---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-304002"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LONA"
cik: "0001620463"
company_name: "LeonaBio, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-10-21T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T19:13:54.913471+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# CEO Leen Kawas resigns after special committee finds she altered images in doctoral research; Mark Litton appointed CEO.

## Summary
- Special committee concluded Dr. Kawas altered images in her 2011 dissertation and at least four research papers co-authored as a WSU graduate student.
- Mark Litton, Ph.D., MBA, appointed President and CEO and to the board; Rachel Lenington, MBA, appointed COO, effective Oct 18, 2021.
- Severance: Kawas receives lump sum of $510,000 plus COBRA reimbursement for up to 18 months; retains options for 363,535 shares.
- ATH-1017 patent does not cite altered-image papers; Phase 1a/b trial results reaffirmed as statistically significant per independent audit.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-304002
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LONA
- cik: 0001620463
- company_name: LeonaBio, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-10-21T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1620463/000119312521304002/0001193125-21-304002-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1620463/000119312521304002/d179221d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-304002
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-304002.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-304002.txt

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