---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-23-000695"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ZVRA"
cik: "0001434647"
company_name: "ZEVRA THERAPEUTICS, INC."
filed_at: "2023-01-09T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T17:39:37.909564+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# KemPharm appoints Richard Pascoe as CEO; Travis Mickle resigns as CEO and President

## Summary
- Richard W. Pascoe appointed CEO effective Jan 6, 2023; steps down as Executive Chairman.
- Travis C. Mickle resigns as CEO (immediate) and as President and board member (at 2023 annual meeting).
- Pascoe's base salary increased to $592,000, target bonus 55%, granted option for 700,000 shares.
- Mickle receives severance (18 months base salary, COBRA, pro-rata bonus), accelerated option vesting, and consulting agreement ($40k/month + 547,945 performance RSUs).
- Matthew R. Plooster appointed Chairman of the Board.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-23-000695
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ZVRA
- cik: 0001434647
- company_name: ZEVRA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
- filed_at: 2023-01-09T23:59:59+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/1434647/000143774923000695/0001437749-23-000695-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1434647/000143774923000695/kmph20230108_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-000695
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-000695.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-000695.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Matthew R. Plooster was appointed as Chairman of the Board at ZEVRA THERAPEUTICS, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: Additionally, the Board has appointed Matthew R. Plooster, a member of the Board, as the Chairman of the Board.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1434647/000143774923000695/0001437749-23-000695-index.htm
- Executive change
  Richard W. Pascoe was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at ZEVRA THERAPEUTICS, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On January 6, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of KemPharm, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Richard W. Pascoe to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1434647/000143774923000695/0001437749-23-000695-index.htm
- Executive change
  Travis C. Mickle resigned as Chief Executive Officer at ZEVRA THERAPEUTICS, INC..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On January 6, 2023, Dr. Mickle resigned his role (i) as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, and (ii) as President and as a member of the Board, in each case, effective as of the date of the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1434647/000143774923000695/0001437749-23-000695-index.htm

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