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):  October 3, 2016
 
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	 	000-50513	 	13-3831168	
(State or other jurisdiction	 	(Commission	 	(I.R.S. Employer	
of incorporation)	 	File Number)	 	Identification No.)	
 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	420 Saw Mill River Road,
Ardsley, NY	 	10502	
 	 	(Address of principal executive offices)	 	(Zip Code)	
 	 	 	 	 	
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (914) 347-4300	

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:
 
☐  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))

Item 5.02	Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers	

On October 4, 2016, Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") announced that Mr. Michael Rogers, age 56, the Company's Chief Financial Officer and one of its named executive officers, left the Company .

In connection with Mr. Rogers' departure from the Company, David Lawrence, age 59, has assumed the role of Chief, Business Operations and Principal Accounting Officer. He will also carry out principal financial officer responsibilities. Andrew Hindman, age 44, the Company's Chief Business Development Officer, has assumed responsibility for Financial Planning and Analysis and Investor Relations.

Mr. Lawrence has been our Chief of Business Operations since October 2013.  Prior to that, from January 2005 to October 2013, he served as our Chief Financial Officer.  He previously served as our Vice President, Finance from January 2001 through 2004, and Director, Finance from 1999 to 2001.  From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Lawrence held several positions for Tel-Air Communications, Inc., including Vice President and Controller.  Prior to Tel-Air, he held the financial management positions of Controller and Finance Manager for Southwestern Bell and Metromedia Telecommunications, respectively.  Mr. Lawrence received his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Roger Williams College, and an M.B.A in Finance from Iona College.  Mr. Lawrence is a founding member and currently serves on the board of directors and as Treasurer of The Brian Ahearn Children's Fund.
 
The Company intends to enter into a consulting agreement with Mr. Rogers, effective as of his departure and subject to negotiation with him, pursuant to which he will provide certain consulting services to the Company during a consulting period expected to continue through the end of 2016 in exchange for, among other things, the Company's agreement to modify Mr. Rogers' outstanding stock options to extend exercise rights, and modify certain outstanding restricted stock and option awards to allow for their scheduled vesting during the consulting period despite Mr. Rogers' departure.  Mr. Rogers will also receive compensation and benefits to which he is entitled pursuant to his existing employment agreement with the Company.

In connection with his new responsibilities, Mr. Hindman will receive additional compensation of $70,000 paid over a six (6) month period.  With the exception of this additional compensation for Mr. Hindman, no changes are being made to any of the existing compensatory arrangements with Mr. Lawrence or Mr. Hindman, including without limitation salary, non-equity incentive compensation, and equity awards, in connection with Mr. Lawrence's appointment to his new position, and Mr. Lawrence's and Mr. Hindman's assumption of responsibilities as described above.

There are no arrangements or understandings between either Mr. Lawrence and any other persons, pursuant to which Mr. Lawrence was appointed as Chief, Business Operations and Principal Accounting Officer, no family relationships between Mr. Lawrence and any of the Company's directors or other executive officers, and Mr. Lawrence does not have any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

A copy of the press release announcing Mr. Rogers' departure and the management changes involving Messrs. Lawrence and Hindman is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated by reference into this Item.

Item 9.01            Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.
 	Description	
99.1	Press Release dated October 4, 2016	

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 	Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.	
 	 	 	
October 5, 2016	By:	/s/ Jane Wasman	
 	 	Name: Jane Wasman	
 	 	Title: President, International, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary	

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
 	Description	
99.1	Press Release dated October 4, 2016	

EXHIBIT 99.1

CONTACT:

Jeff Macdonald
Acorda Therapeutics
(914) 326-5232
jmacdonald@acorda.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Acorda Announces Departure of Michael Rogers

ARDSLEY, N.Y. – (October 4, 2016) – Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) today announced that Chief Financial Officer Michael Rogers has left the company. David Lawrence, Acorda's Chief of Business Operations, has assumed the role of Chief, Business Operations and Principal Accounting Officer. Andrew Hindman, Acorda's Chief Business Development Officer, has assumed responsibility for Financial Planning and Analysis and Investor Relations. Mr. Rogers will serve as a consultant to the Company through the end of the year as part of this transition.

"We thank Mike for his many contributions to Acorda during his tenure. He was a key part of the team responsible for the acquisitions of Civitas and Biotie, which have helped position Acorda as a leader in Parkinson's disease therapeutic development," said Ron Cohen, M.D., President and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics. "Mike has been commuting from Boston throughout his years at Acorda, which has been challenging for him and his family. I'm grateful for his dedication to the Company during this time."

"I also want to thank Dave Lawrence and Andrew Hindman for taking on additional responsibilities within the Company. Dave led our accounting and finance teams for many years, and Andrew has a strong financial background and long-standing relationships with many of Acorda's investors."

About Acorda Therapeutics           
Founded in 1995,  Acorda Therapeutics  is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that restore function and improve the lives of people with neurological disorders.

Acorda has a pipeline of novel neurological therapies addressing a range of disorders, including Parkinson's disease, post-stroke walking difficulties, migraine, and multiple sclerosis. Acorda markets three FDA-approved therapies, including AMPYRA ®  (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at:  www.acorda.com .

Forward-Looking Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including:  the ability to complete the Biotie transaction on a timely basis; the ability to realize the benefits anticipated from the Biotie and Civitas transactions, among other reasons because acquired development programs are generally subject to all the risks inherent in the drug development process and our knowledge of the risks specifically relevant to acquired programs generally improves over time; the ability to successfully integrate Biotie's operations and Civitas' operations, respectively,

into our operations; we may need to raise additional funds to finance our expanded operations and may not be able to do so on acceptable terms; our ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg in the U.S.; third party payers (including governmental agencies) may not reimburse for the use of Ampyra or our other products at acceptable rates or at all and may impose restrictive prior authorization requirements that limit or block prescriptions; the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra or from our other research and development programs, including CVT-301 or any other acquired or in-licensed programs; we may not be able to complete development of, obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully market CVT-301, any other products under development, or the products that we will acquire when we complete the Biotie transaction; the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of or to successfully market Fampyra outside of the U.S. and our dependence on our collaborator Biogen in connection therewith; competition; failure to protect our intellectual property, to defend against the intellectual property claims of others or to obtain third party intellectual property licenses needed for the commercialization of our products; and failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in adverse action by regulatory agencies.

These and other risks are described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in our forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements made in this presentation are made only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this presentation.

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