As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 11, 2020

Registration No. 333-                

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

10975 N. Torrey Pines Road, Suite 150

La Jolla, California 92037

(858) 401-7900

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Sarah Boyce

President and Chief Executive Officer

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.

10975 N. Torrey Pines Road, Suite 150

La Jolla, California 92037

(858) 401-7900

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

Copies to:

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box.    ☐

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ☒ (File No. 333-238612)

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

The Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

EXPLANATORY NOTE AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This Registration Statement on Form S-1 (this “Registration Statement”) is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the sole purpose of increasing the aggregate number of shares of common stock offered by Avidity Biosciences, Inc. (the “Registrant”) by 2,760,000 shares, 360,000 of which are subject to purchase upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock. The additional securities that are being registered for sale are in an amount and at a price that together represent no more than 20% of the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-238612) (the “Prior Registration Statement”). The information set forth in the Prior Registration Statement and all exhibits thereto are hereby incorporated by reference in this filing.

The required opinion and consents are listed on an Exhibit Index attached hereto and filed herewith.

Exhibit Index

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on this 11th day of June, 2020.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities held on the dates indicated.