---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-23-124182"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "HEPA"
cik: "0001583771"
company_name: "Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-12-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T16:10:18.523871+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Hepion CEO resigns, interim CEO named; restructuring plan to cut costs 60%

## Summary
- Dr. Robert Foster resigns as CEO and director for personal reasons, effective immediately.
- John Cavan (CFO) appointed interim CEO; Dr. Peter Wijngaard also resigns from board.
- Board approves strategic restructuring to reduce operating costs by ~60%, with one-time charge of $400-$800K in Q4 2023.
- Company to explore strategic alternatives including M&A, licensing, or sale; 131 patients in Phase 2b NASH trial.
- Cash runway extended into Q2 2025; will add trial patients only if fully funded or strategic deal.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-23-124182
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: HEPA
- cik: 0001583771
- company_name: Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-12-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1583771/000110465923124182/0001104659-23-124182-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1583771/000110465923124182/tm2332355d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-124182
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-124182.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-124182.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John Cavan was appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer at Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board of Directors appointed John Cavan, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, as interim Chief Executive Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1583771/000110465923124182/0001104659-23-124182-index.htm
- Executive change
  Dr. Robert Foster resigned as Chief Executive Officer at Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Dr. Robert Foster, the Company's CEO, resigned from the Company as CEO for personal reasons, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1583771/000110465923124182/0001104659-23-124182-index.htm
- Executive change
  Dr. Peter Wijngaard resigned as Director at Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: Dr. Peter Wijngaard resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1583771/000110465923124182/0001104659-23-124182-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.