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<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp; </B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;<B>&nbsp; </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>FORM&nbsp;8-K </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;<B>&nbsp; </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>PURSUANT TO SECTION&nbsp;13 OR 15(d)&nbsp;OF
THE<BR>
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
<B>May 8, 2012 </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE ALIGN="CENTER" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">Delaware</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; vertical-align: bottom; font-weight: bold; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; vertical-align: top; padding: 0; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">001-33038</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; vertical-align: bottom; font-weight: bold; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">84-1475672</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(State or Other Jurisdiction</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">of Incorporation)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(IRS Employer</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Identification No.)</P></TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0"><B>1180 Avenue of the Americas <BR>
20<SUP>th</SUP> Floor<BR>
New York, NY </B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">10036</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">(Zip Code)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>(646)&nbsp;214-0700
</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number, including
area code)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>Not applicable </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed
Since Last Report)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under
the Securities Act (17&nbsp;CFR&nbsp;230.425).</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under
the Exchange Act (17&nbsp;CFR&nbsp;240.14a-12).</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under
the Exchange Act (17&nbsp;CFR 240.14d-2(b)).</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under
the Exchange Act (17&nbsp;CFR 240.13e-4(c)).</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 24.5pt; text-indent: -24.5pt"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 24.5pt; text-indent: -24.5pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 1in; text-align: left"><B>Item 5.02</B></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election
of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</B></TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Effective May 8, 2012, ZIOPHARM Oncology,
Inc., or the Company, entered into an employment agreement, or the Agreement, with Jason A. Amello, age 43, governing the terms
of Mr. Amello&rsquo;s employment as the Company&rsquo;s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for an indefinite
term. As contemplated by the Agreement, Mr. Amello&rsquo;s employment with the Company commenced May 8, 2012 and he was appointed
an executive officer of the Company effective upon such date.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Prior to joining the Company, from April
2000 to June 2011, Mr. Amello held various positions of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Senior Vice President,
Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, at Genzyme Corporation, a biotechnology company acquired by Sanofi-aventis.
Prior to joining Genzyme Corporation, Mr. Amello was a Senior Manager with Deloitte &amp; Touche, where he was employed from September
1990 to April 2000. Mr. Amello holds a B.S. degree from Boston College.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: white">Under the Agreement,
Mr. Amello will receive an initial annual base salary of $350,000, which is subject to review by the Board of Directors, or the
Compensation Committee, at least annually. In addition, Mr. Amello will be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus for
each calendar year at the end of which he remains employed by the Company, including, on a pro-rated basis, for 2012.&nbsp;&nbsp;The
target amount of the performance bonus will be equal to 35% of Mr. Amello&rsquo;s base salary, with the actual bonus amount for
the applicable calendar year to be determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Amello is
eligible to receive an additional annual discretionary bonus in such amount as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The
Company is required to reimburse Mr. Amello for all normal, usual and necessary expenses incurred by him in furtherance of the
business and affairs of the Company, including reasonable travel and entertainment expenses.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: white">On May 8, 2012,
upon the commencement of his employment and pursuant to the Agreement, <FONT STYLE="background-color: white">the Company granted
Mr. Amello (i) 25,000 shares of the Company&rsquo;s common stock with transfer and forfeiture restrictions that lapse </FONT>in
three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date<FONT STYLE="background-color: white"> and
(ii) a</FONT>n option to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company&rsquo;s common stock at an exercise price of $4.50, which option
vests in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. Such restricted stock and stock
option are subject to accelerated vesting in circumstances described in the following paragraph. The restricted common stock granted
to Mr. Amello was made pursuant to the Company&rsquo;s Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Option Plan. The option granted to Mr. Amello
was made pursuant to the Company&rsquo;s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Plan, which remains subject to stockholder approval
at the Company&rsquo;s 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. If the Plan is not approved by the stockholders of the Company, such
option grant will be void and the Company will be required by the terms of the Agreement to enter into substantially comparable
arrangements with Mr. Amello to ensure he receives benefits equal to what he would have received had the Plan been approved.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: white">If (i) Mr. Amello
is terminated by the Company for a reason other than death, disability or &ldquo;Cause,&rdquo; as that term is defined in the Agreement,
or (ii) Mr. Amello resigns for &ldquo;Good Reason,&rdquo; as that is term defined in the Agreement, Mr. Amello will be entitled
to receive a severance payment equal to 100% of his then-current annual base salary, plus a portion of the target amount of his
annual performance bonus for the calendar year in which such termination occurs (which portion will be determined pro-rata based
on the number of days in such calendar year during which Mr. Amello was employed by the Company). In this situation, Mr. Amello&rsquo;s
stock options that have vested as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable for a period of 90 days and any unvested
stock options and unvested awards of restricted stock held by Mr. Amello shall be deemed to have expired as of the date of termination.&nbsp;In
the case of a termination for a reason other than death, disability or &ldquo;Cause,&rdquo; or resignation for &ldquo;Good Reason,&rdquo;
in either case that occurs within 90 days prior to and in connection with a &ldquo;Change of Control,&rdquo; as that term is defined
in the Agreement, or within 18 months after the occurrence of a &ldquo;Change of Control,&rdquo; then, in addition to the foregoing
severance payments, all unvested stock options and unvested awards of restricted stock held by Mr. Amello at the time that such
termination occurs will be accelerated and deemed to have vested as of his employment termination date.&nbsp;&nbsp;Any stock options
that have vested or been deemed to have vested as of the date of termination will remain outstanding and exercisable until the
earlier of (i) 90 days following the later of the date of termination and the date of the &ldquo;Change of Control&rdquo; (unless
the options are not assumed or continued by the acquirer or the continuing entity), (ii) the date that the stock options are exercised,
or (iii) the date on which the original term of any such stock option expires.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: white"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: white">The Agreement requires
that Mr. Amello execute a separate Invention, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement that includes standard provisions regarding
protection of our confidential information and provides, among other things, that he will not compete with the Company, or solicit
clients, customers or accounts of the Company, during the term of his employment and for a period of one year after the termination
thereof and will not solicit to hire any employee of the Company or induce any employee to terminate his employment with the Company
during the term of his employment and for a period of two years after the termination thereof.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">A copy of the Agreement is attached hereto
as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">On May 8, 2012, the Company issued a press
release regarding the employment of Mr. Amello. The Company&rsquo;s press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is
incorporated herein by reference.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 1in; text-align: left"><B>Item 9.01</B></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><B>Financial
Statements and Exhibits</B></TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; text-align: left">(d)</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><I>Exhibits</I>.</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 14%; padding: 0; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 86%; padding: 0; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">Description</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">10.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">Employment Agreement, dated May 8, 2012, by and between the Company and Jason A. Amello</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">Press Release, dated May 8, 2012</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><U>SIGNATURES </U></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 24.5pt">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.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 47%; text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 49%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0">/s/ Caesar Belbel</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">Date: May 10, 2012</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">Name: Caesar Belbel</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>INDEX OF EXHIBITS</B></P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 14%; padding: 0; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 86%; padding: 0; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">Description</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">10.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">Employment Agreement, dated May 8, 2012, by and between the Company and Jason Amello</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">Press Release, dated May 8, 2012</TD></TR>
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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v312541_8-k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 27490}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ZIOPHARM ONCOLOGY INC", "cik": "0001107421", "assigned-sic": "8093", "irs-number": "841475642", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-33038", "film-number": "12830744"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICA", "street2": "19TH FLOOR", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10036", "phone": "646-214-0700"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICA", "street2": "19TH FLOOR", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10036"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "EASYWEB INC", "date-changed": "20010213"}}
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):
May 8, 2012
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Charter)
Delaware
001-33038
84-1475672
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1180 Avenue of the Americas
20
th
Floor
New York, NY
10036
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(646) 214-0700
(Registrant's telephone number, including
area code)
Not applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed
Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).
o
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.
Effective May 8, 2012, ZIOPHARM Oncology,
Inc., or the Company, entered into an employment agreement, or the Agreement, with Jason A. Amello, age 43, governing the terms
of Mr. Amello's employment as the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for an indefinite
term. As contemplated by the Agreement, Mr. Amello's employment with the Company commenced May 8, 2012 and he was appointed
an executive officer of the Company effective upon such date.
Prior to joining the Company, from April
2000 to June 2011, Mr. Amello held various positions of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Senior Vice President,
Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, at Genzyme Corporation, a biotechnology company acquired by Sanofi-aventis.
Prior to joining Genzyme Corporation, Mr. Amello was a Senior Manager with Deloitte & Touche, where he was employed from September
1990 to April 2000. Mr. Amello holds a B.S. degree from Boston College.
Under the Agreement,
Mr. Amello will receive an initial annual base salary of $350,000, which is subject to review by the Board of Directors, or the
Compensation Committee, at least annually. In addition, Mr. Amello will be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus for
each calendar year at the end of which he remains employed by the Company, including, on a pro-rated basis, for 2012.  The
target amount of the performance bonus will be equal to 35% of Mr. Amello's base salary, with the actual bonus amount for
the applicable calendar year to be determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.  Mr. Amello is
eligible to receive an additional annual discretionary bonus in such amount as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The
Company is required to reimburse Mr. Amello for all normal, usual and necessary expenses incurred by him in furtherance of the
business and affairs of the Company, including reasonable travel and entertainment expenses.
On May 8, 2012,
upon the commencement of his employment and pursuant to the Agreement,
the Company granted
Mr. Amello (i) 25,000 shares of the Company's common stock with transfer and forfeiture restrictions that lapse
in
three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date
and
(ii) a
n option to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $4.50, which option
vests in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. Such restricted stock and stock
option are subject to accelerated vesting in circumstances described in the following paragraph. The restricted common stock granted
to Mr. Amello was made pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Option Plan. The option granted to Mr. Amello
was made pursuant to the Company's 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Plan, which remains subject to stockholder approval
at the Company's 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. If the Plan is not approved by the stockholders of the Company, such
option grant will be void and the Company will be required by the terms of the Agreement to enter into substantially comparable
arrangements with Mr. Amello to ensure he receives benefits equal to what he would have received had the Plan been approved.
If (i) Mr. Amello
is terminated by the Company for a reason other than death, disability or "Cause," as that term is defined in the Agreement,
or (ii) Mr. Amello resigns for "Good Reason," as that is term defined in the Agreement, Mr. Amello will be entitled
to receive a severance payment equal to 100% of his then-current annual base salary, plus a portion of the target amount of his
annual performance bonus for the calendar year in which such termination occurs (which portion will be determined pro-rata based
on the number of days in such calendar year during which Mr. Amello was employed by the Company). In this situation, Mr. Amello's
stock options that have vested as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable for a period of 90 days and any unvested
stock options and unvested awards of restricted stock held by Mr. Amello shall be deemed to have expired as of the date of termination. In
the case of a termination for a reason other than death, disability or "Cause," or resignation for "Good Reason,"
in either case that occurs within 90 days prior to and in connection with a "Change of Control," as that term is defined
in the Agreement, or within 18 months after the occurrence of a "Change of Control," then, in addition to the foregoing
severance payments, all unvested stock options and unvested awards of restricted stock held by Mr. Amello at the time that such
termination occurs will be accelerated and deemed to have vested as of his employment termination date.  Any stock options
that have vested or been deemed to have vested as of the date of termination will remain outstanding and exercisable until the
earlier of (i) 90 days following the later of the date of termination and the date of the "Change of Control" (unless
the options are not assumed or continued by the acquirer or the continuing entity), (ii) the date that the stock options are exercised,
or (iii) the date on which the original term of any such stock option expires.
The Agreement requires
that Mr. Amello execute a separate Invention, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement that includes standard provisions regarding
protection of our confidential information and provides, among other things, that he will not compete with the Company, or solicit
clients, customers or accounts of the Company, during the term of his employment and for a period of one year after the termination
thereof and will not solicit to hire any employee of the Company or induce any employee to terminate his employment with the Company
during the term of his employment and for a period of two years after the termination thereof.
A copy of the Agreement is attached hereto
as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
On May 8, 2012, the Company issued a press
release regarding the employment of Mr. Amello. The Company's press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01
Financial
Statements and Exhibits
(d)
Exhibits
.
Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
Employment Agreement, dated May 8, 2012, by and between the Company and Jason A. Amello
99.1
Press Release, dated May 8, 2012
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.
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
By:
/s/ Caesar Belbel
Date: May 10, 2012
Name: Caesar Belbel
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
Employment Agreement, dated May 8, 2012, by and between the Company and Jason Amello
99.1
Press Release, dated May 8, 2012