LeonaBio, Inc. 8-K

What Happened
LeonaBio, Inc. (formerly Athira Pharma, Inc.) filed an 8‑K on January 9, 2026 announcing a corporate name change and Nasdaq ticker change, and disclosing a new change‑in‑control and severance agreement for CFO Robert Renninger. The name change to LeonaBio, Inc. and amended bylaws became effective January 9, 2026. The company’s securities are expected to begin trading under the new ticker symbol "LONA" at market open on January 12, 2026. Separately, on January 8, 2026 the company entered into an Amended and Restated Change in Control and Severance Agreement with CFO Robert Renninger and the board approved a base salary increase for him to $460,000 effective retroactively to December 16, 2025.

Key Details

• Name & ticker: Company changed name to LeonaBio, Inc. (effective Jan 9, 2026); Nasdaq ticker will change to LONA effective market open Jan 12, 2026. No action required by stockholders; CUSIP unchanged.
• New website & disclosures: Launched www.leonabio.com and investor site; press release filed as Exhibit 99.1.
• CFO agreement date: Amended and Restated Change in Control and Severance Agreement with Robert Renninger dated January 8, 2026 (filed as Exhibit 10.1).
• Severance outside change‑in‑control period: If terminated by company without cause or resigns for good reason, Renninger receives a lump sum equal to 75% of annual base salary and COBRA premiums for up to 9 months (subject to release of claims).
• Severance during change‑in‑control period: If termination occurs in the defined Change‑in‑Control Period, Renninger receives 100% of annual base salary, 100% of target annual bonus, COBRA premiums up to 12 months, and 100% accelerated vesting of outstanding service‑based (non‑performance) equity awards (subject to release).
• Tax treatment: Payments are subject to Section 280G excise tax mitigation (employee receives either full or reduced amount to maximize after‑tax proceeds); no tax gross‑up.
• Salary increase: Compensation committee approved Renninger’s annual base salary increase to $460,000, retroactive to December 16, 2025.

Why It Matters
The filing documents a corporate rebrand and ticker change that investors should note for trading and information access (new website and investor pages). The CFO’s change‑in‑control agreement and salary increase outline potential cash and equity‑related obligations the company could incur in the event of a qualifying termination or a change in control; notably, the agreement provides for accelerated vesting of certain equity awards and full bonus/salary payments if termination occurs during the change‑in‑control period. These are contractual obligations that may affect post‑transaction compensation expenses, but the filing does not disclose any triggering event or expected cash impact at this time.