UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): September 19, 2017

AMPIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)

373 Inverness Parkway, Suite 200

Englewood, Colorado 80112

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(720) 437-6500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Emerging growth company ¨

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c) Appointment of Chief Operating Officer

On September 22, 2017, Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that it had appointed Holli Cherevka as Chief Operating Officer effective as of September 19, 2017.

Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Cherevka, 34, served as the Director of Business Development for the American College of Radiology (ACR) Image Metrix from May 2011 to January 2013. Ms. Cherevka has served as the Company’s Vice President of Operations since January 2013. There are no family relationships between Ms. Cherevka and any director or executive officer of the Company, and she has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

(e) Material Compensatory Plan, Contract or Arrangement with Principal or Named Executive Officers

On September 19, 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Cherevka (the “Employment Agreement”) in connection with her appointment as Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Ms. Cherevka will receive an annual salary in the amount of $200,000 per year and will be entitled to participate in the Company’s health plan on terms available to other Company employees. The Employment Agreement has an initial term of 24 months from the effective date.

Ms. Cherevka is entitled to receive an annual bonus each year, in an amount up to 50% of her base salary, that will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors based on individual achievement and company performance objectives established by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.

The Employment Agreement provides for an initial grant of stock options to Ms. Cherevka, subject to approval of the Company’s Compensation Committee, to purchase up to 200,000 shares of common stock of the Company. The option will be exercisable for a period of ten years at an exercise price per share equal to the last sale price of the Company’s common stock on the effective date of the Employment Agreement. The option will vest as follows: (i) an option to purchase up to 100,000 shares of common stock vests on the date of the Employment Agreement and (ii) an option to purchase up to 100,000 shares of common stock vests 365 days thereafter. In the event of a change in control of the Company or in the event of death, disability, termination without cause or for good reason (as such terms are defined in the Employment Agreement), all outstanding stock options held by Ms. Cherevka will become fully vested and exercisable.

In addition, in the event of termination without cause or for good reason (as such terms are defined in the Employment Agreement), Ms. Cherevka will be entitled to (i) a lump sum payment equal to 50% of her base salary in effect at the date of termination, less applicable withholding and (ii) COBRA benefits for a period of two years, as further described in the Employment Agreement, and all outstanding stock options held by Ms. Cherevka will become fully vested and exercisable.

The description of the Employment Agreement set forth herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text thereof, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: September 22, 2017

EXHIBIT INDEX