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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2015

Registration Statement No. 333-            


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



EPIRUS BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)



Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)
  04-3514457
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)

699 Boylston Street
Eighth Floor
Boston, MA 02116

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

02116
(Zip Code)

(617) 600-3497
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Robert Ticktin, Esq.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
699 Boylston Street
Eighth Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(617) 600-3497

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)



With copies to:

William Hicks, Esq.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
One Financial Center
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Tel: (617) 542-6000
Fax: (617) 542-2241



Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

             If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.    o

             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, as amended (the "Securities Act"), other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.    ý

             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.    o

             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.    o

             If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    o

             If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    o

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

Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company ý



CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

               
 
Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered

  Amount to be
Registered(1)

  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Unit(2)

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(3)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(4)

 

Debt Securities(5)

               
 

Preferred Stock(6)

               
 

Common Stock(7)

               
 

Warrants(8)

               
 

Units(9)

               
 

Total

  $125,000,000   N.A.   $125,000,000   $14,525

 

(1)
The amount to be registered consists of up to $125,000,000 of an indeterminate amount of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, warrants and/or units. There is also being registered hereunder such currently indeterminate number of (i) shares of preferred stock, common stock and warrants as may be issued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, convertible or exchangeable debt securities and/or preferred stock registered hereby, or (ii) shares of preferred stock and common stock as may be issued upon exercise of warrants registered hereby, as the case may be. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with the other securities registered hereunder.

(2)
The proposed maximum aggregate offering price per unit will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

(3)
Estimated solely for purposes of computing the registration fee. No separate consideration will be received for preferred stock, common stock or warrants issued upon conversion or exchange of debt securities and/or preferred stock, or upon exercise of warrants.

(4)
The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act, based on the proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

(5)
Including such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices.

(6)
Including such indeterminate amount of preferred stock as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices or upon conversion of debt securities and/or preferred stock registered hereby, or upon exercise of warrants registered hereby, as the case may be.

(7)
Including such indeterminate amount of common stock as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices or upon conversion of debt securities and/or preferred stock registered hereby, or upon exercise of warrants registered hereby, as the case may be.

(8)
Including such indeterminate number of warrants or other rights, including without limitation share purchase or subscription rights, as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices.

(9)
Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement and will represent an interest in two or more securities, which may be or may not be separable from one another.

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, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell or accept an offer to buy 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 we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities, in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 1, 2015

Prospectus



LOGO

$125,000,000
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Warrants
Units



        This prospectus provides you with a general description of debt and equity securities that EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. may offer and sell, from time to time, either individually or in units in a maximum aggregate offering amount of up to $125,000,000. Each time we sell securities we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of any debt or equity securities we offer and the specific manner in which we will offer the debt or equity securities. The prospectus supplement will also contain information, where appropriate, about material United States federal income tax consequences relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the debt or equity securities covered by the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.

        We may offer these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. We may sell the securities directly to you, through agents we select, or through underwriters and dealers we select. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled "Plan of Distribution" in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

        Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "EPRS." On June 29, 2015, the closing price for our common stock, as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market, was $5.78 per share. Our principal executive offices are located at 699 Boylston Street, Eighth Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.



        Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in this prospectus beginning on page 5 and the applicable prospectus supplement, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.



   

The date of this prospectus is                        , 2015.


Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

    1  

ABOUT EPIRUS BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 

    1  

RISK FACTORS

    5  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    5  

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

    6  

USE OF PROCEEDS

    6  

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

    7  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

    8  

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

    24  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

    26  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

    27  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

    29  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    32  

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND OF OUR SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED, AND OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

    36  

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

    38  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

    39  

EXPERTS

    39  

LEGAL MATTERS

    39  

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        Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, all references to "the Company," "we," "us," "our," "our company," and "Epirus," refer to Public Epirus and its subsidiaries following the Merger, effective on July 15, 2014, and to Private Epirus and its subsidiaries prior to the Merger.


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in units, in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $125,000,000.

        This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that specific offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information" before making an investment decision.

        You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representation. 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. You should assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated herein by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security.

        This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of our securities, unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. To the extent there are inconsistencies between any prospectus supplement, this prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference, the document with the most recent date will control.


ABOUT EPIRUS BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Explanatory Note

        On July 15, 2014, EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation and private company ("Private Epirus"), completed its merger with EB Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zalicus Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Zalicus") (the "Merger"). As part of the Merger, Zalicus was renamed EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Public Epirus") and Private Epirus was renamed EB Sub, Inc. ("EB Sub"). The boards of directors of Private Epirus and Zalicus approved the Merger on April 15, 2014, and the stockholders of Private Epirus and Zalicus approved the Merger and related matters on July 15, 2014. Following completion of the Merger, EB Sub, Inc. (formerly Private Epirus), is the surviving corporation of the Merger and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Public Epirus.

Overview

        We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on building a pure-play, sustainable and profitable biosimilar business by improving patient access to these important, cost-effective medicines worldwide. Biosimilars are highly similar versions of approved patented biological drug products, referred to as reference or innovator products. Based on projected global sales estimates from EvaluatePharma®,

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more than $80 billion in major biological drug sales is expected to face competition from biosimilars as a result of the expiration of patents over the next decade.

        Building a pure-play biosimilar company requires strong technical capabilities. We are a global company with an experienced product development team based in Boston, Massachusetts and a robust clinical, regulatory and business development infrastructure based in Zug, Switzerland. Our strategy for biosimilars relies on global partnerships and distinct strategies to address the diverse and evolving regulatory, legal and commercial landscape. We have segmented the global market into three types: Developed Markets, which include the United States and Europe; Local Production Markets, which include China and Brazil; and Accessible Markets, which include India and Latin America.

        We seek to build a sustainable platform focusing on a therapeutically-focused pipeline of Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell derived monoclonal antibodies, or MAbs. Our pipeline of products includes BOW015, a biosimilar version of Remicade® (infliximab), BOW050, a biosimilar version of Humira® (adalimumab) and BOW070, a biosimilar version of Actemra® (tocilizumab). Collectively, Remicade, Humira and Actemra generated approximately $23 billion in global innovator sales in 2014, according to EvaluatePharma, with Remicade alone generating approximately $8.8 billion in global sales in 2014. All three our of programs focus on the treatment of overlapping inflammatory and immune-mediated disorders. The standardization of the platform and the clustering of the therapeutic area will allow us to have a greater degree of focus, synergy and cost management across product development, manufacturing, clinical and eventual commercialization. Additionally, there are over 20 other IgG, CHO cell derived MAbs with near-term patent expiries clustered in five therapeutic areas which provide mid- to long-term pipeline growth options for us.

        For our lead program, BOW015, we have reported bioequivalence and efficacy data from a Phase 1 clinical trial in the United Kingdom and a Phase 3 clinical trial in India, both of which demonstrated the equivalence of BOW015 to Remicade. We also announced positive 58 week follow up data from the Phase 3 trial. In this open label phase, we demonstrated that patients can be safely initiated and effectively maintained on BOW015 for 58 weeks, and that patients can be safely switched from Remicade to BOW015 and effectively maintained out to 58 weeks. We intend to initiate a global clinical program for BOW015 in late 2015 or early 2016. We have been designing this clinical program in consultation with European regulatory bodies in order to obtain the data necessary to support eventual approval of BOW015 in North America and Europe.

        To build a profitable business over time, we intend to design and execute on partnerships that optimize value retention via distribution or profit sharing deals while effectively managing our tax basis worldwide. Our Swiss-based tax structure will allow us to efficiently manage future cash for operations outside the United States.

        In Accessible Markets, in which our current BOW015 regulatory data are expected to be sufficient for approval, we intend to pursue near-term product launches. This will enable us to gain in-market exposure needed to support eventual filings in Developed Markets and allow us to build important commercial and commercial support services with and for our partners. In collaboration with our commercialization partner Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., we launched BOW015 in India in November 2014. BOW015 is sold under the brand name InfimabTM and is the first infliximab biosimilar approved in India. We expect to utilize our existing regulatory data package to gain regulatory approval for BOW015 in additional countries. In May 2015, we also entered into a development and future distribution agreement with mAbxience, S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of CHEMO Group, for BOW015 in Latin American markets, including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. In China, which requires local production, we have an established partnership with Livzon Mabpharm Inc. for the production of biosimilars for China and associated markets.

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        Developed Markets, predominately North America and Europe, are expected to be the financial anchor of our business. In European markets, we intend to execute a commercial plan that may include distribution or profit sharing partnerships in specific markets. In the United States, we intend to retain rights and evaluate market conditions prior to determining a commercial plan commensurate with our objectives to create value.

        Our long-term ability to deliver these important medicines to patients worldwide can only be achieved through a disciplined approach. Our experienced management team plans to address the diverse regulatory, legal and commercial landscape by gaining near-term market access, creating a strong technical platform with opportunities for sustainable pipeline growth, and finding tax-optimized partnership deals that maximize future value to provide us with a path forward to build a sustainable and profitable biosimilar business.

Corporate Information

        We were incorporated in Delaware in 2000. Our principal executive offices are located at 699 Boylston Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, and our telephone number is (617) 600-3497. We have the following subsidiaries: EB Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Epirus Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., a United Kingdom corporation, Epirus Switzerland GmbH, a Swiss corporation, Epirus Brasil Tecnologia Ltda, a Brazilian corporation and Zalicus Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a Canadian corporation. We maintain an internet website at www.epirusbiopharma.com and the information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and is not part of this prospectus. "Epirus" and the Epirus logo are trademarks of Epirus.

Offerings Under This Prospectus

        Under this prospectus, we may offer up to $125,000,000 of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or units in one or more offerings and in any combination. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer securities, will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of these securities, including, to the extent applicable:

        The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.

        We may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We, and our agents or underwriters, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we offer securities through agents or underwriters, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:

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        This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

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RISK FACTORS

        Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in Epirus. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" included in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as revised or supplemented by our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or our current reports on Form 8-K that we have filed with the SEC, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. The discussion of risks includes or refers to forward-looking statements; you should read the explanation of the qualifications and limitations on such forward-looking statements discussed elsewhere in this prospectus.


CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Various statements throughout this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein. Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project," "will be," "will continue," "will result," "seek," "could," "may," "might," or the negative of these terms and similar expressions or words, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements include, among others:

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        All written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We caution investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements we make or that are made on our behalf. We undertake no obligation, and specifically decline any obligation, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in any annual, quarterly or current reports that we may file with the SEC.

        In addition, you should refer to the section of this prospectus entitled "Risk Factors" as well as the documents we have incorporated by reference for a discussion of other important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.


RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

        Any time debt securities are offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a table setting forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis in the applicable prospectus supplement, if required.


USE OF PROCEEDS

        We cannot assure you that we will receive any proceeds in connection with securities which may be offered pursuant to this prospectus. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include commercial launch activities, sales and marketing expenditures, funding of clinical trials, research and development, regulatory activities, acquisitions of companies, products, intellectual property or other technology, investments, capital expenditures, and for any other purposes that we may specify in any prospectus supplement. We will set forth in the prospectus supplement our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

        We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to $125,000,000 of the following securities:

        The aggregate initial offering price of the offered securities that we may issue will not exceed $125,000,000. If we issue debt securities at a discount from their principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the aggregate initial offering price of the offered securities issued under this prospectus, we will include only the initial offering price of the debt securities and not the principal amount of the debt securities.

        This prospectus contains a summary of the general terms of the various securities that we may offer. The prospectus supplement relating to any particular securities offered will describe the specific terms of the securities, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Because the summary in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information that you may find useful, you should read the documents relating to the securities that are described in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. Please read "Where You Can Find More Information" to find out how you can obtain a copy of those documents.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will also contain the terms of a given offering, the initial offering price and our net proceeds. Where applicable, a prospectus supplement will also describe any material United States federal income tax consequences relating to the securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are or will be quoted or listed on any quotation system or securities exchange.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

        This prospectus describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities we may issue. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a supplement to this prospectus, including any additional covenants or changes to existing covenants relating to such series. The prospectus supplement also will indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities. You should read the actual indenture if you do not fully understand a term or the way we use it in this prospectus.

        We may offer senior or subordinated debt securities. Each series of debt securities may have different terms. The senior debt securities will be issued under one or more senior indentures, dated as of a date prior to such issuance, between us and the trustee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as amended or supplemented from time to time. We will refer to any such indenture throughout this prospectus as the "senior indenture." Any subordinated debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures, dated as of a date prior to such issuance, between us and the trustee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as amended or supplemented from time to time. We will refer to any such indenture throughout this prospectus as the "subordinated indenture" and to the trustee under the senior or subordinated indenture as the "trustee." The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are sometimes collectively referred to in this prospectus as the "indentures." The indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We included copies of the forms of the indentures as exhibits to our registration statement and they are incorporated into this prospectus by reference.

        If we issue debt securities at a discount from their principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the aggregate initial offering price of the offered securities issued under this prospectus, we will include only the initial offering price of the debt securities and not the principal amount of the debt securities.

        We have summarized below the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities, or indicated which material provisions will be described in the related prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement relating to any particular securities offered will describe the specific terms of the securities, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Because the summary in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information that you may find useful, you should read the documents relating to the securities that are described in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. Please read "Where You Can Find More Information" to find out how you can obtain a copy of those documents. Except as otherwise indicated, the terms of the indentures are identical. As used under this caption, the term "debt securities" includes the debt securities being offered by this prospectus and all other debt securities issued by us under the indentures.

General

        The indentures:

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        Unless we give you different information in the applicable prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Payments on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, as described under "Description of the Debt Securities—Subordination" and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Each indenture provides that we may, but need not, designate more than one trustee under an indenture. Any trustee under an indenture may resign or be removed and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to the series of debt securities administered by the resigning or removed trustee. If two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each trustee shall be a trustee of a trust under the applicable indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus, any action described in this prospectus to be taken by each trustee may be taken by each trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is trustee under the applicable indenture.

        The prospectus supplement for each offering will provide the following terms, where applicable:

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        We may issue debt securities at a discount below their principal amount and provide for less than the entire principal amount thereof to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities. We refer to any such debt securities throughout this prospectus as "original issue discount securities." The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the United States federal income tax consequences and other relevant considerations applicable to original issue discount securities.

        We also may issue indexed debt securities. Payments of principal of and premium and interest on, indexed debt securities are determined with reference to the rate of exchange between the currency or currency unit in which the debt security is denominated and any other currency or currency unit specified by us, to the relationship between two or more currencies or currency units or by other similar methods or formulas specified in the prospectus supplement.

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        Except as described under "—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets" or as may be set forth in any prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that (1) would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or (2) would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of (a) a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us, or (b) a change of control or reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect the holders of the debt securities. In the future, we may enter into transactions, such as the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a merger or consolidation, that may have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness, including the debt securities, by, among other things, substantially reducing or eliminating our assets.

        Neither the Delaware General Corporation Law nor our governing instruments define the term "substantially all" as it relates to the sale of assets. Additionally, Delaware cases interpreting the term "substantially all" rely upon the facts and circumstances of each particular case. Consequently, to determine whether a sale of "substantially all" of our assets has occurred, a holder of debt securities must review the financial and other information that we have disclosed to the public.

        We will provide you with more information in the applicable prospectus supplement regarding any deletions, modifications, or additions to the events of default or covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

Payment

        Unless we give you different information in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of, and any premium, or make-whole amount, and interest on, any series of the debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee. We will provide you with the address of the trustee in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also pay interest by mailing a check to the address of the person entitled to it as it appears in the applicable register for the debt securities or by wire transfer of funds to that person at an account maintained within the United States.

        All monies that we pay to a paying agent or a trustee for the payment of the principal of, and any premium, or make-whole amount, or interest on, any debt security will be repaid to us if unclaimed at the end of two years after the obligation underlying payment becomes due and payable. After funds have been returned to us, the holder of the debt security may look only to us for payment, without payment of interest for the period which we hold the funds.

Denomination, Interest, Registration and Transfer

        Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of any series will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

        Subject to the limitations imposed upon debt securities that are evidenced by a computerized entry in the records of a depository company rather than by physical delivery of a note, a holder of debt securities of any series may:

        Every debt security surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange must be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer satisfactory to the applicable trustee or transfer agent. Payment of a service charge will not be required for any registration of transfer or exchange of any

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debt securities, but we or the trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. If in addition to the applicable trustee, the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agent initially designated by us for any series of debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for such series. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.

        Neither we, nor any trustee, will be required to:

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

        The indentures provide that we may, without the consent of the holders of any outstanding debt securities, (1) consolidate with, (2) sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or (3) merge with or into, any other entity provided that:

Covenants

        Existence.    Except as permitted under "—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets," the indentures require us to do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect our existence, rights and franchises. However, the indentures do not require us to preserve any right or franchise if we determine that any right or franchise is no longer desirable in the conduct of our business.

        Payment of taxes and other claims.    The indentures require us to pay, discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before they become delinquent (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed on us, our subsidiaries or our subsidiaries' income, profits or property, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon our property or the property of our subsidiaries. However, we will not be required to pay, discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

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        Provision of financial information.    The indentures require us to (1) within 15 days of each of the respective dates by which we are required to file our annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents with the SEC, file with the trustee copies of the annual report, quarterly report and other documents that we file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (2) file with the trustee and the SEC any additional information, documents and reports regarding compliance by us with the conditions and covenants of the indentures, as required, (3) within 30 days after the filing with the trustee, mail to all holders of debt securities, as their names and addresses appear in the applicable register for such debt securities, without cost to such holders, summaries of any documents and reports required to be filed by us pursuant to (1) and (2) above, and (4) supply, promptly upon written request and payment of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery, copies of such documents to any prospective holder.

        Additional covenants.    The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any additional covenants of Epirus relating to any series of debt securities.

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, when we refer to "events of default" as defined in the indentures with respect to any series of debt securities, we mean:

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        When we use the term "significant subsidiary," we refer to the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Act.

        If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to debt securities of any series outstanding, then the applicable trustee or the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the debt securities of that series will have the right to declare the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. If the debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities or indexed securities, then the applicable trustee or the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the debt securities of that series will have the right to declare the portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof to be due and payable. However, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the applicable trustee, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series or of all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

        The indentures also provide that the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series or of all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture may, on behalf of all holders, waive any past default with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default:

        The indentures require each trustee to give notice to the holders of debt securities within 90 days of a default unless such default has been cured or waived. However, the trustee may withhold notice if specified persons of such trustee consider such withholding to be in the interest of the holders of debt securities. The trustee may not withhold notice of a default in the payment of principal, any premium or interest on any debt security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect of any debt security of such series.

        The indentures provide that holders of debt securities of any series may not institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to such indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, unless the trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after the trustee has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an event of default from the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, as well as an offer of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. However, this provision will not prevent any holder of debt securities from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of, and any premium, or make-whole amount, and interest on, such debt securities at the respective due dates thereof.

        The indentures provide that, subject to provisions in each indenture relating to its duties in the case of a default, a trustee has no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or

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direction of any holders of any series of debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity. The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series or of all debt securities then outstanding under an indenture shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon such trustee. However, a trustee may refuse to follow any direction which:

        Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, we will be required to deliver to each trustee a certificate, signed by one of our several specified officers, stating whether or not that officer has knowledge of any default under the applicable indenture. If the officer has knowledge of any default, the notice must specify the nature and status of the default.

Modification of the Indentures

        The indentures provide that modifications and amendments may be made only with the consent of the affected holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities issued under that indenture. However, no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities affected by the modification or amendment:

        The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive, insofar as that series is concerned, our compliance with material restrictive covenants of the applicable indenture.

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        We and our respective trustee may make modifications and amendments of an indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities for any of the following purposes:

Voting

        The indentures provide that in determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities of a series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the indentures or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of holders of debt securities:

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        The indentures contain provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series. A meeting will be permitted to be called at any time by the applicable trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, in any such case upon notice given as provided in such indenture. Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each debt security affected by the modifications and amendments of an indenture described above, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series represented at such meeting.

        Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, except as referred to above, any resolution relating to a request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of such specified percentage.

        Any resolution passed or decision taken at any properly held meeting of holders of debt securities of any series will be binding on all holders of such series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series. However, if any action is to be taken relating to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of at least a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding such percentage will constitute a quorum.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the indentures provide that if any action is to be taken at a meeting with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that such indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities affected by such action, or of the holders of such series and one or more additional series:

Subordination

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, subordinated securities will be subject to the following subordination provisions.

        Upon any distribution to our creditors in a liquidation, dissolution or reorganization, the payment of the principal of and interest on any subordinated securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the applicable indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior debt. However, our obligation to make payments of the principal of and interest on such subordinated securities otherwise will not be affected. No payment of principal or interest will be permitted to be made on subordinated securities at any time if a default on senior debt exists that permits the holders of such senior debt to accelerate its maturity and the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or we receive notice of the default. After all senior debt is paid in full and until the subordinated securities are paid in full, holders of subordinated securities will be subrogated to the rights of holders of senior debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to holders of subordinated securities have been applied to the payment of senior debt. The subordinated indenture will not restrict the

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amount of senior debt or other indebtedness of Epirus and its subsidiaries. As a result of these subordination provisions, in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, holders of subordinated securities may recover less, ratably, than our general creditors.

        The term "senior debt" will be defined in the applicable indenture as the principal of and interest on, or substantially similar payments to be made by us in respect of, other outstanding indebtedness, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the applicable indenture or subsequently incurred, created or assumed. The prospectus supplement may include a description of additional terms implementing the subordination feature.

        No restrictions will be included in any indenture relating to subordinated securities upon the creation of additional senior debt.

        If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with the offering of a series of subordinated securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated in this prospectus by reference will set forth the approximate amount of senior debt outstanding as of the end of our most recent fiscal quarter.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures allow us to discharge our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under any indenture when:

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures provide that, upon our irrevocable deposit with the applicable trustee, in trust, of an amount, in such currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such debt securities are payable at stated maturity, or government obligations, or both, applicable to such debt securities, which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, and any premium, or make-whole amount, and interest on, such debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor, the issuing company may elect either:

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        Notwithstanding the above, we may not elect to defease and be discharged from the obligation to pay any additional amounts upon the occurrence of particular events of tax, assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on such debt securities and the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of such debt securities, or to hold monies for payment in trust.

        The indentures only permit us to establish the trust described in the paragraph above if, among other things, it has delivered to the applicable trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, will be required to refer to and be based upon a ruling received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable United States federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture. In the event of such defeasance, the holders of such debt securities would be able to look only to such trust fund for payment of principal, any premium, or make-whole amount, and interest.

        When we use the term "government obligations," we mean securities that are:

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if after we have deposited funds and/or government obligations to effect defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series, (1) the holder of a debt security of such series is entitled to, and does, elect under the terms of the applicable indenture or the terms of such debt security to receive payment in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than that in which such deposit has been made in respect of such debt security, or (2) a conversion event occurs in respect of the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such deposit has been made, the indebtedness represented by such debt security will be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of, and premium, or make-whole amount, and interest on, such debt security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded by converting the amount so deposited in respect of such debt security into the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such debt security becomes payable as a result of such election or such cessation of usage based on the applicable market exchange rate.

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        When we use the term "conversion event," we mean the cessation of use of:

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, all payments of principal of, and any premium, or make-whole amount, and interest on, any debt security that is payable in a foreign currency that ceases to be used by its government of issuance shall be made in United States dollars.

        In the event that (1) we effect covenant defeasance with respect to any debt securities and (2) those debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amount in the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such debt securities are payable, and government obligations on deposit with the applicable trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from such event of default. However, the issuing company would remain liable to make payments of any amounts due at the time of acceleration.

        The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting such defeasance or covenant defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions described above, with respect to the debt securities of or within a particular series.

Conversion Rights

        The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into common stock or preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include whether the debt securities are convertible into shares of common stock or preferred stock, the conversion price, or manner of calculation thereof, the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the issuing company's option or the option of the holders, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of the debt securities and any restrictions on conversion.

Global Securities

        The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series. Global securities, if any, issued in the United States are expected to be deposited with The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, as depository. We may issue global securities in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. We will describe the specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series. We expect that unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, the following provisions will apply to depository arrangements.

        Once a global security is issued, the depository for such global security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by such global security to the accounts of participants that have accounts

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with such depository. Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such debt securities or by us if we offer such debt securities directly. Ownership of beneficial interests in such global security will be limited to participants with the depository or persons that may hold interests through those participants.

        We expect that, under procedures established by DTC, ownership of beneficial interests in any global security for which DTC is the depository will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee, with respect to beneficial interests of participants with the depository, and records of participants, with respect to beneficial interests of persons who hold through participants with the depository. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records of DTC or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC or any of its participants relating to beneficial ownership interests in the debt securities. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to own, pledge or transfer beneficial interest in a global security.

        So long as the depository for a global security or its nominee is the registered owner of such global security, such depository or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as described below or in the applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interest in a global security will not be entitled to have any of the individual debt securities represented by such global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture. Beneficial owners of debt securities evidenced by a global security will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instructions or approvals to the trustee under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security with respect to which DTC is the depository must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such person is not a participant with the depository, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture. We understand that, under existing industry practice, if DTC requests any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interest to give or take such action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners through such participants to give or take such actions or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

        Payments of principal of, and any premium, or make-whole amount, and interest on, individual debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be made to or at the direction of the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security under the applicable indenture. Under the terms of the applicable indenture, we and the trustee may treat the persons in whose name debt securities, including a global security, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments. Consequently, neither we nor the trustee have or will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of such amounts to beneficial owners of debt securities including principal, any premium, or make-whole amount, or interest. We believe, however, that it is currently the policy of DTC to immediately credit the accounts of relevant participants with such payments, in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the relevant global security as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of such participants. Redemption notices

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with respect to any debt securities represented by a global security will be sent to the depository or its nominee. If less than all of the debt securities of any series are to be redeemed, we expect the depository to determine the amount of the interest of each participant in such debt securities to be redeemed to be determined by lot. Neither we, the trustee, any paying agent nor the security registrar for such debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security for such debt securities or for maintaining any records with respect thereto.

        Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by the holders of a global security or the depository in identifying the beneficial owners of debt securities, and we and the trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the holder of a global security or the depository for all purposes. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

        If a depository for any debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depository and we do not appoint a successor depository within 90 days, we will issue individual debt securities in exchange for the global security representing such debt securities. In addition, we may at any time and in their sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities, determine not to have any of such debt securities represented by one or more global securities and in such event will issue individual debt securities in exchange for the global security or securities representing such debt securities. Individual debt securities so issued will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

        The debt securities of a series may also be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more bearer global securities that will be deposited with a depository, or with a nominee for such depository, identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any such bearer global securities may be issued in temporary or permanent form. The specific terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement, with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by one or more bearer global securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

No Recourse

        There is no recourse under any obligation, covenant or agreement in the applicable indenture or with respect to any security against any of our or our successor's past, present or future stockholders, employees, officers or directors.

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

        We are authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of our preferred stock were outstanding. The following summary of certain provisions of our preferred stock does not purport to be complete. You should refer to our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated by-laws, both of which are included as exhibits to this registration statement. The summary below is also qualified by provisions of applicable law.

General Terms

        Our board of directors may, without further action by our stockholders, from time to time, direct the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series and may, at the time of issuance, determine the rights, preferences and limitations of each series, including voting rights, dividend rights and redemption and liquidation preferences. Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding shares of preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of our common stock. Holders of shares of preferred stock may be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our company before any payment is made to the holders of shares of our common stock. In some circumstances, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management as discussed below. Upon the affirmative vote of our board of directors, without stockholder approval, we may issue shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the holders of shares of our common stock.

        If we offer a specific series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will describe the terms of the preferred stock in the prospectus supplement for such offering and will file a copy of the certificate establishing the terms of the preferred stock with the SEC. To the extent required, this description will include:

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        The preferred stock offered by this prospectus will, when issued not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

        The transfer agent and registrar for our preferred stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

        The following summary of certain provisions of our common stock does not purport to be complete. You should refer to our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated by-laws, both of which are included as exhibits to this registration statement. The summary below is also qualified by provisions of applicable law.

General Terms

        Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 70,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. On June 29, 2015, we had 23,514,851 shares of common stock outstanding and approximately 54 stockholders of record. Except as otherwise provided in any resolution providing for the issue of any series of preferred stock, holders of our common stock have exclusive voting rights for the election of directors and for all other purposes. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by our stockholders. Neither our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, nor our amended and restated by-laws authorize cumulative voting. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Epirus, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of the preferential amounts, if any, to which the holders of our preferred stock, if any, are entitled. Our common stock has no preemptive, conversion or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Our Board of Directors

        Our board of directors currently has eight (8) members. Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated by-laws provide that the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office, but shall in no event be less than three. Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that the board of directors shall be divided into three nearly equal classes, with each class's term expiring on a staggered basis. Vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum. Directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

        The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

NASDAQ Capital Market

        Our common stock is listed for quotation on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "EPRS."

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

        As of June 29, 2015, 92,892 shares of our common stock were issuable upon the exercise of our outstanding warrants. We may issue warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series together with other securities or separately, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Below is a description of certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. Particular terms of the warrants will be described in the warrant agreements and the prospectus supplement to the warrants.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:

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Transfer Agent and Registrar

        The transfer agent and registrar for any warrants will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

        This section outlines some of the provisions of the units and the unit agreements. This information may not be complete in all respects and is qualified entirely by reference to the unit agreement with respect to the units of any particular series. The specific terms of any series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If so described in a particular supplement, the specific terms of any series of units may differ from the general description of terms presented below.

        We may issue units comprised of shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock, warrants and other securities in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

        The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

        The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under "Description of Preferred Stock," "Description of Common Stock" and "Description of Warrants" will apply to the securities included in each unit, to the extent relevant.

Issuance in Series

        We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the units that apply generally to all series. Most of the financial and other specific terms of your series will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unit Agreements

        We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or other financial institution, as unit agent. We may add, replace or terminate unit agents from time to time. We will identify the unit agreement under which each series of units will be issued and the unit agent under that agreement in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The following provisions will generally apply to all unit agreements unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Modification Without Consent

        We and the applicable unit agent may amend any unit or unit agreement without the consent of any holder:

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        We do not need any approval to make changes that affect only units to be issued after the changes take effect. We may also make changes that do not adversely affect a particular unit in any material respect, even if they adversely affect other units in a material respect. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of the unaffected unit; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected units.

Modification With Consent

        We may not amend any particular unit or a unit agreement with respect to any particular unit unless we obtain the consent of the holder of that unit, if the amendment would:

        Any other change to a particular unit agreement and the units issued under that agreement would require the following approval:

        These provisions regarding changes with majority approval also apply to changes affecting any securities issued under a unit agreement, as the governing document.

        In each case, the required approval must be given by written consent.

Unit Agreements Will Not Be Qualified Under Trust Indenture Act

        No unit agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no unit agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of units issued under unit agreements will not have the protections of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their units.

Mergers and Similar Transactions Permitted; No Restrictive Covenants or Events of Default

        The unit agreements will not restrict our ability to merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets to, another corporation or other entity or to engage in any other transactions. If at any time we merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets substantially as an entirety to, another corporation or other entity, the successor entity will succeed to and assume our obligations under the unit agreements. We will then be relieved of any further obligation under these agreements.

        The unit agreements will not include any restrictions on our ability to put liens on our assets, including our interests in our subsidiaries, nor will they restrict our ability to sell our assets. The unit agreements also will not provide for any events of default or remedies upon the occurrence of any events of default.

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Governing Law

        The unit agreements and the units will be governed by Delaware law.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

        We will issue each unit in global—i.e., book-entry—form only. Units in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the units represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a unit will do so through participants in the depositary's system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We will describe book-entry securities, and other terms regarding the issuance and registration of the units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Each unit and all securities comprising the unit will be issued in the same form.

        If we issue any units in registered, non-global form, the following will apply to them.

        The units will be issued in the denominations stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Holders may exchange their units for units of smaller denominations or combined into fewer units of larger denominations, as long as the total amount is not changed.

        Only the depositary will be entitled to transfer or exchange a unit in global form, since it will be the sole holder of the unit.

Payments and Notices

        In making payments and giving notices with respect to our units, we will follow the procedures as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We may sell the securities in any one or more of the following methods from time to time:

        The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

        Any of the prices may represent a discount from the prevailing market prices.

        Any underwritten offering may be on a best efforts or a firm commitment basis. If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities acquired by the underwriters will be for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including without limitation negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at a varying price determined at the time of sale. The obligations, if any, of the underwriter to purchase any securities will be subject to certain conditions. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if any are purchased, other than securities covered by any over-allotment option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

        If a dealer is used in an offering of securities, we may sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of sale.

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        We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

        We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters, dealers or agents.

        We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our stockholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to stockholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.

        In the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on the resale of securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The applicable prospectus supplement will, where applicable:

        Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, each series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than the common stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, subject to applicable notices. We may elect to apply for quotation or listing of any other class or series of our securities, on a quotation system or an exchange but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of our securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any other class or series of our securities.

        In connection with an offering, an underwriter may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in the offering. "Covered" short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters' option to purchase additional securities, if any, from us in

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the offering. If the underwriters have an over-allotment option to purchase additional securities from us, the underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option or purchasing securities in the open market. In determining the source of securities to close out the covered short position, the underwriters may consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. "Naked" short sales are any sales in excess of such option or where the underwriters do not have an over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

        Accordingly, to cover these short sales positions or to otherwise stabilize or maintain the price of the securities, the underwriters may bid for or purchase securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids. If penalty bids are imposed, selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased, whether in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The impositions of a penalty bid may also affect the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resale of the securities. The magnitude or effect of any stabilization or other transactions is uncertain. These transactions may be effected on the NASDAQ Capital Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

        We do not make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above might have on the price of the securities. In addition, we do not make any representation that underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice at any time.

        Under agreements into which we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution from us to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

        Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

        If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, securities may also be offered or sold by a "remarketing firm" in connection with a remarketing arrangement contemplated by the terms of the securities. Remarketing firms may act as principals for their own accounts or as agents. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us. It will also describe the remarketing firms' compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the remarketing of the securities.

        If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by particular institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in such prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on such future date or dates stated in such prospectus supplement. Each delayed delivery contract will be for an amount no less than, and the aggregate principal amounts of securities sold under delayed delivery contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with which such delayed delivery contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but will in all cases be subject to our approval. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the conditions that (1) the purchase of the securities shall not at the time of

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delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject, and (2) if the securities are being sold to underwriters, we shall have sold to the underwriters the total principal amount of the securities less the principal amount thereof covered by the delayed delivery contracts. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such delayed delivery contracts.

        To comply with applicable state securities laws, the securities offered by this prospectus will be sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND OF OUR SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED, AND OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

        In addition to the board of directors' ability to issue shares of preferred stock, our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated by-laws contain other provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of our company unless such takeover or change in control is approved by our board of directors. These provisions include a classified board of directors as discussed above, elimination of stockholder action by written consents, elimination of the ability of stockholders to call special meetings, advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals and supermajority vote requirements for amendments to our certificate of incorporation and by-laws.

        Classified Board.    Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides, directors serving on a classified board can only be removed by the stockholders for cause. The provision for a classified board could prevent a party who acquires control of a majority of our outstanding common stock from obtaining control of the board until our second annual stockholders meeting following the date the acquirer obtains the controlling stock interest. The classified board provision could have the effect of discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us and could increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions.

        Elimination of Stockholder Action Through Written Consent.    Our amended and restated by-laws provide that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

        Elimination of the Ability to Call Special Meetings.    Our sixth amended and restated certificate and our amended and restated by-laws provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of our stockholders can only be called pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of our board of directors or by our chief executive officer or the chairman of our board of directors. Stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting or to require our board to call a special meeting.

        Advanced Notice Procedures for Stockholder Proposals.    Our amended and restated by-laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board. Stockholders at our annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given to our secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder's intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although our amended and restated by-laws do not give our board the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, our amended and restated by-laws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of some business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or defer a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

        Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws.    Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated by-laws provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 75% of the total votes eligible to be cast in the election of directors is required to amend, alter, change or repeal some of their provisions, unless such amendment or change has been approved by either a majority of those directors who are not affiliated or associated

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with any person or entity holding 10% or more of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock. This requirement of a super-majority vote to approve amendments to the certificate and by-laws could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such amendments.

Provisions of Delaware Law Governing Business Combinations

        We are subject to the "business combination" provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, such provisions prohibit a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in any "business combination" transactions with any "interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date on which the person became an "interested stockholder," unless:

        A "business combination" is defined to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder. In general, an "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns 15% or more of a corporation's voting stock or within three years did own 15% or more of a corporation's voting stock. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts with respect to us and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

        Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, limits the liability of our directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and provides that we will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by such law. We have entered into indemnification agreements with all of our current directors and executive officers and expect to enter into a similar agreement with any new directors and executive officers.

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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information and reports we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information already incorporated by reference. We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including all filings made after the date of the filing of the registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, except as to any portion of any future report or document that is not deemed filed under such provisions, until we sell all of the securities:

        Unless otherwise noted, the SEC file number for each of the documents listed above is 000-51171.

        Upon request, we will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, a copy of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings, and any exhibits we have specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus, at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Attn: Secretary
699 Boylston Street, Eighth Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(617) 600-3497

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. We have incorporated exhibits into this registration statement. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

        You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus or those documents.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We are subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and in accordance with the Exchange Act, file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. These documents also may be accessed through the SEC's electronic data gathering, analysis and retrieval system, or EDGAR, via electronic means, including the SEC's home page on the Internet (www.sec.gov).

        We have the authority to designate and issue more than one class or series of stock having various preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption. See "Description of Preferred Stock" and "Description of Common Stock." We will furnish a full statement of the relative rights and preferences of each class or series of our stock which has been so designated and any restrictions on the ownership or transfer of our stock to any stockholder upon request and without charge. Written requests for such copies should be directed to EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Attn: Secretary, 699 Boylston Street, Eighth Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Our telephone number is (617) 600-3497. Our website is located at www.epirusbiopharma.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and, therefore, is not part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.


EXPERTS

        The consolidated financial statements of EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. appearing in EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2014, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


LEGAL MATTERS

        Certain legal matters, including the legality of the securities offered by this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., Boston, Massachusetts.

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$125,000,000

LOGO

Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Warrants
Units



PROSPECTUS



                        , 2015

   


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PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

        The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered will be borne by EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. and are set forth in the following table. All amounts except the registration fee are estimated.

Registration fee

  $ 14,525  

Legal fees and expenses

      *

Accounting fees and expenses

      *

Printing fees and expenses

      *

Transfer agent and trustee fees

      *

Miscellaneous

      *

Total

  $   *

*
Estimated expenses not presently known.

Item 15.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware 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. The registrant's sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation") provides that no director of the registrant 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 General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

        Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware 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.

        The Certificate of Incorporation and the registrant's amended and restated by-laws (the "By-Laws") provide indemnification for the registrant's directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The registrant 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 the registrant) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed

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to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the registrant's 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, the registrant's 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. The Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws provide that the registrant will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of the registrant to procure a judgment in its 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 the registrant's 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, the registrant's 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 the registrant, 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 the registrant against all expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

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

        The registrant maintains a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of the registrant arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

        In any underwriting agreement the registrant enters into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, the registrant, the registrant's directors, the registrant's officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), against certain liabilities.

        The foregoing discussion of the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws, indemnification agreements, underwriting agreement and Delaware law is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by such Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, indemnification agreements, underwriting agreement or law.

Item 16.    Exhibits.

        A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement on Form S-3 is set forth on the Exhibit Index and is incorporated herein by reference.

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Item 17.    Undertakings.

        (a)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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        (b)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, 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;

        (c)   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 the 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue; and

        (d)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)2 of the Trust Indenture Act.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 1st day of July, 2015.

    EPIRUS BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ AMIT MUNSHI

        Name:   Amit Munshi
        Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

        KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Amit Munshi, Thomas Shea and Robert Ticktin and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this Registration Statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post-effective amendments thereto 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 full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

Name
 
Title(s)
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ AMIT MUNSHI

Amit Munshi
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   July 1, 2015

/s/ THOMAS SHEA

Thomas Shea

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

July 1, 2015

/s/ MARK H.N. CORRIGAN, M.D.

Mark H.N. Corrigan, M.D.

 

Chairman of the Board and Director

 

July 1, 2015

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Name
 
Title(s)
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ J. KEVIN BUCHI

J. Kevin Buchi
  Director   July 1, 2015

/s/ GEOFFREY DUYK, M.D., PH.D.

Geoffrey Duyk, M.D., Ph.D.

 

Director

 

July 1, 2015

/s/ DAOTIAN FU, PH.D.

Daotian Fu, Ph.D.

 

Director

 

July 1, 2015

/s/ WILLIAM HUNTER, M.D.

William Hunter, M.D.

 

Director

 

July 1, 2015

/s/ JULIE MCHUGH

Julie McHugh

 

Director

 

July 1, 2015

/s/ SCOTT ROCKLAGE, PH.D.

Scott Rocklage, Ph.D.

 

Director

 

July 1, 2015

II-6


Table of Contents


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.   Description
  1.1 * Form of Underwriting Agreement
        
  2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of April 15, 2014, by and among the registrant, EB Sub, Inc. and Private Epirus (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the registrant's registration statement on Form S-4 filed on May 8, 2014) (File No. 333-195818)
        
  2.2   Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of May 7, 2014, by and between the registrant and Private Epirus (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the registrant's registration statement on Form S-4 filed on May 8, 2014) (File No. 333-195818)
        
  4.1   Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant's registration statement on Form S-1/A filed on November 4, 2005) (File No. 333-121173)
        
  4.2   Certificate of Amendment to the registrant's Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on December 21, 2009) (File No. 000-51171)
        
  4.3   Certificate of Amendment to the registrant's Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on September 9, 2010) (File No. 000-51171)
        
  4.4   Certificate of Amendment to the registrant's Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on October 2, 2013) (File No. 000-51171)
        
  4.5   Certificate of Amendment to the registrant's Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on July 15, 2014) (File No. 000-51171)
        
  4.6   Certificate of Amendment to the registrant's Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on July 15, 2014) (File No. 000-51171)
        
  4.7   Certificate of Amendment to the registrant's Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on June 9, 2015) (File No. 000-51171)
        
  4.8   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.01 to the registrant's current report on 8-K filed on July 18, 2014) (File No. 000-51171)
        
  4.9   Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities
        
  4.10   Form of Senior Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.9 hereto)
        
  4.11   Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities
        
  4.12   Form of Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.11 hereto)
        
  4.13   Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed August 11, 2014) (File No. 000-51171)
        
  4.14 * Form of Certificate of Designations
        
  4.15 * Form of Preferred Stock Certificate
        
  4.16 * Form of Warrant Agreement

Table of Contents

Exhibit No.   Description
  4.17 * Form of Warrant Certificate
        
  4.18 * Form of Unit Agreement
        
  4.19 * Form of Unit Certificate
        
  5.1   Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. as to the legality of the Securities being registered
        
  12.1 * Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
        
  23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, the registrant's independent registered public accounting firm
        
  23.2   Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
        
  24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)
        
  25.1 * Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Senior Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
        
  25.2 * Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Subordinated Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

*
To be filed, if necessary, subsequent to the effectiveness of this registration statement by an amendment to this registration statement or incorporated by reference pursuant to a current report on Form 8-K in connection with an offering of securities.