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): January 2, 2020
Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Delaware | 001-38137 | 47-2608175 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
|
22 Boston Wharf Road 9th Floor Boston, MA |
02210 | |||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (617) 207-0202
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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 Instructions A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common stock | AKCA | NASDAQ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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. |
Resignation of Chief Financial Officer
On January 2, 2020, Michael MacLean, Chief Financial Officer of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) delivered to the Company a 90-day notice of resignation from his position as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. MacLean’s resignation is effective April 1, 2020.
In accordance with the letter agreement dated October 11, 2019 (the “Letter Agreement”) entered between Mr. MacLean and the Company, Mr. MacLean will be entitled to receive medical benefit continuation, a lump sum severance payment equal to 12 months of his base salary, and an amount equal to his target annual cash performance bonus for 2019.
The description of the Letter Agreement set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms set forth in such agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2019.
SIGNATURES
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 thereunto duly authorized.
| AKCEA THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||||||
| Date: January 6, 2020 |
By: |
/s/ Damien McDevitt | ||||
| Damien McDevitt | ||||||
| Interim Chief Executive Officer | ||||||