---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001731122-26-000678"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AVXL"
cik: "0001314052"
company_name: "ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP."
filed_at: "2026-05-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-14T22:33:40.454939+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Anavex terminates CEO Christopher Missling for cause; appoints Terrie Kellmeyer as interim CEO

## Summary
- Christopher Missling terminated as CEO for cause effective April 30, 2026; Board requested his resignation.
- Terrie Kellmeyer appointed Interim CEO effective May 4, 2026; former SVP Clinical Development at Anavex.
- Kellmeyer's compensation: $500k base salary, 30% bonus, $150k signing bonus, 200k stock options pending.
- Company expects to file Form 12b-25 to extend deadline for Q2 2026 10-Q (quarter ended March 31, 2026).
- Conference call to discuss Q2 2026 financial results and filing to be scheduled later.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001731122-26-000678
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AVXL
- cik: 0001314052
- company_name: ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP.
- filed_at: 2026-05-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1314052/000173112226000678/0001731122-26-000678-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1314052/000173112226000678/e7613_8-k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001731122-26-000678
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001731122-26-000678.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001731122-26-000678.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Terrie Kellmeyer was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer at ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On May 4, 2026, the Board appointed Terrie Kellmeyer, PhD as the Company's Interim Chief Executive Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1314052/000173112226000678/0001731122-26-000678-index.htm
- Executive change
  Christopher Missling was terminated as Chief Executive Officer at ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP..
  - Action: terminated
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On April 30, 2026, a special committee (the "Special Committee") composed of independent directors of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (the "Company") terminated the employment of Christopher Missling, PhD as the Company's Chief Executive Officer for Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2013, between Dr. Missling and the Company, as amended and restated), effective immediately, for, among other things, conduct that the Special Committee believed was inconsistent with Company policy.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1314052/000173112226000678/0001731122-26-000678-index.htm

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