Form 8-K
8-K — Autolus Therapeutics plc
Accession: 0001730463-26-000049
Filed: 2026-04-16
Period: 2026-04-14
CIK: 0001730463
SIC: 2836 (BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES))
Item: Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
Item: Financial Statements and Exhibits
Documents
8-K — autl-20260414.htm (Primary)
EX-16.1 (autlex-161eyukletter1604.htm)
GRAPHIC (autlex-161eyukletter1604001.jpg)
XML — IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT (R1.htm)
8-K
8-K (Primary)
Filename: autl-20260414.htm · Sequence: 1
autl-20260414
0001730463FALSE00017304632026-03-272026-03-270001730463sic:Z88802026-03-272026-03-270001730463us-gaap:CommonClassAMember2026-03-272026-03-27
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): April 14, 2026
Autolus Therapeutics plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)
England and Wales
001-38547
Not applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
The Mediaworks
191 Wood Lane
London W12 7FP
United Kingdom
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(44) 20
3829 6230
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ 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
American Depositary Shares, each representing one ordinary share, nominal value $0.000042 per share
AUTL The Nasdaq Global Select Market
Ordinary shares, nominal value $0.000042 per share* *
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC*
*
Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing of the American Depositary Shares on The Nasdaq Global Select Market. The American Depositary Shares represent the right to receive ordinary shares and are being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a separate Registration Statement on Form F-6. Accordingly, the American Depositary Shares are exempt from the operation of Section 12(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to Rule 12a-8 thereunder.
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 ☐
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. ☐
Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
On April 14, 2026, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) of Autolus Therapeutics plc (the “Company”) dismissed Ernst & Young LLP (UK) (“EY UK”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, (i) there were no “disagreements” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act (“Regulation S-K”) with EY UK on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures that, if not resolved to EY UK’s satisfaction, would have caused EY UK to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports on the Company’s financial statements and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions thereto, except that as initially disclosed in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, the Company reported that its internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of March 31, 2024 due to material weaknesses in its internal controls.
The audit reports of EY UK on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for each of the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
In accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided EY UK with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and requested that EY UK furnish it with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the above statements in this Item 4.01(a). A copy of EY UK’s letter, dated April 16, 2026, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Appointment of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
On April 14, 2026, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP (US) (“EY US”) as its new independent registered public accounting firm. EY US’s appointment will be for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, effective immediately.
During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted EY US regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the consolidated financial statements of the Company, in connection with which any written report or any oral advice was provided to the Company that EY US concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K or a “reportable event” as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
16.1
Letter of Ernst & Young LLP (UK) dated April 16, 2026.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
AUTOLUS THERAPEUTICS PLC
Dated: April 16, 2026 By: /s/Christian Itin, Ph.D.
Name: Christian Itin, Ph.D.
Title: Chief Executive Officer
EX-16.1
EX-16.1
Filename: autlex-161eyukletter1604.htm · Sequence: 2
autlex-161eyukletter1604
The UK Firm Ernst & Young LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC300001 and is a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited. A list of members’ names is available for inspection at 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF, the firm’s principal place of business and registered office and at Companies House https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company under the registration number OC300001. Not all partners are members of Ernst & Young LLP. Ernst & Young LLP is a multi-disciplinary practice and is authorised and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Sol icitors Regulation Authority (authorisation number 614947), the Financial Conduct Authority (registration number 196203) and other regulators. Further details can be found at https://www.ey.com/en_uk/legal-statement. Ernst & Young LLP R+ 2 Blagrave Street Reading RG1 1AZ Tel: + 44 118 928 1100 Fax: + 44 118 928 1101 ey.com April 16, 2026 Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20549 Re: Autolus Therapeutics plc Commissioners: We have read Item 4.01 of Form 8-K dated April 16, 2026, of Autolus Therapeutics plc (the “Registrant”) and are in agreement with the statements contained in paragraph (a) on page 2 therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the Registrant contained therein. /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
GRAPHIC
GRAPHIC
Filename: autlex-161eyukletter1604001.jpg · Sequence: 7
Binary file (78815 bytes)
Download autlex-161eyukletter1604001.jpg
XML — IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
XML
Filename: R1.htm · Sequence: 9
v3.26.1
Cover
Mar. 27, 2026
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Document Type
8-K
Document Period End Date
Apr. 14, 2026
Entity Registrant Name
Autolus Therapeutics plc
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code
X0
Entity File Number
001-38547
Entity Address, Address Line One
The Mediaworks
Entity Address, Address Line Two
191 Wood Lane
Entity Address, City or Town
London
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code
W12 7FP
Entity Address, Country
GB
City Area Code
(44) 20
Local Phone Number
3829 6230
Written Communications
false
Soliciting Material
false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer
false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer
false
Entity Central Index Key
0001730463
Amendment Flag
false
Entity Emerging Growth Company
false
Common Class A
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security
Ordinary shares, nominal value $0.000042 per share*
Trading Symbol
*
Security Exchange Name
NASDAQ
8880 American Depositary Receipts
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security
American Depositary Shares, each representing one ordinary share, nominal value $0.000042 per share
Trading Symbol
AUTL
Security Exchange Name
NASDAQ
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the XBRL content amends previously-filed or accepted submission.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_AmendmentFlag
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Area code of city
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_CityAreaCode
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
For the EDGAR submission types of Form 8-K: the date of the report, the date of the earliest event reported; for the EDGAR submission types of Form N-1A: the filing date; for all other submission types: the end of the reporting or transition period. The format of the date is YYYY-MM-DD.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_DocumentType
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:submissionTypeItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Address Line 2 such as Street or Suite number
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Name of the City or Town
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressCountry
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:countryCodeItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Code for the postal or zip code
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityCentralIndexKey
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:centralIndexKeyItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityFileNumber
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:fileNumberItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:edgarStateCountryItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityListingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityRegistrantName
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Local phone number for entity.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_LocalPhoneNumber
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 13e
-Subsection 4c
+ Details
Name:
dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 14d
-Subsection 2b
+ Details
Name:
dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Title of a 12(b) registered security.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b
+ Details
Name:
dei_Security12bTitle
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:securityTitleItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection d1-1
+ Details
Name:
dei_SecurityExchangeName
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:edgarExchangeCodeItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 14a
-Subsection 12
+ Details
Name:
dei_SolicitingMaterial
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_TradingSymbol
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:tradingSymbolItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Securities Act
-Number 230
-Section 425
+ Details
Name:
dei_WrittenCommunications
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Details
Name:
us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:
na
Balance Type:
Period Type:
X
- Details
Name:
us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=sic_Z8880
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:
na
Balance Type:
Period Type: