| | | | Sincerely, | |
| | | |
|
|
| | | |
Thomas Gad
Founder, President, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Head of Business Development and Strategy |
|
| | | | | 2 | | | |
| | | | | 10 | | | |
| | | | | 10 | | | |
| | | | | 13 | | | |
| | | | | 16 | | | |
| | | | | 23 | | | |
| | | | | 23 | | | |
| | | | | 24 | | | |
| | | | | 29 | | | |
| | | | | 30 | | | |
| | | | | 34 | | | |
| | | | | 35 | | | |
| | | | | 35 | | | |
| | | | | 36 | | | |
| | | | | 36 | | | |
| | | | | 36 | | | |
| | | | | 40 | | | |
| | | | | 43 | | | |
| | | | | 43 | | | |
| | | | | 44 | | | |
| | | | | 45 | | | |
| | | | | 45 | | | |
| | | | | 45 | | | |
| | | | | 47 | | | |
| | | | | 48 | | | |
| | | | | 48 | | | |
| | | | | 51 | | | |
| | | | | 51 | | | |
| | | | | 51 | | | |
| | | | | 52 | | | |
| | | | | 52 | | | |
| | | | | 52 | | |
| | | | By order of the Board of Directors, | |
| | | |
|
|
| | | |
Thomas Gad
Founder, President, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Head of Business Development and Strategy New York, New York |
|
| |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on June 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
The Notice of Annual Meeting, this Proxy Statement, the Annual Report and the form of proxy
are available at www.astproxy.com/ast/22412. |
| |
| |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be Held on June 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
The Notice of Annual Meeting, this Proxy Statement, the Annual Report and the form of proxy
are available at www.astproxyportal.com/AST/22412. |
| |
Name
|
| |
Age(1)
|
| |
Term Expires
|
| |
Position
|
|
Class I Directors | | | | | | | | | | |
Gérard Ber, Ph.D.
|
| |
65
|
| |
2025
|
| | Director | |
David N. Gill
|
| |
68
|
| |
2025
|
| | Director | |
Class II Directors and Nominees
|
| | | | | | | | | |
James I. Healy, M.D.
|
| |
58
|
| |
2023
|
| | Director, Chairman of the Board | |
Ashutosh Tyagi, M.D.
|
| |
46
|
| |
2023
|
| | Director | |
Laura J. Hamill
|
| |
58
|
| |
2023
|
| | Director | |
Class III Directors | | | | | | | | | | |
Thomas Gad
|
| |
53
|
| |
2024
|
| | Founder, President, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Head of Business Development and Strategy and Director | |
Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg | | |
53
|
| |
2024
|
| | Director | |
|
Total Number of Directors
|
| |
7
|
|
Gender Identity
|
| |
Female
|
| |
Male
|
| |
Non-Binary
|
| |
Did Not
Disclose Gender |
| ||||||||||||
Directors
|
| | | | 1 | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Demographic Background | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
African American or Black
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Alaskan Native or Native American
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Asian
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Hispanic or Latinx
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
White
|
| | | | 1 | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Two or More Races or Ethnicities
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
LGBTQ+
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Name
|
| |
Audit
|
| |
Compensation
|
| |
Nominating and
Corporate Governance |
| |||||||||
Dr. Gérard Ber
|
| | | | | | | | | | X | | | | | | | | |
David N. Gill
|
| | | | X(1) | | | | | | X | | | | | | X | | |
Dr. James I. Healy
|
| | | | X | | | | | | X(1)(2) | | | | | | | | |
Dr. Ashutosh Tyagi
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X(1) | | |
Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg
|
| | | | X | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Laura J. Hamill
|
| | | | | | | | | | X(1)(2) | | | | | | X | | |
Total meetings in fiscal 2022
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | 1 | | |
Name
|
| |
Age(1)
|
| |
Position
|
|
Thomas Gad | | |
53
|
| | Founder, President, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Head of Business Development and Strategy | |
Bo Kruse | | |
51
|
| | Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer | |
Torben Lund-Hansen, Ph.D. | | |
72
|
| | Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer | |
Steen Lisby, M.D., DMSc | | |
59
|
| | Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer | |
Joris Wiel Jan Wilms | | |
49
|
| | Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | |
Susan Smith | | |
53
|
| | Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer | |
Vignesh Rajah, M.D. | | |
56
|
| | Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer | |
Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Salary $
|
| |
Bonus
($)(1) |
| |
Non-equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(2) |
| |
Option
Awards ($)(3) |
| |
All Other
Compensation ($) |
| |
Total
($) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Gad(4)
Founder, President, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Head of Business Development and Strategy |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | $ | 605,900(5) | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 356,860 | | | | | $ | 388,200 | | | | | $ | 84,736(6) | | | | | $ | 1,435,695 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | $ | 500,000 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 187,500 | | | | | $ | 1,095,366 | | | | | $ | 84,835 | | | | | $ | 1,867,701 | | | ||
Bo Kruse
Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | $ | 480,200 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 204,085 | | | | | $ | 463,500 | | | | | $ | 736(7) | | | | | $ | 1,148,521 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | $ | 464,000 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 174,000 | | | | | $ | 846,396 | | | | | $ | 835 | | | | | $ | 1,485,231 | | | ||
Sue Smith(8)
Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | $ | 400,000 | | | | | $ | 170,000 | | | | | $ | 140,000 | | | | | $ | 123,600 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 833,600 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | ||
Dr. Claus Juan Møller-San Pedro M.D., Ph.D.(9)
Former Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | $ | 283,042 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 641,494(10) | | | | | $ | 924,536 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | $ | 630,000 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 283,500 | | | | | $ | 2,290,248 | | | | | $ | 84,835 | | | | | $ | 3,288,583 | | |
| | |
Option Awards
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised Options |
| |
Option
Exercise Price ($/Sh) |
| |
Option
Expiration Date |
| ||||||||||||
Name
|
| |
Exercisable(#)
|
| |
Unexercisable(#)
|
| |||||||||||||||
Thomas Gad(1)
|
| | | | 153,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 2.00 | | | | June 10, 2025 | |
| | | | | 166,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 4.38 | | | | October 21, 2026 | |
| | | | | 16,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 8.50 | | | |
December 14, 2026
|
|
| | | | | 100,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 11.16 | | | | April 24, 2028 | |
| | | | | 107,500 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 21.97 | | | |
December 11, 2028
|
|
| | | | | 94,792 | | | | | | 35,208 | | | | | $ | 30.34 | | | | January 7, 2030 | |
| | | | | 45,725 | | | | | | 45,725 | | | | | $ | 53.88 | | | |
December 15, 2030
|
|
| | | | | 27,500 | | | | | | 82,500 | | | | | $ | 15.73 | | | |
December 14, 2031
|
|
| | | | | — | | | | | | 60,000 | | | | | $ | 9.52 | | | | May 18, 2032 | |
Bo Kruse(2)
|
| | | | 300,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 2.00 | | | | June 10, 2025 | |
| | | | | 133,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 4.38 | | | | October 21, 2026 | |
| | | | | 14,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 8.50 | | | |
December 14, 2026
|
|
| | | | | 75,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 11.16 | | | | April 24, 2028 | |
| | | | | 107,500 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 21.97 | | | |
December 11, 2028
|
|
| | | | | 94,792 | | | | | | 35,208 | | | | | $ | 30.34 | | | | January 7, 2030 | |
| | | | | 36,175 | | | | | | 36,175 | | | | | $ | 53.88 | | | |
December 15, 2030
|
|
| | | | | 21,250 | | | | | | 63,750 | | | | | $ | 15.73 | | | |
December 14, 2031
|
|
| | | | | — | | | | | | 75,000 | | | | | $ | 9.51 | | | | April 26, 2032 | |
Sue Smith(3)
|
| | | | 16,000 | | | | | | 48,000 | | | | | $ | 15.73 | | | |
December 14, 2031
|
|
| | | | | — | | | | | | 20,000 | | | | | $ | 9.51 | | | | April 26, 2032 | |
Claus Juan Møller-San Pedro M.D., Ph.D.(4)
|
| | | | 500,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2.00 | | | | June 10, 2025 | |
| | | | | 200,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4.38 | | | | October 21, 2026 | |
| | | | | 18,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8.50 | | | |
December 14, 2026
|
|
| | | | | 125,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 11.16 | | | | April 24, 2028 | |
| | | | | 211,500 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 21.97 | | | |
December 11, 2028
|
|
| | | | | 200,521 | | | | | | 74,479 | | | | | | 30.34 | | | | January 7, 2030 | |
| | | | | 113,400 | | | | | | 113,400 | | | | | | 53.88 | | | |
December 15, 2030
|
|
| | | | | 57,500 | | | | | | 172,500 | | | | | | 15.73 | | | |
December 14, 2031
|
|
| | |
Summary
Compensation Table Total for PEO(2) |
| |
Compensation Actually
Paid to PEO(3) |
| |
Average
Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(4) |
| |
Average
Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(5) |
| |
Value of
Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: Total Shareholder Return(6) |
| |
Net Income
(Loss) (millions)(7) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year(1)
|
| |
Gad(2)
|
| |
Møller(2)
|
| |
Gad(3)
|
| |
Møller(3)
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a)
|
| |
(b)
|
| |
(b)
|
| |
(c)
|
| |
(c)
|
| |
(d)
|
| |
(e)
|
| |
(f)
|
| |
(h)
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022
|
| | | $ | 1,435,696 | | | | | $ | 924,536 | | | | | $ | (198,556) | | | | | $ | (2,236,402) | | | | | $ | 991,061 | | | | | $ | 164,844 | | | | | $ | 9.86 | | | | | $ | (95.6) | | |
2021
|
| | | | — | | | | | $ | 3,288,583 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | (8,440,092) | | | | | $ | 1,197,620 | | | | | $ | (1,983,012) | | | | | $ | 32.74 | | | | | $ | (55.3) | | |
Year
|
| |
Reported
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO |
| |
Reported
Value of Equity Awards(a) |
| |
Equity Award
Adjustments(b) |
| |
Compensation
Actually Paid to PEO |
| ||||||||||||
Thomas Gad | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2022
|
| | | $ | 1,435,696 | | | | | $ | 388,200 | | | | | $ | (1,246,052) | | | | | $ | (198,556) | | |
Claus Juan Møller-San Pedro M.D., Ph.D. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2022
|
| | | $ | 924,536 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | (3,160,938) | | | | | $ | (2,236,402) | | |
2021
|
| | | $ | 3,288,583 | | | | | $ | 2,290,248 | | | | | $ | (9,438,427) | | | | | $ | (8,440,092) | | |
Year
|
| |
Year End Fair
Value of Equity Awards |
| |
Year over Year
Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards |
| |
Fair Value as
of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year |
| |
Year over
Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year |
| |
Fair Value at
the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year |
| |
Value of
Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock or Option Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation |
| |
Total Equity
Award Adjustments |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Gad | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
2022
|
| | | $ | 209,016 | | | | | $ | (1,090,764) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (364,305) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (1,246,052) | | | | ||
Claus Juan Møller-San Pedro M.D., Ph.D. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022
|
| | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (2,403,178) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (757,760) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (3,160,938) | | | | ||
2021
|
| | | $ | 2,399,705 | | | | | $ | (8,628,480) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (3,209,652) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (9,438,427) | | | |
| | | | | |
Average Reported
Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs |
| |
Average Reported
Value of Equity Awards(a) |
| |
Average Equity
Award Adjustments(b) |
| |
Average
Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs |
| ||||||||||||
2022
|
| | | | | | $ | 991,061 | | | | | $ | 163,843 | | | | | $ | (662,374) | | | | | $ | 164,844 | | |
2021
|
| | | | | | $ | 1,197,620 | | | | | $ | 644,762 | | | | | $ | (2,535,870) | | | | | $ | (1,983,012) | | |
Year
|
| |
Average Year
End Fair Value of Equity Awards |
| |
Average Year
over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards |
| |
Average Fair
Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year |
| |
Average Year
over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year |
| |
Average Fair
Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year |
| |
Average Value
of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock or Option Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation |
| |
Average
Total Equity Adjustments |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
2022
|
| | | $ | 159,667 | | | | | $ | (616,859) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (205,181) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (662,374) | | |
2021
|
| | | $ | 675,569 | | | | | $ | (2,284,578) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (926,861) | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | (2,535,870) | | |
Name
|
| |
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($) |
| |
Option
Awards ($)(1) |
| |
Total ($)
|
| |||||||||
Dr. Gérard Ber
|
| | | $ | 47,500 | | | | | $ | 170,080 | | | | | $ | 217,580 | | |
David N. Gill(2)
|
| | | $ | 72,500 | | | | | $ | 170,080 | | | | | $ | 242,580 | | |
Dr. James I. Healy
|
| | | $ | 54,780 | | | | | $ | 170,080 | | | | | $ | 224,860 | | |
Laura J. Hamill
|
| | | $ | 55,220 | | | | | $ | 170,080 | | | | | $ | 225,300 | | |
Dr. Ashutosh Tyagi(3)
|
| | | $ | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 170,080 | | | | | $ | 220,080 | | |
Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg
|
| | | $ | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 170,080 | | | | | $ | 220,080 | | |
| | |
Other Equity
awards (#) |
| |
Option
awards (#) |
| ||||||
Dr. Gérard Ber
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 96,000 | | |
David N. Gill
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 88,000 | | |
Dr. James I. Healy
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 70,222 | | |
Laura J. Hamill
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 64,000 | | |
Dr. Ashutosh Tyagi
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 96,000 | | |
Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 132,000 | | |
| | |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
| ||||||
Position
|
| |
Retainer
|
| |
Retainer
|
| ||||||
Board Member
|
| | | $ | 50,000 | | | | | $ | 40,000 | | |
Board Chair
|
| | | $ | 35,000 | | | | | $ | — | | |
Audit Committee Chair
|
| | | $ | 20,000 | | | | | $ | 20,000 | | |
Compensation Committee Chair
|
| | | $ | 15,000 | | | | | $ | 15,000 | | |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair
|
| | | $ | 10,000 | | | | | $ | 10,000 | | |
Audit Committee Member
|
| | | $ | 10,000 | | | | | $ | 10,000 | | |
Compensation Committee Member
|
| | | $ | 7,500 | | | | | $ | 7,500 | | |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Member
|
| | | $ | 5,000 | | | | | $ | 5,000 | | |
Plan Category
|
| |
Number of securities
to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
| |
Weighted average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
| |
Number of securities
remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
| |||||||||
| | |
(a)
|
| |
(b)
|
| |
(c)
|
| |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
| | | | 7,113,122(1) | | | | | $ | 21.17(2) | | | | | | 4,667,274(3) | | |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security
holders |
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Total
|
| | | | 7,113,122 | | | | | $ | 21.17 | | | | | | 4,667,274(4) | | |
Fee Category
|
| |
2022
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
Audit Fees(1)
|
| | | $ | 880,000 | | | | | $ | 955,000 | | |
Audit-Related Fees(2)
|
| | | $ | 5,194 | | | | | | 22,000 | | |
Tax Fees(3)
|
| | | $ | 9,813 | | | | | | 49,460 | | |
All Other Fees(4)
|
| | | $ | 5,400 | | | | | | 6,650 | | |
Total Fees
|
| | | $ | 900,407 | | | | | $ | 1,033,110 | | |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percentage
of Shares Beneficially Owned |
| ||||||
5% Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Entities affiliated with WG Biotech ApS(1)
Rungsted Strandvej 113 DK 2960 Rungsted Kyst, Denmark |
| | | | 4,178,465 | | | | | | 9.6% | | |
Entities affiliated with HBM Healthcare Investments (Cayman) Limited(2)
Governors Square 23 Lime Tree Bay Avenue PO Box 30852 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands |
| | | | 3,813,853 | | | | | | 8.7% | | |
Entities affiliated with BlackRock, Inc(3)
55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 |
| | | | 2,578,776 | | | | | | 5.9% | | |
Entities affiliated with Acorn Bioventures(4)
420 Lexington Avenue Suite 2626 New York, NY 10170 |
| | | | 2,326,528 | | | | | | 5.3% | | |
The Vanguard Group(5)
100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 |
| | | | 2,258,254 | | | | | | 5.2% | | |
Entities affiliated with Sofinnova Venture Partners X, L.P.(6)
3000 Sand Hill Road Building 4-Suite 250 Menlo Park, CA 94025 Attn: Hooman Shahlavi, Partner & General Counsel |
| | | | 2,194,278 | | | | | | 5.0% | | |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percentage
of Shares Beneficially Owned |
| ||||||
Executive Officers and Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Thomas Gad(7)
|
| | | | 1,439,033 | | | | | | 3.2% | | |
Dr. Claus Juan Møller-San Pedro(8)
|
| | | | 2,130,807 | | | | | | 4.7% | | |
Bo Kruse(9)
|
| | | | 1,036,059 | | | | | | 2.3% | | |
Susan Smith(10)
|
| | | | 33,500 | | | | | | * | | |
Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg(11)
|
| | | | 4,307,798 | | | | | | 9.8% | | |
Laura J. Hamill(12)
|
| | | | 60,444 | | | | | | * | | |
Dr. Gérard Ber(13)
|
| | | | 93,333 | | | | | | * | | |
Dr. James I. Healy(14)
|
| | | | 2,287,611 | | | | | | 5.2% | | |
Dr. Ashutosh Tyagi(15)
|
| | | | 92,444 | | | | | | * | | |
David N. Gill(16)
|
| | | | 85,333 | | | | | | * | | |
All Current Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (13 persons)(17)
|
| | | | 9,988,736 | | | | | | 21.5% | | |