Form 8-K
8-K — Alto Neuroscience, Inc.
Accession: 0001999480-26-000024
Filed: 2026-08-27
Period: 2026-08-26
CIK: 0001999480
SIC: 2834 (PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS)
Item: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
Item: Financial Statements and Exhibits
Documents
8-K — alto-20260826.htm (Primary)
EX-10.1 (ex101-promotionretentionag.htm)
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8-K
8-K (Primary)
Filename: alto-20260826.htm · Sequence: 1
alto-20260826
0001999480False00019994802026-08-262026-08-26
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________
FORM 8-K
_____________________
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 26, 2026
_____________________
ALTO NEUROSCIENCE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
_____________________
Delaware
001-41944
83-4210124
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation) (Commission
File Number) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
650 Castro Street, Suite 450, Mountain View, CA
94041
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 200-0412
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
_____________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading
Symbol(s) Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share ANRO New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company x
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On August 26, 2026 (the “Effective Date”), the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (the “Company”) promoted Nicholas C. Smith, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, to the position of President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. In connection with Mr. Smith’s promotion, as of August 26, 2026, Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D., the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, continues in his role as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, but no longer holds the office of the President. Dr. Etkin serves as the Company’s principal executive officer and Mr. Smith serves as the Company’s principal financial officer.
In connection with Mr. Smith’s promotion to President and Chief Financial Officer, on the Effective Date, the Company entered into a promotion and retention agreement (the “Promotion and Retention Agreement”) with Mr. Smith. Pursuant to the Promotion and Retention Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Smith a cash retention payment (the “Retention Payment”) which shall be paid as follows: (1) $3,000,000 payable within ten days of the Effective Date and (2) $3,000,000 payable on the twelve-month anniversary of the Effective Date. Both portions of the Retention Payment are subject to standard deductions and withholdings.
If Mr. Smith’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason, including Mr. Smith’s resignation, or is terminated by the Company for Cause (as such term is defined in the Offer Letter, as amended, between Mr. Smith and the Company (the “Offer Letter”)), in either case prior to the two-year anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Retention Date”), Mr. Smith will not be entitled to any unpaid portion of the Retention Payment, and any previously paid portion of the Retention Payment will be subject to recoupment by the Company, with Mr. Smith required to repay such amounts to the Company within 30 days following his last day of employment. If, prior to the Retention Date, the Company terminates Mr. Smith's employment without Cause, or his employment terminates due to his death or Disability (as such term is defined in the Offer Letter), the Company will pay to Mr. Smith any unpaid portion of the Retention Payment upon such termination.
Biographical information for Mr. Smith is contained in the Company’s definitive proxy statement, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2026. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Smith and any other persons, pursuant to which he was appointed to the position of President, there are no family relationships between Mr. Smith and any of the Company’s directors or other executive officers, and there are no transactions between Mr. Smith and the Company that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Promotion and Retention Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
10.1
Promotion and Retention Agreement, dated August 26, 2026, between Alto Neuroscience, Inc. and Nicholas C. Smith
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ALTO NEUROSCIENCE, INC.
Dated: August 27, 2026 By: /s/ Amit Etkin
Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
EX-10.1
EX-10.1
Filename: ex101-promotionretentionag.htm · Sequence: 2
Document
Exhibit 10.1
August 26, 2026
Nicholas C. Smith
VIA EMAIL/DOCUSIGN
Re: Promotion and Retention Agreement
Dear Nick,
As you know, you are currently employed at Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (the “Company”) as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer pursuant to the terms of an offer letter dated November 20, 2023, as amended by a letter agreement dated January 16, 2024 (together, the “Offer Letter”). Effective as of August 26, 2026 (the “Effective Date”), you are being promoted to President and Chief Financial Officer. In connection with this promotion, the Company is offering you the enhanced compensation terms set forth in this Promotion and Retention Agreement.
You are eligible to earn a retention payment equal to $6,000,000 (the “Retention Payment”). The Retention Payment will be paid in two installments: 50% of the Retention Payment ($3,000,000) will be paid within ten (10) days after the Effective Date, and the second 50% ($3,000,000) will be paid on the one-year anniversary of the Effective Date. Both payments will be subject to standard deductions and withholdings.
In order to earn the Retention Payment, you must remain continuously employed by the Company through the two (2) year anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Retention Date”). If you resign your employment for any reason prior to the Retention Date, or you are terminated for Cause (as defined in the Offer Letter) prior to the Retention Date, then you will not be eligible for and will not earn any portion of the Retention Payment. In this event, you will be required to repay the Company for all portions of the Retention Payment paid to you prior to your last day of employment with the Company. This amount will be due to the Company within thirty (30) days after your last day of employment with the Company.
If the Company terminates your employment without Cause (as defined in the Offer Letter), or upon your death or Disability (as defined in the Offer Letter), prior to the Retention Date, then you will not be required to repay the Company for any portion of the Retention Payment paid to you prior to your last day of employment with the Company. In addition, the Company will pay, upon your termination, any unpaid portion of the Retention Payment.
It is intended that all of the payments payable under this Promotion and Retention Agreement satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, any applicable exemption from the application of Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) Section 409A, and this Promotion and Retention Agreement will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with the terms of any such exemption. For purposes of Code Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A 2(b)(2)(iii)), your right to receive any installment payments under this Promotion and Retention Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.
Nothing in this Promotion and Retention Agreement alters the status of your at-will employment relationship with the Company. Nor do the terms herein otherwise affect or supersede the terms and conditions of your employment as set forth in the Offer Letter.
The terms set forth herein form the complete and exclusive statement of terms between you and the Company with regard to this subject matter. These terms supersede any other agreements or promises made to you by anyone, whether oral or written, on this subject, and cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
Sincerely,
/s/ Amit Etkin
Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
I acknowledge that I have read, understand and agree with the terms set forth herein:
/s/ Nicholas C. Smith 8/26/2026
Nicholas C. Smith Date
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