Cytokinetics Announces Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Cytokinetics announced the grant of stock options for 21,450 shares to five new employees as material inducements to their employment. The stock options have an exercise price of $43.36 per share, equal to the closing price on February 28, 2023. Vesting occurs over four years, with 25% on the one-year anniversary and the rest monthly thereafter. Each option has a 10-year term under the company's 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. Cytokinetics focuses on developing therapies for muscle-related diseases, including heart failure and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), emphasizing its innovation in muscle biology.

Positive

• Granting stock options may enhance employee retention and motivation.
• Aligns employee interests with company performance, potentially benefiting shareholders.

Negative

• None.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) today announced that on February 28, 2023 it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 21,450 shares of common stock to 5 new employees, whose employment commenced in February 2023, as a material inducement to their employment.

The stock options that were granted are subject to an exercise price of $43.36 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on February 28, 2023, and will vest over 4 years, with 1/4^th of the shares underlying the employee’s option vesting on the one-year anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date and the remaining shares thereafter vesting monthly at a rate of 1/48^th of the shares underlying each employee’s option over the subsequent 36 months, subject to the new employee’s continued service with the Company. Each stock option has a 10-year term and is subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and the stock option agreement pursuant to which the option was granted.

The options were granted as material inducements to employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

About Cytokinetics

Cytokinetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class muscle activators and next-in-class muscle inhibitors as potential treatments for debilitating diseases in which muscle performance is compromised. As a leader in muscle biology and the mechanics of muscle performance, the company is developing small molecule drug candidates specifically engineered to impact muscle function and contractility. Cytokinetics is developing omecamtiv mecarbil, a cardiac muscle activator in patients with heart failure. Cytokinetics is also developing aficamten, a next-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor, currently the subject of SEQUOIA-HCM, the Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Aficamten is also being evaluated in non-obstructive HCM in Cohort 4 of the Phase 2 clinical trial, REDWOOD-HCM. Cytokinetics is also developing reldesemtiv, an investigational fast skeletal muscle troponin activator, currently the subject of COURAGE-ALS, a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In 2023, Cytokinetics is celebrating its 25-year history of pioneering innovation in muscle biology and related pharmacology focused to diseases of muscle dysfunction and conditions of muscle weakness.

For additional information about Cytokinetics, visit www.cytokinetics.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Cytokinetics disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements and claims the protection of the Act's Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Cytokinetics' and its partners' research and development activities of Cytokinetics’ product candidates. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to the risks related to Cytokinetics' business outlined in Cytokinetics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission particularly under the caption “Risk Factors” in Cytokinetics’ latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and Cytokinetics' actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements that Cytokinetics makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Cytokinetics assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

CYTOKINETICS® and the CYTOKINETICS and C-shaped logo are registered trademarks of Cytokinetics in the U.S. and certain other countries.

Contact:
Cytokinetics
Diane Weiser
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Investor Relations
(415) 290-7757

FAQ

What stock options were granted by Cytokinetics on February 28, 2023?

Cytokinetics granted stock options for 21,450 shares to five new employees.

What is the exercise price of the stock options granted by Cytokinetics?

The exercise price is $43.36 per share.

How long is the vesting period for the stock options granted by Cytokinetics?

The stock options vest over four years.

What is the purpose of granting stock options to new employees at Cytokinetics?

The options were granted as material inducements to employment.

What is Cytokinetics focused on developing?

Cytokinetics is focused on developing therapies for muscle-related diseases.