---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-233293"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "MNOV"
cik: "0001226616"
company_name: "MEDICINOVA INC"
filed_at: "2021-08-02T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-29T23:48:31.237861+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# CFO Edward Stepanow resigns; Douglas Paulin appointed CFO effective August 1, 2021 via outsourced services agreement

## Summary
- Edward Stepanow resigned as CFO effective July 31, 2021; no reason given.
- Douglas Paulin (CPA) appointed CFO effective August 1, 2021, through a services agreement with Signature Analytics.
- Services agreement: hourly rate range for CFO services $270-$350/hr; initial term one year with automatic renewal.
- Paulin joined Signature Analytics in July 2020; previously Head of Finance at AerNos and Director of EMEA Finance at Sonos.
- No family relationships or material interests between Paulin and other officers/directors.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-233293
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: MNOV
- cik: 0001226616
- company_name: MEDICINOVA INC
- filed_at: 2021-08-02T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1226616/000119312521233293/0001193125-21-233293-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1226616/000119312521233293/d211886d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-233293
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-233293.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-233293.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Douglas Paulin was appointed as Chief Financial Officer at MEDICINOVA INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: In addition, effective August 1, 2021, the Board appointed Douglas Paulin, CPA, of the accounting services firm Signature Analytics San Diego LLC (“Signature Analytics”) to serve as Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1226616/000119312521233293/0001193125-21-233293-index.htm
- Executive change
  Edward Stepanow resigned as Chief Financial Officer at MEDICINOVA INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Effective July 31, 2021, Edward Stepanow resigned as Chief Financial Officer of MediciNova, Inc. (the “Company”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1226616/000119312521233293/0001193125-21-233293-index.htm

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