Kazia Therapeutics Ltd 6-K, filed Aug 11, 2023
Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (KZIA)
About this 6-K
Kazia Therapeutics Ltd filed this 6-K on August 11, 2023.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of August, 2023
Commission File Number 000-29962
Kazia Therapeutics Limited
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
Three International Towers Level 24 300 Barangaroo Avenue Sydney NSW 2000
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☑ Form 40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
Appointment of Director
On August 11, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Kazia Therapeutics Limited (the “Company”) announced that Mr. Iain Ross has resigned from his position as Chairman and non-executive director of the Company. Mr. Ross’ decision to resign from the Board was not due to any disagreement with the Company, its management or the Board on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company thanks Mr. Ross for his service on the Board.
The Board has elected Dr. John Friend, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, to the role of Interim Chairman of the Board. Dr. Friend joined Kazia as Chief Medical Officer in November 2021, and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in May 2023.
On August 11, 2023, the Company issued an ASX announcement titled, “Kazia Therapeutics Announces Change of Board of Directors.” A copy of this release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company hereby incorporates by reference the information contained herein, including Exhibit 99.1, except for the quotes of Dr. John Friend in Exhibit 99.1, into the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-259224).
EXHIBIT LIST
| Exhibit | Description | |
| 99.1 | ASX Announcement of Kazia Therapeutics Limited dated August 11, 2023 | |
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, thereunto duly authorized.
| Kazia Therapeutics Limited (Registrant) |
| /s/ Karen Krumeich |
| Karen Krumeich |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| Date: 11 August 2023 |
Exhibit 99.1
ASX RELEASE
11 August 2023
KAZIA THERAPEUTICS ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sydney, 11 August 2023 – Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA; ASX: KZA), an oncology-focused drug development company, announced the resignation of Mr. Iain Ross as Chairman and non-executive director effective immediately. The Board of Directors has elected Dr John Friend as Interim Chairman.
“On behalf of the Board and the whole team at Kazia, I would like to thank Iain for his impactful leadership during his tenure of more than 8 years at Kazia,” said John Friend, MD. “Since joining the Board and being appointed Chairman in 2017, Iain has provided the team with invaluable insights that have helped position the company for long-term success.”
“I look forward to continue working with the Board and executing our clinical strategy with the entire Kazia team,” continued Dr Friend. “As a late-stage oncology company, we will continue to assess and evaluate the mix of skills and experience that would be most beneficial to the Board as we advance the development of our product candidates.”
About Kazia Therapeutics Limited
Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA; ASX: KZA) is an oncology-focused drug development company, based in Sydney, Australia.
Our lead program is paxalisib, a brain-penetrant inhibitor of the PI3K / Akt / mTOR pathway, which is being developed to treat multiple forms of brain cancer. Licensed from Genentech in late 2016, paxalisib is or has been the subject of ten clinical trials in this disease. A completed Phase II study in glioblastoma reported promising signals of clinical activity in 2021, and a pivotal study in glioblastoma, GBM AGILE, is ongoing, with final data expected in CY2023. Other clinical trials are ongoing in brain metastases, diffuse midline gliomas, and primary CNS lymphoma, with several of these having reported encouraging interim data.
Paxalisib was granted Orphan Drug Designation for glioblastoma by the US FDA in February 2018, and Fast Track Designation for glioblastoma by the FDA in August 2020. Paxalisib was also awarded Fast Track Designation (FTD) in July 2023 for the treatment of solid tumor brain metastases harboring PI3K pathway mutations in combination with radiation therapy. In addition, paxalisib was granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in August 2020, and for atypical teratoid / rhabdoid tumours (AT/RT) in June 2022 and July 2022, respectively.
Kazia is also developing EVT801, a small-molecule inhibitor of VEGFR3, which was licensed from Evotec SE in April 2021. Preclinical data has shown EVT801 to be active against a broad range of tumour types and has provided compelling evidence of synergy with immuno-oncology agents. A Phase I study commenced recruitment in November 2021.
For more information, please visit www.kaziatherapeutics.com or follow us on Twitter @KaziaTx.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which can generally be identified as such by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “future,” “forward,” “anticipate,” or other similar words. Any statement describing Kazia’s future plans, strategies, intentions, expectations, objectives, goals or prospects, and other statements that are not historical facts, are also forward- looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: the timing for results and data related to Kazia’s clinical and preclinical trials, and Kazia’s strategy and plans with respect to its programs, including paxalisib and EVT801. Such statements are based on Kazia’s current expectations and projections about future events and future trends affecting its business and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties: associated with clinical and preclinical trials and product development, related to regulatory approvals, related to Kazia’s executive leadership changes, and related to the impact of global economic conditions.. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Kazia’s Annual Report, filed on form 20-F with the SEC, and in subsequent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Kazia undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this announcement.
This announcement was authorized for release by Dr John Friend, CEO, on behalf of the Board