{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"168708","rtpr_id":"nPngf2Ma-20261014","ticker":"PAIN","exchange":"","all_tickers":["PAIN"],"title":"Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp. Appoints Russell Starr as President","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-10-14T11:30:00.034Z","article_body":"Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp. Appoints Russell Starr as President\nPR Newswire\n\nTORONTO, Oct. 14, 2026\n\nCapital markets executive and long-time Company stakeholder joins senior\nleadership to help drive Vector's next phase of growth\n\nTORONTO, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp.\n(TSXV: PAIN) (the \"Company\") today announced the appointment of Russell Starr\nas President of the Company, effective October 5, 2026. Bill Jackson will\ncontinue to serve as Chief Executive Officer. In connection with his\nappointment, Mr. Starr has, subject to the receipt of all required approvals\nof the TSX Venture Exchange, elected to take his full salary in common shares\nof the Company, and any incentive securities granted to him will be\nperformance-based.\n\nIn connection with his appointment, Mr. Starr was granted 1,500,000 options\nhaving a term of five years and having an exercise price of 1.65. These will\nvest upon the company's stock price reaching CAD $3.50, $4.50 and $5.50 or the\nUSD equivalents over a 10-day vwap for each price target.\n\nMr. Starr is a seasoned entrepreneur, financier, and capital markets executive\nwith a track record of advancing public companies through complex financings,\nstrategic transactions, and periods of significant growth, and has helped\nraise over $2 billion for public equities. He has held senior executive roles\nacross multiple public companies, including leading capital markets strategy\nfor a Canadian public company through listings to senior US Stock Exchanges,\nand brings broad experience in capital formation, corporate development, and\nbuilding long-term shareholder value. Mr. Starr has been closely involved with\nVector and its mission to advance pharma-grade peptides, non-opioid solutions\nto longevity and well-being, along with novel and patented delivery systems\nfor peptides and medical treatments. Russell's appointment formalizes a role\nhe has already been playing in supporting the Company's growth.\n\n\"Russell's judgment and experience building public companies make him exactly\nthe right partner as we enter this next phase,\" said Tommy Thompson, Chairman\nof Vector Science & Therapeutics. \"His investment in the Company to date\nspeaks for itself, and formalizing his role reflects the confidence the Board\nhas in his leadership.\"\n\n\"Russell has been a driving force behind many of the initiatives that have\ngotten Vector to where it is today,\" said Bill Jackson, Chief Executive\nOfficer of Vector Science & Therapeutics. \"I'm looking forward to\ncontinuing to build alongside him as President as we scale our operations.\"\n\n\"I've been deeply invested in Vector's mission since day one, and I'm honored\nto take on this role at such a pivotal moment for the Company,\" said Russell\nStarr, President of Vector Science & Therapeutics. \"I look forward to\nworking alongside Bill and the rest of the team to help Vector scale now that\nit is producing pharma-grade peptides.\"\n\nAbout Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp.\n\nVector Science and Therapeutics Corp. (TSXV: PAIN) is a medical technology\ncompany advancing drug delivery technology and pharma-grade peptide\nmanufacturing for the sports medicine, regenerative medicine, and pain\nmanagement markets. Vector's peptides are pharma-grade, not research-grade:\nthey are manufactured under cGMP, FDA, and ISO-compliant conditions,\nRx-labeled, and sold directly to physicians for physician use, rather than\ndistributed through the research-only channels associated with research-grade\nmaterial. The Company's product and intellectual property portfolio is focused\non advanced transdermal delivery, precision catheter systems, localized pain\nmanagement, pancreatic oncology, and smart wound care. Vector is headquartered\nin Mequon, Wisconsin. For more information, visit https://vectorscience.co/\n(https://vectorscience.co/) .\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information\n\nThis news release contains \"forward-looking information\" within the meaning of\napplicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information\nincludes, but is not limited to, statements regarding Mr. Starr's role and\nexpected contributions as President and the Company's growth strategy and\nfuture plans. Forward-looking information is based on management's current\nexpectations and assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks,\nuncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ\nmaterially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place\nundue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake\nany obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by\napplicable securities laws.\n\nNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that\nterm is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts\nresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vector-science--therapeutics-corp-appoints-russell-starr-as-president-302907931.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vector-science--therapeutics-corp-appoints-russell-starr-as-president-302907931.html)\n\nSOURCE Vector Sciences & Therapeutics\n\n\n\nInvestor / Media Contact: Bill Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp., bill@vectorscience.co\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1731895/Vector-Sciences-Therapeutics-Logo.jpg?id=OA3015841\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPngf2Ma-20261014","title":"Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp. Appoints Russell Starr as President","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"PAIN","created":"2026-10-14T11:30:00.034Z","tickers":["PAIN"],"exchange":"","article_body":"Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp. Appoints Russell Starr as President\nPR Newswire\n\nTORONTO, Oct. 14, 2026\n\nCapital markets executive and long-time Company stakeholder joins senior\nleadership to help drive Vector's next phase of growth\n\nTORONTO, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp.\n(TSXV: PAIN) (the \"Company\") today announced the appointment of Russell Starr\nas President of the Company, effective October 5, 2026. Bill Jackson will\ncontinue to serve as Chief Executive Officer. In connection with his\nappointment, Mr. Starr has, subject to the receipt of all required approvals\nof the TSX Venture Exchange, elected to take his full salary in common shares\nof the Company, and any incentive securities granted to him will be\nperformance-based.\n\nIn connection with his appointment, Mr. Starr was granted 1,500,000 options\nhaving a term of five years and having an exercise price of 1.65. These will\nvest upon the company's stock price reaching CAD $3.50, $4.50 and $5.50 or the\nUSD equivalents over a 10-day vwap for each price target.\n\nMr. Starr is a seasoned entrepreneur, financier, and capital markets executive\nwith a track record of advancing public companies through complex financings,\nstrategic transactions, and periods of significant growth, and has helped\nraise over $2 billion for public equities. He has held senior executive roles\nacross multiple public companies, including leading capital markets strategy\nfor a Canadian public company through listings to senior US Stock Exchanges,\nand brings broad experience in capital formation, corporate development, and\nbuilding long-term shareholder value. Mr. Starr has been closely involved with\nVector and its mission to advance pharma-grade peptides, non-opioid solutions\nto longevity and well-being, along with novel and patented delivery systems\nfor peptides and medical treatments. Russell's appointment formalizes a role\nhe has already been playing in supporting the Company's growth.\n\n\"Russell's judgment and experience building public companies make him exactly\nthe right partner as we enter this next phase,\" said Tommy Thompson, Chairman\nof Vector Science & Therapeutics. \"His investment in the Company to date\nspeaks for itself, and formalizing his role reflects the confidence the Board\nhas in his leadership.\"\n\n\"Russell has been a driving force behind many of the initiatives that have\ngotten Vector to where it is today,\" said Bill Jackson, Chief Executive\nOfficer of Vector Science & Therapeutics. \"I'm looking forward to\ncontinuing to build alongside him as President as we scale our operations.\"\n\n\"I've been deeply invested in Vector's mission since day one, and I'm honored\nto take on this role at such a pivotal moment for the Company,\" said Russell\nStarr, President of Vector Science & Therapeutics. \"I look forward to\nworking alongside Bill and the rest of the team to help Vector scale now that\nit is producing pharma-grade peptides.\"\n\nAbout Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp.\n\nVector Science and Therapeutics Corp. (TSXV: PAIN) is a medical technology\ncompany advancing drug delivery technology and pharma-grade peptide\nmanufacturing for the sports medicine, regenerative medicine, and pain\nmanagement markets. Vector's peptides are pharma-grade, not research-grade:\nthey are manufactured under cGMP, FDA, and ISO-compliant conditions,\nRx-labeled, and sold directly to physicians for physician use, rather than\ndistributed through the research-only channels associated with research-grade\nmaterial. The Company's product and intellectual property portfolio is focused\non advanced transdermal delivery, precision catheter systems, localized pain\nmanagement, pancreatic oncology, and smart wound care. Vector is headquartered\nin Mequon, Wisconsin. For more information, visit https://vectorscience.co/\n(https://vectorscience.co/) .\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information\n\nThis news release contains \"forward-looking information\" within the meaning of\napplicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information\nincludes, but is not limited to, statements regarding Mr. Starr's role and\nexpected contributions as President and the Company's growth strategy and\nfuture plans. Forward-looking information is based on management's current\nexpectations and assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks,\nuncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ\nmaterially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place\nundue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake\nany obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by\napplicable securities laws.\n\nNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that\nterm is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts\nresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vector-science--therapeutics-corp-appoints-russell-starr-as-president-302907931.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vector-science--therapeutics-corp-appoints-russell-starr-as-president-302907931.html)\n\nSOURCE Vector Sciences & Therapeutics\n\n\n\nInvestor / Media Contact: Bill Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp., bill@vectorscience.co\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1731895/Vector-Sciences-Therapeutics-Logo.jpg?id=OA3015841\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-14T11:30:00.092303924Z","server_sent_at_ms":1791977400092},"received_at":"2026-10-14T11:30:00.143Z","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vector-science--therapeutics-corp-appoints-russell-starr-as-president-302907931.html"},"analysis":{"id":"156972","press_release_id":"168708","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences","sector":"Health Care"},"redFlags":["salary paid in common shares and option grants add to share count / potential dilution, subject to TSXV approval"],"eventType":"executive_change","narrative":"Vector Science & Therapeutics (TSXV: PAIN) appointed Russell Starr as President effective October 5, 2026, with Bill Jackson continuing as CEO.\n\nStarr received 1.5 million five-year options at $1.65 that vest only if the stock reaches $3.50, $4.50 and $5.50 on a 10-day VWAP, and he elected to take his full salary in common shares subject to TSXV approval.\n\nA capital markets veteran who has helped raise over $2 billion for public equities, Starr has long supported the company, which is now producing pharma-grade peptides for regenerative medicine and pain management markets.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Micro-cap appoints seasoned capital-markets President on all-equity, performance-vested pay -- aligns incentives but adds dilution."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"effective_date":"2026-10-05","options_granted":1500000,"option_term_years":5,"option_exercise_price":1.65,"vesting_price_targets":["CAD $3.50","$4.50","$5.50"]}},"quotedText":"Russell's judgment and experience building public companies make him exactly the right partner as we enter this next phase","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Russell Starr","role":"President (newly appointed)"},{"name":"Bill Jackson","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Tommy Thompson","role":"Chairman"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp.","ticker":"PAIN"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$2 billion","context":"capital raised for public equities over Starr's career"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"Appointment of a new President (no CEO departure) at a small-cap TSXV issuer. Mildly positive given Starr's capital markets background and fully performance-based, equity-settled compensation, but not a market-moving event."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"PAIN"},"globalImportance":18,"audienceRelevance":15,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap (TSXV)","eventGravity":"executive appointment, no departure","householdBrandBoost":0,"retailFavoriteBoost":0,"compensationStructure":"performance-based equity, mildly positive"}},"event_type":"executive_change","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"Vector Science & Therapeutics (TSXV: PAIN) appointed Russell Starr as President effective October 5, 2026, with Bill Jackson continuing as CEO.\n\nStarr received 1.5 million five-year options at $1.65 that vest only if the stock reaches $3.50, $4.50 and $5.50 on a 10-day VWAP, and he elected to take his full salary in common shares subject to TSXV approval.\n\nA capital markets veteran who has helped raise over $2 billion for public equities, Starr has long supported the company, which is now producing pharma-grade peptides for regenerative medicine and pain management markets.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"effective_date":"2026-10-05","options_granted":1500000,"option_term_years":5,"option_exercise_price":1.65,"vesting_price_targets":["CAD $3.50","$4.50","$5.50"]}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Russell Starr","role":"President (newly appointed)"},{"name":"Bill Jackson","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Tommy Thompson","role":"Chairman"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp.","ticker":"PAIN"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$2 billion","context":"capital raised for public equities over Starr's career"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-14T11:30:06.235Z","global_importance":18,"audience_relevance":15,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap (TSXV)","eventGravity":"executive appointment, no departure","householdBrandBoost":0,"retailFavoriteBoost":0,"compensationStructure":"performance-based equity, mildly positive"}},"durationMs":6077,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}