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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): November
1, 2026
ANAVEX
LIFE SCIENCES CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada |
001-37606 |
98-0608404 |
| (State or other jurisdiction |
(Commission |
(IRS Employer |
| of incorporation) |
File Number) |
Identification No.) |
630 5th Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY
USA 10111
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
1-844-689-3939
Registrant’s telephone number, including area
code
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 (see General Instruction
A.2. below):
☐ 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 $0.001 per share |
|
AVXL |
|
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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 5.02. Departure of
Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
Officers.
Appointment of Chief Executive Officer
On November 1, 2026, the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Anavex
Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex” or the “Company”), appointed Terrie Kellmeyer, Ph.D. as the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President effective immediately.
Dr. Kellmeyer, age 59, has served as the Company’s Interim CEO since
May 4, 2026. Dr. Kellmeyer possesses over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has held executive leadership positions
in Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, and Medical Affairs across multiple therapeutic areas. Prior to her
appointment as the Company’s Interim CEO, she was the Senior Vice President, Clinical Development of the Company from November 2023
to May 2025 and continued to work with the Company as a Senior Advisor until her appointment as Interim CEO. Dr. Kellmeyer also served
as Executive Vice President, Regulatory Affairs at Aardvark Therapeutics from May 2025 to May 2026, as a consultant at Aardvark Therapeutics
from May to June 2026 and continues to serve as a Strategic Advisor to Aardvark Therapeutics. Prior to joining Anavex, Dr. Kellmeyer held
strategic leadership positions, including Group Vice President of Clinical Development at Acer Therapeutics from August 2021 to November
2023, Head of Global Regulatory Affairs at Madrigal Pharmaceuticals from July 2019 to August 2021 and positions of increasing responsibility
at Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Gen-Probe. Dr. Kellmeyer also served as a consultant to Tunnell Consulting from
August 2022 to May 2026 and to i2o Therapeutics from July 2025 to December 2025. Dr. Kellmeyer received her BS degree in Biotechnology
from Rochester Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from SUNY Syracuse and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship
at the University of Rochester.
Dr. Kellmeyer’s annual base salary will remain set at $500,000 and
her annual bonus continues to be anticipated to be 30% of her base salary. The Board plans to review Dr. Kellmeyer’s existing employment
agreement with the Company in the near term and, with respect to Dr. Kellmeyer’s current compensation, obtain advice from an independent
compensation consultant.
Appointment of New Director
Also on November 1, 2026, the Board appointed Dr. Kellmeyer to the Board
effective immediately and reduced the size of the Board from six to five. The Board is commencing a search for an additional independent
director to fill the fifth Board seat.
There are no family relationships between Dr. Kellmeyer and any Company
director or executive officer, and no arrangements or understandings between Dr. Kellmeyer and any other person pursuant to which she
was selected as an officer or a director. There have been no transactions, and there are no currently proposed transactions, to which
the Company was or is a participant and in which Dr. Kellmeyer had or is to have a direct or indirect material interest that would require
disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
A copy of the press release issued by the Company on November 3, 2026,
announcing the appointment of Dr. Kellmeyer as the Company’s CEO and President and as a Board member is attached as Exhibit 99.1
hereto.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
| 99.1 |
|
Press Release, dated November 3, 2026. |
| 104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURES
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.
| |
ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP. |
| |
|
| |
/s/ Sandra Boenisch |
| |
Name: Sandra Boenisch, CPA, CGA |
| |
Title: Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer |
| |
|
| Date: November 3, 2026 |
|
EXHIBIT 99.1
Anavex Life Sciences Names Terrie Kellmeyer, Ph.D.,
as President and Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors
Seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with more than
30 years of leadership experience spanning clinical development, regulatory strategy and operational execution appointed to lead company
into new phase of clinical development and growth
NEW YORK, November 3, 2026 – Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
(Nasdaq: AVXL) (“Anavex” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments
for central nervous system diseases with significant unmet medical needs, today announced that on November 1, 2026, its Board of Directors
appointed Terrie Kellmeyer, Ph.D., who had been serving as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, as the Company’s
President and Chief Executive Officer. She will also join Anavex’s Board of Directors.
“Dr. Kellmeyer has provided steady leadership and a clear vision
during an important period for Anavex, sharpening the focus of our clinical programs and advancing our engagement with the FDA,”
said Peter Donhauser, D.O., member of the Board of Directors. “She brings a deep understanding of our science, a disciplined approach
to execution and an unwavering commitment to patients. The Board’s decision reflects our unequivocal support for her strategy and
her plans to build a top-notch management team, and we are confident she is the ideal leader to drive Anavex to its full potential.”
“I am honored by the Board’s confidence and grateful to our
team, whose dedication over the past several months has positioned Anavex for its next chapter,” said Dr. Kellmeyer. “We have
strengthened our operations, advanced each of our programs and established a constructive dialogue with the FDA. My priorities are clear:
disciplined execution of our clinical plans, generating high-quality data to support regulatory decisions and transparent communication
with patients, investors and regulators. We are accountable to the patients and families we serve and to our shareholders, and we intend
to deliver on our commitments.”
Anavex is developing blarcamesine (ANAVEX®2-73) in Alzheimer’s
disease, Rett syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. Under Dr. Kellmeyer’s interim leadership, the Company has achieved and recently announced
several key milestones across its development portfolio, including the completion of key clinical pharmacology studies, U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application in Fragile X syndrome, and continued progress supporting
its planned Phase 3 Rett syndrome program. Anavex’s strategy is centered on close collaboration with the FDA and advancing blarcamesine
through well-designed clinical studies. With active INDs across each of its core indications, Anavex remains focused on generating clinical
evidence, advancing its precision medicine approach and pursuing potential new treatment options for patients and families.
Dr. Kellmeyer brings more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience
spanning clinical development, regulatory affairs, clinical operations and medical affairs. Prior to her appointment as Chief Executive
Officer, she served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President, Clinical Development at Anavex. Before joining Anavex,
Dr. Kellmeyer held senior leadership positions at Aardvark Therapeutics, Acer Therapeutics, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Intercept Pharmaceuticals,
Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Gen-Probe, and played a key role in the advancement of multiple development programs and the achievement of
significant regulatory milestones in the United States and Europe. Dr. Kellmeyer received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from SUNY Syracuse
and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester.
About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: AVXL) is a publicly traded clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for the treatment of central nervous system diseases with high unmet medical
need. Further information is available at www.anavex.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding the
Company’s clinical trial plans, preclinical and clinical data, clinical development programs and business prospects, the Company’s
leadership strategy and management team development, the execution and advancement of its clinical development plans, its planned Phase
3 Rett syndrome program, its collaboration and interactions with the FDA, the advancement of blarcamesine, the generation of additional
clinical evidence, and the pursuit of potential new treatment options are forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,”
“estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could”
and similar expressions, or the negative thereof. Many factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any
of such forward-looking statements, including volatility in the Company’s stock price and the market in general; the Company’s
ability to raise additional capital; challenges seeking, and ultimately obtaining, regulatory approval for the Company’s product
candidates; the ability of Fast Track designation or Breakthrough Therapy designation to lead to a faster FDA review and approval process;
the Company’s ability to maintain any benefits associated with Orphan Drug Designation, including market exclusivity; undesirable
side effects caused by the Company’s product candidates; the Company’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel;
the Company’s reliance on third parties; the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain sufficient intellectual property protection
for our product candidates; the Company’s ability to defend against claims of intellectual property infringement; the Company’s
ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries; and the other risks and uncertainties set forth
in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) on November 25, 2025, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2026, the Company’s Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025,
filed with the SEC on August 28, 2026, the Company’s Form 10-Q/A for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2025, filed with the
SEC on August 28, 2026, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026, filed with the
SEC on August 28, 2026, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2026, filed with the
SEC on August 28, 2026, and subsequent filings and furnishings with the SEC, which should be considered together with any forward-looking
statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Anavex Life Sciences Corp. undertakes
no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof except as required by law.
Investor Relations:
SCR Partners, LLC
Alex Arzeno
Tel: 203-550-3972
Email: alex@scr-ir.com
Tripp Sullivan
Tel: 615-942-7077
Email: tsullivan@scr-ir.com
Media:
Sam Brown, LLC
Christy Curran
Tel: 615-414-8668
Email: christycurran@sambrown.com
