---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001447028-25-000093"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ABUS"
cik: "0001447028"
company_name: "Arbutus Biopharma Corp"
filed_at: "2025-04-03T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-23T22:26:41.955528+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Arbutus Biopharma finalizes separation agreements with ex-CMO and ex-CFO; updates Moderna trial date

## Summary
- CMO Karen Sims terminated without cause effective March 25, 2025; enters 30-day consulting agreement with hourly fee and extended option exercise to March 24, 2026.
- CFO David Hastings terminated without cause effective March 27, 2025; separation agreement extends option exercise to March 26, 2026.
- Patent litigation vs Moderna: District of Delaware moved trial start from September 24 to September 29, 2025.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001447028-25-000093
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ABUS
- cik: 0001447028
- company_name: Arbutus Biopharma Corp
- filed_at: 2025-04-03T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1447028/000144702825000093/0001447028-25-000093-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1447028/000144702825000093/abus-20250328.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001447028-25-000093
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001447028-25-000093.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001447028-25-000093.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Karen Sims departed as Chief Medical Officer at Arbutus Biopharma Corp.
  - Action: terminated without cause
  - Role: Chief Medical Officer
  source text: the Company terminated, without cause, Karen Sims, M.D., Ph.D. as Chief Medical Officer of the Company, effective March 25, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1447028/000144702825000093/0001447028-25-000093-index.htm
- Executive change
  David Hastings departed as Chief Financial Officer at Arbutus Biopharma Corp.
  - Action: terminated without cause
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: the Company terminated, without cause, David Hastings as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective as of the end of the day on March 27, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1447028/000144702825000093/0001447028-25-000093-index.htm

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