EX-5.1 3 form8-kjune142024xexhibi.htm EX-5.1
12670 High Bluff Drive San Diego, California 92130 Tel: +1.858.523.5400 Fax: +1.858.523.5450 www.lw.com FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES Austin Milan Beijing Munich Boston New York Brussels Orange County Century City Paris Chicago Riyadh Dubai San Diego Düsseldorf San Francisco Frankfurt Seoul Hamburg Silicon Valley Hong Kong Singapore Houston Tel Aviv London Tokyo Los Angeles Washington, D.C. Madrid June 14, 2024 Avidity Biosciences, Inc. 10578 Science Center Drive, Suite 125 San Diego, California 92121 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 (333-279264); 12,132,500 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share To the addressee set forth above: We have acted as special counsel to Avidity Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offering of up to 12,132,500 shares (including up to 1,582,500 shares issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares) of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”). The offering of the Shares was made under a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 9, 2024 (Registration No. 333-257691) (the “Registration Statement”), a base prospectus dated May 9, 2024 included in the Registration Statement at the time it originally became effective (the “Base Prospectus”), a preliminary prospectus supplement dated June 12, 2024 filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), and a prospectus supplement dated June 13, 2024 filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”). The Shares are being sold pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated June 13, 2024 by and among the Company and TD Securities (USA) LLC and Leerink Partners LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters listed on Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriting Agreement”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares. Exhibit 5.1

June 14, 2024 Page 2 As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws. Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the DGCL. This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 14, 2024 and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Sincerely, /s/ Latham & Watkins LLP