Damora Therapeutics names new finance chief

Damora Therapeutics, Inc. announced a finance leadership change.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Damora Therapeutics, Inc. announced a finance leadership change. The Board determined that, effective May 1, 2026, Lori Firmani will cease serving as Chief Financial Officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer. Her departure benefits will follow the company’s Executive Separation Benefits Plan, with base salary continuation and pro-rated target bonus paid in a single lump sum, a $6,000 health savings account contribution, and full acceleration of all outstanding equity awards, subject to her signing a separation agreement and release.

The Board appointed Brian Burkavage, currently Senior Vice President, Finance, to serve as principal financial officer and principal accounting officer effective at the same time. Burkavage, age 43, has held senior finance roles at IO Biotech, Passage Bio, and Aclaris Therapeutics and previously spent 11 years at Ernst & Young. He will enter into Damora’s standard executive indemnification agreement, and the company states he has no disclosable related-party transactions or family relationships with directors or executives.

Insights

Corporate governance analyst

Damora is rotating its finance leadership while promoting an internal executive with relevant public-company experience.

The company is transitioning from Lori Firmani as CFO to Senior Vice President, Finance, Brian Burkavage as principal financial and accounting officer, effective May 1, 2026. The move keeps leadership within the existing finance team, which can support continuity in financial reporting and controls.

Separation terms for Firmani include lump-sum cash benefits, a $6,000 health savings contribution, and full equity vesting, indicating a negotiated, structured exit. Burkavage’s background at multiple public biopharma companies and his CPA credential align with Damora’s needs as a Nasdaq-listed issuer. Overall, this appears as an orderly succession rather than a disruptive change based on the disclosed facts.

8-K Event Classification

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

1 item

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.

Key Figures

Health savings account contribution: $6,000 Effective date of CFO transition: May 1, 2026 Age of new finance chief: 43 years +1 more

4 metrics

Health savings account contribution $6,000 One-time contribution for Lori Firmani as part of separation benefits

Effective date of CFO transition May 1, 2026 Date Lori Firmani ceases serving and Brian Burkavage assumes officer roles

Age of new finance chief 43 years Age of Brian Burkavage at time of appointment as principal financial officer

Ernst & Young tenure 11 years Time Brian Burkavage spent in EY’s financial statement audit practice

Key Terms

principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, Executive Separation Benefits Plan, indemnification agreement, +1 more

5 terms

principal financial officer financial

"to serve as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer"

The principal financial officer is the senior executive who runs a company's financial operations: preparing and certifying financial reports, managing accounting controls, budgets and cash flow, and advising on financial strategy. Investors care about this role because its competence affects how trustworthy the company’s numbers are, how well it manages risk and capital needs, and the credibility of forecasts—like the chief navigator steering a firm's financial course.

principal accounting officer financial

"to serve as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer"

The Principal Accounting Officer is the person responsible for making sure a company's financial records are accurate and follow the rules. They play a key role in preparing financial reports that show how well the company is doing. This helps investors, managers, and regulators trust the company's financial information.

Executive Separation Benefits Plan financial

"separation benefits in accordance with the Company’s Executive Separation Benefits Plan"

indemnification agreement regulatory

"will enter into the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement for its executive officers"

An indemnification agreement is a contract in which one party promises to cover losses, costs, or legal claims that another party might face, acting like a tailored safety net or private insurance policy. For investors, it matters because such agreements shift potential financial risk away from a company or its officers and onto the indemnifier, which can affect a company’s future liabilities, cash flow and how risky the investment appears during deal-making or litigation.

Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K regulatory

"no transactions in which Mr. Burkavage has a direct or indirect material interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K"

FAQ

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

What leadership change did Damora Therapeutics (DMRA) announce in this filing?

Damora Therapeutics announced that Lori Firmani will stop serving as Chief Financial Officer on May 1, 2026. The Board appointed current Senior Vice President, Finance, Brian Burkavage as principal financial officer and principal accounting officer effective the same date, maintaining continuity within the finance organization.

What separation benefits will former CFO Lori Firmani receive from Damora Therapeutics (DMRA)?

Subject to signing a separation agreement and release, Lori Firmani will receive benefits under Damora’s Executive Separation Benefits Plan. Her base salary continuation and pro-rated target bonus will be paid as a lump sum, plus a $6,000 health savings account contribution and full acceleration of all outstanding equity awards.

Who is the new principal financial officer at Damora Therapeutics (DMRA)?

The new principal financial and accounting officer is Brian Burkavage, previously Senior Vice President, Finance. He joined Damora in December 2025 and has held senior finance roles at IO Biotech, Passage Bio, and Aclaris Therapeutics, along with 11 years at Ernst & Young’s audit practice.

Does Damora Therapeutics (DMRA) disclose any related-party transactions for Brian Burkavage?

The company states that Brian Burkavage has no family relationships with any director or executive officer. It also notes there are no transactions in which he has a direct or indirect material interest that require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, limiting conflict-of-interest concerns.

What additional agreement will Damora’s new finance chief enter into?

In connection with his officer appointment, Brian Burkavage will enter into Damora’s standard form of indemnification agreement for executive officers. A copy of this form was previously filed as an exhibit to the company’s amended registration statement on Form S-1/A, providing legal protection in his corporate role.

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

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 05/04/2026 - 04:00 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

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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): April 28, 2026

DAMORA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-39655		37-1957007
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
		221 Crescent Street Building 23, Suite 105 Waltham, MA 02453 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
		(781) 281-9020 (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:

☐ 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, $0.00001 par value per share		DMRA		The Nasdaq Capital 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. ☐

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

Departure of Chief Financial Officer

On April 28, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Damora Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) determined that, effective as of May 1, 2026 (the “Effective Time”), Lori Firmani would cease serving as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Firmani had served as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer since August 2024, prior to the Company’s acquisition of privately-held Damora Therapeutics, Inc. in November 2025. Subject to Ms. Firmani’s execution and non-revocation of a separation agreement and general release of claims in favor of the Company in a form agreed to by the Company, Ms. Firmani will be entitled to receive separation benefits in accordance with the Company’s Executive Separation Benefits Plan, as described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2026 (the “Proxy Statement”); however, the base salary continuation and pro-rated target bonus will be paid in a single lump sum, Ms. Firmani will receive a health savings account contribution of $6,000, and all of Ms. Firmani’s outstanding equity awards will be fully accelerated.

Appointment of Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

On April 28, 2026, the Board appointed Brian Burkavage, the Company’s current Senior Vice President, Finance, to serve as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, effective as of the Effective Time.

Brian Burkavage, age 43. Prior to joining the Company in December 2025, Mr. Burkavage served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer and VP, Finance at IO Biotech, Inc. from November 2021 to December 2025. Prior to that, he served as the Controller at Passage Bio, Inc. from 2020 to 2021, and Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. from 2017 to 2020. Earlier in his career, he spent 11 years at Ernst & Young LLP in roles of increasing responsibility within the financial statement audit practice. Mr. Burkavage earned his B.A. and M.S.A. from the University of Notre Dame and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Burkavage was not appointed pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between him and any other person. Mr. Burkavage does not have any family relationships with any director or executive officer of the Company, and there are no transactions in which Mr. Burkavage has a direct or indirect material interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with his appointment as an officer, Mr. Burkavage will enter into the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement for its executive officers, a copy which was filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Amended Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249369) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 22, 2020.

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.

				Damora Therapeutics, Inc.
Date: May 4, 2026				By:		/s/ Jennifer Jarrett
						Jennifer Jarrett
						President and Chief Executive Officer

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