UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of July 2026

 

Commission File Number: 001-43342

 

 

Veraxa Biotech AG

 

 

Talacker 35

8001 Zurich, Switzerland

 

(Address of principal executive office)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F ☒          Form 40-F ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer Transition

 

On July 10, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Carl von Halem as Interim Chief Financial Officer. He succeeds Torsten Bürgermeister. In his position as Interim Chief Financial Officer, Mr. von Halem will act as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer until the Company identifies Mr. Bürgermeister’s successor.

 

Mr. von Halem is a finance executive, entrepreneur and board member with extensive experience in corporate finance, venture building, life sciences and technology-driven businesses. Since December 2021, he has served as Chief Financial Officer of Xlife Sciences AG, a Swiss-listed incubator and accelerator for life science innovations. In this role, he is responsible for finance, corporate development, capital markets activities, M&A transactions and investor relations. In addition, he serves as Managing Director of Xlife Sciences GmbH (since February 2022) and Managing Director of XRNA Biotech GmbH (since January 2023), supporting the development and commercialization of innovative biotechnology and healthcare companies. Since June 2025, he has been a Board Member of Axenoll Life Sciences AG, and since August 2025 a Board Member of FUSE-AI AG, where he contributes his expertise in corporate governance, strategic development and financing. Alongside his activities in the life sciences sector, he has been Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of CommneX GmbH since 2016. The Munich-based FinTech company operates a digital tendering and matchmaking platform connecting municipalities, public corporations and municipal-related companies with banks, insurance companies and institutional investors. In this role, he has been instrumental in building and scaling the company, establishing strategic partnerships and developing innovative financing solutions for the public sector. Earlier in his career, Mr. von Halem advised start-ups and scale-ups at Berlin Startup Consulting, supporting founders and management teams in business development, fundraising, financial planning, operational scaling and growth strategies. Prior to that, he worked as Senior Associate at SaEnergy Systems, a company active in the renewable energy sector, where he gained experience in project development, infrastructure financing and strategic business development. Mr. von Halem holds a degree in Economics from the Technical University of Berlin. His academic background and professional experience provide a strong foundation in corporate finance, venture building, capital markets, corporate governance and the development of growth-oriented technology and life science companies.

 

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit		Description of Exhibit
99.1		Press Release dated July 10, 2026

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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, thereunto duly authorized.

 

	VERAXA BIOTECH AG
Date: July 10, 2026	By:	/s/ Christoph Antz
	Name:	Christoph Antz
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

	By:	/s/ Oliver Baumann
	Name:	Oliver Baumann
	Title:	Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

Press Release

 

 

VERAXA Biotech AG Appoints Carl von Halem as Interim
Chief Financial Officer and Successor to Torsten Bürgermeister

 

 

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – July 10, 2026 – VERAXA Biotech AG (NASDAQ: VRXA; “VERAXA”), an emerging leader in designing novel cancer therapies, today announced the appointment of Carl von Halem as Interim Chief Financial Officer. He succeeds Torsten Bürgermeister. The company is currently in the final stages of discussions with a highly qualified successor who is expected to support VERAXA’s next phase of expansion and operational growth. The company will provide an update to the market in due course.

 

“Carl von Halem is ideally positioned to support the company in this transitioning process. As Chief Financial Officer of Xlife Sciences, he has been instrumental in taking VERAXA public and has supported the growth of the organization over several years. He has been actively involved in all stages and processes of the listing, working closely with internal and external stakeholders throughout the transaction. As a result, he possesses an in-depth understanding of the company’s operational management, strategic development, and organizational structure. Additionally, his past and present other executive and supervisory board roles in the Life Sciences and MedTech industry provide him with profound sector expertise,” commented Oliver R. Baumann, Chairman of the VERAXA Board. “We also like to thank Torsten Bürgermeister for his many contributions over the last four and a half years.”

 

Carl von Halem is a finance executive, entrepreneur and board member with extensive experience in corporate finance, venture building, life sciences and technology-driven businesses. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Xlife Science AG, a Swiss life-science focused incubator, Managing Director of Xlife Science GmbH, and Board Member of the Xlife Science’s portfolio companies Axenoll Life Sciences AG and FUSE-AI AG. Previously, he co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer at Munich-based FinTech company CommneX, a digital tendering and matchmaking platform connected financial projects of municipalities, public corporations, and municipal-related companies with financial partners such as banks, insurance companies, and institutional investors. In this role, he was instrumental in building and scaling CommneX’ business and operations, in establishing strategic partnerships and developing innovative financing solutions for the public sector. Prior to that, Mr. von Halem held various roles in the renewable energy sector such as Senior Associate of Berlin-based SaEnergy Systems. Carl von Halem holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the Technical University of Berlin.

 

 

 

About VERAXA Biotech AG (NASDAQ: VRXA)

 

At VERAXA, we are building a premier engine for the discovery and development of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, including conditionally active T cell engagers, bispecific ADCs and other innovative formats. Powered by a suite of transformative technologies and guided by rigorous quality-by-design principles, we are rapidly advancing our pipeline of TCEs, ADCs, and proprietary BiTAC formats into clinical development and beyond. VERAXA was founded on scientific breakthroughs made at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), a world-renowned institution known for pioneering life science research and cutting-edge technology.

 

For regular updates about VERAXA Biotech, visit www.veraxa.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Bluesky. BiTAC^® is a registered trademark of VERAXA Biotech GmbH.

 

Forward-looking Statements

 

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that address activities, events, or developments that VERAXA Biotech AG (the “Company”) intends, expects, plans, projects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations, including with respect to the company’s ability to identify, secure, and maintain key personnel. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements contained on this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the Company’s business, particularly those identified or referenced in the risk factors section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and any subsequent reports on Form 6-K. These documents are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company website or from Company Investor Relations.

 

In addition, any information contained in this press release was current as of the date presented and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Consequently, the company will not update the information contained in this press release and investors should not rely upon the information as current or accurate after the presentation date.

 

 

 

Contact

 

VERAXA Biotech AG - Corporate
Christoph Antz, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
investors@veraxa.com

 

For Media and Investors – U.S.
Brandon Weiner
ICR Healthcare
VERAXA@icrhealthcare.com

 

For Media and Investors – EU
Mario Brkulj
investors@veraxa.com