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

Rhea-AI Summary

Cytokinetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYTK) announced the granting of stock options for 165,600 shares to eighteen new employees as an inducement to employment on March 31, 2022. The options have an exercise price of $36.81 per share, equal to the closing stock price on that day, and will vest over four years. This initiative complies with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). Cytokinetics focuses on developing innovative muscle activators and inhibitors for serious medical conditions, including heart failure and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Positive

• Granting stock options to new employees may enhance talent acquisition and retention.
• Stock options are structured to align employee interests with shareholders over four years.

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• None.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) today announced that on March 31, 2022 it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 165,600 shares of common stock to eighteen new employees, whose employment commenced in March 2022, as a material inducement to their employment.

The stock options that were granted are subject to an exercise price of $36.81 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on March 31, 2022, 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 readying for the potential commercialization of omecamtiv mecarbil, its cardiac muscle activator, following positive results from GALACTIC-HF, a large, international Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with heart failure. Cytokinetics is also developing aficamten, a next-generation 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). Cytokinetics continues its over 20-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
Joanna Siegall
Associate Director, Corporate Communications, Investor Relations
(650) 624-3283

FAQ

What stock options did Cytokinetics grant on March 31, 2022?

Cytokinetics granted stock options for 165,600 shares to new employees, with an exercise price of $36.81 per share.

How will the stock options for Cytokinetics employees vest?

The stock options will vest over four years, with 1/4 vesting on the one-year anniversary and the rest monthly for 36 months.

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

The stock options were granted as a material inducement for employment, aimed at attracting and retaining talent.

What regulations did Cytokinetics follow in granting stock options?

The granting of stock options complies with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).