SEC Form DEF 14A filed by Werewolf Therapeutics Inc.
Filed by the Registrant ☒ | Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ | ||
☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
☒ | No fee required |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |

1. | Election of three Class I directors nominated by our board of directors, each to serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2028 annual meeting of stockholders; |
2. | Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025; and |
3. | Transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Daniel J. Hicklin, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Watertown, MA |
April 28, 2025 |

1. | the election of three Class I directors nominated by our board of directors, each to serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2028 annual meeting of stockholders; |
2. | the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025; and |
3. | the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
• | By Telephone Prior to the Annual Meeting. You may transmit your proxy over the phone by calling 1-800-690- 6903 and following the instructions provided in the Notice of Availability and on the proxy card. You will need to have your Notice of Availability or proxy card in hand when you call. |
• | Via the Internet Prior to the Annual Meeting. You may transmit your proxy via the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice of Availability and on the proxy card. You will need to have your Notice of Availability or proxy card in hand when you access the website. The website for voting is available at www.proxyvote.com. |
• | By Mail Prior to the Annual Meeting. If you requested printed copies of proxy materials, you can vote by mailing your proxy card as described in the proxy materials. |
• | Online during the Annual Meeting. You may vote your shares online while virtually attending the Annual Meeting by following the instructions found on your Notice of Availability, proxy card and/or voting instruction form. If you vote by proxy prior to the Annual Meeting and choose to attend the Annual Meeting online, there is no need to vote again during the Annual Meeting unless you wish to change your vote. |
• | by submitting a new proxy with a later date before the applicable deadline either signed and returned by mail or transmitted using the telephone or Internet voting procedures described in the “How to Vote” section above; |
• | by voting online at the Annual Meeting using the procedures described in the “How to Vote” section above; or |
• | by filing a written revocation with our Corporate Secretary. |
• | the Class I directors are Briggs Morrison, M.D., Michael Sherman, MBA, and Anil Singhal, Ph.D., and their term expires at the Annual Meeting; |
• | the Class II directors are Meeta Chatterjee, Ph.D., Derek DiRocco, Ph.D., and Daniel J. Hicklin, Ph.D., and their term expires at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2026; and |
• | the Class III directors are Michael Atkins, M.D., Luke Evnin, Ph.D., and Alon Lazarus, Ph.D., and their term expires at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027. |
Fee Category | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Audit fees(1) | $729,175 | $799,865 | ||||
Audit related fees | $— | $— | ||||
Tax fees(2) | $70,086 | $— | ||||
All other fees(3) | $5,200 | $3,600 | ||||
Total fees | $804,461 | $803,465 | ||||
(1) | “Audit fees” during the 2024 and 2023 fiscal years consist of fees for the audit of our annual financial statements, the review of the interim financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other professional services provided in connection with regulatory filings or engagements. |
(2) | “Tax fees” during the 2024 fiscal year consist of fees for professional services, including tax compliance and advisory services primarily related to the preparation of state and federal tax returns. |
(3) | “All Other Fees” during the 2023 fiscal year consist of subscription fees. |
• | Nominees should have a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. |
• | Nominees should have demonstrated business acumen, experience and ability to exercise sound judgments in matters that relate to our current and long-term objectives and should be willing and able to contribute positively to our decision-making process. |
• | Nominees should have a commitment to understand our company and our industry and to regularly attend and participate in meetings of our board of directors and its committees. |
• | Nominees should have the interest and ability to understand the sometimes conflicting interests of our various constituencies, which include stockholders, employees, customers, governmental units, creditors and the general public, and to act in the interests of all stockholders. |
• | Nominees should not have, nor appear to have, a conflict of interest that would impair the nominee’s ability to represent the interests of all of our stockholders and to fulfill the responsibilities of a director. |
• | Nominees shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or any other basis proscribed by law. The value of diversity on our board of directors should be considered. |
• | appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the independence of our registered public accounting firm; |
• | overseeing the work of our independent registered public accounting firm, including through the receipt and consideration of reports from such firm; |
• | reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures; |
• | monitoring our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and code of business conduct and ethics; |
• | overseeing our risk assessment and risk management policies; |
• | establishing policies regarding hiring employees from our independent registered public accounting firm and procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting-related complaints and concerns; |
• | meeting independently with our internal auditing staff, if any, our independent registered public accounting firm and management; and |
• | reviewing and approving or ratifying any related person transactions; and preparing the audit committee report required by SEC rules. |
• | reviewing and approving, or making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to, the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers; |
• | overseeing an evaluation of our senior executives; |
• | overseeing and administering our cash and equity incentive plans; |
• | reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to director compensation; |
• | reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to management succession planning; |
• | approving or making recommendations to our board of directors for approval with respect to compensation recovery or “clawback” policies and overseeing the administration of such policies; |
• | reviewing and discussing annually with management our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” disclosure if and to the extent required by SEC rules; and |
• | preparing the compensation committee report if and to the extent then required by SEC rules. |
• | recommending to our board of directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to each of our board’s committees; |
• | reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to our board leadership structure; |
• | reviewing and making recommendations to our board with respect to management succession planning; |
• | developing and recommending to our board of directors corporate governance principles; and |
• | overseeing an annual evaluation of our board of directors. |
• | the principal responsibility of our board of directors is to oversee our management; |
• | a majority of the members of the board of directors must be independent directors, unless otherwise permitted by Nasdaq rules; |
• | the independent directors meet in executive session at least twice a year; |
• | directors have full and free access to management and, as necessary, independent advisors; |
• | new directors participate in an orientation program and all directors are expected to participate in continuing director education on an ongoing basis; and |
• | our nominating and corporate governance committee will oversee a periodic self-evaluation of the board to determine whether it and its committees are functioning effectively. |
Name | Age | Position | ||||
Daniel J. Hicklin, Ph.D. | 62 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||
Steven Bloom | 64 | Chief Business Officer | ||||
Randi Isaacs, M.D. | 69 | Chief Medical Officer | ||||
Chulani Karunatilake, Ph.D. | 66 | Chief Technology Officer | ||||
Timothy W. Trost | 67 | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($)(1) | Option Awards ($)(2) | All Other Compensation ($)(3) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||
Daniel J. Hicklin, Ph.D.(4) President and Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | 608,237 | 364,638 | 1,559,867 | 12,857 | 2,545,599 | ||||||||||||
2023 | 583,440 | 332,561 | 438,640 | 12,263 | 1,366,904 | |||||||||||||
Randi Isaacs, M.D. Chief Medical Officer | 2024 | 494,145 | 215,843 | 717,180 | 12,857 | 1,440,024 | ||||||||||||
2023 | 474,000 | 216,144 | 153,339 | 12,282 | 855,765 | |||||||||||||
Timothy W. Trost Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | 2024 | 465,998 | 199,820 | 537,885 | 12,857 | 1,216,560 | ||||||||||||
2023 | 447,000 | 203,832 | 152,596 | 12,157 | 815,585 | |||||||||||||
(1) | Amounts shown for 2024 and 2023 represent the annual bonus earned by each of Drs. Hicklin and Isaacs and Mr. Trost based on our attainment of the corporate goals in the respective years as determined by the board of directors in its sole discretion, upon the recommendation of the compensation committee, or by the compensation committee in its sole discretion. |
(2) | The amounts reported in the “Option Awards” column reflect the aggregate fair value of stock-based compensation awarded during the year computed in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standard Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or ASC 718. See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed on March 11, 2025 with the SEC, regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of equity awards. These amounts reflect the accounting cost for these stock options and do not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the named executive officer upon the vesting of the stock options, the exercise of the stock options, or the sale of the common stock underlying such stock options. |
(3) | The amounts reported include (i) life insurance premiums of $918 for each of Drs. Hicklin and Isaacs and Mr. Trost for each of 2024 and 2023, (ii) the payment of $1,589 for tax gross-ups for long-term disability insurance for each of Drs. Hicklin and Isaacs and Mr. Trost for each of 2023 and 2024, and (iii) 401(k) contributions matched by the company in the amount of $10,350 for Drs. Hicklin and Isaacs and Mr. Trost for 2024 and 401(k) contributions matched by the company in the amount of $9,756 for Dr. Hicklin, $9,775 for Dr. Isaacs and $9,650 for Mr. Trost for 2023. |
(4) | Dr. Hicklin is also a member of our board of directors but did not receive any additional compensation in his capacity as a director. |
Option Awards | ||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | ||||||||
Daniel J. Hicklin, Ph.D. | 727,377 | 0 | 4.77 | 12/7/2030 | ||||||||
142,464 | 12,952(1) | 16.00 | 4/29/2031 | |||||||||
157,418 | 58,470(2) | 11.55 | 1/5/2032 | |||||||||
141,593 | 153,907(3) | 2.05 | 12/31/2032 | |||||||||
99,687 | 335,313(4) | 4.64 | 12/31/2033 | |||||||||
Randi Isaacs, M.D. | 176,966 | 0 | 3.03 | 11/8/2030 | ||||||||
140,208 | 0 | 4.77 | 12/7/2030 | |||||||||
52,053 | 4,733(1) | 16.00 | 4/29/2031 | |||||||||
57,980 | 21,536(2) | 11.55 | 1/5/2032 | |||||||||
49,497 | 53,803(3) | 2.05 | 12/31/2032 | |||||||||
45,833 | 154,167(4) | 4.64 | 12/31/2033 | |||||||||
Timothy W. Trost | 237,486 | 10,326(5) | 5.98 | 2/11/2031 | ||||||||
50,193 | 4,563(1) | 16.00 | 4/29/2031 | |||||||||
48,095 | 17,865(2) | 11.55 | 1/5/2032 | |||||||||
49,258 | 53,542(3) | 2.05 | 12/31/2032 | |||||||||
34,375 | 115,625(4) | 4.64 | 12/31/2033 | |||||||||
(1) | This option vests over four years in equal monthly installments following April 30, 2021, subject to continuous service. |
(2) | This option vests over four years in equal monthly installments following January 1, 2022, subject to continuous service. |
(3) | This option vests over four years in equal monthly installments following January 1, 2023, subject to continuous service. |
(4) | This option vests over four years in equal monthly installments following January 1, 2024, subject to continuous service. |
(5) | This option vests over four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of February 8, 2021, and the remainder vesting in equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to continuous service. |
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Option Awards ($)(1)(2) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||
Michael Atkins, M.D. | 44,000 | 165,695 | 70,000(3) | 279,695 | ||||||||
Meeta Chatterjee, Ph.D. | 49,000 | 64,479 | — | 113,479 | ||||||||
Derek DiRocco, Ph.D. | 51,500 | 64,479 | — | 115,979 | ||||||||
Luke Evnin, Ph.D. | 83,000 | 64,479 | — | 147,479 | ||||||||
Alon Lazarus, Ph.D. | 57,500 | 64,479 | — | 121,979 | ||||||||
Briggs W. Morrison, M.D. | 40,000 | 64,479 | — | 104,479 | ||||||||
Michael Sherman, MBA | 60,000 | 64,479 | — | 124,479 | ||||||||
(1) | The amounts reported in the “Option Awards” column reflect the aggregate grant-date fair value of stock-based compensation awarded during the year computed in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718. See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed on March 11, 2025 with the SEC, regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of equity awards. These amounts reflect the accounting cost for these stock options and do not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the directors upon the vesting of the stock options, the exercise of the stock options, or the sale of the common stock underlying such stock options. |
(2) | As of December 31, 2024, the aggregate number of shares of our common stock subject to outstanding option awards for each non-employee director serving during 2024 was as follows: Dr. Atkins, 41,723 shares; Dr. Chatterjee, 61,633 shares; Dr. DiRocco, 65,500 shares; Dr. Evnin, 65,500 shares; Dr. Lazarus, 65,500 shares; Dr. Morrison, 96,547 shares; and Mr. Sherman, 65,500 shares. |
(3) | Dr. Atkins received the amount reported in this column for service in 2024 on the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board. |
Chair Fee ($) | Other Member Fee ($) | |||||
Board of Directors | 70,000 | 40,000 | ||||
Audit Committee | 15,000 | 7,500 | ||||
Compensation Committee | 10,000 | 5,000 | ||||
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | 8,000 | 4,000 | ||||
• | the related person’s interest in the related person transaction; |
• | the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the related person transaction; |
• | the approximate dollar value of the amount of the related person’s interest in the transaction without regard to the amount of any profit or loss; |
• | whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of our business; |
• | whether the terms of the transaction are no less favorable to us than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party; |
• | the purpose of, and the potential benefits to us of, the transaction; and |
• | any other information regarding the related person transaction or the related person in the context of the proposed transaction that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances of the particular transaction. |
• | interests arising solely from the related person’s position as an executive officer of another entity, whether or not the person is also a director of the entity, that is a participant in the transaction where the related person and all other related persons own in the aggregate less than a 10% equity interest in such entity, the related person, and his or her immediate family members are not involved in the negotiation of the terms of the transaction and do not receive any special benefits as a result of the transaction and the amount involved in the transaction is less than the greater of $200,000 or 5% of the annual gross revenues of the company receiving payment under the transaction; and |
• | a transaction that is specifically contemplated by provisions of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws. |
• | each of our directors; |
• | each of our named executive officers; |
• | all of our directors and executive officers as a group; and |
• | each person, or group of affiliated persons, who is known to us to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock. |
Name Of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned (%) | ||||
5% Stockholders: | ||||||
Entities affiliated with RA Capital(1) | 6,210,381 | 13.8 | ||||
Entities affiliated with MPM Capital(2) | 4,309,860 | 9.6 | ||||
PFM Health Sciences, LP(3) | 2,905,465 | 6.5 | ||||
UBS Oncology Impact Fund, L.P.(4) | 2,408,810 | 5.4 | ||||
Named Executive Officers and Directors: | ||||||
Luke Evnin, Ph.D.(2)(5) | 4,375,360 | 9.8 | ||||
Michael Atkins, M.D.(6) | 37,577 | * | ||||
Meeta Chatterjee, Ph.D.(7) | 61,633 | * | ||||
Derek DiRocco, Ph.D.(8) | 65,500 | * | ||||
Alon Lazarus, Ph.D.(9) | 2,112,134 | 4.7 | ||||
Briggs Morrison, M.D.(10) | 112,070 | * | ||||
Michael Sherman, MBA(11) | 65,500 | * | ||||
Anil Singhal, Ph.D. | 0 | * | ||||
Daniel J. Hicklin, Ph.D.(12) | 2,108,575 | 4.7 | ||||
Randi Isaacs, M.D.(13) | 594,653 | 1.3 | ||||
Timothy Trost(14) | 489,766 | 1.1 | ||||
All executive officers and directors as a group (12 Persons)(15) | 10,570,181 | 23.6 | ||||
* | Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%. |
(1) | Based on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on May 7, 2024, and information known to the Company. Consists of (i) 5,701,056 shares of common stock held by RA Capital Healthcare Fund, L.P., or the Fund, (ii) 443,825 shares of common stock held by the RA Capital Nexus Fund II, L.P., or the Nexus Fund II, and (iii) a total of 65,500 stock options (right to buy) exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025, held by Derek DiRocco for the benefit of RA Capital. RA Capital Healthcare Fund GP, LLC is the general partner of the Fund and RA Capital Nexus Fund II GP, LLC is the general partner of the Nexus Fund II. The general partner of RA Capital is RA Capital Management GP, LLC, of which Dr. Kolchinsky and Mr. Shah are the controlling persons. RA Capital serves as investment adviser for the Fund and the Nexus Fund II and may be deemed a beneficial owner, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, of any securities of the Company held by the Fund or the Nexus Fund II. The Fund and the Nexus Fund II have delegated to RA Capital the sole power to vote and the sole power to dispose of all securities held in the Fund’s and the Nexus Fund II’s portfolio, including shares of the Company’s common stock. Because the Fund and the Nexus Fund II have divested themselves of voting and investment power over the reported securities they hold and may not revoke that delegation on less than 61 days’ notice, the Fund and the Nexus Fund II disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities they hold for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and therefore disclaim any obligation to report ownership of the reported securities under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. As managers of RA Capital, Dr. Kolchinsky and Mr. Shah may be deemed beneficial owners, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, of any securities of the Company beneficially owned by RA Capital. RA Capital, |
(2) | Based on a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on May 14, 2021, and information known to the Company. Consists of (i) 461,408 shares of common stock held by MPM Asset Management LLC, (ii) 2,914,123 shares of common stock held by MPM BioVentures 2014, L.P., or MPM 2014, (iii) 194,367 shares of common stock held by MPM BioVentures 2014 (B), L.P., or MPM 2014(B), (iv) 100,303 shares of common stock held by MPM Asset Management Investors BV2014 LLC, or MPM BV2014, and (v) 639,659 shares of common stock held by MPM Oncology Innovations Fund, L.P., or MPM OIF. MPM 2014, MPM 2014(B), MPM BV2014 and MPM OIF are collectively referred to as the MPM Entities. Luke Evnin, a member of our board of directors, Ansbert Gadicke and Todd Foley are the managing directors of MPM BioVentures 2014 LLC, or BV2014 LLC. BV2014 LLC is the manager of MPM BV2014 and managing member of MPM BioVentures 2014 GP LLC, which is the general partner of MPM 2014 and MPM 2014(B). Each of Dr. Evnin, Dr. Gadicke and Mr. Foley shares power to vote, acquire, hold and dispose of the shares held by MPM 2014, MPM 2014(B) and MPM BV2014. Luke Evnin and Ansbert Gadicke are the managers of MPM Oncology Innovations Fund GP LLC, which is the general partner of MPM OIF. Dr. Evnin and Dr. Gadicke share power to vote, acquire, hold and dispose of the shares held by MPM OIF. Luke Evnin and Ansbert Gadicke are the members of MPM Asset Management LLC. MPM Asset Management LLC is the management company for each of the MPM Entities. Dr. Evnin and Dr. Gadicke share power to vote, acquire, hold and dispose of the shares held by MPM Asset Management LLC. Each of the entities and individuals listed above expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities listed above except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of each of the MPM Entities and MPM Asset Management LLC is 399 Boylston Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02116. |
(3) | Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2025. Consists of 2,905,465 shares held by PFM Healthcare Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership, or HCM, and PFM Biotech Opportunities LP, a Delaware limited partnership, or BO. PFM Health Sciences, LP, or PFM, PFM Health Sciences GP, LLC, or PFM-GP, Partner Asset Management, LLC, or PAM, and Brian D. Grossman share voting and dispositive power over the reported shares. PFM is the investment advisor for the funds. PAM is the general partner of the funds. PFM-GP is the general partner of PFM and the manager of PAM. Mr. Grossman is the sole member of PFM-GP. The address of the principal business office of each of the reporting persons is c/o PFM Health Sciences, LP, 475 Sansome Street, Suite 1720, San Francisco, California 94111. |
(4) | Based on a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on May 14, 2021, and information known to the Company. Consists of 2,408,810 shares of common stock held by UBS Oncology Impact Fund, L.P., or UBS OIF. The general partner of UBS OIF is BioImpact Capital LLC. Dr. Ansbert Gadicke is the managing partner of BioImpact Capital LLC. Each of the entities and individuals listed above expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities listed above except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of BioImpact Capital LLC and the individuals referenced above is 399 Boylston Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02116. |
(5) | Consists of 4,309,860 shares of common stock and 65,500 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(6) | Consists of 14,419 shares of common stock and 23,158 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(7) | Consists of 61,633 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(8) | Consists of 65,500 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(9) | Consists of 2,046,634 shares of common stock and 65,500 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(10) | Consists of 15,523 shares of common stock and 96,547 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(11) | Consists of 65,500 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(12) | Consists of 647,047 shares of common stock and 1,461,528 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(13) | Consists of 594,653 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(14) | Consists of 489,766 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |
(15) | Consists of 7,017,960 shares of common stock and 3,552,221 shares of common stock underlying options that are exercisable as of April 14, 2025 or will become exercisable within 60 days after such date. Steven Bloom is not included in this group as he became an executive officer after April 14, 2025; as of the effective date of his appointment, Mr. Bloom did not hold any shares of common stock or common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 14, 2025. |

