UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 29, 2018 (October 25, 2018)
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-31361 | 35-2089858 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction | (Commission | (IRS Employer | ||
| of incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
| 4131 ParkLake Ave., Suite #225 | ||
| Raleigh, NC | 27612 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 919-582-9050
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 to the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | 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)) |
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.
On October 29, 2018, BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of James Vollins as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and member of its Executive Leadership team, effective November 5, 2018. Mr. Vollins will also serve as the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary.
Mr. Vollins has more than 25 years of legal experience. Most recently, Mr. Vollins served as Vice President, General Counsel at Bio Products Laboratory Ltd., a blood plasma manufacturer, from 2014 to 2018. From 2007 to 2014, Mr. Vollins served as Vice President, Senior Assistant General Counsel at Grifols, S.A., a multinational pharmaceutical and chemical company.
On October 25, 2018, Ernest De Paolantonio announced his retirement from the position of Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective as of December 31, 2018. Mr. De Paolantonio will remain at the Company past such date in order to allow for an orderly transition to a new CFO. The Company also announced the expansion of current President Scott M. Plesha’s title to President and Chief Commercial Officer.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD.
The Company issued a press release announcing the executive leadership team changes described in Item 5.02 above on October 29, 2018, a copy of which is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| 99.1 | Press Release, dated October 29, 2018, regarding executive leadership team changes. | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| October 29, 2018 | BIODELIVERY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC. | |||||||||
| By: | /s/ Herm Cukier | |||||||||
| Name: | Herm Cukier | |||||||||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
BioDelivery Sciences Announces Changes to its Executive Leadership Team
James Vollins joins the Company in role of General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary
Ernest De Paolantonio, Chief Financial Officer announces plan to retire by mid-2019
Scott Plesha, President takes on additional role of Chief Commercial Officer
RALEIGH, N.C., October 29, 2018 - BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDSI), a rapidly growing commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to patients living with chronic pain, appointed James Vollins as General Counsel and member of its Executive Leadership Team effective November 5, 2018. Mr. Vollins will also serve as the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary. Jim brings over 25 years of extensive legal experience including serving as general counsel and assistant general counsel for several successful healthcare companies and as senior external counsel covering a variety of legal matters. Mr. Vollins is well versed in the fields of securities law, corporate governance and regulatory compliance relating to the commercialization and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products in the U.S. Jim received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Magna cum laude, and is a graduate of Wesleyan University.
“We are delighted to welcome Jim to our leadership team during this exciting time of rapid company growth,” stated Herm Cukier, CEO of BDSI. “His extensive and wide ranging legal, compliance, and corporate governance experience as part of public companies will further enhance our ability to successfully capitalize on the continued potential of Belbuca growth and beyond.”
The company also announced the retirement of Ernest R. DePaolantonio, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, which is expected to occur by mid-2019. This time will allow the company to hire a new CFO and provide for a smooth transition with Mr. DePaolantonio well before his retirement.
“For the past five years, Ernie has played a critical role helping BDSI transition from an R&D organization into the rapidly growing commercial stage company we are today,” said Herm Cukier. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Ernie for his leadership, dedicated service and contributions that have helped position the company for continued growth and success. We wish Ernie the very best in the years ahead.”
Finally, the company announced the enhanced title of Scott Plesha to President and Chief Commercial Officer of the Company. This change recognizes the broader role and contributions Scott has undertaken in leading the very successful growth of BELBUCA® over the last eighteen months, and the important role the commercial organization will continue to play in the future of BDSI.
About BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDSI) is a rapidly growing commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to patients living with chronic pain. BDSI is utilizing its novel and proprietary BioErodible MucoAdhesive (BEMA®) technology and other drug delivery technologies to develop and commercialize, either on its own or in partnership with third parties, new applications of proven therapies aimed at addressing important unmet medical needs.
BDSI’s marketed products and those in development address serious and debilitating conditions such as chronic pain, breakthrough cancer pain, and opioid dependence. BDSI’s headquarters is in Raleigh, North Carolina.
For more information, please visit or follow us:
| Internet: | www.bdsi.com | |
| Facebook: | Facebook.com/BioDeliverySI | |
| Twitter: | @BioDeliverySI | |
BUNAVAIL® (buprenorphine and naloxone) buccal film (CIII) and BELBUCA® (buprenorphine) buccal film (CIII) are marketed in the U.S. by BioDelivery Sciences. For full prescribing information and important safety information on BDSI products please visit www.bdsi.com where the Company promptly posts press releases, SEC filings, and other important information or contact the Company at (800) 469-0261. For full prescribing and safety information on BELBUCA, please visit www.belbuca.com and for full prescribing and safety information on BUNAVAIL, please visit www.bunavail.com.
© 2018 BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contacts
Mary Coleman
Vice President, Investor Relations
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
919-582-9050
mcoleman@bdsi.com
Monique Kosse
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors
212-915-3820
monique@lifesciadvisors.com