SEC v. Applied BioSciences Corp., No. LR-24819, Southern District of New York (May 14, 2020) — Press Release
raw: Applied BioSciences Corp.
Applied BioSciences Corp., No. LR-24819 (S.D.N.Y. May 14, 2020)
Applied BioSciences Corp. was charged by the SEC with securities fraud for making misleading claims about offering and shipping at-home COVID-19 tests, and faces permanent injunctive relief and civil penalties.
Applied BioSciences Corp. was accused of committing securities fraud by making false claims in a March 31 press release about offering and shipping at-home COVID-19 tests. The company allegedly had not shipped any tests and failed to disclose that they were not authorized by the FDA. The SEC charges the company with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5.
Applied BioSciences Corp. was charged by the SEC with securities fraud for issuing a misleading press release on March 31, 2020, falsely claiming it was offering and shipping FDA-authorized at-home COVID-19 diagnostic tests to the public. The complaint alleged the company had not shipped any tests by that date, the tests required medical professional administration, and they lacked FDA authorization—all material facts omitted to inflate stock value. The SEC accused the company of violating Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act, seeking permanent injunctions and civil penalties. Trading in the company’s securities had already been temporarily suspended by the SEC. The investigation was led by the New York Regional Office with support from FINRA. The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy previously issued an investor alert cautioning investors to be aware of COVID-19 scams.
Exhibits & Attached Documents (2)
Extracted insights
- company applied biosciences corp.
- company in the securities of applied biosciences corp.
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- organization Securities and Exchange Commission
- Securities and Exchange Commission charged Applied BioSciences Corp. with fraud based on claims in a press release that it was offering and shipping products to combat the COVID-19 virus
- SEC suspended trading in the securities of Applied BioSciences Corp.
- Securities and Exchange Commission charged Applied BioSciences Corp. with fraud based on claims in a press release that it was offering and shipping products to combat the COVID-19 virus
- SEC suspended trading in the securities of Applied BioSciences Corp.
- Securities and Exchange Commission charged Applied BioSciences Corp. with fraud based on claims of offering and shipping COVID-19 combat products
- Securities and Exchange Commission suspended trading in the securities of Applied BioSciences Corp.
- Applied BioSciences Corp. was charged with fraud
- Applied BioSciences Corp. made claims about offering and shipping products to combat COVID-19
- SEC filed complaint in federal court in the Southern District of New York
- SEC suspended trading in securities of Applied BioSciences Corp.
- Applied BioSciences Corp. issued press release with misleading COVID-19 claims
- Securities and Exchange Commission charged Applied BioSciences Corp. with fraud based on claims in a press release that it was offering and shipping products to combat the COVID-19 virus
- SEC suspended trading in the securities of Applied BioSciences Corp.
- Securities and Exchange Commission charged Applied BioSciences Corp.
- Applied BioSciences Corp. was offering and shipping products to combat the COVID-19 virus
- SEC suspended trading securities of Applied BioSciences
- SEC filed complaint in federal court
SEC Charges Company for Misleading Covid-19 Claims Litigation Release No. 24819 / May 14, 2020 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Applied BioSciences Corp., No. 20-cv-03729 (S.D.N.Y. filed May 14, 2020) The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Applied BioSciences Corp. with fraud based on the company's claims in a press release that it was offering and shipping products to combat the COVID-19 virus. The SEC previously suspended trading temporarily in the securities of Applied BioSciences. According to the SEC's complaint, filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, Applied BioSciences issued a press release on March 31 stating that it had begun offering and shipping supposed finger-prick COVID-19 tests to the general public that could be used for "Homes, Schools, Hospitals, Law Enforcement, Military, Public Servants or anyone wanting immediate and private results." The complaint alleges that contrary to these claims, the tests were not intended for home use by the general public and could be administered only in consultation with a medical professional. The complaint further alleges that Applied BioSciences had not shipped any COVID-19 tests as of March 31, and its press release failed to disclose that the tests were not authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The SEC's complaint charges the company with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and seeks permanent injunctive relief and civil penalties. The SEC's investigation has been conducted by Kristine Zaleskas, Dugan Bliss, and Thomas P. Smith, Jr., and supervised by Lara S. Mehraban, all of the New York Regional Office. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy previously issued an investor alert cautioning investors to be aware of COVID-19 scams. SEC Complaint
SEC Charges Company for Misleading Covid-19 Claims Litigation Release No. 24819 / May 14, 2020 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Applied BioSciences Corp., No. 20-cv-03729 (S.D.N.Y. filed May 14, 2020) The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Applied BioSciences Corp. with fraud based on the company's claims in a press release that it was offering and shipping products to combat the COVID-19 virus. The SEC previously suspended trading temporarily in the securities of Applied BioSciences. According to the SEC's complaint, filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, Applied BioSciences issued a press release on March 31 stating that it had begun offering and shipping supposed finger-prick COVID-19 tests to the general public that could be used for "Homes, Schools, Hospitals, Law Enforcement, Military, Public Servants or anyone wanting immediate and private results." The complaint alleges that contrary to these claims, the tests were not intended for home use by the general public and could be administered only in consultation with a medical professional. The complaint further alleges that Applied BioSciences had not shipped any COVID-19 tests as of March 31, and its press release failed to disclose that the tests were not authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The SEC's complaint charges the company with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and seeks permanent injunctive relief and civil penalties. The SEC's investigation has been conducted by Kristine Zaleskas, Dugan Bliss, and Thomas P. Smith, Jr., and supervised by Lara S. Mehraban, all of the New York Regional Office. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy previously issued an investor alert cautioning investors to be aware of COVID-19 scams. SEC Complaint