UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 5, 2014

Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2012

New York, NY 10170

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 297-0020

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o  Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 1.01.   ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

On March 5, 2014, Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company”) entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement, dated June 21, 2012 (as amended, the “Agreement”), with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as sales agent (“Cantor”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through Cantor shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”), up to an additional aggregate offering price of $50.0 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of this offering to fund its research and development activities, including further clinical development of plecanatide and SP-333, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes, and possible acquisitions of other companies, products or technologies, though no such acquisitions are currently contemplated.

Under the Agreement, Cantor may sell the Shares by methods deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including sales made directly on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, on any other existing trading market for the Shares or to or through a market maker. In addition, under the Agreement, Cantor may sell the Shares by any other method permitted by law, including in privately negotiated transactions. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, Cantor will use commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal law, rules and regulations and the rules of The NASDAQ Global Select Market, to sell the Shares from time to time, based upon the Company’s instructions (including any price, time or size limits or other customary parameters or conditions the Company may impose).

The Company is not obligated to make any sales of the Shares under the Agreement. The offering of Shares pursuant to the Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the sale of all of the Shares subject to the Agreement or (2) the termination of the Agreement by Cantor or the Company.

The Company will pay Cantor a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold and has agreed to provide Cantor with customary indemnification and contribution rights.

The Amendment is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment filed herewith as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The Shares will be issued pursuant to the Company’s previously filed and effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-182271), the base prospectus, dated July 10, 2012, filed as part of such Registration Statement, and the prospectus supplement, dated March 5, 2014, filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the Shares in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

ITEM 9.01.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) Exhibits.

  5.1                         Opinion of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP

10.1                        Amendment No. 1 to Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement, dated March 5, 2014, by and between Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

23.1        Consent of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:   March 5, 2014

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