Merger cashout for Avidity Biosciences (RNA) director Simona Skerjanec

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Avidity Biosciences, Inc. director Simona Skerjanec reported disposing of equity awards in connection with a pending acquisition. On February 27, 2026, she disposed of 10,034 and 42,308 stock options and 6,692 shares of common stock in issuer dispositions. Footnotes state these securities were cashed out under an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 25, 2025 among Novartis AG, Ajax Acquisition Sub, Inc., and Avidity Biosciences, with options exchanged for cash equal to the merger consideration of $72.00 per share minus the exercise price.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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X

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Skerjanec Simona

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O AVIDITY BIOSCIENCES, INC.

3020 CALLAN RD.

(Street)

SAN DIEGO CA 92121

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Avidity Biosciences, Inc. [ RNAM ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/27/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/27/2026		D		6,692(1)	D	(1)	0	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$33.62	02/27/2026		D			10,034	(2)	06/09/2035	Common Stock	10,034	(2)	0	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$28.91	02/27/2026		D			42,308	(2)	05/13/2034	Common Stock	42,308	(2)	0	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The reported securities represent shares of Common Stock (inclusive of shares of Common Stock issuable upon settlement of previously reported restricted stock units) disposed of pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2025 (the "Merger Agreement"), among Novartis AG ("Novartis"), Ajax Acquisition Sub, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis, and the Issuer.

2. The reported Options were disposed of, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the merger consideration of $72.00 over the exercise price.

	/s/ John B. Moriarty, Jr., J.D., Attorney-in-Fact	02/27/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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FAQ

What did Avidity Biosciences (RNA) director Simona Skerjanec report on this Form 4?

She reported disposing of stock options and common shares in issuer transactions. These dispositions occurred under a merger agreement, converting her awards into cash based on the agreed merger consideration and option exercise prices.

How many Avidity Biosciences (RNA) stock options were disposed of in this filing?

The filing reports the disposition of 10,034 and 42,308 stock options. Both option grants were exchanged for cash under the merger terms, using the merger consideration of $72.00 per share minus the relevant exercise price.

How many Avidity Biosciences (RNA) common shares did Simona Skerjanec dispose of?

She disposed of 6,692 shares of common stock, including shares issuable from previously reported restricted stock units. These shares were converted to cash pursuant to the merger agreement between Novartis AG, Ajax Acquisition Sub, Inc., and Avidity Biosciences.

What cash consideration applied to Avidity Biosciences (RNA) options in this merger?

Each reported stock option was exchanged for cash equal to the merger consideration of $72.00 per share minus its exercise price. This formula determined the cash paid for the director’s options under the merger agreement.

Which companies are parties to the merger affecting Avidity Biosciences (RNA) director awards?

The merger agreement is among Novartis AG, Ajax Acquisition Sub, Inc., an indirect wholly owned Novartis subsidiary, and Avidity Biosciences. The director’s common stock and options were disposed of and cashed out under this agreement’s terms.