UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 25, 2020

ARCH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 431-2313

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).   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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

PPP Loan

On April 25, 2020, the Company executed a promissory note (the “PPP Note”) evidencing an unsecured loan in the amount of $176,300 under the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP Loan”). The Paycheck Protection Program (or “PPP”) was established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) and is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The Loan is being made through First Republic Bank (the “Lender”).

The PPP Loan has a two-year term and bears interest at a rate of 1.00% per annum. Monthly principal and interest payments are deferred for six months. Beginning seven months from the date of the PPP Note, the Company is required to make monthly payments of principal and interest to the Lender of approximately $10,000. The PPP Loan may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. The PPP Note matures on April 25, 2022.

The PPP Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, making materially false and misleading representations to the SBA or Lender, or breaching the terms of the PPP Loan documents. The occurrence of an event of default may result in the immediate repayment of all amounts outstanding, collection of all amounts owing from the Company, or filing suit and obtaining judgment.

Under the terms of the CARES Act, PPP loan recipients can apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of loan granted under the PPP. Such forgiveness will be determined, subject to limitations, based on the use of loan proceeds for payment of payroll costs and any payments of mortgage interest, rent, and utilities. However, no assurance is provided that forgiveness for any portion of the PPP Loan will be obtained.

The foregoing description of the PPP Note does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the PPP Note attached herewith as Exhibits 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is made to the disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the PPP Loan, which disclosure is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

(d) The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

SIGNATURES

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