---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001140361-24-023815"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "PDSB"
cik: "0001472091"
company_name: "PDS Biotechnology Corp"
filed_at: "2024-05-02T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-03T00:17:54.611344+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.45
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.45
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# PDS Biotech appoints Stephan Toutain as COO; grants 200,000-share option

## Summary
- Stephan Toutain named COO effective May 1, 2024; brings 30+ years pharma experience including oncology and orphan drugs.
- Annual salary $450,000; eligible for annual performance bonus of 40% of base salary.
- Received inducement stock option for 200,000 shares at $3.61 per share, vesting over four years under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
- Prior roles include COO at Anavex Life Sciences (2018-2024) and leadership at Alnylam, Sarepta, Alexion, Celgene, and Johnson & Johnson.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001140361-24-023815
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: PDSB
- cik: 0001472091
- company_name: PDS Biotechnology Corp
- filed_at: 2024-05-02T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.45
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.45
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1472091/000114036124023815/0001140361-24-023815-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1472091/000114036124023815/ef20028223_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001140361-24-023815
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001140361-24-023815.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001140361-24-023815.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Stephan F. Toutain was appointed as Chief Operations Officer at PDS Biotechnology Corp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Operations Officer
  source text: PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Stephan F. Toutain (the “Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Toutain will assume the role of the Company’s Chief Operations Officer, effective as of May 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1472091/000114036124023815/0001140361-24-023815-index.htm

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