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) July 31, 2024

CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-36279	75-3175693
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

400 Atlantic Street Suite 500 Stamford, Connecticut		06901
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 406-3700

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share	CARA	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨.

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

On July 31, 2024, Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) received a notice (the “Extension Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) informing the Company that Nasdaq granted the Company an additional 180 calendar days, or until January 27, 2025, to regain compliance with the minimum closing bid price requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Rule”). In connection with the Extension Notice, the listing of the Company’s common stock was transferred from the Nasdaq Global Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market, effective as of August 1, 2024. The Extension Notice has no other immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock.

If at any time before January 27, 2025, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock is at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, Nasdaq will provide written confirmation that the Company has achieved compliance with the Rule. If compliance with the Rule cannot be demonstrated to Nasdaq’s satisfaction by January 27, 2025, Nasdaq will provide written notification that the Company’s common stock will be delisted. At that time, the Company may appeal Nasdaq’s delisting determination to a Nasdaq Hearings Panel.

The Company intends to continue actively monitor the bid price for its common stock between now and January 27, 2025, and will consider available options to resolve the deficiency and regain compliance with the Rule. These options include, but are not limited to, effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary, to attempt to regain compliance. If the Company does not regain compliance within the additional compliance period, Nasdaq will provide notice that the Company’s common stock will be subject to delisting. The Company would then be entitled to appeal that determination to a Nasdaq hearings panel. There is no assurance, however, that the Company will regain compliance with the Rule or that the Company’s common stock will not be delisted from Nasdaq.

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.

CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

By:	/s/ RYAN MAYNARD
	Ryan Maynard
	Chief Financial Officer

Date: August 1, 2024

SEC Form 8-K filed by Cara Therapeutics Inc.