UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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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 2.05 Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.
On July 22, 2024, MEI Pharma, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has determined unanimously to begin an evaluation of the Company’s strategic alternatives, including potential transactions as well as an orderly wind-down of the Company, if necessary, in order to maximize the value of its assets. In connection with these activities, and in order to best preserve the Company’s existing cash, the Company will commence a reduction-in-force beginning as soon as practicable and continuing in stages as the Company’s operational and strategic direction evolves. The Company also intends to promptly discontinue the clinical development of voruciclib, while continuing to conduct certain non-clinical activities related to the Company’s drug candidate assets.
This workforce reduction will commence during the first quarter of the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (“fiscal 2025”) and continue through the year as appropriate in light of the evaluation of strategic alternatives. As a result of these actions, the Company expects to incur personnel-related restructuring charges of approximately $5.8 million in connection with one-time employee termination costs, including severance and other benefits, which are expected to be recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The Company may also incur other charges or cash expenditures not currently contemplated due to events that may occur as a result of, or associated with, the workforce reduction or retention efforts. These estimates of the costs that the Company expects to incur, and the timing thereof, are subject to a number of assumptions and actual results may differ.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
In connection with the approval of the review of strategic alternatives and the planned reduction-in-force, as discussed in Item 2.05 above, David M. Urso, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Richard G. Ghalie, M.D., our Chief Medical Officer, will be leaving the Company effective August 1, 2024. Mr. Urso will also leave the Board at that time. In the case of each of these departures, the Board has determined that Mr. Urso and Dr. Ghalie will be eligible to receive severance benefits commensurate with a termination without “Cause” or a termination for “Good Reason” under their respective employment agreements with the Company, as previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on June 29, 2023 and Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024.
The Company expects to enter into a separation agreement with each of Mr. Urso and Dr. Ghalie, and also to enter into consulting agreements with each of them in order to engage their services as consultants to assist in the matters discussed in Item 2.05 above. The terms of such agreements will be disclosed by the Company when the agreements are entered into.
Appointment of Justin J. File as Acting Chief Executive Officer
The Board has appointed Justin J. File, age 53, currently the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, to serve in the additional capacity of Acting Chief Executive Officer (“Acting CEO”), effective as of August 1, 2024. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. File and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as Acting CEO, and there are no family relationships between Mr. File and any of the Company’s directors or executive officers. Mr. File has no direct or indirect material interest in any existing or currently proposed transaction that would require disclosure under item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
In connection with his appointment as Acting CEO, the Board expects to enter into an amendment to Mr. File’s employment agreement, as previously filed with the SEC and incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on June 29, 2023, to increase his base salary to $550,000 and to increase his bonus opportunity, as a percentage of his base salary, from 40% to 50%.
The Company expects to enter into an addendum to Mr. File’s employment agreement to memorialize these and any other changes to which Mr. File and the Company may agree. The terms of this addendum will be disclosed by the Company when it is entered into.
In connection with these matters, Charles V. Baltic III, the current Chairperson of the Board, will also step down from the Board effective immediately. The Board has appointed Frederick W. Driscoll as Chairperson of the Company.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On July 22, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing the matters discussed in Item 2.05 above. A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.6 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for any purpose, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
99.1 |
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Press Release issued by MEI Pharma, Inc., dated July 22, 2024. |
104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the XBRL document. |
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 hereunto duly authorized.
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MEI Pharma, Inc. |
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Date: |
July 22, 2024 |
By: |
/s/ Justin J. File |
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Justin J. FIle |
Exhibit 99.1
MEI Pharma to Consider Strategic Alternatives
Company Commences a Cash Preservation Plan Including a Reduction in Force
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 22, 2024 – MEI Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEIP) (the “Company”) today announced that its Board of Directors has determined unanimously to begin evaluation of the Company’s strategic alternatives, including potential transactions as well as an orderly wind down of the Company, if appropriate, in order to maximize the value of its assets for its stockholders. The Company intends to evaluate and engage a financial advisor to assist in this process.
In order to best preserve the Company’s existing cash, the Company will commence a reduction-in-force beginning as soon as practicable and continuing in stages as the Company’s operational and strategic direction evolves. The Company intends to promptly discontinue the clinical development of voruciclib, while certain non-clinical activities related to MEI’s drug candidate assets will continue to be conducted by the Company.
Consistent with the Company’s intention to preserve the cash, David M. Urso, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Richard Ghalie, MD, the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, have agreed in principle with the Company to step down, effective as of August 1, 2024. Mr. Urso will also leave the Company’s Board of Directors at that time. The Company expects to enter into consulting agreements with both Mr. Urso and Dr. Ghalie under which they will remain available to assist the Company in its strategic efforts. Charles V. Baltic III, the current Chairperson of the Company’s Board of Directors, will also step down from the Board contemporaneous with this announcement.
As part of the review of strategic alternatives, the Company will consider options such as out-licensing opportunities for existing programs and merger and acquisition opportunities.
The Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Justin “Jay” File, currently the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, to assume the position of Acting Chief Executive Officer upon Mr. Urso’s departure to lead the Company through this period of transition. The Board of Directors has also appointed Frederick W. Driscoll Chairperson of the Company to lead the Board during this period.
“The Company has reached an important transition point that will focus on the evaluation of alternate strategic pathways in the interests of all MEI stockholders. While MEI has decided to cease clinical development activities of its drug candidate portfolio, these activities have contributed meaningfully to scientific understanding and clinical experience in kinase inhibition and metabolic pathways relevant to hematologic and solid cancers. It has been a privilege to serve the Company and its stockholders as Chairperson through its recent evolution. I thank David Urso for his leadership and all MEI employees for their dedication and professionalism” stated Mr. Baltic.
Mr. Urso stated “I thank the Board for their support of me and of the dedicated MEI staff in their intrepid efforts. I would also like to thank MEI’s employees for their incredible professionalism and commitment to oncology drug development. I finally want to thank the many cancer patients and clinicians who have participated in MEI sponsored clinical trials in support of evaluating potential new cancer therapies. I believe that MEI, its employees and these patients and clinicians have significantly helped to advance understanding of experimental cancer therapies.”
“The Company’s Board and management team believe that it is prudent to focus the Company’s resources and efforts on the exploration of potential strategic alternatives, and during that process to practice prudent cash management,” said Mr. File. “Should advantageous strategic alternatives not be presented, the Company would consider an orderly wind down of its operations.”
About MEI Pharma
MEI Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEIP) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to developing novel and differentiated cancer therapies. We build our pipeline by acquiring promising cancer agents and creating value in
programs through development, strategic partnerships, out-licensing and commercialization, as appropriate. Our approach to oncology drug development is to evaluate our drug candidates in combinations with standard-of-care therapies to overcome known resistance mechanisms and address clear medical needs to provide improved patient benefit. The drug candidate pipeline includes voruciclib, an oral cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (“CDK9”) inhibitor, and ME-344, an intravenous small molecule mitochondrial inhibitor targeting the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. For more information, please visit www.meipharma.com. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @MEI_Pharma and on LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this press release that are not historical in nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s ability to identify, assess and execute a strategic transaction or realize value from its existing assets, the Company’s ability to preserve cash in order to adequately fund an orderly wind down of its operations if no transaction is consummated, the ability of stockholders and other stakeholders to realize any value or recovery as part of a transaction or a wind down process, the Company’s workforce reduction and future charges expected to be incurred in connection therewith, the adequacy or sufficiency of the Company’s existing cash resources and other statements. You should be aware that our actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, which are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to the Company’s ability to identify attractive strategic alternatives; the Company’s ability to retain key personnel; the adequacy of the Company’s capital resources in light of changing circumstances; the actions of various stakeholders of the Company; uncertainty regarding the impact of rising inflation and the increase in interest rates as a result; potential economic downturn; activist investors; government regulation; and one-time events. We do not intend to update any of these factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements.
Contacts
David A. Walsey
858-369-7104
investor@meipharma.com