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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 16, 2025
AVALO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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| 001-37590 |
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45-0705648 |
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(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1500 Liberty Ridge Drive, Suite 321, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (410) 522-8707
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:
☐ 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:
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| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value |
AVTX |
Nasdaq Capital Market |
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.
Director Appointment
On September 16, 2025, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Avalo Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Kevin Lind to the Board, effective October 1, 2025.
Mr. Lind will serve as a director until the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Mr. Lind will serve as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board immediately upon his appointment.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Lind and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Lind was selected as a director of the Company, and there is no family relationship between Mr. Lind and any of the Company’s other directors or executive officers. Mr. Lind will be eligible for Board compensation pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan (the “A&R Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan”). Accordingly, in connection with his appointment and in accordance with the A&R Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan, Mr. Lind will be granted a non-qualified stock option award to purchase 40,200 shares of the Company’s common stock on October 1, 2025, vesting in three substantially equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant, in each case, subject to the eligible director’s continued service on each such vesting date. The option has an exercise price equal to the closing price of Avalo’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on October 1, 2025.
Mr. Lind recently served as Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of its board from the company’s inception in 2020 until Longboard was acquired by H. Lundbeck A/S in December 2024 for $2.6 billion. Prior to co-founding Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Lind served as EVP and Chief Financial Officer during the turnaround of Arena Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer for $6.7 billion in 2022) from 2016 to 2020. During his tenure as an executive leader at these organizations, he successfully raised over $1.1 billion in equity capital, secured valuable business development partnerships, spun out two organizations, and was instrumental in activities resulting in the successful acquisitions of both companies. At Longboard, Mr. Lind also led the innovative drug development strategies resulting in the conceptualization of a novel medical indication and securing of Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. FDA for a Phase 3 neurological drug candidate for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.
Prior to Arena, Mr. Lind focused on healthcare investing at TPG Special Situations Partners from 2009 to 2016 and at TPG-Axon from 2006 to 2008. He served in various capacities as a healthcare investment banker at Lehman Brothers, Inc., a former global financial services firm, from 1998 to 2002 and 2004 to 2006. Mr. Lind received a B.S. from Stanford University in Biological Sciences and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.
In connection with his appointment, Mr. Lind will enter into the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
There are no related party transactions between Mr. Lind and the Company, and the Board believes that Mr. Lind satisfies the independence requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market listing rules and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Director Resignation
On September 16, 2025, June Almenoff, M.D., Ph.D., resigned from her role as director of the Company, effective October 1, 2025, in order to pursue new opportunities. Dr. Almenoff’s resignation from the Board includes her resignation from the Company’s Audit Committee, and is not related to any matter concerning the Company’s operations, policies, or practice. The Company is grateful for Dr. Almenoff’s service over the past four years, during which time her expertise, judgment, and leadership have been invaluable in guiding Avalo and have contributed to the Company’s success. In connection with Dr. Almenoff’s resignation, the Board has amended the terms of the outstanding equity awards granted to Dr. Almenoff pursuant to the A&R Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan, as in effect from time to time during Dr. Almenoff’s service on the Board (the “Awards”). These amendments include accelerating the vesting period of the Awards so as to vest in full, effective October 1, 2025, and amending the expiration dates of Dr. Almenoff’s outstanding option awards to be September 30, 2026.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits:
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| Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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| 99.1 |
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| 104 |
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The cover pages of this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL. |
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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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AVALO THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
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| Date: September 22, 2025 |
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By: |
/s/ Christopher Sullivan |
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Christopher Sullivan |
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Chief Financial Officer |
EX-99.1
2
ex-991bodappointment_sept2.htm
EX-99.1
Document
Avalo Therapeutics Appoints Kevin R. Lind to the Board of Directors
WAYNE, PA., September 22, 2025 — Avalo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVTX), a clinical stage biotechnology company fully dedicated to developing IL-1β-based treatments for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, today announced the appointment of Kevin R. Lind to its Board of Directors. Mr. Lind brings more than 20 years of leadership in capital markets, strategy, business development and company building, including most recently guiding Longboard Pharmaceuticals to a multi-billion-dollar exit.
“Kevin joins Avalo at an exciting time, as we continue to advance AVTX-009 through the Phase 2 LOTUS trial in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) with topline data expected mid next year,” said Michael Heffernan, Chairman of the Board. “Kevin has an excellent track record of unlocking and delivering value to his shareholders through sound financial and corporate strategy and business development execution and I look forward to Avalo benefiting from his experience and leadership.”
“I have been fortunate to spend my career operating and building successful life science companies, always with the goal of translating strong science into meaningful outcomes for patients,” said Mr. Lind. “HS is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting new therapeutic areas in inflammation and immunology, with tremendous opportunity to address the urgent needs of patients living with this devastating disease. Avalo’s approach with AVTX-009 has the potential to become a best in disease treatment, and I am eager to bring my experience to help advance Avalo’s mission of delivering transformative medicines to patients.”
Mr. Lind is a seasoned biotechnology executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience. He most recently served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Member of Longboard Pharmaceuticals, where he led and transformed the Arena spinout into a leader in neurology and oversaw its $2.6 billion acquisition by H. Lundbeck A/S in 2024. Prior to his time at Longboard, Mr. Lind was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Arena Pharmaceuticals, where he played a central role in its turnaround, including lucrative business development partnerships and execution of its spinout of Longboard in 2020. Over the course of his career, Mr. Lind has raised more than a billion dollars in capital to support innovative biotech companies. He began his career in investment banking at Lehman Brothers before joining TPG, where he focused on healthcare investing. In addition to his role with Avalo, Mr. Lind currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Apnimed, Inc. He received a BS from Stanford University in Biological Sciences and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.
About Avalo Therapeutics
Avalo Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company fully dedicated to developing IL-1β-based treatments for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Our lead asset, AVTX-009, is in a Phase 2 clinical trial for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). We’re also exploring additional opportunities to make an impact in prevalent indications that have significant remaining unmet needs. For more information about Avalo, please visit www.avalotx.com.
About AVTX-009
AVTX-009 is a humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG4) that binds to interleukin-1β (IL-1β) with high affinity and neutralizes its activity. IL-1β is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a central role in the pathogenesis of a wide range of human diseases.1 It activates immune cells that generate proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-17. Dysregulated IL-1β signaling is a major driver of inflammation, contributing to the progression of autoimmune disorders. IL-1β inhibition has proven effective in multiple immune mediated inflammatory diseases.1-3
References:1Dinarello CA. Immunol Rev. 2018;281(1):8-27. 2Kany S et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(23):6008. 3Kimball AB et al. Presented at: American Academy of Dermatology; March 8-12, 2024; San Diego, CA.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond Avalo’s control), which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to Avalo’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as “projects,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “continue,” “seeks,” “aims,” “predicts,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” or similar expressions (including their use in the negative), or by discussions of future matters such as: drug development costs, timing of trials and trial results and other risks, including reliance on investigators and enrollment of patients in clinical trials; reliance on key personnel; regulatory risks; general economic and market risks and uncertainties, including those caused by the war in Ukraine and the Middle East; and those other risks detailed in Avalo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, Avalo expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Avalo’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
For media and investor inquiries
Christopher Sullivan, CFO
Avalo Therapeutics, Inc.
ir@avalotx.com
410-803-6793
or
Meru Advisors
Lauren Glaser
lglaser@meruadvisors.com