[DEF 14A] Traws Pharma, Inc. Definitive Proxy Statement
Traws Pharma, Inc. is soliciting proxies for its 2025 Annual Meeting to be held virtually on
The Board recommends voting For each director nominee, For the auditor ratification, For the plan amendment, and Every Two Years for say-on-pay frequency. The plan amendment requests an increase of
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
TL;DR: Board seeks routine governance approvals and expanded equity capacity to support compensation.
The Board is asking shareholders to elect seven directors and to approve governance items including the ratification of KPMG LLP and an amendment to the equity plan that adds
Key dependencies include shareholder approval thresholds and the potential for broker non-votes on non-routine items. Expect final vote tallies to be filed within four business days after the meeting; near-term governance outcomes hinge on proxy participation through
TL;DR: A
The Compensation Committee proposes the amendment to replenish equity available under the 2021 Plan after noting ~
Material near-term items to watch: whether the Amended Plan is approved (simple majority of votes cast) and the Board’s subsequent use of the new share reserve for senior management, director option tranches, and discretionary awards, all of which may affect future dilution and reported share-based compensation expense in upcoming filings.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
12 Penns Trail
Newtown, PA 18940 USA
(267) 759-3680
Chief Executive Officer
October 8, 2025
| |
GENERAL INFORMATION
|
| | | | 1 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
|
| | | | 8 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL NO. 2 AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE 2021 PLAN
|
| | | | 21 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL NO. 3 ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
| | | | 32 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL NO. 4 ADVISORY VOTE ON SAY ON PAY FREQUENCY
|
| | | | 33 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL NO. 5 RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF KPMG LLP AS OUR
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2025 |
| | | | 34 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL NO. 6 APPROVAL OF THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING TO
SOLICIT ADDITIONAL VOTES |
| | | | 36 | | |
| |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
|
| | | | 38 | | |
| |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
|
| | | | 41 | | |
| |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
| | | | 43 | | |
| |
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
|
| | | | 49 | | |
| |
OTHER MATTERS
|
| | | | 54 | | |
| |
APPENDIX A
|
| | | | A-1 | | |
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 21, 2025
|
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position(s) with Traws Pharma, Inc.
|
| |
Served as
Director From |
|
| Iain Dukes, D. Phil. | | |
67
|
| |
Director, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
|
| |
2024
|
|
| Jack E. Stover | | |
72
|
| |
Chairman
|
| |
2016
|
|
| Werner Cautreels, Ph.D. | | |
72
|
| |
Director
|
| |
2024
|
|
| Nikolay Savchuk, Ph.D. | | |
56
|
| |
Director and Chief Operating Officer
|
| |
2024
|
|
| Trafford Clarke, Ph.D. | | |
67
|
| |
Director
|
| |
2022
|
|
| M. Teresa Shoemaker | | |
64
|
| |
Director
|
| |
2020
|
|
| John Leaman, M.D. | | |
52
|
| |
Director
|
| |
2025
|
|
|
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position(s) with Traws Pharma, Inc.
|
|
| Iain Dukes, D. Phil. | | |
67
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director
|
|
| Charles Parker | | |
45
|
| |
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
| Victor Moyo, M.D. | | |
57
|
| |
Chief Medical Officer, Oncology
|
|
| C. David Pauza, Ph.D. | | |
71
|
| |
Chief Science Officer, Virology
|
|
| Robert R. Redfield, M.D. | | |
74
|
| |
Chief Medical Officer
|
|
| Nikolay Savchuk, Ph.D. | | |
56
|
| |
Chief Operating Officer and Director
|
|
|
Name
|
| |
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($) |
| |
Stock
Option Awards ($)(1)(2) |
| |
All Other
Compensation ($) |
| |
Total ($)
|
| ||||||||||||
|
Peter Atadja, Ph.D.(3)
|
| | | | 26,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 26,000 | | |
|
Jerome E. Groopman, M.D.(3)
|
| | | | 11,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 11,000 | | |
|
Viren Mehta, Pharm.D.(3)
|
| | | | 25,750 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 25,750 | | |
|
James J. Marino(4)
|
| | | | 82,500 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 82,500 | | |
|
Luba Greenwood(5)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 166,293 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 166,293 | | |
|
Trafford Clarke, Ph.D.
|
| | | | 45,000 | | | | | | 58,991 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 103,991 | | |
|
M. Teresa Shoemaker
|
| | | | 59,000 | | | | | | 58,991 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 117,991 | | |
|
Jack E. Stover
|
| | | | 117,500 | | | | | | 108,991 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 226,491 | | |
Traws Pharma, Inc.
12 Penns Trail
Newtown, PA 18940
APPROVAL, ON A NON-BINDING ADVISORY BASIS, OF A FREQUENCY OF “EVERY TWO YEARS” OF ADVISORY VOTES ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
Fee Category
|
| |
Fiscal 2024
|
| |
Fiscal 2023
|
| ||||||
|
Audit Fees(1)
|
| | | $ | 720,000 | | | | | $ | 326,000 | | |
|
Audit-Related Fees(2)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Tax Fees(3)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Total Fees
|
| | | $ | 720,000 | | | | | $ | 326,000 | | |
ADDITIONAL VOTES
M. Teresa Shoemaker
Trafford Clarke
John Leaman*
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percentage of Shares
Beneficially Owned |
| ||||||
| 5% or greater stockholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Viriom, Inc.(1)
|
| | | | 1,628,581 | | | | | | 19.9% | | |
|
OrbiMed Advisors LLC(2)
|
| | | | 1,278,471 | | | | | | 16.4% | | |
|
Ikarian Healthcare Master Fund, L.P.(3)
|
| | | | 589,502 | | | | | | 7.3% | | |
|
Perceptive Advisors LLC(4)
|
| | | | 545,197 | | | | | | 7.5% | | |
|
Ayrton Capital LLC(5)
|
| | | | 403,650 | | | | | | 5.4% | | |
|
Squadron Master Fund LP(6)
|
| | | | 372,374 | | | | | | 5.2% | | |
|
Directors, Director Nominees and Named Executive Officers:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Iain Dukes, D.Phil.(7)
|
| | | | 233,308 | | | | | | 3.2% | | |
|
Charles Parker
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Werner Cautreels, Ph.D.(8)
|
| | | | 98,348 | | | | | | 1.4% | | |
|
Trafford Clarke, Ph.D.(9)
|
| | | | 21,106 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Nikolay Savchuk, Ph.D.(10)
|
| | | | 659,294 | | | | | | 8.8% | | |
|
M. Teresa Shoemaker(11)
|
| | | | 21,753 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Jack E. Stover(12)
|
| | | | 19,283 | | | | | | * | | |
|
John Leaman
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Steven M. Fruchtman, M.D.(13)
|
| | | | 2,992 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Mark P. Guerin(14)
|
| | | | 11,195 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Victor Moyo, M.D.(15)
|
| | | | 2,605 | | | | | | * | | |
|
All current executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group (11 persons)(16)
|
| | | | 1,096,952 | | | | | | 14.0% | | |
|
Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Salary ($)
|
| |
Bonus ($)(1)
|
| |
Stock
Awards ($)(2) |
| |
Option
Awards ($)(3) |
| |
All Other
Compensation ($)(4) |
| |
Total ($)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Werner Cautreels, Ph.D.(5)
Former Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 445,769 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,813 | | | | | | 647,582 | | |
| | | | 2023 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
|
Steven M. Fruchtman, M.D.(6)
Former President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 332,887 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 77,113 | | | | | | 410,000 | | |
| | | | 2023 | | | | | | 660,894 | | | | | | 227,391 | | | | | | 50,613 | | | | | | 131,662 | | | | | | 36,187 | | | | | | 1,106,747 | | | ||
|
Mark P. Guerin(7)
Former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 520,850 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 41,898 | | | | | | 562,747 | | |
| | | | 2023 | | | | | | 500,687 | | | | | | 137,809 | | | | | | 18,980 | | | | | | 50,247 | | | | | | 36,985 | | | | | | 744,709 | | | ||
|
Victor Moyo, M.D.(8)
Chief Medical Officer – Oncology |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 453,107 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 25,329 | | | | | | 478,436 | | |
| | | | 2023 | | | | | | 103,846 | | | | | | 113,990 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 78,616 | | | | | | 108,226 | | | | | | 404,678 | | | ||
| | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO 1 ($) | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO 2 ($) | | | Average Summary Compensation Table Total Compensation for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 1 ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 1 ($) | | | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs ($) | | | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return ($) | | | GAAP Net Loss ($) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal Year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2024(1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |||||||
| 2023(2) | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |||||
| 2022(3) | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |||||
| | | | Summary Compensation Table Total Compensation ($) | | | Value of Equity Awards Deducted from SCT ($) | | | Fair Value of Equity Awards Compensation Granted in Current Year ($)(1) | | | Year-Over- Year Change in Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards ($)(2) | | | Year-Over-Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Vested During the Year ($)(3) | | | Prior Year-End Fair Value of Equity Awards Forfeited in the Year ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid ($) | | |||||||||||||||||||||
| PEO 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2024 | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | ( | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | | | | | | |||
| 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | ||||||
| 2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | | | | ( | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | ||||
| PEO 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2024 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | ||||
| Average Non-PEO NEOs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | ( | | | | | | ( | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | ||
| 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 623,539 | | | |||||
| 2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | | | | ( | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | ||||
| | | |
Option Awards
|
| |
Stock Awards
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Name(1)
|
| |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#) |
| |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#) |
| |
Option
Exercise Price ($) |
| |
Option
Expiration Date |
| |
Number of
Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
| |
Market
Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) |
| |
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |
| |
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cautreels
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8,000(2) | | | | | | 200,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Guerin
|
| | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 130,500.00 | | | | | | 4/16/2025 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 83,250.00 | | | | | | 9/25/2025 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 36,562.50 | | | | | | 1/26/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 36,562.50 | | | | | | 1/26/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 18,225.00 | | | | | | 9/1/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 18,225.00 | | | | | | 9/1/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 14,906.25 | | | | | | 12/15/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 15,187.50 | | | | | | 1/17/2027 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8,437.50 | | | | | | 1/3/2028 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 69 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2,587.50 | | | | | | 7/26/2028 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 174 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 116.25 | | | | | | 12/20/2029 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,448(3) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 7/9/2030 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 803(3) | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 2/17/2031 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,710 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 129.75 | | | | | | 8/2/2031 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2,346(4) | | | | | | 138 | | | | | | 45.50 | | | | | | 2/7/2032 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,675(4) | | | | | | 335 | | | | | | 33.25 | | | | | | 6/10/2032 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1,844(4) | | | | | | 1,316 | | | | | | 18.25 | | | | | | 3/13/2033 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 322(5) | | | | | | 2,711 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,190(6) | | | | | | 32,539 | | |
|
Moyo
|
| | | | 1,459(7) | | | | | | 3,541 | | | | | | 17.79 | | | | | | 10/2/2033 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Plan Category
|
| |
Number of Shares
to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
| |
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
| |
Number of Shares
Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under the Equity Compensation Plan (Excluding Shares in First Column) |
| | |||||||||||
|
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
| | | | 119,523(1) | | | | | $ | 40.19(2) | | | | | | 296,400(3) | | | | ||
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders
|
| | | | 386,747(4) | | | | | $ | 1.24(2) | | | | | | — | | | | ||
|
Total
|
| | | | 506,270 | | | | | | | | | | | | 296,400 | | | | | |
Chief Executive Officer