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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;27, 2015 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></P>
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<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM S-8
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>UNDER </I></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 </I></B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>75-3175693</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(State of incorporation or organization)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>1 Parrott Drive</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Shelton, Connecticut</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>06484</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive office)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Zip Code)</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>2014 Equity Incentive Plan </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Full title of the plans) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Derek Chalmers, Ph.D., D.Sc. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Chief Executive Officer </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Cara Therapeutics, Inc. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>1 Parrott Drive </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Shelton,
Connecticut 06484 </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(203) 567-1500 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I></I></B><I></I><B></B><B><I>Copies to:</I></B><B></B><I></I><B><I> </I></B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Babak Yaghmaie </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Darren
DeStefano </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Cooley LLP </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>1114 Avenue of the Americas </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>New York, NY 10036-7798 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(212) 479-6000 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;page-break-before:always"></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller
reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): </P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">Large&nbsp;Accelerated&nbsp;filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Accelerated&nbsp;filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">Non-accelerated filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Smaller&nbsp;reporting&nbsp;company</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE </B></P>
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<TD COLSPAN="9" VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Title of Securities</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>To Be Registered</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Amount</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>To Be</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registered
(1)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Proposed</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Maximum</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Offering
Price</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Per Share</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Proposed</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Maximum</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Aggregate</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Offering Price</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Amount of</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registration Fee</B></P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">684,061 (2)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$10.27 (3)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$7,025,306</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$816.34</TD></TR>
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<TD COLSPAN="9" VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;<B><I>Securities Act</I></B>&#148;), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant&#146;s common
stock that become issuable in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the Registrant&#146;s receipt of consideration which
results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of the Registrant&#146;s common stock. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Represents additional shares of the Registrant&#146;s common stock reserved for issuance under the Registrant&#146;s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan resulting from the automatic annual increase on January&nbsp;1 of each year
from January&nbsp;1, 2015 through January&nbsp;1, 2024 by the lesser of (a)&nbsp;3% of the total number of shares of the Registrant&#146;s Common Stock outstanding on December&nbsp;31 of the preceding calendar year and (b)&nbsp;a number of shares
determined by the Registrant&#146;s board of directors. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Estimated pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h)&nbsp;of the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant&#146;s common
stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on March&nbsp;23, 2015. </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SHARES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (the &#147;<B><I>Registrant</I></B>&#148;) is filing this Registration
Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;<B><I>Commission</I></B>&#148;) to register 684,061 additional shares of Common Stock under the Registrant&#146;s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to the provisions of the 2014
Equity Incentive Plan providing for an automatic increase in the number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan on January&nbsp;1, 2015. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PART II </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Registration Statement hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the
Registrant&#146;s registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on February&nbsp;12, 2014 (Registration No.&nbsp;333-193905). In accordance with the instructional note to Part I of Form S-8 as promulgated by the Commission, the
information specified by Part I of Form S-8 has been omitted from this Registration Statement. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Exhibits </B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:28.45pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit<BR>Number</B></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:85.25pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Document</B></P></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;3.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1)</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;3.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws (2)</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Specimen Common Stock Certificate (3)</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.2</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">2014 Equity Incentive Plan. (4)</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.3</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (5)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.4</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award under 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (6)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;5.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Opinion of Cooley LLP</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Ernst &amp; Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>24.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Power of Attorney (included on signature page)</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K (File No.&nbsp;001-36279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February&nbsp;7, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K (File No.&nbsp;001-36279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February&nbsp;7, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Pre-effective Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No.&nbsp;333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January&nbsp;17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Pre-effective Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No.&nbsp;333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January&nbsp;17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">


<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(5)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit 10.3.1 to Pre-effective Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No.&nbsp;333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January&nbsp;17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(6)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit 10.3.2 to Pre-effective Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No.&nbsp;333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January&nbsp;17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Shelton, State of Connecticut, on March&nbsp;27,
2015. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><B>CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/&nbsp;Derek Chalmers</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Derek Chalmers, Ph.D., D.Sc.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS</B>, that each of the persons whose names appear below constitutes and appoints Derek Chalmers and Josef
Schoell, and each of them, such person&#146;s true and lawful attorney in fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement (or any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933), and to
file the same, together with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and such other agencies, offices and persons as may be required by applicable law, granting unto said
attorney in fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="37%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Derek
Chalmers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Chief Executive Officer and Director<BR>(Principal Executive Officer)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2" ALIGN="right">March&nbsp;27, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Derek Chalmers</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Josef
Schoell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Chief Financial Officer<BR>(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2" ALIGN="right">March 27, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Josef Schoell</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Harrison M.
Bains&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Director</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2" ALIGN="right">March 27, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Harrison M. Bains</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jeffrey L.
Ives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Director</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2" ALIGN="right">March 27, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Jeffrey L. Ives</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dean
Slagel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Director</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2" ALIGN="right">March 27, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Dean Slagel</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Martin
Vogelbaum&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Director</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ROWSPAN="2" ALIGN="right">March 27, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Martin Vogelbaum</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:28.45pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit<BR>Number</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:85.25pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description of Document</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;3.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;3.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws (2)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Specimen Common Stock Certificate (3)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">2014 Equity Incentive Plan. (4)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.3</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (5)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.4</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award under 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (6)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;5.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Opinion of Cooley LLP</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Ernst &amp; Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>24.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Power of Attorney (included on signature page)</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K (File No.&nbsp;001-36279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February&nbsp;7, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K (File No.&nbsp;001-36279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February&nbsp;7, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Pre-effective Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No.&nbsp;333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January&nbsp;17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Pre-effective Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No.&nbsp;333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January&nbsp;17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(5)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit 10.3.1 to Pre-effective Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No.&nbsp;333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January&nbsp;17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(6)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Filed as Exhibit 10.3.2 to Pre-effective Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No.&nbsp;333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January&nbsp;17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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S-8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2015
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
75-3175693
(State of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1 Parrott Drive
Shelton, Connecticut
06484
(Address of principal executive office)
(Zip Code)
2014 Equity Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plans)
Derek Chalmers, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Chief Executive Officer
Cara Therapeutics, Inc.
1 Parrott Drive
Shelton,
Connecticut 06484
(203) 567-1500
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Babak Yaghmaie
Darren
DeStefano
Cooley LLP
1114 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-7798
(212) 479-6000
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller
reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated filer
¨
Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
x
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities
To Be Registered
Amount
To Be
Registered
(1)
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per Share
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
684,061 (2)
$10.27 (3)
$7,025,306
$816.34
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "
Securities Act
"), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant's common
stock that become issuable in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the Registrant's receipt of consideration which
results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of the Registrant's common stock.
(2)
Represents additional shares of the Registrant's common stock reserved for issuance under the Registrant's 2014 Equity Incentive Plan resulting from the automatic annual increase on January 1 of each year
from January 1, 2015 through January 1, 2024 by the lesser of (a) 3% of the total number of shares of the Registrant's Common Stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year and (b) a number of shares
determined by the Registrant's board of directors.
(3)
Estimated pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's common
stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on March 23, 2015.
REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SHARES
PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E
Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (the "
Registrant
") is filing this Registration
Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "
Commission
") to register 684,061 additional shares of Common Stock under the Registrant's 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to the provisions of the 2014
Equity Incentive Plan providing for an automatic increase in the number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan on January 1, 2015.
PART II
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
This Registration Statement hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the
Registrant's registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on February 12, 2014 (Registration No. 333-193905). In accordance with the instructional note to Part I of Form S-8 as promulgated by the Commission, the
information specified by Part I of Form S-8 has been omitted from this Registration Statement.
Item 8.
Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1)
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws (2)
4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate (3)
4.2
2014 Equity Incentive Plan. (4)
4.3
Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (5)
4.4
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award under 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (6)
5.1
Opinion of Cooley LLP
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2
Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
(1)
Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference.
(2)
Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference.
(3)
Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No. 333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
(4)
Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No. 333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)
Filed as Exhibit 10.3.1 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No. 333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
(6)
Filed as Exhibit 10.3.2 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No. 333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Shelton, State of Connecticut, on March 27,
2015.
CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:
/s/ Derek Chalmers
Derek Chalmers, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS
, that each of the persons whose names appear below constitutes and appoints Derek Chalmers and Josef
Schoell, and each of them, such person's true and lawful attorney in fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement (or any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933), and to
file the same, together with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and such other agencies, offices and persons as may be required by applicable law, granting unto said
attorney in fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/    Derek
Chalmers
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
March 27, 2015
Derek Chalmers
/s/    Josef
Schoell
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
March 27, 2015
Josef Schoell
/s/    Harrison M.
Bains
Director
March 27, 2015
Harrison M. Bains
/s/    Jeffrey L.
Ives
Director
March 27, 2015
Jeffrey L. Ives
/s/    Dean
Slagel
Director
March 27, 2015
Dean Slagel
/s/    Martin
Vogelbaum
Director
March 27, 2015
Martin Vogelbaum
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1)
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws (2)
4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate (3)
4.2
2014 Equity Incentive Plan. (4)
4.3
Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (5)
4.4
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award under 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (6)
5.1
Opinion of Cooley LLP
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2
Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
(1)
Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference.
(2)
Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference.
(3)
Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No. 333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
(4)
Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No. 333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)
Filed as Exhibit 10.3.1 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No. 333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
(6)
Filed as Exhibit 10.3.2 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 Registration No. 333-192230) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 17, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.