Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
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Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration No. 333-139664

Prospectus

$100,000,000

LOGO

Common Stock

We may offer and sell from time to time shares of our common stock in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on the terms that we will determine at the time of offering, with an aggregate initial offering price of up to $100,000,000. Upon the commencement of any offering of common stock, we will provide specific terms of the offering in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest in any securities. This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will sell these securities directly to our stockholders or to purchasers or through agents on our behalf or through underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of these securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will provide the names of the agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts.

Our common stock trades on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the trading symbol “DVAX.” On September 16, 2009, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $2.12 per share. As of September 16, 2009, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $82,506,806 based on 39,993,170 shares of outstanding common stock, of which approximately 38,917,965 shares were held by non-affiliates, and a per share price of $2.12 based on the closing sale price of our common stock on September 16, 2009. We recommend that you obtain current market quotations for our common stock prior to making an investment decision.

Investing in our securities involve a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus and the risk factors contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which have been incorporated herein by reference.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is September 17, 2009.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

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RISK FACTORS

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INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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USE OF PROCEEDS

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

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LEGAL MATTERS

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EXPERTS

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DYNAVAX AND THIS OFFERING

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This prospectus includes or incorporates by reference summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein or in documents incorporated herein by reference. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents, some of which have been filed or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information About Dynavax and This Offering.”

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that included in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not included in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representation. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. You should assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell common stock in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $100 million. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus, together with applicable prospectus supplements, includes all material information relating to this offering. Please carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information About Dynavax and This Offering.” THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

Overview

Dynavax Technologies Corporation (“Dynavax” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers and develops novel products to prevent and treat infectious diseases. The Company’s lead product candidate is HEPLISAVTM , a Phase 3 investigational adult hepatitis B vaccine designed to provide more rapid and increased protection with fewer doses than current licensed vaccines.

Our pipeline of product candidates includes: HEPLISAV, a Phase 3 hepatitis B vaccine; clinical-stage programs for hepatitis C and hepatitis B therapies; and preclinical programs including those partnered with AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”) and our Universal Flu vaccine.

 

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the specific risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and relating to our business set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before making an investment decision.

INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements about our business strategy, our future research and development, our preclinical and clinical product development efforts, the timing of the introduction of our products, the effect of GAAP accounting pronouncements, uncertainty regarding our future operating results and our profitability, anticipated sources of funds and all plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. These statements appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “future,” “intend,” or “certain” or the negative of these terms or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy.

Our actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements because of the risk factors and other factors disclosed in this prospectus and documents incorporated by reference. The risk factors may not be all of the factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made or incorporated in this prospectus relate only to circumstances as of the date on which the statements are made. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including clinical trials, research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, and potential acquisitions of companies, products and technologies that complement our business. We will set forth in the prospectus supplement our intended use for the net proceeds received from any offering of securities. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we intend to temporarily invest the net proceeds generally in short-term interest-bearing instruments.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades, at-the-market offerings, or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities (1) through underwriters or dealers, (2) through agents and/or (3) directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute the securities 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 prices negotiated with the purchasers of the securities.

We may solicit directly offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus. We may also designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. We will name in a prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities.

 

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If we utilize a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will sell the securities 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 we utilize an underwriter in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will execute an agreement with the underwriter at the time of sale and we will provide the name of any underwriter 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 the underwriter may compensate those dealers in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.

We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement any compensation we pay 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. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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. In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the maximum discount or commission to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the shares offered thereby. 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.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us. These purchases will be subject to the terms and conditions of any agreements we enter into with the underwriters, dealers or agents retained by us or directly with purchasers, which will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the offering, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these purchases.

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 involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we 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 any over-allotment option we grant to them. 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.

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

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon by Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, Palo Alto, California.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the

 

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effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DYNAVAX AND THIS OFFERING

We are a reporting company and we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act to register the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. However, this prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. You may read and copy the registration statement, as well as our reports, proxy statements and other information, at the SEC’s public reference rooms at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents by contacting the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the operation of the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, you can read and copy our SEC filings at the office of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus modifies or supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC also will automatically update and supersede this information.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any documents that we file in the future with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of this prospectus and before the completion of the offering:

1. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2009;

2. Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2009, and for the period ended June 30, 2009, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2009;

3. Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009, February 9, 2009, March 2, 2009, March 13, 2009, April 28, 2009, April 30, 2009, June 3, 2009, June 5, 2009, June 10, 2009, August 5, 2009, August 7, 2009, August 12, 2009, August 17, 2009, August 20, 2009 and September 11, 2009;

4. Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009; and

5. The description of our common stock set forth in Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-109965) filed with the SEC on February 5, 2004.

We are not incorporating by reference any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 (or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 as an exhibit) in any past or future Current Report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, unless otherwise specified in such report.

We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct any requests for documents to

Jennifer Lew

Vice President, Finance

Dynavax Technologies Corporation

2929 Seventh Street, Suite 100

Berkeley, CA 94710-2753

(510) 848-5100

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

 

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