XOMA Royalty Announces CFO Transition
Rhea-AI Summary
XOMA Royalty (Nasdaq: XOMA) announced on January 12, 2026 that Chief Financial Officer Thomas Burns will step down to pursue other opportunities after nearly two decades with the company. The board thanked Burns for his leadership during XOMA Royalty’s transition to a royalty aggregator and for building a strong financial foundation. The company appointed Jeffrey Trigilio as CFO; he previously served as CFO and COO at Obsidian Therapeutics and as CFO at Cullinan Therapeutics, and began his career at Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Management emphasized continued disciplined capital deployment, diligence, and deal structuring to grow the royalty portfolio and deliver value for shareholders.
Positive
- CFO appointment of Jeffrey Trigilio with biotech CFO track record
- Nearly two decades of continuity from outgoing CFO Thomas Burns
- Management commitment to disciplined capital deployment and deal structuring
Negative
- CFO departure creates near-term leadership transition risk
- No financial guidance or metrics provided alongside the leadership change
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, XOMA declined 10.25%, reflecting a significant negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -14.1% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 48 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $40M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $352M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
XOMA fell 0.23% with elevated volume while closely related biotech peers were mixed: ERAS up 11.28%, ATXS down 0.92%, ZVRA down 2.41%, ARCT down 1.02%, and PRTA flat. Only one momentum-scanner peer (RGNX, up 10.35%) appeared, reinforcing a stock-specific backdrop around this CFO transition.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30 | Royalty transaction | Positive | +3.7% | Amended Takeda royalty deal, trading mezagitamab economics for nine‑asset basket. |
| Dec 22 | Dividend declaration | Positive | +0.8% | Board declared quarterly cash dividends on preferred share classes. |
| Dec 05 | M&A closing | Positive | -3.3% | Completed acquisition of Mural Oncology via Irish court‑sanctioned scheme. |
| Nov 21 | M&A closing | Positive | -0.3% | Closed acquisition of LAVA Therapeutics with cash and CVR consideration. |
| Nov 12 | Earnings update | Positive | -2.5% | Reported Q3 profitability, strong royalty income, and significant cash balance. |
Recent news skewed positive (royalty transactions, dividends, acquisitions, profitability), yet price reactions have often been muted or negative, suggesting a tendency toward cautious or contrarian trading around fundamentally constructive updates.
Over the last few months, XOMA Royalty has focused on expanding and reshaping its royalty portfolio and capital structure. On Nov 12, 2025, it reported Q3 2025 profitability with $38.4M year‑to‑date income and revenue and strong cash. Subsequent deals included acquiring LAVA Therapeutics and Mural Oncology in November and December 2025, and a Dec 30, 2025 restructuring of mezagitamab economics with Takeda in exchange for exposure to a basket of nine development‑stage assets. The current CFO transition follows this period of active portfolio building and financial strengthening.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock dropped -10.3% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite a planned CFO transition and recent profitable operations would fit a pattern where XOMA news has not always translated into sustained gains. Several positive updates in late 2025, including acquisitions and royalty transactions, saw mixed or negative price responses. In such a context, concerns around leadership change, integration of acquired assets, or capital deployment could contribute to downside pressure, even when the underlying royalty model and cash position remain key focus areas.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XOMA Royalty Corporation (“XOMA Royalty”) (Nasdaq: XOMA) announced today its Chief Financial Officer, Thomas Burns, will be stepping down from his position with XOMA Royalty to pursue other professional opportunities.
“Tom’s leadership, guidance, and resourcefulness have been invaluable as the Company transitioned to and established itself as a royalty aggregator,” stated Owen Hughes, XOMA Royalty’s Chief Executive Officer. “On behalf of the Board of Directors and my XOMA Royalty colleagues, I would like to thank Tom for his nearly two decades of service to the Company, his unwavering dedication, and the strong financial foundation he built to support XOMA Royalty’s future growth.”
“It has been a great honor to have played a key role in the XOMA Royalty journey,” said Mr. Burns. “With multiple commercial assets and a robust portfolio that should deliver milestones and additional royalty streams for the foreseeable future, XOMA Royalty is firmly established in the biotech royalty segment of the healthcare ecosystem.”
In conjunction with this leadership transition, XOMA Royalty has appointed Jeffrey Trigilio as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Trigilio has served in a variety of financial, strategic and business development roles at numerous biotech companies and investment banks. Most recently, Mr. Trigilio served as the Chief Financial and Operating Officer of Obsidian Therapeutics, and prior to that, Chief Financial Officer at Cullinan Therapeutics. He started his operating career at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, having served in various corporate strategy and finance roles.
Mr. Trigilio added, “XOMA Royalty’s leadership team has a track record of identifying and capturing underappreciated value across opportunities. Together we will continue to execute a strategy of disciplined capital deployment, robust diligence, and innovative deal structuring to enhance our royalty portfolio and generate value for shareholders.”
About XOMA Royalty Corporation
XOMA Royalty is a biotechnology royalty aggregator playing a distinctive role in helping biotech companies achieve their goal of improving human health. XOMA Royalty acquires the potential future economics associated with pre-commercial and commercial therapeutic candidates that have been licensed to pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. When XOMA Royalty acquires the future economics, the sellers receive non-dilutive, non-recourse funding they can use to advance their internal drug candidate(s) or for general corporate purposes. XOMA Royalty has an extensive and growing portfolio of assets (asset defined as the right to receive potential future economics associated with the advancement of an underlying therapeutic candidate). For more information about XOMA Royalty and its portfolio, please visit www.xoma.com or follow XOMA Royalty Corporation on LinkedIn.
XOMA Royalty Forward-Looking Statements/Explanatory Notes
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In some cases, you can identify such forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “seek,” “project,” “expect,” “may,” “will”, “would,” “could” or “should,” the negative of these terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of XOMA Royalty’s performance, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements. These statements are based on assumptions that may not prove accurate, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to certain risks inherent in the biotechnology industry, including those related to the fact that our product candidates subject to out-license agreements are still being developed, and our licensees may require substantial funds to continue development which may not be available; we do not know whether there will be, or will continue to be, a viable market for the products in which we have an ownership or royalty interest; and if the therapeutic product candidates to which we have a royalty interest do not receive regulatory approval, our third-party licensees will not be able to market them. Other potential risks to XOMA Royalty meeting these expectations are described in more detail in XOMA Royalty's most recent filing on Form 10-Q and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consider such risks carefully when considering XOMA Royalty's prospects. Any forward-looking statement in this press release represents XOMA Royalty's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. XOMA Royalty disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.
EXPLANATORY NOTE: Any references to “portfolio” in this press release refer strictly to milestone and/or royalty rights associated with a basket of drug products in development. Any references to “assets” in this press release refer strictly to milestone and/or royalty rights associated with individual drug products in development.
As of the date of this press release, the commercial assets in XOMA Royalty’s milestone and royalty portfolio are VABYSMO® (faricimab-svoa), OJEMDA™ (tovorafenib), MIPLYFFA™ (arimoclomol), XACIATO™ (clindamycin phosphate) vaginal gel
| XOMA Royalty Investor Contact: Juliane Snowden XOMA Royalty Corporation +1-646-438-9754 juliane.snowden@xoma.com | XOMA Royalty Media Contact: Kathy Vincent KV Consulting & Management kathy@kathyvincent.com |
FAQ
Who is replacing Thomas Burns as CFO of XOMA (Nasdaq: XOMA)?
When did XOMA announce the CFO transition for Thomas Burns?
What experience does new XOMA CFO Jeffrey Trigilio bring?
How did XOMA describe Thomas Burns’ contribution to the company?
Will the CFO change affect XOMA’s royalty strategy and capital deployment?
