Aravive, a Houston biopharmaceutical company, has replaced its CFO. Vinay Shah, who has been CFO since 2010, has resigned and Rudy Howard appointed in his place.
The company is conducting clinical trials on a protein that inhibits the signals produced by the AXL protein. These signals help proliferate tumors and cause the body to suppress its immune system. The trials are being conducted on patients with ovarian, kidney or pancreatic cancers.
Aravive went public in October 2018 via a reverse takeover of Versartis, a biopharma company based in California. The transaction valued the company at $39 million. Currently, the company has a similar market cap with its share price being $1.21. A year ago, its share price was around around $5-$6.
Mr Shah will receive a severance payment of $286,443 (nine months, paid monthly) and will enter into a consulting contract for four months with a monthly payment of $44,557.
Mr. Howard will receive a base salary of $395,000. He also received stock options on 290,000 units that will vest over four years.
Mr. Howard was previously the CFO of vTv Therapeutics, a struggling biopharma company, based in North Carolina. He resigned in December 2021, receiving a one year severance payment of $325,000. At that time, the company let go 16 of its 25 employees.