Document

S-3 1 a2026crescent-sx3.htm S-3 Document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2026

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Crescent Biopharma, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

300 Fifth Avenue

Waltham, MA 02451

Cayman Islands

(617) 430-5595

06-1686563

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Joshua Brumm

Chief Executive Officer

300 Fifth Avenue

Waltham, MA 02451

(617) 430-5595

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

With a copy to:


Barbara Bispham Hale Crescent Biopharma, Inc. 300 Fifth Avenue Waltham, MA 02451 (617) 430-5595			Peter N. Handrinos Wesley C. Holmes Latham & Watkins LLP 200 Clarendon Street Boston, MA 02116 (617) 948-6000

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time 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. ☒

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 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. ☐

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. ☐

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

Large accelerated filer

☐

Accelerated filer

☐

Non-accelerated filer

☒

Smaller reporting company

☒

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

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 this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement contains two prospectuses:

•a base prospectus that covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to $500 million in the aggregate of the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings; and

•a sales agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $200 million of our ordinary shares that may be issued and sold under an Open Market Sale AgreementSM, dated July 1, 2026 (the “Sales Agreement”), with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”).

The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. The specific terms of the securities to be issued and sold under the Sales Agreement are specified in the sales agreement prospectus that immediately follows the base prospectus. The $200 million of ordinary shares that may be offered, issued and sold under the sales agreement prospectus is included in the $500 million of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the Sales Agreement with Jefferies, any portion of the $200 million included in the sales agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement, and if no shares are sold under the Sales Agreement, the full $200 million of securities may be sold in other offerings by us pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, dated July 1, 2026.

PROSPECTUS

$500,000,000

Ordinary Shares

Preferred Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

We may offer and sell up to $500 million in the aggregate of the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities.

Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 6 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.

Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CBIO.” On June 30, 2026, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $18.00 per share.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is , 2026.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS									1
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS									2
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE									3
THE COMPANY									5
RISK FACTORS									6
USE OF PROCEEDS									7
DIVIDEND POLICY									8
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL									9
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES									17
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS									24
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS									25
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION									26
LEGAL MATTERS									28
EXPERTS									28

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $500 million as described in this prospectus. Each time that we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus, may involve estimates, assumptions, and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.

When we refer to “Crescent,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Crescent Biopharma, Inc. and our subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable series of securities.

We use our trademarks and service marks in this prospectus, as well as trademarks, tradenames and service marks that are the property of other organizations. Solely for convenience, trademarks and tradenames referred to in this prospectus appear without the ® and ™ symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these trademarks and tradenames.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. These statements are based on current expectations of future events.

All statements, other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, the length of time that we believe our existing cash resources will fund our operations, our market size, our potential growth opportunities, our preclinical and future clinical development activities, the efficacy and safety profile of our product candidates, the potential therapeutic benefits and economic value of our product candidates, the timing and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials, the expected impact of macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, increasing interest rates and volatile market conditions, as well as global events, including military conflicts and geopolitical tensions on our operations, and the receipt and timing of potential regulatory designations, approvals and commercialization of product candidates, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “target,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “project,” “plan,” “expect,” and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Factors that might cause such a difference are disclosed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this prospectus in the context of these risks and uncertainties. We caution you that the risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in this prospectus may not contain all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our future results and operations.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this prospectus. While we believe that such information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, such information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.

This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business and the potential markets for our product candidates, including data regarding the estimated size of such markets and the incidence of certain medical conditions. We obtained the industry, market and competitive position data set forth in this prospectus from our own internal estimates and research, as well as from academic and industry publications, research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Internal estimates are derived from publicly available information released by industry analysts and third-party sources, our internal research and our industry experience, and are based on assumptions made by us based on such data and our knowledge of the industry and market, which we believe to be reasonable. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which this data is derived. We believe that the third-party data set forth in this prospectus is reliable and based on reasonable assumptions. This information, to the extent it contains estimates or projections involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates or projections. The industry in which we operate is subject to risks and uncertainties and is subject to change based on various factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” included in this prospectus. These and other factors

could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.

All subsequent written or oral 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 do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable U.S. securities laws. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Available Information

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.

Our website address is www.crescentbiopharma.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC (except for information in these documents or filings that is deemed “furnished” and not “filed” in accordance with the SEC rules, including pursuant to Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K, or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 as an exhibit, and no such information shall be deemed specifically incorporated by reference herein or in any accompanying prospectus supplement):


			•						our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026;


			•						our Quarterly Report on Form 1 0-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2026, as amended by A mendment No. 1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on June 22, 2026;


			•						the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 21, 2026;


			•						our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 3, 2026; and


			•						the description of our securities contained in our registration statement on Form 8A12B/A, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2025, including any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description, including Exhibit 4.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026.

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Crescent Biopharma, Inc.

Attention: Corporate Secretary

300 Fifth Avenue

Waltham, MA 02451

(617) 430-5595

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

THE COMPANY

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on delivering the next wave of transformative therapies to bring a brighter future for people living with cancer. We have a bold vision to build the next leading biotechnology oncology company. We are executing across two distinct strategies to build our portfolio to achieve this vision. First, we are developing our lead product candidate, CR-001, which we refer to as a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody because it is designed to bind both the PD-1 immune checkpoint and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, which has potential to replace pembrolizumab, marketed by Merck as Keytruda®, as the foundational immuno-oncology backbone; second, we are building a robust portfolio of potentially best-in-class antibody drug conjugates (“ADCs”). Importantly, as we execute on these two strategies, we intend to combine CR-001 and ADC therapies to create what we believe will be best-in-class synergistic combinations to transform care for multiple types of cancer.

We initiated a global Phase 1/2 trial of CR-001 in February 2026, and a Phase 1/2 trial of CR-003 (also referred to as SKB105), an integrin beta-6 (“ITGB6”)-directed ADC, as a monotherapy in the first quarter of 2026 in China through our partner, Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Kelun”). In addition, we anticipate initiation of a monotherapy clinical trial of CR-002, a PD-L1-directed ADC with a topoisomerase payload, as well as the first ADC combination trial with CR-001 and a Kelun ADC in 2026.

Corporate Information

We were initially incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 2003. Our company, formerly known as GlycoMimetics, Inc., is a biotechnology company that is the result of a reverse recapitalization transaction with a private company named Crescent Biopharma, Inc. (“Pre-Merger Crescent”). Prior to the reverse recapitalization transaction, Pre-Merger Crescent was established and incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 19, 2024. Pre-Merger Crescent was founded to research and develop cancer therapy candidates.

On June 16, 2025, in connection with the reverse recapitalization transaction with Pre-Merger Crescent, we changed our jurisdiction of incorporation from the State of Delaware to the Cayman Islands pursuant to a plan of conversion.

Our principal executive offices are located at 300 Fifth Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451, and our telephone number is (617) 430-5595.

RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, including those we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment.

For more information, please see “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support our operations and finance the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our ordinary shares for the foreseeable future.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

The following is a description of certain terms and provisions of our ordinary shares. The following summary does not purport to be complete, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the Company’s memorandum and articles of association (the “Articles of Association”), the Company’s Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Shares (the “Series A Certificate of Designation”), and the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”). Copies of the Articles of Association and the Series A Certificate of Designation have been filed as exhibits to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and are incorporated by reference herein.

General

The authorized share capital of the Company under the Articles of Association is US$180,000 divided into 175,000,000 “ordinary shares,” having a par value of US$0.001 per share; and 5,000,000 “preferred shares,” having a par value of US$0.001 per share. Subject to the rights and restrictions of holders of any series of Series A Preferred Shares (as defined below) specified by the Articles of Association or the Series A Certificate of Designation, the Company may increase its authorized share capital through an ordinary resolution (the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast at a general meeting). See “Preferred Shares” below for further information.

As of June 30, 2026, there were approximately 53 holders of record of our ordinary shares. The actual number of holders of our ordinary shares is greater than this number of record holders and includes shareholders who are beneficial owners, but whose shares are held in “street name” by brokers or held by other “nominees.” The number of holders of record also does not include shareholders whose shares may be held in trust by other entities.

Ordinary Shares

Voting Rights

Each holder of ordinary shares carries the right to receive notice of, to attend and to vote one vote per ordinary share at any Company general meeting.

Structure of Board of Directors

The board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the directors already in office to such classes in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board. At each annual general meeting of shareholders, directors shall be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the particular class whose terms expire at such annual general meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, each director shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. The Class I directors’ terms expire at the 2028 annual meeting of shareholders, Class II directors’ terms expire at the 2029 annual meeting of shareholders and Class III directors’ terms expire at the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders.

Thereafter, at each succeeding annual general meeting of shareholders, directors will be elected for a full three-year term to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such meeting. Any decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board will not shorten the term of any incumbent director.

At all times when at least 30% of the originally issued Series A Preferred Shares (as defined below) remains issued and outstanding: (i) the holders of record of the Series A Preferred Shares, exclusively and voting together as a separate class on an as-converted to ordinary shares basis, shall be entitled to elect two directors (“Preferred Directors”); and (ii) the holders of the ordinary shares and of any other class or series of voting shares (including the Series A Preferred Shares), exclusively and voting together as a single class on an as-converted to ordinary shares basis, shall be entitled to elect the balance of the total number of directors of the Company. Each Preferred Director shall be entitled to three votes on each matter presented to the Board.

Preemptive Rights

Company shareholders do not have preemptive rights. Thus, if additional ordinary shares are issued, the current holders of ordinary shares own a proportionately smaller interest in a larger number of outstanding ordinary shares to the extent that they do not participate in the additional issuance.

Distributions to Shareholders

Subject to the Companies Act, the Articles of Association and any certificate of designation, and except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any shares, the directors may resolve to declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on shares in issue and authorize payment of the dividends or other distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. All dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the ordinary shares, but if and for so long as nothing is paid up on any of the ordinary shares, dividends may be declared and paid according to the par value of the ordinary shares. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares.

Other Matters

All outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and nonassessable. The ordinary shares are not subject to redemption or sinking fund provisions.

Preferred Shares

The Articles of Association provide that, whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different classes (and as otherwise determined by the Board) the rights attached to any such class may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class, only be materially adversely varied or abrogated with the consent required under the terms of any certificate of designation (if applicable) or, where there is no certificate of designation or the certificate of designation does not provide for a consent threshold, the consent in writing of the holders of simple majority of the issued ordinary or preferred shares of the relevant class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the ordinary or preferred shares of such class by a simple majority of the votes cast at such a meeting. The Board may vary the rights attaching to any class without the consent or approval of shareholders; provided that the rights may not, in the determination of the directors, be materially adversely varied or abrogated by such action.

The Articles of Association also provide that the rights conferred upon the holders of the ordinary or preferred shares of any class shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the relevant class, be deemed to be materially adversely varied or abrogated by the creation, allotment or issue of ordinary or preferred shares ranking pari passu with them, subsequent to them, with preferred rights (including enhanced voting rights) or the redemption or purchase of any of the relevant class by the Company.

The Board has designated a series of preferred shares through the Series A Certificate of Designation: Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Shares (the “Series A Preferred Shares”). Except as otherwise provided for in the Articles of Association, the Series A Certificate of Designation or at law, a holder of Series A Preferred Shares does not have voting rights. The Series A Certificate of Designation provides for certain voting rights in relation to the election of directors as discussed under “Ordinary Shares- Structure of Board of Directors”. In addition, as long as any Series A Preferred Shares are issued and outstanding, the Company does not, without the affirmative vote of the Preferred Directors, acting together, or the holders of a simple majority of the then issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares: (i) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series A Preferred Shares or alter or amend the Series A Certificate of Designation, amend the Articles of Association, or file any articles of amendment, certificate of designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights of any series of Company preferred shares, in each case if such action would adversely alter or change the preferences, rights, privileges or powers of, or restrictions provided for the benefit of the Series A Preferred Shares, regardless of whether any of the foregoing actions are by means of amendment to the Articles of Association or by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, conversion or otherwise, (ii) issue further Series A Preferred Shares or increase or decrease (other than

by conversion) the number of authorized Series A Preferred Shares, (iii) at any time while at least 30% of the originally issued Series A Preferred Shares remains issued and outstanding, consummate either: (A) any Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Series A Certificate of Designation) or (B) any merger or consolidation of the Company or other business combination in which the shareholders of the Company immediately before such transaction do not hold at least a simple majority on an as-converted-to-ordinary shares basis of the share capital of the Company immediately after such transaction, (iv) increase the authorized number of directors constituting the Board or change the number of votes entitled to be cast by any director or directors on any matter or (v) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing that does not explicitly require the approval contemplated to consummate such transaction.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Certain provisions of Cayman Islands law and the Articles of Association, which are summarized below, may have the effect of delaying, deferring, or discouraging another person from acquiring control of the Company. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to negotiate first with the Board.

Removal of Directors

Subject to the rights and restrictions of holders of any series of preferred shares to remove directors specified by the Articles of Association or any certificate of designation, any individual director or the Board may only be removed with cause by a special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at a general meeting.

At all times when at least 30% of the originally issued Series A Preferred Shares remains issued and outstanding, any Preferred Director may be removed without cause only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a simple majority of the Series A Preferred Shares.

Vacancies on the Board of Directors

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred shares, including pursuant to any certificate of designation, any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall, unless the Board determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the shareholders as permitted in accordance with the Articles of Association and any certificate of designation, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the voting power of the directors then in office, or by unanimous written consent of all directors, or by a sole remaining director and not by the shareholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.

At all times when at least 30% of the originally issued Series A Preferred Shares remains issued and outstanding, any vacancies of a Preferred Director directorship resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes shall be filled by the affirmative vote of the holders of a simple majority of the Series A Preferred Shares.

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

A resolution in writing signed by all the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company (or being corporations by their duly authorized representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the same had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held.

Special Meetings of Shareholders

Under Cayman Islands law, there is no statutory right for shareholders to call a general meeting where the articles of association provide for the calling of meetings. Where the articles of association provide for calling of meetings, the ability to convene such a meeting is governed by the company’s articles of association.

General meetings of the Company shareholders may be called, for any purpose as is a proper matter for shareholder action under Cayman Islands law, by (i) the chairman of the Board, (ii) the chief executive officer, or (iii) the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a simple majority of the voting power of the directors present at a meeting of directors or by unanimous written consent of all directors.

The Board shall determine the date, time and place (including any electronic facility), if any, of such general meeting. Upon determination of the date, time and place (including any electronic facility), if any, of the meeting, the Board or secretary shall cause a notice of general meeting to be given to the Company shareholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the Articles of Association. No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in the notice of general meeting.

Shareholder Vote for Mergers and Other Corporate Reorganizations

Under Cayman Islands law, a company may merge with another company (wherever incorporated, provided that such merger is not prohibited by the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation of that company) pursuant to the Companies Act. A merger under Cayman Islands law requires the approval by a special resolution, which in the context of a general meeting of the Company requires (i) not less than a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by such shareholders attending and voting in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a quorate general meeting of the Company or (ii) the written resolution of all shareholders entitled to vote at such general meeting.

No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that holds issued shares that together represent 90% of the votes at a general meeting of the subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company, provided the parent company is the surviving entity and a copy of the plan of merger (including the memorandum and articles of association of the company) is given to every member of each subsidiary company to be merged unless that member agrees otherwise.

Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands exempted company may be acquired through a tender offer by a third party. Where the holders of 90% or more in value of a class of the Company’s shares (excluding any shares already beneficially owned by the offeror) have within four months of the making of an offer accepted an offer for their shares in the Company, the remaining shareholders in that class may be statutorily required to also transfer their shares by notice given at any time within two months of the expiry of the four month period, unless, within one month, the non-tendering shareholders can obtain a Cayman court order otherwise providing. If the offeror has acquired acceptances of 90% of all the Company’s shares but does not exercise its “squeeze out” right, then the non-accepting shareholders have no statutory right to require the offeror to acquire their shares on the same terms as the original offer.

A Cayman Islands exempted company may also be acquired by way of a Cayman Islands court-approved scheme of arrangement under the Companies Act. A scheme of arrangement is a compromise or arrangement which may be entered into between a company and one or more classes of shareholders. In order to become binding and effective in accordance with its terms, the scheme of arrangement requires the approval of shareholders representing 75% or more by value of the shares of each class comprised in the scheme, in each case at the relevant meeting or meetings, and an order of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands sanctioning the scheme of arrangement. A scheme of arrangement, if approved by the requisite statutory majorities and sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, is binding on all of the shareholders of each class, including any dissenting shareholders. There is currently no cross class cramdown available under Cayman Islands law. Shares held by the acquiring party are likely to be considered to belong to a separate class for the purposes of approving the scheme.

Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an annual general meeting of shareholders: (i) pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting of shareholders (with respect to business other than nominations); (ii) brought specifically by or at the direction of the Board; or (iii) by any shareholder of the Company who was a shareholder of record at the time of giving the shareholders’ notice provided for in the Articles of Association below, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in Articles of Association. Such notice must be received by the Company not later than the close of business on the ninetieth day and no earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in the case of an annual meeting nomination, and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the general meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting, in the case of a general meeting nomination.

No Cumulative Voting

The Companies Act does not provide for cumulative voting as a mechanism for electing directors and if a Cayman Islands exempted company wants to allow cumulative voting, it must explicitly set out in its articles of association. The Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting.

Amendment of Articles of Association

Subject to the Companies Act and the rights attaching to the various classes, including pursuant to any certificate of designation, the Company may at any time and from time to time by special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at a general meeting alter or amend the memorandum of association forming a part of the Articles of Association in whole or in part.

Other Shareholder Rights

Certain other provisions of Cayman Islands law and the Articles of Association summarized below also have important effects on the rights of shareholders of the Company.

Shareholder Inspection Rights

Under Cayman Islands law, shareholders generally do not have any rights to inspect or obtain copies of the register of shareholders or other corporate records of a company, though directors may from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of a Cayman Islands exempted company or any of them may be open to the inspection of shareholders not being directors.

Appraisal or Dissenter’s Rights

Generally, under Cayman Islands law, shareholders of a Cayman Islands exempted company do not have statutory appraisal rights; provided that in the event of a statutory merger under the Companies Act a shareholder shall be entitled to receive the fair value of their shares upon dissenting from such merger. Rights of a dissenting shareholder are not available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date and where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.

Exclusive Forum

The Articles of Association provide that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with the Articles of Association or otherwise related in any way to each member’s shareholding in the Company, including but not limited to: (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the

Company; (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the members; (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Act, the Articles of Association; or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Company concerning its internal affairs and that each shareholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes. This exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Although our Articles of Association contains the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could rule that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.

Business Opportunities

Cayman Islands law does not have a codified corporate opportunity doctrine and a director’s obligations in relation to business opportunities are governed by general fiduciary duties which include the duty to act in good faith and in the best interests of the company, the duty to avoid conflicts of interests and a duty to exercise independent judgement and avoid self-dealing. A Cayman Islands director may engage in business activities outside a Cayman Islands exempted company, provided that they have disclosed any personal interest in the opportunity. If the director properly declares their interest at a board meeting, Cayman Islands law generally permits the company to approve the transaction. A director may also vote on resolutions related to such a contract provided the interest has been disclosed.

Shareholders’ Derivative Actions

In most cases, under Cayman Islands law, the Company is the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to it, and a claim against (for example) the Company’s directors or officers usually may not be brought by a shareholder: in principle, a shareholder does not have a direct right of action against directors of the Company. However, based on Cayman Islands authorities and English authorities (which will be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands), there are exceptions to the foregoing principle such that a shareholder may be entitled to bring a derivative action on behalf of the Company, but only in limited circumstances, including but not limited to: the Company acts or proposes to act illegally or ultra vires; the act complained of (although not ultra vires) could be affected if duly authorized by a special resolution that has not been obtained; and those who control the Company are perpetuating a "fraud on the minority". A shareholder may have a direct right of action against the Company where the individual rights of that shareholder have been or will be infringed. Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and whilst the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions, they are less common relative to similar claims brought in Delaware pursuant to the Delaware law. In addition, Cayman Islands law does not specifically restrict a Cayman Islands exempted company from exculpating its directors or officers from liability for negligence or a breach of duty, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to limit liability against willful default, willful neglect, actual fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.

Limitation on Director and Officer Liability

The Companies Act does not restrict the authority of a Cayman exempted company to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents.

The Articles of Association provide that no Indemnified Person (as defined below) shall be liable: (a) for the acts, receipts, neglects, defaults or omissions of any other director or officer or agent of the Company; or (b) for any loss on account of defect of title to any property of the Company; or (c) on account of the insufficiency of any security in or upon which any money of the Company shall be invested; or (d) for any loss incurred through any bank, broker or other similar person; or (e) for any loss occasioned by any negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust, error of judgement or oversight on such Indemnified Person’s part; or (f) for any loss, damage or misfortune whatsoever

which may happen in or arise from the execution of discharge of the duties, powers, authorities, or discretions of such Indemnified Person’s office or in relation thereto; unless the same shall happen through such Indemnified Person’s own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Indemnification

The Articles of Association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, every director (including any alternate director appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Articles of Association), secretary, assistant secretary, or other officer (but not including the Company’s auditors) and the personal representatives of the same (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified and secured harmless out of the assets and funds of the Company against all actions or proceedings whether threatened, pending or completed, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such Indemnified Person, other than by reason of such Indemnified Person’s own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (i) in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment), (ii) in the execution or discharge of his or her duties, powers, authorities or discretions, or (iii) in respect of any actions or activities undertaken by an Indemnified Person provided for and in accordance with the provisions set out above (inclusive) including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnified Person in defending or otherwise being involved in, (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning the Company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.

Each shareholder waives any claim or right of action they might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any director or officer on account of any action taken by such director or officer, or the failure of such director or officer to take any action in the performance of his or her duties with or for the Company; provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect which may attach to such director or officer.

The Company will pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Indemnified Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under the Articles of Association or otherwise.

The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any Indemnified Person as set out above are not exclusive of any other rights that any Indemnified Person may have or hereafter acquire pursuant to an agreement with the Company or otherwise.

Enforcement of Civil Liabilities

The Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States and may provide less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the Federal courts of the United States.

There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce against us, our directors and/or executive officers in the United States judgments obtained in the United States courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States. The courts of the Cayman Islands may be unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature.

In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States (and the Cayman Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments with the United States), the courts of the Cayman Islands may, by an action commenced on the judgment obtained in the United States in the courts of the Cayman islands, recognize and enforce, without

retrial of the merits at common law, a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, the court must have had proper jurisdiction over the parties subject to such judgment as a matter of Cayman Islands conflict of law rules, and such judgment must be: final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of multiple damages, taxes or a fine or penalty, or other charges of a like natures, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy), no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is submitted prior to the rendering of the judgment by the courts of the Cayman Islands; and there is due compliance with the correct procedures under the laws of the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company N.A. serves as the transfer agent and registrar for the Company’s ordinary shares.

Listing

The Company’s ordinary shares are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CBIO.” The CUSIP assigned to the Company’s ordinary shares is G2545C104.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the supplement to what extent the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.

We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.

The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee named in the prospectus supplement. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the indenture.

As used in this section only, “Crescent,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Crescent Biopharma, Inc., excluding our subsidiaries, unless expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

General

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture (as applicable). The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).

We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:

•the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions);

•the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;

•any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

•the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable;

•the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

•the place or places where principal of, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the debt securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered;

•the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities;

•any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities of a particular series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

•the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;

•the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

•whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;

•the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

•the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be U.S. dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

•the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, and premium and interest on, the debt securities will be made;

•if payments of principal of, or premium or interest on, the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

•the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

•any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;

•any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

•any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

•any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

•the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of such series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange;

•any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the securities; and

•whether any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities of that series, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees.

We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Transfer and Exchange

Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC” or the “Depositary”) or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt

security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.

Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.

Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary.

Covenants

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.

No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:

•we are the surviving entity or the successor person (if other than Crescent) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and

•immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us.

Events of Default

“Event of Default” means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:

•default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period);

•default in the payment of principal of any debt security of that series at its maturity;

•default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture or any debt security (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or Crescent and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture;

•certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Crescent; or

•any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.

We will provide the trustee written notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action we are taking or propose to take in respect thereof.

If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

The indenture provides that the trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture, unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:

•that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; and

•the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days.

Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, and premium and any interest on, that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.

The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each holder of the securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a responsible officer of the trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may modify, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:

•to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

•to comply with covenants in the indenture described above under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets;”

•to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities;

•to add guarantees with respect to debt securities of any series or secure debt securities of any series;

•to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture;

•to add covenants or Events of Default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series;

•to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary;

•to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities;

•to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture;

•to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or

•to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:

•reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

•reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security;

•reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities;

•reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity;

•waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium or interest on, any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

•make the principal of, or premium or interest on, any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security;

•make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, and premium and interest on, those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or

•waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security.

Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or any interest on, any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.

Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances

Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.

This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:

•we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and

•any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series (“covenant defeasance”).

The conditions include:

•depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in

respect of, the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and

•delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees or Securityholders

None of our past, present or future directors, officers, employees or securityholders, as such, will have any liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities or the indenture or for any claim based on, or in respect or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a debt security, each holder waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for the issue of the debt securities. However, this waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the debt securities, will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

The indenture will provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to the indenture, the debt securities or the transactions contemplated thereby.

The indenture will provide that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon the indenture or the transactions contemplated thereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York, and we, the trustee and the holder of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The indenture will further provide that service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in the indenture will be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The indenture will further provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the courts specified above and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our ordinary shares or preferred shares or of debt securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the investors or a warrant agent. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.

The particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the issue. Those terms may include:

•the number of ordinary shares or preferred shares purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase such shares and the price at which such number of shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

•the designation, stated value and terms (including, without limitation, liquidation, dividend, conversion and voting rights) of the series of preferred shares purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase preferred shares;

•the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities or other property;

•the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, preferred shares or ordinary shares will be separately transferable;

•the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

•the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

•U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to the warrants; and

•any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise and settlement of the warrants.

Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled to:

•vote, consent or receive dividends;

•receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or

•exercise any rights as shareholders of Crescent.

Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the number preferred shares or ordinary shares at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new warrant certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Until any warrants to purchase ordinary shares or preferred shares are exercised, the holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying ordinary shares or preferred shares, including any rights to receive dividends or payments upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up on the ordinary shares or preferred shares, if any.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

•the title of the series of units;

•identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

•the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

•the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

•a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

•any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods or through underwriters or dealers, through agents and/or directly to one or more purchasers. The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions:

•at a fixed price or 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.

Each time that we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us, if applicable.

Offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus may be solicited directly. Agents may also be designated to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities will be identified in a prospectus supplement.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold 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 resale.

If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

Any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimburse those persons for certain expenses.

Any ordinary shares will be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. 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. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain matters with respect to U.S. federal and New York State law will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP. Walkers (Cayman) LLP will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to the Ordinary Shares and matters of Cayman Islands law. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

Subject to Completion, Dated July 1, 2026.

PROSPECTUS

Up to $200,000,000

Ordinary Shares

We have entered into an Open Market Sale AgreementSM (the “Sales Agreement”), with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), dated July 1, 2026, relating to the offer and sale of our ordinary shares, par value US$0.001 per share, offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, under this prospectus, we may offer and sell our ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $200 million from time to time through Jefferies, acting as our sales agent.

Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CBIO”. On June 30, 2026, the closing price of our ordinary shares was $18.00 per share.

Sales of our ordinary shares, if any, under this prospectus will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Jefferies is not required to sell any specific amount but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Jefferies and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

The compensation to Jefferies for sales of our ordinary shares sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any ordinary shares sold under the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of the ordinary shares on our behalf, Jefferies will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Jefferies will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Jefferies with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 14 regarding the compensation to be paid to Jefferies.

Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, please read the information under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Jefferies

The date of this prospectus is , 2026.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS									1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE									2
PROSPECT US SUMMAR Y									4
THE COMPANY									4
THE OFFERING									5
RISK FACTORS									7
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS									9
USE OF PROCEEDS									11
DILUTION									12
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION									14
LEGAL MATTERS									16
EXPERTS									16

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed on Form S-3 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell an unspecified amount of securities from time to time. Under this prospectus, we may offer and sell our ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $200 million from time to time, through Jefferies acting as our agent, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. The $200 million of our ordinary shares that may be sold under this prospectus are included in the $500 million of our securities that may be sold under the registration statement.

This prospectus relates to the offering of our ordinary shares. Before buying any of the ordinary shares that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.” These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

This prospectus describes the specific details regarding this offering and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date-for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus-the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

We have not, and Jefferies has not, authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and Jefferies take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not, and Jefferies is not, making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy our securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein and in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Available Information

Our website address is www.crescentbiopharma.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Contracts and agreements are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.

Incorporation by Reference

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC (except for information in these documents or filings that is deemed “furnished” and not “filed” in accordance with the SEC rules, including pursuant to Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K, or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 as an exhibit, and no such information shall be deemed specifically incorporated by reference herein or in any accompanying prospectus supplement):


			•						our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026;


			•						our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2026, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on June 22, 2026;


			•						the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 21, 2026;


			•						our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 3, 2026; and


			•						the description of our securities contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A12B/A, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2025, including any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description, including Exhibit 4.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026.

the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents) by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Crescent Biopharma, Inc.

Attention: Corporate Secretary

300 Fifth Avenue

Waltham, MA 02451

(617) 430-5595

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our ordinary shares discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus, along with our financial statements and notes to those financial statements and the other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

THE COMPANY

Overview

Corporate Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 300 Fifth Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451, and our telephone number is (617) 430-5595.

THE OFFERING


Ordinary shares offered by us			Ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $200 million.
Ordinary shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering			Up to 11,111,111 shares, assuming sales of 11,111,111 shares of our ordinary shares in this offering at an assumed offering price of $18.00 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 30, 2026. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on how many of our ordinary shares we choose to sell and the prices at which such sales occur.
Plan of Distribution			“At the market offering” that may be made from time to time through our sales agent, Jefferies. See the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” on page 14 of this prospectus.
Use of Proceeds			We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, including research and development and working capital. See the section entitled “Use of Proceeds” on page 11 of this prospectus.
Risk Factors			See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus and the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus for a discussion of certain factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our ordinary shares.
Nasdaq Capital Market Symbol			“CBIO”

Our ordinary shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 27,571,935 ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2026. The number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2026 excludes:

•2,890,000 ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of our Series A non-voting convertible preferred shares outstanding as of March 31, 2026;

•2,898,556 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of our pre-funded warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2026, with an exercise price of $0.001 per share (including the 131,434 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement for a private placement, dated December 4, 2025 (the “Private Placement Pre-Funded Warrants”) and 1,636,706 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants issued to Fairmount Funds Management LLC (the “Fairmount Pre-Funded Warrants”));

•437,297 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2026, including 402,731 warrants issued on December 31, 2025 with an exercise price of $11.86 and 34,566 warrants issued on January 31, 2026 with an exercise price of $13.50, under the ADC Discovery and Option Agreement (as amended and restated on April 28, 2025, the “ADC Paragon Option Agreement”) with Parascent Holding LLC;

•1,885,194 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2025 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2025 Plan”), at a weighted-average exercise price of $13.18 per share;

•278,332 ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted share units outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2025 Plan;

•3,683,519 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2024 Plan”), at a weighted-average exercise price of $7.90 per share;

•328,789 ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted share units outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2024 Plan;

•732,776 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2025 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan (the “2025 Inducement Plan”), at a weighted-average exercise price of $12.39 per share;

•1,831,145 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Plan as of March 31, 2026, as well as any automatic increase in the number of ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under our 2025 Plan;

•517,224 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Inducement Plan as of March 31, 2026; and

•528,950 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under our 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) as of March 31, 2026, as well as any automatic increase in the number of ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the ESPP.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors described below and the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, including those we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

Risks Relating to this Offering

If you purchase our ordinary shares sold in this offering, you may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of your shares. In addition, we may issue additional equity or convertible debt securities in the future, which may result in additional dilution to investors.

The price per share of our ordinary shares being offered may be higher than the net tangible book value per share of our outstanding ordinary shares prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 11,111,111 of our ordinary shares are sold at a price of $18.00 per share, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 30, 2026, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $200 million and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, new investors in this offering would incur immediate dilution of $8.25 per share. For a more detailed discussion of the foregoing, see the section entitled “Dilution” below. To the extent outstanding share options convertible preferred shares or warrants are exercised, or outstanding restricted share units vest, there will be further dilution to new investors. In addition, to the extent we raise additional capital in the future and we issue additional ordinary shares or securities convertible or exchangeable for our ordinary shares, our then existing shareholders may experience dilution and the new securities may have rights senior to those of our ordinary shares offered in this offering.

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management might not apply our net proceeds in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including research and development and working capital. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our shareholders. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance shareholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our share price to decline.

The actual number of shares we will issue under the Sales Agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.

Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver instructions to Jefferies to sell our ordinary shares at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of shares that are sold through Jefferies after our instruction will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our ordinary shares during the sales period, the limits we set with Jefferies in any instruction to sell shares, and the demand for our ordinary shares during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during this offering, it is not currently possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.

The ordinary shares offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings,” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

Sales of a significant number of our ordinary shares in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our ordinary shares.

Sales of a substantial number of our ordinary shares in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our ordinary shares and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. In addition, certain entities beneficially own a significant percentage of our Company. As of December 8, 2025, entities affiliated with Fairmount Funds Management LLC beneficially own 5,643,482 of our ordinary shares, or approximately 18.52% of our ordinary shares, assuming the exercise of all pre-funded warrants held by such entities, and the conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Convertible Preferred Shares held by such entities into ordinary shares, without giving effect to contractual limitations contained in such securities that restrict the holder (together with its affiliates) from beneficially owning in excess of a specified percentage of our ordinary shares, and without giving effect to the exercise or conversion of any security or conversion of any securities exercisable or convertible into ordinary shares owned by other shareholders. It is possible that we could issue and sell additional ordinary shares in the public markets. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our ordinary shares, or the perception that such sales might occur, would have on the market price of our ordinary shares. Ordinary shares that are subject to our outstanding options or warrants will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting agreements and Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. These statements are based on current expectations of future events.

All statements, other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, the length of time that we believe our existing cash resources will fund our operations, the use of proceeds from this offering, our market size, our competition, our potential growth opportunities, our preclinical and future clinical development activities, the efficacy and safety profile of our product candidates, the potential therapeutic benefits and economic value of our product candidates, the timing and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials, the expected impact of macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, increasing interest rates and volatile market conditions, as well as global events, including military conflicts and geopolitical tensions on our operations, and the receipt and timing of potential regulatory designations, approvals and commercialization of product candidates, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “target,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “project,” “plan,” “expect,” and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Factors that might cause such a difference are disclosed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this prospectus in the context of these risks and uncertainties. We caution you that the risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in this prospectus may not contain all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our future results and operations.

and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We may issue and sell our ordinary shares having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $200 million from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time.

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, including research and development and working capital.

The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds. Pending the uses described above, we plan to invest the net proceeds from this offering in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.

DILUTION

If you invest in our ordinary shares, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the price per share you pay in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our ordinary shares immediately after this offering. As of March 31, 2026, we had a historical net tangible book value of $183.8 million, or $6.67 per ordinary share, based on 27,571,935 ordinary shares outstanding. Our net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets reduced by the amount of our total liabilities, divided by the total number of ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2026.

After giving effect to the sale of our ordinary shares in the aggregate amount of $200 million at an assumed offering price of $18.00 per share, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 30, 2026, and after deducting offering commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2026 would have been approximately $377.3 million, or $9.75 per ordinary share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $3.08 per share to our existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $8.25 per share to new investors in this offering at the assumed public offering price.

The following table illustrates this calculation on a per share basis. The as adjusted information is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual price to the public, the actual number of shares sold and other terms of the offering determined at the time our ordinary shares are sold pursuant to this prospectus. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices.



Assumed public offering price per share			$	18.00
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2026	$	6.67
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to the offering	$	3.08

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the offering			$	9.75

Dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering			$	8.25

•2,890,000 ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of our Series A non-voting convertible preferred shares outstanding as of March 31, 2026;

•2,898,556 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of our pre-funded warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2026, with an exercise price of $0.001 per share (including the 131,434 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Pre-Funded Warrants and 1,636,706 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Fairmount Pre-Funded Warrants);

•437,297 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2026, including 402,731 warrants issued on December 31, 2025 with an exercise price of $11.86 and 34,566 warrants issued on January 31, 2026 with an exercise price of $13.50, under the ADC Paragon Option Agreement with Parascent Holding LLC;

•1,885,194 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2025 Plan, at a weighted-average exercise price of $13.18 per share;

•278,332 ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted share units outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2025 Plan;

•3,683,519 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2024 Plan, at a weighted-average exercise price of $7.90 per share;

•328,789 ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted share units outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2024 Plan;

•732,776 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2026 under our 2025 Inducement Plan, at a weighted-average exercise price of $12.39 per share;

•517,224 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Inducement Plan as of March 31, 2026; and

•528,950 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under our ESPP as of March 31, 2026, as well as any automatic increase in the number of ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the ESPP.

The foregoing table does not give effect to the exercise of any outstanding options or warrants, the vesting of any restricted share units or the conversion of any preferred shares. To the extent options or warrants are exercised, restricted share units vest or preferred shares are converted, or we issue ordinary shares in connection with raising additional capital, there may be further dilution to new investors.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We have entered into a Sales Agreement with Jefferies, under which we may offer and sell our ordinary shares from time to time through Jefferies acting as agent. Pursuant to this prospectus, we may offer and sell up to $200,000,000 of our ordinary shares. Sales of our ordinary shares, if any, under this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus will be made by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act.

Each time we wish to issue and sell ordinary shares under the Sales Agreement, we will notify Jefferies of the number of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of shares to be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Once we have so instructed Jefferies, unless Jefferies declines to accept the terms of such notice, Jefferies has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of Jefferies under the Sales Agreement to sell our ordinary shares are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet.

The settlement of sales of shares between us and Jefferies is generally anticipated to occur on the first trading day following the date on which the sale was made. Sales of our ordinary shares as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Jefferies may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

We will pay Jefferies a commission of 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds we receive from each sale of our ordinary shares. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse Jefferies for the fees and disbursements of its counsel, payable upon execution of the Sales Agreement, in an amount not to exceed $100,000, in addition to certain ongoing disbursements of its legal counsel, unless we and Jefferies otherwise agree. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding any commissions or expense reimbursement payable to Jefferies under the terms of the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $554,550. The remaining sale proceeds, after deducting any other transaction fees, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such shares.

Jefferies will provide written confirmation to us before the open on The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day following each day on which ordinary shares are sold under the Sales Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on that day, the aggregate gross proceeds of such sales and the proceeds to us.

In connection with the sale of the ordinary shares on our behalf, Jefferies will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of Jefferies will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify Jefferies against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments Jefferies may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.

The offering of our ordinary shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate as permitted therein.

This summary of the material provisions of the Sales Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the Sales Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Jefferies and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future

receive customary fees. In the course of its business, Jefferies may actively trade our securities for its own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, Jefferies may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities.

A prospectus and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Jefferies, and Jefferies may distribute the prospectus and the accompanying prospectus electronically.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the ordinary shares offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Walkers (Cayman) LLP. Certain matters with respect to U.S. federal and New York State law will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP. Jefferies LLC is being represented in connection with this offering by Cooley LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Up to $200,000,000

Ordinary Shares

PROSPECTUS

Jefferies

, 2026

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


Item 14.			Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby. Each item listed is estimated, except for the SEC registration fee and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filing fee.



SEC registration fee	$	69,050
FINRA filing fee	$	75,500
Printing expenses		(1)
Legal fees and expenses		(1)
Accounting fees and expenses		(1)
Transfer agent and trustee fees and expenses		(1)

Miscellaneous		(1)

Total	$	(1)


(1)			These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.


Item 15.			Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Under Cayman Islands law, in most cases, a Cayman Islands exempted company will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to it, and a claim against (for example) a Cayman Islands exempted company’s directors or officers usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on both Cayman Islands and English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which: a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority; the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could only be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.” In those instances, a shareholder may have a direct right of action against a Cayman Islands exempted company where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.

The Companies Act does not restrict the authority of a Cayman Islands exempted company to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, actual fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. The Articles of Association provide for indemnification for every director and officer of the Company.

Cayman Islands law does not restrict the authority of a Cayman Islands exempted company to advance expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding, but there is no statutory provision expressly requiring or governing advancement of expenses. Instead, the ability to advance expenses is typically addressed in a Cayman Islands exempted company’s articles of association. The Articles of Association provide for expense advancement provisions for indemnified persons.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers that obligate us to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate, and to advance expenses as incurred, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, from damage arising from the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries.

The Articles of Association also provide that the Company may maintain insurance to protect a director or an officer against liability. The Company has obtained insurance that covers certain liabilities of its directors and officers.

The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, our articles of association, any agreement, any vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

The Company’s indemnification obligations may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against its officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against the Company’s officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent the Company pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against its officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or control persons, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.


Item 16.			Exhibits

Exhibit

Number

Exhibit Description

Incorporated by Reference

Filed
Herewith

Form

Date

Number

1.1*

Form of Underwriting Agreement

1.2

Open Market Sale AgreementSM, dated July 1 , 2026, by and between the Company and Jefferies LLC

2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of October 28, 2024, by and among GlycoMimetics, Inc., Gemini Merger Sub Corp., Gemini Merger Sub II, LLC, and Crescent Biopharma, Inc.

8-K

10/29/2024

2.1

2.2

Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of February 14, 2025

8-K

02/14/2025

10.1

2.3

Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of April 28, 2025, by and among GlycoMimetics, Inc., Gemini Merger Sub Corp., Gemini Merger Sub II, LLC, and Crescent Biopharma, Inc.

8-K

04/29/2025

10.1

2.4

Plan of Conversion

8-K

06/18/2025

2.4

3.1

Memorandum and Articles of Association

8-K

06/18/2025

3.4

3.2

Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Shares

8-K

06/18/2025

3.6

4.1

Form of Pre-Funded Warrant

8-K

06/18/2025

4.3

4.2

Form of 2025 Pre-Funded Warrant

8-K

12/04/2025

4.1

4.3

Description of Securities

10-K

02/26/2026

4.3

4.4

Form of Warrant Agreement

10-K

02/26/2026

4.4

4.5*

Form of Preferred Shares Certificate

4.6

Form of Indenture

4.7*

Form of Debt Security

4.8*

Form of Warrant

4.9*

Form of Warrant Agreement

4.10*

Form of Unit Agreement

5.1

Opinion of Walkers (Cayman) LLP

5.2

Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP

23.1

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm

23.2

Consent of Walkers (Cayman) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

23.3

Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)

24.1

Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto)

25.1*

Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended

107

Filing Fee Table

iii


*			If applicable, to be filed by amendment or by a report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 17.			Undertakings

(a) 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 Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.

(2)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such 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.

(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.

(4)That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A)Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B)Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement

that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5)That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i)Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii)Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii)The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv)Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(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 Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) 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.

(h) 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 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 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(j) 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 (the “Act”), in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 Waltham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on July 1, 2026.



CRESCENT BIOPHARMA, INC.

By:						/s/ Joshua Brumm
						Joshua Brumm
						Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Joshua Brumm and Richard Scalzo as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all further amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement (and any additional registration statement related hereto permitted by Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (and all further amendments, including 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 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 of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ Joshua Brumm

Director and Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

July 1, 2026

Joshua Brumm

/s/ Richard Scalzo

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

July 1, 2026

Richard Scalzo

/s/ Ryan Lynch

Treasurer, Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer

(principal accounting officer)

July 1, 2026

Ryan Lynch

/s/ Peter Harwin

Chair and Director

July 1, 2026

Peter Harwin

/s/ Alexandra Balcom

Director

July 1, 2026

Alexandra Balcom

/s/ David Lubner

Director

July 1, 2026

David Lubner

/s/ Susan Moran

Director

July 1, 2026

Susan Moran, M.D., MSCE

/s/ Jonathan Violin

Director

July 1, 2026

Jonathan Violin, Ph.D.

vii