UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 19, 2012
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| Delaware | 001-33038 | 84-1475672 | ||
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 1180 Avenue of the Americas 20th Floor New York, NY |
10036 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(646) 214-0700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425). |
| o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12). |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)). |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)). |
| Item 8.01 | Other Events |
On October 19, 2012, ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. issued a press release regarding a blog entry posted by Richard Pearson, Contributor, on Forbes.com.
A copy of the above-referenced press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. | ||
| (d) | Exhibits | ||
| Exhibit No. | Description | ||
| 99.1 | Press release dated October 19, 2012 | ||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Jason A. Amello | |
| Date: October 19, 2012 | Name: Jason A. Amello | |
| Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 99.1 | Press release dated October 19, 2012 |
Exhibit 99.1
ZIOPHARM Issues Statement Regarding Misleading Blog Post
NEW YORK, NY – October 19, 2012 – ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIOP) today issued the following statement regarding a blog entry posted by Richard Pearson, Contributor, on Forbes.com:
“The statements made in Mr. Pearson’s blog entry are misleading and wrong and, given his disclosed investment position, we call into question the entire credibility of this piece. The Form 483 was issued directly to the independent investigator, not to ZIOPHARM, and had nothing to do with any outcome measures of the Phase 2 PICASSO study. All regulatory matters raised in Mr. Pearson’s blog entry were resolved by the investigator in full in 2010, and had no impact on the Company’s transition from Phase 2 to Phase 3. Further, the Company has no issues with drug stability. We stand by the clinical data generated at this investigator’s site. Consistent with best practices, all data from ZIOPHARM’s Phase 2 PICASSO study at this site were reviewed by an independent, former FDA good clinical practice (GCP) auditor, and the auditor concluded that the study site’s violations had no impact on the PICASSO study or the quality of data.”
About ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.:
ZIOPHARM Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new cancer therapies. ZIOPHARM's operations are located in Boston, MA, and New York City. Further information about ZIOPHARM may be found at www.ziopharm.com.
Contact:
For ZIOPHARM
Nicole Jones
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
617-778-2266
njones@ziopharm.com
Media Contacts:
David Schull or Lena Evans
Russo Partners, LLC
858-717-2310
212-845-4262
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
lena.evans@russopartnersllc.com