Amendment: SEC Form 10-K/A filed by NRX Pharmaceuticals Inc.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Amendment No. 1)
(Mark One)
For the Fiscal Year Ended:
OR
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class: | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered: | ||
| | The | ||
| | The |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
| Smaller reporting 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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing price of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 30, 2024, was $
As of April 30, 2025, the registrant had
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In accordance with Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (i) Part III, Items 10 through 14 of the Original Filing are hereby amended and restated in their entirety, and (ii) Part IV, Item 15 of the Original Filing is hereby amended and restated in its entirety. In addition, new certifications of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2022 are attached, each as of the filing date of this Amendment. Except as described above, no other changes have been made to the Original Filing.
Except as stated herein, this Amendment does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the Original Filing and no attempt has been made in this Amendment to modify or update other disclosures as presented in the Original Filing.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K/A
Table of Contents
References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A to “NRx Pharmaceuticals,” “NRx,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references mean NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. References to the “SEC” refer to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
The following table sets forth, as of the date of this Form 10-K/A, certain information regarding our executive officers and the members of the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company who are responsible for overseeing the management of our business:
Name |
Age |
Position |
||
Jonathan Javitt, M.D., M.P.H. |
68 |
Chairman, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientist |
||
Riccardo Panicucci |
65 |
Chief Manufacturing and Technology Officer |
||
Matthew Duffy |
63 |
Chief Business Officer |
||
Michael Abrams |
55 |
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
||
Patrick J. Flynn |
76 |
Director, Audit & Compensation Committee Chair |
||
Chaim Hurvitz |
65 |
Director |
||
Dennis McBride |
71 |
Director, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee Chair |
||
Michael Taylor |
50 |
Director |
Executive Officer and Director Biographies
Jonathan Javitt, M.D., M.P.H. Dr. Javitt, founder of the Company, serves as our Chairman, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientist. Dr. Javitt additionally served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) from May 2021 until March 2022 and was elected Chairman in December 2023. He was the Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of NeuroRx, Inc., which merged with the Company in May 2021. He participated in leading drug and medical device development and commercialization projects for Allergan, Alcon, Eyetech, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Pharmacia and has led the Company’s regulatory and clinical development efforts from their inception. He has played leadership roles in seven successful healthcare IT and biopharma start-up companies. He was appointed to healthcare leadership roles under President Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush. During the Reagan and Bush ‘41 administrations, he was designated as an Expert Consultant to the Department of Health and Human Services. President Clinton designated him as a Special Government Employee of the White House Executive Office of the President to serve on the 1993 Health Reform Task Force. Under President George W. Bush, he was commissioned to lead the Healthcare Committee of the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee and to serve as a Special Employee of the Undersecretary of Defense. Dr. Javitt has published more than 200 scientific works in the areas of health outcomes and pharmacoeconomics that have been cited more than 31,000 times. Dr. Javitt holds an A.B. with Honors from Princeton University, an M.D. from Cornell University and a Masters of Public Health from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health which designated him an Alumnus of Merit. He continues to serve as an adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and as a Senior Fellow of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.
We re-elected Dr. Javitt to serve as Chairman, based on his substantial practical experience and expertise in drug development and his prior leadership in multiple private and public sector organizations.
Riccardo Panicucci, PhD. Dr. Panicucci joined the Company in March 2018 and has served as our Chief Technology and Manufacturing Officer since January 2021. Dr. Panicucci previously served as VP of Pharmaceutical Development Services at WuXi STA from February 2015 to March 2018, where he provided scientific leadership in formulation development and GMP manufacturing. In that capacity, he developed the original formulation for NRX-101. From 2004 to 2015, Dr. Panicucci served as Global Head of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Profiling (CPP) at Novartis. Dr. Panicucci has also led R&D groups at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Symbollon Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, and Bausch & Lomb. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Toronto and did a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Matthew Duffy. Mr. Duffy joined the Company as Chief Business Officer in September 2023, and has served as co-CEO of the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hope Therapeutics, Inc., since February 2024. Mr. Duffy has forty years’ experience as a pharmaceutical executive and licensed Capital Markets professional. He has extensive drug development-to-market experience, including in CNS, beginning at Pfizer, Inc. in Sales Management and Marketing. He subsequently led drug commercialization activities at Medimmune (Synagis) as head of Marketing and Lev Pharmaceuticals (Cinryze) as head of Commercial Operations. Mr. Duffy has more than 20 years’ experience as a FINRA-licensed investment banker, buy-side and sell-side equity research analyst and Investor Relations professional. He has served as Managing Director at Roberts Mitani, LLC, LifeSci Partners, LLC, Laidlaw LTD, and co-founded Black Diamond Research, LLC, a sell-side equity research firm specializing in healthcare/biotechnology. He served on the Board of CorMedix, Inc. (Nasdaq:CRMD) and currently serves on the boards and/or management of Algorithm Sciences, Inc, Lucius Partners, LLC, Voltron Therapeutics, Inc, PD Theranostics, Inc and AerWave Medical, Inc. Mr. Duffy received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Duke University. He holds Series 7, 63 and 65 securities licenses.
Michael Abrams. Mr. Abrams has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2024. Prior to his appointment as our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Abrams served as the Chief Financial Officer of Arch Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company, from May 2021 through January 2025, which he resigned from on February 3, 2025 after a brief transitional role. From February 2019 to April 2021, Mr. Abrams served as the Chief Financial Officer for RiseIT Solutions, Inc. where he helped return the business to profitability. From August 2009 to February 2019, Mr. Abrams served as the Chief Financial Officer of FitLife Brands, Inc., a publicly traded entity focused on the development of functional nutritional supplements to support an active, healthy lifestyle. Mr. Abrams earned his M.B.A. with Honors from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago and received his B.B.A. with Honors from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst as a William F. Field Alumni Scholar.
Patrick J. Flynn. Mr. Flynn has served as a member of our Board since May 2021, and is the Chair of our Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Mr. Flynn previously served on the board of directors of NeuroRx, Inc., the predecessor to our company. and. Mr. Flynn is an entrepreneur with more than 35 years of senior executive experience. He has provided leadership to numerous successful organizations including start-ups and growth-stage companies and has served in a variety of roles, including Executive Chairman, board member, CEO, COO, CFO and advisor. Additionally, Mr. Flynn currently serves as an advisor to Good Measures where he was previously COO and responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company’s innovative approach to healthcare and nutrition services. Prior to joining Good Measures, Mr. Flynn was the co-founder of Predilytics, Inc. and served as Executive Chairman. Before joining Predilytics, Mr. Flynn contributed his expertise as COO and then as CEO to Health Dialog, where he helped build the business from an early-stage healthcare services organization and led its successful exit to BUPA, a global insurance company. Prior to this role, Flynn was a co-founder of Symmetrix, a management consulting firm specializing in healthcare and financial services. Mr. Flynn began his career with Bank of America where he held several positions over the course of 15 years, including Vice President of World Banking and Vice President of Risk Management. Mr. Flynn earned his B.S. in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
We selected Mr. Flynn to serve on our Board because he brings to the Company over 30 years of audit compliance, entrepreneurship, business, and board experience.
Chaim Hurvitz. Mr. Hurvitz has served as a member of our Board since May 2021. Mr. Hurvitz served as a member of the board of directors of NeuroRx, Inc., the predecessor to our company, from May 2015. Mr. Hurvitz has served as the Chief Executive Officer of CH Health, a private venture capital firm, since May 2011. Mr. Hurvitz previously served as a member of the board of directors of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. from October 2010 to July 2014. Previously, he was a member of the senior management of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd., serving as the President of Teva International Group from 2002 until 2010, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe from 1992 to 1999 and as Vice President — Israeli Pharmaceutical Sales from 1999 until 2002. Mr. Hurvitz is a founding investor and a director of Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Mr. Hurvitz presently serves as a member of the management of the Manufacturers Association of Israel and head of its pharmaceutical branch. Mr. Hurvitz holds a B.A. from Tel Aviv University.
We selected Mr. Hurvitz to serve as a director because he brings decades of pharmaceutical experience to the Board. In addition, Mr. Hurvitz brings international relationships to the Company that have, and will continue to add value to the execution of the Company’s business plan.
Dennis McBride, Ph.D. Dennis McBride, Ph.D., joined the Board in June 2024. Dr. McBride currently serves as the Chair of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and has served as a research professor at Virginia Tech since May 2021. Dr. McBride has led numerous national and international initiatives in neuroscience and its interface with information technology, national security, and medical technology/drug development within the federal government, three of which are now multi-billion dollar enterprises. Dr. McBride also served as Director of the Acquisition and Innovation Research Center for the Department of Defense from February 2022 to February 2024, and as Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Source America from December 2015 to December 2020. Dr. McBride began his career as a medical scientist in Naval Aviation and ergonomics and served in eight nationally prominent laboratories, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Naval Aerospace Medical Research Lab, Naval Research Lab, the Office of Naval Research, and the Naval Medical Research Institute. Upon retiring as a highly decorated senior officer (O-6), he assumed leadership of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, where he continues to serve as President Emeritus. Following his ten-year term, he was recruited back to the National Defense University to lead the Center for Technology and National Security Policy, culminating his government career as a Senior Executive-4 (Civilian equivalent to Rear Admiral/Vice Admiral). Dr. McBride has served as an adviser to Cabinet Secretaries, US Congressional Committees, and to corporate C-Suite executives. His educational background includes formal enrollment at the University of Georgia, Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (flight surgeon school), the University of Southern California, the London School of Economics, and Harvard Business School, earning a Ph.D. in experimental psychology, four master’s degrees, and an additional postdoctoral education in aviation medicine, systems engineering science, and strategic disruption. He has published widely and was elected by faculty in 1999 to full professor. Dr. McBride has served at multiple universities in colleges of Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Public Policy, and Medicine. For the past 12 years, Dr. McBride has served as an adjunct Professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine and co-Director of Georgetown’s Regulatory Science Program.
We selected Dr. McBride to serve as a director because he brings decades of high-level science experience to the Board. In addition, Dr. McBride brings important new relationships to the Company that have, and will continue to add value to the execution of the Company’s business plan.
Michael Taylor was appointed to the Board in January, 2025. Mr. Taylor is a 25-year veteran in the global credit business, focused on special situations and capital formation, and currently serves as a consultant to Hope Therapeutics, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Mr. Taylor previously served as a Partner of the Adi Dassler International Family office wealth advisory firm from August 2016 to February 14, 2023, as Managing Director at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. from June 2011 to August 2016, a New York-based full-service brokerage and investment bank, focusing on complex debt structuring and transactions and multijurisdictional capital formation, and as Managing Director of Institutional Fixed Income Trading and Alternative Investments at Stone & Youngberg LLC, a private investment firm, from July 2004 to June 2011. Mr. Taylor began his career with Morgan Stanley as a Bond Trader. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics & International Relations from the London School of Economics.
Mr. Taylor brings decades of experience in the capital markets and capital formation, which is expected to add value in the ongoing development of the Company and planned growth of Hope Therapeutics.
Board Composition and Election of Directors
Classified Board of Directors
In accordance with our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), our Board is divided into three classes with staggered, three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms then expire are elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting of stockholders following election. Our directors are divided among the three classes as follows:
● |
the Class I directors are Chaim Hurvitz and Michael Taylor, and their terms expire at our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders; |
● |
the Class II director is Dennis McBride, Ph.D., and his term will expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders; and |
● |
the Class III directors are Patrick J. Flynn and Jonathan Javitt, M.D., M.P.H., and their terms will expire at the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders. |
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the Board. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. The division of our Board into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in control of the Company. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock to elect directors, our directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our outstanding voting stock entitled to vote in the election of directors.
Director Independence
Our Board has determined that Messrs. Flynn, Hurvitz, McBride and Taylor are “independent directors” as defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) listing standards and applicable SEC rules.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our Board directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Delaware law, and conducts its business through meetings of the Board and standing committees. Our Board has established the following three standing committees: Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the Board when necessary to address specific issues. Our Board has adopted written charters for each of these committees, copies of which are available under the Corporate Governance section of our corporate website at www.nrxpharma.com. The information contained in, or accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of this Amendment. We have included our website address in this Amendment solely as an inactive textual reference.
The chart below reflects the standing committees of our Board and the composition of each committee as of the date of this Amendment:
Committees |
||||||
Director Name |
Audit |
Compensation |
Nominating and |
|||
Jonathan Javitt, M.D., M.P.H. |
||||||
Patrick J. Flynn |
CC |
CC |
||||
Chaim Hurvitz |
X |
X |
X |
|||
Dennis McBride Ph.D. |
X |
CC |
||||
Michael Taylor |
X |
X |
CC – Committee Chair |
X – Member |
Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Flynn, Hurvitz, and Taylor, with Mr. Flynn serving as chair. Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Nasdaq rules require that our Audit Committee be composed entirely of independent members. Our Board has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Flynn, Hurvitz, and Taylor each meet the definition of “independent director” for purposes of serving on the Audit Committee under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the Nasdaq rules. Each member of our Audit Committee also meets the financial literacy requirements of Nasdaq listing standards. In addition, our Board has determined that each of Messrs. Flynn, Hurvitz, and Taylor qualifies as an “Audit Committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Audit Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2024. Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. The complete text of the Audit Committee’s current charter is available on our website at www.nrxpharma.com.
Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee is primarily responsible for, among other things:
● |
appointing, compensating, retaining, evaluating, terminating and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm; |
● |
discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm their independence from management; |
● |
reviewing, with our independent registered public accounting firm, the scope and results of their audit; |
● |
approving all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm; |
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overseeing the financial reporting process and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the quarterly and annual financial statements that we file with the SEC; |
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overseeing our financial and accounting controls and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; |
● |
reviewing our policies on risk assessment and risk management; |
● |
reviewing related person transactions; and |
● |
establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters. |
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Flynn, Hurvitz, and McBride, with Mr. Flynn serving as chair. Our Board has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Flynn, Hurvitz, and McBride each meet the definition of “independent director” for purposes of serving on the Compensation Committee under the Nasdaq rules, including the heightened independence standards for members of a Compensation Committee, and are “non-employee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee met two times during the year ended December 31, 2024. Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee. The complete text of the Compensation Committee’s current charter is available on our website at www.nrxpharma.com.
Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee is primarily responsible for, among other things:
● |
reviewing and approving the corporate goals and objectives, evaluating the performance of and reviewing and approving, (either alone or, if directed by our Board, in conjunction with a majority of the independent members of the Board) the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer; |
● |
overseeing an evaluation of the performance of and reviewing and setting or making recommendations to our Board regarding the compensation of our other executive officers; |
● |
reviewing and approving or making recommendations to our Board regarding our incentive compensation and equity-based plans, policies and programs; |
● |
reviewing and approving all employment agreement and severance arrangements for our executive officers; |
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making recommendations to our Board regarding the compensation of our directors; and |
● |
retaining and overseeing any compensation consultants. |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs. McBride, Hurvitz and Taylor, with Dr. McBride serving as chair. Our Board has affirmatively determined that Messrs. McBride, Hurvitz and Taylor each meet the definition of “independent director” under the Nasdaq rules. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not meet during the year ended December 31, 2024. Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The complete text of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s current charter is available on our website at www.nrxpharma.com.
Pursuant to its charter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is primarily responsible for, among other things:
● |
identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board, consistent with criteria approved by our Board; |
● |
overseeing succession planning for our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; |
● |
periodically reviewing our Board’s leadership structure and recommending any proposed changes to our Board; |
● |
overseeing an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of our Board and its committees; and |
● |
developing and recommending to our Board a set of corporate governance guidelines. |
Risk Oversight
Our Board is responsible for overseeing our risk management process. Our Board focuses on our general risk management strategy, the most significant risks facing us, and oversees the implementation of risk mitigation strategies by management. Our Audit Committee is also responsible for discussing our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. Our Board believes its administration of its risk oversight function has not negatively affected our Board’s leadership structure.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers serve as a member of the Board or Compensation Committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board or Compensation Committee.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics, our Business Code of Conduct and Anti-Corruption Policy (the “Code of Conduct”), that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The complete text of the Code of Conduct is available on our website at www.nrxpharma.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the Nasdaq listing standards concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Conduct.
Insider Trading Policy
We have
Director Attendance at Meetings
The Company encourages and expects all of its directors to attend the meetings of the Board. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Board met four times. Each member of our Board attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board (held during the period for which he or she was a director), and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which such director served (held during the period that such director served).
Board Leadership Structure
The Company does not have a formal policy regarding whether to separate the Chairman and Principal Executive Officer positions. Our Board believes that the decision to combine or separate the Chairman and Principal Executive Officer positions depends on the facts and circumstances facing the Company at a given time and could change over time. Currently, Dr. Javitt serves as our Interim Chief Executive Officer, Principal Executive Officer (the “PEO”) and Chairman of the Board of the Company.
As the Company evolves, the Board will regularly evaluate the Board leadership structure to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the Company, and to ensure that it provides strong, independent oversight for our stockholders. In particular, as part of this evaluation, the Board will take under consideration the outcomes of the Board and committee self-evaluation process as well as other factors, including the current state of the Company’s strategy and operations, recent performance, market and industry factors and peer company practices.
Policies Governing Director Nominations
Securityholder Recommendations
Our Bylaws provide that nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting may be made at such meeting by a stockholder present in person virtually (A) who was a record owner of shares of the Company both at the time of giving the notice provided for in the Bylaws and at the time of the Annual Meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and (C) has complied with the Bylaws as to such notice and nomination.
All stockholder recommendations for director candidates must be submitted to our Secretary at NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1201 North Market Street, Suite 111, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, who will forward all recommendations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. All stockholder recommendations for director candidates for the Annual Meeting must be submitted to our Secretary on or before May 8, 2025, and must include the following information:
● |
the name and address of the stockholder (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Company’s books and records); |
● |
the class or series and number of shares of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned by the stockholder; |
● |
the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” that constitutes a “call equivalent position” and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of shares of the Company; |
● |
the name and address of the proposed director candidate (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Company’s books and records); |
● |
the class or series and number of shares of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned by the proposed director candidate, if applicable; |
● |
all information relating to such proposed director candidate that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidate’s written consent to being named in a proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); |
● |
a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among the stockholder, on the one hand, and each proposed director candidate for nomination or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand; and |
● |
a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement, as specified in the Bylaws. |
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership of such securities with the SEC.
Based solely on a review of the reports received by the SEC, the Company believes that, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s officers, directors and greater than 10% owners timely filed all reports they were required to file under Section 16(a).
Communications with the Board
If you wish to communicate with any of our directors or the Board as a group, you may do so by writing to them at Name(s) of Director(s)/Board of Directors of NRx, Pharmaceuticals, Inc., c/o Secretary, NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1201 North Market Street, Suite 111, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
We recommend that all correspondence be sent via certified U.S. Mail, return receipt requested. All correspondence received by the Secretary will be forwarded by the Secretary promptly to the addressee(s).
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
Summary Compensation Table
The following summary compensation table and narrative disclosure sets forth information regarding all compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our Named Executive Officers, which consist of (a) any persons who served as our principal executive officer during any part of the year ended December 31, 2024; (b) each of our two most highly compensated executive officers other than our principal executive officer who served as executive officers at the end of the year ended December 31, 2024; and (c) up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided under clause (b) but for the fact that the person was not serving as an executive officer at the end of the year ended December 31, 2024 (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”).
Our “Named Executive Officers” for the year ended December 31, 2024 were (i) Jonathan Javitt, M.D., M.P.H., our Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Scientist and Chairman; (ii) Stephen H. Willard, our former Chief Executive Officer; (iii) Matthew Duffy, our Chief Business Officer; and (iv) Richard Narido, our former Chief Financial Officer.
2024 Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents information regarding the total compensation of our Named Executive Officers for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary |
Bonus |
Stock |
Option |
All Other |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Jonathan Javitt(3)(4)(5)(6) |
2024 |
575,000 | 250,000 | 825,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Scientist and Chairman |
2023 |
602,755 | — | — | — | 27,443 | 630,198 | |||||||||||||||||||
Stephen Willard(7) |
2024 |
395,833 | 395,833 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Chief Executive Officer |
2023 |
500,000 | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew Duffy(8)(9) |
2024 |
338,000 | 338,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Business Officer |
2023 |
60,000 | 99,000 | 159,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard Narido(10) |
2024 |
435,032 | 435,032 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Chief Financial Officer |
2023 |
255,015 | — | — | 43,000 | — | 298,015 |
(1) |
Amount reflects the grant date fair value of restricted stock granted as an employee inducement award during 2024 or year 2023 as calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718, See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed on March 14, 2025 (the “2024 Form 10-K”) for information regarding the assumptions used in calculating these amounts. |
(2) |
Amount reflects the grant date fair value of stock options granted during fiscal year 2024 or fiscal year 2023 as calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718, See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s 2024 Form 10-K for information regarding the assumptions used in calculating these amounts. |
(3) |
For Fiscal 2023, All Other Compensation reflects reimbursement for legal fees incurred. |
(4) |
Dr. Javitt served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company until his retirement on March 8, 2022, at which time he assumed the role of Chief Scientist and remained as a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Javitt was appointed as Chairman of the Board on December 19, 2023. Dr. Javitt was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer on October 7, 2024 upon the resignation of Mr. Willard. |
(5) |
Amount reported reflects (i) $0 in base salary, (ii) $602,755 in consulting fees, and (iii) $27,443 in reimbursement for legal expenses for Fiscal 2023. |
(6) |
Amount reported reflects (i) $0 in base salary, and (ii) $575,000 in consulting fees for Fiscal 2024. |
(7) |
Mr. Willard was appointed Chief Executive Officer on July 12, 2022 and resigned effective October 7, 2024. |
(8) |
Amount reported reflects (i) $0 in base salary; (ii) $60,000 in consulting fees; and, (iii) the issuance of options to purchase up to 30,000 shares of Common Stock with a FMV of $99,000 in Fiscal 2023. |
(9) |
Amount reported reflects (i) $0 in base salary; and (ii) $338,000 in consulting fees. |
(10) |
Mr. Narido was appointed as Interim Chief Financial Officer in September 2023 through a consulting agreement with LifeSci Advisors. The amounts reflected above account for total payments to LifeSci Advisors inclusive of their mark up. Mr. Narido ceased to be the Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company in connection with the appointment of Mr. Abrams as Chief Financial Officer on November 18, 2024. |
Narrative to Summary Compensation Table
Base Salaries and Compensation
Our Named Executive Officers receive an annual base salary or annual rate of compensation to compensate them for services rendered. The base salary or annual rate of compensation payable to each Named Executive Officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role and responsibilities. For the year ended December 31, 2024: (i) Dr. Javitt was compensated through an annual consulting agreement that was set at $575,000; (ii) Mr. Willard’s annual base salary was set at $500,000; (iii) Mr. Duffy was compensated through a consulting agreement at a rate of $360,000 per annum; and (iv) Mr. Narido’s compensation for 2024 was via a consulting agreement with LifeSci Advisors, LLC.
Cash Bonus Compensation
Pursuant to certain employment and other contractual agreements, (i) Dr. Javitt is eligible for an annual performance-based bonus with a minimum target of $250,000; and, (ii) Mr. Willard was eligible to receive a discretionary annual performance-based cash bonus with a target equal to 50% of base salary.
Equity Compensation
We typically grant stock options pursuant to the NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) as the long-term incentive component of our compensation program. Stock options allow employees, including our Named Executive Officers, to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price equal to the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of grant. Our stock options have vesting schedules that are designed to encourage continued employment and typically vest in substantially equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the applicable vesting commencement date, subject to the recipient’s continued service through each applicable vesting date. From time to time, our Board may also construct alternate vesting schedules as it determines appropriate to motivate particular employees, as further described below.
Option Awards
During 2024, the Company did not issue any options to purchase shares of Common Stock or any other equity awards under the Omnibus Plan.
Executive Officer Employment Arrangements
Willard Employment Agreement
In connection with his commencement of employment with us in July 2022, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Willard (the “Willard Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which he serves as our Chief Executive Officer and as a director on our Board. The Willard Employment Agreement provides for an initial two-year term and extends automatically for additional one-year periods unless either party provides notice of termination. The Willard Employment Agreement provides for an annual base salary of $500,000, a performance-based bonus with a minimum target of 50% of base salary, and an inducement grant of 100,000 shares of restricted stock that vests over a three-year period.
The Willard Employment Agreement includes (i) a confidentiality covenant that applies during the term of employment and for three years following termination, (ii) assignment of intellectual property, (iii) a non-competition covenant that applies during the term of employment and for 12 months following termination, and (iv) non-solicitation of employees and customers covenants that apply during the term of employment and for 12 months following termination.
Mr. Willard resigned from the Company effective October 7, 2024.
Javitt Employment Agreement and Javitt Consulting Agreement
In connection with his commencement of employment with us in May 2015, we entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Javitt (the “Javitt Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which he served as our Chief Executive Officer and President. The Javitt Employment Agreement provided for an initial five-year term and extended automatically for additional one-year periods unless either party provided notice of termination. The Javitt Employment Agreement provided for a base salary of $275,000, subject to periodic increase by the Board. The Javitt Employment Agreement was terminated on March 8, 2022 when Dr. Javitt retired and became a consultant to the Company. Upon entering into the Javitt Consulting Agreement (as defined below), Dr. Javitt waived his rights to the bonus, severance and certain other provisions under the Javitt Employment Agreement.
Pursuant to a consulting agreement between the Company and Dr. Javitt, dated as of March 8, 2022 (the “Javitt Consulting Agreement”), Dr. Javitt committed to provide consulting services to the Company as its Director and Chief Scientist. The 2022 Javitt Consulting Agreement provided for an annual consulting fee of $1,000,000, to compensate Dr. Javitt for approximately $400,000 in bonus payments that would otherwise have been granted under his prior employment agreement.
The Javitt Consulting Agreement was amended on March 29, 2023 (the “Javitt Consulting Agreement Amendment”) to renew the agreement in annual increments, commencing on March 8, 2024, unless either party provides notice of termination. The Javitt Consulting Agreement Amendment provides for: (i) an annual consulting fee of $575,000, payable in monthly installments; (ii) eligibility for an annual performance-based bonus with a minimum target of $250,000; and (iii) subject to Board approval, a grant of 50,000 shares of restricted stock that will vest (x) 50% on the date upon which the Food and Drug Administration files the Company’s new drug application for the Antidepressant Drug Regimen (as defined therein) and (y) 50% on the date upon which the Food and Drug Administration has both approved the Company’s Antidepressant Drug Regimen and listed the Company’s Antidepressant Drug Regiment in the Food and Drug Administration’s “Orange Book.”
Dr. Javitt was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer on October 7, 2024 upon the resignation of Mr. Willard.
Duffy Consulting Agreement
Pursuant to a consulting agreement between the Company and Mr. Duffy, dated September 1, 2023 (the “Duffy Consulting Agreement”), Mr. Duffy committed to provide consulting services to the Company as its Chief Business Officer. The Duffy Consulting Agreement provided for a monthly consulting fee of $30,000 per month following a six month interim period at a rate of $15,000 per month. The Duffy Consulting Agreement also provided for (i) payment of necessary and reasonable expenses, and (ii) an initial grant of 20,000 incentive stock options with a three year vesting schedule, which were cancelled prior to vesting. Mr. Duffy was subsequently named Co-Chief Executive Officer of Hope Therapeutics, Inc. (“Hope”), which was incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in February 2024. Mr. Duffy did not receive any additional compensation in connection with his role at Hope.
Abrams Employment Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of an employment agreement entered into on November 18, 2024 (the “Employment Agreement”), Mr. Abrams will serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company for a one-year term, which term shall be automatically extended thereafter for successive one-year terms, until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement. The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Abrams will receive an annual base salary (“Base Salary”) in the amount of $325,000, subject to an initial period rate of 50% of the Base Salary until the earlier of (i) a Qualified Financing, as defined in the Employment Agreement; or (ii) February 1, 2025, which date may be extended by mutual agreement of Mr. Abrams and the Company.
The Employment Agreement further provides for (i) a grant, pursuant to the terms of the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), of 50,000 stock options at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date announcing the closing of the aforementioned Qualified Financing (the “Options”) at such time as of the aforementioned Qualified Financing occurs, which Options shall vest over a three-year period; (ii) an annual bonus in the amount of up to 40% of the Base Salary amount, to be determined at the discretion of executive management and subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company; (iii) reimbursement of reasonable business expenses; and (iv) eligibility to participate in customary benefits offered to other executives of the Company. The Employment Agreement also contains certain non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions.
Narido Consulting Agreement
In connection with Mr. Narido’s commencement of employment with us in September 2023, we entered into a consulting agreement (the “LifeSci Agreement”) with LS Associates, a division of LifeSci Advisors, LLC (“LifeSci”), pursuant to which LifeSci will provide certain consulting services to the Company, including but not limited to, arranging for the provision of the Company’s the Interim Chief Financial Officer. In connection with the LifeSci Agreement, on September 13, 2023, the Company appointed Richard Narido, 46, to serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company. As Interim Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Narido will serve as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The LifeSci Agreement has a term of two years commencing from the date of the LifeSci Agreement. Pursuant to the LifeSci Agreement, the Company may not knowingly solicit work of any kind (including but not limited to paid and unpaid advice, information, or content), or propose or agree to any kind of consulting, advisory, directorship, or employment arrangement, with any professional that LifeSci first introduces to the Company for a period of one year from the Company’s most recent engagement with or including the professional, without paying a placement fee equal to 15% of such professional’s starting annual base salary and target annual bonus, whether discretionary or quarantined. The LifeSci Agreement also contains certain noncompetition, non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions customary to such agreements.
Mr. Narido ceased to be the Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company in connection with the appointment of Mr. Abrams as Chief Financial Officer on November 18, 2024.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year End
There were no shares of Common Stock underlying outstanding equity incentive plan awards for any Named Executive Officer as of December 31, 2024.
Health, Welfare and Retirement Plans
We do not maintain a 401(k) defined contribution plan or any other employee benefit plans or programs.
Clawback
Our Board adopted the NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Compensation Recovery Policy (the “Clawback Policy”), on November 20, 2023. The Clawback Policy is designed to comply with Rule 10D-1 of the Exchange Act and Nasdaq Listing Rule 5608, which provides for recoupment of incentive compensation in the event of an accounting restatement resulting from material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements under the relevant securities laws. The Clawback Policy applies to our current and former executive officers. Compensation that is granted, earned or vested based wholly or in part upon attainment of a Financial Reporting Measure (as defined in the Clawback Policy) is subject to recoupment. A copy of the Clawback policy is filed as Exhibit 97.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed on March 29, 2024.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Javitt Consulting Agreement
The Company may terminate the Javitt Consulting Agreement without prior notice immediately upon a termination for Cause. Dr. Javitt may terminate the Javitt Consulting Agreement upon 30 days’ notice at any time and for any reason. Upon termination of Javitt Consulting Agreement, the Company will pay Dr. Javitt any consulting fees and expenses that have been accrued but not yet paid. “Cause” is defined in the Javitt Consulting Agreement as: (i) Dr. Javitt’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or willful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties (other than due to physical or mental illness or incapacity), which, in either case, causes material injury to the reputation or business of the Company; (ii) Dr. Javitt’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or other crime; (iii) Dr. Javitt’s fraud or embezzlement or other material misuse of funds or property belonging to the Company; or (iv) any material breach by Dr. Javitt under the Javitt Consulting Agreement subject to a 10 day notice and cure period (if reasonably capable of cure).
Abrams Employment Agreement
In the event Mr. Abrams’ employment is terminated by either party for any reason, Mr. Abrams will be entitled to: (i) any earned but unpaid Base Salary earned during his employment and applicable to all pay periods prior to the termination date; (ii) any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred; and (iii) any employee benefits to which Mr. Abrams may be entitled under the Company’s employee benefit plans or programs which Mr. Abrams participates as of the date of termination of Mr. Abrams’ employment. If Mr. Abrams’ employment is terminated other than for Cause within three months of employment, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement (including the execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims), the Company shall provide Mr. Abrams with severance pay equal to the Base Salary for a period of 60 days from the date of termination. If Mr. Abrams’ employment is terminated other than for Cause after three months of employment, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement (including the execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims), the Company shall provide Mr. Abrams with (i) severance pay equal to the sum of the Base Salary at the rate in effect on the date of termination from the date of termination through three months if in the first 90 days of employment, plus one month every two months of further employment, up to a total of 6 months; and (ii) the immediate vesting of all unvested equity compensation.
Equity Incentive Awards
Pursuant to the Omnibus Plan, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Omnibus Plan): (i) if the acquirer or successor company in such Change in Control has agreed to provide for the substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation of the stock options, then, if the Named Executive Officer’s employment with or service to the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Omnibus Plan) (and other than due to death or disability) on or within 24 months following a Change in Control, then all of the Named Executive Officer’s options will become immediately exercisable; (ii) if the acquirer or successor company in such Change in Control has not agreed to provide for the substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation of the options, all options held by the Named Executive Officer will become immediately exercisable; and (iii) the Committee (as defined in the Omnibus Plan) may cancel any outstanding options in exchange for cash, securities or other property equal to the value of such canceled options.
Willard Restricted Stock Award
Unless otherwise agreed, if Mr. Willard’s employment with the Company is terminated without Cause (other than for death or disability) or Mr. Willard resigns for Good Reason (each as defined in Mr. Willard’s employment agreement, and such termination, a “Qualifying Termination”), Mr. Willard will vest in a pro rata portion of the restricted stock. In the event of a Qualifying Termination on or within 12 months following a Change in Control (as defined in the Omnibus Plan), all of the shares of restricted stock will vest. In connection with Mr. Willard’s termination, all unvested shares of restricted stock were forfeited.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides certain aggregate information with respect to our equity compensation plans in effect as of December 31, 2024.
Plan Type |
Number of securities to be issued |
Weighted-average |
Number of shares of |
|||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1) |
121,833 | (2)(3) | $ | 22.36 | 380,182 | |||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
— | — | — |
(1) |
Includes awards granted pursuant to the Omnibus Plan. |
|
(2) |
As of December 31, 2024, there were 380,182 shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance pursuant to awards under the Omnibus Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the Omnibus Plan, the number of shares available for issuance thereunder will automatically increase each fiscal year beginning with the year ended December 31, 2022 and ending with fiscal year 2031 by the lesser of (a) 1% of the total number of shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year on a fully diluted basis assuming that all shares available for issuance under the Omnibus Plan are issued and outstanding, or (b) such number of shares determined by the Board. |
|
(3) |
Excludes rights outstanding under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2024, there were 70,168 securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights pursuant to our 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, with a weighted-average exercise price of $31.22 per share, which were assumed by Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corporation and converted into an option to acquire an adjusted number of shares of Common Stock at an adjusted exercise price per share in connection with the May 2021 merger. No further grants or awards will be made under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan. |
Policies and Practices Related to the Grant of Certain Equity Awards Close in Time to the Release of Material Non-Public Information
It has been the practice of our compensation committee over the previous years to review our results following the end of a fiscal year, review our financial plan and strategy for the current fiscal year, and, based on those reviews, grant refresh equity awards that could include stock options to our Named Executive Officers. Additionally, our compensation committee approves the granting of equity awards in connection with the commencement of employment or promotion of our Named Executive Officers, and from time to time as determined appropriate by our compensation committee. At times but infrequently, our compensation committee’s standard grant practices may result in a grant of stock options that coincide with a period beginning four business days before the filing of a periodic report or current report disclosing material non-public information and ending one business day after the filing or furnishing of such report with the SEC.
Director Compensation
Pursuant to our director compensation program, each member serving on our Board for the year ended December 31, 2024 was eligible to compensation for his or her service as follows:
● |
Independent Board member: $60,000 annual retainer plus an annual equity grant. |
● |
Chairman of the Board: $25,000 annual retainer. |
● |
Board Committee Chair: $15,000 annual retainer. |
Summary Director Compensation Table
The following table shows for the year ended December 31, 2024, certain information with respect to the compensation paid to and/or accrued for our non-employee directors. As Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2024, Mr. Willard’s and Dr. Javitt’s compensation is shown in the Summary Compensation Table. Mr. Willard and Dr. Javitt did not receive any additional compensation for their service on the Board.
Name |
Fees |
Option |
Total ($) |
|||||||||
Patrick J. Flynn |
90,000 | - | 90,000 | |||||||||
Chaim Hurwitz |
70,000 | - | 70,000 | |||||||||
Dennis McBride(2) |
38,462 | - | 38,462 | |||||||||
Janet Rehnquist(3) |
70,000 | - | 70,000 |
(1) |
Amounts reflect the full grant date fair value of stock options awarded under our Omnibus Plan during 2024, computed in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC 718. As of December 31, 2024, (i) Messrs. Flynn and Hurwitz each held options to purchase up to 16,650 shares of Common Stock; (ii) Dr. McBride held options to purchase up to 6,320 shares of Common Stock, and (ii) Ms. Rehnquist did not own any options to purchase shares of Common Stock. |
|
|
||
(2) |
Dr. McBride joined the Board in June 2024. |
|
|
||
(3) |
Ms. Rehnquist served as a member of the Board until her resignation in January 2025. |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock, as of April 29, 2025 by:
● |
each person who is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock; |
|
|
||
● |
each of our Named Executive Officers and directors; and |
|
|
||
● |
all of our executive officers and directors as a group. |
Beneficial ownership for the purposes of the following table is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. A person is a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power”, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the security, or “investment power”, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of the security or has the right to acquire such powers within 60 days. Accordingly, we have included all shares of Common Stock issuable to such person upon the exercise of warrants or options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date hereof. We did not deem such shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Unless otherwise noted in the footnotes to the following table, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to their beneficially owned Common Stock and preferred stock.
Except as indicated in the footnotes to the table, each of the stockholders listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock owned by such stockholders. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each beneficial owner is c/o NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1201 North Market Street, Suite 111, Wilmington, DE 19801.
The beneficial ownership of our Common Stock is based on 17,224,929 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of April 29, 2025.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners |
Amount and |
Percent of Class |
||||||
|
||||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers | ||||||||
Michael Abrams(1) |
- | * | ||||||
Matthew Duffy(2) |
10,000 | * | ||||||
Patrick J. Flynn(3) |
149,357 | * | ||||||
Chaim Hurvitz(4) |
238,130 | 1.4 | % | |||||
Jonathan Javitt(5) |
1,516,634 | 8.8 | % | |||||
Dennis McBride, Ph.D.(6) |
5,328 | * | ||||||
Michael Taylor(7) |
- | * | ||||||
All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (6 persons) |
1,919,449 | 11.1 | % | |||||
5%+ Stockholders | ||||||||
Glytech, LLC(7) |
963,480 | 5.6 | % |
* Indicates less than 1%
(1) |
Excludes options to purchase up to 50,000 shares of Common Stock subject to unsatisfied time-based vesting conditions. |
|
(2) |
Includes options to purchase up to 10,000 shares of Common Stock, which are vested. Excludes options to purchase up to 125,000 shares of Common Stock subject to unsatisfied time-based vesting conditions. |
(3) |
Consists of (i) 36,234 shares of Common Stock held by Nash-Flynn Investments, LLC, (ii) 8,042 shares of Common Stock held by the Whitney Pritchard Nash Flynn 2010 Trust and the Lindsay Pritchard Nash Flynn 2010 Trust, (iii) 88,256 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of fully vested warrants held by the Whitney Pritchard Nash Flynn 2010 Trust and the Lindsay Pritchard Nash Flynn 2010 Trust, (iv) 175 shares of Common Stock held by Patrick J. Flynn, and (v) options to purchase up to 16,650 shares of Common Stock, which are vested. Excludes options to purchase up to 50,000 shares of Common Stock subject to unsatisfied time-based vesting conditions. Patrick J. Flynn is the owner of Nash-Flynn Investments, LLC and trustee of the Whitney Pritchard Nash Flynn 2010 Trust and the Lindsay Pritchard Nash Flynn 2010 Trust. |
|
(4) |
Consists of (i) 143,635 shares of Common Stock held by Shirat HaChaim Ltd., (ii) 20,845 shares of Common Stock held by CH Health-Private Venture Capital Ltd, (iii) 57,000 shares of Common Stock held by Chaim Hurvitz individually, and (iv) options to purchase up to 16,650 shares of Common Stock, which are fully vested. Excludes options to purchase up to 25,000 shares of Common Stock subject to unsatisfied time-based vesting conditions. Chaim Hurwitz is the owner of Shirat HaChaim Ltd. and CH Health-Private Venture Capital Ltd. |
|
(5) |
Consists of (i) 1,260,000 shares of Common Stock held by the Jonathan Javitt Living Trust, (ii) 142,000 shares of Common Stock held by The Javitt 2012 Irrevocable Dynasty Trust (the “Javitt Dynasty Trust”), (iii) 84,634 shares of Common Stock held by Jonathan Javitt individually, and (iv) 30,000 shares of Common Stock held by the Jonathan Javitt Donor Advised Fund. Excludes 125,000 options to purchase up to 125,000 shares of Common Stock subject to unsatisfied time-based vesting conditions. Jonathan Javitt, M.D., M.P.H. is the trustee of the Jonathan Javitt Living Trust and the primary advisor of the Jonathan Javitt Donor Advised Fund. Dr. Javitt is not a trustee or beneficiary of the Javitt Dynasty Trust, and no beneficiary of the Javitt Dynasty Trust resides in Dr. Javitt’s household. Dr. Javitt disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by the Javitt Dynasty Trust. |
|
(6) |
Consists of options to purchase options to purchase up to 5,328 shares of Common Stock, which are fully vested. Excludes options to purchase up to 25,992 shares of Common Stock subject to unsatisfied time-based vesting conditions. |
|
(7) |
Excludes options to purchase up to 25,000 shares of Common Stock subject to unsatisfied time-based vesting conditions. |
|
(8) |
Based on the Schedule 13D filed jointly by Daniel Javitt and Glytech, LLC with the SEC on September 13, 2022, the holdings consist of an aggregate of 987,291 shares of Common Stock held by Glytech, LLC, as amended by the Form 4 filed by Daniel Javitt on December 1, 2022 to reflect a revised aggregate of 963,480 shares of Common Stock held by Glytech, LLC.. Glytech, LLC is owned by Daniel Javitt, who is the inventor of the patents that underline NRX-101 and the brother of Jonathan Javitt, M.D., M.P.H., the Chairman and Chief Scientist of the Company. |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE |
The following includes a summary of transactions since January 1, 2024 to which we have been a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years in which we were or are to be a participant and in which a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or, to our knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our capital stock or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than transactions that are described under the “Executive Compensation” section of this Form 10-K/A. We also describe below certain other transactions with our directors, executive officers and stockholders.
Support Services
We license patents owned by Glytech LLC, which is solely owned by Daniel C. Javitt, the brother of Jonathan Javitt, the Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Chief Scientist of the Company. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company paid and/or accrued related to Glytech LLC $276,938 and $291,088, respectively, for continuing research and development, technology support services and reimbursed expenses. These support services are ongoing. Glytech LLC’s support includes both non-clinical and clinical research in support of the expansion of our intellectual property portfolio.
In addition, we pay Zachary Javitt, the son Jonathan Javitt, for services related to the Company’s marketing and brand development, identification and execution of activities related to the potential acquisition of psychiatry clinics for the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Hope Therapeutics, Inc., and development of the Company’s public communications strategies under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer, who is responsible for assuring that the services are provided on financial terms that are consistent with market. We paid Zachary Javitt a total of $223,549 and $191,677 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Procedures with Respect to Review and Approval of Related Person Transactions
Our Board recognizes the fact that transactions with related persons present a heightened risk of conflicts of interests (or the perception of such conflicts of interest). We have adopted a written policy on transactions with related persons that is in conformity with the requirements for issuers having publicly held Common Stock that is listed on the Nasdaq. Under the policy, our legal department is primarily responsible for developing and implementing processes and procedures to obtain information regarding related persons with respect to potential related person transactions and then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether such potential related person transactions do, in fact, constitute related person transactions requiring compliance with the policy. If the legal department determines that a transaction or relationship is a related person transaction requiring compliance with the policy, our general counsel will be required to present to the Audit Committee all relevant facts and circumstances relating to the related person transaction. The Audit Committee will be required to review the relevant facts and circumstances of each related person transaction, including if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction, take into account the conflicts of interest and corporate opportunity provisions of the our code of business conduct and ethics, and either approve or disapprove the related person transaction. If advance Audit Committee approval of a related person transaction requiring the Audit Committee’s approval is not feasible, then the transaction may be preliminarily entered into by management upon prior approval of the transaction by the chair of the Audit Committee, subject to ratification of the transaction by the Audit Committee at the Audit Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting; provided, that if ratification is not forthcoming, management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction. If a transaction was not initially recognized as a related person transaction, then, upon such recognition, the transaction will be presented to the Audit Committee for ratification at the Audit Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting; provided, that if ratification is not forthcoming, management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction. Our management will update the Audit Committee as to any material changes to any approved or ratified related person transaction and will provide a status report at least annually of all then-current related person transactions. No director will be permitted to participate in approval of a related person transaction for which he or she is a related person.
Controlled Company Status
From the consummation of the business combination that formed the Company in March 2021 and through October 2021, the Company qualified as a “controlled company” pursuant to the listing rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”). In accordance with such rules, a company that has ceased to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules shall be permitted to phase-in the requirement to have a majority independent board and independent nominations and Compensation Committees on the same schedule as companies listing with their initial public offering. Accordingly, the Company was required to be fully compliant with the requirement to have a majority independent board, Compensation Committee and nominations committee by October 2022.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES |
Salberg & Company, P.A (Boca Raton, FL PCAOB ID No. 106) (“Salberg”) served as our independent auditor for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The Company also incurred certain fees during the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 for audit services rendered by KPMG LLP. The Company incurred the following fees from Salberg and KPMG LLP for the audit of the consolidated financial statements and for other services provided during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
For the year ended December 31 |
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2024 |
2023 |
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Audit fees, KPMG LLP(1) |
$ | 218,000 | $ | 595,000 | ||||
Audit fees, Salberg and Company(1) |
250,600 | 151,690 | ||||||
Audit-related fees(2) |
- | - | ||||||
Tax fees(3) |
- | - | ||||||
All other fees(4) |
- | - | ||||||
Total fees |
$ | 468,600 | $ | 746,690 |
(1) |
Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, the review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports, services rendered in connection with the May 2021 merger and follow-on public offering, and additional public offerings. |
|
(2) |
There were no audit-related fees billed in 2024 and 2023. |
|
(3) |
There were no tax-related fees billed in 2024 and 2023. |
|
(4) |
There were no other fees billed in 2024 and 2023. |
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures
Consistent with requirements of the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding auditor independence, our Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. In recognition of this responsibility, our Audit Committee (or the chair if such approval is needed on a time urgent basis) pre-approves audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES |
(a) List of Documents filed.
1. |
The financial statements of NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are filed as part of the original Form 10-K. |
2. |
The schedules have been omitted from the Form 10-K because they are not required or because the information is provided elsewhere in the financial statements. The financial statements of unconsolidated subsidiaries are omitted because, considered in the aggregate, they would not constitute a significant subsidiary. |
(b) List of Exhibits.
The following is a list of exhibits filed with this Form 10-K/A.
Incorporate by Reference Exhibit |
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Exhibit Number |
Description |
Form |
Exhibit |
Filing Date |
Filed |
|||||
1.1 |
8-K |
1.1 |
08/14/2023 |
|||||||
1.2 |
8-K |
1.1 |
02/28/2024 |
|||||||
3.1 |
8-K |
3.1 |
5/28/2021 |
|||||||
3.2 |
8-K |
3.2 |
5/28/2021 |
|||||||
3.3 |
Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock |
8-K |
3.1 |
9/01/2023 |
||||||
4.1 |
8-K |
4.2 |
11/22/2017 |
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4.2 |
Form of Unit Purchase Option, dated November 20, 2017, with EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and its designees |
8-K |
4.3 |
11/22/2017 |
||||||
4.3 |
8-K/A |
4.1 |
3/14/2023 |
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4.4 |
8-K/A |
4.1 |
6/07/2023 |
|||||||
4.5 |
8-K/A |
4.2 |
6/07/2023 |
|||||||
4.6 |
8-K |
4.1 |
9/01/2023 |
|||||||
4.7 |
8-K |
4.1 |
2/28/2024 |
|||||||
4.8 |
10-K |
4.8 |
3/29/2024 |
|||||||
4.9 |
10-K |
4.9 |
3/29/2024 |
|||||||
4.10 |
8-K |
4.1 |
8/14/2024 |
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4.12 |
8-K |
4.2 |
8/14/2024 |
|||||||
4.13 |
8-K |
4.3 |
1/29/2025 |
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4.14 |
8-K |
4.4 |
1/29/2025 |
|||||||
10.1 |
8-K |
10.1 |
8/24/2021 |
|||||||
10.2 |
8-K |
10.2 |
8/24/2021 |
|||||||
10.3 |
8-K |
10.3 |
8/24/2021 |
|||||||
10.4 |
8-K |
10.4 |
8/24/2021 |
|||||||
10.5 |
8-K |
10.2 |
11/22/2017 |
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10.6 |
Registration Rights Agreement among BRPA and Big Rock Partners Sponsor, LLC |
8-K |
10.3 |
11/22/2017 |
10.7 |
8-K |
10.1 |
11/20/2018 |
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10.8 |
8-K |
10.2 |
11/20/2018 |
|||||||
10.9 |
Registration Rights Assignment Agreement, dated November 17, 2018 |
8-K |
10.3 |
11/20/2018 |
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10.10 |
8-K |
10.6 |
5/28/2021 |
|||||||
10.11 |
8-K |
10.7 |
5/28/2021 |
|||||||
10.12 |
8-K |
10.8 |
5/28/2021 |
|||||||
10.13 |
8-K |
10.9 |
5/28/2021 |
|||||||
10.14 |
S-4 |
10.22 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.15 |
8-K |
10.1 |
3/15/2021 |
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10.16 |
Development and License Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2016, between Glytech LLC and NeuroRx |
S-4 |
10.24 |
5/21/2021 |
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10.17 |
S-4 |
10.25 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.18 |
S-4 |
10.26 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.19 |
S-4 |
10.27 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.20 |
S-4 |
10.28 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.21 |
S-4 |
10.29 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.22 |
S-4 |
10.30 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.23 |
S-4 |
10.31 |
5/21/2021 |
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10.24 |
S-4 |
10.32 |
5/21/2021 |
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10.25 |
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 20, 2015, between NeuroRx and Jonathan C. Javitt |
S-4 |
10.33 |
5/21/2021 |
||||||
10.26 |
S-4 |
10.35 |
5/21/2021 |
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10.27 |
S-4 |
10.37 |
5/21/2021 |
10.28 |
S-4 |
10.38 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.29 |
S-4 |
10.39 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.30 |
S-4 |
10.40 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.31 |
S-4 |
10.41 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.32 |
S-4 |
10.42 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.33 |
S-4 |
10.43 |
5/21/2021 |
|||||||
10.34 |
S-4 |
10.44 |
5/21/2021 |
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10.35 |
Voting Agreement by and between Jonathan Javitt and Daniel Javitt |
8-K |
10.34 |
5/28/2021 |
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10.36 |
Statement of Work, dated July 26, 2021, between Pilltracker Ltd. and NeuroRx, Inc. |
10-Q |
10.1 |
11/15/2021 |
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10.37 |
8-K |
10.1 |
2/03/2022 |
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10.38 |
8-K |
10.2 |
2/03/2022 |
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10.39 |
8-K |
10.3 |
2/03/2022 |
|||||||
10.40 |
8-K |
10.4 |
2/03/2022 |
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10.41 |
Consulting Agreement, dated March 8, 2022, by and between the Company and Dr. Jonathan Javitt |
8-K |
10.1 |
3/09/2022 |
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10.42 |
10-Q |
10.1 |
8/15/2022 |
|||||||
10.43 |
10-Q |
10.1 |
11/14/2022 |
|||||||
10.44 |
8-K |
10.1 |
11/09/2022 |
|||||||
10.45 |
8-K |
10.2 |
11/09/2022 |
|||||||
10.46 |
8-K |
10.3 |
11/09/2022 |
|||||||
10.47 |
10-K/A |
10.54 |
5/01/2023 |
|||||||
10.48 |
10-K/A |
10.55 |
5/01/2023 |
10.49 |
8-K/A |
10.1 |
3/14/2023 |
|||||||
10.50+ |
Pill Tracker Supplemental Task Order, dated November 15, 2021. |
10-K |
10.46 |
3/31/2022 |
||||||
10.51 |
10-K |
10.55 |
3/29/2024 |
|||||||
10.52+ |
Development and License Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2023, by and among the Company and Alvogen.* |
8-K |
10.1 |
6/05/2023 |
||||||
10.53 |
8-K/A |
10.1 |
6/07/2023 |
|||||||
10.54 |
8-K/A |
10.2 |
6/07/2023 |
|||||||
10.55 |
10-Q |
10.1 |
8/14/2023 |
|||||||
10.56 |
10-K |
10.60 |
3/29/2024 |
|||||||
10.57 |
8-K |
10.1 |
9/01/2023 |
|||||||
10.58 |
8-K |
10.1 |
9/14/2023 |
|||||||
10.59 |
First Amendment to NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan |
8-K |
10.1 |
12/29/2023 |
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10.60 |
10-K |
10.64 |
3/29/2024 |
|||||||
10.61 |
8-K |
10.1 |
2/14/2024 |
|||||||
10.62 |
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 29, 2024 |
10-K |
10.66 |
3/29/2024 |
||||||
10.63 |
8-K |
10.1 |
8/14/2024 |
|||||||
10.64 |
8-K |
10.2 |
8/14/2024 |
|||||||
10.65 |
8-K |
10.3 |
8/14/2024 |
|||||||
10.66 |
8-K |
10.4 |
8/14/2024 |
|||||||
10.67 |
8-K |
10.5 |
8/14/2024 |
|||||||
10.68 |
8-K |
10.6 |
8/14/2024 |
|||||||
10.69 |
Employment Agreement between Michael Abrams and NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated November 18, 2024 |
8-K |
10.1 |
11/20/2024 |
||||||
10.70 |
Term Sheet, dated as of January 5, 2025, between the Company and JGS Holdings LLC |
8-K |
10.1 |
1/10/2025 |
||||||
10.71+ |
8-K |
10.2 |
1/29/2025 |
10.72 |
8-K |
10.3 |
1/29/2025 |
|||||||
10.73 |
8-K |
10.1 |
2/3/2025 |
|||||||
10.74 |
8-K |
10.2 |
2/3/2025 |
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14.1 |
10-K/A |
14.1 |
4/29/2024 |
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16.1 |
Letter from KPMG LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated November 21, 2023 |
8-K/A |
16.1 |
11/22/2023 |
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19.1* |
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23.1* |
||||||||||
24.1* |
Power of Attorney (included on the Signatures page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). |
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31.1 |
X |
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31.2 |
X |
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32.1** |
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32.2** |
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97.1 |
10-K |
97.1 |
3/29/2024 |
|||||||
101 |
Inline XBRL Document Set for the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
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104 |
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
* Filed as an exhibit to the original Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 14, 2025.
** Furnished as an exhibit to the original Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 14, 2025.
+ Certain portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulations S-K. The Company will furnish supplementally an unredacted copy of such exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
† This certification is being furnished solely to accompany this annual report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the registrant, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on April 30, 2025.
NRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Michael Abrams |
|
Michael Abrams |
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Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |