Clare Kahn joins Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK) board, receives option grant
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Stoke Therapeutics expanded its Board of Directors to ten members and appointed Clare Kahn, Ph.D. as a Class I director, effective April 3, 2026, with a term running until the 2026 annual meeting. She will serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and chair the Research and Development Committee. Dr. Kahn is deemed an independent director and signed the company’s standard indemnity agreement.
Under the non-employee director compensation program, she will receive a $45,000 annual cash retainer and an initial stock option for 30,782 shares, with an approximate grant-date fair value of $724,000, vesting in twelve equal quarterly installments. The accompanying press release highlights Stoke’s lead RNA medicine candidate, zorevunersen, now in Phase 3 development for Dravet syndrome and partnered globally with Biogen outside North America.
Positive
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8-K Event Classification
3 items: 5.02, 7.01, 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 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Director cash retainer: $45,000 per year
Initial stock option grant: 30,782 shares
Option grant fair value: approximately $724,000
+5 more
8 metrics
Director cash retainer
$45,000 per year
Annual cash retainer for Clare Kahn under director compensation program
Initial stock option grant
30,782 shares
Option granted to Clare Kahn on appointment to the Board
Option grant fair value
approximately $724,000
Grant date fair value of Kahn’s initial option under ASC 718
Vesting schedule
12 quarterly installments
Kahn’s initial option vests in twelve substantially equal quarterly installments
Dravet seizure control gap
up to 57% of patients
Patients who do not achieve ≥50% seizure reduction on current ASMs
Dravet mortality before adulthood
up to 20% of patients
Children and adolescents with Dravet who die before adulthood
Estimated Dravet population
up to 38,000 people
Estimated patients in the U.S., UK, EU-4 and Japan
U.S. Dravet population subset
approximately 16,000 people
Estimated Dravet patients in the United States
Key Terms
Dravet syndrome, antisense oligonucleotide, orphan drug designation, rare pediatric disease designation, +2 more
6 terms
Dravet syndrome medical
"zorevunersen, in development as a first-in-class potential disease-modifying treatment for Dravet syndrome."
A rare, severe form of epilepsy that begins in infancy and causes frequent, prolonged seizures, developmental delays, and heightened risk of sudden unexplained death. It is caused by genetic changes that disrupt normal brain electrical activity—like a faulty circuit that repeatedly trips—so standard treatments often work poorly. Investors pay attention because the high unmet need, clear genetic target, and regulatory incentives can make therapies for this condition commercially and clinically significant, but trials are often long and costly.
antisense oligonucleotide medical
"Zorevunersen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide that is designed to treat the underlying cause of Dravet syndrome"
An antisense oligonucleotide is a small piece of synthetic genetic material designed to attach to specific molecules in the body’s cells, effectively blocking or modifying how genes are expressed. This technology is important because it can be used to develop targeted treatments for certain diseases, which may influence the value of biotech companies and the broader healthcare sector. Its development reflects advances in personalized medicine and gene-based therapies.
orphan drug designation regulatory
"Zorevunersen has demonstrated the potential for disease modification and has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA and the EMA."
Orphan drug designation is a special status given to medicines developed to treat rare diseases affecting only a small number of people. This status often provides benefits like faster approval processes and financial incentives, making it more attractive for companies to develop these drugs. For investors, it signals potential for exclusive market rights and reduced competition, which can impact the drug’s profitability.
rare pediatric disease designation regulatory
"The FDA has also granted zorevunersen rare pediatric disease designation and Breakthrough Therapy Designation"
A rare pediatric disease designation is an official regulatory status given to a drug or therapy that targets a serious or life‑threatening condition primarily affecting children and is uncommon in the population. It matters to investors because the status often brings financial and development perks — such as tax credits, reduced fees, faster review and periods of market protection — which can lower costs, speed approval and improve the commercial outlook; think of it as a VIP pass that makes bringing a scarce, child‑focused treatment to market easier and potentially more profitable.
Breakthrough Therapy Designation regulatory
"The FDA has also granted zorevunersen rare pediatric disease designation and Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of Dravet syndrome"
A breakthrough therapy designation is a regulatory fast-track given to a drug or treatment that shows early signs of providing a major improvement over existing options for a serious condition. Think of it as a VIP lane that can speed up development and more intensive guidance from regulators, which matters to investors because it can shorten time to market, reduce development risk and potentially increase a company’s value — though it does not guarantee approval.
developmental and epileptic encephalopathy medical
"Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) characterized by recurrent seizures"
A severe neurological condition that begins in infancy or early childhood, marked by frequent, hard-to-control seizures and slowing or loss of normal development such as movement, learning and communication. Think of it as a critical control system in a child’s brain that malfunctions and interferes with growth and daily function. For investors it signals a high unmet medical need, focused regulatory attention and the potential for significant commercial value — but also greater clinical and development risk for therapies.
FAQ
What board change did Stoke Therapeutics (STOK) announce?
Stoke Therapeutics expanded its Board to ten members and appointed Clare Kahn, Ph.D., as a Class I director. She will serve until the 2026 annual meeting and join key committees, including chairing the Research and Development Committee, adding deep drug development and regulatory experience.
How is new director Clare Kahn compensated by Stoke Therapeutics (STOK)?
Clare Kahn will receive a $45,000 annual cash retainer for Board service. She also received an initial stock option for 30,782 shares, with an estimated grant-date fair value of about $724,000, vesting in twelve substantially equal quarterly installments after her appointment date.
What is Stoke Therapeutics’ lead program zorevunersen for Dravet syndrome?
Zorevunersen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide designed to increase functional NaV1.1 protein from the SCN1A gene. It aims to reduce seizures and improve neurodevelopment in Dravet syndrome and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 study as a potential disease-modifying treatment.
What regulatory designations has zorevunersen received?
Zorevunersen has orphan drug designation from both the FDA and EMA, plus FDA rare pediatric disease and Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Dravet syndrome with specified SCN1A mutations. These designations are intended to support development of treatments for serious, rare pediatric conditions.
How common and severe is Dravet syndrome according to Stoke Therapeutics (STOK)?
Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with recurrent seizures and cognitive impairment. Stoke cites estimates of up to 38,000 patients across the U.S., UK, EU-4 and Japan, and notes up to 20 percent of affected children and adolescents die before adulthood from complications.
What is Stoke Therapeutics’ collaboration with Biogen on zorevunersen?
Stoke has a strategic collaboration with Biogen to develop and commercialize zorevunersen for Dravet syndrome. Stoke keeps exclusive rights in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while Biogen holds exclusive commercialization rights for the rest of the world under the agreement.