---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001171843-24-005116"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FLNA"
cik: "0001069530"
company_name: "FILANA THERAPEUTICS, INC."
filed_at: "2024-09-09T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-31T05:49:54.922402+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Cassava Sciences appoints Rick Barry as CEO; Claude Nicaise becomes Chairman

## Summary
- Richard Barry named CEO effective September 6, 2024; previously Executive Chairman and director since June 2021.
- Board separates CEO and Chairman roles; Claude Nicaise, M.D. appointed Chairman.
- Dr. Nicaise served as director since Dec 2023; held regulatory roles at Alexion and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
- First Phase 3 trial of simufilam (n=804) topline expected by end of 2024; second Phase 3 (n=1,125) by mid-2025.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001171843-24-005116
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FLNA
- cik: 0001069530
- company_name: FILANA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
- filed_at: 2024-09-09T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069530/000117184324005116/0001171843-24-005116-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069530/000117184324005116/f8k_090924.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171843-24-005116
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171843-24-005116.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171843-24-005116.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Richard (Rick) Barry was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at FILANA THERAPEUTICS, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On September 9, 2024, Cassava Sciences, Inc. (“Cassava” or the “Company”) announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has concluded its search for a Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and has appointed Richard (Rick) Barry as the Company’s CEO.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069530/000117184324005116/0001171843-24-005116-index.htm
- Executive change
  Claude Nicaise was appointed as Chairman at FILANA THERAPEUTICS, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chairman
  source text: the Board has appointed Claude Nicaise, M.D., as its Chairman.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069530/000117184324005116/0001171843-24-005116-index.htm

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