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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.  )
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
Check the appropriate box:

Preliminary Proxy Statement

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

No fee required

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

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CYCLERION THERAPEUTICS, INC.
245 First Street, 18th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
(857) 327-8778
April 29, 2025
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held on June 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, in a virtual meeting format via live webcast.
We have designed the virtual format for ease of shareholder access and participation. Using online shareholder tools, shareholders may vote and submit questions online during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions in the accompanying materials.
It is important that you be represented at the Annual Meeting regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting online, we urge you to vote as soon as possible. The matters to be considered by shareholders at the Annual Meeting are described in the accompanying materials. You may vote by marking, signing and dating your proxy card and returning it in the envelope provided. Alternatively, you may vote over the Internet or by telephone. Voting over the Internet, by telephone or by written proxy will not prevent you from voting by attending online but will ensure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting online. Please review the instructions on the proxy card regarding each of these voting options.
Your continued support of and interest in Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. are sincerely appreciated.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
/s/ Regina M. Graul
 
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer

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CYCLERION THERAPEUTICS, INC.
245 First Street, 18th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
(857) 327-8778
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
DATE & TIME:
June 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time.
 
 
PLACE:
This year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) will be a virtual meeting, which will be conducted only via live webcast. Shareholders will only be able to participate in the Annual Meeting online, vote shares electronically and submit questions during the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CYCN2025. Instructions on how to attend the Annual Meeting online and vote shares are described in the accompanying materials.
 
 
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
(1) To elect six directors for a term of one year (the “Election of Directors Proposal”);

(2) To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025 (the “Auditor Ratification Proposal”);

(3) To conduct an advisory (non-binding) vote to approve the compensation of the named executive officers;

(4) To conduct an advisory (non-binding) vote on the frequency of advisory votes on compensation of the named executive officers;

(5) To approve a proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”) to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Election of Directors Proposal and/or the Auditor Ratification Proposal; and

(6) To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be held on June 16, 2025: The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Proxy Statement and our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.proxyvote.com.
 
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
 
 
 
/s/ Errol B. De Souza
 
Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D.
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors

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Cambridge, MA
April 29, 2025
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. RETURNING THE PROXY CARD WILL NOT PREVENT YOU FROM VOTING ELECTRONICALLY DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WISH TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, YOUR PROXY WILL NOT BE USED. PLEASE REVIEW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON EACH OF THE VOTING OPTIONS DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT AS WELL AS ON THE PROXY CARD.

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CYCLERION THERAPEUTICS, INC.
245 First Street, 18th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
(857) 327-8778
PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

June 16, 2025

GENERAL INFORMATION
This proxy statement is furnished to shareholders of Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company” or “Cyclerion”), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors (the “Board” or “Board of Directors”) for use at our 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), including at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held on June 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CYCN2025.
As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we are making this proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 available to our shareholders electronically via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com. On or about April 29, 2025, we mailed to our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Internet Notice”), containing instructions on how to access this proxy statement and vote online or by telephone. If you received an Internet Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail unless you specifically request them pursuant to the instructions provided in the Internet Notice. The Internet Notice instructs you on how to access and review all of the important information contained in this proxy statement.
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012. Accordingly, we have elected to comply with the scaled-down executive compensation disclosure requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies and we are not required to, among other things, include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis, or provide information relating to the ratio of total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer or President to the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees.
Why am I receiving these materials?
We have sent you these proxy materials because the Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting, including at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you do not need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares.
Pursuant to SEC rules, we are providing access to our proxy materials via the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending an Internet Notice to all of our shareholders as of the record date. All shareholders may access our proxy materials on the website referred to in the Internet Notice. You may also request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. You can find instructions regarding how to access our proxy materials via the Internet and how to request a printed copy in the Internet Notice. Additionally, by following the instructions in the Internet Notice, you may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis. We believe that these rules allow us to provide our shareholders with the information they need while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting.
Why is the Company holding a virtual Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person physically. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will facilitate shareholder attendance and participation at our Annual Meeting by enabling shareholders to participate remotely from any location. We have designed the virtual Annual Meeting to provide the same rights and opportunities to participate as shareholders would have at an in-person meeting, including the right to vote and ask questions through the virtual meeting platform.
How do I virtually attend the Annual Meeting?
We will host the Annual Meeting online via live webcast. To attend the Annual Meeting, go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CYCN2025 shortly before the Annual Meeting time and follow the
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instructions. We encourage you to access the Annual Meeting prior to the start time. Online check-in will begin at 8:45 a.m., Eastern Time, and you should allow ample time for the check-in procedures. You do not need to attend the Annual Meeting in order to vote. Instructions on how to vote your shares are described herein.
Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 21, 2025 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the record date, there were 3,210,094 shares of our common stock, no par value (“Common Stock”) outstanding and entitled to vote.
Shareholder of Record: Shares registered in your name
If on April 21, 2025 your shares were registered directly in your name with Cyclerion’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., then you are a shareholder of record. As a shareholder of record, you may vote by attending the Annual Meeting online or by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card or vote by proxy over the telephone or on the Internet as instructed below to ensure your vote is counted.
Beneficial Owner: Shares registered in the name of a broker or bank
If on April 21, 2025 your shares were held not in your name but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other agent regarding how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares online at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank or other agent.
What am I voting on?
The following matters are scheduled for a vote:
Proposal 1: To elect six directors for a term of one year (the “Election of Directors Proposal”);
Proposal 2: To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025 (the “Auditor Ratification Proposal”);
Proposal 3: To approve a non-binding advisory proposal regarding executive compensation (the “Say on Pay Proposal”);
Proposal 4: To approve a non-binding advisory proposal regarding the frequency of future votes on compensation of the named executive officers (the “Frequency of Vote on Say on Pay Proposal”); and
Proposal 5: To approve a proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of either the Election of Directors Proposal or the Auditor Ratification Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”).
How does our Board of Directors recommend that I vote?
Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote:
FOR ALL NOMINEES” on Proposal 1, to elect six (6) directors of the Company to serve a term of one (1) year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
FOR” Proposal 2, to ratify the selection by our Board of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025;
FOR” on Proposal 3, to approve on an advisory (non-binding) basis the compensation of the named executive officers;
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ONE YEAR” on Proposal 4, to approve on an advisory (non-binding) basis the frequency of future votes on compensation of the named executive officers; and
FOR” on Proposal 5, if necessary, to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date.
What if another matter is properly brought before the Annual Meeting?
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment.
How do I vote?
You are entitled to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting only if you were a shareholder as of the record date or if you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. We encourage shareholders to vote well before the Annual Meeting, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting online.
If you are a shareholder of record and your shares are registered directly in your name, you may vote:
By Internet. You may vote by proxy via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com by following the instructions provided on the proxy card.
By Telephone. If you live in the United States or Canada, you may vote by proxy by calling toll-free 1-800-690-6903 and by following the instructions provided on the proxy card. You must have the control number that is on the proxy card when voting.
By Mail. Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Your proxy will be voted in accordance with your instructions. If you sign and return the enclosed proxy but do not specify how you want your shares voted, they will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors and will be voted according to the discretion of the named proxy holders on the proxy card upon any other business that may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting and at all adjournments and postponements thereof.
At the Virtual Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held entirely online. To participate in the Annual Meeting, you will need the control number included on the proxy card. The Annual Meeting webcast will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on June 16, 2025. Online check-in will begin at 8:45 a.m., Eastern Time, and you should allow ample time for the check-in procedures.
If your shares of Common Stock are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you may vote:
By Internet or By Telephone. You will receive instructions from your bank, broker or other nominee if you are permitted to vote by Internet or telephone.
By Mail. You will receive instructions from your bank, broker or other nominee explaining how to vote your shares by mail.
At the Virtual Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held entirely online. To participate in the Annual Meeting, you will need to contact the bank, broker or other nominee who holds your shares to obtain a broker’s proxy card and use the control number found on the broker’s proxy card. The Annual Meeting webcast will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on June 16, 2025. We encourage you to access the Annual Meeting prior to the start time. Online check-in will begin at 8:45 a.m., Eastern Time, and you should allow ample time for the check-in procedures.
Will my shares be voted if I do not return my proxy?
If your shares are registered directly in your name, your shares will not be voted if you do not vote over the Internet, by telephone, by returning your proxy or online during the Annual Meeting.
Stock exchange rules allow brokers to vote on your behalf for certain matters if you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares. Broker non-votes are shares represented at the Annual Meeting held by banks, brokers or other nominees for which instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote such shares and such banks, brokers or other nominees do not have discretionary voting power to vote such shares.
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Without your specific instructions as to how to vote, your bank, broker or other nominee may not vote for your shares with respect to the Election of Directors Proposal, the Say on Pay Proposal, the Frequency of Vote on Say on Pay Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. If a bank, broker or other nominee does not have instructions from you with respect to any of these Proposals, then broker non-votes would occur in these circumstances for these Proposals. Based on stock exchange rules, we believe that the Auditor Ratification Proposal is the only matter for which banks, brokers or other nominees may vote on your behalf without voting instructions. If they exercise this discretionary authority, no broker non-votes are expected to occur in connection with the Auditor Ratification Proposal.
We encourage you to vote or to provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee by giving your proxy to them. This ensures that your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting according to your instructions.
Our Board does not currently know of any other matter that may come before the Annual Meeting. However, your proxies are authorized to vote on your behalf, using their discretion, on any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.
How are votes counted?
Before the Annual Meeting, our Board of Directors will appoint one or more inspectors of election for the Annual Meeting. The inspector(s) will determine the number of shares represented at the Annual Meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity and effect of proxies. The inspector(s) will also receive, count, and tabulate ballots and votes and determine the results of the voting on each matter that comes before the Annual Meeting.
Abstentions and shares represented by proxies reflecting abstentions, will be treated as present for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. They are not considered votes cast and therefore will not have the effect of a vote against any proposal. Broker or nominee non-votes, which occur when shares held in “street name” by brokers or nominees who indicate that they do not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular matter, are not considered votes cast and therefore will not have the effect of a vote against any proposal. Broker and nominee non-votes will be treated as present for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum and may be entitled to vote on certain matters at the Annual Meeting.
Who pays the cost of soliciting proxies?
The Company will pay the cost of solicitation of proxies. This includes the charges and expenses of brokerage firms and other vendors for forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners of our outstanding Common Stock. The Company may solicit proxies by mail, personal interview, telephone or via the Internet through its officers, directors and other management employees, who will receive no additional compensation for their services. We may also utilize the assistance of third parties in connection with our proxy solicitation efforts, and we would compensate such third parties for their efforts. We do not currently plan to engage any such third party.
Can I change or revoke my vote?
If you are a shareholder of record, you may change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by notifying the Secretary of the Company in writing, by returning a signed proxy with a later date, by transmitting a subsequent vote over the Internet prior to the close of the Internet voting facility, by transmitting a subsequent vote by telephone prior to the close of the telephone voting facility, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting online. If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you must contact your bank, broker or nominee for instructions as to how to change your vote.
What constitutes a quorum at the Annual Meeting?
In accordance with Massachusetts law (the law under which we are incorporated) and our Bylaws, the presence at the Annual Meeting, by proxy or by attending in person (shares present virtually during the Annual Meeting will be considered shares represented in person at the Annual Meeting), of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the capital stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum, thereby permitting the shareholders to conduct business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker or nominee non-votes will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
If a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, a majority of the shareholders present by attending in person (shares present virtually during the Annual Meeting will be considered shares represented in person at the Annual
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Meeting) and by proxy may adjourn the Annual Meeting to another date. If a new record date is fixed for the adjourned Annual Meeting by our Board, we will provide notice of the adjourned Annual Meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned Annual Meeting. At any adjourned Annual Meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the originally called Annual Meeting.
What vote is required to elect our directors for a one-year term?
A nominee for director will be elected if the number of votes cast for the election of that nominee at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of votes cast against that nominee. Abstentions and broker or nominee non-votes, and shares represented by proxies reflecting abstentions and broker or nominee non-votes, are not considered votes cast and therefore will not have the effect of a vote against the election of any nominee.
What vote is required to ratify Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025?
Ernst & Young LLP will be ratified as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025 if the number of votes cast for ratification at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of votes cast against ratification. Abstentions and broker or nominee non-votes, and shares represented by proxies reflecting abstentions and broker or nominee non-votes, are not considered votes cast and therefore will not have the effect of a vote against ratification.
What vote is required on the non-binding (advisory) vote on executive compensation?
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required to approve this non-binding advisory proposal. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” from voting on this proposal. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer on this proposal will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes, as well as abstentions, will be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but will have no effect on the results of this vote.
What vote is required on the non-binding (advisory) vote on the frequency of voting on executive compensation?
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required to approve this non-binding advisory proposal. You may vote “1 YEAR”, “2 YEARS”, “3 YEARS”, or “ABSTAIN” from voting on this proposal. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer on this proposal will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes, as well as abstentions, will be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but will have no effect on the results of this vote.
What vote is required to adjourn the Annual Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies?
The proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will be approved if the number of votes cast for adjournment at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of votes cast against adjournment. Abstentions and broker or nominee non-votes, and shares represented by proxies reflecting abstentions and broker or nominee non-votes, are not considered votes cast and therefore will not have the effect of a vote against this proposal.
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PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Our Bylaws provide that our Board shall consist of no less than three directors (except when there are fewer than three shareholders), and that the number of directors may be increased or decreased at any time by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Our Board currently consists of six directors, all of whose current terms will expire at the Annual Meeting. The following individuals are being nominated to serve on our Board: Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D., Regina M. Graul, Ph.D., Peter M. Hecht, Ph.D., Michael F. Higgins, Steven E. Hyman, M.D., and Dina Katabi, Ph.D.
For information about each of our nominees and our Board generally, please see “Corporate Governance” beginning immediately after this proposal.
If elected, the nominees will hold office until the next Annual Meeting and until a respective successor is elected and has been qualified, or until such director resigns or is removed from office. Management expects that each nominee will be available for election, but if any of them is unable to serve at the time the election occurs, your proxy will be voted for the election of another nominee to be designated by a majority of the independent directors serving on our Board.
Vote Required for Approval
A nominee for director will be elected if the number of votes cast for the election of that nominee at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of votes cast against that nominee.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE “FOR
THE ELECTION OF EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE LISTED ABOVE.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our Board size is currently set at six directors. The following individuals have been nominated to serve on our Board (See “Proposal 1 - Election of Director Nominees” above):
Name
Age(1)
Position
Director Since
Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D.
71
Chairman of the Board of Directors
2021
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.
48
Director
2024
Peter M. Hecht, Ph.D.
61
Director
2019
Michael F. Higgins
62
Director
2023
Steven E. Hyman, M.D.
72
Director
2022
Dina Katabi, Ph.D.
53
Director
2023
(1)
As of April 21, 2025.
The following biographies set forth the names of our director nominees, the year in which they first became directors, their positions with us, their principal occupations and employers for at least the past five years, any other directorships held by them during the past five years in companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as well as additional information, all of which we believe sets forth each director nominee’s qualifications to serve on the Board. There is no family relationship between or among any of our executive officers or directors. There are no arrangements or understandings between any of our executive officers or directors and any other person pursuant to which any of them are elected as an officer or director, except as disclosed below.
Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D. has served as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2021 and is our current Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. De Souza was the executive chairman of Neuphoria Therapeutics Inc. (formerly known as Bionomics Limited) from November 2018 to December 2022, non-executive chairman from January 2023 to June 2023 and a member of its board of directors until November 2023. Previously, Dr. De Souza served as president, chief executive officer, and member of the board of directors of several companies, including Neuropore Therapies, Inc. from January 2017 to December 2019, Biodel, Inc. from March 2010 to January 2016, Archemix Corp from April 2003 to March 2009 and Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation from September 2002 to March 2003. From September 1998 to September 2002, Dr. De Souza held senior vice president roles at Hoechst Marion Roussel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He was also founder, chief scientific officer and member of the board of directors at Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. from October 1992 to August 1998 and head of CNS Diseases Research at DuPont Merck from May 1990 to October 1992. Dr. De Souza is currently a member of the board of directors of Alector Inc. and Royalty Pharma, Inc. He has previously served on the board of directors of Catalyst Biosciences, Inc., Targacept, Inc., IDEXX Laboratories, Palatin Technologies, Inc. and a number of private company boards. Dr. De Souza received a B.A. in physiology and a Ph.D. in endocrinology from the University of Toronto. Dr. De Souza brings to our Board of Directors extensive strategic and CNS experience as an executive in the bio-pharmaceutical industry, having founded companies and served as executive chairman, president, and chief executive officer of several private and public bio-pharmaceutical companies.
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D. has served on our Board of Directors since August 2024, as our President since December 2023 and as our President and Chief Executive Officer since August 2024. Before joining the Company as President, Dr. Graul served as vice president, program executive at EQRx Therapeutics, Inc. from February 2021 where she led multiple portfolios and cross-functional research and development teams in oncology. From April 2019 through February 2021, Dr. Graul served as senior director, global development leader at Cyclerion and lead the olinciguat franchise. From 2004 through February 2021, Dr. Graul served in numerous roles of increasing responsibility across the organization at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., most recently as the head of internal innovation and senior director of research and development. Dr. Graul did her post-doctoral work at MIT, received her Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from Rice University and a B.A. in chemistry from Saint Anselm College. Dr. Graul brings to our Board of Directors extensive drug research and development experience in the bio-pharmaceutical industry over the past 21 years.
Peter M. Hecht, Ph.D. has been a member of our Board of Directors since we commenced operations as an independent company in April 2019 and was our Chief Executive Officer from April 2019 to November 2023. Dr. Hecht presently serves as the chief executive officer of Tisento Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology
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company and as a member of its board of directors. Previously, he served as the chief executive officer of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and as a member of its board of directors from its founding in 1998 to March 2019. Under Dr. Hecht’s leadership, the Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. team built a robust pipeline and grew it into a commercial biotechnology company that discovered, developed, and is now commercializing LINZESS® - the blockbuster branded prescription market leader in its class. Prior to co-founding Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc, Dr. Hecht was a research fellow at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. Dr. Hecht also serves on the boards of directors of Kallyope Inc. and Mythic Therapeutics, both privately held biotechnology companies. Dr. Hecht earned a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.S. in biology from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Hecht’s experiences as the founder of several innovative biotechnology companies, his tenure as the chief executive officer and a board member of each of Microbia, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Company and Tisento Therapeutics, Inc., and his extensive scientific background make him a valuable member of our Board of Directors.
Michael J. Higgins has been a member of our Board of Directors since November 2023. Mr. Higgins was appointed chairman of the board of directors of Voyager Therapeutics, Inc., in June 2019 and also served as Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.’s interim president and chief executive officer from June 2021 to March 2022. Mr. Higgins has served as chairman of the board of directors of Pulmatrix, Inc., since April 2020, and has served as a member of the boards of directors of Nocion Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, since September 2020; Camp4 Therapeutics Corporation, since October 2017; Sea Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a privately held pharmaceutical company, since October 2016; and KinDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, since March 2016. Mr. Higgins previously served as a member of the board of directors of Genocea Biosciences Inc. from February 2015 to May 2022. Mr. Higgins is a serial entrepreneur who has helped launch and build numerous companies during his career. He served as entrepreneur-in-residence at Polaris Partners, an investment company, from 2015 to 2020. From 2003 to 2014 he served as senior vice president, chief operating officer at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to 2003, Mr. Higgins held a variety of senior business positions at Genzyme Corporation, including vice president of corporate finance and vice president of business development. Mr. Higgins earned a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Mr. Higgins’ financial and business expertise, including his diversified background as an executive officer in public pharmaceuticals companies, qualifies him to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.
Steven E. Hyman, M.D. has served as a member of our Board of Directors since July 2022. Dr. Hyman is a Distinguished Service Professor and Harald McPike Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University and a Core Institute Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard where he directs the Broad Program in Brain Health. Dr. Hyman also serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Charles A. Dana Foundation (NY). In the private sector, Dr. Hyman is founder of Emugen Therapeutics, a director of Voyager Therapeutics, Q-State Biosciences and Vesalius, and serves on the scientific advisory boards of Janssen and F-Prime Capital. From 2001 to 2011, Dr. Hyman served as Provost (Chief Academic Officer) of Harvard University, and from 1996 to 2001, as Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a component of the US National Institutes of Health. Dr. Hyman has served as Editor of the Annual Review of Neuroscience (2002-2016), founding President of the International Neuroethics Society (2008-2013), President of the Society for Neuroscience (2015), and President of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2018). Dr. Hyman is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Hyman received his B.A. from Yale College, an M.A. from the University of Cambridge, which Dr. Hyman attended as a Mellon fellow studying history and philosophy of science, and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hyman brings to our Board of Directors a deep expertise as a world-renowned leader in neuroscience leading large-scale, collaborative research programs aimed to discover and develop novel biomarkers and therapeutics for neuropsychiatric diseases.
Dina Katabi, Ph.D. has been a member of our Board of Directors since November 2023. Dr. Katabi is the co-founder and president of Emerald Innovations, a health analytics company that specializes in digital health solutions for passive, contactless in­home monitoring. Dr. Katabi is also the inaugural Thuan and Nicole Pham Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Wireless Networks and Mobile Computing. Dr. Katabi is a MacArthur Fellow and a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), and the American Association of Arts and Sciences (AAAS). Dr. Katabi’s research focuses on advanced wireless sensing, applied machine learning, and digital health. Several start­ups have been spun out of Dr. Katabi’s lab. Dr. Katabi has received
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three honorary degrees from the American University of Beirut, the American University of Cairo, and the Catholic University of America. Dr. Katabi received her Ph.D. and M.S. in computer science from MIT and her B.S. from Damascus University. Dr. Katabi’s scientific background and experiences qualify her to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.
Independence of Directors
As required under the listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), a majority of the members of a listed company’s Board of Directors must qualify as “independent,” as affirmatively determined by the Board of Directors. The Board consults with the Company’s counsel to ensure that the Board’s determinations are consistent with relevant securities and other laws and regulations regarding the definition of “independent,” including those set forth in pertinent listing standards of Nasdaq, as in effect from time to time.
Consistent with these considerations, after review of all relevant identified transactions or relationships between each director, or any of his or her family members, and the Company, its senior management and its independent auditors, the Board has affirmatively determined that the following four directors satisfy the independence standard established by the Nasdaq listing standards, as well as the Corporate Governance Guidelines adopted by our Board of Directors: Drs. Hyman, Katabi and De Souza and Mr. Higgins. In making this determination, the Board found that none of these directors or nominees for director had a material or other disqualifying relationship with the Company.
Board Leadership Structure
The Board of Directors of the Company has an independent Chairman, Dr. De Souza, who has authority, among other things, to call and preside over Board meetings, including meetings of the independent directors, to set meeting agendas and to determine materials to be distributed to the Board. Accordingly, the Board Chairman has substantial ability to shape the work of the Board. The Company believes that separation of the positions of Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or President reinforces the independence of the Board in its oversight of the business and affairs of the Company. In addition, the Company believes that having an independent Board Chairman creates an environment that is more conducive to objective evaluation and oversight of management’s performance, increasing management accountability and improving the ability of the Board to monitor whether management’s actions are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. As a result, the Company believes that having an independent Board Chairman can enhance the effectiveness of the Board as a whole.
Role of the Board in Risk Oversight
One of the Board’s functions is informed, tailored oversight of the Company’s risk management process. The Board oversees risk directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through various Board standing committees that address risks specific to their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our Board is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, including a determination of the nature and level of risk appropriate for the Company.
We have implemented and continue to refine an enterprise risk management process. On an ongoing basis, we identify key risks, assess their potential impact and likelihood, and, where appropriate, implement operational measures and controls or purchase insurance coverage in order to help ensure adequate risk mitigation. Periodically, key risks, status of mitigation activities, and potential new or emerging risks are reported to and discussed with senior management and further addressed with our Board, as necessary. On at least an annual basis, a long-term comprehensive enterprise risk management update is provided to our Board.
Our Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial and IT risk exposure and the approach management uses to monitor and control this exposure, including guidelines and policies to govern the risk management processes. The Audit Committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, in addition to oversight of the performance of our internal audit function.
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee monitors the effectiveness of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, including whether they are successful in preventing illegal or improper liability-creating conduct.
Our Compensation Committee oversees and reviews our compensation policies and programs to ensure that they encourage an appropriate balance of risk and reward, and that they align management’s incentives with those of our shareholders.
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Meetings of the Board of Directors, Attendance and Overboarding
The Board of Directors met six times and acted by written consent three times in 2024. No director attended less than 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees on which he or she served.
In addition, as provided in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, all directors are expected to be able to dedicate sufficient time to ensure the diligent performance of his or her duties on the Company’s behalf, including attending Board and applicable committee meetings as well as the annual meetings of shareholders. All of our directors attended the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines also provide that directors should not serve on more than a total of four public company boards of directors and that directors who hold the position of Chief Executive Officer of a public company should not serve on more than a total of two public company boards of directors (including the board of his or her own company). The Company also expects that each director will avoid circumstances that create an actual or perceived conflict of interest and has a process in place to appropriately evaluate any perceived conflict of interest. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board of Directors regularly evaluate our directors’ commitments at other public companies to confirm compliance with our overboarding policy, discussed above, and to ensure that they are able to devote sufficient time to their duties at the Company.
Information Regarding Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has three committees: (a) an Audit Committee, (b) a Compensation Committee and (c) a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each of which operates pursuant to a charter adopted by our Board. The following table provides membership of each Board committee.
Name
Audit
Committee
Compensation
Committee
Nominating and
Corporate Governance
Committee
Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D.
I
C
 
Michael F. Higgins.
C
I
 
Steven E. Hyman, M.D.
I(1)   
 
C
Dina Katabi, Ph.D.
 
 
I
C =
Committee Chairperson
I =
Independent Committee Member
(1)
Prior to June 10, 2024, Terrance McGuire served on the Board of Directors. Mr. McGuire retired from the Board of Directors prior to the 2024 Annual Meeting and Dr. Hyman was subsequently elected to serve as a member of the Audit Committee.
Below is a description of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each such committee has authority to engage legal counsel or other experts or consultants, as it deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of each such committee meets the applicable Nasdaq rules and regulations regarding “independence” and each member is free of any relationship that would impair his or her individual exercise of independent judgment with regard to the Company.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors was established by the Board in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, to oversee the Company’s corporate accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of its financial statements. For this purpose, the Audit Committee performs several functions. The Audit Committee is responsible for, among other duties:
reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements, earnings releases and related disclosures;
discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the quality and adequacy of our internal controls and internal auditing procedures, including any material weaknesses in either;
discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm any significant risks or exposures facing the Company and the related mitigation plans, and reviewing the Company’s compliance with such mitigation plans;
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reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the quality and acceptability of our accounting policies and all material correcting adjustments;
appointing, retaining, overseeing and approving the compensation for and, when necessary, terminating our independent registered public accounting firm;
approving all audit services and all permitted non-audit, tax and other services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, in each case, in accordance with the Audit Committee’s pre-approval policy;
discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm its independence and ensuring that it receives the written disclosures regarding these communications required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
reviewing and approving all related party transactions;
recommending to our Board of Directors whether the audited financial statements should be included in our annual report and preparing the report of our Audit Committee required by SEC rules;
reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm all material communications between our management and our independent registered public accounting firm;
reviewing, updating and recommending to our Board of Directors changes to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics;
overseeing the integrity of our information technology systems, processes and data and reviewing and assessing with management the adequacy of security for such technology systems, processes and data; and
establishing procedures for the receipt, retention, investigation and treatment of accounting related complaints and concerns.
The Audit Committee is currently composed of three directors: Mr. Higgins, who serves as Chair, Dr. De Souza and Dr. Hyman. Each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and has accounting or related financial management expertise. The Audit Committee met four times during fiscal year 2024. The Board has adopted a written Audit Committee charter that is available to shareholders on our website at www.cyclerion.com.
The Board of Directors reviews the Nasdaq listing standards definition of independence for Audit Committee members on an annual basis and has determined that all members of the Company’s Audit Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Nasdaq rules).
The Board of Directors has also determined that Mr. Higgins qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under applicable SEC rules. The Board made a qualitative assessment of Mr. Higgins’ level of knowledge and experience based on a number of factors, including his formal education and prior experience at public reporting companies.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors acts on behalf of the Board to, among other things, administer the Company’s compensation policies and human resources philosophy, and to enable the Company to attract and motivate qualified personnel and advise the Board regarding, and facilitate the Board’s oversight of, the compensation of members of the Board and the Company’s CEO and other executive officers. The Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other duties:
reviewing and recommending to the Board annually, corporate goals and objectives relevant to executive officer compensation and evaluating and approving the performance of executive officers in light of those goals and objectives;
reviewing and approving executive officer compensation, including salary, bonus and incentive compensation, deferred compensation, perquisites, equity compensation, benefits provided upon retirement, severance or other termination of employment and any other forms of executive compensation;
reviewing and approving our President and Chief Executive Officer’s compensation based on its evaluation of our President and Chief Executive Officer’s performance;
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reviewing and making recommendations to our Board of Directors, or approving, any contracts or other transactions with our current or former executive officers, including consulting arrangements, employment contracts, severance or termination arrangements and loans to employees;
overseeing and administering our incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans and recommending to our Board of Directors the adoption of new incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans and any amendments to our existing plans;
reviewing the compensation and benefits paid to directors for service on our Board of Directors and the committees of our Board of Directors and recommending any changes in such compensation and benefits to our Board of Directors;
reviewing our management succession and development plans, including plans with respect to our Chief Executive Officer and President; and
reviewing and discussing with management any compensation related material required to be included in our filings with the SEC and recommending to our Board of Directors whether such compensation related material should be included in such filings.
The Compensation Committee is currently composed of two directors: Dr. De Souza, who serves as Chair and Mr. Higgins. All members of the Company’s Compensation Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(d)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards), and each of whom qualifies as a “non-employee director” (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) and an “outside director” (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)). The Compensation Committee met three times and acted by written consent once during fiscal year 2024. The Board has adopted a written Compensation Committee charter that is available to shareholders on the Company’s website at www.cyclerion.com.
Typically, the Compensation Committee meets twice per year and with greater frequency if necessary. The agenda for each meeting is usually developed by the Chair of the Compensation Committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer and President. The Compensation Committee does not currently retain a compensation consultant. The Compensation Committee meets regularly in executive session. However, from time to time, various members of management and other employees as well as outside advisors or consultants may be invited by the Compensation Committee to make presentations, to provide financial or other background information or advice or to otherwise participate in Compensation Committee meetings. The Chief Executive Officer and President may not participate in, or be present during, any deliberations or determinations of the Compensation Committee regarding her compensation or individual performance objectives. Under the Compensation Committee’s charter, it has the authority to obtain, at the expense of the Company, advice and assistance from compensation consultants and legal, accounting or other advisors that the Compensation Committee considers necessary or appropriate in the performance of its duties. In particular, the Compensation Committee has the authority to retain, in its sole discretion, compensation consultants to assist in its evaluation of executive and director compensation, including the authority to approve the consultant’s fees and other retention terms. Under the charter, the Compensation Committee may select, or receive advice from, a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser to the Compensation Committee, and certain other types of advisers, only after taking into consideration six factors, prescribed by the SEC and Nasdaq, that bear upon the adviser’s independence; however, there is no requirement that such independence assessment be undertaken when the advisers role is limited to consulting on broad based plans generally available to all salaried employees, or providing non-customized information.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for, among other duties:
identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors;
recommending to our Board of Directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors;
assisting our Board of Directors in recruiting such nominees;
recommending to our Board of Directors qualified individuals to serve as committee members;
performing an annual evaluation of our Board of Directors;
evaluating the need and, if necessary, creating a plan for the continuing education of our directors;
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evaluating and approving any requests from our executive officers to serve on the board of directors of another for-profit company; and
assessing and reviewing our Corporate Governance Guidelines and recommending any changes to our Board of Directors.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is composed of two directors: Dr. Hyman, who serves as Chair, and Dr. Katabi. Each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards). The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met three times during fiscal 2024 and took action by written consent twice. The Board has adopted a written Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter that is available to shareholders on the Company’s website at www.cyclerion.com.
It is the policy of the Board that directors should possess strong personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, demonstrate a keen understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the Company, its business and its industry, and be committed to representing the long-term interests of the Company’s shareholders. The composition of the Board should also encompass a range of talents, ages, skills, diversity, business experience and clinical/scientific expertise sufficient to provide sound and prudent oversight with respect to the operations and interests of the Company.
When considering potential nominees for director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee looks to maintain a balance of perspectives, qualifications, qualities and skills on the Board, and will look for nominees who exhibit, among other qualities:
the highest professional and personal ethics;
broad experience in business, the biopharmaceutical industry, government or science;
ability to provide insights and practical wisdom based on their experience and expertise;
commitment to enhancing shareholder value;
sufficient time to carry out their duties effectively (their service on other boards of public companies should be limited as set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines);
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
ability to develop a good working relationship with other Board members and contribute to the Board’s working relationship with senior management of the Company; and
except in exceptional cases, satisfy the independence standards established by the Nasdaq listing standards.
Other than the foregoing, there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees, although the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also consider such other factors as it may deem are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The Company is committed to inclusion and diversity within the Board and confirms that its policy of non-discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation or any other reason prohibited by applicable law applies in the assessment and selection of all director candidates.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may use any process it deems appropriate for the purpose of evaluating candidates that is consistent with the policies set forth in its charter, the Company’s Bylaws, the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and its policy, which process may include, without limitation, personal interviews, background checks, written submissions by the candidates and third-party references. Although the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may seek candidates that have different qualities and experiences at different times in order to maximize the aggregate experience, qualities and strengths of the Board members, nominees for each election or appointment of directors shall be evaluated using a substantially similar process and under no circumstances shall the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluate nominees recommended by a shareholder of the Company pursuant to a process substantially different than that used for other nominees for the same election or appointment of directors.
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Board Diversity
Of our total number of six directors, we have two directors who are female, and one director who is Asian. As noted above, when considering director candidates, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers any diversifying factors they deem appropriate, including, among other things, diversity in professional and personal experience, skills, background, race and gender.
Shareholder Communications with the Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors will consider any written or electronic communication from our shareholders to the Board, a committee of the Board or any individual director. Any shareholder who wishes to communicate to the Board of Directors, a committee of the Board or any individual director should submit written or electronic communications to our secretary at our principal offices, which shall include contact information for such shareholder. All communications from shareholders received shall be forwarded by our secretary to the appropriate recipient(s) on a periodic basis, but in any event no later than the Board of Director’s next scheduled meeting. The appropriate recipient(s) will consider and review carefully any communications from shareholders forwarded by our secretary.
Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Insider Trading Policy and Clawback Policy
Our Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that set forth the responsibilities of the Board of Directors and the qualifications and independence of its members and the members of its standing committees. In addition, our Board of Directors adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics setting forth standards applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available on our website at www.cyclerion.com. We expect that any amendment to the code, or any waivers of its requirements, which apply to our Chief Executive Officer or President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, or Corporate Controller, if any, will be disclosed on our website.
We have adopted an Insider Trading Prevention Policy that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, which prohibits such individuals from purchasing financial instruments, or otherwise engaging in transactions, that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in market value of our Common Stock, such as prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, forward sale contracts and exchange funds. Our Insider Trading Prevention Policy also prohibits the Company from transacting in our securities unless in compliance with applicable U.S. securities laws, rules and regulations and applicable stock exchange listing standards.
Our insider trading compliance officer, as designated by our Board, a committee thereof or an executive officer of the Company (the “Compliance Officer”) assists with implementing, interpreting and enforcing our Insider Trading Prevention Policy, pre-clearing trading activities of certain people, and pre-approving any 10b5-1 plans; provided that if the designated Compliance Officer’s service with the Company is terminated, or no one else has been designated as a Compliance Officer by the Board, a committee thereof or an executive officer of the Company, then our outside general counsel will be deemed to be the Compliance Officer for the purposes of our Insider Trading Prevention Policy. The Insider Trading Prevention Policy was included as Exhibit 19 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that was filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025. We will furnish to any person without charge, upon written request, a copy of our Insider Trading Prevention Policy and requests may be directed to our secretary at our principal offices.
The Board has adopted a Clawback Policy that applies to Executive Officers (as defined in the Clawback Policy). The Clawback Policy was included as Exhibit 97.1 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that we filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024. We will furnish to any person without charge, upon written request, a copy of our Clawback Policy and requests may be directed to our secretary at our principal offices.
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PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF APPPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board is submitting the selection by the Audit Committee of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to the shareholders for ratification at our Annual Meeting. Neither the Company’s Bylaws nor other governing documents or law require shareholder ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Audit Committee has requested the Board submit the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee of the Board will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee of the Board in its discretion may direct the appointment of different independent auditors at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Vote Required for Approval
Ernst & Young LLP will be ratified as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025 if the number of votes cast for ratification at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of votes cast against ratification.
OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES AND OTHER MATTERS
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since our formation. We expect a representative from Ernst & Young LLP to be present at the Annual Meeting. The representative will have an opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Our Board has asked the shareholders to ratify the appointment by our Audit Committee of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. See “Proposal 2 — Ratification of Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” above.
The following table represents aggregate fees billed to the Company for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 by Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s principal accountant.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2024
2023
Audit fees
$385,000
$618,500
Audit-related fees
$15,000
$135,000
Tax fees
All other fees
Total fees
$400,000
$753,500
Audit fees were for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements and reviews of interim financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, including accounting consultations, as well as for services that are normally provided in connection with regulatory filings or engagements.
All fees described above were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services rendered by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP. The policy generally pre-approves specified services in the defined categories of audit services, audit-related services and tax services up to specified amounts. Pre-approval may also be given as part of the Audit Committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent auditor or on an individual, explicit, case-by-case basis before the independent auditor is engaged to provide each service. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the Audit Committee’s members, but the decision must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of services other than audit services by Ernst & Young LLP is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The following Report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 with management of the Company and Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has also received from, and discussed with, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the written disclosures and other communications that the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is required to provide to the Audit Committee, including, the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC. The Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountants’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the accounting firm’s independence. Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
By the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc.
 
Michael F. Higgins (Chair)
 
Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D.
 
Steven E. Hyman, M.D.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our executive officers, and their respective ages as of April 21, 2025, are as follows:
Name
Age
Position(s) with the Company
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.
48
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rhonda M. Chicko
59
Chief Financial Officer
No executive officer is related by blood, marriage or adoption to any other director or executive officer.
Set forth below is certain information with respect to the executive officers of the Company.
Information with respect to Regina M. Graul, Ph.D., our President and Chief Executive Officer, who serves on our Board of Directors, may be found on page 7 of this Proxy Statement under “Corporate Governance.”
Rhonda M. Chicko, C.P.A. is a consultant to the Company and has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2024. Ms. Chicko has been consulting as a chief financial officer to various life science companies since October 2019. Ms. Chicko previously served as chief financial officer of Scholar Rock from April 2018 through October 2019 and vice president of finance at Editas Medicine from September 2015 through March 2018. From 2005 to 2015, Ms. Chicko worked at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in financial roles of increasing responsibility, culminating as senior director, finance and tax. Earlier in her career, Ms. Chicko held a range of positions at investment management and accounting firms, including Wellington Management Company, LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Ms. Chicko holds a M.S.T. from Bentley University and a B.S. in accounting from Le Moyne College.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP
OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of April 21, 2025 by: (i) each director and nominee for director; (ii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; (iii) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group; and (iv) all those known by the Company to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of its Common Stock.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares that they beneficially own, subject to community property laws where applicable. Restricted shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by any person who has or shares voting or investment power with respect to such shares, even if such shares are subject to forfeiture under the terms of a restricted stock agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons named in this table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable. In computing the number of shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we deemed outstanding shares of our Common Stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2025. We did not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
The percentage of beneficial ownership in the table below is based on 3,210,094 shares of Common Stock outstanding and 351,037 shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion of shares of our preferred stock purchased by Dr. Hecht in May 2023, each as of April 21, 2025. The address of all named executive officers and directors is 245 First Street, 18th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142.
Name of Beneficial Owner
Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned
Percentage
Directors and Named Executive Officers:
 
 
Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D.(1)
52,500
1.5%
Peter M. Hecht, Ph.D.(2)
1,028,534
28.0%
Michael F. Higgins(3)
30,740
*
Steven E. Hyman, M.D.(4)
23,775
*
Dina Katabi, Ph.D.(5)
20,000
*
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.(6)
111,630
3.1%
Rhonda M. Chicko(7)
18
*
All executive officers and directors as a group (7 persons)
1,267,197
34.3%
 
 
 
5% Shareholders:
 
 
J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC(8)
181,818
5.1%
*
Denotes less than 1%
This table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and shareholders known by us to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of our Common Stock, information obtained from Schedules 13G or 13D filed with the SEC and based on information publicly available reporting beneficial ownership of our Common Stock. Unless otherwise noted below, no shareholder has had any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates within the past three years.
(1)
Consists of (i) 20,000 shares of Common Stock issued on November 30, 2023 as restricted Common Stock for services as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, of which 9,172 of these shares are vested through April 21, 2025 and the remaining 10,828 shares vest ratably on a monthly basis through June 1, 2027, provided that Dr. De Souza remains as a director of the Company on each such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions, (ii) 30,000 shares of Common Stock issued on November 30, 2023 as restricted Common Stock for services as Chairman of the Board of Directors, of which 13,750 of these shares are vested through April 21, 2025 and the remaining 16,250 shares vest ratably on a monthly basis through June 1, 2027, provided that Dr. De Souza remains as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company on each such applicable vesting date subject to certain exemptions, and (iii) an additional 2,500 shares of Common Stock that underlie stock options that are currently exercisable or will be exercisable within the next 60 days.
(2)
Consists of (i) 559,203 shares of Common Stock held directly by Dr. Hecht, (ii) an additional 118,294 shares of Common Stock that underlie stock options that are currently exercisable or will be exercisable within 60 days, and (iii) 351,037 shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion of shares of our preferred stock purchased by Dr. Hecht in May 2023. These shares of preferred stock have no voting rights but may be converted into our Common Stock by the holder at any time. The shares of Common Stock held directly by
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Dr. Hecht include (i) 20,000 shares of Common Stock issued on November 30, 2023 as restricted Common Stock for services as a member of our Board, of which 9,172 shares are vested as of April 21, 2025 and the remaining 10,828 shares vest ratably on a monthly basis through June 1, 2027, provided that Dr. Hecht remains as a director of the Company on each such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions, (ii) 15,000 shares of Common Stock issued on December 1, 2023 as restricted Common Stock, of which 5,321 shares are vested as of April 21, 2025 and the remaining 9,679 shares vest ratably on a monthly basis through November 1, 2027, provided that Dr. Hecht remains as a consultant to or a director of the Company on each such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions, and (iii) 15,000 shares of Common Stock issued on January 2, 2024 as restricted Common Stock, of which 5,104 shares are vested as of April 21, 2025 and the remaining 9,896 shares vest ratably through November 1, 2027, provided that Dr. Hecht remains as a consultant to or a director of the Company on each such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions.
(3)
Consists of (i) 10,740 shares of Common Stock held directly by Mr. Higgins, and (ii) 20,000 shares of Common Stock issued on November 30, 2023 as restricted Common Stock for services as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, of which 9,172 of these shares are vested as of April 21, 2025 and the remaining 10,828 shares vest ratably on a monthly basis through June 1, 2027, provided that Mr. Higgins remains as a director of the Company on each such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions.
(4)
Consists of (i) 3,775 shares of Common Stock that underlie stock options that are currently exercisable or will be exercisable within 60 days with the remaining 112 shares vesting monthly through July 25, 2025 and (ii) 20,000 shares of Common Stock issued as restricted Common Stock on November 30, 2023 for services as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, of which 9,172 of these shares are vested as of April 21, 2025 and the remaining 10,828 shares vest ratably on a monthly basis through June 1, 2027, provided that Dr. Hyman remains as a director of the Company on each such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions.
(5)
Consists of 20,000 shares of Common Stock issued as restricted Common Stock on November 30, 2023 for services as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, of which 9,172 of these shares are vested as of April 21, 2025 and the remaining 10,828 shares vest ratably on a monthly basis through June 1, 2027 provided that Dr. Katabi remains as a director of the Company on each such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions.
(6)
Consists of (i) 50,000 shares of Common Stock issued to Dr. Graul as restricted Common Stock on December 1, 2023, of which 23,328 of the shares vested as of April 21, 2025 and the remaining 26,672 shares vesting ratably through December 1, 2027, provided that Dr. Graul remains as an employee of the Company on each such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions, (ii) 50,000 shares of Common Stock issued to Dr. Graul as restricted Common Stock on January 1, 2024, with 22,495 of the shares vested as of April 21, 2025 and the remaining 27,505 shares vesting ratably through January 1, 2028, subject to certain exemptions; and (iii) an option to acquire 55,849 shares of Common Stock with 11,630 shares exercisable or which will become exercisable within 60 days with the remainder vesting monthly through July 2028.
(7)
Consists of shares owned directly by Ms. Chicko.
(8)
Information is based on a stock purchase agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 to a Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on March 23, 2025. The address of the stockholder is 1820 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa, Ca 95405.
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SECTION 16(A)

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with, with the exception of (i) an inadvertent late filing by Dr. Graul with regard to a grant of restricted stock in January 2024, (ii) an inadvertent late filing by Dr. Hecht with regard to a grant of restricted stock in January 2024, and (iii) an inadvertent late filing of a Form 3 by Ms. Chicko in March 2024.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As a smaller reporting company, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These include, but are not limited to, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our proxy statements, including the requirement to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis, and provide information relating to the ratio of total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer or President to the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees. We have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies. As a smaller reporting company, we are permitted to limit reporting of compensation disclosure to our principal executive officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers, which we refer to as our “named executive officers” or our “NEOs.”
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation awarded to, earned by, and paid to our named executive officers with respect to the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Regina M. Graul, Ph.D., our President and Chief Executive Officer, joined the Company on December 1, 2023 and Rhonda M. Chicko, a consultant who serves as our Chief Financial Officer, who commenced services to the Company in January 2024.
Name and Principal Position
Year
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)(1)
Equity
Awards
($)(2)
Severance and
Separation
Compensation
($)(3)
All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
Total
($)
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.(5)
President and Chief Executive Officer
2024
390,831
125,000
323,665
35,327
874,823
2023
31,000
124,330
155,330
Rhonda M. Chicko
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
2024
249,900
249,900
(1)
Reflects cash bonuses paid to Dr. Graul in 2024.
(2)
Reflects (i) the fair value of a stock option award on the date of grant issued in 2024 calculated in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, and (ii) the value of restricted stock awards based on the market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant for each of 2023 and 2024. Each of the option grant and stock awards vest over a four-year period. For a discussion of the assumptions used in the valuation of awards, see Note 10 to our consolidated and combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that we filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025. All values reported exclude the effects of potential forfeitures.
(3)
Consists of amounts for reimbursement for medical insurance premiums, the employer contribution to the Company’s 401(k) plan for Dr. Graul and a work from home stipend.
(4)
Ms. Chicko currently serves as a consultant to the Company and does not receive employee benefits or equity awards.
Narrative to Summary Compensation Table
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors determines our executives’ compensation and determines the compensation of our named executive officers. For 2024, our Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed management’s proposed compensation. The three primary elements of our executive officer compensation program for Dr. Graul, our President and Chief Executive Officer, are annual base salary, non-equity incentive plan compensation, and long-term equity incentive compensation.
Annual Base Salary
Dr. Graul joined the Company and became President on December 1, 2023. Her base salary was initially set at $372,000 per year and increased in August 2024 to $420,000 per year. She received a one-time cash bonus of $75,000 in January 2024 and a one-time cash bonus of $50,000 in December 2024. In the event that Dr. Graul’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” (as defined in her offer letter), Dr. Graul is entitled to three months base salary and vesting of three months of restricted Common Stock under each of the restricted stock grants received in December 2023 and January 2024.
Ms. Chicko joined the Company in January 2024 as our Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Chicko performs her services on a part-time basis as an independent consultant and is compensated on an hourly basis for her services.
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The annual base salaries of our named executive officers have been determined and approved (and are periodically reviewed) by our Compensation Committee in order to compensate our named executive officers for the satisfactory performance of duties to the Company. Annual base salaries are intended to provide a fixed component of compensation to our named executive officers, reflecting their skill sets, experience, roles and responsibilities. Base salaries for our named executive officers have been set at levels deemed necessary to attract and retain individuals with superior talent and are in line with base salaries of similar roles at our peer group companies.
Restricted Stock Grants to Dr. Graul and Dr. Hecht
Dr. Graul was granted 50,000 shares of restricted stock of the Company under the Company’s 2019 Equity Plan, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s standard form of restricted stock agreement (the “Initial Restricted Stock Grant”). The shares of the Initial Restricted Stock Grant vest based on her continued employment by the Company on each vest date: 10,000 shares of the Initial Restricted Stock Grant vested on December 1, 2023, and an additional 833 shares of the Initial Restricted Stock Grant shall vest on the first day of each subsequent month, for forty-seven (47) successive months, with the remaining 849 shares of the Initial Restricted Stock Grant vesting on December 1, 2027, subject to continued service through each such vesting date.
In addition, on January 1, 2024, Dr. Graul was granted an additional 50,000 shares of restricted stock of the Company under the Company’s 2019 Equity Plan, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s standard form of restricted stock agreement (the “Second Restricted Stock Grant”). The shares issued under the Second Restricted Stock Grant vest based on Dr. Graul’s continued employment by the Company on each vest date: 10,000 shares of the Second Restricted Stock Grant vested on January 1, 2024, an additional 833 shares of the Second Restricted Stock Grant vest on the first day of each subsequent month, for forty-seven (47) successive months, and the remaining 849 shares of the Second Restricted Stock Grant vest on January 1, 2028, subject to continued service through each such vesting date.
On December 1, 2023, Dr. Hecht entered into a consulting agreement with the Company under which he agrees to provide certain enumerated consulting services (the “Consulting Services”) to the Company. As full compensation for the Consulting Services, the Company granted to Dr. Hecht (a) 15,000 shares of restricted Common Stock under the Company’s 2019 Equity Plan which vest on a monthly basis as follows: 312 shares of restricted Common Stock vested on December 1, 2023, and an additional 312 shares of restricted Common Stock vest on the first day of each subsequent month, for forty-six (46) successive months, with the remaining 336 shares of restricted Common Stock vesting on November 1, 2027, subject to Dr. Hecht’s continued service relationship with the Company in Dr. Hecht’s capacity as a consultant to, or member of the Board of Directors of, the Company through each such vesting date; and (b) an additional 15,000 shares of restricted Common Stock were issued on January 1, 2024 under the Company’s 2019 Equity Plan which vest on a monthly basis as follows: 319 shares of restricted Common Stock vested on January 1, 2024, and an additional 319 shares of restricted Common Stock vest on the first day of each subsequent month, for forty-five (45) successive months, with the remaining 326 shares of restricted Common Stock vesting on November 1, 2027, subject to Dr. Hecht’s continued service relationship with the Company in his capacity as a consultant to, or member of the Board of Directors of, the Company through each such vesting date. In consideration of these Consulting Services, the Company agreed to extend the period in which Dr. Hecht may exercise outstanding unexercised stock options issued to him by the Company that have vested as of the last date of service as an employee, director or consultant to the two-year anniversary of such date, provided if the original termination date of a stock option is an earlier date, such original termination date shall continue to apply.
Agreements Related to the Resignations of Dr. Hecht, Ms. Gault and Ms. Gjino
In connection with Ms. Gault’s resignation from the Company in June 2023, Ms. Gault entered into a severance agreement, pursuant to which Ms. Gault received severance benefits of continued base salary and subsidized COBRA health premiums for six months following her severance from employment and the post-termination exercise period of her outstanding vested stock options was extended from three months through July 2025. In connection with Ms. Gjino’s resignation as of October 17, 2023, Ms. Gjino and the Company entered into a separation agreement under which Ms. Gjino received a cash payment at the time of separation. Further, Ms. Gjino also received an additional payment of $102,000 on each of the six- and nine-month anniversaries of the effective date of her resignation as she had not, prior thereto, secured full-time employment. The separation agreement also provided that Ms. Gjino’s vested stock options as of the effective date of her resignation remain exercisable through November 2025. Each of Ms. Gault and Ms. Gjino’s agreements contain non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions as well as conventional other provisions, including a general release in favor of the Company. In connection with Dr. Hecht’s resignation as Chief Executive Officer following the
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completion of the sale of certain assets by the Company to Tisento (the “Tisento Asset Sale Transaction”) on July 31, 2023, any unvested options continue to vest through the date he ceases serving as a consultant or director of the Company and any remaining vested options remain exercisable through the earlier of the date of termination of the grant and two years after Dr. Hecht ceases to serve as a director of or consultant to the Company.
Other Equity-Based Awards
Our equity-based incentive awards granted to our named executive officers are designed to align the interests of our named executive officers with those of our shareholders. Vesting of equity awards is generally tied to each officer’s continuous service with us and serves as an additional incentive measure. Our executives generally are awarded an initial new hire grant upon commencement of employment and are typically awarded annual grants in line with the practice of our peer group. Additional grants may occur periodically in order to specifically incentivize executives with respect to achieving certain corporate goals or to reward executives for exceptional performance. We generally avoid granting stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar option-like instruments in relation to the disclosure of material non-public information except to new hires or in connection with the promotion of any employee to a new position. No option was granted within four business days before and one business day after the filing of a periodic report or the filing of furnishing of a current report on Form 8-K that contains material nonpublic information (other than disclosure of a material new option award grant under Item 5.02(e) of Form 8-K), except for the option grant to Dr. Graul on August 5, 2025 as described below in connection with her appointment as a member of the Board of Directors and her elevation as Chief Executive Officer on that date, which occurred within four business days prior to the filing of the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q on August 7, 2024.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024
 
Grants of Plan-Based Option Awards
Name of Optionee
Exercisable Stock
Options
(#)
Per Share Option
Exercise Price
($)
Option
Expiration
Date
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.(1)
5,815
3.30
August 4, 2034
(1)
Consists of an incentive stock option granted in August 2024 to purchase up to 55,849 shares of the Corporation's common stock pursuant to the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. These 55,849 shares vest ratably in monthly installments over a 48-month period commencing August 31, 2024 and ending August 4, 2028, provided that Dr. Graul remains employed by the Company on such applicable vesting date, subject to certain exemptions.
Name
Grant
Date
Number of securities
underlying the award
(#)
Exercise price
of the award
($/share)
Grant date fair
value of the
award ($/share)
Percentage change
in the closing market
price of the securities
underlying the award
between the trading day
ending immediately
prior to the disclosure of
material nonpublic information
and the trading day
beginning immediately
following the disclosure
of material
nonpublic information
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.
08/05/2024
55,849
3.30
2.80
(1.0%)
In addition, options to purchase up to 117,791 shares of Common Stock granted prior to 2024 to Dr. Hecht, who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer through November 2023, remain exercisable through the earlier of two years after the date Dr. Hecht ceases to serve as a director or consultant to the Company and the original option expiration date, which expiration dates occur on or prior to July 2032. The exercise price for these options range from $24.20 to $369.40 per share. Also, options granted to the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer and former Chief Financial Officer, to purchase 16,606 and 10,478 shares, respectively, remain exercisable between now and July 15, 2025 and November 24, 2025, respectively, at exercise prices ranging from $24.20 to $380.80 per share.
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Grants of Plan-Based Restricted Stock Awards
Name of Restricted Stock Recipient
Restricted
Stock
Award
(#)
Vested
Restricted
Stock
(#)
Unvested
Restricted
Stock
(#)
Market Value of
Shares of Stock
That Have Not
Yet Vested(1)
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.(2)
100,000
39,159
60,841
195,908
(1)
Market value is based on the closing price for the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq on December 31, 2024 of $3.22 per share.
(2)
Consists of a restricted Common Stock award granted to Dr. Graul on December 1, 2023 and a second restricted Common Stock award granted on January 1, 2024 in consideration for her services as an employee of the Company. These shares of restricted Common Stock provided for immediate vesting of 10,000 shares from each award with the remaining unvested shares vesting ratably over a 48 month period from the date of grant, subject to certain exemptions.
Retirement Benefits and Other Compensation
Dr. Graul is eligible for certain benefits, including reimbursement for health insurance premiums, a work from home stipend, and certain other benefits. In addition, we maintain a 401(k) plan intended to qualify as a tax-qualified plan under Section 401 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which Dr. Graul is eligible to participate in on the same basis as our other employees. The 401(k) plan has a 75% matching Company contribution on the first $8,000 of an employee’s annual contribution. Dr. Graul did not participate in, or otherwise receive any other benefits under any pension, retirement or deferred compensation plan sponsored by us (other than our 401(k) plan, as mentioned above) during 2024.
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PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
In accordance with rules adopted by the SEC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, we are providing the following disclosure, as it applies to smaller reporting companies, regarding executive “Compensation Actually Paid” (“CAP”), as calculated under applicable SEC rules, for our principal executive officer(s) (“PEO(s)”) and our other named executive officers (“non-PEO NEOs”) and certain financial performance measures for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
In determining the CAP to our PEO(s) and the CAP to our non-PEO NEOs, we are required to make various adjustments to the total compensation amounts that have been reported in the Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”), as the SEC’s valuation methods for this section differ from those required in the SCT. Information regarding the methodology for calculating CAP to our PEO(s) and the CAP to our non-PEO NEOs, including details regarding the amounts that were deducted from, and added to, the SCT totals to arrive at the values presented for CAP, are provided in the footnotes to the table. Note that for non-PEO NEOs, compensation is reported as an average.
The Company is a smaller reporting company and is not required to disclose the total shareholder return for our peer group or to disclose the company-selected measure or the tabular list of our most important financial performance measures. This is the Company’s first year providing this information as we were an emerging growth company through the end of 2024 and thus exempt from providing this information. Under the applicable rules, we are providing two years of information for 2024 and 2023. Information presented in this section will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as we may specifically do so by reference to this section.
Pay Versus Performance
(a)
(b)
 
(c)
 
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Year(1)
Summary
Compensation
Table Total
For First
PEO
($)(2)
Summary
Compensation
Table Total
For Second
PEO
($)(2)
Compensation
Actually Paid
To First PEO
($)(3)
Compensation
Actually Paid
To Second
PEO
($)(3)
Average
Summary
Compensation
Table Total
for
Non-PEO
Named
Executive
Officers
($)(2)
Average
Compensation
Actually Paid
to
Non-PEO
Named
Executive
Officers
($)(3)
Value of
Initial Fixed
$100
Investment
Based on
Total
Shareholder
Return
($)(4)
Net Income
(Loss)
(in
Thousands)
($)(5)
2024
874,823
857,815
249,900
249,900
24.64
(3,057)
2023
147,361
82,954
181,931
(62,468)
559,278
383,419
25.53
(5,263)
(1)
Information reported prior to 2023 is not required as this is the Company’s first year reporting pay versus performance information.
(2)
For 2024, Dr. Graul was our First PEO and Ms. Chicko was our Non-PEO NEO. For 2023, Dr. Graul, who became President in December 2023, was our First PEO and Dr. Hecht was our Second PEO. Information for 2023 is for Dr. Hecht who was our Second PEO in 2023, Cheryl Gault who was our Chief Operating Officer through July 2023, and Anjeza Gjino who was our Chief Financial Officer through November 2023.
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(3)
Deductions from, and additions to, total compensation as reported in the SCT by year to calculate CAP include:
Reconciliation of Summary Compensation Table Total to Compensation Actually Paid for PEO
PEO
Name
Year
Summary
Compensation
Table
Total
for PEO
($)
Exclusion of
Stock Awards
and
Option
Awards
from
Summary
Compensation
Table
for PEO
($)
Inclusion of
Year-End
Fair Value
of Equity
Awards
Granted
During Year
That
Remained
Outstanding
and
Unvested as
of
Last Day of
Year
for PEO
($)
Inclusion of
Change In
Fair Value
from
Last Day of
Prior Year to
Last Day of
Year of
Outstanding
and Unvested
Equity
Awards
Granted in
Any Prior
Year
for PEO
($)
Inclusion
of
Vesting
Date
Fair
Value of
Awards
Granted
During
Year that
Vested
During
Year for
PEO
($)
Inclusion
of Change
in Fair
Value
from Last
Day
of Prior
Year
to Vesting
Date of
Unvested
Equity
Awards
Granted
in any
Prior
Year that
Vested
During
Year for
PEO
Exclusion
of
Fair Value
at
Last Day
of
Prior Year
of
Equity
Awards
Forfeited
During
Year for
PEO
($)
Compensation
Actually
Paid to PEO
($)
First PEO
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer,
President
2024
874,823
(323,665)
242,360
(3,901)
72,954
(4,756)
857,815
2023
147,361
(124,330)
134,000
24,900
181,931
Second PEO
Peter M. Hecht, Ph.D.,
Former Chief Executive
Officer
2023
82,954
​(110,669)
​(34,753)
(62,468)
(4)
Total shareholder return, or TSR, assumes an investment of $100 in our Common Stock on the last trading day before the earliest fiscal year in the above table through and including the end of the fiscal year for which the TSR is calculated. The closing stock price of one share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2022. The closing price for our Common Stock at December 31, 2023 and 2024 was $3.35 and $3.22, respectively.
(5)
Amount represents our net loss for the year as reported on our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Reconciliation of Summary Compensation Table Total to Compensation Actually Paid for Non-PEO NEOs
Year
2024
2023
Summary Compensation Table Total
$249,900
$559,278
(Minus): Grant Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Fiscal Year
Plus: Fair Value at Fiscal Year End of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Fiscal Year
Plus/(Minus): Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years
Plus/(Minus): Change in Fair Value as of the Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years that Vested in the Fiscal Year
(26,909)
(Minus): Fair Value as of the Prior Fiscal Year End of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Fiscal Year
(148,950)
Compensation Actually Paid
$249,900
$383,419
Description of Relationship Between PEOs and Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and Company Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”)
The following table sets forth the relationship between the average Compensation Actually Paid to our PEOs, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and the Company’s cumulative TSR from December 31, 2022 through December 31, 2024.
Year
Average Compensation
Actually Paid to
our PEO
($)
Average Compensation
Actually Paid to our
Non-PEO NEOs
($)(1)
Cumulative TSR of
$100 Invested Over
the Two Most
Recently Completed
Fiscal Years
2024
551,158
249,900
24.64
2023
113,594
559,278(1)
25.53
(1)
Excludes severance payments and COBRA contributions to Ms. Gault in 2023 of $214,000 and a separation payment to Ms. Gjino of $204,000 payable in 2024. Ms. Gault and Ms. Gjino were our two Non-PEO NEOs in 2023.
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Description of Relationship Between PEOs and Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and Net Income
The following table sets forth the relationship between the Average Compensation Actually Paid to our PEOs, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and our Net Income (Loss) during the two most recently completed fiscal years.
Year
Average Compensation
Actually Paid to
our PEO
($)
Average Compensation
Actually Paid to our
Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Net Income (Loss)
for the Two Most
Recently Completed
Fiscal Years
(in thousands)
($)
2024
551,158
249,900
(3,057)
2023
113,594
559,278(1)
(5,263)
(1)
Excludes severance payment to Ms. Gault in 2023 of $214,000 and a separation payment to Ms. Gjino of $204,000. Ms. Gault and Ms. Gjino were our two Non-PEO NEOs in 2023.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
We provide compensation to our non-employee directors that is designed to enable us to attract and incentivize high quality directors, provide them with compensation at a level that is consistent with our compensation objectives and encourage their ownership of our stock to further align their interests with those of our shareholders.
Our directors who are our full-time employees receive no additional compensation for service as a member of our Board of Directors. In connection with the Tisento Asset Sale Transaction, the Compensation Committee revised our compensation plan for non-employee directors and has developed a plan to award our non-employee directors restricted stock grants, currently set at 20,000 shares of restricted Common Stock, which shares vest in installments over a 42-month period. In order to conserve cash, no director has received cash fees for services rendered as a director, except that each outside director received a one-time cash fee in January 2024 of $12,000 or less, other than Dr. De Souza who received a one-time cash fee of $30,000 for his additional services as Chairman of the Board of Directors. During the time that Dr. Hecht served as Chief Executive Officer, he received no cash fees for serving on the Board of Directors.
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation awarded to, earned by, and paid to our non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2024:
Name
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
Option
Awards
($)(1)
Restricted
Stock
Awards(2)
Total
($)
Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D.
30,000
30,000
Peter M. Hecht, Ph.D.
12,000
12,000
Michael F. Higgins
12,000
12,000
Steven E. Hyman, M.D.
12,000
12,000
Dina Katabi, Ph.D.
12,000
12,000
Terrance McGuire
3,000
3,000
(1)
On June 14, 2022, each non-employee director (other than Mr. Higgins, Dr. Hyman and Dr. Katabi) was granted an annual stock option award to purchase 500 shares of the Company’s Common Stock having an exercise price per share equal to the closing price on the grant date or $10.60 per share. These stock option awards vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date subject to the terms and conditions of the stock option award agreement and are all outstanding as of December 31, 2024. On July 25, 2022, in connection with Dr. Hyman joining the Board, he was granted a pro-rata annual stock option award to purchase 887 shares of the Company’s Common Stock and an initial stock option award to purchase 2,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, each at an exercise price per share equal to the closing price on the grant date or $15.50 per share. Dr. Hyman’s annual stock option award vests in full on the first anniversary of the grant date and his initial stock option award vests in 36 equal monthly installments over a three-year period following the date of grant, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of the stock option award agreement and are all outstanding as of December 31, 2024. On May 15, 2023, each of Dr. De Souza and Dr. Hyman was granted an annual stock option award to purchase 1,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock having an exercise price per share equal to the closing price on the grant date or $3.82 per share. These stock option awards vested in full on the first anniversary of the grant date subject to the terms and conditions of the stock option award agreement and are all outstanding as of December 31, 2024. The amounts in the above table reflect the fair value of stock option awards on the date of grant calculated in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. For a discussion of the assumptions used in the valuation of awards, see Note 8 to our consolidated and combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that we filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025. All values reported exclude the effects of potential forfeitures.
(2)
The Company granted restricted stock awards during the year ended December 31, 2023 to the members of the Board of Directors for their services as members of the Board of Directors. These director restricted stock awards were issued in November 2023, with each director (other than Mr. McGuire) receiving an award of 20,000 shares of restricted Common Stock. Dr. De Souza, as Chairman of the Board of Directors, received an additional grant of 30,000 shares of restricted Common Stock for his services as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Mr. McGuire received a grant of 5,000 shares. All of these grants provided for an initial vesting of a portion of the shares with the remainder vesting ratably over a 42-month period, with the exception of Mr. McGuire’s shares which vested in full prior to his retirement as a member of the Board in June 2024. Compensation expense is recognized over the applicable service period.
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TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES
AND INDEMNIFICATION
Related Person Transactions Policy
We have a written related person transactions policy (the “Policy”) that governs the review and approval of related party transactions. Pursuant to the Policy and the charter of the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee will review and approve or disapprove all related person transactions that, under the rules of the SEC, are required to be disclosed in our proxy statement. In its review, the Audit Committee will consider, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the related person transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction.
The Policy provides that no director will participate in any discussion or approval pursuant to the Policy of a related person transaction for which he or she (or an immediate family member, as defined in the Policy) is a related person, except that the director will provide all material information concerning the related person transaction to the Audit Committee.
The Policy also provides that if a related person transaction will be ongoing, the Audit Committee may establish guidelines for the Company’s management to follow in its ongoing dealings with the related person. Thereafter, the Audit Committee will periodically review and assess ongoing relationships with the related person to confirm that they are in compliance with the Audit Committee’s guidelines and that the related person transaction remains appropriate.
Certain Related-Party Transactions
Except as described below, there have not been any transactions or series of transactions since January 1, 2024, to which we have been a party, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeded $120,000, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or, to our knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our voting securities or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. There have not been, nor are there currently any proposed, transactions or series of similar transactions to which we have been or will be a party other than compensation arrangements, which include equity and other compensation, termination, change in control and other arrangements, which are described under “Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation.”
March 2025 Private Placement
On March 21, 2025, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the investors named therein, including Peter M. Hecht, Ph.D. and Michael F. Higgins, who serve as members of the Company’s Board of Directors (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”) for the private placement of 499,998 shares (the “PIPE Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, at an offering price of $2.75 per PIPE Share (the “Private Placement”) based on the closing price for the Company’s Common Stock as reported on Nasdaq. The Private Placement closed on March 25, 2025 and the gross proceeds of the Private Placement were $1.375 million, before deducting expenses. Dr. Hecht and Mr. Higgins purchased 181,818 and 9,090 shares of our Common Stock in the Private Placement, respectively. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and other obligations of the parties.
In connection with the Private Placement, the Company and the Investors entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 21, 2025 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to register the resale of the PIPE Shares pursuant to a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the SEC no later than May 9, 2025. The Company has agreed to use reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective by the earliest possible date, but in no event later than (i) the 75th calendar day following the filing date of the Registration Statement if the SEC notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement and (ii) the fifth business day after the date the Company is notified by the SEC that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. The Company has also agreed to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective from the date on which the SEC declares the Registration Statement to be effective until (i) the date on which the Investors have resold all Registrable Securities (as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) covered by the Registration Statement and (ii) the date
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on which no Registrable Securities remain outstanding. The Company has granted the Investors customary indemnification rights in connection with the Registration Rights Agreement. The Investors have also granted the Company customary indemnification rights in connection with the Registration Rights Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2025.
Indemnification
We provide indemnification for our directors and executive officers so that they will be free from undue concern about personal liability in connection with their service to the Company. Under our Bylaws, we are required to indemnify our directors and executive officers to the extent not prohibited under Massachusetts law. We have also entered into indemnity agreements with certain officers and directors. These agreements provide, among other things, that we will indemnify the officer or director, under the circumstances and to the extent provided for in the agreement, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements he or she may be required to pay in actions or proceedings which he or she is or may be made a party by reason of his or her position as a director, officer or other agent of the Company, and otherwise to the fullest extent permitted under Massachusetts law and our Bylaws.
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PROPOSAL 3

NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Section 14A of the Exchange Act requires that we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, not less frequently than once every three years, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. As this is the first year that we are required to conduct this vote, as our emerging growth company status ended effective January 1, 2025, we will be asking our stockholders to vote favor of holding this non-binding, advisory vote once per year, consistent with the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
Our compensation programs are designed to effectively align our executives’ interests with the interests of our stockholders by focusing on long-term equity incentives that correlate with the growth of sustainable long-term value for our stockholders. Stockholders are urged to read the section titled “Executive Officer and Director Compensation” in this proxy statement, which discusses how our executive compensation policies and practices implement our compensation philosophy and contains tabular information and narrative discussion about the compensation of our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee believes that the objectives of our executive compensation program, as they relate to our named executive officers, are appropriate for a company of our size and stage of development and that our compensation policies and practices help meet those objectives. In addition, the Compensation Committee believes that our executive compensation program, as it relates to our named executive officers, achieves an appropriate balance between fixed compensation and variable incentive compensation. Our Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee believe that our policies and practices are effective in implementing our compensation philosophy and in achieving our compensation program goal. Accordingly, we are asking our stockholders to approve the compensation of our named executive officers.
The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific element of compensation; rather, the vote relates to the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. Accordingly, we are asking our stockholders to vote on the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders hereby approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the compensation tables and the related material disclosed in this proxy statement.
The approval of this advisory non-binding proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast affirmatively or negatively at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal. The vote is advisory, which means that the vote is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors, or our Compensation Committee. To the extent there is any significant vote against our named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, our Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address the concerns of stockholders.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL, ON A NON-BINDING ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
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PROPOSAL 4

NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE REGARDING FREQUENCY OF VOTE ON
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As we are no longer an emerging growth company, we are also required by the Dodd-Frank Act to provide our stockholders with a separate advisory (non-binding) vote for the purpose of asking stockholders to express their preference for the frequency of future say-on-pay votes. In voting on this proposal, stockholders may indicate their preference as to whether the advisory vote on executive compensation should occur (i) once every year, (ii) once every two years or (iii) once every three years. We are required to solicit stockholder votes on the frequency of future say-on-pay proposals at least once every six years, although we may seek stockholder input more frequently.
It is the opinion of the Board that the frequency of the non-binding, advisory stockholder vote on the compensation of our named executive officers should be once every year. The Board of Directors views the way we compensate our named executive officers as an essential part of our strategy to maximize our performance and deliver enhanced value to our stockholders. The Board of Directors believes that holding a vote every year will permit the Company to focus on developing compensation practices that are in the best long-term interests of our stockholders, while simultaneously requiring annual engagement with stockholders in order to guide any necessary refinement or modification of our executive compensation program. Obtaining this frequent and critical feedback from stockholders will assist the Board of Directors’ analysis and provide it with a greater ability to fully evaluate the design and effectiveness of our compensation practices.
The Board of Directors believes that an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation is the most effective way for stockholders to communicate with the Company about its compensation objectives, policies and practices, and it looks forward to receiving the input of the Company’s stockholders on the frequency with which such a vote should be held. Stockholders may cast a vote on the preferred voting frequency by selecting the option of one year, two years, three years, or abstain when voting in response to the resolution set forth below. Our Board encourages our stockholders to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders of the Company approve that the Company hold a stockholder advisory vote to approve (on a non-binding advisory basis) as disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, with a frequency of once every year, two years or three years, whichever receives the highest number of votes cast with respect to this resolution.
Vote Required
With respect to this proposal regarding the selection of the frequency of the advisory vote on named executive officer compensation, the affirmative vote of the highest number of shares of the Company’s capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting for in favor of a particular frequency (of once every one, two or three years) is required to approve the proposal in favor of such frequency. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
This vote is advisory and not binding on the Board or the Company. However, the Board of Directors values the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of this vote when determining the frequency of the future advisory votes to approve named executive officer compensation. The Board of Directors may decide, after considering the results of this vote, that it is in the best interests of the stockholders to hold the advisory vote on named executive officer compensation with a different frequency than the option selected by the stockholders.
Recommendation of the Board
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE OPTION “ONE YEAR” FOR THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
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PROPOSAL 5

ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
The Annual Meeting may be adjourned to another time or place, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting to approve either the Election of Directors Proposal or the Auditor Ratification Proposal. The Annual Meeting may be adjourned from time to time to a date that is not more than 120 days after the original record date for the Annual Meeting.
If, at the Annual Meeting, the number of shares of Common Stock present or represented and voting in favor of the approval of either the Election of Directors Proposal or the Auditor Ratification Proposal is not sufficient to approve that proposal, we currently intend to move to adjourn the Annual Meeting in order to enable our Board of Directors to solicit additional proxies for the approval of either the Election of Directors Proposal or the Auditor Ratification Proposal.
In this proposal, we are asking our shareholders to authorize the holder of any proxy solicited by our Board of Directors to vote in favor of granting discretionary authority to the proxy holders, and each of them individually, to adjourn the Annual Meeting to another time and place for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. If the shareholders approve the Adjournment Proposal, we could adjourn the Annual Meeting and any adjourned session of the Annual Meeting and use the additional time to solicit additional proxies, including the solicitation of proxies from shareholders who have previously voted.
Vote Required for Approval
The proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will be approved if the number of votes cast for adjournment at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of votes cast against adjournment.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL, AS TO THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING IF NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE TO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL PROXIES IN FAVOR OF THE APPROVAL OF EITHER THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS PROPOSAL OR THE AUDITOR RATIFICATION PROPOSAL.
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GENERAL MATTERS
Availability of Certain Documents
A copy of our proxy statement has been posted on the Company’s website. We will mail without charge, upon written request, a copy of our proxy statement. Please send a written request to our Secretary at:
Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc.
245 First Street, 18th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
Attention: Secretary
Shareholder Proposals and Nominations
Our Bylaws provide that, for shareholder nominations to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of shareholders, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary at Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc., 245 First Street, 18th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142. To be timely for the 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, the shareholder’s notice must be delivered to us not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day nor later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders, except that if the 2026 annual meeting of shareholders is set for a date that is more than 30 days before or after such anniversary date, we must receive the notice not later than the close of business on the 60th day prior to the date of the annual meeting (provided that, if fewer than 65 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the 2026 annual meeting of shareholders is given or made to the shareholders, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so received no later than the close of business on the 15th day following the day of such notice or public disclosure). Assuming the date of our 2026 annual meeting of shareholders is not so advanced or delayed, shareholders who wish to make a proposal or a director nomination for the 2026 annual meeting of shareholders must notify us no earlier than February 22, 2026 and no later than March 22, 2026. Such notice must provide certain information about the Board nominees, as provided in our Bylaws.
For other shareholder proposals to be considered at an annual meeting of shareholders, our Bylaws provide that the shareholder must, in addition to any other applicable requirements, comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. Shareholder proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act must be received no later than the close of business on December 31, 2025.
In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements of our Bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, shareholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees for the 2026 annual meeting of shareholders must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act.
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HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials with respect to two or more shareholders sharing the same address by delivering a single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials addressed to those shareholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for shareholders and cost savings for companies.
This year, a number of brokers with account holders who are our shareholders will be “householding” our proxy materials. A single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will be delivered to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected shareholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be “householding” communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, please notify your broker or contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-866-540-7095. Shareholders who currently receive multiple copies of the Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials at their addresses and would like to request “householding” of their communications should contact their brokers.
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OTHER MATTERS
Our Board of Directors is not aware of any other business which will be presented at the annual meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the annual meeting, proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons named therein.
 
By order of the Board of Directors,
 
 
 
/s/ Regina M. Graul
 
Regina M. Graul, Ph.D.
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
April 29, 2025
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 is available without charge upon written request to Cyclerion Therapeutics, 245 First Street, 18th Floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, Attention: Secretary.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS



TABLE OF CONTENTS


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