As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24, 2018

Registration No. 333-                

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Daré Bioscience, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

3655 Nobel Drive, Suite 260

San Diego, California 92122

(858) 926-7655

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Lisa Walters-Hoffert

Chief Financial Officer

Daré Bioscience, Inc.

3655 Nobel Drive, Suite 260

San Diego, California 92122

(858) 926-7655

Copies to:

Jeremy D. Glaser, Esq.

Jenna M. Stewart, Esq.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

3580 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 300

San Diego, California 92130

(858) 314-1500

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement as determined by the registrant.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  ☐

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, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, 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.  ☐

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 registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

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.

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.  ☒

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

We have an existing “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-206396, which the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) initially declared effective on August 28, 2015 (the “Prior Registration Statement”). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(5) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Prior Registration Statement expires on August 28, 2018. In one of the offerings registered under the Prior Registration Statement, we issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,720,500 shares of our common stock, all of which remain outstanding and unexercised. This registration statement is intended to ensure that an effective registration statement covers all shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of those outstanding warrants.

We are filing this registration statement for the registration of securities under the Securities Act that are being offered in a transaction that meets the transaction requirements of General Instruction I.B.4 of Form S-3.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 24, 2018

PROSPECTUS

DARÉ BIOSCIENCE, INC.

3,720,500 Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants

This prospectus relates to the offer and sale, solely by us, of up to 3,720,500 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, that are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants with an exercise price of $3.00 as of the date of this prospectus. The warrants were originally issued by us on February 15, 2018 under Registration Statement No. 333-206396, utilizing a prospectus dated October 14, 2016 and related prospectus supplement dated February 14, 2018. We will receive the proceeds from any cash exercises of the warrants. The warrants are exercisable at any time until they expire on February 15, 2023.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “DARE.” On August 22, 2018, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $1.08 per share. The warrants are not listed, and we do not intend to apply to list them, on any national securities exchange.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks that we have described on page 6 of this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors,” as well as in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2018.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves significant risk. In addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as revised or supplemented by our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or our current reports on Form 8-K that we have filed with the SEC, all of which are incorporated herein by reference (other than current reports on Form 8-K, or portions thereof, furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K), you should consider the risks described below before making an investment decision with respect to the shares of common stock we are offering. We expect to update these risks and our other Risk Factors from time to time in periodic and current reports we file with the SEC in the future. Such updated Risk Factors will be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Please refer to our subsequently filed reports for additional information relating to the risks associated with investing in our common stock. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to this Offering

Resales of our common stock in the public market during this offering by our stockholders may cause the market price of our common stock to fall.

We may issue common stock from time to time in connection with this offering. The issuance from time to time of these new shares of our common stock, or our ability to issue new shares of common stock in this offering, could result in resales of our common stock by our current stockholders concerned about the potential dilution of their holdings. In turn, these resales could have the effect of depressing the market price for our common stock.

There may be future sales or other dilution of our equity, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We are generally not restricted from issuing additional common stock, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of common stock or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock after this offering or the perception that such sales could occur.

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering, you may not agree with how we use the proceeds and the proceeds may not be invested successfully.

We have not designated any portion of the net proceeds from this offering to be used for any particular purpose. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds from this offering and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of commencement of this offering. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for our company.

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If you exercise your Warrants you will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value per share of the common stock you purchase.

This offering involves the offer and sale by us of up to 3,720,350 shares of our common stock that are issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. The exercise price of the Warrants as of the date of this prospectus is $3.00 per share. The exercise price of the Warrants at the time of exercise may be substantially higher than the book value per share of our common stock, and you may suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the common stock you purchase in this offering upon exercise of Warrants. Assuming that all 3,720,500 shares of our common stock are sold in this offering upon the exercise of the Warrants for cash, those investors who exercise the Warrants will experience immediate dilution of $1.46 per share, representing the difference between the exercise price per share of the Warrants as of the date of this prospectus and our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2018 after giving effect to this offering. The exercise of outstanding stock options and other outstanding warrants may result in further dilution of your investment. See “Dilution” for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you may incur in connection with this offering.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and, in some cases, can be identified by terms such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “design,” “intend,” “expect,” “could,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “would,” “contemplate,” project,” “target,” “tend to,” or the negative version of these words and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained or incorporated in this prospectus and in any related prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus we may authorize for use in connection with this offering. These factors and the other cautionary statements contained or incorporated in this prospectus should be read as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements whenever they appear in this prospectus. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The following factors are among those that may cause such differences:

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Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or the date of the document incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which any statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will receive the proceeds from any cash exercises of the Warrants. The Warrant holders are not obligated to exercise their Warrants, and we cannot predict whether the holders will choose to exercise all or any of their Warrants before they expire. We will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from any sale of common stock offered under this prospectus. We intend to use the net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, which include, but are not limited to, advancing our product portfolio, acquiring the rights to new product candidates, and general and administrative expenses.

We have not determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for such purposes. Pending the use of any net proceeds, we expect to invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing, marketable securities.

DILUTION

If you purchase shares of our common stock upon the exercise of your Warrant, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the exercise price per share and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after giving effect to this offering.

The net tangible book value of our common stock as of June 30, 2018, was approximately $12,217,963, or approximately $1.07 per share. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets, excluding goodwill and intangible assets, less total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding. Dilution per share to investors exercising Warrants represents the difference between the amount per share paid by those purchasers for each share of common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately following the completion of this offering, assuming the Warrants are fully exercised.

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After giving effect to the sale of 3,720,500 shares of our common stock to investors exercising the Warrants for cash at an exercise price of $3.00 per share, the as-adjusted net tangible book value of our common stock as of June 30, 2018 would have been approximately $23,329,463, or approximately $1.54 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $0.47 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in as-adjusted net tangible book value of approximately $1.46 per share to investors exercising the Warrants, as illustrated by the following table:

The table above is based on 11,422,161 shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2018, and excludes the following shares:

As of the date of this prospectus, there are 1,284,619 shares of our common stock reserved for future grants under our Amended and Restated 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, which became effective as of July 10, 2018. To the extent that after June 30, 2018 any outstanding options or warrants were or are exercised, new equity awards were or are issued under our equity incentive plan, shares of common stock are sold under our employee stock purchase plan, or we otherwise issued or issue additional shares of common stock in the future, including under our sales agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, at prices per share below the price per share for any shares sold in this offering upon exercise of Warrants, there will be further dilution to new investors.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The common stock offered under this prospectus will be offered solely by us and will be issued and sold upon the exercise of the Warrants. The holders of the Warrant must surrender payment in cash of the aggregate exercise price of the shares being acquired upon exercise of the Warrants. If, however, we are unable to offer and sell the shares underlying the Warrants pursuant to this prospectus due to the ineffectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, then the Warrants may be exercised on a “net” or “cashless” basis. The Warrants include a price-based anti-dilution provision, which provides that, subject to certain exceptions, the exercise price of the Warrants will be adjusted downward if we issue or sell (or are deemed to issue or sell) securities at a price that is less than the exercise price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), before the expiration of the Warrant term. In that case, the new exercise price of the Warrants would equal the price at which the new securities are issued or sold (or are deemed to have been issued or sold). In addition, if we issue, sell or enter into any agreement to issue

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or sell securities at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the shares of our common stock, the holders of the Warrants shall have the right to substitute such variable price for the exercise price of the Warrant then in effect. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon the exercise of a Warrant, but rather the number of shares of common stock to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

The Warrants are not listed on any national securities exchange, and we do not plan on making an application to list the Warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market, any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. The Company will act as the registrar and transfer agent for the Warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

We are authorized to issue 120,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of August 22, 2018, we had 11,422,161 shares of common stock outstanding.

The following summary of certain provisions of our common stock does not purport to be complete. You should refer to the section of this prospectus entitled “Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws” and our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, referred to herein as our restated certificate of incorporation, and our Second Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended, referred to herein as our restated by-laws, both of which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The summary below is also qualified by provisions of applicable law.

General

Voting Rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, except that unless otherwise required by law, holders of our common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to our restated certificate of incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock, if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more such other series, to vote thereon pursuant to our restated certificate of incorporation. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.

An election of directors will be decided by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote on the election at a duly held stockholders’ meeting at which a quorum is present. All other questions will be decided by a majority of the votes cast by stockholders entitled to vote thereon at a duly held meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present, except when a different vote is required by law, our restated certificate of incorporation or restated by-laws.

Dividends

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends as may be declared by our board of directors, subject to any preferential dividend or other rights of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Liquidation and Dissolution

In the event of our liquidation or dissolution, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive proportionately our net assets available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential or other rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

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Other Rights

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, with offices at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.

Stock Exchange Listing

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “DARE.”

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND OF THE

COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Delaware Law

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 prevents a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for three years following the date that the person became an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our board of directors or unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the “interested stockholder” and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an “interested stockholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person. The provisions of Section 203 may deter a hostile takeover or delay a change in control.

Staggered Board; Removal of Directors

Our restated certificate of incorporation and restated by-laws divide our board of directors into three classes with staggered three year terms. In addition, our restated certificate of incorporation and restated by-laws provide that directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of 75% of our shares of capital stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote. Under our restated certificate of incorporation and restated by-laws, any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office. Furthermore, our restated certificate of incorporation provides that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by the resolution of our board of directors, subject to the rights of any holders of preferred stock to elect directors. The classification of our board of directors and the limitations on the ability of our stockholders to remove directors, change the authorized number of directors and fill vacancies could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, control of our company.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

The authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the listing standards of

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any securities exchange on which our shares are listed. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate finance transactions, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders; Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our restated certificate of incorporation and restated by-laws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may only be taken if it is properly brought before such meeting and may not be taken by written action in lieu of a meeting. Our restated certificate of incorporation and restated by-laws also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can only be called by our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors or our chief executive officer, and may not be called by any other person or persons. In addition, our restated by-laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors, or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting in compliance with the applicable procedures set forth in our restated by-laws, and who was also a stockholder on the date of the giving of such notice. These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities. These provisions also could discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our common stock because even if the third party acquired a majority of our outstanding voting stock, it would be able to take action as a stockholder, such as electing new directors or approving a merger, only at a duly called stockholders meeting and not by written consent.

Super Majority Voting

The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our restated by-laws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of the directors present at any meeting of our board of directors at which a quorum is present or by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors or class of directors. In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors or class of directors is required to amend or repeal or to adopt any provision inconsistent with certain of the provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation, including the provisions governing amendment or repeal of our restated by-laws, removal of directors, stockholder action, and special meetings of stockholders.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Section 102 of the DGCL permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of its directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) for any willful or negligent violation of sections of the DGCL related to the declaration and

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payment of dividends and to the purchase or redemption of the corporation’s capital stock; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that no director of our corporation shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of us), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, our director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an Indemnitee), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Our restated certificate of incorporation also provides that we will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, our director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee or, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by us against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. If we do not assume the defense, expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

Section 145 of the DGCL permits a corporation to indemnify any director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action (i.e., one brought by or on behalf of the corporation), indemnification may be provided only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any director or officer in connection with the defense or settlement of such an action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be provided if such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Chancery Court or the court in which the action or suit was brought shall

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determine that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain officers, in addition to the indemnification provided in our restated certificate of incorporation, and intend to enter into indemnification agreements with any new directors and executive officers in the future. In general, these agreements provide that we will indemnify the director or officer to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company or in connection with their service at our request for another corporation or entity. The indemnification agreements also provide for procedures that will apply in the event that the director or officer makes a claim for indemnification and establish certain presumptions that are favorable to the director or officer, as applicable. We have purchased and intend to maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.

The foregoing discussion of our restated certificate of incorporation, restated by-laws, indemnification agreements and Delaware law is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by such documents or law.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

LEGAL MATTERS

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., San Diego, California, will pass upon the validity of the common stock being offered by this prospectus.

EXPERTS

Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as set forth in its report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.’s report, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the SEC’s public reference facilities at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference facilities. SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. This prospectus is only part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC

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under the Securities Act, and therefore omits certain information contained in the registration statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules with the registration statement that are excluded from this prospectus, and you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a complete description of any statement referring to any contract or other document. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules, without charge, at the public reference room or obtain a copy from the SEC upon payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC.

We also maintain a website at www.darebioscience.com, through which you can access our SEC filings. The information set forth on our website is not part of this prospectus.

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information that we file with the SEC. Incorporation by reference allows us to disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We filed a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with the SEC with respect to the securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. This prospectus omits certain information contained in the registration statement, as permitted by the SEC. You should refer to the registration statement, including the exhibits, for further information about us and the securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. Statements in this prospectus regarding the provisions of certain documents filed with, or incorporated by reference in, the registration statement are not necessarily complete and each statement is qualified in all respects by that reference. Copies of all or any part of the registration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference or the exhibits, may be obtained upon payment of the prescribed rates at the offices of the SEC listed above in “Where You Can Find More Information.” The documents we are incorporating by reference are:

The SEC file number for each of the documents listed above is 001-36395.

In addition, all reports and other documents filed by us pursuant to the Exchange Act (other than current reports on Form 8-K, or portions thereof, furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K) after

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the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference. These documents will be provided to you at no cost, by contacting:

Daré Bioscience, Inc.

3655 Nobel Drive, Suite 260

San Diego, CA 92122

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: (858) 926-7655

You may also access these documents on our website, www.darebioscience.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.

You should rely only on information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

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DARÉ BIOSCIENCE, INC.

3,720,500 Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants

PROSPECTUS

                    , 2018

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the fees and expenses incurred or expected to be incurred by us in connection with the sale and issuance of the securities being registered hereby. Other than the SEC registration fee, the amounts stated are estimates.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Delaware Law

Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, referred to herein as our restated certificate of incorporation, provides that no director of our corporation shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

In addition, our restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed

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action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of us), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, our director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an Indemnitee), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Our restated certificate of incorporation also provides that we will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, our director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee or, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by us against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. If we do not assume the defense, expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. In general, these agreements provide that we will indemnify the director or executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company or in connection with their service at our request for another corporation or entity. The indemnification agreements also provide for procedures that will apply in the event that a director or executive officer makes a claim for indemnification and establish certain presumptions that are favorable to the director or executive officer.

We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

Insofar as the forgoing provisions permit indemnification of our directors and officers, or persons controlling us, for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 we have been informed that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 16. Exhibits

The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index to this registration statement, which Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated by reference.

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Item 17. Undertakings

(a)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)    To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii)    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii)    To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2)    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)    That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i)    Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii)    Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities

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at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5)    That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i)    Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii)    Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii)    The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv)    Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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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-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in City of San Diego, State of California, on August 24, 2018.

SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Daré Bioscience, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Sabrina Martucci Johnson and Lisa Walters-Hoffert, and each of them singly (with full power to each of them to act alone), our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them for her or him and in her or his name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign 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 Securities Act of 1933), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, 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 full to all intents and purposes as she or he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or her or his substitute or substitutes 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 below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Exhibit 5.1

August 24, 2018

Daré Bioscience, Inc.

3655 Nobel Drive, Suite 260

San Diego, CA 92122

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as legal counsel to Daré Bioscience, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), pursuant to which the Company is registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock outstanding on August 24, 2018 (the “Warrants”).

As counsel to the Company, we have examined such corporate records, documents, agreements and such matters of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that in our opinion the Common Stock has been duly authorized and reserved for issuance, and, when issued upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We are members of the Bars of the State of California, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New York, and the opinions expressed herein are limited to questions arising under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Federal laws of the United States of America, and we disclaim any opinion whatsoever with respect to matters governed by the laws of any other jurisdiction.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris,

Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris,

Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

BOSTON | LONDON | LOS ANGELES | NEW YORK | SAN DIEGO | SAN FRANCISCO | STAMFORD | WASHINGTON

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 and related Prospectus, of our report dated March 28, 2018, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Daré Bioscience, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of said Registration Statement.

/s/ Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.

San Diego, California

August 24, 2018