Exhibit 5.1

 

SHUMAKERBW

Bank of America Plaza

101 East Kennedy Boulevard

Suite 2800

Tampa, Florida 33602

 

813.229.1660

813.229.7600 fax

 

March 24, 2022

 

Oragenics, Inc.

4902 Eisenhower Boulevard, Suite 125

Tampa, FL 33634

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We are issuing this opinion letter in our capacity as legal counsel for Oragenics, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”). This opinion letter is being delivered in connection with the preparation and filing of its Registration Statement on Form S-8 (such Registration Statement, as it may be subsequently amended or supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on March 24, 2022 pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), by the Company.

 

The Registration Statement relates to the registration by the Company of up to 17,257,210 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), issuable under the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”).

 

In connection with the Registration of the Shares, we have examined originals, or copies or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion, including: (i) the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) resolutions of the Company with respect to the registration of the Shares, (iii) the 2021 Plan and (iv) the Registration Statement and the exhibits hereto.

 

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto other than the Company, the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Company and that the Shares will be issued in accordance with the terms of the 2021 Plan. We have not independently established or verified any facts relevant to the opinion expressed herein, but have relied upon statements and representations of the officers and other representatives of the Company and others as to factual matters.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2021 Plan and the instruments executed pursuant to the 2021 Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Our opinion expressed above is subject to the qualification that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws except the Florida Business Corporations Act.

 

We have relied without independent investigation upon, among other things, an assurance from the Company that the number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue in its Certificate of Incorporation exceeds the number of shares outstanding and the number of shares which the Company is obligated to issue (or has otherwise reserved for issuance) for any purposes other than issuances of the Shares by at least the number of Shares and we have assumed that such condition will remain true at all future times relevant to this opinion.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states to the issuance and sale of the Plan Shares.

 

This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. This opinion speaks only as of the date that the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion after the date of effectiveness should the Florida Business Corporations Act be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise after the date hereof. This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purposes.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
  SHUMAKER, LOOP & KENDRICK, LLP