alimerasciences13ginitial.htm

 
CUSIP No. 016259103

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 
SCHEDULE 13G
 

 
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
(Amendment No. _)
 
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)

016259103
(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2011
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
 
[X]     Rule 13d-1(b)
 
[   ]     Rule 13d-1(c)
 
[   ]     Rule 13d-1(d)
 
The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
 
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
 
Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.
 
 

 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103


[Missing Graphic Reference]

1.         Names of Reporting Persons.

William Leland Edwards

 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

 
(a)
______

 
(b)
     X     

 
3.
SEC Use Only                                                   

 
4.
Citizenship or Place of Organization
U.S.A.

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With:
5.     Sole Voting Power
0
  
6.     Shared Voting Power
2,803,484
  
7.     Sole Dispositive Power
0
  
8.     Shared Dispositive Power
2,803,484
  

 
9.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
2,803,484

 
10.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
______

 
11.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
8.9%

 
12.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IN, HC


 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103

CUSIP No. 016259103
[Missing Graphic Reference]

 
1.
Names of Reporting Persons.

 
Anthony Joonkyoo Yun, MD

 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

 
(a)
______

 
(b)
     X     

 
3.
SEC Use Only                                                   

 
4.
Citizenship or Place of Organization
U.S.A.

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With:
5.     Sole Voting Power
0
  
6.     Shared Voting Power
2,803,484
  
7.     Sole Dispositive Power
0
  
8.     Shared Dispositive Power
2,803,484
  

 
9.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
2,803,484

 
10.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
______

 
11.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
8.9%

 
12.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IN, HC


 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103

CUSIP No. 016259103
[Missing Graphic Reference]


 
1.
Names of Reporting Persons.

 
Palo Alto Investors, Inc.

 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

 
(a)
______

 
(b)
     X     

 
3.
SEC Use Only                                                   

 
4.
Citizenship or Place of Organization
California

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With:
5.     Sole Voting Power
0
  
6.     Shared Voting Power
2,803,484
  
7.     Sole Dispositive Power
0
  
8.     Shared Dispositive Power
2,803,484
  

 
9.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
2,803,484

 
10.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
______

 
11.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
8.9%

 
12.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO, HC


 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103

CUSIP No. 016259103
[Missing Graphic Reference]

 
1.
Names of Reporting Persons.

 
Palo Alto Investors, LLC

 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

 
(a)
______

 
(b)
     X     

 
3.
SEC Use Only                                                   

 
4.
Citizenship or Place of Organization
California

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With:
5.     Sole Voting Power
0
  
6.     Shared Voting Power
2,803,484
  
7.     Sole Dispositive Power
0
  
8.     Shared Dispositive Power
2,803,484
  

 
9.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
2,803,484

 
10.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
______

 
11.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
8.9%

 
12.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
OO, IA



 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103

CUSIP No. 016259103
[Missing Graphic Reference]

Item 1.
 
 
(a)     Name of Issuer

 
Alimera Sciences, Inc.

 
(b)     Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

 
6120 Windward Parkway, Suite 290, Alpharetta, GA 30005

Item 2.
 
 
(a)     The names of the persons filing this statement are:

 
Palo Alto Investors, LLC ("PAI LLC")


 
Palo Alto Investors, Inc. (“PAI Corp”)


 
William Leland Edwards


 
Anthony Joonkyoo Yun, MD


 
(collectively, the "Filers").

 
(b)     The principal business office of the Filers is located at:

 
470 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

 
(c)     For citizenship of Filers, see Item 4 of the cover sheet for each Filer.

 
(d)     This statement relates to shares of Common Stock of the Issuer (the "Stock").

 
(e)     The CUSIP number of the Issuer is: 016259103


 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103


CUSIP No. 016259103
[Missing Graphic Reference]

 
Item 3.
If this statement is filed pursuant to rule 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

 
(a)  [    ]
Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

 
(b)  [    ]
Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 
(c)  [    ]
Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 
(d)  [    ]
Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

 
(e)  [ x ]
An investment adviser in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E) (as to PAI).

 
(f)  [    ]
An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

 
(g) [ x ]
A parent holding company or control person in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G) (as to Palo Alto Investors, Mr. Edwards and Dr. Yun).

 
(h) [    ]
A savings association as defined in section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

 
(i)  [    ]
A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3).

 
(j)  [    ]
A non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(ii)(J).

 
(k) [    ]
Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution
_______________________________________________________________.

 
Item 4.
Ownership.

See Items 5-9 and 11 of the cover page for each Filer.

 
Item 5.
Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [  ].



 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103

CUSIP No. 016259103
[Missing Graphic Reference]

 
Item 6.
Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

PAI LLC is a registered investment adviser and is the general partner and investment adviser of investment limited partnerships and is the investment adviser to other investment funds. PAI LLC's clients have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Stock. No individual client separately holds more than five percent of the outstanding Stock.
 
 
Item 7.
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.

Not applicable.
 
 
Item 8.
Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

PAI Corp is the manager of PAI LLC. Mr. Edwards is the controlling shareholder of PAI Corp. Dr. Yun is the President of PAI LLC and PAI Corp. The Filers are filing this Schedule 13G jointly, but not as members of a group, and each of them expressly disclaims membership in a group. Each Filer disclaims beneficial ownership of the Stock except to the extent of that Filer's pecuniary interest therein.
 
 
Item 9.
Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not applicable.
 
 
Item 10.
Certification.

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
 
 
Exhibits.

 
Exhibit A
Joint Filing Agreement.


 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103


SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
 
Dated:  February 13, 2012

PALO ALTO INVESTORS, INC.
 
 
By:    /s/ Mark Shamia
  Mark Shamia, Chief Operating Officer
 
PALO ALTO INVESTORS, LLC
 
By:           Palo Alto Investors, LLC, Manager
 
 
By:           /s/ Mark Shamia
  Mark Shamia, Chief Operating Officer
 
 
                  /s/ William Leland Edwards
                  William Leland Edwards
 
 
        /s/ Anthony Joonkyoo Yun, MD
        Anthony Joonkyoo Yun, MD


 
 
 

CUSIP No. 016259103


EXHIBIT A
AGREEMENT REGARDING JOINT FILING
OF STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 13D OR 13G

The undersigned agree to file jointly with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") any and all statements on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (and any amendments or supplements thereto) required under section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with purchases and sales by the undersigned of the securities of any issuer until such time as the undersigned file with the SEC a statement terminating this Agreement Regarding Joint Filing of Statement on Schedule 13D or 13G. For that purpose, the undersigned hereby constitute and appoint Palo Alto Investors, LLC, a California limited liability company, as their true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority for and on behalf of the undersigned to prepare or cause to be prepared, sign, file with the SEC and furnish to any other person all certificates, instruments, agreements and documents necessary to comply with section 13(d) and section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with said purchases and sales, and to do and perform every act necessary and proper to be done incident to the exercise of the foregoing power, as fully as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, until such time as the undersigned file with the SEC a statement terminating this Agreement Regarding Joint Filing of Statement on Schedule 13D or 13G.

Dated:  February 13, 2012


PALO ALTO INVESTORS, INC.
 
 
By:           /s/ Mark Shamia
  Mark Shamia, Chief Operating Officer
 
PALO ALTO INVESTORS, LLC
 
By:           Palo Alto Investors, LLC, Manager
 
 
By:           /s/ Mark Shamia
                  Mark Shamia, Chief Operating Officer
 
 
         /s/ William Leland Edwards
         William Leland Edwards
 
 
        /s/ Anthony Joonkyoo Yun, MD
        Anthony Joonkyoo Yun, MD