Oragenics appoints Natasha Giordano to board of directors

Oragenics, Inc. (NYSE American:OGEN), a micro-cap biotechnology company with a market capitalization of $4.28 million, announced that effective Monday, its board of directors appointed Natasha Giordano as a member of the board. The company’s stock, currently trading at $1.05, has faced significant challenges, having declined 97% over the past year. The information was disclosed in a press release statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.According to InvestingPro data, Oragenics shows concerning financial metrics, with 12 key risk factors identified. Subscribers can access detailed analysis and additional insights about the company’s performance and outlook.

According to the filing, Ms. Giordano is currently Board Chair for Incora Health, a role she has held since July 2, 2025, and serves on the board and compensation committee of Afaxys Inc. since August 2024. She is also a strategic advisor to Aqtual, Inc. and Omeza. Previously, she was a director at Matinas BioPharma (NYSE:MTNB) from September 2020 to February 2025. Her appointment comes at a crucial time for Oragenics, as InvestingPro data shows the company’s overall financial health score is rated as "WEAK," with particular concerns about its profit margins and short-term obligations.

Ms. Giordano served as President and Chief Executive Officer of PLx Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:PLXP) from January 2016 through July 2023, and was a board member at PLx. Her prior experience includes serving as CEO of ClearPoint Learning, Inc., and Healthcare Corporation of America (NYSE:HCA), as well as executive roles at Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cegedim Dendrite. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Wagner College.

In connection with her appointment, Ms. Giordano will receive a monthly fee of $3,750 for each of the months of September through December 2025, in line with the company’s non-employee director compensation program, which provides an annual base fee of $45,000, pro-rated for partial years.

The company stated there are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Giordano and Oragenics or any other persons regarding her selection as a director. There are also no related party transactions requiring disclosure. Ms. Giordano has agreed to stand for re-election at the next annual meeting of shareholders.

This report is based on a press release statement filed with the SEC. The company is currently trading near its 52-week low of $1.03, with an Altman Z-Score indicating financial distress, based on the latest available data.

In other recent news, Oragenics, Inc. announced plans to initiate Phase IIa clinical trials for its lead drug candidate, ONP-002, targeting concussion treatment by the third quarter of 2025. The company has received approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee in Australia and partnered with Southern Star Research as its Clinical Research Organization. Additionally, Oragenics has entered into a manufacturing agreement with Sterling Pharma Solutions to produce ONP-002 at their North Carolina facility under strict Good Manufacturing Practice conditions. This agreement ensures drug product supply ahead of the anticipated Phase IIb clinical trials next year.

In financial developments, Oragenics announced a $20 million preferred stock offering, involving the sale of up to 800,000 shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock and accompanying warrants. Each preferred share, priced at $25.00, is convertible into common stock at $2.50 per share, with warrants exercisable at $25.00 per share. The offering aims to raise approximately $20 million before fees and expenses. These strategic moves highlight Oragenics’ efforts to advance its drug development and secure necessary funding for its ongoing projects.

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