Ardelyx outlines legal and medical leadership transitions and advisory deal

Ardelyx, Inc. reported senior leadership changes effective December 31, 2025.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ardelyx, Inc. reported senior leadership changes effective December 31, 2025. Elizabeth Grammer resigned as Chief Legal and Administrative Officer, but will continue as General Counsel until a successor is named and then serve as a Senior Advisor for 24 months under a Transition and Separation Agreement. During an initial 12‑month employment period, she will keep her current base salary, remain eligible for an annual target bonus equal to 45% of base salary for 2025, and continue to receive senior non‑executive benefits, followed by a one‑month salary payment if she delivers a general release.

In the second 12 months, her equity will continue to vest, she may receive advisory payments for the first nine months, and Ardelyx will pay COBRA health premiums for her and dependents during the advisory term or until she gains other coverage. Separately, Chief Medical Officer Edward Conner, M.D. will resign for personal reasons, and Chief Patient Officer and former CMO Dr. Laura Williams will act as interim Chief Medical Officer, overseeing clinical development until a permanent replacement is hired.

Insights

Biopharma governance and compensation analyst

Ardelyx discloses planned legal and medical leadership transitions with structured retention and advisory terms.

The company is managing two senior changes: the Chief Legal and Administrative Officer steps down from her executive role but remains as General Counsel until a successor is appointed, then serves as Senior Advisor for 24 months. This structure, with continued base salary, a 45% target bonus opportunity for the year ending December 31, 2025, and ongoing benefits for the first 12 months, helps retain institutional knowledge during the transition.

In the second year of the advisory period, equity continues to vest and the executive may receive advisory payments for the first nine months, while the company covers COBRA premiums for her and eligible dependents for up to the full advisory period or until other coverage begins. Separately, the Chief Medical Officer is resigning for personal reasons, and a former CMO, now Chief Patient Officer, will serve as interim CMO, assuming strategic oversight of clinical development programs. The filing does not indicate any disagreement with the company, suggesting these are structured transitions rather than disclosed disputes.

8-K Event Classification

3 items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01

3 items

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Item 8.01 Other Events Other

Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What executive leadership changes did Ardelyx (ARDX) announce?

Ardelyx announced that Elizabeth Grammer will resign as Chief Legal and Administrative Officer effective December 31, 2025, and that Chief Medical Officer Edward Conner, M.D. will also resign on the same date for personal reasons.

What is Elizabeth Grammer’s new role at Ardelyx (ARDX) after her resignation?

After resigning as Chief Legal and Administrative Officer, Elizabeth Grammer will continue as General Counsel until a successor is appointed, then serve as a Senior Advisor to Ardelyx for 24 months under a Transition and Separation Agreement.

How is Ardelyx compensating Elizabeth Grammer during her transition period?

During the first 12 months of the advisory period, Ms. Grammer will remain employed, receive her pre‑resignation base salary, be eligible for an annual target bonus of 45% of base salary for 2025, and continue senior non‑executive benefits; she will then receive an additional one month of base salary upon providing a general release.

What benefits will Ardelyx (ARDX) provide to Elizabeth Grammer after the initial 12 months?

In the second 12 months of the advisory period, Ms. Grammer’s equity will continue to vest, she may receive advisory payments during the first nine months, and Ardelyx will pay COBRA health premiums for her and her covered dependents for up to the full 24‑month advisory period or until she obtains other coverage.

Who will serve as interim Chief Medical Officer at Ardelyx (ARDX)?

Dr. Laura Williams, the company’s Chief Patient Officer and former Chief Medical Officer, will act as interim Chief Medical Officer, taking on key responsibilities such as strategic guidance for Ardelyx’s clinical development programs until a new CMO is hired.

Did Ardelyx disclose any disagreement related to Dr. Conner’s resignation?

Ardelyx stated that Dr. Edward Conner resigned as Chief Medical Officer for personal reasons and that his resignation is not the result of any disagreement with the company.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

Accepted by SEC EDGAR 12/17/2025 - 05:02 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

0001437402false00014374022025-12-172025-12-17

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): December 17, 2025

ARDELYX, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware			001-36485			26-1303944
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)			(Commission File Number)			(IRS Employer Identification Number)

400 FIFTH AVE., SUITE 210, WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02451

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (510) 745-1700

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 $0.0001

ARDX

The Nasdaq Global 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  ☐

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.  o

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

On December 17, 2025, Elizabeth Grammer informed Ardelyx, Inc. (the “Company”) of her resignation as the Company’s Chief Legal and Administrative Officer, effective December 31, 2025 (the “Resignation Date”).

In connection with Ms. Grammer’s resignation from her executive role with the Company, on December 17, 2025, the Company and Ms. Grammer entered into a Transition and Separation Agreement (the “Agreement”), pursuant to which Ms. Grammer is expected to continue to serve in the non-executive officer position of General Counsel until a successor is appointed, after which Ms. Grammer will serve as a Senior Advisor to the Company for a period of twenty-four (24) months (the “Advisory Period”). Under the Agreement, for so long as Ms. Grammer serves as the Company’s General Counsel, and thereafter, for the first twelve (12) months of the Advisory Period (the “Employment Period”), (i) Ms. Grammer will continue to be employed by the Company and receive her base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Resignation Date (the “Base Salary”), (ii) she will be eligible to receive her annual target bonus of 45% of her Base Salary for the year ending December 31, 2025, but will not be eligible for any ongoing bonus opportunity during her service as a Senior Advisor, and (iii) she will continue to receive benefits consistent with those provided to other senior non-executives. At the end of the Employment Period, if Ms. Grammer provides the Company a general release of claims, she will be paid an amount equal to one month of her annual base salary as in effect prior to the Resignation Date.

In addition, (a) during the second twelve (12) months of the Advisory Period (the “Consulting Phase”), Ms. Grammer’s equity will continue to vest, (b) during the first nine (9) months of the Consulting Phase, Ms. Grammer will be eligible for an advisory payment in an amount to be determined, and (c) during the full Advisory Period, or if earlier, the date she becomes eligible for healthcare coverage from another employer, Ms. Grammer will be eligible to receive continued health care coverage for herself and her covered dependents under the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 , as amended (“COBRA”), and the Company will pay the applicable COBRA premiums. The Agreement also includes a general release of claims in favor of the Company.

The foregoing is only a summary of the material terms of the Agreement, does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement, which the Company expects to file as an exhibit to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2025.

Item 8.01    Other Events.

Edward Conner, M.D. has notified the Company of his decision to resign as Chief Medical Officer of the Company, effective December 31, 2025. Dr. Conner resigned for personal reasons, and his resignation is not a result of any disagreement with the Company.

Dr. Laura Williams, the Company’s Chief Patient Officer and former Chief Medical Officer, will serve as interim Chief Medical Officer, assuming key responsibilities, including strategic guidance for the Company’s clinical development programs, until a new Chief Medical Officer is hired.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.						Description
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 17, 2025			ARDELYX, INC.
			By:			/s/ Susan Hohenleitner
						Susan Hohenleitner
						Chief Financial Officer