hold 2,920,000 warrants, exercisable for an aggregate of 2,920,000 Shares (the “Warrants”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire, for a nominal exercise price of $0.0001, one Share. The Warrants are only exercisable to the extent that the holder, together with its affiliates and any other person or entity acting as a group, would not beneficially own more than 9.99% of the outstanding Shares after giving effect to such exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrants (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”). As of the close of business on July 12, 2022, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation limited the aggregate exercise of the Warrants by the Reporting Persons to 0 out of the 2,920,000 Shares underlying the Warrants owned by the Reporting Persons in the aggregate.

 

As of the close of business on July 12, 2022 (i) BVF beneficially owned 4,712,590 Shares, (ii) BVF2 beneficially owned 3,491,779 Shares and (iii) Trading Fund OS beneficially owned 357,472 Shares.

 

BVF GP, as the general partner of BVF, may be deemed to beneficially own the 4,712,590 Shares beneficially owned by BVF.

 

BVF2 GP, as the general partner of BVF2, may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,491,779 Shares beneficially owned by BVF2.

 

Partners OS, as the general partner of Trading Fund OS, may be deemed to beneficially own the 357,472 Shares beneficially owned by Trading Fund OS.

 

BVF GPH, as the sole member of each of BVF GP and BVF2 GP, may be deemed to beneficially own the 8,204,369 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by BVF and BVF2.

 

Partners, as the investment manager of BVF, BVF2 and Trading Fund OS, and the sole member of Partners OS, may be deemed to beneficially own the 8,748,629 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by BVF, BVF2 and Trading Fund OS and held in a certain Partners managed account (the “Partners Managed Account”), including the 186,788 Shares held in the Partners Managed Account.

 

BVF Inc., as the general partner of Partners, may be deemed to beneficially own the 8,748,629 Shares beneficially owned by Partners.

 

Mr. Lampert, as a director and officer of BVF Inc., may be deemed to beneficially own the 8,748,629 Shares beneficially owned by BVF Inc.

 

The foregoing should not be construed in and of itself as an admission by any Reporting Person as to beneficial ownership of any Shares owned by another Reporting Person. BVF GP disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by BVF. BVF2 GP disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by BVF2. Partners OS disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by Trading Fund OS. BVF GPH disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by BVF and BVF2. Each of Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by BVF, BVF2 and Trading Fund OS and held in the Partners Managed Account, and the filing of this statement shall not be construed as an admission that any such person or entity is the beneficial owner of any such securities.

 

(b)

Percent of class:

 

The following percentages of Shares reported owned by each person named herein are based on 44,059,700 Shares outstanding as of May 10, 2022, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2022.

 

As of the close of business on July 12, 2022 (i) BVF beneficially owned approximately 10.7% of the outstanding Shares, (ii) BVF2 beneficially owned approximately 7.9% of the outstanding Shares, (iii) Trading Fund OS beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding Shares, (iv) BVF GP may be deemed to beneficially own approximately 10.7% of the outstanding Shares, (v) BVF2 GP may be deemed to beneficially own approximately 7.9% of the outstanding Shares, (vi) Partners OS may be deemed to beneficially own less than 1% of the outstanding Shares, (vii) BVF GPH may be deemed to beneficially own approximately 18.6% of the outstanding Shares, and (viii) each of Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert may be deemed to beneficially own approximately 19.9% of the outstanding Shares (less than 1% of the outstanding Shares are held in the Partners Managed Account).

 

(c)

Number of shares as to which such person has:

 

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

 

See Cover Pages Items 5-9.

 

(ii)

Shared power to vote or to direct the vote

 

See Cover Pages Items 5-9.

 

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

See Cover Pages Items 5-9.

 

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

See Cover Pages Items 5-9.

 

Item 5.

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

 

BVF GP, BVF GPH, Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert share voting and dispositive power over the Shares beneficially owned by BVF. BVF GP2, BVF GPH, Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert share voting and dispositive power of the Shares beneficially owned by BVF2. Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert share voting and dispositive power over the Shares beneficially owned by Trading Fund OS and held in the Partners Managed Account.

 

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary That Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

 

See Exhibit 99.1 to the Schedule 13G filed by the Reporting Persons with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2020.

 

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 10.

Certifications.

 

By signing below each of the undersigned certifies that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

 

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: July 12, 2022

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.			BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE TRADING FUND OS LP
By:	BVF I GP LLC., its general partner		By:	BVF Partners L.P., its investment manager
			By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert		By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Chief Executive Officer			Mark N. Lampert
				President
BVF I GP LLC
			BVF GP HOLDINGS LLC
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert		By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Chief Executive Officer			Mark N. Lampert
				Chief Executive Officer
BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, L.P.
			BVF PARTNERS L.P.
By:	BVF II GP LLC, its general partner
			By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert		By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Chief Executive Officer			Mark N. Lampert
				President
BVF II GP LLC
			BVF INC.
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert		By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Chief Executive Officer			Mark N. Lampert
				President
BVF PARTNERS OS LTD.
			/s/ Mark N. Lampert
By:	BVF Partners L.P., its sole member		MARK N. LAMPERT
By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
By:	/s/ Mark N. Lampert
	Mark N. Lampert
	President