RCKT files 8-K: Severance $482K, Consulting Retainer $582K for Dr. Kinnari Patel

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Rocket Pharmaceuticals announced the separation of Dr. Kinnari Patel and related consulting arrangements. Under a Separation and Release Agreement dated September 11, 2025, Dr. Patel will receive her salary and benefits through December 31, 2025, payment for accrued unused paid time off, a lump sum severance payment of $482,040 conditioned on signing a release within seven days, and a lump sum healthcare allowance of $30,045 to cover approximately ten months of COBRA premiums. Concurrently, the company entered a Consulting Agreement effective after the release revocation period and continuing through December 31, 2026, under which Dr. Patel will provide general consulting services for an aggregate retainer of $582,156. The Consulting Agreement preserves her restricted stock units and options during the consulting period. The Separation and Consulting Agreements are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 and are incorporated by reference.

Positive

• Consulting agreement preserves continuity: Dr. Patel will provide consulting services through December 31, 2026, which helps retain expertise during transition.
• Equity retention: Restricted stock units and options granted to Dr. Patel remain in place during the consulting period, aligning incentives.

Negative

• Severance cash outlay: A lump sum severance payment of $482,040 is payable if a release is executed within seven days.
• Additional cash obligations: The company agreed to a $30,045 healthcare allowance and an aggregate consulting retainer of $582,156, increasing near-term cash commitments.

Insights

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Company secures executive continuity while documenting separation costs; governance disclosure appears complete.

The filing discloses a standard separation package with a conditional severance payment, health-cost allowance, and a fixed-term consulting agreement to retain executive expertise through year-end 2026. Retention of equity awards during the consulting period reduces transition risk and supports continuity. The agreements are filed as exhibits, providing transparency. The cash and consulting-retainer amounts are explicit and should be evaluated relative to the company's operating budget and cash position, which are not provided here.

Compensation & HR Specialist

TL;DR: Separation and consulting payments are sizeable but structured with release conditions and fixed-term consulting to manage transition.

The separation includes a severance payment of $482,040 conditioned on an executed release within seven days and a $30,045 healthcare allowance. The consulting retainer totals $582,156 for up to ~15 months of consulting services (effective after the release revocation period through December 31, 2026). Preserving RSUs and options during the consulting period is common to align incentives. These elements reflect typical retention and transition compensation, though the overall cost may be material depending on company scale; no pro forma or budget impact is provided in the filing.

false0001281895NJ00012818952025-09-112025-09-11

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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): September 11, 2025

Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-36829	04-3475813
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

9 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ	08512
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (646) 440-9100

Not applicable

(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 (see General Instruction A.2):

☐
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, $0.01 par value		RCKT		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. ☐

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

In connection with the previously announced departure of Dr. Kinnari Patel to accept a role as a venture partner at RTW Investments LP, on September 11, 2025, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Separation and Release Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) with Dr. Patel. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Dr. Patel agreed to a general release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates and agreed to certain restrictive covenants.

The Separation Agreement also provides for the following:

• Dr. Patel shall be entitled to receive her current salary and medical, dental and vision coverage benefits through December 31, 2025 (the “Separation Date”) in accordance with regular payroll procedures and shall be paid for all accrued and unused paid time off as of the Separation Date;

• Dr. Patel shall be entitled to receive a lump sum payment of $482,040, consistent with the Company’s Severance and Change in Control Program, provided that she deliver an executed release of claims (the “Release of Claims”) within seven days of the Separation Date;

• The Company shall offer Dr. Patel a Consulting Agreement to serve as a consultant to the Company beginning on the expiration of the revocation period provided for in the Release of Claims; and

• Dr. Patel shall be receive a lump sum healthcare allowance of $30,045, equal to the cost of COBRA premiums for ten (10) months.

On September 11, 2025, Dr. Patel and the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement to be effective beginning on the expiration of the revocation period provided for in the Release of Claims (the “Effective Date”). The Consulting Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and continue through December 31, 2026 (the “Consulting Period”), unless earlier terminated by either party pursuant to the terms therein. The Company shall pay Dr. Patel an aggregate retainer fee of $582,156 under the Consulting Agreement and Dr. Patel shall provide such general consulting services as reasonably required by the Company. The Consulting Agreement also provides that Dr. Patel shall retain the restricted stock units and options through the Consulting Period granted under any and all Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stock Option, Share Option, and Incentive Plans.

The foregoing summaries of the Separation Agreement and Consulting Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the documents, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 hereto, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
10.1		Separation and Release Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2025, by and between Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Kinnari Patel.
10.2		Consulting Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2025, by and between Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Kinnari Patel.
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.

	Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Date: September 17, 2025	By:	/s/ Martin Wilson
		Martin Wilson
		General Counsel and Chief Corporate Officer, SVP

FAQ

What payments will Rocket Pharmaceuticals make to Dr. Kinnari Patel?

The filing states a conditional lump sum severance of $482,040, a healthcare allowance of $30,045, payment of accrued unused paid time off, salary and benefits through December 31, 2025, and an aggregate consulting retainer of $582,156.

When does the Consulting Agreement with Dr. Patel take effect and how long does it run?

The Consulting Agreement becomes effective after the expiration of the release revocation period and continues through December 31, 2026, unless earlier terminated under its terms.

Are Dr. Patel's equity awards affected by the separation?

The Consulting Agreement provides that Dr. Patel will retain restricted stock units and options granted under the company’s equity plans through the consulting period.

Are the full agreements available in the filing?

Yes. The Separation and Release Agreement and the Consulting Agreement are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated by reference.

Is the severance payment unconditional?

No. The severance payment of $482,040 is conditioned on Dr. Patel delivering an executed release of claims within seven days of the Separation Date.