NextCure, Inc. filed a Form 8-K on October 30, 2026, disclosing that Chief Medical Officer Dr. Udayan Guha, M.D., Ph.D., will have his employment terminated effective October 31, 2026, in connection with the company's pending merger with Avere Therapeutics, Inc.

Key Highlights

  • Termination date: Dr. Udayan Guha's employment as Chief Medical Officer is set to end effective October 31, 2026.
  • Merger context: The departure is described as occurring "in contemplation of the pending merger of the Company and Avere Therapeutics, Inc."
  • Severance agreement: Dr. Guha entered into a severance agreement and release with the company in connection with his departure.
  • Base severance: The agreement provides severance benefits consistent with a termination without cause under Dr. Guha's existing employment agreement.
  • Merger-contingent benefit: Additional severance equal to enhanced change-in-control benefits is conditioned upon the closing of the Merger.
  • Named executive officer: The filing identifies Dr. Guha as both Chief Medical Officer and a named executive officer of the company.

NextCure Discloses CMO Departure and Severance Terms Tied to Avere Merger

According to the Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, NextCure, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTC) determined on October 26, 2026, that the employment of Dr. Udayan Guha, M.D., Ph.D., the company's Chief Medical Officer, will be terminated effective October 31, 2026. The filing states the termination was made "in contemplation of the pending merger of the Company and Avere Therapeutics, Inc."

In connection with his departure, Dr. Guha entered into a severance agreement and release with the company. The filing discloses that, in exchange for a release of claims in favor of the company, Dr. Guha will receive severance benefits consistent with those provided for a termination without cause under his existing employment agreement, the terms of which the filing states are described in the company's Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 24, 2026. The filing further discloses that, subject to and conditioned upon the closing of the Merger, the severance agreement also provides for "additional severance equal to the enhanced severance benefits for a termination without cause in relation to a change in control, as set forth in Dr. Guha's Employment Agreement."

The 8-K was signed by Steven P. Cobourn, Chief Financial Officer of NextCure, Inc., and dated October 30, 2026. The company's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol NXTC, with a par value of $0.001 per share. No financial figures related to the severance amounts were specified within this filing.

What Was Disclosed

NextCure disclosed the planned termination of its Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Udayan Guha, effective October 31, 2026, along with the key terms of a severance and release agreement tied in part to the closing of its pending merger with Avere Therapeutics, Inc.