Genocea Biosciences, Inc.("Genocea") is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops vaccines and immunotherapies. During the Class Period, the Company's lead product candidate was GEN-003, a genital herpes immunotherapy product.
According to the law firm press release, the action, which is filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. §§78j(b) and 78t(a), and SEC Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, 17 C.F.R. §240.10b-5, on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Genocea securities between May 5, 2017 and September 25, 2017, inclusive (the "Class Period").
The Complaint alleges that Defendants violated provisions of the Exchange Act by issuing false and misleading statements to investors, including in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company's finances were insufficient to support Phase 3 trials of GEN-003; (ii) accordingly, Genocea had overstated the prospects for GEN-003; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Genocea's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
On September 25, 2017, after the market closed, Genocea disclosed that it was halting spending and activities on GEN-003 and exploring strategic alternatives for the drug. The Company also announced that it was cutting 40% of its workforce.
On this news, the Company's share price fell $4.08, or 76.5%, to close at $1.25 on September 26, 2017.
On January 31, 2018, the Court issued an Order consolidating Cases. On February 12, the Court issued an Order appointing Lead Plaintiffs and Counsel.
Lead Plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended Complaint on March 29, 2018. Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the amended Complaint on May 14. On December 6, the Court issued an Order granting Defendants' Motion to Dismiss. Lead Plaintiffs filed a Notice appealing the District Court's dismissal Order and Final Judgment on January 7, 2019. On May 23, the Court of Appeals ordered that the appeal be voluntarily dismissed.
