Executives of Tenax Therapeutics Inc., a Morrisville-based pharmaceutical development company, saw increased 2018 compensation according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.

Anthony DiTonno has been director of Tenax since 2011. Following the resignation of the company's previous chief executive officer, DiTonno has served the company’s CEO since June 2018.

In 2018 he received a total compensation of $645,766, earning $256,556 in company stock options and $110,877 in all other compensation. During his service as CEO, he had not received compensation for his service on the board.

Micheal Jebsen, chief financial officer and president of Tenax, saw a surge in his 2018 compensation earning $855,813 in 2018, up from the 595,855 he received in 2017.

The bulk of his compensation increase is attributed to the $175,000 he received as a yearly bonus, and the same amount he received in company stock awards. His base salary dropped slightly to $381,500, down from $420,417 in 2017, but his non-equity incentive plan compensation rose slightly, rising from $82,875 to $124,313 in 2018.

In 2013, Tenax acquired the rights to develop medical treatments using levosimendan, to treat patients with pulmonary hypertension. The drug, which has been approved in 60 countries worldwide, has yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S.

Currently the drug is in Phase II of clinical trials and remains at the center of the Tenax’s market strategy. The company is wholly reliant on the drugs approval to solidify the its future.

Tenax’s stock closed at $1.59 on Friday, dropping 8 cents.