Estrella Immunopharma names Cynthia Pussinen CEO and Board chair, Cheng Liu moves to CSO
Estrella Immunopharma appointed Cynthia Pussinen as Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board effective October 25, 2026, replacing Cheng Liu, Ph.D., who became Chief Scientific Officer while remaining President and a director. The filing also sets Pussinen's pay package, including a 1,000,000-share option grant and base salary increases tied to future financing, and says the Board adopted a plan to propose a change to its director class structure for stockholder vote in 2027.
Key points
- Cynthia Pussinen, age 57, appointed CEO, Class I director and Board Chairperson effective October 25, 2026
- Pussinen's base salary is $250,000, rising to $400,000, $450,000 and $525,000 as cumulative qualifying funding after October 25, 2026 exceeds $35.0 million, $55.0 million and $75.0 million
- Option to purchase 1,000,000 shares granted on the second business day after the filing, with 25% vesting on October 25, 2027
- Proposed amendment to Article V, Section A to be submitted to stockholders at the 2027 annual meeting
The filing
Written by AI on Nov 9, 2026, 11:44 AM ET, from this filing only. Written later: this filing was briefed after the fact, when past filings were added to the site, so the brief may be read with hindsight; the filing itself is the record of what was known on October 29, 2026.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the AI's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.