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 24, 2015
VITAE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware |
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001-36617 |
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04-3567753 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
502 West Office Center Drive |
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19034 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (215) 461-2000
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):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(b) On September 24, 2015, Charles W. Newhall, III, a director of Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Vitae or the Company), notified the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) that he was resigning from the Board, effective immediately, so that he may devote his full time efforts to his other commitments. The Company and the Board wish to thank Mr. Newhall for his dedication and service to the Company.
(d) On September 30, 2015, the Company announced that, based upon the recommendation of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, the Board has elected Karen Bernstein, Ph.D., as a Class I director, with her initial term expiring at Vitaes 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, effective immediately. Dr. Bernstein will serve on the Boards Audit Committee, filling the vacancy created by Mr. Newhalls resignation. A copy of the press release announcing the election of Dr. Bernstein is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Pursuant to Vitaes non-employee director compensation program, as a non-employee joining the Board, Dr. Bernstein was granted a non-statutory stock option to purchase 20,000 shares of Vitaes common stock on September 30, 2015 with an exercise price equal to the closing stock price of Vitaes common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market on September 30, 2015. This option will vest ratably in quarterly installments over three years of service following the date of grant. She will also receive an annual fee of $37,500 for service as a director. In addition, she will be eligible to receive, upon the conclusion of each annual meeting of stockholder, a non-statutory stock option to purchase 10,000 shares of Vitaes common stock on that date with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of Vitaes common stock on the grant date. Such annual grant will vest in quarterly installments over one year of service following the grant date. Vitaes non-employee director compensation program is described in further detail in Vitaes Proxy Statement for the its 2015 Annual Stockholder Meeting filed with Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2015 pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Dr. Bernstein and the Company will also enter into an indemnification agreement requiring the Company to indemnify her to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law with respect to her service as a director. The indemnification agreement will be in the form entered into with the Companys other directors and executive officers. This form is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.
There is no arrangement or understanding between Dr. Bernstein and any other person pursuant to which Dr. Bernstein was appointed as a director. The Board has determined that Dr. Bernstein is an independent director in accordance with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit |
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Description |
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99.1 |
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Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release, dated September 30, 2015. |
99.2 |
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Form of Indemnification Agreement between Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and each of its directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-198090) filed with the SEC on August 12, 2014). |
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.
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VITAE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | |
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Date: September 30, 2015 |
By: |
/s/ Jeffrey S. Hatfield |
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Jeffrey S. Hatfield |
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Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
Vitae Pharmaceuticals Appoints Dr. Karen Bernstein to Board of Directors
Charles W. Newhall, III steps down from board
FORT WASHINGTON, PA, September 30, 2015 Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:VTAE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, today announced the appointment of Karen Bernstein, Ph.D., to its board of directors, effective immediately. Dr. Bernstein is best known for co-founding and shaping BioCentury Publications Inc. into one of the biotechnology sectors most highly regarded sources of global industry intelligence. Dr. Bernstein stepped down from her role as Editor-in-Chief in August, but continues to serve as BioCenturys Chairman.
Karens vast professional network, industry insight, and strategic perspective will be of great value to the Vitae team as we continue to advance our wholly owned product candidates through the clinic, said Don Hayden, Chairman of Vitaes board of directors.
Dr. Bernstein co-founded BioCentury in 1992. During her tenure as Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, she was instrumental in growing the company into a key source of independent intelligence and analysis for a global biopharmaceutical audience.
Vitaes first-in-class RORyt inhibitor is a fascinating oral target in the dynamic field of immunology, said Dr. Bernstein. The Companys clinical pipeline of novel drug candidates has the potential to vastly improve the quality of life for patients afflicted with serious autoimmune disorders and inflammatory skin conditions. I look forward to working closely with Vitaes management team.
In addition to joining Vitaes board of directors, Dr. Bernstein is also on the board of Ovid Therapeutics. She currently serves as a trustee of the Keck Graduate Institute of the Applied Life Sciences and is a member of the Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacys board of advisors. Dr. Bernstein earned a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University and a B.A. in politics and history from Brandeis University.
Additionally, Vitae announced that Charles W. Newhall, III has stepped down from his role on the Companys board of directors.
I would like to thank Chuck for the insights, guidance and support he provided throughout his long-standing tenure on Vitaes board, added Mr. Hayden.
Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
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Tel: (215) 461-2000 |
502 West Office Center Drive |
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Fax: (215) 461-2006 |
Fort Washington, PA 19034 |
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www.vitaepharma.com |
About Vitae Pharmaceuticals
Vitae Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing first-in-class, small molecule drugs for difficult-to-drug disease targets that can potentially address significant unmet medical needs, including programs in autoimmune disorders, atopic dermatitis, Alzheimers disease and diabetes. This robust and growing portfolio of novel product candidates is generated internally by Contour®, Vitaes proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform.
For additional information, please visit the companys website at www.vitaepharma.com.
About BioCentury
Founded in 1992 by Karen Bernstein and David Flores, BioCentury is one of the benchmark sources of biopharma industry intelligence for a global audience of biotech and pharmaceutical executives, investors, regulators, and public policy influencers, with the goal of delivering the essential clinical, regulatory, and finance news shaping the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
For additional information, please visit the companys website at www.biocentury.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended including statements regarding the clinical development of VTP-43742. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as may, might, will, objective, intend, should, could, can, would, expect, believe, anticipate, project, target, design, estimate, predict, potential, plan, impending or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward- looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties. Vitae is at an early stage of development and may not ever have any products that generate significant revenue. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Vitaes forward-looking statements include, among others, the timing and success of preclinical studies and clinical trials conducted by Vitae and its collaborative partners; the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of Vitaes product candidates, and the labeling for any approved products; the scope, progress, expansion, and costs of developing and commercializing Vitaes product candidates; the size and growth of the potential markets for Vitaes product candidates and the ability to serve those markets; Vitaes expectations regarding Vitaes expenses and revenue, the sufficiency of Vitaes cash resources and needs for additional financing; Vitaes ability to attract or retain key personnel; and other factors that are described in the Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of Vitaes Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and Vitaes Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In addition to the risks described above and in Vitaes other filings with the
SEC, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Vitaes results. No forward-looking statements can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from such statements. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Vitae undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
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INVESTORS:
Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Richard S. Morris, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
(215) 461-2000
rmorris@vitaerx.com
Westwicke Partners
John Woolford
(443) 213-0506
john.woolford@westwicke.com
MEDIA:
6 Degrees PR
Tony Plohoros
(908) 591-2839
tplohoros@6degreespr.com