UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On November 3, 2021, the Board appointed Jill Howe as a member of the Board, effective immediately. Ms. Howe will serve as a director until the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until her successor is duly elected and qualified. Ms. Howe was also appointed as Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of the Board.
Ms. Howe, age 45, has served as Chief Financial Officer of DTx Pharma, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company creating novel RNA-based therapeutics to treat the genetic drivers of disease, since June 2021. Ms. Howe’s career in the biotechnology sector includes over 20 years in operational and financial strategy, treasury, global infrastructure and compliance management. Prior to joining DTx Pharma, Ms. Howe served as Treasurer and Vice President of Finance at Gossamer Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOSS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, from January 2018 to June 2021, where she was the internal project lead for the company’s initial public offering, follow-on and debt offerings, and oversaw finance for 18 subsidiaries across the United States and Ireland. She served as Controller at Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company acquired by Pfizer Inc., from March 2016 to December 2017, and Receptos, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company acquired by Celegene Corporation, from May 2013 to March 2016. From April 2006 to May 2013, she served as Director of Finance and Managed Care Contracting at Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company acquired by Pernix Therapeutics Holdings. Ms. Howe has also served as a member of the board of directors of Codagenix Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, since October 2021. Ms. Howe received her B.S. in Accountancy from San Diego State University.
In accordance with the Company’s outside director compensation policy, which is described in the Company’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021, Ms. Howe will receive an annual cash retainer for her service as a member of the Board, as Chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, Ms. Howe will be granted an option to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock with a grant date fair value of $175,000 at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on November 3, 2021. The shares underlying the option will vest and become exercisable in equal installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of November 3, 2021, subject to Ms. Howe’s continued service to the Company. She will also be granted a restricted stock unit award with a grant date fair value of approximately $175,000. The restricted stock units will vest in equal installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of November 3, 2021, subject to Ms. Howe’s continued service to the Company. The equity awards will be made under the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated to date. Ms. Howe will enter into the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement, which was previously filed by the Company as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on June 4, 2020.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Howe and any other persons pursuant to which she was elected as a director of the Company. There are no family relationships between Ms. Howe and any director or executive officer of the Company, and she has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
On November 4, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing Ms. Howe’s appointment. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibits
| Exhibit Number |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press release, dated November 4, 2021 | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XBRL document) | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| Progenity, Inc. | ||||
| Date: November 4, 2021 | By: | /s/ Eric d’Esparbes | ||
| Eric d’Esparbes Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Exhibit 99.1
Progenity Announces Appointment of Jill Howe to its Board of Directors
SAN DIEGO – November 4, 2021 – Progenity, Inc. (Nasdaq: PROG), an innovative biotechnology company, announced the appointment of Jill Howe to its board of directors effective November 3, 2021. Ms. Howe was also appointed chairperson of the Audit Committee and member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
“As Progenity continues to execute its strategic transformation, we are adding key leadership capabilities that will allow us to continue accelerating our efforts to develop the drug discovery and delivery systems of the future,” said Eric d’Esparbes, interim CEO of Progenity. “Jill brings proven financial leadership and extensive pharmaceutical industry experience, which will be invaluable in her role as chair of the Audit Committee for Progenity.”
“It’s an exciting time for Progenity as there is incredible depth and potential in the R&D pipeline,” said Jill Howe. “I look forward to working with the team to ensure the company’s potential is valued.”
Jill Howe is the Chief Financial Officer for DTxPharma and serves on the Board of Directors for Codagenix and the MUSC Foundation for Research Development. She has more than 20 years of experience in the biotechnology sector in operational and financial strategy, treasury, global infrastructure, and compliance management. Prior to joining DTx, Ms. Howe served as Treasurer and Vice President of Finance for Gossamer Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, where she was the internal project lead for the company’s initial public offering, follow-on, and debt offerings, and oversaw finance for 18 subsidiaries across the U.S. and Ireland. She previously held Controller and Director of Finance roles at Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Receptos, and Somaxon Pharmaceuticals. Ms. Howe received a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from San Diego State University.
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About Progenity
Progenity, Inc. is a biotechnology company innovating in the fields of women’s health, gastrointestinal health, and oral biotherapeutics. Progenity applies a multi-omics approach, combining genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to its molecular testing products and to the development of a suite of investigational ingestible devices designed to provide precise diagnostic sampling and drug delivery solutions. Progenity’s vision is to transform healthcare to become more precise and personal by improving diagnoses of disease and improving patient outcomes through localized treatment with targeted therapies.
For more information visit www.progenity.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties and are based on estimates and assumptions. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “develop,” “plan” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Progenity’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release, including Progenity’s ability to successfully develop and commercialize its products under development, the uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process, such as the regulatory approval process, the timing of regulatory filings, and other matters, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that could affect sufficiency of existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments to fund operations and the availability or commercial potential of Progenity’s products, and those risks described in “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Progenity’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 18, 2021, and other subsequent documents we file with the SEC, including but not limited to Progenity’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Progenity claims the protection of the Safe Harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for forward-looking statements. Progenity expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
Robert Uhl
Managing Director, Westwicke ICR
ir@progenity.com
(619) 228-5886
Media Contact:
Kate Blom-Lowery
CG Life
media@progenity.com
(619) 743-6294