Oragenics Appoints New CEO and Amends Employment Terms

SARASOTA, FL – Oragenics (NYSE:OGEN), Inc. (NYSE American:OGEN), a micro-cap pharmaceutical company with a market capitalization of $4.08 million, announced the appointment of Janet Huffman as Chief Executive Officer, effective May 2, 2025. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a positive cash position despite challenging market conditions, with its overall Financial Health Score currently rated as WEAK. Huffman, who has been serving as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO, will continue in her role as CFO in addition to her new responsibilities as CEO.

The pharmaceutical company, which specializes in the development of novel antibiotics and oral mucositis therapies, entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Huffman, which outlines a one-year term with a base salary of $325,000. The agreement also includes a performance-based bonus target of 50% of her base salary.

In the event of termination without cause, Huffman is entitled to six months of severance pay at her current base salary rate and any unpaid performance bonus earned prior to termination. Should a change in control of the company occur within 30 days of such termination, Huffman will receive an increased severance package, including six months of her annual base salary and her performance bonus for the year, paid at the target level.

The Employment Agreement also includes standard confidentiality, non-competition, and non-solicitation clauses.

These executive changes come as Oragenics also held its annual shareholder meeting, where shareholders approved several key proposals. The meeting follows a challenging period for the company’s stock, which has declined by 81% over the past year according to InvestingPro data. Among these was the authorization for the Board to implement a reverse stock split of the company’s common stock within a range of 1:5 to 1:50, at the Board’s discretion. Additionally, shareholders approved an amendment to increase the number of shares available for the grant of awards under the company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan to 3,166,667 shares, contingent on the reverse stock split.

The company’s shareholders also ratified the selection of Cherry Bekaert (EBR:BEKB) LLP as Oragenics’ independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. InvestingPro analysis reveals additional insights about Oragenics’ financial position, including a current ratio of 0.87 and negative earnings per share of -$1.60 over the last twelve months. Subscribers can access 6 more exclusive ProTips and comprehensive financial metrics to better understand the company’s outlook.

This announcement is based on a press release statement.

In other recent news, Oragenics has reported significant progress in the development of its concussion drug, ONP-002, during the first quarter of 2025. The company has successfully advanced through preclinical validation and clinical safety data, with no serious adverse events reported in its Phase I human study. Oragenics has also established a partnership with BRAINBox Solutions to integrate diagnostic biomarkers with ONP-002’s intranasal delivery system. This collaboration aims to enhance personalized concussion care. Additionally, the company has raised approximately $5 million through equity and debt financing to support its financial position. Oragenics is actively working on advancing ONP-002 through its development stages, with key milestones anticipated in the coming months. These include HREC approval in Australia and the enrollment of participants in the Phase IIa clinical trial. The company has also been engaging with investors, clinicians, and thought leaders to raise awareness about the unmet need for pharmacological treatments for concussions.

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