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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="ie6122b2d9fc446b39ea32bfb082b27a3_1"></div><div style="min-height:36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="-sec-extract:summary;margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19,&#160;2022</font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:98.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:4pt double #000000;padding:2px 3.77pt 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Registration No. 333-</font></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">UNITED STATES<br>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">WASHINGTON, DC  20549</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:6pt;padding-left:198pt;padding-right:198pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">FORM S-8<br>REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">UNDER<br>THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:6pt;padding-left:198pt;padding-right:198pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">ATHERSYS, INC.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:6pt;padding-left:198pt;padding-right:198pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:26.639%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:43.976%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:26.085%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Delaware<br>(State or other jurisdiction of<br>incorporation or organization)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">20-4864095 <br></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(I.R.S. Employer<br>Identification No.)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">3201 Carnegie Avenue </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2634 </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(Address of principal executive offices including zip code) </font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"><br>(Full title of the plan)<br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Mr. Daniel Camardo</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Chief Executive Officer</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Athersys, Inc.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">3201 Carnegie Avenue</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2634<br>(216) 431-9900<br></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:6pt;padding-left:198pt;padding-right:198pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; and &#8220;emerging growth company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:97.500%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.415%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:49.184%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.258%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:4.743%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Large accelerated filer</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;  </font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accelerated filer</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;  </font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-accelerated filer</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9746;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">  </font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Smaller reporting company</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9746;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">  </font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Emerging growth company</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;  </font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:8pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;  </font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:56.16pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="-sec-extract:summary"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">EXPLANATORY NOTE</font></div><div style="text-indent:22.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">Athersys, Inc. (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">Registrant</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">&#8221;) hereby files this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">Registration Statement</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">&#8221;) to register an additional 840,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">Common Stock</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">&#8221;), under the Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">Plan</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">&#8221;). The Plan is an amendment and restatement, effective July 28, 2022, as restated, of the Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, for which a previously filed registration statement on Form S-8 is effective. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement incorporates by reference the contents of the </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000136814819000017/athx20190612s-8.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%;text-decoration:underline">Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-232075)</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%"> filed by the Registrant on June 12, 2019, including all attachments and exhibits thereto, except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;padding-right:-18pt;text-align:center;text-indent:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">PART II<br>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">. &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="text-indent:22.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">The Registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">Exchange Act</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">&#8221;), and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:110%">Commission</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:110%">&#8221;).  The following documents filed with the Commission by the Registrant are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement&#58; </font></div><div style="text-indent:22.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">(a)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;padding-left:6.91pt">The Registrant&#8217;s </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000020/athx-20211231.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%"> (Commission File No. 001-33876), filed with the Commission on March 15, 2022&#59; </font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">(b)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;padding-left:6.34pt">The Registrant&#8217;s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000053/athx-20220331.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">March 31, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%"> and </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000108/athx-20220630.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">June 30, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%"> (Commission File No. 001-33876), filed with the Commission on May 6, 2022 and August 12, 2022, respectively&#59; </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:0.06pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">(c)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;padding-left:6.91pt">The Registrant&#8217;s Current Reports on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000002/athx-20220114.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">January 21, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000005/athx-20220208.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">February 11, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000035/athx-20220318.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">March 24, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000039/athx-20220422.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">April 28, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000056/athx-20220512.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">May 12, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000060/athx-20220525.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">June 2, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000066/athx-20220606.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">June 9, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000136814822000072/athx-20220620x8k.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">June 21, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000093/athx-20220701.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">July 8, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000099/athx-20220728.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">August 2, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000102/athx-20220729.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">August 4, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000113/athx-20220815.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">August 17, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001368148/000136814822000117/athx-20220826.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">August 29, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000136814822000120/athx-20220912x8k.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">September 12, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%"> and </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000136814822000124/athx-20220913.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">September 14, 2022</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">&#59; and</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:0.06pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%">(d)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;padding-left:6.34pt">The description of the Registrant&#8217;s Common Stock contained in the Registrant&#8217;s </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000095015207009474/l29111ae8va12b.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">Registration Statement on Form 8-A</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%"> (Commission File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on December 6, 2007 under the Exchange Act, as updated by </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000136814822000035/ex41-20220324.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%;text-decoration:underline">Exhibit 4.1</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:174%"> to the Company&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-33876) filed on March 24, 2022, and all amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:22.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">All documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:22.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement. </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:0.06pt;text-indent:0.36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:0.06pt;text-indent:0.36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:56.16pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="-sec-extract:summary"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 8.  Exhibits</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">.</font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:93.888%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:8.071%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:89.729%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Exhibit </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Number</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Description</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000119312513332863/d550060dex31.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Incorporation of Athersys, Inc., as amended as of June&#160;20,&#160;2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on August 13, 2013)</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.2</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000119312517252915/d395159dex31.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Athersys, Inc., as amended as of June 7, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on August 9, 2017)</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.3</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000119312521200350/d167211dex33.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Athersys, Inc., as amended, effective as of June 16, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-257409) filed with the Commission on June 25, 2021)</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.4</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000136814822000117/ex31-20220826.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Athersys, Inc., as amended, effective as of August 26, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on August 29, 2022)</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.5</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368148/000162828019002958/exhibit31-20181231.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Bylaws of Athersys, Inc., as amended and restated as of March 13, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on March 14, 2019)</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.6</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex46-20220919.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (amended and restated effective July 28, 2022, as restated)*</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex51-20220919.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Opinion of Jones Day*</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex231-20220919.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm &#8211; Ernst &#38; Young LLP*</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.2</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex51-20220919.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)*</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">24.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex241-20220919.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Power of Attorney*</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">107</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex107-20220919.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Calculation of Filing Fee Tables*</a></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Filed herewith</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:56.16pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="-sec-extract:summary"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">3</font></div></div></div><div id="ie6122b2d9fc446b39ea32bfb082b27a3_4"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">SIGNATURES</font></div><div style="text-indent:22.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 City of Cleveland, state of Ohio, on this 19th day of September 2022. </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:48.553%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:49.247%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">ATHERSYS, INC.</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">By&#58;  </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Daniel A. Camardo</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-indent:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Name&#58; Daniel A. Camardo</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-indent:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Title&#58; Chief Executive Officer and Director</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-indent:22.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.</font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:92.500%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:42.593%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.317%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:37.790%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date&#58; September 19, 2022</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#47;s&#47; Daniel A. Camardo</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Daniel A. Camardo</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chief Executive Officer and Director</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">                 </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Principal Executive Officer)</font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date&#58; September 19, 2022</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Kasey Rosado</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Interim Chief Financial Officer                            (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date&#58; September 19, 2022</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Ismail Kola</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chairman</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date&#58; September 19, 2022</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Kenneth Traub</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date&#58; September 19, 2022</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Jane Wasman</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date&#58; September 19, 2022</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Jack Wyszomierski</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></td></tr></table></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">______________</font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:97.777%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:5.576%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:39.667%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:51.457%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">This Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of the above officers and directors by Daniel A. Camardo, as attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney filed as Exhibit 24.1 to this Registration Statement.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Dated&#58;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">September 19, 2022</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">By&#58;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">  </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Daniel A. Camardo      </font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Daniel A. Camardo<br>Attorney-in-Fact</font></td></tr></table></div><div style="height:46.08pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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Document
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19, 2022
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC  20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ATHERSYS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
20-4864095
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
3201 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2634
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)
Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Mr. Daniel Camardo
Chief Executive Officer
Athersys, Inc.
3201 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2634
(216) 431-9900
(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☒
Smaller reporting company
☒
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
☐
1
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Athersys, Inc. (the "
Registrant
") hereby files this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "
Registration Statement
") to register an additional 840,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "
Common Stock
"), under the Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the "
Plan
"). The Plan is an amendment and restatement, effective July 28, 2022, as restated, of the Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, for which a previously filed registration statement on Form S-8 is effective. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement incorporates by reference the contents of the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-232075)
filed by the Registrant on June 12, 2019, including all attachments and exhibits thereto, except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference
.
The Registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "
Exchange Act
"), and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "
Commission
").  The following documents filed with the Commission by the Registrant are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:
(a)
The Registrant's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
(Commission File No. 001-33876), filed with the Commission on March 15, 2022;
(b)
The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended
March 31, 2022
and
June 30, 2022
(Commission File No. 001-33876), filed with the Commission on May 6, 2022 and August 12, 2022, respectively;
(c)
The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on
January 21, 2022
,
February 11, 2022
,
March 24, 2022
,
April 28, 2022
,
May 12, 2022
,
June 2, 2022
,
June 9, 2022
,
June 21, 2022
,
July 8, 2022
,
August 2, 2022
,
August 4, 2022
,
August 17, 2022
,
August 29, 2022
,
September 12, 2022
and
September 14, 2022
; and
(d)
The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A
(Commission File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on December 6, 2007 under the Exchange Act, as updated by
Exhibit 4.1
to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-33876) filed on March 24, 2022, and all amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.
All documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
2
Item 8.  Exhibits
.
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.1
Certificate of Incorporation of Athersys, Inc., as amended as of June 20, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on August 13, 2013)
4.2
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Athersys, Inc., as amended as of June 7, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on August 9, 2017)
4.3
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Athersys, Inc., as amended, effective as of June 16, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-257409) filed with the Commission on June 25, 2021)
4.4
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Athersys, Inc., as amended, effective as of August 26, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on August 29, 2022)
4.5
Bylaws of Athersys, Inc., as amended and restated as of March 13, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-33876) filed with the Commission on March 14, 2019)
4.6
Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (amended and restated effective July 28, 2022, as restated)*
5.1
Opinion of Jones Day*
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Ernst & Young LLP*
23.2
Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
24.1
Power of Attorney*
107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables*
*    Filed herewith
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 City of Cleveland, state of Ohio, on this 19th day of September 2022.
ATHERSYS, INC.
By:
/s/ Daniel A. Camardo
Name: Daniel A. Camardo
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Date: September 19, 2022
/s/ Daniel A. Camardo
Daniel A. Camardo
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: September 19, 2022
*
Kasey Rosado
Interim Chief Financial Officer                            (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Date: September 19, 2022
*
Ismail Kola
Chairman
Date: September 19, 2022
*
Kenneth Traub
Director
Date: September 19, 2022
*
Jane Wasman
Director
Date: September 19, 2022
*
Jack Wyszomierski
Director
______________
*
This Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of the above officers and directors by Daniel A. Camardo, as attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney filed as Exhibit 24.1 to this Registration Statement.
Dated:
September 19, 2022
By:
/s/ Daniel A. Camardo
Daniel A. Camardo
Attorney-in-Fact