Filing Details

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Turnstone Biologics Corp.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

90042W100

(CUSIP Number)

OrbiMed Advisors LLC OrbiMed Capital GP VI LLC   601 Lexington Avenue, 54th Floor New York, NY 10022 Telephone: (212) 739-6400

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

July 20, 2023

(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(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

*	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).

 

              

CUSIP No.  90042W100

1	Names of Reporting Persons.                  OrbiMed Advisors LLC
2	Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions). (a) o (b) o
3	SEC Use Only
4	Source of Funds (See Instructions) AF
5	Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)			o
6	Citizenship or Place of Organization                Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		7	Sole Voting Power             0
		8	Shared Voting Power                              3,099,265
		9	Sole Dispositive Power       0
		10	Shared Dispositive Power            3,099,265
11	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person                  3,099,265
12	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)			o
13	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)                     13.4%*
14	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)                    IA

 

* This percentage is calculated based upon 23,188,682 shares outstanding of Turnstone Biologics Corp. (the “Issuer”), following the closing of the Issuer’s initial public offering, as set forth in the Issuer’s Rule 424(b)(4) Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 24, 2023, after giving effect to an additional 1,000,000 shares that may be issued and sold by the Issuer to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriters’ option.

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 90042W100
1		Names of Reporting Persons.                    OrbiMed Capital GP VI LLC
2		Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions). (a) o (b) o
3		SEC Use Only
4		Source of Funds (See Instructions)            AF
5		Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)					o
6		Citizenship or Place of Organization                                Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH			7	Sole Voting Power            0
			8	Shared Voting Power                 3,099,265
			9	Sole Dispositive Power              0
			10	Shared Dispositive Power              3,099,265
11		Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person              3,099,265
12		Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)					o
13		Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)              13.4%*
14		Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)              OO

 

* This percentage is calculated based upon 23,188,682 shares outstanding of Turnstone Biologics Corp. (the “Issuer”), following the closing of the Issuer’s initial public offering, as set forth in the Issuer’s Rule 424(b)(4) Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 24, 2023, after giving effect to an additional 1,000,000 shares that may be issued and sold by the Issuer to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriters’ option.

 

 

Item 1.  Security and Issuer

 

This Statement on Schedule 13D (the “Statement”) relates to the common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), of Turnstone Biologics Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Issuer”), with its principal executive offices located at 9310 Athena Circle, Suite 300, La Jolla, California 92037. The Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol “TSBX”. Information given in response to each item shall be deemed incorporated by reference in all other items, as applicable.

 

On July 20, 2023, the Issuer completed its initial public offering pursuant to which the Issuer agreed to issue and sell 6,666,667 Shares to the participants in the offering (the “IPO”). In addition, the Issuer granted the underwriters an option to purchase, at the public offering price less any underwriting discounts and commissions, up to an additional 1,000,000 Shares. The purchase price for each Share was $12.00. As a result of the IPO, the Issuer’s total number of outstanding Shares increased to 23,188,682 (after giving effect to the additional 1,000,000 shares that may be issued and sold by the Issuer to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriters’ option).

 

Item 2. Identity and Background

 

(a) This Statement is being filed by OrbiMed Advisors LLC (“OrbiMed Advisors”) and OrbiMed Capital GP VI LLC, (“GP VI”) (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”).

 

 (b) — (c), (f) GP VI, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware, is the general partner of a limited partnership, as more particularly described in Item 6 below. GP VI has its principal offices at 601 Lexington Avenue, 54th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

 

OrbiMed Advisors, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware and a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, is the managing member of GP VI, as more particularly described in Item 6 below. OrbiMed Advisors has its principal offices at 601 Lexington Avenue, 54th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

 

The directors and executive officers of OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI are set forth on Schedules I and II, respectively, attached hereto. Schedules I and II set forth the following information with respect to each such person:

 

(i)          name;

 

(ii)         business address;

 

(iii)        present principal occupation of employment and the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted; and

 

(iv)        citizenship.

 

(d) — (e) During the last five years, neither the Reporting Persons nor any Person named in Schedules I or II has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) a 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.

 

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

 

On October 17, 2016, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI, pursuant to their authority under the limited partnership agreement of OrbiMed Private Investments VI, LP (“OPI VI”), as more particularly described in Item 6 below, caused OPI VI to purchase 7,486,979 shares of Series B-1 convertible preferred stock of the Issuer.

 

On November 28, 2018, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI, pursuant to their authority under the limited partnership agreement of OPI VI, as more particularly described in Item 6 below, caused OPI VI to purchase 9,982,639 shares of Series B-2 convertible preferred stock of the Issuer.

 

 

On January 4, 2019, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI, pursuant to their authority under the limited partnership agreement of OPI VI, as more particularly described in Item 6 below, caused OPI VI to purchase 2,126,519 shares of Series C convertible preferred stock of the Issuer.

 

On June 29, 2021, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI, pursuant to their authority under the limited partnership agreement of OPI VI, as more particularly described in Item 6 below, caused OPI VI to purchase 1,830,335 shares of Series D convertible preferred stock of the Issuer.

 

On July 14, 2023, the Issuer effected a 1-for-7.9872 reverse stock split of its common stock and convertible preferred stock. Upon the closing of the IPO, all outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock converted into Shares on a one-to-one basis

 

On and prior to the close of July 20, 2023, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI, pursuant to their authority under the limited partnership agreement of OPI VI, as more particularly described in Item 6 below, caused OPI VI to purchase 416,666 Shares in the IPO.

 

The source of funds for such purchases was the working capital of OPI VI.

 

As a result of the transactions described in this Item 3, GP VI, as the general partner of OPI VI, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of approximately 13.4% of the outstanding Shares. OrbiMed Advisors, as the managing member of GP VI, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of approximately 13.4% of the outstanding Shares. None of the Reporting Persons have acquired or disposed of any additional Shares since July 20, 2023.

 

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction

 

This Statement relates to the acquisition of Shares by the Reporting Persons. The Shares acquired by the Reporting Persons were acquired for the purpose of making an investment in the Issuer and not with the intention of acquiring control of the Issuer’s business on behalf of the Reporting Persons’ respective advisory clients.

 

The Reporting Persons from time to time intend to review their investment in the Issuer on the basis of various factors, including the Issuer’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, general economic and industry conditions, the securities markets in general and those for the Issuer’s Shares in particular, as well as other developments and other investment opportunities. Based upon such review, the Reporting Persons will take such actions in the future as the Reporting Persons may deem appropriate in light of the circumstances existing from time to time. If the Reporting Persons believe that further investment in the Issuer is attractive, whether because of the market price of Shares or otherwise, they may acquire Shares or other securities of the Issuer either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Similarly, depending on market and other factors, the Reporting Persons may determine to dispose of some or all of the Shares currently owned by the Reporting Persons or otherwise acquired by the Reporting Persons either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.

 

Except as set forth in this Schedule 13D, the Reporting Persons have not formulated any plans or proposals which relate to or would result in:  (a) the acquisition by any person of additional securities of the Issuer or the disposition of securities of the Issuer, (b) an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, (c) a sale or transfer of a material amount of the assets of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, (d) any change in the present Board of Directors or management of the Issuer, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board, (e) any material change in the Issuer’s capitalization or dividend policy of the Issuer, (f) any other material change in the Issuer’s business or corporate structure, (g) any change in the Issuer’s charter or bylaws or other instrument corresponding thereto or other action which may impede the acquisition of control of the Issuer by any person, (h) causing a class of the Issuer’s securities to be deregistered or delisted from a national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association, (i) a class of equity securities of the Issuer becoming eligible for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Act or (j) any action similar to any of those enumerated above.

 

 

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer

 

 (a) — (b) The following is based upon 23,188,682 Shares outstanding following the closing of the IPO, as set forth in the Issuer’s Rule 424(b)(4) Prospectus filed with the SEC on July 24, 2023, after giving effect to an additional 1,000,000 Shares that may be issued and sold by the Issuer to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriters’ option.

 

As of the date of this filing, OPI VI, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware, holds 3,099,265 Shares, constituting approximately 13.4% of the issued and outstanding Shares. GP VI is the general partner of OPI VI, pursuant to the terms of the limited partnership agreement of OPI VI, and OrbiMed Advisors is the managing member of GP VI, pursuant to the terms of the limited liability company agreement of GP VI. As a result, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI share power to direct the vote and disposition of the Shares held by OPI VI and may be deemed directly or indirectly, including by reason of their mutual affiliation, to be the beneficial owners of the Shares held by OPI VI. OrbiMed Advisors exercises this investment and voting power through a management committee comprised of Carl L. Gordon, Sven H. Borho, and W. Carter Neild, each of whom disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares held by OPI VI.

 

In addition, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI, pursuant to their authority under the limited partnership agreement of OPI VI, caused OPI VI to enter into the agreements referred to in Item 6 below.

 

(c) Except as disclosed in Item 3, the Reporting Persons have not effected any transactions during the past sixty (60) days in any Shares.

 

(d) Not applicable.

 

(e) Not applicable.

 

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer

 

In addition to the relationships between the Reporting Persons described in Items 2 and 5 above, GP VI is the general partner of OPI VI, pursuant to the terms of the limited partnership agreement of OPI VI. Pursuant to this agreement and relationship, GP VI has discretionary investment management authority with respect to the assets of OPI VI. Such authority includes the power to vote and otherwise dispose of securities held by OPI VI. The number of outstanding Shares of the Issuer attributable to OPI VI is 3,099,265 Shares. GP VI, pursuant to its authority under the limited partnership agreement of OPI VI, may be considered to hold indirectly 3,099,265 Shares.

  

In addition to the relationships between the Reporting Persons described in Items 2 and 5 above, OrbiMed Advisors is the managing member of GP VI, pursuant to the terms of the limited liability company agreement of GP VI. Pursuant to this agreement and relationship, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI have discretionary investment management authority with respect to the assets of OPI VI. Such authority includes the power of GP VI to vote and otherwise dispose of securities held by OPI VI. The number of outstanding Shares attributable to OPI VI is 3,099,265 Shares. OrbiMed Advisors, pursuant to its authority under the terms of the limited liability company agreement of GP VI, may also be considered to hold indirectly 3,099,265 Shares.

 

Rishi Gupta (“Gupta”), an employee of OrbiMed Advisors, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer and, accordingly, OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI may have the ability to affect and influence control of the Issuer. From time to time, Gupta may receive stock options or other awards of equity-based compensation pursuant to the Issuer’s compensation arrangements for non-employee directors. Pursuant to an agreement with OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI, Gupta is obligated to transfer any securities issued under any such stock options or other awards, or the economic benefit thereof, to OrbiMed Advisors and GP VI, which will in turn ensure that such securities or economic benefits are provided to OPI VI.

 

 

Investors’ Rights Agreement

In addition, OPI VI and certain other stockholders of the Issuer entered into a Second Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement with the Issuer (the “Investors’ Rights Agreement”), dated as of June 29, 2021. Pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions therein, the parties agreed that:

 

Demand Registration Rights

 

At any time beginning the earlier of (i) five years after the date of the Investors’ Rights Agreement and (ii) 180 days following the date of the effective date of the registration statement of the IPO, the holders of at least a majority of the Issuer’s preferred securities may make a written request that the Issuer register at least 25% of the registrable securities then outstanding of the Issuer, subject to certain specified conditions and exceptions. The Issuer is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and will pay all registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, related to any demand registration. The Issuer is not obligated to effect more than two of these registrations in any 12-month period.

 

Piggyback Registration Rights

 

Whenever the Issuer proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including a registration statement on Form S-3 as discussed below, other than with respect to certain excluded registrations, OPI VI will be entitled to notice of the registration and have the right, subject to limitations that the underwriters may impose on the number of Shares included in the registration, to include the Shares held by them in the registration.

 

Form S-3 Registration Rights

 

At any time after the Issuer is qualified to file a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, and subject to limitations and conditions specified in the Investors’ Rights Agreement, holders of the registrable securities then outstanding may make a written request that the Issuer prepare and file a registration statement on Form S-3 covering their Shares, so long as the aggregate price to the public, net of selling expenses, equals or exceeds $1 million. The Issuer is not obligated to effect more than two of these Form S-3 registrations in any 12-month period.

 

Lock-Up Agreement

In addition, in connection with the IPO, OPI VI and Gupta each entered into a lock-up agreement (the “Lock-Up Agreement”) with the Issuer’s underwriters pursuant to which, among other things, OPI VI and Gupta each agreed not to, except in limited circumstances, directly or indirectly, from the date of the Lock-Up Agreement until 180 days after the date of the prospectus supplement relating to the Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”): (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Shares or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Shares, or file, cause to be filed or cause to be confidentially submitted any registration statement in connection therewith; (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of ownership of Shares, in each case whether settled in securities, cash or otherwise.

 

After the Lock-Up Period expires, OPI VI’s Shares will be eligible for sale in the public market, subject to any applicable limitations under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and other applicable U.S. securities laws.

     

The foregoing description of the Investors’ Rights Agreement and the Lock-Up Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Investors’ Rights Agreement and the Lock-Up Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits 2 and 3, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

Item 7.  Material to Be Filed as Exhibits

 

 

Exhibit	Description
1.	Joint Filing Agreement among OrbiMed Advisors LLC and OrbiMed Capital GP VI LLC.
2.	Second Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement by and among the Issuer and certain of its stockholders, dated as of June 29, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-272600), filed with the SEC on July 17, 2022).
3.	Form of Lock-Up Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-272600), filed with the SEC on July 17, 2022).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated: July 24, 2023

 

	ORBIMED ADVISORS LLC
	By:	/s/ Carl L. Gordon
		Name: Carl L. Gordon
		Title: Member
	ORBIMED CAPITAL GP VI LLC
	By:	ORBIMED ADVISORS LLC, its managing member
	By:	/s/ Carl L. Gordon
		Name: Carl L. Gordon
		Title: Member of OrbiMed Advisors LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

 

The names and present principal occupations of each of the executive officers and directors of OrbiMed Advisors LLC are set forth below. Unless otherwise noted, each of these persons is a United States citizen and has a business address of 601 Lexington Avenue, 54th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

             

Name	Position with Reporting Person	Principal Occupation
Carl L. Gordon	Member	Member OrbiMed Advisors LLC
Sven H. Borho German and Swedish Citizen	Member	Member OrbiMed Advisors LLC
W. Carter Neild	Member	Member OrbiMed Advisors LLC
Geoffrey C. Hsu	Member	Member OrbiMed Advisors LLC
C. Scotland Stevens	Member	Member OrbiMed Advisors LLC
David P. Bonita	Member	Member OrbiMed Advisors LLC
Peter A. Thompson	Member	Member OrbiMed Advisors LLC
Matthew S. Rizzo	Member	Member OrbiMed Advisors LLC
Trey Block	Chief Financial Officer	Chief Financial Officer OrbiMed Advisors LLC

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

The business and operations of OrbiMed Capital GP VI LLC are managed by the executive officers and directors of its managing member, OrbiMed Advisors LLC, set forth on Schedule I attached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

Exhibit	Description
1.	Joint Filing Agreement among OrbiMed Advisors LLC and OrbiMed Capital GP VI LLC.
2.	Second Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement by and among the Issuer and certain of its stockholders, dated as of June 29, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-272600), filed with the SEC on July 17, 2022).
3.	Form of Lock-Up Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-272600), filed with the SEC on July 17, 2022).