As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 2022

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

555 Long Wharf Drive

New Haven, CT 06511 (475) 238-6837

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

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full title of the plans)

Vimal Mehta, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc.

555 Long Wharf Drive

New Haven, CT 06511 (475) 238-6837

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Peter N. Handrinos

Keith L. Halverstam

Latham & Watkins LLP

200 Clarendon Street

Boston, MA 02116

(617) 948-6060

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. x

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for the purpose of registering an additional 1,399,016 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), issuable under the following employee benefit plans for which a registration statement of the Company on Form S-8 (File No. 333-238580) is effective: (i) the BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the “2020 Plan”) and (ii) the BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2020 ESPP”).

Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the above-referenced prior registration statements are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference to the extent not modified or superseded hereby or by any subsequently filed document, which is incorporated by reference herein or therein.

Item 8. EXHIBITS.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New Haven, State of Connecticut, on this 16th day of August 2022.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned officers and directors of the registrant hereby severally constitutes and appoints Vimal Mehta, Ph.D. and Richard Steinhart, and each of them singly (with full power to each of them to act alone), as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to file and sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, 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 and necessary to be done in connection therewith and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws.

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