Today in an 8-K was announced.......On March 8, 2021, David R. Walt, Ph.D. notified the board of directors (the “Board”) of Exicure, Inc. (the “Company”) of his intention not to stand for re-election as a director of the Company when his term expires at the Company’s upcoming 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Dr. Walt’s resignation was not the result of any dispute or disagreement with the Company or the Company’s Board on any matter relating to the operations, policies or practices of the Company.
...but also note...Appointment of Elizabeth Garofalo, M.D. and Andrew Sassine as follows.....
Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating Committee”), the Board appointed Elizabeth Garofalo, M.D. and Andrew Sassine to serve as directors of the Company, and Mr. Sassine as a member of the Audit Committee, effective March 5, 2021. Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will serve for the term expiring at the Company’s 2022 and 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, respectively, and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
Mr. Sassine, age 56, has served as the Chief Financial Officer and Director at Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc. since January 2019. He also has served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee on the Board of Directors of Nasdaq listed ICAD Inc. ICAD is a leading provider of artificial intelligence software for the detection of Breast Cancer and radiation therapy for the treatment of various cancers. Mr. Sassine served in various positions at Fidelity Investments from 1999 to 2012, including, most recently as Portfolio Manager. Between 2005 and 2011, he managed the Fidelity Small Cap Stock Fund, the Fidelity International Small Cap Opportunities Fund and the Fidelity Advisor International Small Cap Opportunities Fund. Mr. Sassine joined Fidelity as a high yield research analyst, covering the Telecommunications, Satellite, Technology, Defense and Aerospace, and Restaurant Industries and in 2001, joined the international group as a research analyst covering small and mid-cap international stocks. Mr. Sassine was a member of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa Board of Advisors from 2009 to 2018. Mr. Sassine has a B.A from the University of Iowa and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth Garofalo, M.D., age 63, has served as the Principal for EAG Pharma Consulting LLC since April 2016. She has also served on the board of directors of Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since September 2020. Prior to 2016, Dr. Garofalo served in numerous leadership roles including as Senior Vice President and Co-Head of the Novartis Neuroscience Franchise between 2010 and 2013, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Clinical Development between 2013 and 2016, member of the Novartis Global Development Leadership Team from 2010 until 2016. She was Chair of the Novartis Portfolio Stewardship Board from 2013 until 2015. She also served as Vice President and Head of the Neuroscience Therapy Area at Astellas from 2009 to 2010. Dr. Garofalo currently serves on the board for the Institute for Advanced Clinical Trials in Children and is the Chair of the Business Advisory Board for the Epilepsy Foundation of America. She earned a degree in biology from Purdue University and has an M.D. from the Indiana University School of Medicine where she completed her Pediatric Residency. She also completed fellowships in Pediatric Neurology and Epilepsy at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will be compensated in accordance with the Company’s compensation program for non-employee directors (the “Program”). Pursuant to the Program, Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will each be paid $40,000 per fiscal year for their service as a director on the Board and will each be paid $7,500 per year for their service as a member of the Audit Committee. Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will also be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at Board and committee meetings.
In addition, pursuant to the Program, Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will each receive an initial option grant of 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price equal to $2.06, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on March 5, 2021, the date of the grant. This option will vest in equal monthly installments over a three-year period, subject to Dr. Garofalo’s and Mr. Sassine’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.
Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine have also entered into the Company’s standard indemnity agreement, the form of which was previously filed by the Company as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-227475), initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21, 2018.
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/16985...-k3921.htm
...but also note...Appointment of Elizabeth Garofalo, M.D. and Andrew Sassine as follows.....
Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating Committee”), the Board appointed Elizabeth Garofalo, M.D. and Andrew Sassine to serve as directors of the Company, and Mr. Sassine as a member of the Audit Committee, effective March 5, 2021. Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will serve for the term expiring at the Company’s 2022 and 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, respectively, and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
Mr. Sassine, age 56, has served as the Chief Financial Officer and Director at Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc. since January 2019. He also has served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee on the Board of Directors of Nasdaq listed ICAD Inc. ICAD is a leading provider of artificial intelligence software for the detection of Breast Cancer and radiation therapy for the treatment of various cancers. Mr. Sassine served in various positions at Fidelity Investments from 1999 to 2012, including, most recently as Portfolio Manager. Between 2005 and 2011, he managed the Fidelity Small Cap Stock Fund, the Fidelity International Small Cap Opportunities Fund and the Fidelity Advisor International Small Cap Opportunities Fund. Mr. Sassine joined Fidelity as a high yield research analyst, covering the Telecommunications, Satellite, Technology, Defense and Aerospace, and Restaurant Industries and in 2001, joined the international group as a research analyst covering small and mid-cap international stocks. Mr. Sassine was a member of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa Board of Advisors from 2009 to 2018. Mr. Sassine has a B.A from the University of Iowa and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth Garofalo, M.D., age 63, has served as the Principal for EAG Pharma Consulting LLC since April 2016. She has also served on the board of directors of Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since September 2020. Prior to 2016, Dr. Garofalo served in numerous leadership roles including as Senior Vice President and Co-Head of the Novartis Neuroscience Franchise between 2010 and 2013, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Clinical Development between 2013 and 2016, member of the Novartis Global Development Leadership Team from 2010 until 2016. She was Chair of the Novartis Portfolio Stewardship Board from 2013 until 2015. She also served as Vice President and Head of the Neuroscience Therapy Area at Astellas from 2009 to 2010. Dr. Garofalo currently serves on the board for the Institute for Advanced Clinical Trials in Children and is the Chair of the Business Advisory Board for the Epilepsy Foundation of America. She earned a degree in biology from Purdue University and has an M.D. from the Indiana University School of Medicine where she completed her Pediatric Residency. She also completed fellowships in Pediatric Neurology and Epilepsy at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will be compensated in accordance with the Company’s compensation program for non-employee directors (the “Program”). Pursuant to the Program, Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will each be paid $40,000 per fiscal year for their service as a director on the Board and will each be paid $7,500 per year for their service as a member of the Audit Committee. Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will also be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at Board and committee meetings.
In addition, pursuant to the Program, Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine will each receive an initial option grant of 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price equal to $2.06, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on March 5, 2021, the date of the grant. This option will vest in equal monthly installments over a three-year period, subject to Dr. Garofalo’s and Mr. Sassine’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.
Dr. Garofalo and Mr. Sassine have also entered into the Company’s standard indemnity agreement, the form of which was previously filed by the Company as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-227475), initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21, 2018.
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/16985...-k3921.htm
