8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 19, 2021

APTINYX INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-38535	47-4626057
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

909 Davis Street, Suite 600

Evanston, IL 60201

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(847) 871-0377

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	APTX	The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On October 19, 2021, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Aptinyx Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously appointed Dr. Gilmore O’Neill to the Board. Upon his appointment to the Board, Dr. O’Neill became a member of the class of directors with terms expiring at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company. At the time of Dr. O’Neill’s appointment to the Board, the committees of the Board to which Dr. O’Neill will be or is expected to be appointed, if any, had not been determined.

The Board has determined that Dr. O’Neill qualifies as an independent director and is qualified to serve under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the listing rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. For his service on the Board, Dr. O’Neill will receive the same compensation as other non-employee directors, as described in the Company’s most recent proxy statement filed with the SEC. Dr. O’Neill has also entered into the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement.

Dr. O’Neill, age 56, currently serves as the chief medical officer and executive vice president of research & development at Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRPT). Prior to joining Sarepta in June 2018, Dr. O’Neill served as the senior vice president of late-stage clinical development at Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) from November 2016 to June 2018. At Biogen, Dr. O’Neill also served in numerous other roles after joining the company in April 2003, including as senior vice president of drug innovation units, vice president of MS franchise and head of multiple sclerosis research and development, vice president of global neurology clinical development, vice president of global late-stage clinical development, and vice president of experimental neurology (early stage). Dr. O’Neill is licensed to practice medicine in the state of Massachusetts. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and a board-certified neurologist (ABPN). Dr. O’Neill is formerly chief resident in neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). From 1997 to 2015, Dr. O’Neill served as a clinical instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. O’Neill currently serves on the board of directors of Unity Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBX), as well as the board of directors of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio). Dr. O’Neill received a Bachelor of Medicine degree from University College Dublin and a Master of Medical Sciences degree from Harvard University.

The Company believes Dr. O’Neill is qualified to serve on the Board based on his experience in research and clinical development.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Dr. O’Neill and any other persons pursuant to which he was elected as a director of the Company. There are no family relationships between Dr. O’Neill and any director or executive officer of the Company, and he has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October 20, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Dr. O’Neill to the Board. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release issued by Aptinyx Inc. on October 20, 2021, furnished herewith
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	Aptinyx Inc.
Date: October 20, 2021	By:	/s/ Norbert G. Riedel
		Norbert G. Riedel
		Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

Aptinyx Appoints Gilmore O’Neill, M.B., M.M.Sc., to Board of Directors

EVANSTON, Ill., October 20, 2021 -- Aptinyx Inc. (Nasdaq: APTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative therapies for the treatment of nervous system disorders, today announced the appointment of Gilmore O’Neill, M.B., M.M.Sc., to the company’s board of directors. Dr. O’Neill currently serves as chief medical officer and executive vice president of research and development at Sarepta Therapeutics.

“Gilmore brings an exceptional background of experience and leadership to the Aptinyx board of directors,” said Norbert Riedel, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Aptinyx. “His expertise in research and clinical development is amplified by the successful development programs he has overseen across a range of neurological disorders. I am confident that Gilmore will serve as an invaluable resource to Aptinyx as we continue to develop new therapeutic options for patients living with nervous system disorders.”

Dr. O’Neill has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, operating in executive roles with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as in academic medicine as a neurologist. He joined Sarepta Therapeutics in June 2018 as chief medical officer and executive vice president of research and development and leads the company’s research, clinical development, medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs functions. Prior to Sarepta, he spent 15 years at Biogen, holding leadership roles in development programs for Alzheimer’s disease, movement disorders, neurology, multiple sclerosis, pain, neuromuscular disease, gene and cell therapy, and rare diseases. During this period, Dr. O’Neill oversaw global marketing approvals for Tecfidera, Zinbryta, Plegridy, and Spinraza. While at Biogen, he also served as a clinical instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School. He serves on the board of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and on the board of directors of Unity Biotechnology. He has served as a neurology peer reviewer for medical literature and lectures in the United States and globally on advances in neurology and neurological research.

“The innovative pipeline of NMDA receptor modulators being developed by Aptinyx has the potential to address some of today’s most challenging neurological disorders,” said Dr. O’Neill. “I am excited to join the Aptinyx board to support the development of these novel therapeutic solutions and to propel the company into its next phase of transformational growth.”

Dr. O’Neill earned a Bachelor of Medicine degree at University College Dublin and a Master of Medical Sciences degree from Harvard University. He is the recipient of numerous awards in science and medicine, including the Lefler Fellowship in the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency training in neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he also served as chief resident.

About Aptinyx

Aptinyx Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary synthetic small molecules for the treatment of brain and nervous system disorders. Aptinyx has a platform for discovery of novel compounds that work through a unique mechanism to modulate—rather than block or over-activate—NMDA receptors and enhance synaptic plasticity, the foundation of neural cell communication. The company has three product candidates in clinical development in central nervous system indications, including chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive impairment. Aptinyx is also advancing additional compounds from its proprietary discovery platform, which continues to generate a rich and diverse pipeline of small-molecule NMDA receptor modulators with the potential to treat an array of neurologic disorders. For more information, visit www.aptinyx.com or follow Aptinyx on Twitter @Aptinyx.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the company’s business plans and objectives, and the expected impact and contribution of our board of directors and executives to our business. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the success, cost, and timing of the company’s product candidate development activities and planned clinical studies; the company’s ability to execute on its strategy; as well as those risks and uncertainties set forth in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Aptinyx undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Investor & Media Contact:

Patrick Flavin

Aptinyx Inc.

ir@aptinyx.com or corporate@aptinyx.com

847-871-0377

 

Source: Aptinyx Inc.

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Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
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Document Period End Date	Oct. 19, 2021
Entity File Number	001-38535
Entity Registrant Name	APTINYX INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001674365
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-4626057
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	909 Davis Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 600
Entity Address, City or Town	Evanston
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
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City Area Code	847
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Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
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Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period	false