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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): March 12, 2026
APTOSE BIOSCIENCES INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Canada |
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001-32001 |
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98-1136802 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation) |
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(Commission
File Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
66 Wellington Street West, Suite 5300
TD Bank Tower, Box 48
Toronto, Ontario M5K 1E6
Canada
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(647) 479-9828
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(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:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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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:
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Trading
Symbol(s) |
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Name of each exchange
on which registered |
| None |
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N/A |
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N/A |
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 ☐
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 1.01 |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
| Item 5.02 |
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
Amended Employment Agreement
On March 12, 2026, Aptose Biosciences Inc. (the “Company”) and Dr. William Rice, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, entered into the First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective March 12, 2026 (“First Amendment”), which amends Sections 4.3 and 15 and Schedule A of the Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 29, 2024 (“Original Agreement”). The First Amendment, (i) confirms that no deferred compensation plan was ever created, no deferred compensation was earned, and no deferred compensation benefits are owed to Dr. Rice and (ii) confirms that Dr. Rice is solely responsible for any potential individual taxes, penalties and interest on all benefits paid or payable under the Original Agreement and any prior agreements.
The First Amendment is filed as Exhibit 10.1 herewith and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the First Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of such agreement.
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Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits
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| Exhibit Number |
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Description |
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| 10.1 |
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First Amendment |
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| 104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
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.
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Aptose Biosciences Inc. |
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| Date: March 23, 2026 |
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By: |
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/s/ William G. Rice, Ph.D. |
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William G. Rice, Ph.D. |
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Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer |
