RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS INC — Major Shareholding Notification 2017

Feb 10, 2017

SC 13G 1 c87381_sc13g.htm

| UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Schedule 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (Amendment No. )* |
| --- |
| Rigel Pharmaceuticals
Inc. |
| (Name of Issuer) |
| Common
Stock |
| (Title of Class of Securities) |
| 766559603 |
| (CUSIP Number) |
| January
31, 2017 |
| (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) |

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

x	Rule 13d-1(b)
o	Rule 13d-1(c)
o	Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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CUSIP No. 766559603 13G Page 2 of 9 Pages

| 1. | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS Great Point Partners, LLC I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES
ONLY): 37-1475292 | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2. | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER
OF A GROUP | |
| | (a) | o |
| | (b) | o |
| 3. | SEC USE ONLY | |
| 4. | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA | |

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	SOLE VOTING POWER
	0
6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
	9,105,691
7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
	0
8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
	9,105,691

| 9. | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON 9,105,691 | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10. | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | o |
| 11. | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 7.47% 1 | |
| 12. | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) IA | |

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1 Based on a total of 121,907,626 shares outstanding, as reported in the Issuer’s Form 424B5 Prospectus filed with the SEC on January 31, 2017 (such number of shares inclusive of the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional shares in full as referenced therein).

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CUSIP No. 766559603 13G Page 3 of 9 Pages

1.	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D. I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)	o
	(b)	o
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	SOLE VOTING POWER
	0
6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
	9,105,691
7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
	0
8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
	9,105,691

| 9. | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | 9,105,691 | |
| 10. | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | o |
| 11. | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) | |
| | 7.47% 1 | |
| 12. | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) | |
| | IN | |

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CUSIP No. 766559603 13G Page 4 of 9 Pages

1.	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	Mr. David Kroin
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)	o
	(b)	o
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	SOLE VOTING POWER
	0
6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
	9,105,691
7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
	0
8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
	9,105,691

| 9. | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | 9,105,691 | |
| 10. | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | o |
| 11. | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) | |
| | 7.47% 1 | |
| 12. | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) | |
| | IN | |

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CUSIP No. 766559603 13G Page 5 of 9 Pages

Item 1.
(a)	Name of Issuer
	Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(b)	Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices
	1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Item 2.
(a)	Name of Person Filing
	Great Point Partners, LLC Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D. Mr. David Kroin
The Reporting Persons have entered into a Joint Filing Agreement, dated February 10, 2017, a copy of which is filed with this Schedule 13G as Exhibit A, pursuant to which the Reporting Persons have agreed to file this statement jointly in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Act.
(b)	Address of Principal Business Office, or if none, Residence
	The address of the principal business office of each of the Reporting Persons is
	165 Mason Street, 3rd Floor
	Greenwich, CT 06830
(c)	Citizenship
Great Point Partners, LLC is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D. is a citizen of the United States. Mr. David Kroin is a citizen of the United States.
(d)	Title of Class of Securities
	Common Stock
(e)	CUSIP Number
	766559603

Item 3. — (a)	o	Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o)
(b)	o	Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
(c)	o	Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15. U.S.C. 78c).
(d)	o	Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
(e)	x	An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
(f)	o	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

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CUSIP No. 766559603 13G Page 6 of 9 Pages

(g)	o	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).
(h)	o	A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).
(i)	o	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3).
(j)	o	Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

| Item 4. |
| --- |
| Biomedical Value Fund, L.P. (“BVF”) is the
record owner of 2,296,749 shares of Common Stock (the “BVF Shares”). Great Point Partners, LLC (“Great
Point”) is the investment manager of BVF, and by virtue of such status may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the
BVF Shares. Each of Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D. (“Dr. Jay”), as senior managing member of Great Point,
and Mr. David Kroin (“Mr. Kroin”), as special managing member of Great Point, has voting and investment power
with respect to the BVF Shares, and therefore may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the BVF Shares. |
| Biomedical Offshore Value Fund, Ltd. (“BOVF”)
is the record owner of 3,528,338 shares of Common Stock (the “BOVF Shares”). Great Point is the investment manager
of BOVF, and by virtue of such status may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the BOVF Shares. Each of Dr. Jay,
as senior managing member of Great Point, and Mr. Kroin, as special managing member of Great Point, has voting and investment
power with respect to the BOVF Shares, and therefore may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the BOVF Shares. |
| GEF-SMA, LP (“GEF-SMA”) is the record owner
of 2,496,466 shares of Common Stock (the “GEF-SMA Shares”). Great Point is the investment manager of
GEF-SMA, and by virtue of such status may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the GEF-SMA Shares. Each of Dr.
Jay, as senior managing member of Great Point, and Mr. Kroin, as special managing member of Great Point, has voting and investment
power with respect to the GEF-SMA Shares, and therefore may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the GEF-SMA Shares. |
| Class D Series of GEF-PS, L.P. (“GEF-PS”)
is the record owner of 784,138 shares of Common Stock (the “GEF-PS Shares”). Great Point is the investment
manager of GEF-PS and by virtue of such status may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the GEF-PS Shares. Each
of Dr. Jay, as senior managing member of Great Point, and Mr. Kroin, as special managing member of Great Point, has voting
and investment power with respect to the GEF-PS Shares, and therefore may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the GEF-PS
Shares |
| Notwithstanding the above, Great Point, Dr. Jay and Mr.
Kroin disclaim beneficial ownership of the BVF Shares, the BOVF Shares, the GEF-SMA Shares and the GEF-PS Shares described
above, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests. |
| Provide the following information regarding the aggregate
number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. |

1.	Great Point Partners, LLC
(a)	Amount beneficially owned: 9,105,691
(b)	Percent of class: 7.47% 1
(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:
	(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0

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CUSIP No. 766559603 13G Page 7 of 9 Pages

(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 9,105,691
(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0
(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 9,105,691

2.	Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D.
(a)	Amount beneficially owned: 9,105,691
(b)	Percent of class: 7.47% 1
(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 9,105,691
(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0
(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 9,105,691

3.	Mr. David Kroin
(a)	Amount beneficially owned: 9,105,691
(b)	Percent of class: 7.47% 1
(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 9,105,691
(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0
(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 9,105,691

ITEM 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof each of the Reporting Persons has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].

Item 6.	Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
	See Item 4.
Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company
	Not Applicable.
Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
	Not Applicable.

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CUSIP No. 766559603 13G Page 8 of 9 Pages

Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group
	Not Applicable.
Item 10.	Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

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CUSIP No. 766559603 13G Page 9 of 9 Pages

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: February 10, 2017

GREAT POINT PARTNERS, LLC
By:	/s/ Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D.
	Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D.,
	as senior managing member
/s/ Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D.
DR. JEFFREY R. JAY, M.D.
/s/ Mr. David Kroin
MR. DAVID KROIN

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Exhibit A

AGREEMENT REGARDING THE JOINT FILING OF SCHEDULE 13G

The undersigned hereby agree as follows:

(i) Each of them is individually eligible to use the Schedule 13G to which this Exhibit is attached, and such Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of them; and

(ii) Each of them is responsible for the timely filing of such Schedule 13G and any amendments thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning such person contained therein; but none of them is responsible for the completeness or accuracy of the information concerning the other persons making the filing, unless such person knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.

Date: February 10, 2017

GREAT POINT PARTNERS, LLC
By:	/s/ Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D.
	Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D.,
	as senior managing member
/s/ Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D.
DR. JEFFREY R. JAY, M.D.
/s/ Mr. David Kroin
MR. DAVID KROIN

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