As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 9, 1996
Registration No. 333-
                                
                                
                                
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

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

CYPROS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

California 2714 Loker Avenue West 33-0476164 (State or other Carlsbad, California (I.R.S. Employer jurisdiction of 92008 Identification incorporation (619) 929-9500 Number) organization)
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices) David W. Nassif Vice President and Chief Financial Officer CYPROS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION 2714 Loker Avenue West Carlsbad, California 92008 (619) 929-9500 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) Copy to: M. Wainwright Fishburn, Esq. COOLEY GODWARD LLP 4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100 San Diego, CA 92121 (619)550-6000 Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement. If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ] 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, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [ X ] 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.[ ] 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.[ ] If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE Title of each Amount to Proposed Proposed Amount of class of be registered maximum maximum registration securities to (1) offering aggregate fee be registered price offering per price (1) share (1) Common Stock, no 750,000 shares $3.78 $2,835,000 $859.09 par value
(1) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ National Market System on December 3, 1996. 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 that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED December 9, 1996 P R O S P E C T U S 750,000 Shares Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation Common Stock This Prospectus relates to 750,000 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, no par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation (the "Company"). The Shares may be offered by shareholders of the Company (the "Selling Shareholders") from time to time, as market conditions permit on the NASDAQ National Market System, or otherwise, through ordinary brokerage transactions, in negotiated transactions, at fixed prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The Selling Shareholders may effect such transactions by selling the Shares to or through broker- dealers, and all such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Shareholders and/or the purchasers of the Shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker- dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). See "Selling Shareholders" and "Plan of Distribution." None of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares by the Selling Shareholders will be received by the Company. The Company has agreed to bear certain expenses (other than fees and expenses, if any, of counsel or other advisors to the Selling Shareholders in connection with the registration and sale of the Shares being offered by the Selling Shareholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholders against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol "CYPR." On December 3, 1996, the last sale price for the Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ was $3.87 per share. The Common Stock offered hereby involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 3. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SE CURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this Prospectus is December , 1996 The information contained herein is subject to completion or ame ndment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS During November 1996, Dr. Bernard B. Levine resigned from the Board of Directors of Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation (the "Company") and was replaced by Mr. Robert F. Allnutt. THE COMPANY The Company was founded in California in 1990 and is engaged in the development and marketing of drug products for the hospital market. It is currently marketing three injectable products and is developing two small molecule therapeutic drugs, CPC-111 and CPC-211, for the treatment of disorders, such as stroke, traumatic head injury, congestive heart failure, cardiac surgery, sickle cell crisis, and the acute complications of angioplasty, all of which are characterized by ischemia (impaired blood flow), which interrupts the delivery of both glucose and oxygen to tissue. The Company's executive offices are located at 2714 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008, and its telephone number is (619) 929-9500. RISK FACTORS Except for the historical information contained herein, the discussion in this Prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed here. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the following risk factors as well as those discussed elsewhere in this Prospectus and any documents incorporated herein by reference. The following factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this Prospectus, or incorporated herein by reference, should be carefully considered in evaluating the Company and its business. Continuing Operating Losses The Company reported a net loss of $3,090,108 or $0.27 per share for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996 compared to a loss of $3,112,701 or $0.32 per share for the prior year. The Company expects that it will continue to incur operating losses as it increases expenditures for clinical testing, Investigational New Drug Application and New Drug Application filings and other regulatory activities, U.S. patent prosecution, and product acquisition and sales and marketing activities. To achieve profitable operations, the Company, alone or with others, must successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, introduce, acquire, market and sell additional products. There can be no assurance that the Company's product acquisition and development efforts will result in additional products, that required regulatory approvals will be obtained with respect to all or any of its products now under development or that any of these products will be commercially successful. Significant Capital Requirements; Need for Additional Financing The development and commercialization of drugs requires the commitment of significant capital expenditures. The Company believes that existing capital resources and the cash flow from its recently-acquired products will allow it to maintain its current and planned operations for at least two years. In addition to funds provided from exercises of its currently outstanding Redeemable Class B Warrants (the "Warrants"), the Company is seeking to obtain additional funds through public or private equity financings, collaborative or other arrangements with corporate partners or from other sources. There can be no assurance that such additional financing can be obtained on desirable terms or at all. If additional funds are not available, the Company may be required to curtail significantly or eliminate one or more of its research, discovery or development programs or obtain funds through arrangements which may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its products. Uncertainties Associated with Regulatory Approval A marketed drug, its manufacturer and its manufacturing facilities are subject to continual review and periodic inspections, and later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, manufacturer or facility may result in restrictions on such product or manufacturers, including a withdrawal of the product from the market. Failure to comply with the applicable regulatory requirements can, among other things, result in fines, suspensions of regulatory approvals, product recalls, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution. Further, additional government regulation may be established which could suspend or revoke regulatory approval of the Company's products. Unproven Products In addition to its three approved drugs, the Company has other products in various stages of development which are subject to the risks inherent in drug development, including unforeseen problems, delays, expenses and complications frequently encountered with the early phases of research, development and commercialization of products, the dependence on and attempts to apply new and rapidly changing technology and the competitive environment of the pharmaceutical industry. Many of these factors may be beyond the Company's control, such as unanticipated development requirements, testing, regulatory compliance and manufacturing, production, and marketing problems and expenses. The Company does not anticipate being able to complete the development of its proposed products for a number of years, if at all. All of the Company's drugs are subject to extensive regulation and those in development will require approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") and other regulatory agencies prior to commercial sales. The Company may not complete the testing and regulatory approval process for any of its products in development in the foreseeable future and, accordingly, is unable to predict whether they will be commercially successful. Further, there can be no assurance that the Company's drugs under development will attain acceptance by providers, payors or patients. Patents, Proprietary Technology and Licenses The Company's success is dependent in large measure upon its ability to obtain patent protection for its drugs, maintain confidentiality of its trade secrets and know-how and operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of third parties. The Company has licensed rights to five U.S. patents from the holders of the patents on CPC-111 and CPC-211, but each of these licenses may be terminated in the event that the Company fails to achieve certain milestones or accomplish certain other contractual obligations. Upon any such termination, all of the Company's rights would revert to the licensor. The termination of the license covering CPC-111 or CPC-211 would have a material adverse effect on the Company and would cause the Company to focus its efforts on its remaining drug development programs which are not as far advanced. There can be no assurance that the Company will maintain the licenses in effect through the successful development and commercialization of these drugs. The U.S. patent position of pharmaceutical companies involves many complex legal and technical issues and has recently been the subject of much litigation. There is no clear policy establishing the breadth of claims or the degree of protection afforded under such patents. As a result, there can be no assurance that any of the U.S. patent applications will be approved, except where claims under an application have already been examined and allowed, nor that the Company will develop additional proprietary products that are patentable. There can be no assurance that any U.S. patents issued to the Company or its licensors will provide the Company with any competitive advantages or will not be challenged by any third parties or that patents issued to others will not have an adverse effect on the ability of the Company to conduct its business. Furthermore, because patent applications in the United States are maintained in secrecy until issue, and because publication of discoveries in the scientific and patent literature often lag behind actual discoveries, the Company cannot be certain that it was the first chronologically to make the inventions covered by each of its pending patent applications or that it was the first to file patent applications for such inventions. In the event that a third party has also filed a patent application for any of its inventions, the Company may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to determine priority of the invention, which could result in substantial cost to the Company, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to the Company. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company's patents, including those of the licensors above, would be held valid by a court of law of competent jurisdiction. If patents are issued to other companies that contain competitive or conflicting claims which ultimately may be determined to be valid, there can be no assurance that the Company would be able to obtain a license to any of these U.S. patents. Under Title 35 of the United States Code, as amended by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade implementing the Uruguay Round Agreement Act of 1994 ("GATT"), patents that issue from patent applications filed prior to June 8, 1995, will have a 17- year period of enforceability as measured from the date of patent issue while those that issue from applications filed on or after June 8, 1995 will have a 20-year period of enforceability as measured from the date the patent application was filed or the first claimed priority date, whichever is earlier. Patents that issue from applications filed on or after June 8, 1995, may be extended under the term extension provisions of GATT for a period up to five years to compensate for any period of enforceability lost due to interference proceedings, government secrecy orders or appeals to the Board of Patent Appeals or the Federal Circuit. Under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, including amendments implemented under GATT (the "Patent Term Restoration Act"), the period of enforceability of a first or basic product patent or use patent covering a drug may be extended for up to five years to compensate the patent holder for the time required for FDA regulatory review of the product. This law also establishes a period of time following FDA approval of certain drug applications during which the FDA may not accept or approve applications for similar or identical drugs from other sponsors. Any extension under the Patent Term Restoration Act and any extension under GATT are cumulative. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to take advantage of such patent term extensions or marketing exclusivity provisions of these laws. While the Company cannot predict the effect that such changes will have on its business, the adoption of such changes could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to protect its proprietary information and sustain the commercial viability of its products. Furthermore, the possibility of shorter terms of patent protection, combined with the lengthy FDA review process and possibility of extensive delays in such process, could effectively further reduce the term during which a marketed product could be protected by patents. The Company also relies on trade secrets and proprietary know- how. The Company has been and will continue to be required to disclose its trade secrets and proprietary know-how not only to employees and consultants, but also to potential corporate partners, collaborators and contract manufacturers. Although the Company seeks to protect its trade secrets and proprietary know- how, in part by entering into confidentiality agreements with such persons or organizations, there can be no assurance that these agreements will not be breached, that the Company would have adequate remedies for any breach or that the Company's trade secrets will not otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. Dependence on Others for Manufacture The Company currently does not have any capability to manufacture products under current good manufacturing practices ("cGMP") as required by the FDA. It relies on third parties to manufacture and formulate Ethamolin, Glofil and Inulin and to manufacture and formulate CPC-111 and CPC-211, its two drug candidates currently in clinical trials. Although the Company believes that it will be able to contract with alternative suppliers for its products if its current suppliers are unable to supply the Company with its needs for bulk and formulated drugs, there can be no assurance that this will be the case or that the need to contract with additional suppliers will not delay the Company's ability to have its products manufactured. There can be no assurance that these manufacturers will meet either the Company's requirements for quality, quantity and timeliness or the FDA's cGMP requirements or that the Company would be able to find a substitute manufacturer for any of its products in the future. In the event that the Company is unable to obtain or retain contract manufacturers that can manufacture its products under cGMP requirements, or to obtain manufacturing on commercially acceptable terms, it may not be able to commercialize its products as planned. Potential Claims Certain members of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board ("SAB") and certain Scientific Advisors who have developed technology used for the Company's products are employees of universities, research hospitals or other institutions. The Company believes that such institutions have no claim to any of the Company's inventions, technology or products. While no claim has been asserted by any such institution, there can be no assurance that such institutions will not assert claims to any or all of such inventions, technology or products or that, if any such institution does assert such rights, the Company, if it so desires, will be able to acquire the rights thereto from such institution at a commercially practical cost or at all. Government Regulation The Company's development, manufacture and sale of drug products are subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by federal, state, local and foreign governmental authorities. In particular, products for human health are subject to substantial preclinical and clinical testing and other approval requirements by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities. The process for obtaining the required regulatory approvals from the FDA and other regulatory authorities takes many years and is very expensive. There can be no assurance that any drug developed by the Company will prove to meet all of the applicable standards to receive marketing approval. There can be no assurance that any such approvals will be granted on a timely basis, if at all. Delays in and costs of obtaining these approvals could adversely affect the Company's ability to commercialize its drugs and to generate significant sales revenues. If regulatory approval of a drug is obtained, such approval may involve restrictions and limitations on the use of the drug. Other conditions for an approval are based on the drug's manufacture and the quality control procedures in place, such as cGMP. Failure to insure compliance with cGMP requirements could result in delay or termination of clinical trials or withdrawal of an approval. Following market approval, the drug will continue to be subject to compliance with applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations. There can be no assurance that the FDA will grant approval of any of the Company's drugs in a timely manner or at all. Governmental Reforms Health care reform is an area of increasing national and international attention and a priority of many elected officials in the United States. Several proposals to modify the current health care system in the United States to improve access and control costs are currently being considered by federal and state governments. It is uncertain what legislation, if any, will be adopted or what actions governmental or private payors for health care goods and services may take in response to proposed or actual legislation in the United States. The Company cannot predict the outcome of health care reform proposals or the effect such reforms may have on its business. Clinical Trial and Product Liability Claims and Uninsured Risks The Company may be exposed to liability resulting from the conduct of its clinical trials or the commercial use of its drugs. Such liability might result from claims made directly by patients, hospitals, clinics or other consumers or by pharmaceutical companies or others manufacturing such drugs on behalf of the Company. The Company currently has clinical trial and product liability insurance, but there can be no assurance that it will be adequate to protect the Company against liability. Competition and Technological Change The products that the Company is marketing and the drugs that the Company is developing may compete for market share with alternate therapies. A number of companies are pursuing the development of novel pharmaceuticals which target the same diseases as the Company is targeting. Many of these competitors have substantially greater capital resources, research and development staffs and facilities than the Company. They may develop and introduce products and processes competitive with those of the Company. They represent significant long-term competition for the Company. For certain of the Company's drugs, an important factor in competition may be the timing of market introduction of these competitive products. This timing will be based on the effectiveness with which the Company or the competition can complete clinical trials and approval processes and supply quantities of these products to market. Competition among products approved for sale will be based on, among other things, efficacy, safety, reliability, price, marketing capability and patent position. The pharmaceutical industry has undergone rapid and significant technological changes. The Company expects that the technologies associated with its research and development will continue to develop rapidly. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to establish itself in such fields or, if established, that it will be able to maintain a competitive position. Further, there can be no assurance that the development by others of new or improved processes or products will not make the Company's products and processes, if any, less competitive or obsolete. Dependence on Key Personnel The Company's success also depends in large part on its ability to attract and retain other qualified scientific and management personnel. The Company faces competition for such persons from other companies, academic institutions, government entities and other organizations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in recruiting or retaining personnel of the requisite caliber or in adequate numbers to enable it to conduct its business as proposed. Furthermore, the Company's expected expansion into activities requiring additional expertise in manufacturing, sales and marketing will place increased demands on the Company's resources and management skills. Limited Sales and Marketing Capability The commercialization of products such as the Company's drugs is an expensive and time-consuming enterprise. The Company now has sixhas no experience in sales, marketing or distributio sales representatives for Ethamolin, Glofil and Inulin and intends to hire additional sales representatives as sales of those products increase and/or other products are acquired by the Company. To market any of its drugs directly, the Company expects to develop a marketing and sales force with technical expertise and supporting distribution capability. The Company believes that it will be able to serve the hospital market in North America do so with a 50 to 100 person sales and marketing staff. since its drugs will be sold primarily to and administered in acute care facilities rather than sold directly to physicians' offices or retail drug stores. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to establish successfully sales and distribution capabilities or be successful in gaining market acceptance for its drugs or to obtain the assistance of any other pharmaceutical company in these efforts if it should seek assistance. Reimbursement In both domestic and foreign markets, sales of the Company's products will be dependent in part on the availability of reimbursement from third party payors, such as government and private insurance plans. Third party payors are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical products and services. There can be no assurance that the Company's products will be considered cost-effective, that reimbursement will be available or, if available, that the payor's reimbursement policies will not adversely affect the Company's ability to sell its products profitably. Outstanding Warrants and Options There are currently outstanding 4,673,512 Class B Warrants. Additional shares of Common Stock are issuable as follows: (i) 1,013,913 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding options under the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan and (ii) 83,500 shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding options under the Company's 1993 Non- Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan. Holders of warrants and options are likely to exercise them when, in all likelihood, the Company could obtain additional capital on terms more favorable than those provided by the warrants and options. Further, while the warrants and options are outstanding, they may adversely affect the terms on which the Company could obtain additional capital. Potential Volatility of Stock Price There has been significant volatility in the market price of securities of biomedical companies in general. Announcements of technological innovations or new commercial products by the Company or its competitors, developments concerning proprietary rights, clinical trial results, government policy or regulation, relations with licensors or other corporate partners, general market conditions or public concern as to the safety of biomedical products and period to period fluctuations in revenues and financial results may have a significant impact on the Company's business and on the market price of the Company's securities. Dividends Not Likely The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock. For the foreseeable future it is anticipated that earnings, if any, which may be generated from the Company's operations will be used to finance the growth of the Company and that cash dividends will not be paid to holders of Common Stock. SELLING SHAREHOLDERS The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Selling Shareholders as of December 6, 1996 and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of the Shares offered hereby. The Shares are being registered to permit public secondary trading of the Shares, and the Selling Shareholders may offer the Shares for resale from time to time. See "Plan of Distribution."
Name and Address of Number of Number of Beneficial Ownership selling shareholders Shares Shares After Offering Beneficially Being Owned Prior to Offered Offering Number of Percent Shares Cameron Capital Ltd. 1,470,588(1) 700,000 770,588 5.89% 10 Cavendish Road Hamilton HM 19, Bermuda Fahnestock & Co.Inc. 50,000(2) 50,000 0 * 110 Wall Street New York, NY 10005 * Less than one percent.
(1) On July 31, 1996, Cameron Capital, Ltd. ("Cameron") purchased a mandatorily convertible note from the Company in the principal amount of $5,000,000 with a maturity of July 31, 1999 (the "Note"). The principal amount of the Note (or portions thereof in minimum amounts of $100,000) is convertible beginning January 31, 1997, and the remaining principal amount of the Note will be automatically converted (if not converted in full before then) on July 31, 1999. The conversion rate is not fixed. Rather, when converted, the principal amount being converted will convert at a discount from the 10-day average of the closing bid prices for the Company's Common Stock preceding the conversion date, ranging from 15% on January 31, 1997 to 25% on July 31, 1997 and thereafter. The Note further provides that the maximum permissible conversion price of the Note is $8.00 per share and prohibits Cameron from converting principal amounts of the Note into Common Stock if such conversion would result in Cameron owning at any one time more than 5.0% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock. In anticipation of the first date that Cameron can convert the Note, the Company is registering herein a certain amount of shares issuable upon conversion of the Note, which amount may be increased or decreased over time by means of an amendment to this registration statement. For SEC purposes, the number of shares listed above as beneficially owned by Cameron assumes conversion based on a 15% discount from a 10-day average closing bid price of $4.00 per share. Of this amount, the Company is registering 47.6% of such shares of Common Stock. However, the filing of this registration statement is not intended to reflect any obligation of Cameron to convert all or any portion of the Note on January 31, 1997. (2) Shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant issued to Fahnestock & Co. Inc. ("Fahnestock") in consideration of financial consulting advice provided to the Company from time to time relating to potential strategic alliances, licenses, mergers and acquisitions. The warrant has an exercise price of $6.26 per share and expires January 31, 2001. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Company has been advised that the Selling Shareholders may sell Shares from time to time, as market conditions permit on the NASDAQ National Market System, or otherwise, through ordinary brokerage transactions, in negotiated transactions, at fixed prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The Selling Shareholders may effect such transactions by selling the Shares to or through broker- dealers, and all such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Shareholders and/or the purchasers of the Shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker- dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). The aforementioned methods of sale may not be all-inclusive. Any broker-dealer acquiring the Shares in the over-the-counter market from the holder may sell the Shares either directly, in its normal market-making activities, through or to other brokers on a principal or agency basis or to its customers. Any such sales may be at prices then prevailing in the over-ther-counter market, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices to its customers or a combination of such methods. The Selling Shareholders and any broker-dealers that act in connection with the sale of Shares hereunder may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act; any commissions received by them and profits on any resale of the Shares as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any such commissions, as well as other expenses of the Selling Shareholders and applicable transfer taxes, are payable by such parties, as the case may be. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholders against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby have been passed upon for the Company by Cooley Godward LLP, 4365 Executive Drive, San Diego, California 92121. As of the date of this Prospectus, M. Wainwright Fishburn, Jr., a partner of Cooley Godward LLP, holds 45,625 shares of Common Stock and options to purchase 37,500 shares of Common Stock. EXPERTS The financial statements of Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation incorporated by reference in Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 1996, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon incorporated by reference therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's following Regional Offices: Chicago Regional Office, Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661; and New York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, with respect to the Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, which may be inspected without charge at, and copies thereof may be obtained at prescribed rates from, the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, the Company's Form 8-K dated November 4, 1996 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus except as superseded or modified herein. The description of the Common Stock which is contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-51682), effective November 3, 1992, as filed with the Commission under the Act, including any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, is hereby incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and shall be deemed to be a part hereof. All documents filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference herein (other than exhibits to such documents which are not specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Such requests should be directed to the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Company's principal executive offices at 2714 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008. No person is authorized in connection with any offering made hereby to give any information or to make any representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and any information or representation not contained or incorporated herein must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company or the Selling Shareholders. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus at any time nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, imply that the information herein is correct as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. The following table sets forth all expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the sale of the Common Stock being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the Nasdaq NMS listing application fee.
SEC Registration fee $ 859.09 NASDAQ NMS listing application fee 15,000.00 Legal fees and expenses 6,000.00 Accounting fees and expenses 2,000.00 Total............................................... $ 23,859.09
Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors. Under Section 317 of the California Corporations Code, the Registrant is authorized to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and other agents against liabilities they may incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Registrant's Bylaws provide that the Registrant will indemnify its directors and executive officers and may indemnify its other officers, employees and other agents to the full extent permitted by law. The Bylaws further provide that rights, conferred under such Bylaws shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights such persons may have or acquire under any statute, any provisions of the Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or any agreement, vote of the shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. In addition, the Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that to the fullest extent permitted by California law, the Company's directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care to the Company and its shareholders. This provision in the Restated Articles of Incorporation does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as an injunction or other forms of non-monetary relief would remain available under California law. Each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct for knowing violations of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit, for acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of inattention that amounts to an abdication of the director's duty to the Registrant or its shareholders and for payment of dividends, approvals of stock repurchases or redemptions or loans or guarantees that are unlawful under California law. These provisions do not affect a director's responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or the state or federal environmental laws. There is no pending material litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Registrant as to which indemnification is being sought, nor is the Registrant aware of any pending or threatened material litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director, officer, employee or other agent.
Item 16. Exhibits. Exhibit Number Description of Document 5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP. 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors. 23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP. Reference is made to Exhibit 5.1. 24.1 Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page 18.
Item 17. Undertakings. 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 provisions described in Item 15 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 Act 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post- effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not prreviously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided however, that clauses (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by these clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement; (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment 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; and (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) for purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of the registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; (2) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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; and (3) 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. 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 San Diego, County of San Diego, State of California, on the 4th day of December, 1996. CYPROS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION (Signature) Paul J. Marangos Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal executive Officer) POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Paul J. Marangos, Ph.D., and David W. Nassif, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys- in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, 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, each acting alone, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date - -------------------- Chairman of the Board, President December 4,1996 Paul J. Marangos and Chief Executive Officer (Principal executive officer) - -------------------- Vice President, Chief Financial December 4,1996 David W. Nassif Officer and Secretary (Principal financial and accounting officer) - -------------------- Director December 4,1996 Digby W. Barrios - -------------------- Director December 4,1996 Robert F. Allnut - -------------------- Director December 4,1996 Virgil D. Thompson - -------------------- Director December 4,1996 Robert A. Vukovich
INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit Sequentially numbered Number Description Pages 5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP 21 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, 24 Independent Auditors




December 6, 1996

Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation
2714 Loker Avenue West
Carlsbad, California 92008

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You  have requested our opinion with respect to certain matters  in
connection  with  the  filing by Cypros Pharmaceutical  Corporation
(the  "Company")  of  a Registration Statement  on  Form  S-3  (the
"Registration   Statement")  with  the  Securities   and   Exchange
Commission  covering the offer and sale of up to  an  aggregate  of
750,000  shares  of the Company's Common Stock, no  par  value,  by
certain  shareholders,  in connection with the  resale  of  700,000
shares  of  the  Company's  Common Stock (the  "Converted  Shares")
issuable  upon conversion of a Convertible Note due and payable  as
of  July  31, 1999 (the "Note") and 50,000 shares of the  Company's
Common  Stock  (the "Warrant Shares") issuable upon exercise  of  a
Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated as of February 2, 1996 (the
"Warrant").

In  connection with this opinion, we have examined the Registration
Statement  and  related  Prospectus,  your  Restated  Articles   of
Incorporation,  as amended, your Bylaws, as amended,  the  Warrant,
the   Note,   and  such  other  documents,  records,  certificates,
memoranda and other instruments as we deem necessary as a basis for
this opinion.  We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity  of
all  documents  submitted  to us as originals,  the  conformity  to
originals  of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof,  and
the due execution and delivery of all documents where due execution
and delivery are a prerequisite to the effectiveness thereof.

On  the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are  of
the  opinion  that the Converted Shares, when sold  and  issued  in
accordance  with the Note, and that the Warrant Shares,  when  sold
and  issued in accordance with the Warrant, will be validly issued,
fully paid, and nonassessable.








Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation
December 6, 1996
Page Two



We  consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement
and  to  the  filing  of  this  opinion  as  an  exhibit  to  the
Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

COOLEY GODWARD LLP
(Signature)
M. Wainwright Fishburn, Jr.













CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and
related Prospectus of Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation for
the registration of shares of its common stock and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated
August 26, 1996, with respect to the financial statements of
Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation included in its Annual
Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended July 31, 1996, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



ERNST & YOUNG LLP



San Diego, California
December 4, 1996