TLDR
- Atai’s stock drops 8% after unveiling new public share offering.
- Jefferies leads Atai’s latest stock sale to back mental health R&D.
- Offering aims to boost funding for Atai’s Phase 2 drug candidates.
- Atai rebounds after-hours as investors eye new financing move.
- Funds to fuel depression and anxiety therapy pipeline expansion.
Atai Life Sciences N.V. (NASDAQ: ATAI) saw a sharp 8.05% intraday stock drop on October 16, closing at $5.48.The stock regained ground in after-hours trading, climbing 0.91% to $5.53.
Atai Life Sciences N.V. (ATAI)
This movement came as the company announced a registered underwritten public offering of common shares.
The biopharmaceutical company confirmed that all shares in the offering will be issued directly by the company. It also noted that the offering is subject to market conditions, without confirming the size or closing date. Atai has granted underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares at the public price minus underwriting discounts.
Jefferies LLC Leads Share Offering Amid Market Activity
Jefferies LLC has taken the lead role in managing the offering as the primary bookrunner. Berenberg Capital Markets LLC is acting as a passive bookrunner, with Canaccord Genuity LLC and Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. supporting as co-managers. The offering follows a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC on September 29, 2025, which became effective immediately.
The securities will be sold using a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus filed as part of the registration. Atai will not sell shares in any state where the offering is not permitted by law. The final prospectus and terms will become publicly available on the SEC’s official website once filed.
Share Sale to Fuel Research and Development
Atai plans to allocate proceeds from the offering toward advancing its product pipeline clinically. Funds will also support working capital and other corporate operations to sustain ongoing development. Management aims to strengthen liquidity while keeping existing programs on schedule.
The company has three leading candidates in Phase 2 trials: BPL-003, VLS-01, and EMP-01. BPL-003, a mebufotenin-based therapy delivered intranasally, targets treatment-resistant depression. VLS-01, a DMT-based film and EMP-01, an oral MDMA compound, focus on depression and social anxiety respectively.
Atai is progressing with a discovery program to develop non-hallucinogenic therapies. These novel compounds aim to treat opioid use disorder and resistant depression. The broader strategy centers on scalable psychiatric treatments that integrate with standard clinical practice.
Company Mission and Market Position
Atai Life Sciences focuses on transforming mental health treatment through innovative drug platforms and strategic partnerships. Its therapeutic programs aim to address unmet needs in psychiatric care with novel compounds and delivery methods. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Atai holds multiple assets across Europe and the U.S.
The company recently announced a strategic combination with Beckley Psytech Limited to support development of BPL-003. Through this collaboration, it seeks to speed up delivery of effective treatment for patients with severe depression. Atai remains committed to clinical rigor while expanding its intellectual property and global footprint.
As the offering progresses, the market will monitor the pricing, allocation, and investor demand. The after-hours rebound shows some resilience following the session’s sharp drop. Continued updates from Atai are expected as regulatory filings become available.
