Aileron Therapeutics Faces Nasdaq Delisting, Changes Auditor

TL;DR

**ALRN is getting delisted from Nasdaq and changed auditors, big red flags for investors.**

AI Summary

Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. (ALRN) filed an 8-K on January 10, 2024, reporting two significant events from January 4, 2024: a notice of delisting from The Nasdaq Capital Market and a change in its certifying accountant. This matters to investors because delisting typically signals severe financial distress and can lead to decreased liquidity and stock price volatility, while a change in auditors can sometimes raise questions about financial reporting integrity.

Why It Matters

Delisting from Nasdaq can severely impact a stock's liquidity and investor confidence, often leading to a significant drop in share price. A change in auditors, especially alongside delisting concerns, can signal underlying financial issues.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: high — Delisting from a major exchange like Nasdaq significantly increases investment risk due to reduced liquidity and potential for further stock price decline.

Analyst Insight

A smart investor would likely avoid or sell shares of Aileron Therapeutics (ALRN) given the high risk associated with delisting from Nasdaq and the potential implications of changing auditors, which often precede further financial deterioration.

Key Players & Entities

• Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. (company) — the registrant filing the 8-K
• Nasdaq Capital Market (company) — the exchange from which Aileron Therapeutics is being delisted
• January 4, 2024 (date) — date of the earliest event reported in the 8-K
• January 10, 2024 (date) — date the 8-K was filed
• ALRN (company) — trading symbol for Aileron Therapeutics, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

• Aileron Therapeutics' stock price (ALRN) will experience significant downward pressure due to the delisting notice. (ALRN) — high confidence, target: 2024-03-31
• The company will likely seek to list its shares on an over-the-counter (OTC) market following the Nasdaq delisting. (Aileron Therapeutics, Inc.) — medium confidence, target: 2024-06-30

FAQ

Key Financial Figures

• $0.001 — nge on which registered Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share ALRN The Nasdaq

Filing Documents

• d78429d8k.htm (8-K) — 26KB
• 0001193125-24-005933.txt ( ) — 143KB
• alrn-20240104.xsd (EX-101.SCH) — 3KB
• alrn-20240104_lab.xml (EX-101.LAB) — 17KB
• alrn-20240104_pre.xml (EX-101.PRE) — 11KB
• d78429d8k_htm.xml (XML) — 3KB

01

Item 3.01 Notice of Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing On January 4, 2024, Aileron Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), received written notice (the "Notice") from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") stating that the Company failed to hold its annual meeting of shareholders within twelve (12) months after its fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(a) (the "Annual Meeting Listing Rule"). The Notice does not result in the immediate delisting of the Company's common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market. The Notice states that the Company has 45 calendar days, or until February 20, 2024, to submit a plan to regain compliance with the Annual Meeting Listing Rule. The Company intends to file a definitive proxy statement for the Company's 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "2023 Annual Meeting") with the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2024. In addition, the Company intends to submit a plan (which will reflect calling and holding the 2023 Annual Meeting) to regain compliance with the Annual Meeting Listing Rule within the required timeframe. While the plan is pending, shares of the Company's common stock will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market. If Nasdaq accepts the Company's plan, Nasdaq may grant the Company an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the Company's fiscal year end, or until June 28, 2024, to regain compliance. The Notice further states that in determining whether to accept the Company's plan, Nasdaq will consider such things as the likelihood that the annual meeting can be held within the 180-day period, the Company's past compliance history, the reasons for the delayed meeting, other corporate events that may occur during the review period, the Company's overall financial condition and its public disclosures. If Nasdaq does not accept the Company's plan, the Company will ha

01

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant On January 10, 2024, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Marcum LLP ("Marcum") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The Company formally engaged Marcum on January 9, 2024. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the subsequent interim period from January 1, 2024 through January 10, 2024, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf has consulted with Marcum with respect to either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that Marcum concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or a reportable event (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

SIGNATURES

SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC. Date: January 10, 2024 By: /s/ Manuel C. Alves-Aivado Manuel C. Alves-Aivado, M.D., Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer

View Full Filing

View this 8-K filing on SEC EDGAR