Acasti Pharma Announces Annual Grants of Performance Stock Options

Rhea-AI Summary

Acasti Pharma Inc. (ACST) announced the annual grant of 1,212,500 stock options to employees and executives under its Stock Option Plan. The options, vesting over 36 months in equal quarterly installments, allow purchase at a price of CDN$1.15 until June 22, 2032. This grant aligns with the Company’s long-term incentive program. Acasti focuses on drug delivery technologies for rare diseases, boasting three lead clinical assets with Orphan Drug Designation, providing seven years of marketing exclusivity in the U.S.

Positive

• 1,212,500 stock options granted to employees and executives.
• Options will vest quarterly over 36 months, aligning with long-term incentives.
• Lead clinical assets received Orphan Drug Designation, ensuring market exclusivity.

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• None.

LAVAL, Québec, June 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acasti Pharma Inc. (“Acasti” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ACST and TSX-V: ACST), a late-stage, specialty pharma company with drug delivery capability and technologies addressing rare and orphan diseases, today announced the annual grant of performance stock options to its employees and executives.

An aggregate of 1,212,500 stock options were granted to certain employees and executives of the Company under the Company’s stock option plan (“Stock Option Plan”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Option Plan, options granted to executives and employees will vest in equal quarterly installments over a period of 36 months. Each option will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of Acasti at a price of CDN$1.15, until June 22, 2032.

The stock options were granted by the Board of Directors as part of the Company’s annual performance review in accordance with the Company’s long-term incentive program (LTIP).

About Acasti

Acasti is a specialty pharma company with drug delivery technologies and drug candidates addressing rare and orphan diseases. Acasti’s novel drug delivery technologies have the potential to improve the performance of currently marketed drugs by achieving faster onset of action, enhanced efficacy, reduced side effects, and more convenient drug delivery—all which could help to increase treatment compliance and improve patient outcomes.

Acasti’s three lead clinical assets have each been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA, which provides the assets with seven years of marketing exclusivity post-launch in the United States, and have additional intellectual property protection with over 40 granted and pending patents. Acasti’s lead clinical assets target underserved orphan diseases: (i) GTX-104, an intravenous infusion targeting Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH), a rare and life-threatening medical emergency in which bleeding occurs over the surface of the brain in the subarachnoid space between the brain and skull; (ii) GTX-102, an oral mucosal spray targeting Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), a progressive, neurodegenerative genetic disease that primarily affects children, causing severe disability, and for which no treatment currently exists; and (iii) GTX-101, a topical spray targeting Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN), a persistent and often debilitating neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage from the varicella zoster virus (shingles), which may persist for months and even years. For more information, please visit: https://www.acastipharma.com/en.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of Acasti to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements containing the terms “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates”, “potential,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “continue”, “targeted” or other similar expressions to be uncertain and forward-looking. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon Acasti’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: (i) the success and timing of regulatory submissions of the planned Phase 3 safety study for GTX-104 and Acasti’s other pre-clinical and clinical trials; (ii) regulatory requirements or developments and the outcome of meetings with the FDA; (iii) changes to clinical trial designs and regulatory pathways; (iv) legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments; (v) costs associated with Acasti’s clinical trials and (vi) the effects of COVID-19 on clinical programs and business operations. The foregoing list of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors detailed in documents that have been and are filed by Acasti from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Acasti undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither NASDAQ, the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please contact:

Acasti Contact:

Jan D’Alvise
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 450-686-4555
Email: info@acastipharma.com 
www.acastipharma.com

Investors:
Robert Blum
Lytham Partners, LLC
602-889-9700
ACST@lythampartners.com 

FAQ

What is the significance of Acasti Pharma's stock option grant on June 22, 2022?

On June 22, 2022, Acasti Pharma granted 1,212,500 stock options to align with its long-term incentive strategy, impacting employee retention and engagement.

What is the exercise price of the stock options granted by Acasti Pharma?

The stock options granted are priced at CDN$1.15, valid until June 22, 2032.

How will the stock options granted by Acasti Pharma vest?

The stock options will vest in equal quarterly installments over a period of 36 months.

What are the main focuses of Acasti Pharma's drug delivery technologies?

Acasti Pharma’s technologies aim to enhance drug performance for rare and orphan diseases, improving treatment compliance and patient outcomes.

What is the market exclusivity period for Acasti Pharma's lead clinical assets?

Acasti's lead clinical assets enjoy seven years of marketing exclusivity in the U.S. due to their Orphan Drug Designation.